Over the next few days, Cheng Xiaoyu stayed in the Sabaody Archipelago, gathering information while enjoying some rare leisure time.
Cheng Xiaoyu deeply understood that on this ever-changing sea, information was as important as strength.
He would buy newspapers at the newsstand every day, keeping up with developments around the world.
Soon, the main quest of the Sabaody Archipelago was triggered.
"Kill one Celestial Dragon and extract his shadow in front of the Marine, reward: 50,000 Berries!"
One?
This description is really fitting...
Those World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, with fish tanks on their heads, were all fat and big-eared, looking exactly like pigs, and usually acted as if they were hot stuff!
They enjoyed the greatest privileges in this world, possessed ninety-nine percent of the world's wealth, and could summon an Admiral with just a flick of their finger; who would dare to provoke them normally?
If there was anyone, it would be Imu, who sat on the Empty Throne.
But Cheng Xiaoyu didn't care about any of that; all he saw were those dazzling 50,000 Berries.
As long as the System dared to release it, he dared to accept it! What's killing one Celestial Dragon?
He was even going to extract that damned Celestial Dragon's shadow right in front of Kizaru!
"I haven't done a quest in a long time, has it finally arrived?"
Cheng Xiaoyu smirked and started walking towards Auction House No. 1 in the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Captain, do you know the way?" Eneru asked.
Cheng Xiaoyu: "Since you asked, I'll tell you. I'm using the System's built-in map navigation; the route is precise and very reliable!"
"Now, broadcast by Little Tuantuan… At the first intersection ahead, turn left!"
...
Sabaody Archipelago, Auction House No. 1.
At this moment, a grand auction was being prepared inside.
The auction items included the coating craftsman Rayleigh and the Fishman Kaimi.
Luffy and the others had barely escaped the harsh currents at sea and landed on Island 41.
Not long after, they learned that Kaimi, the Fishman who was traveling with them, had been kidnapped and sent to the auction!
Here, Fishman and Fishman are high-risk groups for kidnapping; in the eyes of others, they are considered inferior!
Especially Fishman, because their appearance is very high, so they are very valuable!
Outside the auction house, Nami was still calculating to buy Kaimi with all her belongings, 200 million Berries.
Under the dappled tree shadows, Cheng Xiaoyu subtly winked at her, and she immediately understood, finding an excuse to slip out and meet with Cheng Xiaoyu.
Upon meeting, Cheng Xiaoyu didn't say a word, first handing Nami ten million Berries; this was the reward from Sky Island last time.
"Take it! Later, you guys just take Kaimi and leave, don't bother with anything else. I'll handle the rest!"
After speaking, Cheng Xiaoyu slipped into the auction hall and found a corner in the back row to sit down.
The auction quickly began; those caught here were treated as slaves, as commodities.
They would be brought up with explosive shackles, stripped of all dignity, and then scrutinized by the wealthy people attending the auction.
Human trafficking is the most abhorrent!
But here, all of this was actually legal!
Is this world fair? Is it just?
Cheng Xiaoyu was very displeased, but he knew.
There is no absolute justice, but there is absolute strength!
The reason why the Celestial Dragons are so arrogant is because the people behind them possess absolute strength.
The auction proceeded according to the scheduled process, with items being displayed and bid upon, and the atmosphere in the hall gradually warmed up.
Finally, it was Kaimi the Fishman's turn.
When the spotlight shone on Kaimi, the atmosphere in the entire venue instantly boiled over.
"Next, is the highlight of this auction—the beautiful Miss Fishman!" the auctioneer announced loudly, his voice filled with excitement.
The crowd below immediately stirred; the rarity and beauty of the Fishman made her appearance the focus of the entire venue.
Men's eyes gleamed with greed, while women whispered to each other.
Bids rose one after another, and the price soared.
"Ten million Berries!"
"Fifteen million Berries!"
"Twenty million Berries!"
"One hundred million Berries!"
The price continued to climb, and Nami anxiously clutched the bidding paddle in her hand.
She knew she had to rescue Kaimi at all costs!
"Two hundred million Berries!"
Nami shouted her highest acceptable price, her voice slightly trembling but her tone firm.
There was a moment of silence in the hall; two hundred million Berries, even for a Fishman, was already a considerably high price.
However, the silence was quickly broken.
An arrogant voice came from the VIP box: "Five hundred million Berries!"
The speaker was a Celestial Dragon, fat and big-eared, with disgusting snot running down his face, his eyes full of disdain.
This person was Charloss Sei, the snot-nosed guy.
As the exorbitant price of five hundred million Berries was announced, the entire venue fell silent once more.
This price was like a clap of thunder, instantly pushing the atmosphere of the entire venue to a climax.
Nami collapsed onto the ground in despair; she knew she was powerless to turn the tide.
For ordinary people, this was simply an astronomical figure!
The auctioneer excitedly shouted, "Five hundred million Berries! Is there a higher bid?"
His gaze swept across the entire venue, seemingly anticipating a miracle.
"Five hundred million Berries, going once!"
"Five hundred million Berries, going twice!"
Just as the auctioneer's hammer was about to fall, a calm voice came from the corner: "Five hundred million and one Berry!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a mysterious person in a black cloak sitting in the corner, his face covered by a mask, making his appearance unclear.
This mysterious person was Cheng Xiaoyu.
He only bid one Berry more than the Celestial Dragon, clearly intending to provoke him.
Charloss Sei was furious: "How dare you bid against me? Do you know who I am?"
Cheng Xiaoyu ignored the Celestial Dragon's clamor and simply sat there quietly.
"One billion Berries!"
Charloss Sei roared, directly doubling the price!
For Celestial Dragons, they had endless wealth; money was just a number.
"One billion and one Berry." Cheng Xiaoyu still calmly added to the bid.
The entire venue was in an uproar.
This was no longer about money; this was blatant humiliation!
Charloss Sei felt like his lungs were about to explode from anger.
He trembled as he raised his pistol, pointing it at Cheng Xiaoyu, and shrieked:
"You… you're looking for death! Do you know who I am? I'm a Celestial Dragon! How dare you treat me like this, I'll make you… dead!"
"Bang!"
Gunpowder exploded in the air, and a bullet traced a nearly invisible trajectory, shooting directly at Cheng Xiaoyu.
The Celestial Dragon Charloss Sei's face showed a ferocious smile, as if he had already seen the scene of this reckless fellow falling in a pool of blood.
The bullet pierced through Cheng Xiaoyu's body, leaving a hole in the black cloak.
The surrounding crowd burst into gasps, some covering their eyes, not daring to look at the bloody scene that was about to unfold.
However, Cheng Xiaoyu still stood there steadily, without even a slight sway.
"Damn it, you ruined my newly bought cloak. You have to compensate me…"
"Compensate? Compensate for what?!" Charloss Sei looked bewildered.
"Compensate with your life!"