The auction began as scheduled.
The host was not the one Renault had seen eight years ago. This host was more professional, better able to mobilize the atmosphere of the venue. With his passionate commentary, coupled with ringers deliberately planted in the audience, the bidding wars grew increasingly fierce.
One item after another was sold.
Time passed minute by minute. The auction had been going on for a full five hours.
Renault, lacking enthusiasm, was almost falling asleep. But the passion of the other attendees hadn't faded in the slightest.
...
Toward evening, the auction finally came to a close.
Only two items remained.
Renault perked up, knowing the main event was about to begin.
"Hahahahaha... Esteemed guests, thank you for waiting! This item is the long-awaited Devil Fruit!!"
As the host introduced the item, attendants brought up a delicate, transparent box. Through the surface, one could clearly see a Devil Fruit with spiral patterns resting quietly inside.
Seeing the Devil Fruit, the pirates in the audience began to breathe heavily, their eyes glowing green. Some even licked their crimson lips, determined to win the bid.
"That Devil Fruit?!"
Renault rubbed his chin on the edge of the auditorium, his brow furrowed. He couldn't immediately recognize which Devil Fruit this was.
But he was certain that this fruit was definitely not one of the extremely overpowered or unique ones he was tracking. He paid close attention to those, fearing he might miss them if he didn't recognize them—fruits like the Ice-Ice Fruit, Magma-Magma Fruit, the Reversion-Reversion Fruit, the Hobby-Hobby Fruit, the Munch-Munch Fruit, and so on, which hadn't appeared yet.
But Renault compared the fruit carefully for a long time and found that it didn't match any of the Devil Fruits in his mind. This left him somewhat disappointed.
In that case, it was highly likely to be only a relatively common or mid-tier Devil Fruit.
"Esteemed guests, allow me to give you a grand introduction."
The host, equally excited, suppressed his emotions and announced loudly:
"This Devil Fruit is the Paramecia-type Island-Island Fruit (Shima Shima no Mi)!!"
"The power of this Devil Fruit is to..."
"It's the Island-Island Fruit." Renault was slightly surprised.
If he remembered correctly, the person who ate this fruit in the original story was Avalo Pizarro, a crew member of the Blackbeard Pirates! Renault hadn't seen the actual appearance of the fruit before, which was why he hadn't recognized it immediately.
The Island-Island Fruit user can assimilate and control everything on an island, even sensing events that occur on it. In the battle with Garp, Pizarro fused the entire Skull Island with himself, allowing it to move and speak.
"Hmm?!!"
Recalling the function of the Island-Island Fruit, Renault's eyes flickered.
Controlling an entire island to move?! That was a useful power.
The Island-Island Fruit wasn't an extremely powerful Devil Fruit, but for him right now, it might be the most suitable one.
The Kingdom of Cast was currently surrounded by wolves and riddled with crises. Because of his connection to the Cast Kingdom, Renault had to keep the entire pirate crew there and couldn't move freely. He also had to constantly guard against retaliation from Rocks and the World Government.
If he could obtain the Island-Island Fruit, he could use its power to control the entire island, moving it away from its original sea area. Most importantly, he could also change the island's shape, making it difficult to recognize.
And he had thought of a very good location for it.
"This Devil Fruit must be obtained."
As long as Rocks and the Marines couldn't find the location of the Cast Kingdom, he wouldn't need to be constrained by it anymore.
Just then, the host finished introducing the Devil Fruit's basic abilities.
After learning of the Island-Island Fruit's power, countless pirates in the audience had their eyes glowing green, openly displaying their greed. Even though the Island-Island Fruit wasn't a top-tier fruit, it was at least mid-tier. For the already scarce Devil Fruits, this was extremely valuable.
"The starting bid for the Island-Island Fruit is eighty million Berries, with a minimum increase of ten million Berries per bid!!"
"Please start bidding, everyone!!"
"One hundred million Berries! This Devil Fruit is mine! Don't even try to fight me for it!!!"
The moment the host's voice fell, a rough voice immediately rang out from the eastern side of the auditorium.
"Joke! You think you can get the Island-Island Fruit for one hundred million Berries? Are you dreaming?" A sneer followed from the western stand.
"I bid one hundred and twenty million Berries!!!"
"One hundred and twenty million Berries!!"
The host excitedly announced the high price.
In less than half a minute, the auction price had already increased by forty million Berries. Who knew how high it would climb before the final sale?
We're going to make a fortune! A huge fortune!
"One hundred and twenty million Berries! That's a bid of one hundred and twenty million Berries from Captain Shi San of the Slake Pirates! Is there any price higher than this?"
"One hundred and thirty million Berries!!!"
An inconspicuous old man in the third row in the front silently raised his bidding paddle.
"One hundred and thirty million Berries!"
"How intense." Renault shook his head with a smile, watching the people competing for a Devil Fruit until their faces were red.
The Island-Island Fruit was extremely useful to him. These people were destined to leave empty-handed.
However, he didn't intend to bid yet. He would wait until the end, when no one else was raising the price, and then add ten million Berries on top of the highest bid.
While he could bid an astronomical price now to deter everyone, that wasn't the way to spend money. That would be pure foolishness!
The appearance of the Island-Island Fruit completely ignited the atmosphere of the venue, sweeping away everyone's fatigue. The price continued to climb rapidly at a terrifying speed.
The frenzy came to an abrupt stop when two figures wearing bubble helmets walked in.
"I bid eighty million Berries. I'll take this Devil Fruit."
Saint Neymar looked at everyone and said faintly.
The previously lively auction house fell into a deathly silence. Some timid individuals even turned pale.
Celestial Dragons! It was the Celestial Dragons!!!
Who didn't know that Celestial Dragons were the rulers of this world? Who dared to compete with them for anything?
As expected, the moment Saint Neymar spoke, no one dared to bid against him. Everyone reluctantly put down their bidding paddles.
The main issue was that Saint Neymar's bid was the minimum starting price for the Devil Fruit.
The host was literally about to cry. The price for the Island-Island Fruit had just reached one hundred and thirty million Berries, only to be instantly reset by a single word from a Celestial Dragon.
But he dared not say anything more. Even with their powerful backing, that backing meant nothing in front of a Celestial Dragon.
Saint Neymar looked proudly at everyone in the auditorium, who were completely intimidated by his identity. He was a Celestial Dragon! Never mind paying for it—if he wanted it, these people wouldn't dare say anything even if he didn't pay.
However, since the venue's backstage had long-standing business relationships with the World Government, involving the exchange of mutual benefits, he didn't want to stir up trouble over such a small matter.
"Hahahaha... Besides the Devil Fruit, there should be a mermaid, right??"
"Hurry up and bring her out! I'll give you one hundred million Berries! I'm taking that mermaid."
Saint Charlos, looking like a pig with his lecherous grin, rubbed his hands together, drooling uncontrollably. He was utterly repulsive.
"This..."
Hearing this, the host's face dropped completely. This was a disaster!
The Island-Island Fruit and the mermaid slave were the two most profitable items in this auction. All the previous items combined might barely match the value of these two. With the Celestial Dragons causing such a scene now, how were they supposed to make money?
"What are you waiting for? Bring her out quickly! Do I have to do it myself??"
Seeing the host still hesitate, Saint Charlos's face slowly darkened. The CP0 agents behind him took a menacing step forward.
"Bring her out! Bring her out immediately!"
Seeing this, the host's legs turned to jelly, and he urged them quickly. Better to lose money than lose my life.
The attendants quickly pushed a large fish tank onto the auction stage. Inside, a mermaid was clearly displayed.
Whoosh!
Seeing the mermaid inside, the auction venue, which had just fallen silent, grew restless again. Eyes flashed with lecherous light, and faces twisted with greed.
"A mermaid! It's a real mermaid!!!"
"Hahaha... I still haven't tasted what a mermaid is like!!"
"Your taste is too crude. Unlike me, I just want to know her anatomy."
"..."
The crowd was discussing excitedly, but when their peripheral vision caught sight of Saint Charlos again, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over their heads. They instantly lost their nerve.
Anything a Celestial Dragon wanted, they were destined not to have.
Renault, in the audience, looked at the two Celestial Dragons on the stage, his eyes cold. They really were a haunting plague; he seemed to run into them everywhere. Last time it was the Rosward dog, and now he didn't know what kind of dogs these two were.
Daring to steal a Devil Fruit from him was a death sentence. And the lecherous one was even more deserving of death. In short, both of these guys deserved to die.
Thinking this, Renault slowly stood up and walked toward the stage, ignoring the confused stares of the audience.
Meanwhile, Saint Charlos, looking like a lecherous pig, stared at the mermaid in the fish tank, slowly reaching out his filthy hand. The small mermaid's face was pale, her body curled up in a corner.
"Who goes there?!"
Suddenly, a CP0 agent roared, blocking the path in front of the two Celestial Dragons like a phantom.
"Hmm?!!"
This scene made Saint Charlos slowly stop his hand before lowering it entirely. He turned and glared furiously at Renault, who had been blocked.
"You lowlife, how dare you approach this Saint! What do you want?!"
"That guy?!"
Compared to Saint Charlos's volatility, the calmer Saint Neymar frowned the moment he saw Renault. The guy looked familiar; he felt like he'd seen him somewhere.
"Renault! Are you Renault?? You're the one who killed Saint Rosward?!"
Saint Neymar gasped, his body instinctively stepping back two paces.
The World Government had stood for nearly 800 years, and the Celestial Dragons had ruled for 800 years. Never before had anyone dared to kill a Celestial Dragon.
The murder of Saint Rosward had directly shaken the entire Celestial Dragon society. Saint Rosward became the first Celestial Dragon to be openly mocked within their own circles in history. The great Celestial Dragon died at the hands of a lowlife—it was utterly ridiculous.
And Renault, the culprit behind the murder of Saint Rosward, had naturally entered their radar.
"Renault?? He's Renault??"
"This lowlife is the one who killed Saint Rosward?!"
Saint Charlos, who had been about to step forward to teach Renault a lesson, was immediately excited when he heard Saint Neymar's words.
The words of the two Celestial Dragons were clearly heard by everyone else, and an unprecedented wave of excitement erupted in the auditorium. It was even more fervent than any other moment of the entire auction.
"Renault! It's actually Renault!!!"
"My god, is Renault that young? He's even younger than the photo on the bounty poster, and so handsome!!"
"I heard he was the one who killed a Celestial Dragon, right? The only pirate who dared to kill a Celestial Dragon to date? He truly is a model for our generation!!"
"Quiet down! Are you trying to die?!"
"That kid has some nerve! He's so close to Marineford, and he still dares to show his face. Isn't he afraid of the Marines' retaliation?"
"You probably don't know this, right? That kid not only offended the Marines, but I heard he also rejected Rocks' recruitment."
"What?? Rocks tried to recruit him too??"
"Truly a newborn calf not afraid of tigers! He's offended the Marines, the World Government, and now even the strongest pirate on the sea! He's leaving himself no way out."
"Compared to all that, I'm more excited about what happens next. What do you think Renault will do?"
At this person's reminder, everyone suddenly realized the present danger. They had been focused on Renault's past actions, forgetting the immediate situation.
Several people, having realized the implication, instinctively swallowed hard, their lips dry.
"That guy... he wouldn't actually kill these two Celestial Dragons, would he?"
"No way! If he kills two more, the consequences..."
"Well, I have something to do. I'll be going first."
"I haven't done my chores today! See you guys later!"
...
At the auction venue, pirates who sensed the danger quickly rushed to leave. In less than a few minutes, the once bustling venue was left with less than half its original occupants.
Some were staying because they loved chaos, while others relied on their own strength.
"What do you lowlifes want to do?"
"You dare to kill the great Celestial Dragon! I think you really don't know how to write the word 'death', do you??"
"What are you wastes standing around for?? Seize this bastard Renault for me!"
"I want him to be this Saint's slave, kneeling before me and begging like a dog."
Saint Charlos continued to scream and yell.
Saint Neymar, however, had a serious expression and remained silent. He knew more about Renault than the other Celestial Dragons. This guy even dared to kill Saint Rosward; there was no guarantee he wouldn't do something to the two of them.
"I didn't want to make a scene, but you two delivered yourselves to my doorstep and tried to steal my Devil Fruit."
Renault shook his head lightly. The next second, he vanished from his spot.
"He's fast! Protect the Nobles!!"
The CP0 agents' faces changed drastically. They hadn't even seen how Renault moved.
When Renault reappeared, a flash of a sword was seen.
Thud—
Saint Charlos's head, like a rotten persimmon, dropped to the floor. His face still retained its arrogant expression, completely devoid of fear. Clearly, Renault's speed was too fast; he hadn't even registered what happened.
Hiss.
A column of blood sprayed from the cut like a small fountain. It stained the viewing platform red, and the thick, pungent smell of blood began to spread.
The headless Saint Charlos collapsed heavily to the ground.
"You... you actually dared!!"
Saint Neymar was startled, his face draining of color. He hadn't imagined Renault would be so utterly insane. Killing a Celestial Dragon in broad daylight.
This could no longer be described as mere madness.
"Get people here! Protect me! Hurry up and protect me!"
"If I die, you won't live either!"
At this moment, Saint Neymar had lost all his earlier composure.
Renault repeated the same method, dodging all the CP0's attempts to stop him, and instantly executed Saint Neymar.
Looking at Saint Neymar, who met the same end as Saint Charlos, Renault nodded with satisfaction.
"Good brothers should always be together."
"Aah!"
Suddenly, a piercing scream erupted from the auditorium!
"A Celestial Dragon! He killed a Celestial Dragon again!"
"Oh my goodness, he killed one last time, and now he's killed two more! We have to run, or it will be too late!"
"Hurry up and leave! The world is changing! It's truly changing!"