"Entering the auction requires a 10 million Berries deposit. This will be refunded after the event," said a fully armed soldier coldly as Rosen and Moris arrived at the auction house entrance.
"You idiot, this is Lord Moris, president of the Yordel Trading Company and a shareholder of Paradise! My deepest apologies, Lord President, please, this way…" The soldier was smacked on the head by a sharply dressed, shifty-eyed manager who hurried out from inside. He then bowed profusely to Moris.
Rosen and Moris showed no reaction. They didn't find the scene unusual.
But just as they stepped through the doors, an angry voice boomed from within:
"Bastards, do you know who I am? How dare you seat me in the common section! I am Spandam, Chief of Enies Lobby! Get your manager out here immediately. Our family holds shares in Paradise—provoke me, and I'll make sure this entire auction is wiped off the map!"
"Lord Spandam, please calm yourself. Why are you standing there? Hurry and move Lord Spandam to the VIP section!" The same manager, who had just settled the issue with Moris, rushed toward the middle rows with an ingratiating smile.
Too many guests had arrived, and aside from the manager, the soldiers could barely recognize anyone.
"What's this, interested in him? Forget it. He may look like a useless fool, but Enies Lobby is a direct branch of the World Government. Their authority is vast. Cross him, and it's like crossing the World Government itself," Moris said dismissively after a glance.
"I'm not interested. Just wondering—he doesn't seem to have many guards. Doesn't he worry about being jumped in a place like Paradise?" Rosen glanced at Spandam, remembering him vividly. If he recalled correctly, the man's sword was a Devil Fruit creation—an object that had eaten the Elephant-Elephant Fruit, one of Vegapunk's experiments.
He hadn't expected to run into Spandam here—the very man who once drove Nico Robin to tears and despair.
Though the events had yet to unfold, Spandam's father had been the one who ordered the Buster Call that annihilated Robin's homeland.
"The Felomond Union's guards on this island ensure his safety. Paradise's major shareholder may be the tycoon Tesoro, but behind the Nasca Trading Company stands Spandam's family. They've stationed considerable power here to protect him. After all, this is a World Government official. If something happened to him in Paradise, the place couldn't continue," Moris explained. Clearly, he'd learned the essentials during his time here.
"So which one tonight is president of the Nasca Company? Other than Raymond, I haven't seen anyone worth noting," Rosen asked, puzzled, as they settled into the front-row VIP seats.
"He didn't come. Likely busy hosting the Enies Lobby chief. Only the vice president is here, but not worth mentioning."
"Paradise is more tangled than I thought. Care to brief me before the auction begins?" Rosen admitted he hadn't underestimated the Felomond Union, but now Tesoro and the Enies Lobby official had surfaced—one with immense personal power, the other backed by towering family influence.
Add to that Aberdeen's mysterious patron, Raymond, the king, and Yordel with Moris—yet the forces backing the others still weren't clear.
Paradise was clearly a massive cake, divided by many hands. Rosen still couldn't tell how many factions were slicing it.
"Buy me a drink and I'll tell you."
"I'm broke. Need to wait until my crew arrives for money. If something catches my eye later, lend me some." Rosen spoke naturally.
"Why should I?" Moris was stunned. Did this man really think they were that close? Still, after a pause, he actually nodded. "Fine."
"Your crew has a swordswoman, the most beautiful one, bounty 790 million. Have her spar with me. I want to study how top swordsmen fight," Moris said.
"Sure, but when she fights, people usually die. You sure?" Rosen replied casually. He knew Hathaway would be glad—she was a battle maniac.
"That's exactly what I want!" Moris slapped his thigh, excited. Then he faltered. Die? Damn… did he just admit he might lose? "You're joking, right? She's that strong? Not just famous for killing a Celestial Dragon?" he asked uncertainly.
Rosen nodded, saying nothing. Moris's fighting spirit only flared higher. Then he roughly explained Paradise's structure.
Paradise had been built as a den of indulgence with over two billion Berries, jointly funded by Tesoro and the Felomond Union. Behind the union stood Duke Raymond, and above him King Andia.
Raymond served as Andia's blade, while Tesoro alone held the majority share.
On the surface, Tesoro's connections had turned Paradise into a lawless sea zone where any deal could be made.
But within the union, things were complex. Merchants always kept multiple backers: one public, one hidden.
Aberdeen, for instance, was supported by the Warlord of War. The Nasca Company was tied to Spandam's family—not just Spandam himself.
The Yordel Company had once been under Doflamingo, now under Moris.
And the Trolom Company was backed by the Celestial Dragons—or rather, their commercial syndicate.
These forces spanned the globe. Few dared provoke them. The Celestial Dragons themselves avoided handling money, but their profiteering networks were vast.
Beyond the annual tribute of the Heavenly Gold, they ran countless lucrative side businesses.
But Rosen wasn't worried about the Celestial Dragons' syndicate. If their agents came after him, it might even be a chance to profit.
Among them all, Tesoro held the lion's share; the others were just feeding off scraps.
"Direct World Government bodies, kings of allied nations, Celestial Dragon syndicates, the Shichibukai, the world's richest man Tesoro…" Rosen thought grimly. "If anyone truly wanted to claim Paradise, even a Marine admiral might not withstand so many factions at once."
So he knew—he could move against the Andia Kingdom, but Paradise itself was untouchable for now.
Still, he couldn't help eyeing the enormous cake of wealth it represented.
The annual profits must be staggering—no wonder so many powers were entangled here.
Though none had invested deeply, none would tolerate their share being destroyed.
"Doflamingo hasn't caused you trouble?"
"Only a threat through a Den Den Mushi. No follow-up. He must be too busy, as one of the underworld's most active figures."
"Pirates… damn it! Who seated me near pirates? Disgusting!" Spandam had just sat down when he noticed Rosen and Moris.
At once, the room fell silent.
These two weren't ordinary pirates. Was the Enies Lobby chief really this stupid? This wasn't Enies Lobby—did he think no one here would dare touch him?
Around them, some guests looked expectantly at Rosen and Moris.
Many had long been irritated by Spandam's arrogant, noisy behavior. But because Enies Lobby was so notorious, most pirates wouldn't dare attack its chief.
But these two… were different. One was even rumored to have killed a Celestial Dragon.
(End of Chapter)