Upon hearing the words "Sabaody Archipelago," Ray understood immediately.
The two women were special "merchandise" destined for the Celestial Dragons.
By publicly handing them over to Luffy, the organizer had painted a giant target on the Straw Hats' backs.
The World Nobles would see this as theft and a direct insult.
Ray mentally sentenced the organizers of the auction to death.
'Once this is over, I'll pay them another visit.'
Nami and Franky, while sensing something was off, couldn't pinpoint the exact scheme.
Eventually, they stopped dwelling on it.
They had work to do.
They spent 400 million Belly to purchase the two massive lots of Treasure Tree Adam wood.
The auction hall was silent.
No one dared to bid against them. The nobles glared with hatred, but the terrifying bounties of Luffy and Ray kept them in their seats.
After securing the wood and arranging for its delivery to the Sea Train, Ray led the group out of the auction house.
He wasn't worried about being double-crossed on the delivery. The auction house had bigger problems coming.
As for the third piece of wood? It was quietly purchased by a man in sunglasses.
...
"Zephyr-sensei, should we follow them now?" Ain asked, adjusting her cloak.
Zephyr smiled grimly and stood up. "Let's observe from a distance. Even if we're discovered, don't engage."
Ain and Binz saluted.
"Yes!"
...
Pucci Streets.
Outside the auction, Luffy did what Luffy does best.
He took the twenty-two freed slaves to a restaurant and ordered everything.
"Eat up! Shishishi!"
Nami watched her money dwindle, but she didn't complain.
The slaves—especially the children—ate as if they hadn't seen food in weeks. Even Paula and Alvida, hardened pirates, ate with tearful gratitude.
Ray sampled the local delicacies, acknowledging Pucci's reputation as the Gourmet City.
The flavors were excellent.
Behind them, hidden in the crowd, Zephyr, Ain, and Binz watched silently.
Ray knew they were there.
His ears picked up their heartbeats. But as long as Zephyr didn't make a move, Ray wouldn't provoke a fight.
Finally, when Luffy had eaten so much and become a balloon, Nami sighed.
BONK!
"We're leaving or else you bankrupt me!"
She dragged the round captain all the way to the station.
...
The Straw Hats and their new charges took over an entire carriage. The atmosphere was light, filled with the laughter of children and Franky's boisterous storytelling.
One carriage back, Zephyr sat by the window while smoking a new cigar.
"Zephyr-sensei," Binz whispered, puzzled. "If we're not going to capture these pirates, why are we following them?"
Zephyr exhaled a cloud of smoke.
He looked at his two disciples, his eyes weary.
"Ain, Binz. Guess what's going to happen next in Water 7?"
The two remained silent, stumped.
Zephyr's expression turned grave.
"Notify the Marine special forces. Bring all available warships to the vicinity of Water 7. Mission: Be ready to evacuate civilians at a moment's notice."
Ain gasped. "Evacuate? Teacher, surely—"
"Kuzan!" Zephyr interrupted, speaking to the tall, curly-haired man dozing in the seat behind them.
"Do you know the consequences of this?"
Ain and Binz turn around.
They hadn't even noticed him!
"Admiral Kuzan?!"
The man shifted, pulling down his sleeping mask. He took a sip from a bottle of sherry and sighed, a chilling mist escaping his lips.
"Arara... I'm just following orders, Zephyr-sensei."
Aokiji looked out the window at the passing ocean. "For the sake of two slaves, the Celestial Dragons issued an early command. There's nothing to be done about it."
Zephyr rubbed his temples, biting down hard on his cigar. "If we join forces, can we quickly capture the Straw Hat Pirates?"
Aokiji looked at the carriage ahead.
He thought of the aura he sensed from Ray, the raw power of Luffy, and the unpredictable variables.
He shook his head without hesitation.
Zephyr was so enraged he bit his cigar in half.
'If two Admirals can't end it instantly, the battle will destroy Water 7. The shockwaves alone will sink the island. Countless civilians will die.'
'Is this Justice? Sacrificing a city for the wounded pride of a World Noble?'
Zephyr clenched his mechanical fist.
'Sengoku... have we truly fallen this far?'
...
Ray leaned against the window, watching the waves.
He had put the pieces together.
The slaves were meant for the Celestial Dragons. The autioner had framed them. The Buster Call wasn't just coming for Robin anymore; it was coming for them, and it was coming fast.
Probably within two days.
Robin's plan to move the battlefield to Enies Lobby was ruined.
The Marines wouldn't wait for CP9 to finish their mission. They would burn Water 7 to the ground just to wipe out the "thieves."
Ray sighed.
'Can't we ever just have a simple fight?'
There was only one solution: War.
He closed his eyes, centering his Haki.
He could feel the two monsters in the carriage behind him. Zephyr and Aokiji. The pressure was immense.
'I need more pieces on the board.'
Ray opened his eyes and looked at Alvida, who was picking her teeth.
"Can you contact Buggy?"
Alvida blinked. "Probably. Why?"
"Just get me a Den Den Mushi."
Ray chuckled inwardly.
'Time to call in the Genius Jester.'
...
Two hours later, the group returned to the abandoned dock.
When Sanji saw the twelve beautiful women disembarking, he nearly fainted from blood loss.
"MELLORINE~! A PARADISE OF LADIES!"
Zoro looked at him with utter disgust.
"Pathetic."
Once the crew learned the situation, everyone rallied to help.
Sanji cooked a feast with unprecedented speed and passion while Chopper treated the children's injuries.
While the crew was distracted, Ray stepped into the shadows and whispered to the air.
"Chouchou."
"Master?"
"Bring Robin back. There's no need for infiltration anymore. The plan has changed."
"Understood."
Chouchou didn't ask why.
He simply vanished into the night.
After dinner, Ray sat on the prow of the Merry, meditating.
In his perception, Zephyr and his disciples had disembarked and were setting up a perimeter in the city.
Aokiji, however, had vanished.
'An invisible Admiral is the most dangerous kind.'
Ray took a deep breath.
'Zephyr. Aokiji. CP9. And a Buster Call on the horizon.'
'This is going to be a hell of a party.'
Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the warehouse, Alvida held a Den Den Mushi.
"Buggy! It's me!"
"ALVIDA?!" The snail screamed, its big red nose quivering. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! We were looking for you! I never expected you'd be rescued by Ray and Straw Hat!"
Alvida quickly explained the situation.
"Kahahaha!" Buggy laughed. "Water 7? We're close! The Great Captain Buggy is on his way! Just wait there!"
Alvida hung up.
She looked at Ray, who offered a small, terrifying smile.
"One day," Ray murmured. "Just one day until chaos."
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