"One million Berries! Our opening bid is one million Berries, and number 44 has acquired a musician and brewer who might bring him profit. This price is definitely not a loss!"
The first auction went very well, and even the host, Disco, didn't expect someone to immediately raise the bid to one million Berries.
Even though he had prepared shills to inflate the price, he didn't anticipate it going this high. He thought that six or seven hundred thousand Berries was already quite a lot.
After all, no matter how he exaggerated, the value of item number 1 was limited. Essentially, it was just a small pirate, at most, skilled with a few instruments, which was useless at sea.
As for cleaners or the like, anyone could do that. And as for brewing... the true aristocrats and wealthy don't need this guy to make their drinks.
Essentially, it was a tasteless item, and unexpectedly, someone actually bought it.
"Next, let's look at item number 2, hailing from the non-member nation of Maruna in the South Sea. This is a wild man, possessing a strong physique, accustomed to the elements, able to adapt to any environment, even without clothes. He can survive with just his body, making him a fine laborer, and a target for venting frustrations when feeling irritable!"
A man wearing only grass shorts, with his hair tied in braids, was brought up, looking fearfully at the crowd in the venue.
Such a robust man naturally caught the attention of some unsightly noblewomen in the audience, and of course... some men with perverted desires, who started bidding enthusiastically.
Amidst the intense bidding, Kalifa, who was by Sage's side, had already disappeared.
In the heated auction, no one would notice one person's sudden disappearance. As a special agent of CP9, Kalifa was adept at hiding, walking along the edge of the venue, her figure flickering as she picked up speed and entered the backstage area.
"So this is a cage?"
Kalifa looked at the cages in the backstage, surveying them, and pushed her glasses, causing the lenses to flash.
The cages held a group of people, mostly humans, and even an old drunkard...
"Oh... a lovely lady has arrived."
The long-bearded old man with white hair and glasses pulled out a metal flask from his chest, took a swig, then smiled at Kalifa as she entered.
"That's harassment."
Kalifa responded instinctively, then looked at the others.
Besides the humans, there were also other races, with the most eye-catching being a member of the Giant Race beside the old man, and...
"A mermaid?"
Inside the cage was a girl with green hair. However, the lower half of this girl was a pink fish tail, appearing extraordinarily beautiful.
Even though she was a special agent, it was her first time seeing a mermaid.
This place not only sells giants but even mermaids...
"Truly..."
Kalifa paused, softly saying, "Sinful."
If she were still a special agent under the World Government, she might have had to suppress this discomfort in her heart, and it was still the case now...
Habits are hard to change. Their path was still to return to the World Government, and during this time, the CP9 would remain as low-key as possible.
However...
Since joining the Disaster Pirates, she didn't have to concern herself with such sinful places, as Sage would take care of it.
Because Sage would raid this place, turning it into ruins.
"Hey, number four and five, get ready!"
Two guards walked in through the backstage entrance, and upon seeing Kalifa outside the cage, immediately went on alert, "Who are you!"
"Get your manager here. I have something to instruct him about, related to your boss, Doflamingo."
Kalifa pushed her glasses up, speaking to the two guards.
...
"Alright, item number 3, Jasmine from the Grand Line, a professional veterinarian, sold for eight hundred thousand Berries. Congratulations to buyer number 63! Next is item number 4."
As Disco passionately announced, he was about to introduce item number 4 when a guard escorting item number 4 ran up and whispered something in his ear.
Disco was briefly stunned but quickly reassembled his smile, "The auction items are so enthusiastically embraced that I'm almost moved to tears. In fact, I just need a little break, so I'll leave the upcoming auctions to our staff here. I'll be right back, dear buyers. Of course, I'm sure you're more interested in the items than my whereabouts."
His words elicited a burst of laughter from the audience.
In terms of creating atmosphere, this guy truly had a knack.
"Lily, see, that's what I call professionalism."
Sage pointed at the retreating host, smiling, "Even when something goes wrong, he can remain calm and throw in some witty remarks. It's a shame he's a slave trader; otherwise, he could do well on my ship as a Joker."
He could buy slaves here, but he had no interest in slave traders, and even felt some revulsion.
Slave traders mostly prey on the weak, typically finding miserable souls to sell. After all, if they were strong, they wouldn't have the chance to capture them.
Sage had no interest in the weak.
So he didn't want such people on his ship, and he was buying slaves here purely to show respect to Doflamingo.
Though Doflamingo didn't want it anymore, the auction wasn't over, and he was setting up the Radio Snail before selling to the Heavenly Celestial Dragon, Sage wouldn't make any moves here.