Chapter 54: Love Love Fruit Appears, I Offer Two Billion
Koala is still young now.
If Kahn hadn't glanced at her subconsciously, he would have heard "Koala is so scary" through Observation Haki, and he wouldn't have recognized this cute little girl as Koala from the Revolutionary Army.
Similarly, Kahn didn't expect Koala to be auctioned the same year as Hancock, just in different quarters.
If they were auctioned and escaped from Mariejois in the same year, then it is indeed fate.
Thinking of this, as the host announced the starting price, Kahn suddenly got up and left the auction house. He took out his Den Den Mushi in a deserted spot outside and contacted Hancock, who was shopping with Scarlett and the girls.
Yes, Kahn was ready to intervene again.
Originally, he was hesitating whether to give Scarlett the Paramecia Millet Millet Fruit after gaining her favour.
But now, Kahn no longer intended to give the Paramecia Millet Millet Fruit to Scarlett.
Compared to Scarlett, Koala was more suitable to be a Paramecia Millet Millet Fruit user.
So, Kahn decided to save Koala.
But he couldn't openly steal Koala or bid against the Celestial Dragons.
As the head of the black market in Water 7 said, Kahn's reputation was very secure.
That's what he built on his reputation in West Blue.
The big boss of this auction house must be a giant in the underworld or even one of the Dark Kings.
If Kahn openly snatched Koala, even if the auction house didn't retaliate, his reputation would be seriously damaged, which would harm the future development of the "Cross Family."
He couldn't bid against the Celestial Dragons either.
If this Celestial Dragon was an idiot like Saint Charlos, it would probably mess up the auction later.
If Kahn killed the Celestial Dragon, the auction would definitely not proceed.
Those three Devil Fruits, even if they existed, would be used to apologize to the Celestial Dragon family or saved for a later auction.
Therefore, if Kahn wanted to intervene, he could only take Koala quietly, as before, so the black market couldn't find out who stole the auction item.
In Kahn's eyes, no one was better suited for this kind of work than Hancock.
The electric field of the Rumble Fruit combined with the radio waves could interfere with the signals of the Den Den Mushi, making them close their eyes and go to sleep.
Electric field teleportation could ignore all obstacles.
As long as Hancock took Koala out and into Mary's castle, Koala could be taken away quietly.
After instructing Hancock to bring Scarlett and the girls to Island 1, Kahn returned to the auction house.
By this time, Koala had been auctioned to a Celestial Dragon for 30 million berries, and the auction was coming to an end.
At last...
Under Kahn's slightly dazed gaze, a man in a suit sitting a few rows behind the Celestial Dragon suddenly stood up. Carrying a relatively large silver metal box, he came to the stage and whispered something to the host. The host's face showed a strong look of surprise.
Kahn overheard their conversation.
It turned out that even the host wasn't sure if the gossip was true.
It wasn't until the auction was about to end that the person sent by the higher-ups delivered the Devil Fruit to the host.
And the Celestial Dragon had to be there for them to take out the Devil Fruit.
If the Celestial Dragon didn't show up today, that gossip would be false, and it would spread around the underworld next quarter, only becoming true when the Celestial Dragon was present.
The caution of the auction house made Kahn admire the big boss behind it.
At the same time, he understood their caution very well.
Because a Devil Fruit is different from a slave, it is a secret treasure of the sea that can make people soar into the sky.
The location of the Sabaody Archipelago is very special, where pirates who have opened up seven waterways gather.
Among these pirates, there are no shortage of rebellious lunatics.
If they knew there were Devil Fruits in the auction house and that they were stored in the back, these lunatics would surely try to steal them.
The backroom isn't safe; only the Celestial Dragons' area is.
So, from the beginning, the three Devil Fruits weren't in the back but kept near the Celestial Dragons.
By auctioning the Devil Fruits in front of the Celestial Dragons, those lunatics would hold back even if they wanted to act.
Otherwise, they'd face the Marines of the Sabaody Archipelago or the highest combat power of the Naval Headquarters next door.
Even Kahn dismissed the idea of intervening unscrupulously.
Of course, what he fears isn't the Celestial Dragons or Marines but for his own reputation.
He can steal and rob as long as he's not discovered.
Otherwise, unless the "Cross Family" becomes a dominant force in the New World, they'd be a family without credibility, struggling to gain a foothold in the underworld.
So, Kahn hoped the Celestial Dragons wouldn't do anything reckless.
"Gentlemen and ladies... this auction is about to end, and the next item is the 'last surprise' of our auction house. They are called the secret treasures of the sea, the Devil Fruits!"
The host's shout brought Kahn back to his senses.
The host opened the metal box handed over by the man in the suit. Inside were three fruits of different shapes and colours, all covered with special spiral patterns.
The host held a microphone in one hand, pointed at the three Devil Fruits with the other, and announced, "These three Devil Fruits are treasures collected by our headquarters from all over the world after spending a lot of time and money."
"They are one Paramecia and two Zoans. The full names are Paramecia Love Love Fruit, Zoan Snake Snake Fruit: Model Anaconda, and Zoan Snake Snake Fruit: Model King Cobra."
"As the last surprise of this auction, these three Devil Fruits will not be auctioned individually but together."
"And the starting price is - 300 million berries."
"...I bid a billion!"
As soon as the host's words fell.
Before the pirates who came specifically for the Devil Fruits could react, the Celestial Dragon in the special seat waved his hand and shouted a number that silenced the audience.
There was no cheering, and the venue became completely quiet.
Just as the host looked excited and was about to pick up the hammer to start the countdown, a voice that sounded from afar but was extremely harsh in the silent venue suddenly passed into the ears of everyone present:
"I bid two billion!"
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