Bab 74: Jack the Slave
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As he moved to continue his information gathering, a sudden commotion drew his attention. He looked toward the source to see Shakky arguing with one of the auction house guards. The rest of her crew stood slightly behind her, their faces tense and worried.
Shakky's voice cut through the chatter like a whip, "You can't keep her here like an animal. She's one of us."
The guard, however, was dismissive. "If you want your friend back, you should buy her," he responded with a smug grin. "That's how things work here."
Seething, Shakky looked like she wanted to strike the man. However, she seemed to catch herself at the last moment. Her expression hardened as she took a step back, the heat of her rage momentarily extinguished by a colder, more calculating flame. With a last, venomous look at the guard, she turned away.
The sight of Marines stationed all around reminded Jack why Shakky, despite her evident rage, hadn't taken any drastic actions. The presence of World Nobles meant increased security, and causing a scene could potentially lead to disastrous consequences. He followed Shakky and her crew from a distance, planning to speak to them once they had moved far enough from the prying eyes of the Marines.
Approaching them cautiously, he initiated the conversation. "That wasn't a very pleasant conversation," Jack said, his voice low and calm.
Shakky turned to look at him, her eyes filled with barely contained anger. "And what's it to you?"
Jack raised his hands in a placating gesture. "No harm intended. I just happen to have some... disagreements with the operations of this place as well."
Suspicion flitted across Shakky's face before she sighed. "I suppose we're not the only ones."
Jack looked back at the auction house, a hard edge in his gaze. "Any chance your crew is planning to get your friend back?"
"There's always a plan," Shakky said grimly. "But with the World Nobles and all the Marines... it's not going to be easy."
Jack pondered for a moment before offering, "Perhaps I can be of some help."
"What's in it for you?" Shakky asked, her face a mask of skepticism. Jack's countenance darkened. The usual calm blue of his eyes took on a turbulent edge, resembling a stormy sea under a moonless sky.
"I was planning to dismantle this place anyway. If you assist me, I can achieve it with less difficulty."
Shakky was silent for a moment, her gaze not leaving Jack's face. His eyes, cold and hard, held no trace of deceit. After a few seconds of tense silence, she finally responded.
"What's the plan?"
Jack responded with a nonchalant grin, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a coiled rope. He handed it to a puzzled Shakky.
"Sell me to the Auction House in exchange for your friend's freedom," he proposed.
Shakky's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're joking."
"Not at all," Jack replied. His face was a picture of resolve. "They'll refuse at first, but they'll eventually take me in. Once that happens, you just have to sit back and wait for me."
She looked at him for a long moment, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "And why should we trust you?"
Jack shrugged. "You don't have to. But I reckon it's a better chance than you have right now. Besides, we both have a bone to pick with the same people."
Shakky's gaze turned thoughtful, her hand instinctively tightening around the rope. Finally, she nodded, her face hardening with resolve. "Fine. We have a deal."
They returned to the Auction House, Shakky leading Jack by the rope like a prized beast. As expected, they were met with sneering dismissal at first. But after a few rounds of heated negotiations, the manager, a vile grin spread across his face, agreed to the trade.
Back on the crowded streets, Shakky and her crew watched as Jack was led away, the bead in his pocket their only assurance of his promise. Shakky glanced back one more time at the grand structure, a steely determination in her eyes.
"We'll be waiting, stranger," she murmured under her breath. The words were more of a prayer than a promise.
Dragging Jack like a prized commodity, Shakky presented him to the guard who, upon seeing them, broke into a disdainful laugh.
"Even World Nobles are coming for the slave you want to trade," the guard sneered, his eyes gliding over Jack. "I admit, this man is not bad-looking, but there can be no trade."
Shakky bit back her rising anger, forcing herself to remain calm. "I want to speak with the manager," she demanded.
The guard looked amused by her audacity. "And why should I bring him out for you?"
"Because," Shakky bit out through clenched teeth, "this man knows Haki."
The guard's amusement flickered, replaced with a hint of curiosity. "Haki, you say?"
Without waiting for a response, the guard turned around and briskly walked away, presumably to fetch the manager. Shakky didn't let her relief show; she knew this was only the first step. She gave Jack an imperceptible nod, silently commending him for his calm demeanor. Despite being treated like an object, Jack's tranquil oceanic gaze remained unbothered.
Soon, a well-dressed man with a slimy smile appeared before them. "Madam, my guard informs me you have a valuable slave for trade?"
"Yes," Shakky said curtly. "This man. He knows Haki."
"Haki?" the manager repeated, sounding intrigued. He turned his attention to Jack, who met his gaze with icy indifference. "Is that so?"
Jack merely shrugged. The manager didn't seem perturbed by his nonchalance, instead he smiled, the glint in his eyes growing sharper.
"Well then, let's test him," he proposed.
He gestured for a large man, evidently one of the guards, to approach. The guard, a brutish figure with a malicious grin, cracked his knuckles menacingly. Jack didn't flinch.
Without warning, the guard lunged at Jack, aiming to land a powerful punch. But Jack remained unfazed. Just as the fist was about to make contact, he effortlessly sidestepped the blow, his body moving fluidly like water.
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