บท 15: Chapter 15
Xilan had earned a notorious reputation that reverberated throughout the vast expanse of the sea. His figure had become a topic of discussion among almost everyone.
In the depths of his heart, Dragon felt a wave of unease wash over him. The wealth amassed by the organization over the years could potentially be decimated overnight. The mere thought sent shivers down his spine.
With trepidation, Dragon mustered his obedience and cautiously proposed, "Then, what about fifty million berries?"
"Fifty million? That's a sum I can effortlessly squander on women in a single night," Xilan responded, his voice tinged with astonishment, noto the good type though.
Xilan found it incredulous that Dragon had dared to offer such a paltry sum. It seemed as though Dragon intended to dismiss him like a beggar, unaware of the depths of his avarice. However, Xilan maintained his composure and nonchalantly retorted, "Fifty million berries equate to a mere kidney, and I shall arrange for Luffy's kidney to be extracted just for you; I'll get someone to give you Luffy's kidney later."
Dragon hurriedly pleaded, "The Revolutionary Army is not as rich as you may think. We are struggling under the dual onslaught of the World Government and the Marines. Our progress has been slowed down significantly."
"Hmph! That is not the response I wished to hear. Prepare yourself for the sight of your son being ruthlessly exploited," Xilan sneered.
Haw!
In a fit of anger, Xilan abruptly terminated the call, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. He contemplated the proposal once again; while it was feasible to reduce the price, plummeting from the anticipated seven or eight billion berries… but to a meager fifty million was simply inconceivable.
Nevertheless, Xilan mused, If he were to proceed with such a drastic reduction, Luffy would be reduced to a mere chattel, unworthy even of the designation of a slave.
"Perhaps selling him off as a slave could be lucrative," Xilan pondered, a wicked smile curling upon his lips.
"I shall notify the Celestial Dragons, for they possess a keen interest in such matters, especially thanks to what happened previously," he continued, relishing the notion. Luffy's audacious defiance of the Celestial Dragons during their encounter at the Sabaody Archipelago had transformed him into their public enemy.
By capitalizing on the Celestial Dragons' desire for vengeance, Xilan surmised that Luffy could command a staggering auction price, potentially surpassing the one billion berries mark.
Having made his decision, Xilan promptly contacted Boa Hancock, the renowned Warlord. Simultaneously, he transformed into his second form—the fearsome black dragon—and swiftly set his course toward the vibrant and bustling island of Dressrosa.
It was not solely Luffy who was slated for auction; the destitute and downtrodden prisoners of Impel Down, those who could not afford their freedom, were also subject to this cruel trade. Figures such as Crocodile and the comrades of the notorious Blackbeard Pirates were among the unfortunate souls whose fates hung precariously in the balance.
As the cloak of night descended upon the world, a solemn stillness settled over the land. Sensing the opportune silence, Xilan leaped into action, his massive black form transforming into a swirling tempest, a colossal black tornado that pierced the heavens.
With a resounding boom, the black dragon vanished into the night sky, leaving no trace of his presence behind.
—————
Amidst the vast expanse of the sea, an air of despair and frustration permeated the atmosphere.
"This is unbelievable! We suffered a massive loss this time. Not only have we offended the old man (Whitebeard I think), but we didn't get any fruit and not even some new comrades... we just returned empty-handed," someone lamented.
"As for the Shichibukai, what good are they? I don't care about them. What I truly desire are the Four Emperors!" Blackbeard roared, his voice filled with anger and determination.
A crude wooden raft floated upon the waves, hastily constructed and held together by meager ropes. It was a shoddy vessel, barely able to support the weight of its four occupants.
"Captain Teach, it's time for you to shed some weight," Burgess jested, his feet submerged in the sea, while looking at Blackbeard's big ass belly.
Burgess was one of the initial four members who joined Blackbeard's crew, known as the Blackbeard Pirates. The others included Doc Q, Van Augur, and Lafitte.
"Are you kidding me? None of you are exactly slender!" Blackbeard retorted, his dissatisfaction evident. He cursed under his breath, "That damned black dragon took Ace away. If it weren't for him, my plan wouldn't have fallen apart."
In Blackbeard's grand scheme, he should have emerged victorious. He had intended to acquire the power of the Quake Quake Fruit and secure a formidable partner capable of dominating the world. It was meant to be a mutually beneficial arrangement.
However, the Summit War ended in failure, his crewmates returned empty-handed, and he felt utterly cheated.
"For now, let's set aside our pursuit of the fruits. Our most pressing task is to gather more crewmates," Lafitte suggested, voicing his concerns. "With just five of us, including the captain, we hardly resemble a proper pirate crew."
"I have no interest in recruiting feeble chickens," Blackbeard retorted dismissively.
"Dressrosa seems like a good destination," Van Augur interjected calmly. "Rumor has it that the human auction house there is preparing to auction off a group of high-profile criminals, many of whom are prominent pirates who escaped from the sixth level of Impel Down."
The others exchanged surprised glances. How had they not been aware of this?
Van Augur promptly handed a newspaper to the rest of the crew, revealing the names of the criminals up for auction, including Crocodile and Shiryu of the Rain.
"Oh my god... Can even Shichibukai and the deputy director of Impel Down be auctioned off so casually these days?" Laffitte exclaimed in shock, unable to contain his astonishment as he glanced at Teach. The current situation left him speechless.
Doflamingo, a Shichibukai, was an audacious criminal who dared to auction off prisoners from the sixth level of Impel Down.
Meanwhile, Blackbeard, the self-proclaimed Shichibukai, found himself in such dire straits that he didn't even possess a proper ship. The dilapidated raft beneath their feet seemed on the verge of sinking at any moment.
—————
As the first light of dawn bathed the horizon, the colossal form of the black dragon cast its ominous shadow over Dressrosa's sky.
"Look! It's the Dragon of Doom!"
"The marines have been hunting him down all across the seas. How did he manage to arrive in Dressrosa?"
"The prisoners up for auction must have some connections to his appearance here!"
Whispers and gasps filled the air as people caught sight of the formidable black dragon. The news of its presence sent shockwaves through the crowd.
Back in the royal palace, Doflamingo's heart sank. "Big bro, are you trying to bring my downfall?" He could almost hear the mocking laughter of his enemies.
With the Marines and the World Government relentlessly pursuing the black dragon, how could Doflamingo justify this high-profile appearance in Dressrosa? How would he explain it to the Five Elders and Sengoku?
Originally, the plan was to auction off the prisoners from the treacherous sixth level of Impel Down. It was already a precarious situation, akin to holding a burning coal. If it weren't for the black dragon's pressure, Doflamingo would have flatly rejected the idea long ago.
Although the Shichibukai enjoyed certain liberties, with the Marines often turning a blind eye, there were still limits to what they could do. Doflamingo was certain that after today's events, the Marines would be extending an invitation for a "tea party" to discuss his recent actions.
...
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