Chương 185: Chapter 185
Germa Kingdom, North Blue
Inside the central throne room of the Germa Kingdom, on the grandiose throne sat a large man with long golden hair that reached his waist. He has a long and thin black mustache that spikes upwards, a thin and small beard, and a prominent cleft chin. Vinsmoke Judge, the current king of Germa Kingdom, goes by the alias "Garuda."
His stern visage and imposing stature exuded an air of authority and menace. Vinsmoke Judge, a former member of MADS, managed to retain his freedom by aligning with the World Government. When MADS breached the interests of the World Government, Judge cunningly leaked all the information in exchange for his liberty, demonstrating his shrewd and calculating nature.
Currently, a high-stakes meeting was taking place in the throne room. Several influential figures from the Underworld, one of the Shichibukai named Hector Barbarossa, and agents from CP0 had gathered with a common goal: to take down Donquixote Doflamingo. The CP0 agent placed a small chest on the table, and everyone's eyes in the room glistened with greed. Inside the chest lay a mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, the main auction item for tonight.
The Germa 66 had made extensive preparations, attracting many powerful individuals from the four Blues, the first half of the Grand Line, and even some influential powers from the New World to participate in the auction.
"Hehehe, good. Now that we have the main attraction for the night, everything should go forward smoothly," one of the Underworld bosses spoke, taking a deep drag from his cigar. He had been running ever since Doflamingo entered North Blue in the name of vengeance, but tonight would be his salvation.
"Not so fast. I have yet to receive the other half of the payment. Unless I get the remaining 25 billion bellies, you can forget about having my Germa soldiers move against Doflamingo," Vinsmoke Judge's gruff voice echoed from the throne. The Underworld had agreed to an exorbitant sum of 50 billion bellies to mobilize against Doflamingo and the Donquixote Pirates.
Judge knew the Underworld leaders were desperate, with no other force in North Blue willing to face the Donquixote family. He exploited this desperation to his advantage. His ambition was to reestablish the Germa Empire and dominate North Blue. The Donquixote Pirates were an obstacle he wasn't confident in facing alone, but with the help of CP0, he believed he could take down Doflamingo.
The CP0 leader, flanked by five agents, brought significant muscle, with the lead agent seemingly at an Admiral level. Judge had prepared nearly ten thousand clone prototypes, having spent the upfront payment from the Underworld. The remaining funds would be pure profit to continue his research.
"Vinsmoke, don't you think you're being too greedy? We've already paid you 25 billion berries. Once Doflamingo falls, you'll have to face the wrath of his little brother. You have no idea what kind of monster he is, do you?" A man from the underworld spoke, his voice tinged with fear and frustration.
"He won't be coming after just me. I'm sure the World Government has some contingency in place for the younger Donquixote, right?" Judge turned to the CP0 leader. "We've already made a deal: 50 billion to deal with the matter. If not, I'll take no part in this and disclose your ambush plans. Do you want to become hostile with the powerful factions already gathering for the auction?" Judge's voice was firm, his threat clear.
The CP0 leader glared at the Underworld members, who sighed in resignation. This was nearly all the funds they had managed to save, as the rest of their strongholds and assets fell prey to Doflamingo's wrath. The leader of the Underworld reluctantly gestured for his men to bring in crates filled with berries.
Seeing the remainder of the payment, Judge smirked. He was also plotting to seize the Devil Fruit from the CP agents if possible, using the chaos that would ensue during their clash with Doflamingo.
"All this is well and good, but will Doflamingo really make it to this auction? Without him, all this preparation would be a waste," Hector Barbarossa questioned. After his loss to Rosinante, he had been brooding, and when the World Government assigned him to take down the older brother using a trap, he eagerly accepted the opportunity.
"And don't forget, there are quite a few powerful forces who have come for the mythical Zoan fruit. Even one of Big Mom's commanders is present," he added.
Everyone flinched at the mention of Big Mom. To lure Doflamingo, they spread details of the auction far and wide through the underworld network, attracting powerful forces interested in the Devil Fruit.
"Forget about Big Mom's forces. Our sole target is Doflamingo. As long as we can eliminate him, the rest are inconsequential. Remember, you're backed by the World Government, and several Marine forces are on standby in the surrounding seas. We have to ensure Doflamingo is dealt with today, no exceptions, and don't worry about Doflamingo; he will definitely make it," the CP0 leader said in a chilling tone.
To him, everyone here was a pawn. He would gladly sacrifice them all to achieve his objective. The higher-ups had also given him a secondary mission: to closely observe Vinsmoke Judge's experiments. Despite letting him go, Judge's association with MADS and his involvement in lineage factor research warranted constant surveillance.
With the massive influx of resources, he must have made some headway in his research. If there were substantial results, the CP0 leader was to bring back the details, especially regarding the biosoldiers.
The stage was set for a high-stakes confrontation. The fates of the Underworld, the Germa Kingdom, and the Donquixote family hung in the balance as they prepared for the inevitable clash.
The underground auction arranged by the Vinsmoke family was nothing short of grandiose. The venue resembled a magnificent opera theater, with its domed ceiling adorned with intricate frescoes and gold leaf accents.
Ornate chandeliers hung from above, casting a warm, golden glow that illuminated the grandeur of the place. Rows of plush, velvet seats were arranged in ascending tiers, ensuring every attendee had a perfect view of the stage. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation and tension, a palpable sense of excitement mingling with underlying fear.
Kings and influential leaders from all corners of the world had gathered, each hoping to secure something of great value. The Vinsmokes had spared no expense in ensuring the security and exclusivity of the event. The entrance to the auction was guarded by Germa 66 soldiers, their imposing presence deterring any unwelcome guests.
Inside, attendees were ushered to their seats by elegantly dressed ushers, each wearing the emblem of the Vinsmoke family.
Among the distinguished guests, the most eye-catching force was undoubtedly the delegation from the Big Mom Pirates, led by Charlotte Smoothie. Smoothie, one of the Sweet Commanders of Big Mom's crew, stood out not only for her towering height but also for her fierce demeanor.
With a bounty of close to 600 million berries, her presence alone sent shivers down the spines of many. Her long, flowing silver hair and piercing eyes added to her intimidating aura. She was accompanied by a contingent of loyal and equally formidable pirates, each ready to act at a moment's notice.
The auction began with a flourish. An elegantly dressed auctioneer took the stage, his voice amplified by hidden speakers that ensured everyone could hear him clearly. The first item up for bid was a rare and ancient sword, said to be a part of the 21 great grade swords.
The bidding war was intense, with kings and underworld brokers vying for the prized weapon. The final bid, a staggering 800 million berries, came from a king from the West Blue, his face beaming with triumph as he secured the weapon. As the auction progressed, the items became increasingly rare and valuable.
"Oye Shanks! We don't have a single berry to our name, and look at all these dangerous figures surrounding us. Why are we even here?" Buggy questioned, his eyes darting nervously around the auction venue. Their ragtag group had grown into a decent-sized crew. In recent months, after reuniting with Buggy, Shanks has started to recruit members for their pirate crew.
Now, the Red-Hair Pirates boasted six members: Shanks, Buggy, Yassop (who they recruited in East Blue), Lucky Roux from South Blue, Lime Juice, and their most recent addition, Benn Beckman, whom they recruited in North Blue.
"Buggy, have you forgotten who we are? We're pirates! Why would we need to pay for anything? We simply steal things when we need them," Lucky Roux commented with a laugh, taking a big bite out of a piece of meat.
"Captain! Are we going after the devil fruit?" Lime Juice asked Shanks, who was casually sipping on the complimentary juice provided by the auction venue. They had originally stolen the invitation from an underground broker after Beckman informed them about this large auction, whose final prize was a mythical Zoan fruit.
Although none of their crew was particularly keen on devil fruits, they desperately needed funds to get their pirate ship. Shanks was not going to settle for anything less than the best. He already had someone in mind to commission their ship from in Water 7, and to make it out of the best materials, they needed berries—a lot of berries. This auction came at the right time.
"Bastard! Why are you calling him the captain? I am the Captain of the Red-Hair Pirates," Buggy protested loudly, though everyone knew Buggy well enough to chuckle at his outburst. Beckman, new to the crew, couldn't resist the chance to tease him.
"If you were the captain, shouldn't it be called the Red-Nose Pirates?" Beckman smirked, provoking Buggy further. Buggy jumped up, ready to confront Beckman, but Shanks caught him before he could cause a commotion.
"You! Who did you say has a big nose? Look how I beat you to a pulp! I'm the captain!" Buggy protested vehemently, making the rest of the crew smile. Their vice-captain was indeed an entertainer.
"Buggy! Calm down! Look, they also seem to have some sort of treasure map. Maybe we can steal that too later," Shanks said, instantly redirecting Buggy's attention back to the stage, his anger already forgotten.
"Shanks, don't you think something is off with this venue?" Buggy questioned, his instincts on high alert. Though the atmosphere seemed vibrant, something felt amiss. Even Shanks felt a nagging sensation since they had entered the auction venue.
His eyes involuntarily darted towards the empty VIP box, which seemed to attract many curious glances. People with Observation Haki could clearly sense that something was off, and he had even detected some strange movements outside the venue.
"There!" Beckman whispered softly, "That man, he isn't part of the Germa forces." Beckman started pointing out a few butlers and guards dressed as Vinsmoke family employees, but Beckman, with his keen intellect, could tell they were too disciplined and meticulous, standing out compared to the rest of the Vinsmoke staff.
However, Shanks had already zeroed in on a few individuals seated among the participants who were formidable fighters just disguised as guests. "Just be careful later. We'll target the ones carrying the most valuable items and bail. We don't want to get caught in whatever these people are planning," Shanks advised, his voice low but firm. He had earlier detected a presence that posed a threat even to him, so he needed to tread carefully.
After his clash with his sister Agana, Shanks had been growing at a monstrous rate, and even Buggy himself was improving at a decent pace. Though not at Shanks' level, Buggy could hold his own in a fight. Nearly escaping death had somewhat altered Buggy's usually cowardly attitude, making him a bit braver.
As the auction continued, the crew watched intently. The atmosphere in the grand theater, filled with some of the world's most influential and dangerous individuals, was electric. Kings and influential leaders from all corners of the world had gathered, each hoping to secure something of great value.
The auctioneer took the stage again, his voice echoing through the hall as he introduced the next item: a rare Eternal Log Pose that pointed to a mysterious island in the New World. The bidding war was intense, and the final bid of 800 million berries came from a king from the North Blue.
Throughout the event, the organizers kept a close watch on the VIP boxes, especially one that remained conspicuously empty. It was reserved for the "Heavenly Demon," Donquixote Doflamingo. His absence was unsettling to many, as his presence or lack thereof could drastically alter the dynamics of the auction. The air was thick with speculation and tension as everyone wondered if, and when, he might make an appearance.
Just when the auction was nearly three-quarters done, there was a sudden stir in the area reserved for the Donquixote Pirates. Many had assumed that the "Heavenly Demon" wouldn't make an appearance, but contrary to their expectations, Donquixote Doflamingo stepped onto the balcony, clad in a tailored white suit and wearing his signature black shades. Following him were four cloaked figures, likely his bodyguards. Eyes lit up with a cruel glint across the auction venue as they realized the snake had taken the bait.
From a nearby VIP box, Charlotte Smoothie couldn't help but smirk. She turned to one of her siblings, who had accompanied her to the event. They had already procured a few valuable items that might interest Big Mom, but their main goal was the mythical Zoan fruit.
"Say what they may, the man sure has balls to step into this venue knowing it's an elaborate trap laid out for him," Smoothie remarked. With the Big Mom Pirates' extensive information network, they were well aware that this auction event was more than it appeared to be.
And with an equally powerful network of his own, Doflamingo was undoubtedly aware that this was a trap. Yet there he sat, unbothered by the plans and schemes surrounding him, like a king on his throne. His guards took seats on the couch beside the VIP box, their presence adding to the tension in the room.
The auctioneer, momentarily thrown off by Doflamingo's entrance, quickly regained his composure and continued with the proceedings. The room was now charged with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Every faction present was on high alert, aware that the situation could escalate at any moment.
"Do we act now?" A CP0 agent disguised as an employee whispered, his eyes darting towards the VIP box where Doflamingo sat, overseeing the auction with a smug smile plastered on his face.
"No, not yet!" the CP0 leader replied, his tone cold and calculating. "Make sure the surroundings are all clear. We cannot afford any surprises. He must not slip past our net." The gravity of the mission weighed heavily on him. If he failed, the elders would personally ensure his disposal. The stakes were too high—Doflamingo was the key to controlling the monster known as Rosinante.
The agent nodded and discreetly moved to relay the orders to his fellow operatives scattered throughout the venue. The tension was palpable as they blended seamlessly with the crowd, their eyes vigilant for any signs of trouble.
Meanwhile, the auction continued, but the air was thick with anticipation. High-ranking pirates, influential kings, and notorious underworld figures were all gathered, each with their own agenda. The mythical Zoan Devil Fruit was the ultimate prize of the evening, but many eyes remained fixed on Doflamingo's VIP box.
*****
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