While the auction was in full swing, Tian Qi's detached attitude drew disdainful glances from the nearby nobles. Normally, those who could get a seat in the first row were either rich or noble, but Tian Qi didn't look like a noble at all, and his lack of spending might indicate financial problems.
However, Tianqi remained indifferent to the strange looks he received from others. He thought to himself, "I have the Sharingan, I can sit wherever I want, and nobody can tell me what to do."
"Now we'll move on to the next round of auction items, everyone please take a look!" Disco said, lifting the red cloth behind him to reveal three pale-faced girls. They were disheveled and their eyes were filled with deep fear.
Clearly, they were filled with despair and terror about what was to come; whoever bought them would only bring them torment.
"Look everyone, these are slaves no less than mermaids. Even though they are young, they are very beautiful. Whether you buy them as servants or for other purposes, they are a very good choice. And most importantly, they are three sisters!" As he spoke, Disco revealed a lewd smile. He thought that any man could understand what he was saying.
He then dropped his lewd smile and shouted, "These three slaves will not be auctioned individually but as a set. The starting price is 30 million Berries, and each bid must be at least one million Berries higher. Those interested can start bidding now!"
"Hehehe, that black-haired girl is really good-looking. If I buy her and raise her for a few years, she will definitely become a rare beauty. Plus, she has sisters to keep her company. The price isn't expensive. I'll offer 30 million Berries!" A fat, middle-aged man with a big belly shouted with a lewd expression.
When the three girls heard the host Disco's words and saw an obese man start bidding, they were immediately disheartened. If they were really bought, their lives would probably be ruined, and their future days would probably only be filled with torment.
While Tianqi was bored, he turned his attention to the three girls on the stage. He didn't realize until he looked at them that they were familiar to him, especially the girl in the middle with the delicate black hair.
Huh? Why does she look so familiar? There aren't many familiar characters in One Piece, but this girl gives me a very strong sense of familiarity. It seems she must be an important person, and definitely has a lot to do with Luffy and his crew, otherwise I wouldn't feel so familiar with her.
Although he didn't recognize who this person was, Tianqi didn't care too much. Since they were important people, it was a good choice to save them and leave a debt of gratitude.
"Just three weak, lowly women. I want them for fifty million Berries. Don't try to take them from me!" The middle-aged Celestial Dragon sitting next to Tian Qi shouted arrogantly. He was going to raise the price by twenty million Berries to take the three girls.
When they saw that it was a Celestial Dragon who had spoken, all the nobles present shook their heads. The fat middle-aged man who had made the initial bid did not raise the price. It was clear that although he was a nobleman, he did not dare to compete with a Celestial Dragon for something unless he was tired of living.
"Hmph! I didn't expect to get it so easily, how boring!" The middle-aged Celestial Dragon smiled smugly upon seeing this. No one dared to steal what the Celestial Dragons wanted.
Although the three girls on stage were all of low social class, it was undeniable that the black-haired girl in the middle was quite beautiful; keeping her for a few years would definitely make her a great plaything.
However, just when the Celestial Dragon thought he had acquired three exquisite playthings, a sudden voice shattered his illusions.
"I'll offer 100 million Berries!"
"What?!" When the Celestial Dragon heard Tian Qi's offer at noon, he was immediately incredulous. Not only did he raise the price by 50 million Berries, but he also dared to compete with him for something. He wanted to see who dared to be so bold.
However, when he saw who his competitor was, he immediately looked disdainful. What could this person, dressed in such ordinary clothes, possibly have to compete with him? He arrogantly said, "You lowly, inferior person, you dare to try and steal from me?"
"Tch, idiot!" Tian Qi glanced at the Celestial Dragon and immediately looked disdainful.
The people in the pirate world are just a bunch of weaklings. If it weren't for the protection of the World Government, how could they be so arrogant? As for Tianqi, an outsider with no family or weakness and great strength, he is not afraid of the so-called World Government at all. When it comes to physical strength, Uchiha Tianqi has never been afraid of anyone. The threat of the Celestial Dragons is meaningless to him.
The moment the word "idiot" was uttered, the nobles present were utterly astonished. From the moment Tianqi offered 100 million, everyone had been silent, ready to watch the show. But now that the word "idiot" had been uttered, everyone's eyes widened. Daring to compete with the Celestial Dragons for something and then insulting them was undeniably courageous. However, the price of such courage was far from simple.
"What! How dare you insult me, you damned lowlife! Are you looking for death?!" The middle-aged Tianlong's face turned red, and as he spoke, he immediately pulled out a golden pistol and pointed it at Tianqi's head.
However, just as the Celestial Dragon was about to pull the trigger, the auctioneer ran over and grabbed the Celestial Dragon's hand.
"Lord Hiross, please calm down. We're still in the middle of an auction, so please don't act impulsively. Besides, we can deal with this lowly person later. Compared to you, his pitiful wealth is nothing. Also, no matter how much you bid, I will sell it to you for the starting price of 30 million Berries!" Disco said in a low voice.
He was actually quite helpless. The main course, the mermaid, hadn't even been served yet. If something went wrong now, they wouldn't be able to continue. You know, mermaids are very profitable. If they were to be ruined because of something so trivial, he would really be devastated.
Hearing Disco's words, Shiros put away his golden gun, snorted coldly, and said, "Dare to oppose me? Just wait for the Admiral to hunt you down!"
In fact, large-scale auctions like this are all backed by the Celestial Dragons. Every year, the auction houses allocate a considerable sum of money to them. Hirose didn't want such an ignorant person to disrupt the auction. After all, you can't afford to mess with money.
"I'll offer 500 million Berries!" With Disco's promise, Shiros was full of confidence when he called out the price, offering 500 million Berries right off the bat.
The unsuspecting nobles shook their heads when they heard the price of 500 million Berries. The Celestial Dragons were truly wealthy and powerful, spending so many Berries for just three slaves. They were indeed worthy of being called Celestial Dragons.
"Five hundred million Berries is nothing, I'll offer one billion Berries!" Tian Qi said casually, leaning back in his chair. He didn't have a single penny to his name, and he wasn't planning on getting these three girls through normal means today, so he just wanted to name his price.
Upon hearing the figure of one billion Berries, Shiros's expression immediately changed. It wasn't the price that bothered him, but rather his displeasure at Tianqi's actions in opposing him.
"I'll offer two billion Berries!" Suppressing his anger, Shiros shouted again.
"Four billion Berries!" Tian Qi calmly announced the astronomical price.
Upon hearing this exorbitant price, Shanks, sitting in the back row, also had a strange smile on his face. No one except the great pirates of the Grand Line could afford such a price of 4 billion Berries. And this person bidding against the Celestial Dragons didn't even blink when he quoted 4 billion Berries, as if he wasn't spending his own money. Isn't this obviously a form of short-selling support?
"Dare to play this game with the Celestial Dragons? This is going to be interesting!" Shanks looked at Tian Qi with a smile, wanting to see how this guy would handle things.
"Going against the Celestial Dragons, this guy is really interesting!" In a dark corner of the auction house, a middle-aged man with a gaunt face and gray hair watched the scene with great interest.
"Ah!!! Fifty billion Berries!!" Hirose completely erupted, roaring out the astronomical price.
"One hundred... billion Berries!" Despite the Celestial Dragon's roar, Tian Qi calmly and unhurriedly announced an unprecedented price.
"Damn it! This is outrageous! How could you, a damned lowly person, possibly have so many Berries? If you can produce 10 billion Berries today, I'll gladly give you these three slaves. But if you can't, I'll have the Admiral kill you right now!" Shiros stood up and roared at Tianqi.
However, he secretly added in his heart, "Even if I have to give you 10 billion Berries today, I'll take your life. I want both your money and your life."
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