"1 Billion!"
Ross offered the price casually, ignoring the bystanders who were completely stunned.
Today's auction was forced open by him at the slave auction house.
No matter how high a price he offered today, he wouldn't pay a single Berries.
What's wrong with being a Celestial Dragon and playing a game of 'black eats black'?
"1.1 Billion!!! Ross Saint, don't be so arrogant!"
Saint Rosward shrieked in anger, but his bid still slowed down.
He bought things with real money, and if he had money but still resorted to snatching, wouldn't that damage the image of a Celestial Dragon?
The most important thing was, if this got out, his own kind would say he was a poor ghost with no money.
"1.5 Billion!"
Ross didn't even acknowledge Saint Rosward; too much communication with an idiot could easily lead to becoming one.
"Alright, alright, Ross Saint, I'll let you have this piece of trash toy."
Saint Rosward sat down dejectedly, no longer bidding.
His total assets were only 5 billion Berries; if he fought Ross Saint to the death from the start, he would only be able to watch later.
"1.5 Billion... Sold!"
The auctioneer shouted with a joyful expression, igniting the atmosphere of the entire venue to its peak.
【B-rank defeat achieved!】
【Strength +100,000】
【Special Reward: Conqueror's Haki (B-rank)】
This counts as a defeat?
【Host: Ross】
【Strength: 110163 / 300000 (C-, Marine Rear Admiral)】
【Overall Rating: A (All depends on identity when outside)】
【Skills: Gunmanship (E), Martial Arts (C), Haoshoku Haki (B)】
Clenching his fists, Ross felt the surging power within them and was incredibly excited.
This was too easy.
He didn't even need to defeat them physically, which meant he had a lot of room for maneuver.
Moreover.
Especially feeling the not-so-much, yet incredibly overbearing power within his body, Ross felt a surge of emotion.
If the timing wasn't unsuitable, he would have wanted to unleash it and experience the power of Haoshoku.
Composing himself, Ross looked at Zephyr with a smile:
"Admiral Zephyr, this is my first gift. In exchange for you going against your principles and making a move for me, how's this deal?"
"You know I know him?" Zephyr frowned slightly.
"Admiral Zephyr, strong individuals like yourselves never restrain your emotions; your killing intent is practically written on your face," Ross said with a smile.
"Good! I accept!"
Zephyr's expression softened slightly, and he readily agreed.
Ross already had the authority to command him, and this was also his future job.
Making a move when it didn't align with his principles actually gave him an excuse.
All Celestial Dragons had a dark side, and Zephyr was also curious about what evil lay in Ross's heart.
Zephyr was indifferent to these evils now; as long as all pirates were killed, even if it meant sacrificing an equal number of civilians as a price, he was willing to do it.
Ever since the death of his wife and child, ever since he started receiving daily death lists of his former students in the Great Pirate Era, he was no longer a hero.
In this messed-up world, he couldn't be anyone's hero.
After Ross's first move, he practically intervened in every subsequent pirate auction.
Of course, it wasn't to curry favor with Zephyr; it was only to make Saint Rosward pay more money.
He couldn't snatch money from Saint Rosward, but he could snatch it from the auction house.
"200 Million!"
"400 Million!!! Ross Saint, are you out of money?! Go on, bid again! Hahahahaha!"
Saint Rosward's mocking voice echoed throughout the venue, but Ross paid him no mind, a smile even appearing on his face.
This was the 10th time he had participated in a bid, and Saint Rosward had followed suit 10 times.
Each time, Saint Rosward doubled his bid, buying the slaves for at least 400 or 500 million Berries.
Originally, these slaves would probably only be worth around 100 million Berries.
The auctioneer and manager of the auction house were now beaming with smiles.
"Indeed, it's great that my own kind are all idiots..."
Ross chuckled softly, looking at Saint Rosward as if he were a money-delivering child.
He hadn't expected that coming out to participate in this auction would not only solve Zephyr's problem but also earn him a large sum of extra income.
This world still had many good people.
"Next, please welcome our grand finale item!"
As the auctioneer shouted, a line of women of varying ages were brought out, restrained.
Most of them had beautiful faces, and it was clear they hadn't done any dirty or tiring work before; their living conditions must have been quite good previously.
"Please allow me to introduce this auction item. All of these people are the wives and daughters of Marine officers and two Marine Rear Admirals!"
At these words, the entire venue erupted.
Zephyr's face became even more contorted as he stood up, about to attack the auctioneer.
"Of course, we wouldn't dare sell the families of legitimate Marine officers, nor could those noblewomen be treated as slaves. Those officers and flag officers were Marine deserters, and their families were implicated as a result, demoted to slave status, which is why this auction is taking place."
The auctioneer quickly explained, though it wasn't the first time they had sold slaves of similar status. If the explanation wasn't clear, their auction house would be in serious trouble.
"Marine traitors?"
Zephyr frowned deeply, pondering where these Rear Admiral-level traitors had come from recently.
In the Great Pirate Era, many Marines chose to desert due to dissatisfaction with Marine treatment, but Rear Admiral-level Marine traitors were extremely rare, let alone two of them.
"Tell me the specifics of the desertion!"
Ross's lips curled into a smile, his voice overriding the murmuring crowd.
When he learned there was a group of Marine family slaves here, he was pleasantly surprised.
With Saint Rosward's endorsement of Ross's Celestial Dragon identity, even if most didn't want to listen, no one dared to utter another word; everyone became silent.
The auctioneer dared not refuse, but he didn't know too many inside details, so he could only look to the manager by the side of the stage for help.
"I will explain this matter." The manager stepped onto the stage. "Not long ago, Marine Vice Admiral Jaguar D. Sauro deserted. During his desertion, many Marines, out of old ties, helped him, which delayed the Marine's process of capturing the traitor."
"The actions of these Marines were investigated by the CP Organization, and they were all sentenced to death. Their families also lost Marine protection and were fortunately acquired by us."
Hearing the manager recount the incident, Zephyr's expression changed unpredictably.
He wanted to save these people, but he didn't know on what grounds.
It was a fact that these people's husbands or fathers deserted the Marine, and it was also a fact that they helped a Marine traitor. He was temporarily unaware of what negative consequences had resulted during that time.
However, Zephyr simply could not stand by and watch the families of his former comrades being auctioned as slaves.
His wife and child had died at the hands of pirates, which was why he could even more deeply understand the pain of families experiencing tragedy.
"Ross Saint..."
Zephyr's voice was hoarse, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at Ross.
He rarely asked for favors, but for these strangers, he was willing to ask the Celestial Dragon before him today.
"Coincidentally, I need some servants to clean my palace."
Ross said with a light chuckle, meeting Zephyr's relieved and grateful gaze, and loudly called out:
"1.5 Billion!"
At this sound, the entire venue immediately fell silent.
A Celestial Dragon had bid; even if they had some more 'colorful' thoughts in their minds, they could only give up now.
Moreover, 1.5 billion Berries for twenty-something slaves who weren't stunning beauties was completely not worth it.
"Hmph!"
Saint Rosward snorted, crossing his arms and turning his head away.
He only had 900 million Berries left; he couldn't compete.
However, as long as he feigned disinterest, others wouldn't know he was out of money; at most, they would just think he wasn't interested.
Saint Rosward, you truly are a genius!