Chapter 8: 8. Akazakura

Located in Grove One, this is the largest auction house on Sabaody Archipelago. As Alex stepped through the gate, he was met with a wall of noise—excited chatter filling the air. Inside, thousands of seats were packed in a circular arrangement around the central stage. The auction hadn't yet begun, but most seats were already occupied. After collecting his number from the welcoming attendant, Alex made his way to his assigned seat, number "403," following her enthusiastic guidance. Scanning his surroundings, he quickly noted the clear division in the seating arrangement, marking a sharp contrast in social status. His section was filled with pirates, outlaws, and common folk—individuals not held in high esteem by the world at large. Across the aisle, the other section was populated by nobility and influential figures, and he could feel the disdainful glances some of them cast toward his side. Despite this separation, the nobles showed no open objection to sharing the auction space. Perhaps it was out of respect for those running the event or the satisfaction of flaunting their wealth in such a public setting. After a half-hour wait, a spotlight illuminated the center stage, drawing everyone's attention and signaling the start of the event. The auction house fell silent. A dapper man in a suit stepped onto the platform, bowing deeply to the guests before moving to the podium and formally announcing the beginning of the auction. Snap! The host struck the gavel sharply, instantly igniting the atmosphere. A welcoming lady dressed in a bunny-girl outfit gracefully emerged from backstage, holding a small bottle filled with a mysterious liquid. "This," the host proclaimed, "is a tonic developed by a certain medical nation. It promises to extend life and strengthen the body—a perfect remedy for anyone needing extra vitality, especially those recovering from... strenuous activities." After some intense bidding, a nobleman in the VIP section claimed the tonic for 2.7 million berries. The auction rolled on, showcasing a variety of unique items: an advanced Gatling gun, reinforced combat armor, a finely crafted turret designed for pirate ships, and even one of the famous Blades. Each item was met with a flurry of bids, pushing prices higher and higher. Interspersed with these artifacts, the auction also featured a darker display of human lives for sale. There were daughters of fallen aristocrats, slaves from defeated nations, pirates forced into labor, and renowned chefs and shipwrights—all brought onto the stage to be bought by eager bidders. For Alex, this was his first time experiencing an auction of this nature, and he watched with interest, waiting for the grand finale he knew was coming. Finally, after more than thirty items had been sold, the host cleared his throat and struck the gavel with a more deliberate, dramatic force than before. "Now, we enter the grand finale of the evening!" As soon as the words left his lips, the audience murmured with anticipation, some even rubbing their palms together, awaiting what was to come. From backstage, two bunny-girl attendants emerged, one holding a long sword and the other a small black box. It was clear to everyone that these two items would be the highlight of the night. The host straightened, clearly thrilled to be presenting such rare treasures. "This auction house is honored to bring these items before you tonight. Even here, such items are almost never seen!" His words instantly focused all eyes on the stage. "First," he announced, "we present one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Blades, the famous sword known as Akazakura. Also referred to as a 'Cursed Sword,' its dark red scabbard is engraved with sakura blossoms from top to bottom, and its blade is razor-sharp, slicing iron as if it were mud." The host continued, "This blade is designed for pure offense, sacrificing all defense for devastating power. It was once wielded by a pirate with a bounty of 200 million berries, who famously defeated a pirate with a bounty of 400 million. However, its cursed nature led to the wielder's eventual demise in battle." He paused to let the crowd absorb the gravity of his words. "As one of the rare Great Grade Blades, its value is beyond question. We will begin bidding at 200 million berries, with a minimum bid increment of 10 million berries!" The audience buzzed with excitement, and in an instant, hands flew up to place bids. Knowledgeable collectors and wealthy nobles raised the stakes rapidly, driving the price over 400 million berries in less than thirty seconds. On Alex's side, he remained calm, refraining from joining the bidding frenzy right away. After all, he had plundered over 100 million berries from pirate ships recently, a considerable sum but nowhere near enough for a proper bid. Instead, he sat back, already prepared to act by more... unorthodox means. The bids continued, until finally an elderly noble closed the deal with an offer of 460 million berries, securing Akazakura as his prize. One of the attendants on the left carried the sword back backstage, while the other stepped forward, placing the black box on the podium before the host. The host's demeanor shifted to one of solemnity as he carefully opened the box. The contents were then projected onto a large screen via Den Den Mushi, allowing everyone a clear view of what lay inside. Resting safely within the box was a Devil Fruit, its brown surface marked by the signature spiral patterns. A murmur spread through the crowd, as nearly everyone recognized the rarity and importance of such a fruit. Among the seasoned attendees of Sabaody's auction, even the sight of this mysterious fruit was enough to captivate the room.