One Piece: King of the World

After stepping into the lawless zone, Claudius could feel the chaotic energy that permeated the area. However, with Stussy accompanying him and a few discreet guards trailing behind, no one dared to provoke him.

Truth be told, the chaos in the lawless zone rarely affected those who appeared to be well-off or of noble descent, like Claudius. Most of the violence and crime targeted people who were destitute and alone those whose deaths would go unnoticed.

People like Claudius, who exuded the aura of a noble, were seen more as potential patrons in the eyes of the scum of this area. After all, the lower rungs of society depended on these wealthy individuals for their income. And since nobles were not to be trifled with lightly, trouble tended to steer clear of them.

There was no hassle when they entered the auction house. Stussy handled negotiations with the auctioneer, and it wasn't long before Claudius and his group were led to the front row of the venue.

Though Claudius didn't explicitly reveal his identity as a Celestial Dragon, he was seated right behind the reserved area for them, in the second row, just shy of the most prominent seats in the house. He glanced at the two Celestial Dragons occupying those seats ahead of him. They seemed young, probably no more than their twenties.

Claudius couldn't immediately recognize who they were just from seeing their backs, but he could already tell that they were of the same mold as his predecessor typical Celestial Dragons, wasteful and utterly useless.

Understanding their nature, Claudius had no interest in introducing himself or exchanging pleasantries. Instead, he simply sat back in his seat and waited for the auction to begin, paying no attention to the chatter between the two Celestial Dragons in front of him, who seemed to be boasting about their slave purchases.

With nothing better to do, Claudius closed his eyes and began to reflect on his interactions with Dragon over the past few days.

Had he made any real impact? Yes, definitely. Through sheer persistence and rhetoric, Claudius had at least planted some seeds of doubt and introspection within Dragon. But expecting to fully rewrite Dragon's future would be naive.

First and foremost, Dragon was a strong-willed individual. While he might acknowledge some of Claudius's points in the short term, someone like him wouldn't be easily swayed. Claudius could sense that Dragon was more interested in testing his own beliefs against Claudius's arguments rather than blindly accepting them. He was absorbing the conversation, seeking common ground while still maintaining his own distinct ideals.

But for now, this was enough. All Claudius wanted was to establish a rapport, a foundation of friendship. If he could guide Dragon in the future, he would. If not, at least there would be some room for negotiation instead of immediate hostility. Just having a space for dialogue was sufficient for now.

Thinking that he probably wouldn't see Dragon again for a while, Claudius let out a quiet sigh and put those thoughts aside. He focused on resting and quietly waited for the auction to begin.

Soon enough, the auction hall filled up, and the auctioneer wasted no time starting the event.

Claudius had never participated in an auction before, but he had heard plenty about their typical routines. As expected, the initial items were rather mundane and uninteresting. Claudius paid no attention to the early bids for treasures and slaves, finding nothing remarkable among them.

The same held true for the two Celestial Dragons in front of him. They didn't bother bidding on anything either.

The ones truly engaged were the nobles seated further back, eagerly vying for things Claudius couldn't care less about.

"The gap in wealth and power is obvious. The nobles in this world aren't as sophisticated as I'd imagined… Celestial Dragons really are on another level," Claudius mused.

Just as he began to question if he'd come to the wrong place, the auction finally presented something of interest.

The first major highlight of the night was a giant slave, towering and muscular. The giant had a rough yet dignified air about him, giving off the aura of a seasoned warrior. His arms and legs were bound with thick chains, and a massive slave collar encircled his neck.

The moment the giant appeared, Claudius noticed the two Celestial Dragons ahead of him perk up with interest.

From what Claudius knew, aside from rare mermaid slaves, giants were among the most valuable slaves in the market, with a starting price of 50 million Berries.

For most ordinary nobles, this was an astronomical sum. But for Celestial Dragons? It was a trivial amount.

Even lower-tier Celestial Dragons like Claudius received a monthly allowance of 500 million Berries just as pocket money. And with the world government and countless wealthy merchants constantly fawning over them, Celestial Dragons rarely had to spend their own money on luxuries or treasures.

Instead, merchants and officials would scramble to present these items as gifts. There was no way they would dare to ask the Celestial Dragons to pay for anything themselves.

As a result, Claudius had barely touched his monthly allowance in the past six months, saving up a substantial fortune that he intended to use as seed money for his future endeavors.

But for most Celestial Dragons, their biggest monthly expense was probably their extravagant spending sprees on Sabaody Archipelago, and this auction was likely one of the prime outlets for them to blow their funds.

Sure enough, Claudius had no interest in acquiring the giant slave. But the two Celestial Dragons in front of him were more than eager. They started the bidding war at 100 million Berries.

Despite the other nobles being wealthy, none dared to compete with the Celestial Dragons. The two young men seemed to get into a heated argument, raising the bid repeatedly until the price soared to nearly 200 million Berries. Eventually, one of them conceded, clearly upset.

The auction continued, showcasing various intriguing items like brawny fishmen slaves and rare treasures, keeping Claudius entertained. The Celestial Dragons in front, however, did not bid on anything else.

It wasn't until a Devil Fruit was brought onto the stage that Claudius's eyes lit up. With a smile, he gestured to Nya to raise his paddle.

"One hundred and fifty million Berries, for the first bid! Any other takers?" the auctioneer called out, trying to stir up more enthusiasm. "This Devil Fruit is a rare Logia-type! Even if the price were doubled, it would still be an excellent deal…"

Claudius paid no attention to the auctioneer's words. He was genuinely interested in this Devil Fruit because it was the Swamp-Swamp Fruit, a Logia-type fruit often regarded as the "weakest" of its kind.

This fruit wasn't sought after because of its lackluster abilities and the fact that it did little to enhance the user's appearance. But even so, it was still a Logia-type, making it inherently valuable.

The Fruit had potential in the right hands. And if Claudius couldn't find someone suitable to eat it, he could always give it to the Marine's science team once they acquired the brilliant scientist, Vegapunk. In time, they'd develop the technology to transfer Devil Fruit abilities into objects.

At the very least, this fruit could be turned into a tool effectively creating a piece of equipment with a 'storage' capacity similar to a bag of holding. If nothing else, it could even be used to set up someone Claudius didn't like perhaps in a manner reminiscent of how he had been dealt in the past.

Becoming a Celestial Dragon for the past six months had rubbed off on Claudius in some ways. He wasn't above using underhanded tactics now.

Logia Devil Fruits, no matter how "trash" they seemed, were still worth hundreds of millions. They were valuable and rare, so why not grab it?

Without revealing his identity as a Celestial Dragon, Claudius's bids weren't met with any special treatment. But after a few rounds, he secured the Swamp Swamp Fruit for a final bid of 300 million Berries.

The win revitalized his interest in the auction. He leaned forward slightly, eager to see what would come up next.

Soon, the next item made its appearance a beautiful, ominous sword.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please feast your eyes on this extraordinary blade one of the 21 Great Grade Swords. This is the famed Demon Blade, Shindō!"

The auctioneer's voice boomed with excitement. "This blade was acquired at a high price from the black market. But be warned it's not just any famous sword. Shindō is a cursed blade. According to legend, it was forged by a notorious pirate blacksmith centuries ago. The blade has been used to commit countless atrocities, becoming imbued with a dark, malevolent aura."

"However, as the years have passed, the curse seems to have weakened. We believe it's time for this demon blade to be reborn, and we are seeking the one destined to wield it here tonight!"

The auctioneer's fervor was palpable as he introduced the sword.

Claudius's gaze settled on the blade. At first glance, it looked exquisite. The scabbard was crafted from ebony wood, deep black with subtle golden patterns that gave it an elegant, almost mystical aura. A few dark green gemstones adorned the sheath, enhancing its beauty without seeming ostentatious.

The handle, wrapped tightly in blood-red threads, exuded a low-key sense of luxury. Even from a distance, Claudius could feel the faint, lingering malevolence emanating from the blade.

"This truly is one of the 21 Great Grade Swords... A top-tier weapon," Claudius murmured, his interest growing. He'd already made up his mind he had to get his hands on it.

Seeing the look in Claudius's eyes, the butler Nya hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "Your Highness, this sword may look magnificent, but it's a cursed blade. They say cursed swords bring misfortune to their wielders. Are you sure—"

"Hahahaha, what's there to be afraid of?" Claudius interrupted with a hearty laugh. "I refuse to believe that a sword, no matter how cursed, can be my undoing."

The starting price for Demon Blade Shindō was set at an impressive 300 million Berries. Claudius didn't bid immediately but instead observed the room, assessing his potential competition.

Initially, a few of the wealthier nobles entered the bidding, and the price quickly rose to 400 million Berries. However, before long, the Celestial Dragon who had previously bid for the giant slave joined in. With a single bid, he raised the price by another 50 million Berries, clearly showing his intent to claim the blade.

The rest of the attendees, intimidated by the involvement of a Celestial Dragon, soon fell silent, unwilling to risk offending such a powerful entity. But just as Claudius was about to make his move, a new voice suddenly called out from the back of the auction hall.

"500 million Berries." 

Claudius turned, his gaze locking onto a strikingly handsome, middle-aged man seated in the last row. The man's presence radiated confidence and composure, his aura distinct from the rest of the audience.

At first glance, Claudius was taken aback by how good-looking the man was. But on closer inspection, he realized something even more shocking.

"Silvers Rayleigh?" Claudius muttered to himself, eyes widening in recognition.