Chapter 112

The funds he brought this time were almost entirely spent on this single fruit; the remainder wouldn't even buy something worthy of being the ace up his sleeve for the Martial Arts Tournament.

After all, the focus of this auction wasn't some priceless treasure, but slaves; it was quite fucking disgusting.

If Akin took a liking to this fruit, the Martial Arts Tournament would have to use money as the reward.

However.

Offering a bounty of one or two hundred million Berries, I believe no one in the East Blue could still refuse.

Thinking this, Gao Wen had his answer, stood up directly, and left.

At the auction house entrance.

Several pirates guarding here, seeing Gao Wen walking briskly, followed him under the cover of night, their gazes still fixed on the box in Gao Wen's hand.

The one in the center held a Den Den Mushi receiver, his face bearing a greed as tangible as a physical object.

"Captain, we found a fat sheep here; he spent four hundred million Berries at the auction to buy a Devil Fruit."

"Could this be a trap?"

"I can't lose in the East Blue... Hmm? Lost him?!"

"Something's wrong!"

A cry of shock rang out, and this pirate's face revealed an expression of terror as tangible as a physical object.

For a streak of silver light swept through the night, severing the pirate before him directly at the waist; blood gushed horizontally, entrails spilled onto the ground, releasing waves of nauseating stench.

In the next instant, he also discovered his own arm had already separated from his body, and intense pain surged instantly into his mind.

"Aaaah—!"

A silver-white long blade pressed down on his shoulder, suppressing all his wails completely.

Gao Wen looked at the pirate before him with a cold expression, his voice sharp and cold:

"Where is your captain?"

"I..."

This pirate hesitated for an instant; in the next moment, one of his ears was severed by Gao Wen. Under the dual agony, his body nearly went numb.

Only the instinct of fear made him tremble uncontrollably.

What the hell kind of fat sheep is this? This is the Living King of Hell!

How could such a monster exist in the East Blue?!

In his terror, Gao Wen's voice, devoid of any emotion, reached this pirate's ears again:

"I'll ask one last time, where is your ship?!"

"Your captain's death or your death, you choose!"

For these pirates who targeted him, Gao Wen felt not a shred of sympathy in his heart.

After all, if someone else had come, the final outcome would most likely have been inescapable death.

Moreover, the moment he realized he was being followed, Gao Wen instantly changed his original plan to leave with the fruit.

After all... I am a pirate too!

There's no reason why others can rob me, but I cannot rob others.

Everyone who entered the auction house tonight, whether pirate or noble, is scum destined for hell.

Since that's the case, I might as well earn enough to cover my costs in one go.

While pondering.

The killing intent in Gao Wen's eyes, as tangible as a physical object, pressed down; this pirate's body stiffened slightly, feeling as if his very soul was trembling.

At this moment, he cared nothing for so-called loyalty.

"In the harbor, the Jolly Roger has been lowered, but there is a lion decoration on the bow!"

"Please, spare me!"

The only response he received was Gao Wen's blade, as fast as thunder.

Bang!

A human head hit the ground, spreading a patch of scarlet bloodstains.

After doing all this, Gao Wen raised his hand to flick the fresh blood off the blade, turned around, and walked away quickly, but Xiang Keluo's earlier words suddenly came to his mind.

If you're going to earn, earn big money!

The nobles and pirates who came to this harbor today are all scum, one by one, yet all are dripping with wealth.

However, the factions auctioning tonight are extremely complex, even involving the Tang Jikede family and Baroque Works from the New World.

How to steal everything without exposing oneself is indeed a problem.

While pondering.

The doll shop he saw in the afternoon gradually appeared before Gao Wen's eyes; his heart gradually formed an idea, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

He turned and walked toward the distant harbor.

Under the moonlight.

Several severed corpses lay horizontally not far from the auction venue.

This also made the pirates who originally wanted to track Gao Wen break out in a cold sweat, giving up immediately and turning to track other targets.

A few minutes later.

Daz Bones and Sasha arrived here; looking at the pool of blood on the ground, Sasha said Solemnly:

"All were killed in a single strike, leaving no survivors; the person who struck possesses extremely high proficiency in swordsmanship."

Daz Bones inexplicably felt a bad premonition:

"Could it be the person who bought the Bone Bone Fruit earlier?"

"If it is him, things will be troublesome—!"

He stopped mid-sentence.

Datz-Bernice's voice was cut off by an explosion from the distant harbor.

Boom!

Amidst the towering flames, a damaged warship slowly sailed into the harbor.

Datz-Bernice's gaze halted upon seeing the figure on the deck; his back was instantly soaked in cold sweat:

"King of the Seven Warlords of the Sea - King of the Lizards - Hanafza? How could such a great figure appear here!"

"Things have become troublesome!"

Sasha frowned tightly, his palms already soaked in sweat, for such an opponent was beyond their ability to handle.

"Looking at it this way, the aura that made you feel uneasy at the auction hall earlier must have been him."

Datz-Bernice remained indifferent.

Based on the existing intelligence, the Hanafza in the distance was indeed the only possible candidate.

After pondering for a while with no result.

He simply gave up thinking and, taking Sasha with him, tracked toward where Gao Wen had disappeared.

"End this quickly!"

"Once we obtain that fruit, we leave immediately!"

"Good!"

At the same time.

In the harbor.

Flames rose high; several buildings ignited into a raging Xiong Xiongdahuo, and wails filled the air.

Hanafza stood at the bow, watching everything indifferently.

"Captain, we have investigated clearly; an auction is being held here, and there are fat sheep everywhere!"

"As long as we control the harbor, we can control everything here!"

"At that time..."

Speaking thus.

A cruel smile appeared on this pirate's face.

Hanafza, standing nearby, was still wrapped in bandages, with threads of fresh blood seeping from his wounds.

His original purpose for this journey was to go directly to Raven Port and reclaim the Red Dragon Fruit from Knight Gao Wen, but he encountered Navy attacks consecutively halfway.

His original pirate ship was sunk directly, and even this captured warship beneath his feet was severely damaged.

Coupled with supply issues, he could only come to Loguetown nearby to replenish supplies, yet he did not expect to receive such a heavy gift upon arrival.

"This will barely make up for our losses!"

"Act!"

Following Hanafza's command.

The pirates who had fought their way with him from the Grand Line poured out, waving their swords and engaging in a fierce battle with the guards in the harbor.

Swords clashed, and cannon fire roared.

Amidst the continuously rising explosions, the forces gathered in the harbor were completely crushed by the group of pirates within ten-plus minutes.

Without Smoker's leadership, the combat power these Marines could exert was ultimately limited.

The pirates, whose bloodlust had taken hold, even turned their blades toward the civilians around them.

The harbor of Loguetown instantly descended into chaos.

Everywhere were the wails and screams of civilians; amidst the sound of flames, the bloodthirsty pirates gradually moved toward the interior of Loguetown.

Hanafza stood at the bow, seeing countless civilians lying in pools of blood, yet felt not a shred of sympathy in his heart.

"There is no space for the weak to survive on this great sea; the only value is to become fodder for my growth."

"Tears? Wails?"

"Those are instincts only the weak possess!"

"The strong only stand up again and again until the moment they crush their opponent!"

Everywhere was gunpowder smoke and cannon fire.

Mira, having settled her family, moved through the chaos, looking back at the increasingly chaotic harbor and the cannon fire rising everywhere.

Her face turned deathly pale.

But looking at the several bills in her hand that had long been deformed, she mustered her courage again and hurried toward the location of the auction hall.

Quickly.

A familiar face appeared in the distance.

Not a handsome face, a height of just over two meters, yet the whole body carried a faint sense of controlling everything.

It was Gao Wen, who was also rushing toward the harbor.

Mira's eyes suddenly lit up; she instinctively quickened her pace and said anxiously:

"Mr.!"

"There is a group of very powerful pirates in the harbor; follow me, I will take you to a safe place."

Having said that.

Mira grabbed Gao Wen's hand and turned, running out of Logue Town.

Gao Wen did not struggle, allowing Mira to lead him away, only a hint of warmth appearing in his eyes.

His gaze shifted downward, and he saw the few banknotes Mira held in her hand.

"These coins are not worth you risking so much to save me."

Mira turned her head, a distinct smile on her face:

"My father said justice must be warm, and Mr., you have a warm heart."

"A person like you should not die here!"

Boom!

A shell landed on a building beside the two, erupting in a blinding red light while causing the buildings around Gao Wen to collapse with a roar.

He scooped Mira up, leaping high into the air amidst her startled gaze, then landed steadily by the street.

"Mr., you..."

A flush suddenly rose on Mira's face; only then did she realize the man before her needed no saving from her.

"I was rash."

"No."

Gao Wen shook his head:

"You also have a very warm heart."

As he spoke, the dream the girl had mentioned earlier floated once more in Gao Wen's mind, and he said softly:

"Say, Mira, do you want to see a real dragon?"

"What do you mean?"

Mira was slightly stunned; in the next instant, the doubt in her heart found its answer.

Gao Wen's body suddenly swelled; in the span of just a few breaths, he transformed into a crimson giant dragon a hundred meters long.

Four legs and two wings, his entire body covered in fearsome spikes, radiating an unparalleled might from top to bottom, straight out of fantasy.

Mira, standing on Gao Wen's back, was slightly dazed; her hands instinctively clutched one of the spikes on Gao Wen's back, only realizing what had happened once she clearly saw the giant dragon before her.

"Dragon, dragon, dragon!"

"A real, living, massive crimson dragon with unparalleled power!"

"Is Mr. Gao Wen transformed into a dragon?!"

"Are all the stories about evil dragons abducting kind girls true?!"

Mira muttered softly; in the next instant, she felt her body grow light as a sharp wind blew across her face, and she instinctively pressed her body lower.

Opening her eyes again.

She saw the entire Logue Town from high in the sky.

"Hahahaha—!"

Accompanying that cheerful laughter from high in the sky, the expression on Hanafza's face grew even more iron-green:

"You actually... you actually... you actually dared to eat that fruit?!"

(End of this chapter)