Outside the slave auction house, the Dragon Wolf Pirates had clashed with the Marine detachment stationed there. Inside, where slaves were being appraised, the Donquixote siblings naturally heard the commotion.
"What's going on out there? So noisy! Someone go check and tell those pests to get lost!"
Saint Donquixote Mjosgard barked irritably.
"Yes, Saint Mjosgard!" A subordinate hurried out, but returned shortly afterward in a panic. Whispering, he reported:
"Th-this is bad, Saint Mjosgard—it's pirates! A group of pirates is fighting the Marines outside!"
"Panicking over that? Just a bunch of pirates. Aren't the Marines already handling them? Let the dogs do their job. After all, they're the Celestial Dragons' most loyal hounds! Hahaha…" Mjosgard laughed smugly.
But just as his words left his mouth, a squad of Marine soldiers rushed into the hall.
"Everyone, please evacuate immediately! A dangerous pirate crew is advancing toward this venue. Leave through the back—we'll hold the front line!"
The announcement instantly threw the auction hall into chaos. Mjosgard's face darkened.
He had just claimed everything was under control, only for the Marines to declare otherwise moments later. To him, this was nothing less than humiliation. Enraged, he rose to his feet and shouted:
"Today I'll see who dares to leave without my permission!"
Meanwhile, backstage, where slaves awaited auction, a bespectacled middle-aged man sat drinking leisurely in a corner, entirely unfazed.
"What's going on? Sounds like trouble out front. Why's the auction taking so long today?" Rayleigh muttered while sipping from his jug.
"Mr. Rayleigh, you are strange. Everyone else is trembling with fear, yet you act as if you're enjoying yourself," said a burly man chained beside him—today's main "lot," with Rayleigh treated as an accessory.
"Hahaha… what's not to like? Free booze isn't something you get outside!" Rayleigh chuckled.
Just then, auction staff entered, warning the slaves not to move. "Stay put. The Marines are engaging a pirate crew outside—the notorious Dragon Wolf Pirates."
The slaves whispered nervously:
"Tsk, tsk… I've never seen pirates hold their own against a Marine vice admiral before. Their captain's an archer, but he fights a vice admiral head-on in close combat. Terrifying!"
"You don't know the half of it. Their battle captain—the musclebound one—once crushed a World Government special ops unit. He's a monster!"
Rayleigh, about to rise, froze at their words.
"Oi… the Dragon Wolf Pirates' captain—you said he's a boy with a bow? Travels with a giant wolf? And has a red-haired crewmate?" He capped his jug, staring sharply at the staffer.
"Shut up, slave! Stop prying—move it along!" the man snapped impatiently.
The burly man beside Rayleigh whispered in awe: "Mr. Rayleigh… you know them? They've been all over the news—any pirate worth fifty million or more around here's been taken down by them."
"Ah… likely my juniors," Rayleigh said with a wry smile.
"Juniors!?" the man blinked in disbelief.
Rayleigh then grinned. "Well then… It's about time I left this place." With a small flex, he snapped his shackles like twigs.
"W-what are you doing—" the staffer gasped, but collapsed foaming at the mouth before he could finish. The same fate befell the rest of the workers, felled instantly by Rayleigh's overwhelming presence.
Amid the stunned gazes of the slaves, Rayleigh calmly removed the remaining locks from his body.
"Everyone, the chaos outside is your chance. I don't need to explain what to do, do I?" He tossed the keys to the burly man and laughed.
"Mr. Rayleigh…" the man choked up.
"You're free now. Do what you wish. As for me, it's time to check on my juniors." Rayleigh smiled and strode for the exit.
"Mr. Rayleigh! It's presumptuous, but if you need our help, we'll fight with you!" the burly man declared.
"Count us in!"
"Yeah—we'll fight too!" others chimed in.
Rayleigh waved them off. "No need. The battle outside isn't one you can join. Leave, and next time, don't get caught so easily."
Among the slaves were not only humans but also Longarm tribesmen, fish-men, and several mermaid beauties.
Back in the main hall, thanks to Mjosgard's arrogant command, none of the guests dared to leave. Even the Marines hesitated.
"Captain, what do we do?" his soldiers asked nervously.
"What else? We wait," the squad leader sighed.
"Ugh, this is boring. Brother, let's just go back!" muttered Donquixote Tiffany Palace in irritation.
"Patience, little sister. I want to see who dares ruin my fun! Come—we're going to take a look!" Mjosgard smirked.
Though the Marines wanted to stop him, his bodyguards pushed them aside, forcing them to follow.
Tiffany frowned uneasily. The face of Fang Yi flashed in her mind—years ago, he had kidnapped her to steal the Ope-Ope Fruit's user. The World Government had spent immense effort trying to recover from that loss.
"Don't be afraid, little sister. With Marines and guards here, no one can touch us. And Navy HQ is just next door—we can summon an admiral at any moment," Mjosgard boasted confidently.
But the moment they stepped outside, they witnessed Barrett hurling a Marine soldier sky-high with one punch.
"It's… It's them!" Mjosgard shrieked, pointing at Barrett, his arm trembling. Memories of Fang Yi and Barrett's past assault came flooding back.
Tiffany's eyes, however, scanned past Barrett—searching for Fang Yi. And sure enough, she spotted him trading blows with Vice Admiral Cameron, holding his own against a powerhouse of the Navy.
"Quick—call Marine Headquarters! Summon an admiral! I want them all annihilated here!" Mjosgard shouted hysterically, his body quivering with both fear and excitement.
The Marines groaned inwardly. They had urged him to evacuate earlier, but he'd refused. Now, even though Vice Admiral Cameron was holding his ground, Mjosgard still demanded reinforcements. If Cameron learned of this, wouldn't he make their lives hell?
"Rest assured, Saint Mjosgard—with Vice Admiral Cameron here, nothing will go wrong!" the squad leader said confidently.
Smack! Mjosgard slapped him hard across the face.
"I ordered you to summon an admiral! Do you not understand me? Or are you questioning my words?"
Shame-faced, the squad leader clutched his cheek and barked bitterly at his men to signal headquarters.
The ruckus at the entrance drew Fang Yi's attention. The instant he spotted the Celestial Dragons, his heart sank.
"Barrett, Shanks! Take them back to the ship—prepare to set sail immediately!" Fang Yi loosed a volley at Cameron, forcing the vice admiral back as he shouted orders.
Barrett glanced at Fang Yi, instantly grasping his intent. But when he saw Mjosgard among the crowd, his eyes flashed with murderous fury.
"Shanks—you get them to safety. I'll hold the line for Captain!"
Without hesitation, Shanks, aided by Lucky Roux, pulled Tiffany and Jessica toward the Dragon Wolf.
"Hmph! You think I'd forget being thrown into Impel Down because of you? No way am I walking away now!" Barrett roared, smashing Marines aside as he lunged straight toward the Celestial Dragons.
"Damn it! Why are those idiots Celestial Dragons even out here?!" Vice Admiral Cameron cursed, realizing the danger. If the Celestial Dragons were killed on his watch, the consequences would be catastrophic. He broke away from Fang Yi, desperate to intercept Barrett.
Barrett!Fang Yi bellowed, loosing another arrow at Cameron, forcing him to dodge. He only prayed that the Celestial Dragon's guards were strong enough to hold Barrett back.