Soon, with the efforts of Loll and the others, Meiser's group successfully reached the waters near Auction House No.1.
After coming ashore, Nami looked at the massive building in the distance and said, "That's the place, right?"
"Correct," Loll replied.
"Thanks," Meiser said. "Don't forget what I asked of you."
"Don't worry, I won't."
Loll nodded solemnly before turning away with his crew without another word.
"I wonder how Merry and the others are doing..." Chopper said worriedly.
"I'm not sure about Camie's condition, but Merry's situation probably isn't good," Meiser stated.
"Why?"
"Because Merry hasn't used the Reverse Summoning Technique!!"
At these words, Nami and Chopper's expressions changed.
As members of the Straw Hat Pirates, they were well aware of Merry's abilities and knew she could summon Meiser.
Yet... there had been no movement from her. Did this mean something had happened to Merry?
The thought made their hearts grow heavy.
Just then, Franky and Sanji arrived.
"Hey, everyone!"
"How's the situation?"
"We haven't gone in yet," Nami said. "But... Meiser thinks Merry might be in trouble."
Crack
Hearing Nami's words, veins bulged on Sanji's forehead.
"If those bastards dared lay a hand on Merry, I'll kick them to death!" Sanji roared angrily.
"Damn right!"
Franky's face was equally murderous.
"Let's go check it out first," Nami suggested.
"Shouldn't we wait for Luffy and the others?"
"Duval said the auction has already started," Sanji took a deep breath. "No time to wait. We need to assess the situation now."
If the two had already been sold, they'd need to prepare for a rescue operation.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go save them!"
"We can't just charge in. That might provoke the Celestial Dragons," Hachi stopped Franky.
Although the Straw Hat Pirates were prepared to fight the Celestial Dragons if necessary... it was better to avoid provoking them unless absolutely necessary, lest they attract a Marine Admiral!
Those monsters... were beyond their ability to handle.
"Then—"
Before Nami could finish, they saw Meiser silently walking away.
"Hey, Meiser, what are you doing?"
"I'm going to infiltrate and check the situation," Meiser paused. "If I can sneak them out, we won't need to bother with the auction."
Without another word, he continued forward.
The group stared blankly at Meiser's retreating figure until Franky spoke up: "He's right. Meiser's a Ninja—infiltration shouldn't be a problem."
Come to think of it, during their last mission at Enies Lobby, Meiser had similarly slipped unnoticed to where he and Nico Robin were being held.
If not for Robin's stubborn refusal at the time, they could've escaped with Meiser then.
"Alright, leave it to him!" Nami decided.
In response, Meiser simply raised a hand in acknowledgment without turning back, then vanished from sight.
"Let's head to the front entrance," Nami said. "We'll prepare for both scenarios."
"Two-pronged approach?"
"Yeah." Nami nodded. "In case Camie or Merry have already been put up for auction, we can still buy them back."
At the very least... this method carried the lowest risk of angering the Celestial Dragons.
This suggestion was unanimously agreed upon by the crew.
"Everyone, even if it costs us all our Berries, we must bring them back!" Nami declared.
"Right!"
With that, the group rushed toward the main entrance of the auction house.
This scene was noticed by a staff member standing at the back door.
"What are those guys up to?" the man wondered aloud. "Judging by their direction... are they planning to enter through the front for the auction?"
"They're cutting it pretty close..."
But he didn't pay it much mind—as long as they weren't here to sell goods, it wasn't his concern.
Shaking his head, the man glanced into the distance and muttered, "At this hour... probably no one's bringing in any merchandise."
As an auction staffer, his task today was to wait at the back door for potential sellers, but it seemed no one would come.
Having thought this, the man decided to sneak off for a break.
"Hey— Huh?"
Hearing a noise, the man instinctively turned—only for his vision to blur as a rocky hand seized him, dragging him forcefully underground.
The next moment, Meiser emerged from below using the Transformation Technique, expressionlessly pushing open the back door and stepping inside.
"Huh?"
Vic, who happened to be passing by the back door, frowned at the sight. "Reiner, what are you doing wandering in here instead of guarding the back door?"
Then, as if realizing something, his face twisted with displeasure. "You slacker! Trying to sneak off again?!"
"I've told you before—even after the auction starts, sellers might still show up! Did you forget already?"
As one of the managers, Vic knew Reiner's habits all too well.
The guy would slack off at every opportunity.
If not for the fact that Reiner was his cousin, Vic would've kicked him out long ago.
Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, Vic lowered his voice. "You better shape up! If you piss off Lord Disco, even I won't be able to save you!"
"Huh?"
"Cat got your tongue?"
Seeing "Reiner" staring at him blankly, Vic's temper flared.
"Getting bold, are we?"
"You—"
"Are you the one in charge here?"
The question made Vic instinctively wary.
Why did it sound like... the other didn't recognize him?
But that couldn't be—this was clearly his cousin.
Unless... had some ability user taken control of him?
Deciding to retreat and gather backup to restrain Reiner, Vic took a step back—only for his calf to bump against a stool left on the ground.
Clatter
Vic: "..."
At that moment, Vic's blood ran cold.
"Hel—"
"Ghk!"
Meiser gave him no chance to cry out, seizing his throat. Activating his Sharingan, he commanded, "Submit to these eyes!"
In that instant, Vic saw them—a pair of terrifying pupils looming in the sky!
Meanwhile, in the slave holding area of the auction, several men walked in and signaled their companions to open the cell—they were here to take the merfolk away immediately.
"Why are we bringing out the merfolk now?" a staff member asked suspiciously. "Wasn't she supposed to be the finale?"
This high-value merchandise, which rarely appeared even once in years, wasn't being saved for the finale but brought out now? Wouldn't that kill the hype?
"A Pirate Captain Slave just committed suicide. To avoid disrupting the auction, Mr. Disco ordered us to bring the merfolk up now."
"Oh, I see..."
The man's expression cleared with understanding. No wonder they were rushing the merfolk out now. If they didn't quickly bring up a hype-worthy product, this auction might not even proceed properly. After all... there were three Celestial Dragons present this time!
"Miss Merfolk, come with us."
The staff members sneered as they swiftly approached Camie, hoisting her up without hesitation.
"Damn it, let me go!"
Camie struggled violently, but she couldn't break free from their grip. Helpless, she was forced toward the exit and soon taken away.
"Bastards! Let Camie go—"
"Shut your mouth," the man who opened the door stepped in, glancing coldly at Merry. "You can't even save yourself, yet you're worried about others? Don't be delusional, little girl!"
"You'll pay for this..."
"Yeah, yeah, we'll be waiting," the man scoffed. "I've heard empty threats like this at least eighty times, if not a hundred."
As if waiting would change anything...
Merry ignored him, her eyes welling with tears as she watched Camie being taken away. Silently, she prayed that Meiser would come for her soon.
"Hey, why the hell can't you move yet?" The man grabbed Merry's arm and yanked her up, scrutinizing her with a frown. "Don't tell me you're useless now."
If she really couldn't move, this slave would lose all value—a massive loss for them. They might even have to compensate the seller, and that would be disastrous!
The thought made the man's temper flare.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Don't feel like talking to you."
"Tch, still acting tough..."
"You'd better pray you recover," the man sneered. "Otherwise, you're as good as dead."
With that, he callously tossed Merry to the ground, indifferent to whether it hurt her.
"Hey, cut it out."
A member of the Giant Race nearby shot the man a glare. "You're really going to rough up a little girl?"
"None of your damn business!"
"Here, age doesn't matter—only slaves do!"
To emphasize his point, the man spat at Giant, completely disregarding him.
Giant's veins bulged in fury. He wanted nothing more than to crush the bastard, but the chains on the walls were too sturdy. Unable to break free, he could only watch as the man taunted him.
"Go on, hit me!"
"Kill me!"
"Damn it... if not for these cursed chains..."
The Giant's veins bulged with rage, yet he remained utterly powerless. "Tch, can't even move a muscle, yet still acting tough," the man mocked. "Just accept your fate quietly!"
As he spoke, the man whipped Giant a few times with his lash.
Though it didn't hurt the Giant physically, the humiliation was unbearable.
"Just wait till I get my hands on you..."
"Hah, you won't get the chance."
Glancing at the slaves inside, the man remarked, "Well, this auction is almost over."
Once the hot items were dealt with, the remaining cheap goods would be disposed of quickly.
Except for that little girl... Was she really mute?
Thinking this, the man eyed Merry and said, "Girl, that fish-back said your name was... Merry, right?"
"You've got a few minutes left. If you can't stand up by then, we'll have to dispose of you."
Merry gave no response, merely closing her eyes.
The man shook his head, unconcerned—after all, it wasn't his life on the line.
Just then, he noticed Giant had gone eerily silent, which puzzled him.
Had the brute calmed down so quickly?
Suspicious, he looked up and immediately sensed something was wrong.
The Giant seemed to be... staring behind him?
"Who... are you planning to dispose of?!"
The voice from behind made the man's pupils contract sharply, a primal sense of danger flooding him.
He spun around instinctively and was met with a pair of blood-red eyes glaring at him with lethal intensity.
"You—"
"BAM!!"
Meiser gave him no chance to speak, driving a Haki-infused fist straight into his chest—
—shattering his heart on impact.
"Guh—!"
Blood sprayed from the man's mouth as he was sent flying, embedding into the wall.
The other slaves gasped in shock.
Someone actually dared to raid this place?!
"Meiser!"
Merry's eyes lit up with hope—he'd finally come for her!
"Merry, don't be scared. I'm here."
As Meiser lifted her into his arms, Merry bit her lip, tears welling up.
Finally... she broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Waaah!"
"Meiser, they bullied me!"
Cradled against him, Merry wailed like a child who'd found her protector.
"Crack!"
Veins throbbed on Meiser's forehead, fury blazing in his chest.
Those bastards... dared to hurt his little one?!
"I'll make them pay."
"Poof!"
A Shadow Clone materialized beside him, face twisted with rage.
Drawing the Kusanagi Sword, the clone lunged at Vic and cleaved him down in one slash.
"Ghk—!"
The staff who'd just entered froze in horror.
"E-Enemy attack!!"
"Sound the alarm!"
Guards rushed in, weapons drawn, immediately spotting Meiser standing in the hallway.
They didn't know what was happening, but their comrade lay dead on the floor.
Enraged, they charged.
"Kill him!"
"You vermin don't deserve to live!!"
As the words fell, the Shadow Clone swiftly charged forward, unleashing merciless slaughter without hesitation!
"Ah!!"
"Monster, he's a monster!"
"Bastard, do you know whose territory this is? You... ah!"
"I don't care whose territory this is—today, all of you will die!"
"Gah!"
"Ah!"
With a single sword strike, both the back and the group were cleaved apart!
After killing this guy, the Shadow Clone didn't pause for even a moment, continuing to charge toward other enemies, striking without mercy!
This scene deeply shocked the slaves who hadn't yet been sold.
"What a terrifying guy..."
These enemies clad in armor couldn't even withstand a single strike from this man... he's too strong!
"Who are you?"
"Me?" Meiser glanced up at the Giant and said, "I'm this little one's family."
As he spoke, Meiser took out Merry's key, unlocked the collar around her neck, and completely freed her.
Seeing this, the slaves grew excited, but fearing his terror, none dared to speak up.
After a moment, Merry, having steadied her emotions, looked at Meiser and said, "Meiser, can you free this big guy too?"
"He's a good person."
She still remembered what he had said earlier.
"A good person, huh..."
The Giant let out a bitter laugh upon hearing this, never expecting to be called such a thing one day.
In the end, he had only spoken a few words for this little girl, yet she...
If anyone was the good person here, it was her.
Meiser glanced at the Giant and casually tossed the remaining keys over, keeping only Camie's.
Whether this Giant could escape or not was up to him.
As for the other slaves?
The keys were right there. If they had the courage to flee, they could stake their lives on it—he wouldn't stop them.
Seeing the keys on the ground, the Giant fell silent for a moment before saying, "Thank you!"
Meiser waved a hand, saying nothing more.
"Merry, how were you taken?" Meiser asked.
"I was sitting on a small rock, waiting for Luffy and the others to buy me cotton candy," Merry recalled the situation at the time. "But before Luffy arrived, someone covered my mouth."
"I struggled a bit, but then a white cloth was pressed over my nose, and I lost consciousness."
"When I woke up, I was here."
"So that's why you didn't activate the Reverse Summoning Technique..."
Now Meiser understood why Merry hadn't summoned him—she'd been knocked out with an anesthetic!
This was probably also why that man had said those things earlier.
As he thought this, Meiser checked Merry's condition and found she was only a bit weak, which put his mind at ease.
"Your body's fine. You'll regain your mobility soon," Meiser reassured her.
"Mmm..."
"Oh, Meiser!" Merry suddenly grew agitated. "Sister Camie was taken away by them! You have to save her!"
"Alright, we'll go now," Meiser nodded.
Even without Merry saying it, he'd already noticed.
After all... Camie was nowhere to be seen in this cell!
Holding Merry in his arms, Meiser stood up and turned to walk outside.
Outside this unguarded cell, numerous guards already lay dead on the bloodstained floor, their crimson lifeblood painting the corridor red!
Clearly, these were all slain by Meiser's Shadow Clones.
For these scum who aided evildoers, Meiser felt not an ounce of pity.
Death... was their only destiny!
The Shadow Clone wielding the Kusanagi Sword returned and reported to Meiser: "It's done."
"Good."
Meiser nodded and led Merry out of the cell, striding down the bloodied corridor toward the auction hall.
Since his target had already been taken to the main hall, he would naturally go there for the rescue.
Without a word, the Shadow Clone followed closely behind, ready to eliminate any fools daring to challenge its master!
As they approached the exit, Meiser heard Disco's voice booming:
"Ladies and gentlemen, this item is an exceptionally rare specimen! The kind that appears only once every few years!" Disco announced loudly, "This is also today's most anticipated—"
Hearing the ongoing commotion outside, Meiser remarked coldly: "Even with such carnage behind us, the auction continues uninterrupted outside?"
How... bitterly ironic.
With a derisive snort, Meiser strode forward decisively.