Chapter 22 – Auction House
"Thank you, Ash! You're the best!"
Carina was ecstatic. The moment she heard Ash agree, she jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly.
Caught off guard by the sweet fragrance and softness, Monkey D. Ash—who had been single for two lifetimes—felt a rare warmth rush up his cheeks.
Who could resist such an affectionate attack?
"Ahem... Okay, that's enough!"
Ash coughed awkwardly and gently pulled her off him.
After distributing the gold among the crew, Ash returned to his private quarters alone. He had a mission: Points Conversion.
> "Strength is the foundation of survival. Women can wait... Power comes first!"
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🌀 SYSTEM INTERFACE 🌀
[Initiating Points Conversion...]
Countdown: 60 seconds
Gold is being absorbed...
🕒 Tick... tick... tick...
Conversion complete!
🔥 Congratulations! You've obtained: 220,000 Points! 🔥
220,000 Points!
Ash's eyes lit up. That amount translated to 2.2 billion Berries—a true fortune!
> "No one gets rich without risk. I've spent over a decade grinding to earn a few thousand points… and Skypiea gives me 20x that in one shot. I need to find more ways to make money fast."
Ash cracked his knuckles, energized.
> "System, open the store! I feel like spending!"
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🛒 SYSTEM STORE – OPENED
Browsing Category: Limited-Time Weekly Items
Items Available: Devil Fruits, Skill Cards, Legendary Weapons, Medical Scrolls, Flying Equipment, etc.
In the past, Ash had glanced at these items but couldn't afford any of them. Now, with 220,000 points in his account, everything was on the table.
He didn't hesitate.
✅ Wings of the Azure Breeze (10,000 Points) – A flight item that uses wind elements.
✅ Skill: Elemental Burst – Planet Befall (10,000 Points) – Summons a meteorite that petrifies enemies. — ( Zhongli ? )
✅ 10x Skill Upgrade Cards (100,000 Points)
✅ Medical Encyclopedia (10,000 Points)
✅ Ghost Submarine (20,000 Points) – A stealth vessel, perfect for covert travel.
✅ 2x Life Potions (40,000 Points)
Remaining: 40,000 Points saved for emergencies.
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Ash immediately used the skill upgrade cards. His existing move, the Golden Light Curse, advanced from Level 8 to Level 9—and unlocked a new power:
> ⚡ Five Thunders – A lightning-based technique harnessing yin-yang energy, enhanced by Ash's mastery of Tai Chi.
He also upgraded:
Tai Chi +1 Level
Super Speed Movement +1 Level
The Elemental Burst—Planet Befall—summoned a massive meteorite to crash down at blinding speed, petrifying enemies for four seconds.
The Wings of the Azure Breeze allowed Ash to glide through the air using wind and terrain, combining perfectly with his Qi techniques. It was almost like dancing on the clouds.
As for Haki (Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's), Ash tested it, but discovered:
> "No shortcuts here. I'll have to master Haki the old-fashioned way."
Still, his overall strength surged dramatically, and a heavy aura radiated from his body, enveloping the entire ship.
On the deck of the Smile, Enel twitched. He felt it. Power—dense, overwhelming. His eyes flickered toward Ash's room, a flicker of longing flashing across his face.
He wanted to grow stronger.
Ash exited his cabin and saw Enel waiting outside.
"Let's go. I'll teach you how to use Haki," Ash said, tilting his head casually.
Enel blinked. "W-What? You're really going to teach me? I didn't even beg or anything~
Despite trying to act cool, excitement shone in Enel's eyes.
---
The ship continued to sail smoothly. Ash began mentoring Enel in the principles of Haki, and the lightning god listened intently—absorbing every word.
Three days later...
The Smile docked at the edge of a bustling island town. The streets were alive with people, laughter, shouting, and the scent of sizzling food.
Ash and Tuan Tuan wandered into a local restaurant to try the regional delicacies.
Even though the ship had a fully-automated kitchen with gourmet settings, Ash believed that true flavor came from human hands.
"Welcome, sir! What would you like to eat?" A smiling waiter rushed over.
Ash scanned the menu and pointed casually, "This, that... all of these. One of each."
As they waited for food, nearby customers were gossiping loudly:
> "Hey, did you hear? The auction house in town caught a fish-man. They're planning to sell him today!"
> "No way! That's wild! But… too bad it's not a mermaid. I hear mermaids are all gorgeous. I'd pay to see one."
> "Hmph! Keep dreaming. This is his island. Even if there's a mermaid, someone like you wouldn't get close."
> "Tch... true."
Ash frowned slightly, hearing the words fish-man, auction, and slavery. He had a bad feeling.
And then came another bombshell:
> "Also… there's talk of a Devil Fruit being sold today."
> "WHAT?! Are you serious?"
> "Totally! My cousin's uncle's sister's dog's friend's brother swears it's real!" ( ??? )
> "Forget it! It'll be snatched up by a big-name crew. No way small fries like us can compete."
Ash quietly sipped his drink.
> "Human trafficking, Devil Fruits, shady auctions... this stinks of one man—Donquixote Doflamingo, the Joker of the Underworld and one of the Warlords of the Sea."
His eyes sharpened.
It was time to pay a visit to the auction house.
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To be continued…