The Straw Hats conversed, and slowly Nami returned to her normal self. She didn't mind having Hachi around, as he was polite, and Caime asked for forgiveness on his behalf. Nami acknowledged it and said she would think about it.
"You guys are pretty hot right now. So many of you have been termed as Supernovas."
"What is a Supernova?" Zoro asked.
"Supernovas are new pirates who have emerged from different seas and caused quite a scene in the Grand Line. Any pirate who has a bounty of more than 100 million berries is considered a Supernova, and almost all of you have bounties exceeding that," explained Shakki.
Upon hearing this, some of them were happy, some were scared, and the only one crying was Chopper. Almost everyone in the crew had bounties over 100 million berries, except for Brook, Franky, and Chopper.
Brook and Franky felt a little down upon hearing that they didn't make it to the Supernovas, but they weren't as depressed as Chopper. To calm him down, Nami gave him a cotton candy, which made him forget about his bounty.
Shakki proceeded to introduce the other Supernovas and showed them their wanted posters. The list included Law, Hawkins, Kid, X Drake, Capone Bege, Apoo, Killer, and Urouge.
"No other pirate group has so many Supernovas on one ship. In fact, you are the first in history to have such high bounties in the Grand Line. You must have really pissed off the Government," Shakki remarked, to which everyone simply smiled.
None of the Straw Hats actually cared about being labeled as Supernovas or being seen as hotshots. They had their own purpose for being there.
"We will book the ship's coating when we sail to Fishman Island," Ken said, expressing his intention to book the services of a man whose partner was skilled in coating ships that could reach great depths. Shakki smiled and nodded.
"What is coating?" Luffy, of course, was curious. Vivi had to explain the process, which only confused Luffy more.
"Well, Hachi, do you want to come with us and experience some excitement?" Ken asked.
"Excitement?" Hachi wasn't sure what he wanted.
"Yeah. We need to meet your friend, and we're going to have some fun," Ken said. This excited Caime and Pappagu, who pleaded with Hachi to let them join. Hachi was hesitant, as the island was not safe for Fishmen, but Nami used magic to make it appear as though Caime had legs and even transformed Hachi to look like a normal, albeit ugly, human.
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It was Nami's way of expressing her anger toward Hachi, but he didn't mind.
After bidding farewell to Shakki, they set off on their way.
"They are going to cause quite a ruckus on the island. I better close up shop," Shakki thought, as she was certain that the Straw Hats were going to do something outrageous. She could see it in their eyes.
After passing through various marked trees, they arrived at their next destination.
The Grove 1.
The Human Auctioning House, under the control of Doflamingo. As they approached, Ken could easily sense the greedy gazes that were already fixated on them. By the time they reached the Auctioning House, their identities must have been exposed, but it didn't bother the Straw Hats at all. After paying some fees, they entered the Auctioning House and took their places.
Ken looked around and was pleased to see other people present as well. Kid, Law, and Killer were already there. It seemed that at least this part of the story was consistent. Not only had Ken noticed them, but the two pirate groups had also taken notice of each other.
Kid gave Ken a devilish smile when their eyes met, while Law maintained his usual constipated expression, showing almost no emotions other than irritation.
"Nami, you know what you have to do," Ken said.
Nami nodded, her smile masking her dissatisfaction with what she was about to do. However, she knew it didn't matter in the end. The Auction House was filled with noise, but it suddenly fell silent as some important customers made their entrance.
The Celestial Dragons. They entered slowly, wearing their bubble hats and white coats, looking down upon everyone as if they were beneath them. Their arrogant attitude alone angered the Straw Hats. They carried slave chains in their hands, with humans following them like dogs.
Caime and Pappagu, who had been enjoying themselves until then, shuddered upon seeing this. They had heard countless stories of the World Government's cruelty, but seeing it up close was a different experience. Once the Celestial Dragons entered, the auction finally began.
As it was a human auctioning house, humans were being sold left and right, and people placed bids continuously, creating a chaotic atmosphere.
"Now, for the highlight of today's auction, we have an extraordinary offering that will surely capture your imagination and captivate your senses. I present to you an enchanting being of the sea, a creature whose ethereal beauty and mystique have graced tales for generations—a mermaid."
"Ladies and gentlemen, I urge you to behold the magnificent creature before us. With flowing iridescent hair and captivating eyes, she embodies the epitome of otherworldly allure. Her presence radiates an ethereal energy, whispering tales of the ocean's depths and untold wonders."
"Let the bidding begin." The host of the auction house shouted, his words met with complete silence. A mermaid in an auction was an extremely rare occurrence, and somehow, there was a mermaid among them.
And then the first bid was placed.
"1 billion berries."
It was a Celestial Dragon, Saint Charles of the Rosward Family, who made the initial bid.
"1.5 billion bellies."
Another bid came out of nowhere. If the first bid made the audience silent because of the sheer number of money that was put to bid and the person who bid was too powerful, then the second bid made everyone gasp in horror.
Who the hell was courageous enough to bid against a Celestial Dragon.