Lara's POV;
We left Mrs Chicken Wing with the money on our ship. She will guard it to her last feather, at least that was what I think her clucking was meant to say. Maybe I should try and speak with her while having my angel fruit activated? I think there were some angels that could speak or at least understand animals.
Anyway, we were back on the street with the rest of the crew. We also took two suitcases with us, in case we see something we like. I also took our newest Devil Fruit with me, maybe we can find an auction where we can sell it.
Which is exactly what I will ask now. “Say Marine boy, is there a nearby auction where we can sell or buy Devil Fruits?”
He thought about it for a moment and even took a small booklet out to check something. “There is ma'am. There is an auction house on grove 2 that has daily auctions where everyone can sell and buy Devil Fruits. It's called the Fruitiness Sin.
If we hurry we might be able to take part in today's auction.” I nodded and looked at the rest of my crew.
“Alright, Lia and I will go there and try to sell our newest fruit. You can do what you want. We will meet up at grove 1 where they will hold the human auction. I want to see what happens there,” I said to them.
“Do we get pocket money?” Asked Yosaku hopefully. I wordlessly opened one of my suitcases, grabbed a few stacks of money and tossed each of them some, about half of the suitcase.
Nojiko made a quick count of her stack and nodded. “ Each of us should have something around 50.000.000.”
“Anything we should remember little Marine?” Asked Yosaku our guide.
The Marine gulped and nodded quickly. “Yes, if you see a World Noble, don't attack them, don't speak to them, don't look at them and don't remain standing. It's the best to avoid them if that's not possible then try to not gain their attention. Kneel down and stare at the ground.”
“Weren't the World Nobles these fuckers that think themselves to be the kings of the world and are basically nothing but slaver scum?” Asked Noa, just in case he missed something.
The Marine paled visibly and looked around if someone has heard Noa. There were quite a few that did and they all were whispering with each other. “The World Nobles are the leading force behind the World Government,” said the Marine with carefully chosen words.
“Anyway, do whatever you want, but don't forget to meet up with Lia and me at the auction on grove 1 before the auction starts. We won't sit within the audience, look for us at the back,” I said, forcibly dropping the topic.
Slander of the World Government can be done later. Kamy will be sold in a few hours and I want to have finished with my other stuff before that happens.
“Right, Fiara do you want to come with me?” Asked Nojiko. The tiny woman agreed happily and jumped off from Jo's shoulder and over to Nojiko's. Together they both left us and were walking towards the ferry.
“Hey Marine kid, where can we find something fun on this island?” Asked Jonny.
“On grove 30 through 39 have an amusement park. And grove 1 through 29 are more for the 'rowdy' population. We have little Marine presence there, you might find attractions for older people there.” Answered the Marine carefully. He was really trying not to tell us that every grove between 1 and 29 was lawless. “Grove 40 to 49 contains the tourism and shopping district.”
“Seems like I will have to catch up with Fiara and Nojiko then, see you guys later.” Shouted Jo, already mid-sprint.
“Well then, grove 2 it is, lead the way!” I ordered happily. Jonny and Yosaku will come with us for some time until they see something they like.
The Marine was a little afraid of going into a lawless territory but did not protest, he led us diligently and soon enough we were on a personal ferry towards grove 2.
On our way, we could see that the houses and shops became less and less luxurious. The people wore less expensive clothes and wannabe gangster were stalking us from the side of the grove canal.
The ferryman was leaving us as quickly as possible, after dropping us off. Jonny and Yosaku saw a small bar and excused themselves. That left Lia and me with the Marine.
“Say, what would you do if we decide to break the law now?” I asked our guide out of boredom. We were close to our destination, but close was not there.
“I won't be able to stop you, so I can't do anything but ask you not to.” He answered carefully.
“And then report us once we are back within the Marine Base?” I followed up with a grin. He gulped audibly but said nothing. Which was basically a yes.
“We're here, this is the auction house. It also seems as if we are in luck, the signs say that you have half an hour left before they stop their acceptance of articles.” He said in hurry. I allowed him to drop the subject and walked into the large store he has pointed out. There were quite a lot of guards stationed out and inside the building.
A woman with a collar greeted us, she wore a pretty dress, but it was obvious that she is a slave. Upon seeing us she bowed deeply before speaking. “Greetings honoured customers, how may I serve you?”
“We'd like to sell and maybe buy a Devil Fruit, please bring us to whoever checks the merchandise,” I replied. She bowed again and gestured us to follow her.
She led us to a counter, manned by a man with a business suit, he was not a slave. “Good day Ladies, we of the Fruitiness Sin welcome you into our fine business. What can I do for you?” He was totally ignoring the Marine, as was the slave.
“We'd like to take part in the auction and sell a Devil Fruit we have no need off,” I answered.
The man took a Devil Fruit encyclopedia from behind the counter and waited for me to take out the Fruit I want to sell. I took the Logia fog fruit out of a bag and placed it on the counter. “This is the Fog Fog Fruit, a Logia Fruit that allows the user to transform and create fog,” I explained briefly.
The man flipped through his book for a moment before finding the page he was looking for. He then takes a good look at our fruit and the picture in his book. “It seems as if everything is in order. We can estimate a price for your fruit of roughly 50.000.000 to 100.000.000 Berry. It being a Logia increases the price, however, its obvious lack of combat ability lowers it as well.” I think he was lowering the price by a large margin.
“How much do you take for selling the fruit?” I asked next.
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He replied swiftly. “10%” Huh, not worth it. We aren't exactly in need of money.
“Thanks for informing us, I have decided against selling our fruit. However, we will still take part in the auction.” I said while putting the fruit back. He looked a little pained for having lost the chance of selling it but did not try to increase his prices. Which means that he wasn't trying to bullshit us.
“A ticket for the auction costs 50.000 Berry and there won't be a refund if you don't find something of interest. Refreshments and food are in the price included.” I pulled the needed money out of the half-empty suitcase and handed it over. The man saw my other case and got a greedy glint in his eyes. “The maid will escort you to your seat. For references, here is a list of the common price for each Devil Fruit type.” He handed over a list and waited for us to go away from his counter, a business smile firmly placed on his face.
I stepped a little away and took a look, Lia was reading from over my shoulder. The Marine kid was awkwardly standing next to the silent slave maid.
Fruitiness Sin:
Devil Fruit General Prices;
Paramecia;
1.000.000 – 100.000.000
Zoan;
5.000.000 – 250.000.000
Logia;
30.000.000 – 300.000.000
All prices may vary depending on the present bidders.
All good so far, we have 750.000.000 Berry with us, enough to buy whatever we want. I looked at the maid and she understood the silent go. She led us through the building and into a large auditorium. A stage in the front and tables placed all around the hall.
A lot of bidders were already present, waiting for the event to start and eating or drinking expensive stuff. We decided to take a table on the back and close to the door. It has chairs for six. The moment we sat down the maid asked us what we wish to drink or eat.
Neither Lia nor I wanted to eat anything that might be drugged, so we declined. But we told our Marine kid that he can take whatever he wanted. The kid was eyeing the food at the other tables with clear interest.
He happily ordered something that wasn't something sweet or had any chicken, so it instantly lost any chance of being good enough to even look at. The maid left and came back with the ordered food a moment later.
Our Marine kid inhaled the smell deeply and took a bite that he savoured with a blissful expression. “Is the food of your cafeteria that bad?” I asked with a laugh.
He looked as if he was a deer caught in the headlight of a car and nodded with a beet red face. “It isn't the best, even more so if you don't have a high rank. But it is still food and makes you full.”
I nodded in understanding and thanked Lia with a kiss for her cooking. The Marine kid blushed again and a trickle of blood run out of his nose. Lia found it funny and played with him by sexily nibbling on my ear before sitting back into her seat.
A lot of the males around us have seen her display and were now getting berated, beaten or glared at from their women. Some recognised us and whispered to each other. Two men were even bold enough to walk over to us and sit down at our table.
“Good day my lovely ladies, may we introduce ourselves?” Spoke the first of the two. He was clad in expensive clothes, wore more jewellery than a wannabe rapper and smelled heavily of perfume and tobacco.
“No, piss off,” I replied annoyed. Does he think he is worth the air I need to form words with? Not that I need to use my voice box any longer to speak. I am able to replicate my own voice with my Devil Fruit.
He looked angry and was about to say something. It probably would have something to do with his parentage, his influence and what else he does not have archived on his own, but merely got because he was born into the correct family.
His friend or brother had more brain and put a hand on his mouth before he stood up and dragged him away from the table. We weren't bothered by anyone else and the auction started with the dimming of the light.
A man walked up a platform on the very front and stopped behind a speaking podium. He cleared his throat and spoke into a transponder snail that was linked to a few other snails along the walls of the hall.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am happy to greet you again for today's auction of Devil Fruits, here at Fruitiness Sin. Today we have a total of six fruits. Each unique on its own and with a special ability for whoever eats it.
Let us begin with the first piece on our list, “ a woman came from behind the curtains and pushed a cart into an illuminated cone. She stopped and lifted a certain cloth off from the fruit. It was red with pink markings.
“This here is the Paramecia: Rope-Rope Fruit, with it you can control any kind of rope. Starting price will be 1.000.000” There was not much interest in this fruit. A few short bids and the fruit was sold for 1.500.000 Berry.
The woman pushed her cart back off of the platform and another took her place. “The second fruit is another Paramecia Fruit. It is the Steal-Steal Fruit, the user can steal something of another person with merely a touch. You can steal a ladies panties by touching her shoulder.” The joke at the end was well liked and I could see more than one who would like such a fruit.
“Lara,” said Lia quietly. I nodded, this fruit will be able to do way more than steal objects. The name sets the limit. What if I want to steal life energy, age, strength. Heck, it could be possible to steal the strength of other Devil Fruits.
“The starting price will be at 20.000.000 Berry, do I hear 25?” He started the bidding and it quickly rose up to a hundred million. Slowly the bidder dropped off one after another until only two were left. A shady looking guy completely clad in dark robes and someone with a Marine cap.
“150.000.000!” I said loudly while raising my number. It was 30 million above the last bid and I hope that the other two will drop out after such a high increase.
“150, do I hear more? Maybe 175?”
“160!” Shouted the shady looking guy. I glared at him and applied a little bit of my vibration power to his bowels.
“165,” I said calmly while watching the man squirm in his seat. He looked to be very uncomfortable.
“165, does the mister with the number 21 wish to increase?” Asked the auctioneer. He got a low groan as an answer before the man stood up and run out of the room with as much haste as possible.
“Eh, well. I think that was a no. Anyone else? More than 165? 165 for the first,...second... and sold. The Steal-Steal Fruit was sold for 165 Million Berry to the lady with the number 69.
I nodded towards the maid, she took the money from me and left for a moment to bring me my fruit. She came back a moment later with a small chest and a Devil Fruit encyclopedia. The chest had my fruit inside and she showed me the page of it in the book to confirm my purchase.
The following five fruits were less interesting. One that allows someone to produce lettuce, it was bought by a man with the pirate sign of Big Mom. One that could turn soap into explosives, then one that changed the user into a husky. A Logia that turned the user into dough, also brought by the Big Mom guy and lastly another Zoan fruit that changed the user into a pangolin. The last one was funny, as I knew the previous owner.
Lia had to visibly restrain me from buying the seventh fruit. It allows someone to turn everything the user touches into a chicken. I really wanted to have that one and shouted almost instantly a hundred million. Lia then clamped a hand on my mouth and sighed in relief when the Big Mom guy outdid my bid.
I glared at her and retaliated by licking her hand. She only put a finger in my mouth and moaned quietly when I played with it. Not fair, I wanted to be able to create my own chicken farm. There wouldn't be much profit, with me eating all the product, but who cares.
The eight fruit was another fruit, but of unknown effect. The bidding was started with a price of 500.000 and I threw in a 13 million. No one wanted to risk anything and I got it.
The ninth fruit was again a Paramecia Fruit called the Zap-Zap Fruit, it was able to give the user the ability to create an electric current within his or her body. The voltage could go up to 10.000 volts. The electricity could then be released upon touch or as an uncontrolled charge.
It got sold for 25 million. Might have been funny to see Lia electrify her attacks, but not worth the attention.
And lastly, with a grand deal of building up the tension, the last Fruit was pushed on stage. A green fruit with plus markings. “Our last piece is a Fruit with great potential. The Paramecia Regen-Regen Fruit. The user of this fruit gains an almost unstoppable healing factor. They were seen to have regenerated wounds like lost limbs, cuts, stabs or bullets. There are even cases of headshots and one case of decapitation. The starting price will be 100.000.000 Berry.”
“Do we want that one?” I asked. Lia thought for a moment and then nodded. It was again a concept fruit, healing only yourself will not be everything this fruit will be able to do.
The price was already at 350.000.000. “ 450.000.000!” People turned around to look at me. Rising the price this much above the price before was rare. No one said anything and the auctioneer slowly started to ask for anyone else to bid.
None did and we gained our third fruit for today. Really, we majorly only bought them because this way no one else could have it. These two fruits can be very dangerous.
I gave the maid the money and waited for our fruit while watching the other people in the hall. A lot of them were staring at me, some whispering with each other, some speaking into transponder snails.
“Marine kid, get ready to get mugged. These guys won't leave us alone, not with three Devil Fruits on us,” I said happily and watched with a wide grin how the Marine kid got as white as a sheet of paper.