As if sensing something.
Below the stage on the right, the old man who had always worn a spectator's expression, his gaze left the central position. For the first time, he turned his head, looking up at the private box on the second floor.
Despite the wall's obstruction, he could see a peerless sharp sword about to be unsheathed in his crimson glowing eyes.
"Truly amazing!"
He had experienced much in his life.
Setting out from the East Sea, he had traveled the world, visited sky islands ten thousand meters high, descended to the fish-man island ten thousand meters deep in the sea, journeyed to the final island, understood the secrets hidden there, and witnessed Roger's entire journey to becoming the Pirate King.
His own strength was also top-tier in the world, and he had seen countless geniuses. Yet, he had never seen anyone as astoundingly talented as this.
As far as he knew, that silver-haired kid was only 17, about to turn 18, and this lightning-wielding girl, who made him feel pressure and sense a sharp edge, was only 16 and a half!
Sixteen years old, not yet an adult.
Although she had the enhancement of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, that overwhelming sharpness, characteristic of a swordsman, was not granted by the fruit but forged through arduous training.
To reach this level at sixteen, her talent must be extraordinary.
And as far as he knew, that silver-haired kid was also a swordsman.
At this moment, his swordsman's heart, dormant for so long and almost sealed by the dust of time, couldn't help but stir, giving rise to an impulse to spar with Gu Yina and Kouta.
He even wanted to know who possessed the ability to teach such two swordsmen, destined to astound the entire world.
Outside the auction house.
Ace sat by the entrance of a restaurant, picking his teeth after a satisfying meal and settling the bill.
He only resorted to dining and dashing when he was penniless.
Having just arrived from the New World, he certainly had money on him.
"Why hasn't that silver-haired guy arrived yet?"
"Didn't he say it would be in these two days?"
*Ptooey!*
He lowered his head and spat out a piece of sinew he had picked from his teeth into the trash can beneath the table, shaking his head and discarding the toothpick.
"Never mind, I'll go for a stroll!"
"Perhaps they've already landed, and I just don't know about it."
Thinking this, Ace stood up, politely thanked the waiter nearby, and then leisurely walked out.
Just then, the auction house doors suddenly burst open, and people surged out like a tidal wave.
Some were running and screaming.
"Ah! A Celestial Dragon has been beaten, a Celestial Dragon has been beaten!"
Everyone who heard the screams stopped what they were doing, their faces instantly contorting with terror.
Anyone who clearly understood the content of the shouts dropped everything they were doing and turned to flee in the opposite direction of the auction house.
These residents of the Sabaody Archipelago feared Celestial Dragons from the bottom of their hearts.
Even upon hearing that a Celestial Dragon had been beaten, they felt no shred of joy. Instead, they harbored resentment towards the scoundrel who had struck the Celestial Dragon.
This was followed by unparalleled fear.
For everyone knew that a Celestial Dragon being beaten was an event of immense magnitude, and their island would soon be occupied by the Marines, with an Admiral arriving shortly.
"Guest, please hurry and leave! The Admiral, the Admiral will be here any moment."
The waiter who had been standing next to Ace was also among the fleeing crowd. He was not a local of the Sabaody Archipelago but a worker from another island. As he passed Ace, he kindly warned him.
"Haha!! I understand, thank you!"
Ace bowed and thanked the waiter, then said, "You go ahead! I'll be there shortly."
"Alright then!"
The waiter glanced deeply at Ace. From Ace's attire, he knew Ace was no ordinary person. Moreover, he sensed a hint of familiarity from the tattoo on Ace's back. After all, this was the Sabaody Archipelago, and many people recognized the flag of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Therefore, he didn't say anything more, left the restaurant, and quickly merged with the fleeing crowd.
Why didn't Ace leave?
Firstly, he was a member of the Whitebeard Pirates. Even if an Admiral arrived, they couldn't do much to him.
Furthermore, with his current strength, even if he couldn't defeat an Admiral, they couldn't catch him if he wanted to escape.
Secondly!
He had heard the news he was looking for amidst the crowd.
"I didn't expect you to be at the auction house!"
He looked up at the auction house, a look of surprise on his face.
Even though he wasn't afraid of Celestial Dragons, he knew that hitting one would cause a lot of trouble.
Just then, as if sensing something.
"This aura?"
Ace gazed at a spot on the second floor of the auction house, his eyes instantly sharpening.
"So strong."
He retracted his gaze, glanced at the suddenly silent street outside, and his figure became a blur. In a flash, he rushed towards the auction house.
Since his target had appeared, he naturally had to go.
Even if an Admiral was arriving soon, it wouldn't stop him from challenging the silver-haired one.
He didn't care about all this!
After all, he wasn't the one who hit the Celestial Dragon, was he?
Further down the street from the auction house.
The Marines, who were evacuating the crowd and heading towards the auction house, stopped abruptly as they saw the surge of people pouring out.
Kiman, the Rear Admiral leading the way, looked at the approaching crowd in the distance. The unease that had been in his heart finally subsided.
After all, the unknown was the most unsettling thing.
But what followed was a rapid thumping of his heart.
He knew that the worst must have happened.
The silver-haired one must have clashed with a Celestial Dragon.
Only a Celestial Dragon could cause such chaos on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Indeed, as the crowd poured out, it brought news of the silver-haired one hitting a Celestial Dragon.
He ordered the Marines to establish a perimeter and prevent anyone from entering. Then, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his pocket, stepped aside, dialed, and contacted Marine Headquarters.
*Bururu!*
*Bururu!*
Marine Headquarters, Marshal's Office.
Only a dozen minutes had passed since Sengoku had issued instructions to Kiman when the Den Den Mushi rang again.
As soon as the Den Den Mushi rang, the three people in the room instantly tensed up.
Sengoku's gaze fell upon the Den Den Mushi. He straightened his posture, reached out, and grabbed the receiver, speaking directly, "This is Marine Headquarters, Sengoku. Is this Rear Admiral Kiman?"
"Did something happen on the Sabaody Archipelago?"
"Reporting to Marshal Sengoku, something has indeed happened on the Sabaody Archipelago."
Looking at the panicked crowd around him, Kiman tried to keep his voice calm, but the slightly nervous tone made the hearts of the three in the Marshal's Office sink.
"Speak quickly, how serious is it?"
Sengoku asked calmly.
Even though they knew this situation was possible beforehand, when it actually occurred, it caused the mood of the three in the room to instantly plummet.
"I hope the worst doesn't happen."
This was the shared sentiment of the three in the room.
"Silver-haired, Silver-haired, hit Saint Charlos."
"Phew~ Thankfully, he just hit him."
Hearing Kiman's reply, the three in the room simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm currently evacuating people on the outskirts."
Kiman continued to speak, but the three in the room, and their previously uncertain emotions, were clearly different.
However...
"We can't know what's inside the auction house..."
The voice stopped abruptly here, and so did the gradually relaxing mood of Sengoku and the other two.