Disco nodded to the two waiters, his head tilted.
He watched them escort the girl off the stage, then introduce again with great enthusiasm.
"So, what is our next item?"
He spun around excitedly as he spoke.
"Alright."
Just then, Koidemu Saint, seated in the front row, clearly losing his patience, shouted loudly at Disco on stage, interrupting his spin.
"Hurry up and bring out the real treasures! I don't want to see these shoddy goods."
"Uh..."
Disco's spinning motion came to an abrupt halt. He then bowed his body and flatteringly said to Koidemu Saint, "The next item, the next item."
He nodded to the waiter standing on the right side of the stage.
Ordinary slaves were brought in from the left. Clearly, the true treasures were behind the door on the right.
"Has it begun?"
In the private room, Pika and Gladius were standing together at some point, their eyes holding solemnity, hesitation, and of course, a greater degree of madness and anticipation.
Since the young master had made up his mind, they naturally had nothing to fear.
Therefore, at this moment, they were filled with anticipation, eager for the Celestial Dragons to truly clash with Silver Hair's group.
As for what happened after the conflict, what about this auction house, and the lives of the people within...
What did that have to do with them!
Backstage, in the dimly lit room, it remained quiet.
However, the iron cage that had been holding the old man was now open, inexplicably.
And the old man who had been lying inside was also gone, without anyone knowing when.
Marine Headquarters.
In the Fleet Admiral's office, besides Garp, Borsalino was now present. They were all staring at the Den Den Mushi on Sengoku's desk.
Sengoku had just finished a call with the World Government.
Regarding the possibility of Koidemu Saint encountering Silver Hair's group on Sabaody Archipelago, the World Government's CP0 organization was likely already en route to Sabaody Archipelago.
"I hope nothing goes wrong."
This was the shared sentiment of the three people in the room. Unlike pirates like Doflamingo who desired chaos, they yearned for peace and tranquility.
Moreover, the main characters in this matter were Silver Hair · Kong Tai, whom they had no idea how to deal with.
So, they wished even more fervently that nothing would go wrong.
Outside the auction house, the CP0 protecting Koidemu Saint also received a message from above at this moment. As soon as they hung up the Den Den Mushi, they quickly rushed into the auction house.
With Koidemu Saint and Silver Hair both inside the auction house, they knew that this time, they might be in for trouble.
And from further away, teams of Marines were rapidly rushing out of the Marine base, dispersing the crowds along the streets and heading towards the auction house.
The leading Rear Admiral Kieman had a look of grimness on his face.
Beneath that solemn gaze, there was also fear.
His mission was not to apprehend Silver Hair, but if a conflict were to erupt between Silver Hair and the Celestial Dragons, to try and evacuate the crowd.
This was a direct order he had just received from Fleet Admiral Sengoku of Marine Headquarters.
Regarding Silver Hair's group, Sengoku had given orders to his admirals a long time ago to avoid conflict if they encountered them.
Initially, like most admirals, he found this order somewhat baffling.
However, with the subsequent rapid changes in Silver Hair's group's bounties, he quickly sensed something different from other pirate crews.
A few months ago, he had even obtained information about Silver Hair's true strength from his superior, Vice Admiral Momonga.
The ability to teleport at will, unparalleled attacks, and the capacity to fight an Admiral for a day and a night without defeat.
These alone were enough to make his heart tremble.
Furthermore, after a few months, Silver Hair's group reappeared and directly killed the Seven Warlord Crocodile. Then, for reasons unknown, their bounty soared to 2.5 billion.
Even the young girl, Blue Hair · Guina, had her bounty raised to 1.5 billion.
Others might not understand the significance of these bounties, but as a Marine, how could he not know the value of bounties exceeding 1 billion?
Once a bounty exceeded 1 billion.
Every pirate was a prominent figure on the seas, a true powerhouse distinct from ordinary pirates.
And such powerhouses were generally beyond the reach of Vice Admirals, let alone him, a Rear Admiral.
Therefore, the moment he received the order, he mobilized, treating this matter as an unprecedented crisis. Of course, he wouldn't be so foolish as to blindly confront Silver Hair's group.
Even if something were to happen, it would be the concern of the Admirals. He wouldn't lead his subordinates to their deaths.
This wasn't evasion, but a rational approach to handling matters.
After all, world-class powerhouses were no longer people who could be defeated by sheer numbers.
Moreover, the order he received was merely to evacuate the crowd.
At this moment, it felt like the calm before a storm.
Surrounding the auction house, everyone on Sabaody Archipelago who had received the news felt an inexplicable pressure.
In a restaurant not far from the auction house.
Ace was eating heartily at a table when his movements suddenly stopped.
As if sensing this pressure, a hint of confusion flashed in his clear eyes, and he turned his head to look outside.
His gaze landed on the several men in black guarding the auction house, who, after receiving phone calls, appeared flustered and anxious.
He had arrived at Sabaody Archipelago a step ahead of Kong Tai and the others, thus he had the opportunity to witness the ostentatious Celestial Dragons and even saw a Celestial Dragon enter the auction house with his butler.
Having been at sea for over a year and navigating the New World extensively, and even becoming the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, he naturally recognized the men in black as the legendary members of CP0.
Kong Tai and his group had entered the auction house through the main entrance.
His own path led to another entrance of the auction house.
Therefore, Ace had not yet seen his target, Kong Tai.
"These guys are CP0, what could possibly make them so flustered?"
Ace chewed his meat and pondered, then shook his head.
Suddenly, with a "bang," his head dropped onto the plate in front of him.
Ace's action startled the other patrons in the restaurant.
"Ah! Could the food be poisoned! Why did he suddenly collapse while eating?"
A customer looked at Ace, quickly stopped chewing, opened his mouth, and spat out the food he was currently masticating.
Hearing the customer's shout, other customers also quickly lowered their heads and spat out their food.
A moment of chaos ensued in the restaurant.
"Customer."
The waiter serving Ace, standing beside him, was also startled by Ace's actions.
However, being professionally trained, he quickly suppressed his fear, reached out, and cautiously extended his index finger, tapping Ace's arm.
"Customer."
Seeing no reaction from Ace, he hardened his resolve, grabbed Ace's arm, and shook him.
"Wake up, customer, wake up."
"Ah!"
Just then, Ace's body suddenly moved. He lifted his head, still chewing.
Ace's sudden movement caused the waiter to instinctively let go, step back, and then cautiously ask the seemingly unharmed Ace, "Customer... are you alright!"
Ace looked up at the waiter with a puzzled expression, then scanned the restaurant. He seemed to understand something and laughed heartily, "Hahaha!! I'm fine, I'm fine."
"I just fell asleep."
"Fell asleep???"
Everyone in the restaurant stared at Ace in surprise, then collectively let out a "Tsk."
"What a relief!"
"So, he just fell asleep!"
"Yeah, I thought the food was poisoned!"
"Haha! I thought the food was poisoned too, glad it was just sleep, you scared me."
Amidst the laughter and chatter, the restaurant returned to its usual state.
Only the waiter, looking at Ace, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Phew~"
"Glad it was just sleep."