Chapter 20: Killing Some Celestial Dragons!

[Research Project]: "Investigation into the Intrinsic Relationship Between Conqueror's Haki and Bloodline Factors"

[Necessary Conditions for This Study]: Blood Factor Theory, ???

[Necessary Conditions Not Met]

When Edie saw the three question marks listed among the necessary conditions, he was momentarily stunned. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation in his research simulations. His curiosity piqued, he focused on the question marks, prompting the system to display a corresponding explanation:

[Lack of Critical Knowledge]

"...Perhaps it's some fundamental knowledge equivalent to the 'Blood Factor Theory,'" Edie speculated. But what could it be? He had no clue, and after pondering for a while without finding an answer, he decided to set the matter aside. There was no point in fixating on something that would only lead to frustration. Edie closed the research materials he had been studying, got up, and left the laboratory.

"Chenlong," he called.

"My Lord Heavenly Father, what is your command?" Chenlong replied promptly.

"How was the gold handled six months ago?"

"40 billion beli has been exchanged through the black market, and there are still about ten tons left," Chenlong reported.

Edie nodded, satisfied with the results. With 40 billion beli in real cash, Edie was now wealthier than the rulers of some nations. For example, in the New World's Dressrosa, when Shichibukai Doflamingo demanded 10 billion beli from King Riku, the king couldn't even come close to gathering the sum and had to resort to borrowing from the citizens.

But now, with this vast sum at his disposal, Edie mused, "Building a cloning laboratory should be feasible with this amount."

Edie was not planning to construct the cloning lab in Wanokuni; instead, he intended to choose a new location. The ultimate goal was to establish a scientific island, with the cloning laboratory being just the first step in this grand vision.

"By the way, Heavenly Father," Chenlong interjected, "you've always asked me to keep an eye out for Devil Fruits in the market. Recently, there's been a rumor that the Sabaody Archipelago is about to host a grand auction, where a Devil Fruit might be featured."

"Is the information reliable?" Edie asked.

"It's what the black marketeers who purchased our gold mentioned. I can't confirm its authenticity," Chenlong replied cautiously.

After considering the situation, Edie decided it was worth investigating. Despite having spent over two and a half years in this world, he had yet to lay his hands on a real Devil Fruit. Acquiring one was now imperative, primarily for research purposes. Devil Fruits possessed a mysterious property—once someone took the first bite, they would gain the fruit's powers, rendering the rest of the fruit useless. Understanding this enigmatic process could prove invaluable.

"When is the auction scheduled?" Edie inquired.

"Tomorrow at 2 p.m.," Chenlong answered.

"You should have informed me earlier," Edie remarked, slightly exasperated. "Prepare everything; we're going on a trip. Also, inform Zishu to join us."

Sabaody Archipelago, situated at the end of the first half of the Grand Line, is where all the pirates who set sail from Reverse Mountain eventually converge. Following their magnetic sails, they are drawn to this notorious island, a place known for both its allure and danger.

Edie arrived at Sabaody the day before the grand auction was to take place. The event was scheduled for tomorrow at Grove No. 1, an area within the lawless zone of Sabaody, specifically in Area 1. The archipelago itself is divided into 79 distinct areas, with Areas 1 to 29 being lawless zones where all manner of illicit activities are conducted openly—human trafficking shops, auctions, casinos, and red-light districts thrive without restraint.

"Let's find a hotel first," Edie decided, preferring to stay close to the auction's location. He selected the largest hotel in Area 1 for convenience, settling into a Luxurious room on the second floor.

Edie sat by the window, observing the chaotic yet strangely organized world outside. Chenlong, ever dutiful, brought him a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

"Lord Heavenly Father, what are your orders?" Chenlong inquired.

"Go find someone who knows the conditions for participating in the auction," Edie replied, dropping a few sugar cubes into his coffee and stirring it thoughtfully. Such trivial tasks were beneath him; his subordinates could handle them while he enjoyed his coffee.

As Chenlong left to gather information, Zishu, ever restless, exhaled sharply and asked, "Heavenly Father, why bother with formalities? Can't we just crash the auction and take what we want?"

"We are not pirates," Edie responded, savoring the rich aroma of the coffee, though he couldn't help but sigh at Zishu's relentless inclination toward violence and robbery.

A short while later, Chenlong returned with the information. "Sir Heavenly Father, I spoke with the hotel owner. To participate in the auction, capital verification is required. You need to show you have at least 10 million beli to qualify."

This was a reasonable precaution to prevent just anyone from barging into the auction and causing disruptions. However, Edie wasn't interested in following the rules.

He shook his head and said, "Find a pirate with an invitation letter and take it from him."

Zishu couldn't help but grin. "So, in the end, we still have to resort to robbing someone."

Edie glanced at Zishu, contemplating whether to give the mischievous clone a taste of what he called "Heavenly Father's love." Zishu's eagerness for trouble reminded him that Roger must have been quite a handful as a child. Perhaps a little discipline wouldn't hurt—though the thought of crossing paths with some Celestial Dragons and giving them what they deserved was equally tempting.

The next day, Edie arrived at the auction with two of his Earthly Branch subordinates. Chenlong had effortlessly secured entry by presenting the stolen invitation, allowing them to blend into the crowd.

As they entered the grand hall, it was clear that the attendees were a mix of the wealthy elite, dressed in luxurious garments, and rougher sorts—likely pirates looking for entertainment or opportunity. The opulence of the event contrasted sharply with the darker undercurrents of Sabaody Archipelago. Edie, Chenlong, and Zishu, with their distinct presence, stood out among the other attendees. Though they didn't fit in with the upper class, they also weren't completely out of place among the more dangerous-looking participants.

The auction organizers seemed to have anticipated such diversity in their guests. The seating arrangements were carefully planned, with the first floor reserved for ordinary participants and the second floor for nobles and the exceptionally wealthy. Despite this attempt at segregation, a palpable tension hung in the air, the unspoken divide between the rich and the pirates adding to the atmosphere.

As Edie and his group took their seats, the lights in the auction hall dimmed. Suddenly, two spotlights illuminated the center stage, drawing everyone's attention. The auctioneer, a man named Chibis, stepped into the light, his garish attire giving him the appearance of a circus ringmaster.

"Welcome, human elites, princes and nobles, and the brave heroes of the sea who have traveled far and wide to be here," Chibis announced, his voice echoing through the hall. "We are honored to have you at this grand auction event!"

He waved a small wooden stick theatrically as he spoke, adding to the showmanship of the moment. "Before we begin, please enjoy a delightful song and dance performance!"

With a flourish, Chibis bowed and exited the stage as the red curtain lifted, revealing a group of dancers clad in revealing outfits. They began to perform, their graceful movements captivating the audience. However, Zishu seemed unimpressed, resting his chin on his hand and crossing his legs impatiently.

"What's the point of this? Why don't we just get started?" Zishu muttered, clearly uninterested in the performance.

A man sitting nearby, grinning lewdly, leaned over to Zishu. "Hehehe, these dancers aren't your everyday entertainment Little boy," he said, his eyes gleaming. "Each one of them is worth a fortune. It takes hundreds of thousands of beli just to spend a night with one."

Edie, mildly surprised, raised an eyebrow. "Is this really happening at an auction?"

The man sneered in response. "Where do you think you are? Here, if you've got the money, you can buy anything." He then introduced himself, "Name's Jurgis, navigator of the Raven Pirates. Got a bounty of 33 million beli. You guys are pirates too, right? What's your bounty?"

Edie, not a pirate by trade, simply replied, "Edie, a scientist. My work primarily involves research in human cloning."

"A scientist?" Jurgis blinked, puzzled. "What's a scientist doing at an auction like this?"

The lawless zone of Area 1 was known for its population auctions, not exactly a place for academics or researchers. However, Jurgis quickly put two and two together in his own way.

"Oh, I get it," Jurgis exclaimed, slapping his fist into his palm. "You're here to buy some 'experimental supplies,' right? Need some bodies for those human experiments of yours, eh?"

Edie remained silent, taken aback by the leap in logic. It was a big misunderstanding, but it was clear that in this world, people often had very specific—and often twisted—views of what scientists might be up to.

What's going on in this world? Edie thought to himself. Can't anyone just appreciate pure scientific inquiry without jumping to such conclusions?

After a brief conversation with Jurgis, Edie's attention was drawn to a sudden commotion on the second floor. Turning to look, he spotted three Celestial Dragons making their grand entrance. Their presence immediately caused a ripple of unease throughout the room.

"There are actually Celestial Dragons here!" Jurgis muttered, his expression tightening with fear. "Are they the 'distinguished guests' the auctioneer mentioned earlier?"

The Celestial Dragons, also known as the World Nobles, were the self-proclaimed gods who had ruled the world for over 800 years. They were instantly recognizable, dressed in their peculiar, space suit-like white garments and soap bubble helmets. The auction organizers had obviously anticipated their arrival, reserving the most prestigious seats on the second floor directly facing the stage.

As Edie observed them, Jurgis quickly lowered his voice and hissed, "Don't stare at them! Looking directly at these 'gods' is considered offensive. You could be killed!"

Edie couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of it all. These so-called gods, with their inflated sense of self-worth, seemed more like performers in a circus than divine beings. The three Celestial Dragons were men in their late twenties or early thirties, and their mere presence had cast a heavy silence over the room. Even the princes, nobles, and wealthy elites who normally carried themselves with arrogance now kept their heads bowed, as if in submission.

Zishu, unimpressed, leaned back with his arms crossed and casually picked his nose. "They look so weak. Why's everyone so scared?"

"Because harming a Celestial Dragon brings down the wrath of a Marine Admiral," Edie replied with a dismissive shake of his head. "Not that we should give a shit."

Sabaody Archipelago was known to be the playground of the Celestial Dragons, so their presence here was hardly surprising.

As they conversed, the dance performance ended, and the auctioneer, Chibis, reappeared on stage. With a flourish of his wooden staff, he signaled the start of the auction.

"...Thank you for your patience, everyone. Now, let's begin! Here's our first auction item!"

A female staff member, masked and composed, stepped onto the stage, followed by two men pushing an iron cage. Inside the cage were three trembling little girls, their eyes wide with fear. Edie's gaze narrowed as he recognized them. The girl in the middle, with her delicate face contorted in terror, seemed especially familiar.

"Allow me to introduce these fine specimens!" the auctioneer declared, clapping his hands theatrically. "These girls have an extraordinary origin. They were captured from the ship of the Nine Snakes Pirates!"

He paused, letting the revelation sink in before continuing, "For those unfamiliar, the Nine Snakes Pirates are an all-female pirate crew, led by the Empress of Amazon Lily!"

The crowd murmured in astonishment as Chibis dropped his next bombshell. "And what's truly remarkable is that these three girls are none other than the daughters of the Empress herself! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, these are three sisters!"

The starting price was set at 5 million beli, with each bid needing to be at least 1 million higher than the last. Immediately, the wealthy bidders on the second floor sprang into action.

"10 million!"

"11 million!"

"12 million!"

The price soared rapidly, approaching 20 million in a matter of moments.

"So they're the three Boa sisters from Amazon Lily... No wonder they looked familiar," Edie mused, resting his cheek on his hand. He finally confirmed the identities of the three girls: Boa Hancock, the eldest; Boa Sandersonia, the second sister; and Boa Marigold, the youngest.

The auctioneer's claim that these girls were the daughters of the current Empress seemed dubious to Edie, likely a ploy to drive up the price. However, regardless of their true parentage, Edie decided he wanted to win the bid.

"Chenlong, bid 30 million," Edie ordered calmly.

Chenlong raised the paddle, prepared to make the bid, but before he could even speak, an excited voice from the second floor rang out, silencing the entire room.

"100 million!"

The bidder was one of the Celestial Dragons. The room fell into a hushed silence, all eyes turning towards the second floor in a mix of awe and terror.

Zishu's expression darkened as he understood what was at stake, but Edie remained composed. Without a hint of emotion, he stated, "Zishu, get ready... We're going to kill him."