Chapter 16

"Big... my lord!"

Within the grand hall of the main chamber, Doflamingo mustered his courage and cast his gaze upon the throne that rightfully belonged to him. However, it was occupied by another figure, and he dared not show any discontent. Instead, a servile smile graced his face.

Seated before him was a being adorned in jet-black dragon scales, sporting horns protruding from their forehead, and adorned with enigmatic purple patterns upon their countenance—a sight both peculiar and unsettling.

This person was none other than the "Dragon of Doom," the infamous Black Dragon, whose recent bounty soared to an astonishing 4.1 billion berries.

Each encounter with the black dragon left Doflamingo confounded, unable to discern the true visage hidden behind the facade.

"Has straw hat Luffy been delivered?"

The black dragon spoke impassively.

"It arrived not long ago," Doflamingo promptly responded, seizing the opportunity to inquire, "Shall I bring him here for your inspection?"

The Black Dragon nodded, his wrath kindled by Monkey D. Dragon's refusal to barter for his son's life. Though separated by vast distances in the sky, the black dragon had no means to take revenge against Monkey D. Dragon directly. However, venting his frustrations upon Luffy would serve as a fitting substitute.

Before long, Luffy, bound and exhausted, was brought before them.

The young pirate appeared dispirited and drained.

The black dragon scrutinized him, noticing the seastone shackles that restrained Luffy's hands.

"Kneel!"

Trebol delivered a forceful kick, causing Luffy to topple, his knees striking the unforgiving floor.

"You bastard!!"

Luffy's eyes blazed with fury as he glared at Trebol. "I'll pummel you to the ground!"

"Heh~~~ I'm eagerly anticipating that," Trebol smirked darkly. He knew that the Roswald family of Celestial Dragons, whom Luffy had defeated at the Sabaody Archipelago, had arrived in Dressrosa.

Once the auction commenced, they would offer a princely sum to purchase Luffy.

Hehe, in the clutches of the Celestial Dragons, Luffy would suffer dearly.

The black dragon advanced, his gaze fixed upon the kneeling Luffy, his anger simmering.

Slap!

His palm struck Luffy's face, accompanied by a resounding cry. "Why are you so destitute? Can't even scrape together a billion for your ransom."

Slap!

Another slap resounded, causing Luffy's right cheek to swell. "As a pirate, if you don't steal, plunder, or kill, what kind of pirate are you?"

Slap!

"You're nothing but a disappointment, even your own father refuses to redeem you."

Slap!

...

Luffy endured a barrage of forceful strikes, receiving blow after blow that left his face swollen and disfigured, resembling that of a pig's head. The black dragon ceased his assault only when he had rendered Luffy unconscious.

"Doflamingo."

Reclaiming his seat upon the throne, the black dragon addressed Doflamingo in a calm tone. "Have you sent the funds for the escaped prisoners from Impel Down?"

"It has already been delivered, a total of 45 billion berries," Doflamingo responded obsequiously. "As a gesture of my welcome, I personally added an additional 5 billion berries, making it a total of 50 billion berries. The funds have been dispatched to G0 base."

"...."

The black dragon cast a penetrating gaze upon Doflamingo, recognizing that the monetary offering was not made in vain.

Closing his eyes, he pondered for a moment. Extorting 101.5 billion berries from Whitebeard, the current 50 billion berries, and the previous ransom of 25 billion berries from Kaido—amounting to a total of 176.5 billion berries.

Furthermore, with the impending auction of the escaped prisoners from Impel Down, the black dragon estimated that an additional 20 to 30 billion berries would soon be added to his account.

"200 billion is within reach."

A contented smile graced the black dragon's countenance. It appeared that one-fifth of his trillion-berries retirement plan had been achieved.

"Take a seat. When will the auction commence?" the black dragon, in high spirits, inquired once more.

Doflamingo glanced at the time and replied, "There is still half an hour remaining, and the VIP room I have arranged for you is ready."

With a wave of his hand, the black dragon signaled his understanding, and Doflamingo promptly withdrew from the room.

—————

The grandiose underground auction house in Dressrosa was bustling with activity. Every corner was teeming with people, creating an atmosphere of extravagance and opulence. The venue was spacious enough to accommodate thousands of attendees.

With a quick sweep of the surroundings, one could spot princes, nobles, and influential figures—captains of notorious pirate crews and powerful individuals from the treacherous New World. These psychologically twisted individuals were drawn to the auction, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to indulge in their depraved desires. Among the crowd were also pirates seeking to bolster their crews with new recruits, driven solely by the intention of strengthening their ranks.

The black dragon, comfortably seated in the private room on the second floor, was pleased with the turnout. More wealthy individuals meant higher bids and greater profits.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the auction is about to commence!" announced the host with a microphone in hand, his voice resounding throughout the venue. Meanwhile, the black dragon in his private room struggled to stay awake, feeling drowsy from the monotony of the proceedings.

"Now, let's introduce today's featured products to everyone!"

The atmosphere reached a crescendo as the curtains on the stage were drawn open, revealing a procession of felons from the sixth floor of Impel Down. The crowd erupted in excitement.

"Oh my God, isn't that Crocodile?"

"And there's the Red Earl—the man who once defeated a Marine Admiral!"

"Hey, isn't that Katarina? Has she become a commodity as well?"

"Which one among these criminals, the government or the battleship, is the more despicable one?"

"And look... it's Shiryu, the former Deputy Director of Impel Down!"

"Straw Hat Luffy, the grandson of Marine hero Garp, the son of the revolutionary Monkey D. Dragon, and the best friend of the legendary Red-Haired Shanks!"

The crowd erupted in a cacophony of voices, their excitement palpable. The prisoners to be auctioned off were all restrained by collars around their necks and seastone restraints, ensuring they remained under control. Even the host, Doflamingo, couldn't hide his unease. Some of these so-called commodities possessed power surpassing his own.

"Thank goodness for the black dragon's protection, or I would have been torn to shreds sooner or later," Doflamingo mused, casting a discreet glance toward the black dragon's private box.

...

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