Auction House

The day before the auction began, Clover decided it was time to scout for anything valuable.

Suddenly, bang! The door burst open, startling Clover. He turned around, only to see Yoru standing there, casually holding a spare key.

"…How'd you know I was here?" Clover asked, raising an eyebrow.

"All of Matea Island is under surveillance," Yoru said, pointing to a small surveillance den den mushi mounted in the hallway. "Finding anyone here is as easy as a photo search."

"Of course," Clover sighed. He suspected she'd sweet-talked her way into borrowing the spare key.

If the entire island was under surveillance, trying to pull anything covertly was going to be tricky. Might as well go in guns blazing.

"So… what do you want?" Clover asked as he started to get dressed, heading into the bathroom to freshen up.

Yoru shrugged, walking into his room and closing the door. "Nothing in particular. I just figured you'd be bored alone on this island, and there are still a couple of days until the auction. I thought I'd keep you company."

"You know what 'keep me company' might mean to a notorious pirate like me?" Clover called out from the bathroom, toothbrush in hand.

"Hm?" Yoru looked at him with an innocent expression.

"It means you'd be willing to do anything with me," he said with a smirk.

"Oh, sure!" Yoru nodded without hesitation.

"…You really are too naive," Clover sighed. She clearly didn't catch his drift.

After getting ready, Clover lay on the bed, weighing his options. He intended to scope out the auction house, but Yoru's presence complicated things.

"Wanna go out and have some fun?" Yoru asked, looking eager.

"I'll pass."

"How about grabbing a bite to eat?"

"Not interested."

"Play a game of cards, then?"

"No."

"…Well, what do you want to do?"

Clover thought for a moment. "Is there a money exchange on this island?"

"Yes! I can take you!" Yoru replied enthusiastically.

Relenting, Clover donned his mask and let Yoru lead him to the exchange, where he traded in his treasures, gaining a total of 50 million Beli. Adding in his own savings and the 300 million Beli from yesterday, Clover now had 400 million Beli in his pocket.

Using his desire to "scope out the auction house" as an excuse, Clover got Yoru to show him around the place. She even led him to the back of the building, where several "items" had already been prepared for the auction.

"Do they auction off humans here?" Clover asked as they walked past cages.

"Of course! Isn't that normal?" Yoru replied nonchalantly, as if discussing nothing more than a standard commodity.

Clover's eyes flicked over the captives. Though they'd been cleaned up for sale, most bore signs of a rough life—bruised faces, scars, and lifeless expressions. Although he didn't feel particularly sympathetic, the entire setup left a bitter taste.

As they moved past the human cages, they came to an empty section. It seemed the non-human items had yet to arrive.

Eventually, they reached the auction floor, which looked even grander than the one at the Sabaody Archipelago, boasting enough seats to accommodate a thousand attendees.

"What's that room back there?" Clover asked, nodding toward a private box encased in crystal near the top of the room.

"That's reserved for the Celestial Dragons. They come directly through a private entrance and are sealed off from the rest of the crowd—it fits their 'status,' you know?" Yoru explained.

"Ridiculous," Clover muttered, rolling his eyes as he walked out of the building.

Now, he'd mapped out his route in his mind. Enter through the back, bypass the cages and grab anything of value, taking out any opposition. Then, head through the item storage area for the true treasures, including rare medicines and Devil Fruits.

After the auction, ships for sale—including schematics and physical models—would be displayed at the port. The plan was set: infiltrate, grab everything, create chaos, and escape during the confusion, taking down any Celestial Dragons that crossed his path. He even had a backup plan, though he hoped it wouldn't come to that.

"Will you come with me to the auction?" Yoru asked as they left.

"Nope."

"…Why not?"

"Just don't feel like it."

"Oh…" she trailed off, disappointed.

"Hey, what's with the ruins on the island's far side?" Clover asked.

"Oh, that? Those are where the original residents used to live. When the royal capital moved to Matea Island, the island expanded, and prices rose. A lot of them couldn't afford it anymore and were pushed out to the edges. They even set up barriers to stop us from expanding further."

"Why don't they just work to earn enough money to live on the main island?"

"They've blocked the expansion, so nobody's interested in hiring them," Yoru explained.

Clover nodded, piecing it together. Matea Island was a haven for the wealthy, and the businesses thriving here were undoubtedly owned by the rich. The expansion would open even more opportunities for profit, so the people living in the ruins posed an obstacle to their ambitions. By keeping them in poverty, they were essentially being pressured into leaving or dying out, allowing the expansion to resume.

Yoru, growing up here, had absorbed these perspectives without question. The cycle of exploitation would continue, human trafficking would persist, and behind the island's glittering facade, poverty would fester.

"Let's get some food," Clover said, stretching.

"Great! I know a fantastic restaurant—I'll treat you!" Yoru replied eagerly, grabbing Clover's arm and pulling him along.