Chapter 162 - Lumenarchy 02.

[Chapter Size: 2200 Words.]

Third Person POV

Lumenarchy, First Half of Grandline.

....

...

With the crew at the harbor, Luffy gazed at the city and the crystal mountain with some admiration.

'This world never ceases to amaze me...' he murmured.

"Wow! Luffy, are we going to steal all that crystal?" Yamato asked innocently.

"Hahaha. Most likely, though I don't know how I'll shrink it down that much," Luffy murmured. "Anyway, that's a concern for another time..."

Luffy, with his usual enthusiasm, addressed his crew gathered at the harbor under the gaze of hundreds of curious onlookers wondering whether the pirates would start looting the kingdom or not. "Alright, guys!" he began, with a confident smile and his gaze sweeping over the faces of his companions. "Feel free to explore the island and do whatever you want with a day off. Just remember one thing: meet back here at dusk. We have an underworld auction to attend."

"Hey little one, what's an underworld auction, do you know, Dorry?" Broggy asked, as the giants were still unaware of Luffy's plans.

"I don't know, Broggy, tell us, captain, what's an underworld auction?" Dorry inquired.

"It's a place where rare and sometimes dangerous items are sold," Robin explained. "There's a lot of money and powerful people in that place."

"Hm... are there strong people there, Dorry?" Broggy murmured.

Zoro, crossing his arms, added, "I'm expecting a good fight here; haven't found any worthy opponent since entering the grand line."

"Look at the guards who came to greet us, do you think this island has any strength?" Reiju spoke, pointing to the men at the harbor with spears and weapons.

Seeing the crew pointing at them, the guard who seemed to be the captain stepped forward a bit cautiously about the intentions of these pirates and spoke directly to Luffy.

"Your Excellency, Straw Hat. May we know what you plan on this island?" He asked Luffy, who was somewhat disconcerted by the overly formal approach, as he was not used to it.

"We're just enjoying the island and what it has to offer, so don't worry about us... during the day..." Luffy murmured the last part softly.

The guards seemed relieved and made way for Luffy and his crew to pass. The rest of the crew expressed their excitement and curiosity in various ways, some eager to explore the island, others more interested in the auction that would take place at night.

"Make sure to come back here before dusk. I don't want to leave anyone behind," Luffy finally said, giving them a nod. With that, the Straw Hat crew dispersed, each following their path to explore the charms and mysteries of Lumenarchy.

As the Straw Hat crew dispersed to explore Lumenarchy, Luffy decided to stay with Robin and Nami. They walked through the vibrant streets of the city, where every corner revealed a junction with the city and the crystals that characterized the island.

Luffy, walking leisurely with his girls, was just looking with interest at the structure of the island, and nothing else seemed worthy in his eyes at the moment.

Robin, with her usual calm, smiled softly while looking at the shop windows. "You want that necklace, Robin," Luffy asked, seeing her blue eyes on the object.

"I... don't need it, Luffy..." she commented timidly.

"Hey, Luffy. Are you only offering to her? What about me?" Nami exclaimed quite dissatisfied.

"Hey, if you want it, I'll give it to you. I only mentioned it because I saw Robin's interest in the object," Luffy calmly commented.

"That's strange, why are you being so helpful to her? I also noticed you sneaking out at night sometimes, you're not sleeping together, are you?" Nami had a critical look.

While Robin seemed to have committed a crime and was blushing, Luffy just smiled and shrugged before entering the store. "Yes, we are," Luffy says and opens the door of the shop to buy the necklaces with island crystals.

"You're lucky I love you and you're going to give me a beautiful necklace..." Nami murmured irritably as she entered the shop, because it seemed that Luffy was going to get involved with all the women in the crew, which would make him pay less attention to her.

Sometime later, the trio was walking through the city again while Nami and Robin had shiny necklaces around their necks. Nami didn't seem as irritated as before, but Robin was still shy after Luffy's revelation.

The Straw Hat crew spread throughout Lumenarchy, each member delighting in the city's unique offerings and attractions. The streets were filled with shops selling everything from sparkling jewelry to exotic artifacts, while the tempting aromas of street food filled the air. Amidst the fun, the crew noticed posters of the island's king everywhere. The king had a long, distinctive nose, which led to a recurring joke among them. "Could the king be related to Usopp?" Luffy asked, laughing. Even Usopp, surprised by the resemblance in another part of the island, asked bewilderedly, "Could I have a lost uncle here?"

As the sun set over Lumenarchy, the Straw Hat crew prepared for the exclusive event of the night - the auction. After meeting back at the ship still docked at the harbor, the Straw Hat crew dressed up for the underworld event. The men, including Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Bepo, Hugo, Hachi, Broggy, and Dorry, dressed elegantly for the occasion. Luffy, in a classic black suit, kept his distinctive straw hat, adding a touch of personality to the formal attire; all members wore similar outfits. Only Chopper had a small Smoker matching him in his smaller form.

The women of the crew, including Nami, Lami, Robin, Reiju, Nojiko, Kuina, Alvida, Shirahoshi, and Vivi, engaged in a friendly competition to choose the most stunning dresses. Nami opted for an elegant orange dress, emphasizing her curves, while Robin chose a long blue dress with a subtle floral pattern. Reiju shone in a bold red dress while competing with Lami in a black dress, capturing everyone's attention. Nojiko and Kuina chose styles reflecting their unique personalities, with Nojiko in calm blue tones and Kuina in a dress honoring her swordsmanship skills. Alvida, with her confident stance, chose a red dress. Shirahoshi dazzled with a dress reflecting the beauty of the ocean, leaving her tail exposed, and Vivi presented herself with characteristic royal elegance. The only odd one out was Yamato, still wearing her Wano attire, refusing to change.

Together, they formed a diverse and impressive group, ready to make their mark at the auction. Luffy left the animals on the ship docked in the harbor so they could act from that side; Karoo, Laboon, and Chouchou would act as soon as they received the signal from Luffy. The competition heated up as they decided who would accompany Luffy to the event. Nami, Yamato, Alvida, each tried to convince Luffy to choose her as his partner for the night, while Nojiko and Robin calmly watched the situation with a hint of amusement.

Luffy, clearly uncomfortable with the attention, just laughed and tried to calm the situation. Eventually, he proposed a Solomonic solution: he would alternate walking with each of them throughout the night. So the Straw Hat crew set off for the auction, a mix of elegance and anticipation in the air. As they walked through the illuminated streets of Lumenarchy, they attracted everyone's attention - a sight of strength, mystery, and charm, prepared for a night that would shake the island's foundations.

Upon entering the auction venue, an imposing house filled with rustic decorations and crystals, the crew immediately became the center of attention as they headed for the entrance. The luxurious hall was filled with underworld criminals and nobles from various kingdoms, all elegantly dressed and immersed in whispered conversations and negotiations. When Luffy and his crew entered, a momentary silence fell over the crowd. All eyes turned to them, some in admiration, others in fear, and many with a mix of both feelings. The fact that Luffy had a bounty of 300 million berries weighed in the air, making even the most powerful criminals and nobles feel a chill of respect and apprehension.

Whispers began to spread quickly through the hall. "It's Monkey D. Luffy... The son of the world's greatest criminal and grandson of the naval hero, Garp," was heard whispering, as curious eyes assessed each member of the crew, from the imposing Zoro to the elegant Nami. The recent exploits of the Straw Hats in Alabasta, especially the capture of two Shichibukais and a vice admiral, had spread like wildfire, increasing their fame and fearsomeness in all parts of the world.

"It's really him, Monkey D. Luffy. They say he defeated two Shichibukais and a vice-admiral. Such audacity!"

"This group... they're not mere rookie pirates. There's something about them that exudes danger and strength. We need to keep an eye on them," some whispered, while others looked on in admiration. "He's even more impressive in person..." some women commented, fascinated by the young pirate's presence. "The most handsome man I've ever seen..." a lady murmured, unable to take her eyes off Luffy.

The women of the crew did not go unnoticed. "How can they be so beautiful?" several attendees questioned, impressed with Nami's elegance, Robin's grace, Reiju's boldness, and Shirahoshi's natural beauty. "And that's a real mermaid! I've never seen such beauty!" someone exclaimed, pointing to Shirahoshi.

Hachi, the fish-man, received mixed looks. Some showed disgust due to prejudice against his species, but most agreed that it was better not to provoke a member of the Straw Hats. "Better not mess with them..." a noble whispered, aware of the power and fame the group carried.

Luffy, with his confident and relaxed smile, seemed indifferent to the whispers and stares. He walked with a carelessness that starkly contrasted with the room's tension. His demeanor not only reaffirmed his reputation but also heightened the aura of mystery and power around him.

As Luffy and his crew began to mingle among those present at the auction, the event manager, a man of elegant posture and shrewd gaze with a short stature, approached them. With a diplomatic smile, he bowed respectfully and spoke in a polite tone:

"Captain Monkey D. Luffy, it's an honor to have you here at our auction. In light of your recent feats and notoriety, we've prepared a special VIP room for you and your companions."

Luffy, with his usual carefree smile, looked at the manager and nodded. "Sounds fun, let's go!"

The manager led the crew through the hall filled with criminals and nobles, taking them to a more secluded and elevated area. The VIP room offered a privileged view of the auction stage through a glass, with comfortable velvet armchairs and a table laden with delicacies and fine drinks.

The crew members looked around, settling in as they drank and ate the food provided by the auction house.

Luffy, walking up to the room's window, observed the auction below. "I hope there's something interesting to bid on," he murmured, owning a store that could buy almost anything in this world, but participating in an auction was a good diversion.

The auction didn't take long to start, with a series of rare and valuable items being presented and eagerly bid on by the attendees. "Nothing interesting, where are the swords..." Zoro complained.

"It's an auction, there's everything. Be patient, Zoro," Kuina murmured.

Luffy and his crew watched with varying interest. Nami and Robin seemed particularly attentive to the more valuable items, while Zoro remained uninterested, more focused on the drink in his hand. Usopp and Chopper were amazed by each new item revealed, commenting among themselves about their rarity and value.

As the auction progressed, the atmosphere began to change. The presenter, a man with a powerful voice and imposing presence, announced that the next part of the auction would be dedicated to "living goods." A murmur ran through the crowd, and the Straw Hats' expressions hardened.

One after another, slaves were brought onto the stage. They were human men, women, and even children, some clearly frightened and others resigned to their cruel fate. Bids began, with voices rising to make offers for these human lives.

Luffy, whose normally cheerful expression had turned somber, clenched his fists in anger. The injustice before his eyes deeply infuriated him. The rest of the crew also showed clear signs of disgust.

"This is disgusting," Nami murmured, her face showing contempt.

Robin, with her usual calm, added, "It's a grim reminder of how cruel this world can be."

The crew's eyes turned to Luffy, waiting for his reaction. The captain of the Straw Hats stared intently at the stage, his hardened gaze suggesting he was pondering an action. "We won't act yet, we have time."

Meanwhile, they were about to receive a visit in their VIP room from the king himself, holding a specific den den mushi, wearing glasses, and with an iconic smile.

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