"Fleet Admiral William, Admiral Hark..."

  "We've just received a report that Vice Admiral Bolte and several other navy officers' Vivre Cards have turo ash!"

  "Also, we've pletely lost tact with G-5 Base. There's no way to reach them!"

  At Marine Headquarters, Marineford, an officer hurried in, stood at attention before Fleet Admiral Hammons William and Admiral Iron Cw Hark, and loudly delivered the report.

  "Bang—"

  The desk in front of them was smashed into pieces, dots scattering all over the floor.

  Hammons William, filled with rage, his face dark and his eyes bzing with fury, said, "That damned Lunarian brat!"

  "I didn't expect him to take a so soon, starting a retaliation against the Navy... Should I go there again?" Admiral Hark asked gravely.

  "G-5 isn't like G-1. It's much farther away... By the time you get there, it'll likely be too te!" William took a deep breath, trying to calm his fury. "But it's still necessary to go. Make sure to iigate thhly what happened!"

  "If you enter the Fallen Angel, El, stall him at all costs... I'll have Admiral Horn from Mariejois e to assist. We must take him down!"

  He was referring to another Navy admiral, "Pegasus" Bardel Horn, who was statio the Holy Land of Mariejois, responsible for its defense. Due to his special circumstances, Horn rarely left to take oernal missions.

  "Horn, huh?"

  Upon hearing this, Admiral Hark raised an eyebrow, a look of disdain fshing across his face. He clearly didn't think much of Admiral Horn. In fact, the two had a teionship, with Hark disliking Horn's arrogance.

  Horn's background ecial—rumored to be the illegitimate child of a Celestial Dragon and a sve. Although the Wover never officially reized his lineage, his strength and e to the Celestial Dragons had earned him the attention of the higher-ups. Even though Horn's strength wasn't quite at the level of a true admiral, he still mao secure the position.

  This "backdoor promotion" had not sat well with Hark or former Admiral Ross, who had been repced by Kong after his retirement. Both were displeased, believing Horhe strength and qualifications to be an admiral.

  "Well, Kong is still on his way back, so the only avaible admiral is Horn," Hammons William reminded him. "Though his strength may not be on par with yours, he's still useful!"

  William was well aware of Horn's background. Though Horn possessed the rare Mythical Zoan Pegasus Fruit, giving him abilities far beyond most Vice Admirals, he wasn't truly admiral-level. But due to political pressure, William had no choice but to promote him.

  As a result, Horn had been rgely sidelined, statio Mariejois to guard the Celestial Dragons. He was rarely given the responsibility of hunting down notorious pirates—tasks left to the other admirals. Occasionally, he would be allowed to take on minor duties, like iing naval bases, essentially giving the real admirals a break while Horn handled ceremonial duties.

  "Uood, I won't cause any trouble with him," Hark said with a nod.

  …

  "Is this the au?"

  "Tsk, tsk, a mermaid sve? How disgusting..."

  "They're treating people like livestock, selling them off like products!"

  "The two Devil Fruits were already bought by that guy with the bubble helmet?"

  "So… those are the infamous Celestial Dragons?"

  At the au house on Sabaody Archipego's Grove 1, Linlin and her group had paid a hefty entrance fee and were allowed in halfway through the event. Linlin, standing a t seveers tall with her strikingly beautiful face, immediately drew attention. Meanwhile, Moss, Rock, and the others were draped in dark green cloaks and wearing wide goggles to hide their faces, attrag far less attention.

  The grand au, held every three years by the Bck Fg Trading pany, had drawn pirates, wealthy merts, and nobles from all over, filling the veo capacity. Linlin's group stayed at the back, standing against the wall, the au, which was nearing its end.

  Unfortunately, by the time they arrived, both Devil Fruits had already been sold to a Celestial Dragon, and a beautiful mermaid sve had been purchased for two billion berries. Now, it was time for the final attra—an au for a Three-Eyed Tribe girl!

  "And now, for the grand finale of today's au—Lot 20! A beautiful young girl from the legendary and possibly extinct Three-Eyed Tribe!" the aueer announced excitedly.

  Everyone's eyes widened with anticipation, eager to catch a glimpse of this rare and fabled race.

  "Let me go, you monsters!"

  The sound of rattling s echoed through the au hall as a cage, two meters tall, was wheeled out. Inside was a young blonde girl, aroueen hteen, with strikiures, a tall and shapely figure—and most notably, a third eye in the ter of her forehead.

  Bound by s and with a cloth gag in her mouth, she could only make muffled sounds of protest. Her face was tear-streaked with anger, fear, and helplessness as she struggled futilely, her movements weak, likely sedated to prevent aance.

  Bleam