Shampodi Archipelago.
A Flamingo Pirate Ship docked on the coast.
Donflamingo, draped in a red feathered cloak, swaggered off the ship, with an evil smirk at the corner of his lips, looking as if he had the whole world in his grasp.
"Heh heh heh heh..."
Donflamingo glanced at the maid with a cigarette hanging from her lips, then at the empty port: "Looks like we're the first ones here..."
"Hmph, you killed my husband, you'll get yours one day..."
The maid with the cigarette glared displeased at Donflamingo, then turned to the few people following behind: "Hey, Buffalo, hurry up and get off the ship!"
"Coming right now..."
A chubby fellow, with two boxes of money on his shoulder, shouted towards the woman dressed as a maid: "Hey, Baby 5, come and help me out here!"
"Do you need me? Be there in a jiffy!"
Stars appeared in the maid's eyes at once, and she quickly rushed over in a few strides, stubbornly carrying both boxes of money herself!
Others looked on, their eyebrows twitching...
It looked as if they were mistreating this maid.
Donflamingo watched the maid struggling a bit and gestured for a few subordinates to help: "You guys, go help that foolish woman Baby 5..."
"One day I'll kill you!"
Baby 5 showed no appreciation for Donflamingo's goodwill, even baring her teeth as she shouted.
It's just that...
Others were likely used to it by now, many having watched Baby 5 grow up, fully aware of this dim-witted woman's issues, not caring if she offended their captain.
"Speaking of..."
A sloppy man with a runny nose glanced at the pirates continually carrying money boxes out of the ship's cabin and walked over to Donflamingo, inquiring drily: "Do we really need to bring so much money?"
"I am going to buy quite a few people..."
Donflamingo grinned and laughed while responding: "There might even be some of my own relatives or old acquaintances among them! Buying them could be quite useful..."
"But then..."
"There are likely to be many attending this auction..."
Donflamingo adjusted his small sunglasses, grinned, and continued: "World Nobles being auctioned as slaves, throwing the dignity of the Heavenly Celestial Dragon into the mire..."
"What's never lacking in this world..."
"Is hatred towards those who claim to be descendants of the Creator..."
As Donflamingo got to this point, the veins on his face bulging, even though he was once a Heavenly Celestial Dragon, now he too hated that group with a passion!
"Doffy..."
"I think I see members of the Red Hair Pirates..."
A tall man spoke in a childishly sharp voice that made one want to laugh, yet no one dared to do so.
"It's not surprising they're here..."
Donflamingo sneered, lowering his voice: "The Figarland Family members are also being auctioned, of course, that red-haired man wouldn't let it happen..."
"Morgans... Stussy..."
"The Underworld folks have also arrived..."
"Heh heh heh heh... seems like there will be quite a show at this auction..."
There's no denying it.
Shampodi Archipelago had become bustling.
With figures like Red-haired Shanks, a Sea Emperor-level character, and Donflamingo, a notorious pirate from his youth, even members from two of the Four Emperors' Pirates present...
Flame Disaster, King.
One of the Three Disasters of the Hundred Beast Pirates.
Katakuri.
One of the Four Generals of the BIG·MOM Pirates.
These two, in the absence of Hundred Beasts Kaido and Charlotte Lingling, took charge within the two Four Emperors' Pirates, here to negotiate with the Konoha Pirates, discussing how to handle the relationship between the two pirate crews.
And also...
When their captains might return home.
Unfortunately...
The Konoha Pirates hadn't given a clear response, deciding to continue using Charlotte Lingling and Hundred Beasts Kaido as experimental subjects, leaving these two no choice but to stay.
Besides this...
Many newcomer pirates also reached the Shampodi Archipelago.
Like the Kid Pirates led by Eustass Kid and his brother Kira, the Bonney Pirates led by Jewelry Bonney, the Flame Tank Pirates led by Capone Bege, the Hawkins Pirates led by Basil Hawkins, and more...
These new pirates have all made a significant name this year, with bounties exceeding 100 million Belly, marking the peak of newcomers since the dawn of the Great Pirate Era twenty years ago.
Of course...
The most dazzling remains the Konoha Pirates.
Many have forgotten that the Konoha Pirates, with their luxurious achievements, are also newcomers this year, even other new pirate crews perceive a huge gap between them...
It's just that...
Some are bound to be shortsighted.
For example, Eustass Kid always thought he'd be the newcomer with the highest bounty this year, but the sudden rise of the Konoha Pirates shattered his illusions, with newspapers not even giving the Kid Pirates a small column of coverage...
As expected.
This left Kid very dissatisfied.
Kid has always wanted a chance to gauge just how strong the Konoha Pirates really are, as challenging the strong is usually a bold newcomer's ambition.
Apart from this group of newcomers...
The Straw Hat Pirates, nearly annihilated at Enies Lobby, also arrived late.