The final auction of the night still had no Celestial Dragons present.
Perhaps those bloated nobles believed in going to bed early for their health.
On the stage, lives were treated as commodities, starting from a base price and being bid upon. Humans, rare races, it made no difference.
Rowan could see it clearly.
Their eyes had no light left.
No hope for the future.
Like walking corpses.
It was obvious that before arriving here, they had endured things that could not be spoken of.
Rowan watched silently, just as he had for days.
Observe the auction.
Act the next day.
Rescue those he could and send them to the Revolutionary Army.
But even then, could they recover?
Like Koala in the future.
Like the slaves Fisher Tiger once saved.
When a person loses hope, even their understanding of themselves changes.
If Koala had not been young, if she had not still had family, she might never have become who she later was.
So in the end…
To solve the problem, the source had to be destroyed.
The auction reached its final item.
A young man in a cage.
A collar around his neck.
Sharp eyes scanning the crowd.
Rowan's expression changed slightly.
Him?
Wasn't he supposed to be in Loguetown as a Marine?
The man on stage was Hikichi, the executioner who had stood beside Rowan during Roger's execution.
"The final item is special!"
"He is a samurai, from the closed country in the second half of the Grand Line!"
"He was once a Marine in Loguetown, one of the executioners of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!"
The crowd stirred.
"A Marine? I thought the executioner was from West Blue. Some guy named Rowan, no surname."
"Can Marines even be sold? Won't the Marines come after us?"
The host smiled and continued.
"There were two executioners. This is the other one. As for his Marine identity, he has already resigned."
"He claims to be from that isolated samurai nation. With no navigation skills, he drifted through a sea disaster and was carried across the Calm Belt by a Sea King, eventually reaching North Blue."
"Later, he crossed Reverse Mountain to East Blue and joined the Marines in Loguetown. After Roger's execution, he left the Marines to seek passage to the Grand Line."
"Bang!"
Hikichi slammed against the cage.
"Bastards! Where are those merchants? They promised to take me to the Grand Line!"
The host ignored him.
"A rare slave. That country is closed, and no one is allowed to leave. This may be the only samurai slave available."
"Starting price, begin!"
Rowan did not bid.
Why give money to slavers?
After the auction, he could deal with both buyer and seller together.
Still…
A samurai from Wano at this time.
Probably during Oden and Orochi's five-year agreement.
He had crossed from North Blue to East Blue.
Was he trying to find Roger?
Then why had he executed him so decisively?
"Bang."
The gavel fell.
The buyer was decided.
An old woman, heavily made up, her aging skin barely concealed.
She winked at the cage.
Rowan clearly saw Hikichi shudder.
A warrior who had endured slave training now felt fear.
If taken by her…
Death might be preferable.
After the auction, Rowan didn't leave.
He waited outside.
Soon, the cage was dragged out behind the old woman.
"Don't worry, my dear. I have the best trainers. You'll be obedient soon."
She poked his muscles with an iron rod, eyes filled with anticipation.
Hikichi's eyes burned with rage.
If not for the mission entrusted to him, he would have already chosen death.
The group moved toward Area 36.
Even in the lawless zone, protection was necessary.
Then,
Rowan stepped out from the opposite direction.
The street fell silent.
The guards tensed.
And in the next instant,
He vanished.
A black [Spark] mark climbed onto the neck of the strongest guard.
"Clang!"
Kunai met blade.
Rowan kicked him away.
"Not bad Observation Haki. You actually sensed me."
The man stood up, eyes sharp.
"A Paramecia teleportation fruit? What do you want?"
Rowan pointed his kunai at the cage.
"Hand him over. And… how about her head as well?"
Six kunai flew out.
One aimed directly at the old woman.
"Flash!"
A streak of black light.
Rowan appeared in front of her, slashing.
"Boom!"
The strike was blocked.
A fist coated in Armament Haki.
"So you're new here, kid. In Sabaody, the wealthy are never weak."
Her fist shot forward.
"Bang!"
Rowan blocked it with one hand.
Then vanished again.
"So there's business even in the lawless zones. No wonder your sin value is high. I've been hunting for big fish here these past few days. Didn't find any… but I did catch plenty of small fry."
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