Sailing: I was falsely accused of watching Nami bathe, but I'm blind.

Only a few wisps of energy remained relatively "calm" and "upright".

Several of them were the very same unruly supernovas he had sensed earlier! Kidd's ferocious aura carried a hint of disdain and amusement at the spectacle; while Rooney's calm aura revealed an indifference that seemed to have nothing to do with him and a subtle, almost imperceptible, calculation.

They clearly didn't have a good impression of the Celestial Dragons either, but they seemed to understand the "rules" here and didn't do anything provocative.

The other group that remained "calm" was naturally Kai himself.

He remained standing in the shadows of the corner, not bowing and scraping like the others.

It wasn't that he dared to challenge the Celestial Dragons' authority, but rather because... he simply couldn't "see" the other party! He only "knew" that the other party was coming through his senses, but he couldn't make any visual "cooperation."

Moreover, his deep-seated aversion made him completely unwilling to make any obsequious gestures.

He simply concealed his aura to the extreme, trying his best to make himself look like an inconspicuous stone.

Among the countless humble, kneeling figures, Kai sensed three figures dressed in strange, spacesuit-like outfits, surrounded by a large group of black-clad bodyguards and the venue manager, strutting into the auction hall with the arrogance of gods inspecting their territory.

The leader was a male Celestial Dragon who looked young but was unusually obese and seemed to have snot hanging from his nose.

His small eyes (the outline Kai perceived) were filled with stupidity, willfulness, and indifference to everything.

He is Charles Saint!

Following behind him were his father, Saint Roswald, and his sister, Princess Charlelia.

They also exuded that same nauseating air of arrogance and privilege.

Their arrival made the atmosphere in the entire auction hall extremely oppressive.

The auctioneer's voice became more obsequious and cautious, and the bidding from the audience noticeably subsided; it seemed that no one dared to steal the limelight from the Celestial Dragons at this moment.

Kai felt an unprecedented, deep-seated aversion and disgust towards this privilege—that allowed countless people to grovel and trample on rules and lives simply because of their bloodline! This angered him more than the arson, murder, and looting of pirates or the survival-of-the-fittest mentality of gangsters! Because this was a naked evil that was institutionalized, rationalized, and even tacitly accepted and upheld by countless people!

Just as Kai was suppressing his disgust and continuing to search for Charon's whereabouts, the auction proceedings seemed to change due to the arrival of the Celestial Dragons.

The auctioneer announced in an even more excited and mysterious tone that he was about to offer a... extremely rare and precious "special item"!

As the curtain was drawn back, a huge glass water tank was pushed onto the center of the stage.

Inside the water tank, a young girl with long pink hair, wearing an adorable seashell bra and a beautiful fishtail was huddled in a corner, trembling, her eyes filled with helpless fear.

Mermaids! They really are mermaids!

Kai's heart was stabbed again! He had learned about the existence of mermaids from books and legends, and knew that they were a beautiful and kind race living in the sea.

But he also knew that in the human world, especially for those greedy nobles and wealthy merchants, mermaids had always been regarded as extremely precious "collectibles" and "playthings," and were among the most expensive "commodities" in the human trafficking market!

He could clearly sense the pure, kind, and unique aura of freedom and clarity emanating from this mermaid girl named Kemi! But at this moment, this aura was shrouded in intense fear and despair!

At the same time, Kai also keenly sensed that in a corner of the auction hall, several auras that he had not paid much attention to before suddenly became unusually excited and angry!

One of the scents carried a strong fishy smell of octopus and a feeling of... honesty and anxiety.

It's a fish-man! And it seems he knows the fish-man Cammy on stage? (Hachi!)

Several other auras... Kai's heart sank again! It was the Straw Hat crew again! Sanji's aura was filled with lust and anger (seeing a beautiful woman being auctioned off)! Chopper's aura was filled with sympathy and anxiety! And there was another... an aura that was somewhat unfamiliar, but also carried kindness and worry—a skeleton? (Brook?)

They actually managed to sneak into this auction venue?! What are they trying to do with 637?!

Just as Kai was having a headache over the appearance of the Straw Hat crew, Charlos Saint on the stage stared at the mermaid Camie in the tank with shining eyes, like a child who had discovered a new toy!

“Wow! It’s a mermaid! A live mermaid! So beautiful! Daddy! I want her! I must buy her!” Charles Saint pointed at Camie and shouted in an unquestionable, sharp voice.

The auctioneer immediately flattered, "Saint Charles has excellent taste! This Miss Camie is a rare gem that we finally managed to acquire! Starting bid... 500 million Berries!"

Five hundred million Berries! This astronomical figure caused a collective gasp throughout the venue! But Charles Saint was completely unconcerned, even feeling that the price wasn't enough to reflect his "prestige," and simply waved his hand: "I bid five hundred million! Who dares to compete with me?!"

His arrogant attitude of taking things for granted, regarding money as dirt, and life as a plaything made Kai clench his fist again!

Just then, the octopus-man (Hachi) hiding in the corner could no longer contain himself! He suddenly rushed out, shouting towards the stage, "Kemi! Run! Don't let them catch you!" At the same time, he seemed to want to rush onto the stage to save people!

However, his actions were undoubtedly futile and a blatant provocation against the authority of the Celestial Dragons!

"Insolence! Where did this lowly fishman come from? How dare he make a sound in front of me?!" Saint Charlos didn't even bother to lift a finger himself; one of his bodyguards immediately drew a pistol from his waist and fired at Hachi without hesitation!

boom! boom! boom!

The bullet struck Hachi precisely! Blood splattered! Hachi let out a painful groan and collapsed heavily to the ground, clearly not going to survive!

The entire auction hall fell into a deathly silence once more! Everyone was stunned by the sudden bloodshed! But no one dared to utter a sound, and no one dared to step forward to help the fish-man lying in a pool of blood! Because the one who fired the shot was a Celestial Dragon's bodyguard! Because the wounded was a "lowly" fish-man! Here, it seemed to be... the most normal thing in the world!

Kai's teeth were grinding together! His fingernails had dug deep into his palms, drawing blood!

His inner rage, like a volcano about to erupt, had reached its peak! The so-called "order," the so-called "rules," seemed so ugly and ridiculous at this moment! And his own previous idea that "necessary evil can be tolerated for the sake of order" seemed so pale and self-deceiving after witnessing firsthand (with his own eyes) the Celestial Dragons' atrocities of treating life like dirt and acting recklessly!

He could clearly sense Hachi's rapidly fading life force, as well as his worry for Kemi and his endless regret for failing to save his companion!

He could also clearly sense the suppressed anger and urge to rush forward from Sanji, Chopper, and the others!

Should we stop it? Should we save that fish-man? Should we... challenge that high and mighty Celestial Dragon?

Chapter 79 Kai's Conqueror's Haki! The Qualities of a King!!!

Kai was experiencing an unprecedented and intense internal struggle! Reason told him that he absolutely could not act! Challenging a Celestial Dragon here was tantamount to suicide! He would attract the attention of a Marine Admiral! He would completely expose himself! All his previous efforts and plans would be in vain! He might even... implicate his senior Fujitora in the distance!

But... what about his conscience? What about his deepest pursuit of "benevolence and righteousness"? Was he really going to stand by and watch innocent people be shot right before his eyes? Watch the kind mermaid be auctioned off as a plaything? Watch this heinous crime continue to unfold?!

If he lacks even this much courage, if he chooses to shrink back and stand by in the face of such blatant evil, then what is the point of his pursuit of power?! What difference is there between him and those indifferent, apathetic bystanders he despises?!

Just as Kai was struggling intensely within himself, almost consumed by the flames of anger and conscience...

An aura of anger that he knew all too well—suppressed to the extreme, then erupting like a volcano—swept through the entire auction hall like a hurricane!

It's Luffy!

Kai clearly "saw" (perceived) it!

The straw hat boy who had been hiding in the corner, seemingly forcibly enduring something, finally... completely exploded the moment he saw Hachiman get shot and fall to the ground!

He no longer hesitated! He no longer had any reservations! He even ignored the anxious pleas of Nami and his companions!

He abruptly stood up from his seat, his eyes, which were always full of sunshine and freedom, now burning with a raging fire capable of destroying everything!

Step by step, he walked firmly, ignoring all the horrified and incredulous gazes around him, ignoring the bodyguards and staff who tried to stop him, and walked straight to the Celestial Dragon Charlos Saint, who was still high and mighty and didn't care about what had just happened!

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

The entire auction hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes (perceptions) were focused on this audacious straw hat boy.

then……

Under the incredulous gaze of everyone (including Kai), Luffy raised his seemingly ordinary rubber fist, using all his strength to concentrate all his anger, all his accusations, and all his denial of this injustice and evil into this one punch!

Hard! It slammed down on Charles Saint's fat and stupid face!!!

boom! ! !

A deafening roar, deep and muffled yet as loud as a thunderclap!

Charlos Saint's body, as round as a ball, was sent flying through the air as if hit by a speeding truck! His face was severely deformed, blood spurted from his mouth and nose, and even the glass hood symbolizing his "divine bloodline" shattered instantly! Like a kite with a broken string, he traced an arc through the air before crashing heavily into a distant wall, then slid to the ground like mud, completely unconscious!

The entire auction hall instantly fell into... absolute, suffocating silence!

Everyone froze in place, as if struck by lightning! Their faces were filled with indescribable horror, fear, and... utter bewilderment as if their worldviews had collapsed!

My God... a Celestial Dragon... was actually... blasted away... in public?!

And...it was by a...pirate?!

This...this is impossible?! This is absolutely...outrageous!!!

The deathly silence lasted for less than three seconds.

Then, like a chain reaction, an uncontrollable, hysterical panic swept through the entire auction hall like a plague!

"Oh my god... the Celestial Dragons have been attacked!!!"

"Run! The Admiral is coming!!!"

The world is going to end!!!

Screams! Cries! The sound of tables and chairs overturning! The sound of people trampling each other! In an instant, the entire luxurious auction hall was transformed into a chaotic hell filled with apocalyptic panic!

The guests rushed toward the exit in a panic, like headless flies, pushing and trampling each other, creating a chaotic scene!

The guards at the auction hall, after a brief moment of shock, quickly realized what was happening! Their orders were to protect the Celestial Dragons! Now that a Celestial Dragon had been attacked, they were undeniably responsible! The only way to remedy the situation was to immediately capture the audacious culprit!

"Grab him! Grab that straw hat kid!"

"Protect Saint Roswald and the Charlelia Palace!"

A large number of guards surged toward Luffy like a tide!

The rest of the Straw Hat crew reacted immediately! Although they were also stunned by Luffy's earth-shattering punch, seeing Luffy surrounded, they immediately joined the battle without hesitation!

Sanji charged out like a whirlwind, using his powerful kicking skills to send several guards rushing towards Luffy flying!

Chopper transformed into his fur-enhanced form and stood in front of Hachi and Camie!

Brook drew the sword from his staff and used his unique swordsmanship to restrain his enemy!

Although Nami was trembling with fear, she immediately raised her Clima-Tact, ready to provide support!

Meanwhile, the supernovas who were initially just watching the show had varying reactions.

Kidd let out an excited and cruel laugh: "Interesting! Very interesting! Someone actually dared to lay a hand on a Celestial Dragon! Well done! Straw Hat Luffy~~!" He seemed to thrive on chaos, even taking the initiative to use his magnetic ability to pull some guests who were trying to escape or the Marines/guards rushing towards Luffy, creating even greater chaos!