Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece

Uchiha Hakuba walked at the front, holding Kanna's hand, while Matsumoto Rangiku hugged a sake bag and sniffed the aroma of sake, looking eager to try it out.

It's hard to imagine how a woman could love drinking so much.

As for Nicole Robin, her gaze swept over the auction notices posted along the dock.

"Looks like we've found a place to spend our money."

Kanna, following closely behind Uchiha Shiraha, clung to Shiraha's clothes on tiptoe, her short legs making a loud thumping sound as she ran, muttering, "Any toys that light up! And that move on their own!"

Bai Yu bent down and ruffled her hair: "If I have any, I'll definitely give you milk!"

"Oh! A toy..."

Rangiku weighed the bottle in her hand, her eyes crinkling into crescents: "Hehe, Binks' fine wine should be available for sale, right?"

At this moment, Robin stepped forward, took Connor's hand, and looked up at Bai Yu: "The auction tickets need to be exchanged for gold coins. I just saw the exchange counter at the dock is around the corner. Shall we go exchange some chips first?"

Bai Yu nodded, his gaze falling on the final item on the notice: a Devil Fruit and three fine swords.

Upon seeing the Devil Fruit, Uchiha Shiraha became somewhat curious.

He didn't know if the dolls he could create would be able to bear the power of the Devil Fruit.

Nico Robin chuckled at her words and took Connor's hand, who was hopping around, and led him forward.

"Is Connor playing shadow tag?"

"Alright! Let's see who walks the fastest."

As the four reached the entrance of the exchange counter, they heard a commotion behind them. Turning around, they saw several men in black suits surrounding a ragged old man. The bald man at the head of the group kicked over the old man's stall and sneered, "You poor wretch dare to come to an auction? Get lost without our permission! Before you leave, let us see the box you're holding."

The old man collapsed to the ground, clutching the wooden box tightly to his chest, and cried out in a hoarse voice, "This is my grandson's life-saving money..."

Connor tugged at Robin's hand, his little face full of confusion: "Why are they bullying the old man?"

Robin's eyes turned cold, and his fingertips curled up slightly inside his sleeve.

She actually really hates these guys who lay a hand on ordinary people.

"Get out of the way! You're blocking the way!"

Uchiha Hakuba didn't move his feet any further. His crimson Sharingan was fully open, and the three tomoe in his pupils spun rapidly.

He didn't speak, but simply raised his hand and pressed down on the short knife at his waist. The subtle metallic scraping sound and the intense killing intent of the man made the men in suits who were beating the old man freeze instantly.

The bald man at the head of the group whirled around, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily when he saw Bai Yu's piercing eyes. Despite his bravado, he still barked out, "Kid, you want to meddle? Do you know who we are?"

"Whose person is it has nothing to do with me."

Uchiha Hakuba's voice was calm, but he had already taken a step forward, and an invisible killing intent spread out, making the surrounding air several degrees colder.

"Get out of my way, I won't kill you."

The bald man was about to utter some more threats when he saw Nicole Robin release Connor's hand, cross her arms, and several slender arms suddenly emerged from the ground, precisely gripping the ankles of the men in suits.

"Ah—!" Screams rose and fell as several men lost their balance and tumbled to the ground.

Connor ran to the old man, carefully helped him up, and took a candy out of his pocket and handed it to him: "Grandpa, this is for you, it's sweet."

The old man looked at the little girl in front of him, tears welling up in his cloudy eyes, and he trembled as he accepted the candy.

The bald man struggled to get up, but Robin's ability held him firmly in place, preventing him from moving.

He cursed angrily, just then a series of orderly footsteps approached from afar.

Thus, Nico Robin also unlocked the power of her Devil Fruit.

This sudden turn of events caught the bald man and his group completely off guard.

The auctioneers arrived quickly, their footsteps shattering the silence at the end of the alley.

The leader was a tall, thin man in a black suit, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. When he saw the people lying on the ground groaning beside Uchiha Shiraha, his expression turned very grim.

He rushed over in three strides, bowed deeply to Bai Yu, his waist almost touching his knees: "Sir, I'm so sorry! Our management wasn't strict enough, allowing these ignorant creatures to offend you!"

Before he could finish speaking, he turned around abruptly and shouted at his men, "Drag all these people blocking the way away! Lock them in the dungeon to reflect on their actions. No one is to be released without my order."

The men dared not delay. They hurriedly lifted the men off the ground and dragged them out of the alley, leaving behind only a series of muffled pleas for mercy before they quickly disappeared into the night.

The man in the black suit straightened up, a fawning smile plastered on his face, his tone becoming increasingly respectful: "Sir, the auction venue is ready. I will take you and your friend there now."

The old man beside him also stepped forward with his cane, bowing repeatedly to Bai Yu and his group, his cloudy eyes filled with gratitude: "Thank you so much for your help. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid my old bones would have died here today."

Bai Yu nodded slightly, saying nothing, but gave Nico Robin and Matsumoto Rangiku a look.

The two understood and followed him, passing through a long corridor with a red carpet along the side entrance of the auction house. At the end of the corridor was a gilded door with intricate carvings. Faintly, melodious music and whispers could be heard from behind the door. That was the main hall of this underground auction.

As it stands, it is clear that the auction has not yet begun.

The gilded doors were slowly pushed open by a waiter, and a cacophony of noise and warm fragrance wafted out. The auction hall was a soaring circular hall with crystal chandeliers hanging down like a waterfall of stars. A scarlet carpet stretched from the entrance to the central auction stage, and the surrounding soft seats were already filled with elegantly dressed guests. The hushed whispers and the clinking of wine glasses created a languid background ambiance.

Uchiha Hakuba, accompanied by Robin and Rangiku, walked straight to the front row with the best view, led by the man in the black suit.

After the three were seated, the waiter immediately served chilled champagne and exquisite desserts.

Rangiku Matsumoto observed the attire of the surrounding guests with great interest.

As for Nico Robin, she was flipping through the auction catalog in her hand.

To her disappointment, the people of this country didn't seem very interested in knowledge.

Before long, the lights suddenly focused on the auction stage, and the auctioneer, dressed in a tuxedo, walked onto the stage with a smile, tapping the table lightly with his gavel. The entire room fell silent instantly.

"Welcome to this auction."

The auctioneer's voice was loud and penetrating.

"First up are a collection of priceless paintings, calligraphy, and antique artifacts."

The first item up for auction was an ancient ink landscape painting. When the scroll was unrolled, the towering peaks and ridges seemed to leap off the page. After it sold for a high price, luxury items such as a lustrous blue and white porcelain vase, an exquisitely carved jade ruyi, a watch inlaid with gemstones, and limited-edition jewelry took turns appearing on the auction.

Bidding sounds rose and fell from the audience, with paddles being raised one after another. Only Bai Yu and his two companions remained seated and motionless. Rangiku listlessly swirled her wine glass, while Robin closed the catalog and looked up at the auction stage.

This continued for nearly an hour. After all the paintings, calligraphy, and luxury goods had been sold, the auctioneer suddenly lowered his voice, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes: "The next item will be our third grand finale weapon, the Fine Blade - Snow Clearing!"

Two waiters carried a long wooden box up to the stage and carefully opened it.