I collect everything in the One Piece world.

After most of the slaves had escaped, a few remained in place, including number three, who was just being auctioned off.

She looked at the escaped slaves with a hint of envy, then looked up at Morsen with tears in her eyes and said in despair, "This collar will explode, we can't escape."

"Cat... Mr. Mask, you'd better leave quickly, or you'll get caught in the blast."

“The combined explosive force of our collars would certainly be considerable. You are a good person and should not be implicated and injured.”

The other slaves, who had already given up hope, nodded. They were already doomed anyway, and they couldn't let Morsen be implicated.

Mosen didn't speak, but walked up to Number Three, pinched the collar around her neck, and then silently sensed something.

"Mr. Cat Mask, this can't be taken off..." Before Number Three could finish speaking, he suddenly felt his neck loosen.

At the same time, Mosen also had a sticker in his hand: "Explosive Collar - Condition: Slightly worn, but still very powerful."

It's definitely worth keeping. Although the collar's design is ingenious, the Devil Fruit's power is clearly more amazing.

"Gone...gone!" Number Three muttered to himself, touching his neck. The slaves behind him were also stunned, but hope rekindled in their eyes.

"Don't move, one at a time," Mosen whispered, then focused on collecting the explosive collars around their necks one by one.

The freed slaves couldn't help but sob softly, kowtowing frantically to Mosen in gratitude for saving their lives.

Mosen didn't say much, just told them to leave quickly, and then watched them stagger towards the exit and disappear into the deep night of the Sabaody Archipelago.

After they left, Mosen flipped his hand and threw out a few more stickers.

[Refined Wheat Flour - Appearance: Snow-white, fluffy, and with an excellent flavor]

"puff!"

The stickers shimmered slightly, and then fluffy flour was evenly spread throughout the warehouse.

Mosen casually tossed down a sheet of paper: [A lit match - Status: Burning, low heat].

Then he took out a simple sketch map with several locations marked on it from his pocket, glanced at it in the last light of the flashlight, and determined his next target.

"The second one..."

He muttered to himself, his figure flickering as he disappeared into the shadows of the night.

Moments later, the matchstick was lit, and the entire warehouse exploded instantly, with flames burning fiercely and turning the area a bright red.

Chapter 14, The Wind Whispers, and an Even More Frenzied Deal

The following week was a bloody nightmare for those involved in human trafficking in the Sabaody Archipelago's outlaw zone, as panic spread and festered among them.

"Black Cat Sheriff," a name with a somewhat absurd cartoonish feel, has become a nightmare for all those in the slave trade.

No one knows who this madman is, where he came from, or why he did this.

He didn't seize territory or plunder goods; his goal was terrifyingly clear: to destroy everything related to human trafficking, including all people and facilities.

The killing efficiency was also astonishingly high. One slave auction house after another was destroyed, guards were slaughtered, and key middlemen and brokers disappeared without a trace.

In just seven days, the number of people involved in human trafficking-related industries in the entire illegal area decreased by nearly one-third.

A large number of slaves waiting to be "processed" or transferred escaped during the chaos, further exacerbating the market disorder.

In this situation, everyone was on edge and fearful. During the day, some shops dared not even open their doors, and at night, they increased security tenfold, hiring more and more expensive bodyguards.

Even so, tragedies still occurred from time to time. The figure wearing the comical cow-cat mask was like a ghost, always appearing at the most unexpected time and place, causing bloodshed, and then disappearing like a phantom.

Ironically, despite this extreme pressure and a sharp decline in supply, the price of slaves in the slave market, especially the price of "high-quality" slaves, did not fall but rose instead, and the increase was astonishing.

According to the slave traders, doing business now is like risking your life; that madman, Chief Black Cat, could come knocking on your door at any time.

They're risking their lives to supply these goods, so what's wrong with charging a little more? It's perfectly reasonable!

Besides, there's less stock now, so if you want good quality goods, you have to pay more! That's a normal market phenomenon!

What's disgusting is that this argument was actually accepted by many wealthy buyers.

Panic and scarcity, on the contrary, stimulated some people's morbid possessiveness and competitive mentality.

Being able to buy "good stuff" in this "cleanup" seems to have become a symbol of status and power, so their bidding at the auction was even more frantic.

However, after Mosen went on to hang several big buyers, who had spent lavishly at the auction and were renowned for their wealth, naked from lampposts, the blatant humiliation and undisguised death threats finally extinguished the morbid enthusiasm of some of the buyers.

They began to feel afraid. After all, money could be earned again, and slaves could be bought again, but life was only once.

That madman not only killed sellers, but also buyers. For a time, many "respectable" buyers began to observe the situation and dared not make any rash moves.

Of course, such a large-scale "terrorist activity" could not have gone unnoticed by the naval base in the Sabaody Archipelago.

The base commander had to redeploy troops to increase patrols and, at the request of "relevant businessmen," provide "protection" for some "important business activities."

Meanwhile, powerful figures in the slave trade chain began to unite, offering hefty rewards for "Black Cat Detective's" head, and strengthening information sharing and security coordination among themselves.

Even so, the results were minimal. The navy made several unsuccessful attempts, and some small teams were even ambushed, suffering heavy casualties.

The joint bounty attracted many desperados and bounty hunters, but most of them became mere bystanders, which only made "Black Cat Detective" even more infamous.

The legends surrounding his elusive nature and bizarre methods have become increasingly outlandish, even appearing in the margins of the World Economic Herald, becoming a new "urban legend" in the Sabaody Archipelago.

……

It was another night when the moonlight was obscured by thick clouds. Deep in the outlaw zone, near the massive root of the mangrove, a building that looked like a large warehouse or a small shipyard was under heavy guard.

Electric fences were strung along the high walls, and figures could be seen on the watchtowers. Bright searchlights swept across the surrounding dark waters and streets from time to time.

In stark contrast to its rugged exterior, the interior of the building is decorated with dazzling lights, even exuding a touch of extravagance.

A high-profile "private auction" is being held here. Those who receive invitations are all truly "big clients" with abundant wealth, powerful backgrounds, and a strong passion for "special collections".

At the entrance, not only were private bodyguards in black suits strictly checking invitations, but also dozens of fully armed naval soldiers set up a cordon around the area, solemnly carrying out their security duties.

This kind of extravagance is top-notch in Chambord today.

Inside the auction hall, the atmosphere was heated, yet tinged with a barely perceptible tension.

The guests were well-dressed and talked in hushed tones, but their eyes kept glancing at the heavily armed guards and navy around them, as if only this tight security could give them a sense of security.

On stage, a middle-aged man with a small mustache, wearing a velvet tuxedo, and behaving with elegance and poise, was giving his opening remarks in a magnetic voice.

He is "Gentleman" Horn, one of the real bigwigs behind the Sabaody slave trade, and tonight's auction is organized by him.

Good evening, distinguished guests.

“I know that some friends may have some complaints about having to pay extra for security access to enter this venue tonight and undergoing such strict checks.”

Horn smiled and opened his arms, then turned to gesture around: “But please look around you.”

"The most expensive and most experienced private guards currently available in the Sabaody Archipelago."

"And the most stringent vigilance provided by our righteous naval colleagues."

"None of this came out of thin air."

He paused, then raised his voice slightly, with a seductive confidence: "Their existence serves only one purpose."

"That means ensuring the absolute safety of every distinguished guest here tonight!"

"In Chambord today, is there anything more precious than 'safety' and 'peace of mind'?"

"That ticket isn't just for a seat; it's for your worry-free experience tonight, and for the safety of your life!"

These words clearly resonated with many people. The fear recently instilled by "Black Cat Detective" is very real.

Being able to calmly select desired "goods" in a heavily guarded, "safe" place is an invaluable sense of security.

As a result, the subtle commotion and discontent in the audience quickly subsided, replaced by a sense of relaxation and anticipation.

Horn was satisfied with the result. He stopped keeping him in suspense, clapped his hands, and continued, "So, let's get straight to the point."

"Tonight, I will be presenting you with some truly 'high-quality' pieces that I have recently collected!"

"It is the last remaining essence of Chambord after the last turmoil!"

"I dare say that if you miss tonight, you may have to wait several months, or even longer, to encounter a 'collection' of the same quality!"

Chapter 15, Slave Traders and the Navy, Assault

In the "Old Time" antique shop, the gaunt owner is eloquently introducing the antiques in the shop to a slender, beautiful woman with glasses and a high ponytail.

A moment later, the beautiful woman asked where the stone slab she had seen when she last visited the store had gone, as she wanted to buy it to keep as a souvenir.

Upon hearing this, the gaunt shopkeeper, though somewhat puzzled, told her that the stone slab had already been sold to someone else.

(This story is inspired by the cover page of a comic book I read before. This way, it can explain some foreshadowing and fragmented plot points without affecting the main storyline.)

As he spoke, one by one, heavy iron cages covered with black velvet were slowly pushed onto the display stand by the burly man.

Each time one was unveiled, it elicited a murmur of amazement from the customers below.

The "goods" in the cage, regardless of gender, were all very young and beautiful, and each had a unique temperament.

Some were clearly well-trained, with submissive eyes, while others shone with a wild and unyielding light, which only fueled the desire to conquer in some buyers.

Horn eloquently described the "features" of each "goods" and their origin stories, whether true or false, to enhance their value.

The auction quickly became intense, with bids coming in waves and the number of peles sold steadily increasing.

Horn's smile grew brighter and brighter; each hammer blow meant a huge profit.

He seemed to have already envisioned how he would rise against the tide in this crisis caused by "Black Cat Detective," make a fortune, and further solidify his position in the underworld.

On a seat to the side of the auction hall, a slightly overweight man in a naval officer's uniform, with a habitual smile on his face, was watching with satisfaction the lively auction taking place not far away.

He was the naval officer in charge of coordinating security for tonight, Captain Basti.

Although he was not the highest-ranking official stationed in Sabaody, he wielded considerable power and had close ties with the underworld.

“Excellent, truly excellent.” Basty took a sip of the fine red wine served by the waiter, watching yet another “goods” sell for an astronomical price, feeling extremely pleased.

Horn had promised that five percent of tonight's auction proceeds would go into his personal pocket as a "service fee" and "significance of cooperation," so the higher the final price, the more generous his share would be.

"Looks like Horn has some skills after all. He knows that security is the most valuable thing right now," Basty said with a smile to his adjutant.

"Colonel, you are wise. With our navy here, those petty scoundrels will naturally not dare to offend us," the adjutant quickly flattered.

Basti nodded and smiled, then put down his wine glass, straightened his uniform, and said, "I'm going out for a walk to see if any of the boys are slacking off. You guys keep watch here and report anything immediately."

"Yes!" the adjutant replied solemnly.