The tension hum still lingered in the air after the last item was sold. A sea prism stone dagger, a true rarity, had just sold for over thirty million berries, and murmurs were heard around the chamber as the next group of treasure was prepared. Wealthy pirates lounged in their chairs, some grinning, others angry at being outbid. Nobody was leaving, though. Everybody knew the main event hadn't begun yet.
Solian sat still, his fingers drumming the armrest of his chair gently. The lights dipped a bit, and a hum of anticipation coursed through the crowd.
"Still nothing over fifty million," Rina, beside him, whispered.
"They're waiting for their coin on the last piece," Solian replied. "It's always the last piece that brings out the wolves."
With them, Elya leaned forward, her eyes scanning the auction room. Her gaze rested on a group seated across the room—a dozen men and women dressed in deep blue and silver. Their captain, a tall, sharp-eyed man with storm-gray hair, wore a black coat slung over his shoulders like a cape. He had not bid at all.
"That crew," she murmured. "That's the Stormreaver Pirates. Total bounty around three hundred million. They haven't lifted a finger yet."
Solian's gaze followed hers. "Then the fruit we're waiting for… must be theirs for the taking, unless someone gets bold."
From the corner of the room, the auctioneer reappeared, now flanked by two heavily armed guards. His face was flushed with excitement, a sheen of sweat glistening beneath the lights.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" he boomed, voice magnified through a tiny Den Den Mushi. "It's been a shocking night—rare blades, old maps, Devil Fruit-tainted materials—but now… now comes the treasure that attracted some of the most infamous names in these seas!"
The curtain in the middle of the stage slowly opened, and a fortified pedestal was exposed. On it was a glass vessel, within which rested a fruit unlike any they had seen so far this evening.
It was shaped like a mango, dark gray with blue sheen, suspended in the eye of a storm. Lightning flashed feebly over its surface, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. The air around it was thicker.
"A Devil Fruit," the auctioneer declared theatrically, "of a Logia-type nature. The Fuun Fuun no Mi—Storm Storm Fruit. The power to control, become, and unleash the wrath of a storm itself!"
A ripple of gasps and murmurs erupted in the chamber. Several pirates leaned forward, gazing. Some licked their lips. Others exchanged nervous glances.
"Authenticated by our experts and rescued from a devastated island in the New World. This fruit is the real deal—and only one of you will be bringing it home."
Solian's eyes narrowed. A Logia. And a lethal one.
"They're going to go crazy over this," he whispered, his voice low.
"Storm-based powers may be able to control weather, wind, even lightning," Elya gasped. "If someone already strong gets their hands on it…"
"They'd dominate the entire Paradise section of the Grand Line," Solian finished grimly.
The auctioneer waited momentarily, suspending the silence, before he cleared his throat.
"15 million berries, starting the bidding."
A hand went up immediately.
"20 million!"
"26 million!"
"31 million!!"
The offers rose high and higher, each offer louder and more brazen than the previous. An iron-beaked pirate of a fellow from the Iron Maw Pirates grunted his bid through gritted teeth. A snakewoman from the Red Viper Syndicate laughed a laugh of derision as she easily upped the bid. Even small pirates with relatively low-kelle reputations tried to hold on to the pot, dreaming of a day they could feel true power.
The fruit, still in its crystal case, lay still. But the gentle crackle of energy around it seemed to mount with each passing bid.
"39 million!"
"44 million!"
The auctioneer's voice strained to keep up. "An incredible pace! The energy of a god—within reach!"
Solian remained silent. His crew, too. Observing. Waiting.
"That fruit is going to start a war," Rina whispered.
Solian nodded imperceptibly. "Let them bleed over it.".
At 47 million berries, the bids were a flop. The room fell silent, pirates looking left and right to see the next guy who would bid up higher.
And then, out of nowhere, a calm voice broke the tension.
"50 million. Cash. Now."
The voice was the Stormreaver Pirates' captain—the one with storm-gray hair. He raised a lone hand half-heartedly, and with that gesture alone, the air in the room seemed to change.
The auctioneer stumbled, confused. "Uh. affirmed! A fifty million bid by Captain Tyros of the Stormreavers!"
Gasps and whispers traveled around the room.
"Tyros."
"That son of a bitch can create whirlwinds from a fruit without. If he gets this."
"Even the Marines would think twice."
A Red Viper pirate appeared to want to raise the offer again… but her trembling hand dropped back into her lap.
There was quiet.
Solian took a deep breath. "That's it. They're backing off."
Elya nodded. "They're not only scared of him. They're scared of what he'll become if he eats that fruit."
The auctioneer looked around, almost gasping.
"Fifty million going once… going twice…"
Solian stared at the fruit. He had no idea why… but for a moment, he could have sworn he saw a flicker of blue lightning flash along the rim of the glass. As if the Storm Storm Fruit itself was alive.
And waiting.
The auctioneer raised his hand, poised to call out the final bid.
"Sold—!"
But before the words had even left his lips…
BOOM.