chsdbacks 27: Calm and composed
27: Calm and composed
"MADS... Vegapunk, Queen, Judge, and that mysterious Miss Bagin..."
Oro's mind raced. Behind these few thin pages of paper lay a technological force capable of reshaping the future of the ocean.
The prototypes of flawed artificial Devil Fruits like SMILE, lineage factor weapons, and even cloning technology!
If all of this can truly be studied through these few thin sheets of paper, its value is indeed far greater than that of a single Magnet Fruit.
"Whether we can research it or not, this thing is a hot potato!"
Oro made a decision immediately: even if someone had stuffed this thing into his hand and he couldn't get rid of it, he had to destroy it on the spot.
This is no longer "bait," this is a depth charge that can blow up the entire Grand Line!
Are all the people wearing suits in this venue couples?
Oro maintained his languid sitting posture, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, seemingly uninterested in the "true grand finale" that had caused a stir below the stage.
However, countless nano-sized gold powders had already quietly seeped out from his cuffs and the corners of his clothes, seeping into the stifling air of the auction hall through various gaps.
Like countless miniature eyes and tentacles, they formed a spider web covering the entire venue.
The auction began, and the process was filled with a suffocating sense of oppression.
The bidding didn't come from noisy pirates or tycoons, but rather from a few specific private boxes and corners, with cold and enormous astronomical figures jumping directly between them.
"Fifty billion."
Eight billion.
"12 billion."
There were no loud shouts, only anonymous bids processed by special equipment.
Each bid seemed to freeze the air in the room a little longer.
The ordinary bidders were already dumbfounded, their breathing unconsciously becoming shallow. They understood that this was no longer a "game" that ordinary people could participate in.
Ultimately, the price settled at an astonishing figure.
The bidder was a man wearing a white mask and a black suit, sitting in the shadows at the front.
He didn't make any unnecessary movements throughout; he simply quoted prices mechanically.
"25.6 billion Berries!! Sold!!!"
Count Jupiter practically roared as he announced the number that would shake the entire city of Redsrosa, the brand-new auction hammer in his hand slamming down as if striking the hearts of everyone present.
Congratulations, sir!
As soon as he finished speaking, most people in the room subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, as if a huge burden had been lifted off their shoulders.
however--
"Now! For the sacred metal! To reclaim our power!"
A roar filled with anger and madness exploded out!
The first to launch an attack were the members of the Metal Cult who had been itching to act!
The representative who had lost the bid earlier, his muscles bulging, suddenly drew a serrated metal knife from his waist and lunged at the second-floor VIP box where Oro was!
Several members of the cult behind him also launched an attack at the same time, revealing various weapons that gleamed with a cold metallic light, some of which directly threw grappling hooks with iron chains into the private room!
"Oh dear, those who believe in cults really have no brains."
"The fruits are still in the background, and they're rushing in here. What, do you think I'm easy to bully?"
Oro sighed, his tone revealing little tension.
He didn't even get up; he just snapped his fingers.
"Buzz—"
The huge glass wall of the private room instantly rippled with golden waves, and a dense film of gold appeared out of thin air, its thickness instantly increasing to several centimeters.
"Ding ding ding ding—!"
The dense, rain-like metal claws struck the golden protective barrier, producing a crisp, rapid clang and sparks flying, yet they could not budge it in the slightest.
All the kinetic energy is cleverly dispersed and absorbed by the flowing gold.
Broken and twisted metal fragments clattered and fell outside the private room, all in vain.
Almost at the same instant the Metal Cult launched its attack—
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Several gunshots rang out from the other side of the venue!
They were the underground agents who won the bids in the previous auctions!
They were clearly unwilling to let such an important thing be taken away so easily, so they decisively chose the most direct method—double-crossing!
"Protect the target!"
CP's agents reacted extremely quickly, instantly drawing their swords to meet the enemy, deflecting the incoming bullets with a flash of light.
But the entire venue had completely erupted in chaos!
The battle is imminent!
"Kill them!"
"Grab that box!"
"Don't let them get away!"
"Get out of my way! Anyone who blocks my path will die!"
Screams, roars, clanging metal, gunshots, shattering sounds... countless sounds blended into a symphony of death.
The once impeccably dressed nobles and wealthy people now displayed their ugly side. Some fled in panic for cover, while others took advantage of the chaos to rob those around them of the valuables they had previously acquired.
Count Jupiter, already pale with fright on the auction stage, scrambled backstage under the protection of his guards.
Human greed and ugliness are on full display in this small space.
Amid the chaos, Oro remained calm and composed.
The entire three-dimensional structure of the venue, the details of every battle, and the movement trajectories of key figures were all clearly reflected in Auro's mind through the perception of countless gold dust particles.
He saw a large group of people locked in a fierce battle with CP agents, their attacks ruthless and deadly, clearly desperate criminals.
He saw the CP member who had obtained the data, under the cover of several capable colleagues, trying to break out with the safe.
He also saw that after their first attack failed, the Metal Cult members became even more frenzied, determined to never give up.
"I have no interest in your fanatical beliefs, but it is wrong of you to disturb my interest."
His fingertips twitched slightly.
A fanatic who was swinging a huge metal hammer, trying to smash it into the Oro box, suddenly felt as if his brain was being pierced by countless red-hot needles!
"ah!!!"
He let out a piercing scream, clutched his head and knelt on the ground, tiny blood trickling from his seven orifices. The metal hammer instantly went out of control and crashed down, crushing several cult members who were charging nearby into a bloody pulp.
This is a tactic that Oro used years ago when dealing with longbread, and now it is being employed in this chaos, making it even more covert and deadly.
"That's about it."
Oro slowly stood up and straightened the collar of his tailcoat, which was actually not wrinkled.
Outside the private room, the Metal Order launched another attack, with several twisted steel beams crashing down from different directions with a piercing whistling sound!
Oro didn't even turn around; he simply waved casually behind him.
The golden protective barrier behind him suddenly liquefied and deformed, instantly extending into several thicker, golden giant arms that shone with the black light of Armament Haki!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The golden giant arm precisely grasped each of the incoming steel beam tentacles, crushing and twisting them as easily as squeezing a cookie!
Then throw these scrap metal pieces back towards the direction where the Metal Cult members are most concentrated!
"BOOM!!"
The screams were drowned out by the massive impact and collapse.
With a composed gait, Auro pushed open the door of the private box and stepped into the auction hall, which was filled with smoke and chaos.
Wherever he went, stray bullets, flying debris, or the occasional unlucky soul that pounced on him would be precisely blocked or killed by golden shields and sharp swords that appeared out of nowhere.
Auro's gaze cut through the chaotic crowd and locked onto the backstage area.