"Can you handle it?" Ye Chen asked with a grin, his eyes fixed on the middle-aged appraiser.
Cold sweat dripped from the man's forehead. The treasure here was easily worth 2 billion Beli, but how could he dare accept it?
If it belonged to any other force—even someone like Whitebeard—he would have taken it without hesitation.
But this was the property of the Celestial Dragons!!!
Everyone knew that No.76 Auction House was under the Celestial Dragons' control.
Celestial Gold had already been looted, slapping the Celestial Dragons in the face once. If this treasure was accepted, it would be like slapping them again—even harder.
Ye Chen could easily guess what the appraiser was thinking.
This was exactly the effect he wanted:
a double slap to the Celestial Dragons' pride.
So what if they called themselves "World Nobles"?
So what if they claimed they didn't even breathe the same air as commoners?
So what?
Ye Chen's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing on the appraiser.
"Didn't you just say you could handle anyone's merchandise?"
"I… I did…"
The appraiser's face looked on the verge of tears. He bitterly regretted his words.
If he'd known the goods came from Celestial Gold,
he'd never have bragged like that.
But what shocked him even more was the audacity of this boy.
He had actually dared to rob Celestial Gold…
and now had the gall to fence their goods right under their noses.
Ye Chen leaned back in his chair, casually gazing at the man.
"So? Can you handle it or not?"
"If not, I don't mind sending you to meet your ancestors."
The appraiser shuddered from head to toe.
He had no doubt Ye Chen would kill him.
Ye Chen's fearsome reputation preceded him—
he had already wiped out the entire Celestial Gold fleet.
Adding one more to the body count meant nothing.
Cold sweat poured down his back.
"I—I don't have the authority. I need to check with our manager."
"Fine," Ye Chen said indifferently.
"Call your boss. But if you try anything funny,
No.76 Auction House will vanish from the Sabaody Archipelago."
The appraiser nodded stiffly and hurried out.
Moments later, the man returned with a thin, sharp-faced gentleman in tow.
"I'm Jack," the newcomer said.
"We'll take the goods. 1.5 billion Beli. How does that sound?"
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.
"This haul is worth at least twenty billion.
Trying to lowball me that hard? Bit greedy, aren't you?"
Jack remained calm.
"You and I both know where this came from. Fifteen billion is already generous."
"2. No less."
"1.8."
Ye Chen suddenly stood up, smiling.
"Fine.1.8 billion. Deal."
Jack blinked, caught off guard by Ye Chen's sudden agreement.
Then it dawned on him—he'd just walked into Ye Chen's trap.
But he had already made the offer.
To renege now would only make things worse—perhaps even fatal.
With a stiff smile, Jack took out four bankbooks.
"One with three billion, three with five billion. Please accept them."
"Efficient," Ye Chen praised as he accepted the books.
"No wonder you're the world's top auction house."
He had thought they'd try to stall,
perhaps delay until Marine Headquarters or bounty hunters could show up.
But surprisingly, Jack had moved fast.
Jack forced a smile.
"Well, as the top auction house, speed is part of the brand."
"You're not wrong," Ye Chen nodded.
Jack tried again.
"Would the lord care to attend today's auction?
We've got some top-tier items—things you'll find quite... interesting."
Ye Chen gave Jack a knowing look, causing the latter to lower his head in embarrassment.
Jack's intentions were obvious—
stall him until the Marines, pirates, and bounty hunters arrived.
Many people were after Ye Chen's head.
Ye Chen might be bold,
but he wasn't stupid enough to sit and wait for the noose.
Besides, this trip was only about making a statement—
a big slap in the face to the Celestial Dragons.
Mission accomplished.
He didn't need to linger.
And when it came to gathering Devil Fruits,
there were plenty of auction houses to choose from.
"No thanks," Ye Chen said, turning to leave the room.
Boom.
As soon as the door closed behind him,
Jack slammed his fist onto the table,
cracking a hole the size of a fist into the surface.
"Has the word gone out?" he growled.
"Yes," the appraiser replied.
"Marine Headquarters and multiple pirate crews have been informed.
Plenty of people are interested in him."
"Good," Jack snarled.
"He ate our food—
now I want him to spit it back out."
Outside the auction house, Ye Chen squinted at the crowd gathering in the distance.
A cold smile formed on his lips.
"So many people... looks like I've really stirred up some interest."
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。