"Heh heh!"
"It's ours."
Kedoumu Sheng grinned, his lips curling upwards.
It seemed certain that he had won the mermaid, and he was overjoyed.
However, just then, just as he thought the mermaid was within his grasp, and the disco ball was about to drop on the stage.
A calm voice, familiar, deep, magnetic, pleasant to the ear, yet possessing the unique vibrancy of youth, resounded throughout the hall.
"600 million Berries."
"600 million?"
Kedoumu Sheng, Disco, and everyone else in the hall whipped around. Those further away even stood up, all looking towards the source of the voice.
The smile on Kedoumu Sheng's face vanished.
The smile on Disco's face also disappeared, and sweat beaded on his forehead, but in the depths of his eyes, a greedy, excited light flickered.
The crowd in the hall was filled with astonishment.
While 600 million Berries was a large sum, many people in the hall could actually afford it.
So why didn't they compete?
Firstly, it simply wasn't worth it.
Secondly!
Who would dare to compete with a Celestial Dragon? Anyone with a sane mind would not engage in such a suicidal act.
Therefore, upon hearing someone bidding against a Celestial Dragon, the people in the hall were all the more surprised.
Especially when they clearly saw the face of the bidder, their surprise surged like bamboo shoots after rain, unstoppable.
"So young?"
This was the common sentiment.
If the previous bid of 5 million Berries hadn't allowed them to look closely, then this 600 million bid certainly would make them widen their eyes and scrutinize.
Thus, as some of them truly saw Kong Tai's appearance, their surprise was replaced with sheer horror.
Others broke out in goosebumps, large beads of sweat pouring down their faces, instantly drenching their clothes.
These people were all pirates.
At this moment, despite their different emotions, the hall fell into an unusual, profound silence.
They all wanted to see how the Celestial Dragon would compete with this brat.
"700 million Berries."
It was Kedoumu Sheng who broke the silence.
He frowned, his eyes fixed on Kong Tai, and forcefully raised his bidding card, his voice tinged with displeasure.
To be honest, he cared nothing for money.
Not to mention the money his family received annually from the World Government, as that was mere pocket change.
His family's main wealth came from their businesses and tribute from the dark forces they protected.
He didn't know the exact amount of this wealth, but a few hundred million was nothing to him.
He could disregard money, but when someone dared to compete with him for what he desired, it made him extremely unhappy.
If this weren't an auction house, a venue co-hosted by his family, and if his family didn't have a stake in the auction fees, he would have drawn his gun and shot this brash brat dead.
Sensing the overly oppressive atmosphere in the hall,
Disco, having recovered his senses, turned to face Kedoumu Sheng. His face, pale yet flushed with excitement, seemed exceptionally vibrant. Holding the microphone, he shouted, "Kedoumu Sheng bids 700 million! 700 million! This is the highest bid ever made in our human auction house since its establishment!"
"700 million, are there any other bidders?"
He only called out this as a formality. Despite his greed, he understood that the person who bid 600 million earlier had likely acted on impulse, driven by a momentary heat of passion. Once they realized who they were competing with, they surely wouldn't bid again.
After all, Celestial Dragons had notoriously short tempers!
Even he, the owner of this auction house, dared not speak loudly in front of a Celestial Dragon after leaving the auction stage.
Let alone someone with no connection to a Celestial Dragon whatsoever?
However, things rarely went according to plan, neither his nor Kedoumu Sheng's.
Just as Kedoumu Sheng averted his gaze, a smile returning to his lips.
That voice once again echoed through the hall.
"1 billion Berries."
This arrogant declaration, treating money as nothing, instantly darkened Kedoumu Sheng's expression.
It also made Disco's heart sink.
"Trouble is brewing."
This was his thought at that moment.
He knew the nature of Celestial Dragons intimately.
The first bid might have been an accidental impulse, but the second was clearly intentional.
No matter how greedy he was, he wouldn't risk offending a Celestial Dragon for a mere few hundred million Berries.
Indeed, this time, things did not deviate from his expectations.
"Brat, are you looking for death?"
Kedoumu Sheng drew the golden pistol from his waist, spun around, and aimed it at Kong Tai, his face contorted with ferocity.
"What?"
Kong Tai, who had been looking at the stage, turned to face Kedoumu Sheng for the first time.
His azure eyes showed no trace of emotion, as if Kedoumu Sheng's gun didn't exist. A mocking smile played on his lips, and his tone was laced with derision.
"Can't compete, so you resort to shooting people?"
"Heh heh!!"
"Celestial Dragons, nothing more than this!"
With that, he chuckled, his tone even more scornful, "If this is all the money you Celestial Dragons have, then you should go back and hide, don't come out here to embarrass yourselves."
"Hahahaha!!"
At this moment, the hall was silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Everyone, whether they knew Kong Tai or not, stared at him collectively, listening to his utter mockery, their faces etched with astonishment.
In their lives, they had never seen someone so fearless of death.
Even those who knew Kong Tai were astonished by his actions in their hearts.
Previously, they were shocked by Kong Tai's identity; now, they were surprised by his suicidal behavior.
They hadn't considered that Kong Tai would dare to attack a Celestial Dragon.
Because that was a Celestial Dragon!
Therefore, they did not leave their seats or flee.
Instead, they stared excitedly at Kedoumu Sheng.
Being so insulted, the Celestial Dragon would surely shoot, right?
Pirates were inherently lawless, let alone those who had sailed to Sabaody Archipelago.
Although they were afraid of the parties involved, it did not diminish their desire to watch the spectacle.
Similar to those in the hall below, Pika and his companion in the private room above also watched Kedoumu Sheng through the glass, their eyes filled with anticipation.
At this moment, all eyes were focused on Kedoumu Sheng, on the gun in his hand.
However, one person was an exception.
That was the butler behind Kedoumu Sheng, an elderly man wearing a top hat, resembling a gentleman.
As a butler to a Celestial Dragon, especially one from a Celestial Dragon family that wasn't entirely composed of degenerates,
He understood most things in this world.
Of course, he also recognized the silver-haired brat opposite him.
A pirate with a bounty of 2.5 billion!
The moment he clearly saw Kong Tai's face, his heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly, pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of his throat.
He wanted to stop Kedoumu Sheng, but the words caught in his throat, as if blocked by Kong Tai's icy gaze, preventing him from speaking.
The overwhelming pressure caused his body to freeze in place.
He felt as if time had abandoned him, everything around him blurred, and his vision was filled only by those cold, azure eyes.