"If winning a fight means getting a Devil Fruit for free, why don't you all just die?"
What arrogant words.
Among those present, who didn't possess substantial wealth and hold significant sway in the underworld?
If they joined forces, crushing a nation's economy and plunging it into chaos would be a simple matter.
But now.
They were being threatened by an unknown individual.
The crowd, after their initial shock, quickly realized who Benedict was.
Why had they never seen this person before?
Why was this person here?
Those invited were all individuals of status and reputation, and their backgrounds were generally known.
But who was this young man before them?
Someone looked towards Trebol, hoping for an explanation.
In fact, Trebol also had no idea who Benedict was.
"Who are you?"
"You are not on my invitation list."
Trebol looked at Benedict and asked in a deep voice.
"I'm just a merchant interested in Devil Fruits."
Benedict chuckled and continued walking towards the stage, saying, "If there are no other bidders, I'll take it for ten billion Berries."
"Or perhaps, you never intended to sell it."
"Or is this a fake Devil Fruit?"
The leaders of the various factions present turned their gaze to Trebol.
"Or, does anyone else want to bid against me?" Benedict looked at the others again, smiling playfully.
"Eleven billion Berries," Balos, the head of the North Blue's shipping industry, said with a cold smile, his gaze fixed on Benedict.
When it came to money, they, the shipping magnates, were not lacking.
It could be said that when it came to money,
The Gold Emperor in the original work was rich, wasn't he? But no matter how much money, compared to the Shipping King, it was merely a drop in the ocean.
"Fifteen billion Berries," Gouly, the King of Usury and the head of the South Blue, also spoke, his tone laced with a cold smile.
Others had money, but at this moment, they did not participate, instead opting to watch from the sidelines.
They wanted to see how Benedict would handle facing the regional heads of the King of Usury and the Shipping King.
If Benedict dared to attack like before and kill these two, it would be tantamount to the King of Usury and the Shipping King confronting each other, and the consequence for him would surely be death.
"One hundred billion Berries," Benedict said with a light smile, his gaze sweeping over the two men.
Hiss!
Almost everyone present couldn't help but gasp in disbelief.
One hundred billion was an astronomical figure.
Even knowing that Benedict absolutely couldn't produce it, they were still shocked.
"Heh heh, one hundred billion, you actually dare to name that price."
"If you can truly produce one hundred billion, then this Devil Fruit is yours."
"However, if you cannot, and you disrupt order here, you will pay the price."
Gouly's face showed disdain.
Then, as if relishing the misfortune, he waited to see Benedict's downfall.
Simultaneously, a squad of men in black entered the venue from outside and quickly surrounded the entire auction hall.
The auction hall manager, a fat man wearing glasses, looked at Benedict and said, "Sir, please state your identity and provide proof of your sufficient assets."
Upon hearing this, Benedict chuckled and said, "As for my identity, you can call me 'God,' the 'God' who robs the rich to help the poor."
Listening to Benedict's words, everyone's brows furrowed slightly.
They strongly disliked Benedict's answer.
Especially his audacious claim of being 'God.'
Even the Celestial Dragons dared not call themselves 'God,' so what right did he have?
"As for the evidence to prove my sufficient assets."
Benedict smiled calmly at the crowd, wielded his long sword, and said, "Are your lives not worth a hundred billion?"
Benedict's figure vanished from their sight.
But in just a few blinks of an eye, he reappeared in his original spot.
The bodyguards around him lay fallen, one by one.
At this moment, they panicked.
The reason they dared to appear here, in addition to their own identities, was also the presence of bodyguards, which gave them peace of mind and made them believe that even if something happened, their bodyguards could escort them away.
However.
In front of Benedict, they didn't even know how they died.
"What's going on?"
"How is this possible?"
"Damn it, Trebol, your young master organized this auction, you must guarantee our safety."
"How did he do it? Why did they die so silently?"
"Why are you still standing there? Hurry up, kill him, and take us away."
...
Noisy and chaotic sounds filled with terror and panic.
The security forces of the auction hall also turned their gaze to the fat man at this moment. As long as the fat man gave the order, they would immediately act.
The fat man looked at Trebol. He didn't immediately issue an order but instead asked curiously, "Porl, where is your young master?"
"He had something to attend to and left temporarily," Trebol said with a heavy tone, looking at Benedict.
As a wise advisor by Doflamingo's side, Trebol clearly understood the immense power Benedict had displayed in that moment.
This person could kill everyone present.
"Sir, do you know who our young master is?" Trebol asked Benedict in a deep voice.
"I know, but why should I give him face?"
"I obtained it with your lives, so I should have it."
As Benedict finished speaking, he flickered and appeared before the treasure chest, reaching out to grab the Devil Fruit.
"Sticky Mochi Launch Cannon!"
Trebol's eyes flashed with ferocity, and he immediately unleashed a fierce attack.
If Benedict was hit, he would immediately be stuck and unable to move.
At that point, Benedict would be like fish on a chopping block, at their mercy.
Dada dada!
Under everyone's gaze, Benedict disappeared, and along with him, the Devil Fruit from the treasure chest.
Instead, the fat man standing to the side was hit directly by the Sticky Mochi Launch Cannon. The entire person was like he had fallen into a pit of viscous snot, incredibly disgusting and unable to move.
"I will take this Devil Fruit."
"But your life will remain here."
"Not many who dare to attack me live to tell the tale."
Benedict appeared behind Trebol, his long sword covered in Armament Haki piercing him to the core.
Trebol looked at the sword in his chest in disbelief. He had died just like this.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing Trebol and obtaining the Sticky Mochi Devil Fruit. Does the host wish to use it to summon special forces?"
"No summon!" Benedict pulled out his sword, moved his body, and appeared outside the door, leaving amidst the stunned gazes of the crowd.
"Ding! Sticky Mochi Devil Fruit detected. Does the host wish to juice it?"
"Juice it!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining one Ordinary Awakening Potion."