79: Section 79

Following this, two more Animal-type Devil Fruits were successively displayed on the stage.

They were sold for 120 million Berries and 180 million Berries respectively.

Ten thousand Berries!

Finally.

The true grand finale appeared.

The host announced loudly with a trembling voice:

“Ladies and gentlemen! What will be auctioned next is a true treasure of this great sea!”

“Legends have proven countless times!”

“Ships made from this material can traverse any sea!”

“The Pirate King Roger’s ship—the Oro Jackson—was built from this material!”

“It is—treasure tree adam!”

Boom!—

The venue erupted!

Countless fervent gazes all locked onto the section of wood on the display stand... even though its quantity was only enough to lay a ship's keel!

The moment treasure tree adam appeared, Franky and the others' breathing hitched.

But soon.

Their gazes, glued to the display stand, began to turn dejected, unwilling, even tinged with a hint of hysterical fervor... A few seconds later, they exchanged glances, then lowered their heads in low spirits.

They knew.

Such a treasure, even if they spent all their family's wealth, they couldn't afford it!

“treasure tree adam! Starting bid, 50 million Berries!”

The host's announcement shattered the last glimmer of fantasy for Franky and his companions.

A wealthy merchant took the lead:

“80 million Berries!”

“One hundred million!”

“I bid one hundred thirty million!”

“Bastard, I bid one hundred seventy million!”

Chapter 89 Spandam's Horror

The bidding for treasure tree adam soared.

It quickly approached the 200 million mark, and the atmosphere remained fervent.

Suddenly.

In a private room on the second floor, a sharp, caustic voice, tinged with arrogance, lazily sounded:

“Three hundred million Berries! This treasure... the World Government... wants it!”

The private room door creaked open.

Spandam strode out, surrounded by bodyguards, even dramatically removing his mask!

The fervent atmosphere in the hall suddenly became as silent as ice.

Meaningful glances scrutinized this 'iron-headed fool'.

Still the World Government?

Are you crazy?!

Daring to reveal your true identity in a place like this?

No one continued to bid, and most people were eagerly anticipating.

They knew that the night of the Mask Festival would be livelier than ever!

Seeing this.

The host could only reluctantly bring down the gavel to finalize the deal.

...

Whoosh!—

A flash of light, and in the lively and bustling ballroom, no one noticed that someone had suddenly disappeared!

The outer waterway of Water 7.

Su Ming suddenly appeared.

The night wind howled, making the dignified officer's cloak flap loudly.

Below, in the waterway, a warship belonging to Enies Lobby was about to set sail.

A playful smile bloomed on Su Ming's face; frankly, he had been waiting for this moment for a long time!

A few days ago, in the waters surrounding Alabasta, three Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals frantically besieged Su Ming and his midnight rose.

With the Deep-Sea Dive, the Marines naturally came up empty-handed.

Feeling extremely frustrated, Su Ming, while passing an unnamed island, happened to sense that an underground auction was being held!

Weapons, slaves, and various rare treasures were all displayed.

Along with them, Jumpy Dumpty bombs rained down like hail!

Afterward.

While collecting corpses, Su Ming unexpectedly found several invitations to the Mask Festival auction... After learning that treasure tree adam would be the grand finale at this auction.

Su Ming decisively had Midnight change course, which led to this trip to Water 7.

To be honest.

It's not that Su Ming didn't have wood more impressive than treasure tree adam on him.

The branch of the World Tree, Amirdrassil, was one such example.

But this item was too rare, even if the Bronze Dragon King was super generous.

Even the so-called branch required dozens of people to embrace it, like a thousand-year-old ancient tree with a towering canopy... But Su Ming still didn't plan to use it indiscriminately!

This was a non-renewable resource!

It was a treasure that naturally possessed elements of dreams and nature.

Moreover.

The midnight rose's compatibility naturally aligned more with concepts like death, the deep sea, and skeletons, making it unsuitable for enhancement with World Tree branches.

treasure tree adam was different!

It possessed no extraordinary concepts.

Although it was only recognized as the best shipbuilding material in the One Piece World for its toughness, durability, and sturdiness.

But because of this, treasure tree adam embodied the purest 'will'!

Gathering this 'will' born from collective consensus and integrating it into the hull of the midnight rose would greatly enhance the foundation of his ghost ship!

On this basis.

Once the Yellow Spring Coating was successfully deployed, and the ghost ship met the upgrade conditions, the next stage of the midnight rose would be even more monstrous than previously imagined!

Therefore.

treasure tree adam had to be acquired!

“We need to act quickly, Midnight!”

“Master, the Banshee Legion is in position, and the midnight rose is submerging, about to reach the designated point!”

“Good, prepare for rendezvous...”

He glanced at the crowds gradually Gathering on both sides of the waterway; clearly, many had the same idea.

Cavendish of the White Horse!

Hawkins Pirates!

Drake Pirates!

But... why did Franky also come?

Forget it, it doesn't matter who comes!

“By the way, Midnight, how many of the surrounding shipwrecks have been salvaged?”

“Master, over seventy percent have been salvaged and all crammed into the Pseudo-Current. Additionally, the Banshees have collected nearly forty thousand remains!”

“Forty thousand... adding the seventy thousand-plus bones collected previously, there's still a shortage of nearly ten thousand... then no need to detour, next stop, Sabaody Archipelago!”

“Understood, Master!”

...

So high!—

Spandam was now utterly complacent, even waltzing as he boarded the ship.

A lavish sum of 300 million Berries!

Hehehe!—

This wasn't just money, it was the prestige of the World Government!

He could almost imagine the expressions on those unruly bastards and old men when treasure tree adam was presented to the Gorosei.

Ga ga ga!—

Then, let's see who still dares to call him a good-for-nothing who inherited his father's position!

At that time, he would be the most undisputed officer of the CP Department...

However, a mere treasure tree adam might not be enough to hold the fort...

Indeed, the layout of Water 7 needed to be accelerated; the blueprints for Pluton must be acquired!

“Everyone, brace yourselves! Set sail!”

On the bow of the warship, Spandam was full of vigor.

The warship quickly set off, gradually accelerating along the main channel, heading towards Enies Lobby's secret stronghold!

Spandam, striking a pose with arms outstretched, embracing the sea breeze, seemed to be embracing a boundless future, a future exclusively for him, Lord Spandam!

But just then...

Swish swish swish!—

36 Banshees boarded the ship all at once!

The sudden shock startled those who were just about to take action.

Before they could even clearly see what was happening.

The cries of agony rising from the deck immediately drew everyone's attention!

Spandam's body stiffened, and he inexplicably looked in the direction of the sound.

He saw the fully armed Marines on the deck, in their mournful screams, having their life force drained one after another, turning into desperate and terrified mummies!

“Wh-what's going on?”

No one could answer Spandam.

More Marines (how good) successively turned into mummies and collapsed on the deck, the sound dull, oppressive, inhuman, like rotten wood completely withering away!

Fear rapidly festered, and despair spread like a plague.

The horror of a ghost-like flicker inevitably leading to someone becoming a mummy, bit into the hearts of all officers and soldiers like a venomous snake.

“Commander! We are under an unknown attack, requesting backup, requesting ba... Ah!”