Chapter 53: The Golden Ship Lands
The wind howled across the Sabaody Archipelago today, carrying with it the usual chaos of this lawless paradise.
On Islands 1 to 29, the human trafficking rings were as active as ever. Slave trading houses and auction venues bustled with customers, their doors constantly revolving with buyers eager to acquire the latest "merchandise."
Nobles, wealthy merchants, and slavers, all escorted by their private guards, entered these establishments to browse the latest selection of slaves and exotic beings.
A young nobleman, accompanied by several affluent patrons, stepped into a slave-trading house and was immediately handed a price list.
"Humans: 500,000 Belly. Tontatta: 700,000 Belly. Longarm Tribe, Longleg Tribe, Snakeneck Tribe... all priced at 700,000 Belly."
"Wow, these slaves are dirt cheap! Fish-men are only 1,000,000 Belly, and male Giants go for just 50,000,000 Belly! Female Giants, only 10,000,000! I'm definitely buying a whole bunch this time!" The young noble grinned excitedly.
Having come prepared with a fortune of 1 billion Belly, he barely saw money as a concern.
"Viscount Nass, the real treasures are the Merfolk slaves. I wonder if any are available today? A beautiful mermaid costs just 70,000,000 Belly, while male Mermen are as cheap as Fish-men—only 1,000,000 Belly. And once they turn thirty and gain the ability to transform their tails into legs, they become even cheaper! A mermaid with legs goes for only 10,000,000 Belly. A true delicacy!"
A sycophantic merchant fawned over the young noble, his voice dripping with flattery.
"Exactly! Not to mention Devil Fruit users, rare creatures, and other exotic races—they're all auctioned at market price."
Another merchant chimed in, eager to gain favor. Nass' father was a count of the mighty Valoran Kingdom, a man of immense power and wealth. Even the royal court bowed to his influence.