Lucifer: The Swamp Fruit

After asking around and learning the auction house's location, Wilder unhurriedly made his way there. The auction house was named Koron, situated in the island's center, within a bustling area. It also had two direct routes leading to the port and the back mountain.

After several twists and turns, Wilder entered one of these routes. Just as he was about to step forward, he suddenly stopped!

Swoosh! A figure shot past him from behind, moving at extreme speed, heading straight ahead. A few seconds later, another figure pursued from behind. As this one passed Wilder, they paused slightly, glancing sideways at him, but didn't stop, quickly leaping away.

"To think we'd meet again here..." Wilder mused, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he watched the tall figure's retreating back. After a moment's thought, his body vanished from the spot, heading in their direction.

Moving like lightning—the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The wind whistled past his ears at incredible speed. In an instant, the pursuer and the pursued had reached a rocky beach at the back mountain.

Swoosh! The first figure skidded to a halt, turned, and looked at the tall man who had also stopped before him.

"Momonga, that's enough, man! Why are you trying so hard?" the first one to stop said, his breathing slightly ragged, a wide grin on his face.

"Silence, Scratchmen Apoo," Momonga said calmly, his hand already slowly drawing his longsword.

The "Scratchmen" Momonga referred to had exceptionally long arms. Most bizarrely, his teeth resembled piano keys. Hearing Momonga's words and seeing his action, Apoo's expression instantly changed.

"Hey, hey! No need for that, right?! You damn stubborn guy!" Apoo's brow furrowed, and he waved his hands with a helpless expression. He hadn't expected Momonga to be so persistent. Originally, he and his pirate crew were heading into the New World. But somehow, word had leaked, their position exposed, attracting Marine HQ Vice Admiral Momonga, who had just completed a mission nearby. To avoid unnecessary losses for his crew, Apoo had lured Momonga away alone. He never imagined Momonga would chase him all the way from the New World to the East Blue. This was too much!

"Apoo, one of the Eleven Supernovas..." Wilder murmured from the shadows.

Momonga said no more, his eyes growing sharper. His longsword hummed as he fully unsheathed it.

SHING! A straight sword gleam shot out.

Apoo's face tensed as he prepared to counter or dodge, but then his expression changed—the sword attack wasn't aimed at him. Momonga's expression was calm. He spun, ducked low, and the straight sword gleam unexpectedly veered, rushing towards the dense forest ahead!

CRASH!

Countless branches and trees were sliced cleanly. With a thunderous noise and billowing dust, a large number of trees collapsed. A single slash, yet its power was terrifying!

"Do you intend to keep hiding, sir?" Momonga's mustache twitched, and he frowned, addressing the dense forest.

"What?! Someone else is here?!" Apoo's eyes widened, and he quietly edged backward.

From the dense forest, Wilder, having slightly altered his aura using Life Return, stepped out through the dust. A black cloak concealed his face. Momonga's eyes narrowed, his gaze wary and probing.

"And who might you be, sir?"

Apoo stared at the cloaked Wilder, then at Momonga, continuing to retreat stealthily. Momonga glanced back at him, and Apoo gave an awkward laugh.

"Hmm... Don't mind me, you two. Continue. I'm just passing by," Wilder said from within his cloak, his voice slightly altered.

"Oh?" Momonga frowned. "I am Marine HQ Vice Admiral Momonga. Since you are just passing by, sir, please leave."

"Hey, hey! You there!" Apoo, who had been quietly observing, suddenly spoke up. "I don't know who you are, but you're definitely not a Marine, right? Let's team up! Kill this guy, and I can give you a pile of cash! How about it?!"

Wilder didn't respond to either of them, simply standing there quietly. Momonga's face remained calm, but his gaze grew progressively sharper and colder. Apoo looked displeased, thinking, "I'm being ignored... More importantly... if this guy doesn't team up, things could get tricky! What a headache!"

"Let's leave it at that... I'll depart. You two continue," Wilder finally said after some thought. He didn't want to get involved for no reason. Though he wasn't afraid, getting drawn in would inevitably risk exposure. Moreover, Momonga was clearly no weakling, and Apoo, one of the Supernovas, was no simple character either, despite appearing very wary of Momonga... But even though he said that, whether he truly left was Wilder's decision alone.

Hearing this, Momonga's expression softened. He nodded. "Then I'll have to trouble you, sir."

But just then! BWOOM! Apoo, who had been standing still, suddenly made his move! Gritting his teeth, he unleashed a soundwave attack straight at Momonga!

Wilder paused, then chuckled. "Clever fellow." Apoo intended to make him stay and stir up trouble, but he hadn't attacked Wilder. Instead, he chose Momonga, who was already his current enemy. This move had a high probability of keeping Wilder there without needlessly making another enemy and putting himself in a worse predicament. And Momonga, wary of this unknown person, would be distracted, making it easy for Apoo to seize an opportunity.

Apoo had probably gambled correctly. Wilder chose to stay, because this was a good show, and he didn't even have to lift a finger.

"Hmph!" Momonga's expression was grave. He drew his sword and swung, a sword gleam clashing with the soundwave!

BOOM! The two attacks collided, shockwaves rolling outwards in all directions. The battle ignited instantly!

Wilder leaped onto a large boulder, sat down to watch, a keenly interested smile on his face. "Is this what they call... watching tigers fight from a mountaintop?" He pulled a wine glass and a bottle of red wine from his robes, poured a glass, and began to sip leisurely.

BOOM! Below, the battle between Apoo and Momonga was initially fierce and evenly matched, but soon, Apoo started to fall into a disadvantage. Of course, this disadvantage wasn't obvious, and the outcome of a battle clearly isn't determined by early advantages or disadvantages. Haven't you seen how the Straw Hat crew often starts their fights at a disadvantage? So...

BOOM! Apoo was sent tumbling away in a sorry state.

SHING! Vice Admiral Momonga's expression was calm, his longsword never pausing as he slashed out!

BWOOM! Apoo rolled and leaped, dodging the attack, then sent a soundwave hurtling towards Momonga!

CLANG! Sword gleam and soundwave collided! Shockwaves swept out!

Just then! A stray sword gleam shot out, veering sharply towards Wilder!