One Piece: Burning the Sun God to Ash

Sakazuki smiled and rubbed Enel's head.

"It's still early. Go back to bed."

"Use this time to study well with Dr. Vegapunk."

Enel nodded.

"Okay!"

Then he walked back to his room.

Sakazuki shook his head and picked up the newspaper he hadn't finished reading.

Time passed swiftly...

...

A month and a half of sailing had flown by.

Sabaody Archipelago.

Sakazuki and Enel disembarked, watching the government personnel take over.

Enel reluctantly said goodbye to Vegapunk.

For more than a month, Enel had spent over 18 hours a day with Vegapunk.

Whether it was because Enel was too smart or because all scientists were like that, their learning sessions were so intense they forgot to eat or sleep.

Vegapunk looked at the dejected Enel.

"It's alright, Enel."

"We'll meet again someday."

Then he turned to Sakazuki.

"Thank you, Sakazuki-san, for taking care of me this past month."

Sakazuki nodded, giving him a reassuring look.

Vegapunk smiled and waved farewell to the two of them before being escorted to another warship.

Watching Vegapunk disappear onto the other vessel, Sakazuki pulled out a few bounty posters—these were pirates currently lingering around the Sabaody Archipelago.

After flipping through them, he put them away and looked at Enel.

"Let's go. Time to show you the darkness."

Enel responded gloomily with a quiet "Yeah," and followed Sakazuki into the distance.

...

At that moment—

Sakazuki and Enel had changed out of their Marine uniforms. Draped in cloaks, their figures and faces were completely concealed.

"Sabaody Archipelago."

"The last checkpoint before entering the New World."

"This island is filled with people from nearly every profession in the world."

"Human traffickers, slaves, nobles, commoners, Fishmen, pirates, bounty hunters, Marines, government agents—you name it."

"Zones 1 through 29 of the giant red mangrove trees are designated the lawless zones."

After Sakazuki finished introducing the area to Enel, they arrived at their destination.

"We're here."

He signaled for Enel to follow.

On the large circular building ahead, five bold characters were painted:

"Human Auction House..."

They entered.

After settling into their seats, Enel glanced curiously around.

All kinds of people were seated.

There were arrogant nobles.

Notorious pirates with bounties on their heads.

And a young man on stage, being glared at by someone clenching their fists in hatred.

With his powerful Observation Haki, Enel could feel the entire range of human emotions within this small auction hall...

Suddenly, the auctioneer on stage panicked and ran off.

Sakazuki's brows twitched.

A moment later, the host returned with an official escort, leading a Celestial Dragon with a hood over his head into the VIP section.

Once the Celestial Dragon was settled, the host wiped the sweat from his brow.

He rushed back to the stage and took a deep breath.

"The monthly human auction under Tree No. 1 is about to begin!"

"This time, we've prepared plenty of high-quality slaves for you all."

"Plus some super hot items!"

"We sincerely wish everyone can buy the slaves they've dreamed of!"

The audience erupted in cheers:

"WHOOOOA!!!!!!"

Not far from Enel, a middle-aged noble couple were discussing what slaves to buy.

The noblewoman said,

"The last slave I bought broke down in less than 10 days."

"This time, I'm going for a young, strong Fishman slave."

"Fishmen are ten times stronger than humans."

"Ohohohoho~"

Covering her mouth as she laughed, the nobleman beside her added,

"I heard there's a princess from some kingdom in this batch."

"I'm going to get her."

"After all, she's a real princess."

"Keh keh keh keh~"

The noblewoman teased,

"You've always had a soft spot for pretty girls~"

"Keh keh keh keh keh~"

The nobleman laughed wickedly.

Enel furrowed his brows.

Humans treated as livestock... it had become the norm?

He glanced at Sakazuki.

But Sakazuki was unmoved, staring coldly at the stage.

Suppressing his disgust, Enel cut off his Observation Haki.

He joined Sakazuki in watching the stage.

The host, sensing the atmosphere was just right, began again:

"Alright! Our first item today is!!!"

"The eldest daughter from a renowned musical family of the Torloyati Kingdom in the West Blue."

"A voice that astounds the world."

"A human music box who can sing any song you wish!"

"176 cm tall, weighing 49 kg!"

"A heavenly voice."

"Roxitia!"

WHOOOOA!!!!!!!

As the beautiful young woman walked onto the stage, the crowd's excitement peaked once again.

The host shouted,

"As today's opening item!"

"Special discount!"

"Starting bid: 800,000 Belly!!!"

"Now! Let the bidding begin!!!"

Buyers quickly raised their paddles.

Within seconds, the price jumped from 800,000 to 2.7 million.

Only then did the bidding slow.

"Alright! Congratulations to Guest No. 74!"

"Item sold for 2.7 million Belly!!!"

Below the stage, a drooling noble holding paddle No. 74 giggled stupidly at the girl, unaware that saliva was dribbling from his mouth...

The impact on Enel's worldview was indescribable.

He wanted to stand up in fury—to destroy this place, this filthy auction hall.

But Sakazuki's large hand clamped down and forced him to sit.

"Don't let anger cloud your judgment."

"This is just the beginning."

Sakazuki's cold voice came, and Enel looked at him.

For the first time, Sakazuki's face felt completely foreign.

"Reflect on where you went wrong."

With that, Sakazuki removed his hand from Enel's shoulder.

Enel slowly calmed down.

Suppressing his rage, he stared blankly at the auction.

Until it ended...

...

That evening, having bought no slaves, the two walked down a dim street.

Sakazuki led Enel toward their next destination.

At the same time, he said,

"Have you figured out your mistake?"

Enel's voice was cold.

"I have."

Sakazuki stopped and looked at him.

"And what was it?"

Enel closed his eyes.

"My mistake was being too weak."

Sakazuki shook his head.

"You still don't get it."

With a soft sigh, he continued:

"As a Marine."

"If you don't consider the bigger picture, and act impulsively just because you witnessed some darkness—"

"That's your biggest mistake."

"You never once thought about the consequences."

"Destroying the auction house might save a few dozen slaves."

"But then what?"

"You'd be wanted."

"Hunted down."

"You're a Logia-type, wielder of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."

"If you ran, no one could catch you."

"But what about your life?"

"You're meant to become an Admiral. Your future could save tens of millions of people across the seas."

"Your research could bring people closer together across the ocean."

"You'd become someone whose name would be written in textbooks for generations."

"But because of a few dozen slaves, all that would be ruined."

"You'd be a fugitive."

"Years later, when your life nears its end—"

"And you look back on everything you've done—"

"You'll regret it."

"You once held everything others dreamed of—"

"But threw it away in a moment of rage."

"When Vice Admiral Ward Morris reaches the end of his life, you won't even be able to attend his funeral."

"You'll have to stand alone behind the clouds, looking at the island where the ceremony is held."

"Silently crying."

"Enough!!!"

Enel shouted with bloodshot eyes, furious.

Sakazuki's words exposed a brutal truth...

Some justice cannot be acted on.

"Let's go."

The cold voice came again.

Enel, with Sakazuki's words echoing in his mind, followed the figure ahead.

Sakazuki's next destination...

The Marine base on the Sabaody Archipelago.