[comprehensive] red tide

It's the same lines again, without any new ones.

I clicked my tongue, and then I heard His Excellency the Admiral smiled softly in my ear, "The opening statement of the Muse has always been so clichéd, but as long as it has enough capital to attract countless people every year, who cares about that?" ?”

When he said this, he paused for a moment, and the smile in his lazy tone became stronger, "It's the first time I've heard someone ask if I can sell OnePiece in so many years, and it's also the first time I've seen Charles being speechless."

"It's really an eye-opener~" Looking sideways from the corner of his eyes, the man raised the corner of his mouth, with a smile that was not a smile.

Silently staring back, I quickly turned my eyes away, continued to focus on the direction of the round platform, and decided to keep silent about this person's speech.

This kind of easy control, plus a little bit of teasing and sarcasm... really makes people irritable for no reason.

According to the current situation, it's better to keep out of sight. People under the eaves should restrain themselves a little if they don't bow their heads, right?

Look at the nose with the eyes, look at the heart with the nose, take a deep breath...Calm down———

…………

In the center of the round stage, after Charles put on a show, the long-awaited auction officially kicked off.

First up are a few auction lots up for grabs:

A fruit with no apparent purpose, placed on a black velvet cushion, the size of an adult's fist, with a light gold shell and a silver pedicle.

Then there is the birdcage made of pure gold. The beautiful creature perches on the crossbar decorated with gemstones, with its wings lying on its back, and a layer of sadness is framed between its delicate brows. It is the bird of paradise in the mouth of the Lieutenant General.

The remaining few items are also exquisite, and the objects that may be broken if the movement is a little rough.

The reason why I can see it so clearly is that when Charles babbled hoarsely, at the same time, a small protrusion appeared at the front of the vermilion railing a few meters away, and the button-like thing glowed with light, projecting upwards to form a small bulge. The small screen faithfully reflects what is displayed in the center of the round platform.

I couldn't hear Charles' introduction of several auction items very clearly, and his voice was covered by the admiral.

…………

"Bird of Paradise~ It's very rare to see it."

General Huang Yuan somehow suddenly became excited, "The last time it appeared was in the Chambord Islands, the pirate group that accidentally captured it, so it earned more than 1 million."

"Did you see that fruit?" His tone was very familiar, and his attitude was very casual, "It is said that with a certain prescription, such a fruit can keep its beauty and appearance unchanged for decades."

"Ladies from many countries flock to it~"

He raised his hand and pointed towards the velvet cushion at the corner of the screen, His Excellency the General said with great interest, "The remaining few accessories also have their own advantages."

"It's all flashy things." I turned my face and stared at him, somewhat puzzled, "The Muse auctions something like this?" Is there a market?It's really suspicious.

After all, it is also one of the three major black markets, and the transactions are all reckless and tyrannical. Those few things that look expensive are actually useless. Who would spend money to be taken advantage of?

The man seemed to be slightly taken aback, and then he smiled playfully, without speaking, just rubbing his chin with his fingers, with a strange look in his eyes.

I hesitated silently, thought for a while, raised my hand to scratch my cheek, turned my mouth, and hummed softly, "Is it reasonable for people who come to the Muse for the first time not to understand?"

"Okay, okay, stop being coquettish/coquettish, Your Excellency General." I looked down at the man who paused for a while from the corner of my eyes, and then continued:

"Brokers will find buyers who are willing to pay a lot of money, nobles from the Scarlet Continent, wives from the inner courtyard of the deep palace, and even those who only like to hang out in the Chambord Islands... Uh huh~ a descendant of a god with a goldfish bowl on it."

"There's always someone around them who's going to offer a treasure, a favor, or something else in exchange."

This person put away the gesture that seemed quite obtrusive, and looked at me with a strange expression, "You don't see the things under the table very clearly~" After a moment of silence, he snorted again, "Hold on Goldfish bowl? What a new term.”

"Are you a nobleman?" I raised my eyebrows and asked in surprise.

"Yeah—it seems...not so~" He Shi Shi ran out a negative answer slowly.

I was even more surprised when I heard this, "Then why are you angry? Those derogatory descriptions have nothing to do with you." Since you are not a nobleman, why is there a little anger in your breath for a moment?

"Furthermore, the arrogance and ignorance of the descendants of the gods is hateful. Isn't this situation what your navy and government would like to see happen?"

There are two ways to die in this world, one is flattering and the other is sticking. Your navy and the government choose the former. When the situation is as bad as it can get, the people who stand up and resist will adopt the latter to deal with being spoiled. of that ethnic group.

"Theocracy and kingship have never coexisted peacefully."

In the two worlds I've lived in, these kinds of battles are not uncommon.

After all, the reason why those in power tolerate the Tianlong people is probably because the time has not come, right?

…………

The man's expression stiffened imperceptibly, the eyes behind the dark brown lenses flickered slightly, but the strangeness subsided in an instant, the smile on the corner of his mouth was still casual, he turned his face and stared at me quietly.

It was also until this moment that this General Huang Yuan really looked at me directly, instead of the kind of condescending look down who hid his indifference in his heart as if he knew everything.

The two looked at each other, and after a while, I finally couldn't stand it anymore.

"Don't use such passionate eyes, Your Excellency the Yellow Ape." He raised his hand and rubbed his forehead, taking advantage of the situation to block a part of the deep sight that seemed to cut open the flesh and blood of a human being. Misunderstood, you want to have an affair with me."

After rubbing the bluntly painful forehead, I put down my hands, and took the opportunity to turn my gaze away to the screen above the vermilion railing.

During this small episode, bidding had already taken place on the Yuantai, and the images of the Bird of Paradise and the fruit disappeared. It might have been acquired by someone unknown. At this time, what Charles strongly recommended was a piece of jewelry.

It looks like a bracelet, two fingers wide, with a base of intertwined branches and ring patterns, inlaid with countless fingertip-sized gemstones of various colors, and the gorgeous streamer moves with the rotation of the tray.

"It was a gift from a certain emperor to his lover 200 years ago." Your Excellency the General stepped in again, and his tone returned to the previous inconspicuous tone, "It is said that as long as you wear it, you can enjoy the eternal favor."

You know too much, so gossip!Glancing across, the corner of my mouth twitched fiercely.

Who would have heard him ask in the next second, "Do you like it?"

"It's a woman who likes jewelry." I replied angrily, then thought of the shriveled money bag, froze for a moment, and sighed in disappointment, "Forget it—and I can't eat it."

…………

The emperor's lover's favorite item was finally sold for a not-so-high sum, perhaps because everyone present, like me, felt that it was of little practical use?

As the image of the bright and beautiful ornaments at the top of the screen is turned off, the remaining few things can no longer arouse my interest. Since it can be seen but not touched, it is better not to care.

Although people on Meteor Street always snatch back whatever they fancy, but the incarnation of justice is sitting less than an arm's distance away~ There is no need to make yourself unhappy about a dead thing.

I twisted my neck left and right, and stretched some difficult joints. I turned my face away in a lack of interest, and the picture that I accidentally glimpsed in the corner of my eyes instantly drew my attention back. I took a look, and then I was stunned.

Several young girls wrapped in light veils squeezed together, like a flock of frightened partridges, the gradually zoomed-in camera clearly reflected the slender skeleton, flexible waist, teary pupils, and slightly trembling lips horn.

I narrowed my eyes slowly, and asked in a low voice to the admiral next to me who was also breathless, "I thought this happened only in the illegal area of ​​Chambord."

"It's Canary." The man's tone was slightly surprised.

"What is it?" I turned my face away, looked at the sinking admiral, and raised my eyebrows, "What do you mean?" Is it a specific name for trafficking, or is there something weird about those girls?

The eyes behind the dark tea lenses were drooping, and he stared at the hands resting on his knees, with a look of noncommittal, silent for a long time, before raising his eyelids, the eyes were calm and indifferent.

"Produced by the capital of the night, she is a beauty who is extremely sought after everywhere."

that is it?That being the case, Your Excellency General... why don't you look interested at all?Could it be you... I raised my eyebrows suspiciously, "Canary? Luxury clothing and jewelry, the kind of pampered boudoir?"

"It's strange that you are so curious~" The man glanced at me with weird eyes, "Don't be so troublesome, they are very obedient—"

The moment he finished speaking, a look of mixed annoyance and embarrassment flashed across His Excellency the General's face, and he suddenly pursed the corners of his mouth, with an expression of knowing that he had made a slip of the tongue.

After being dazed for a few seconds, I blinked my eyes slowly, "Physically or psychologically?" You have a face full of 'how can I discuss a topic that only a man can understand with a woman is so stupid! ', no matter how dull I am, I can still see it, right?The so-called canary is not that.

As a result, the man's expression paused, and then his gaze became meaningful, "Half and half."

"Oh—" I nodded.

…………

The competition for this auction was unexpectedly fierce. Charles' excitement could be seen clearly through the screen. As the price rose steadily, the corners of his mouth almost reached his cheeks.

When the dust finally settled, I withdrew my gaze from staring at the screen, and turned to look at the inseparable and thoughtful eyes on the side of my upper body, "What advice does your Excellency have?"

"It's just that you are so indifferent—" The corners of his mouth slightly curled up, and he clicked his tongue, "What a cruel woman."

"I'm sorry for not being able to do something as you wished." I squinted my eyes and laughed out loud, "Isn't it the navy that upholds justice and axiom? The generals have stood by and watched, so where can we blame others?"

He still kept a smirk on his face, but the man's eyes lost all smiles, but in an instant, he put away his gloomy sense of oppression, "What a boring auction." He turned his face away while muttering, as if he was too lazy to answer Anything else, "Hey~ find the chess board, by the way—"

The raised finger ticked backwards, and the man said casually, "Zhan Taowan, let's play a game with the old man."

As soon as he finished speaking, there were a few transparent breaths behind him, and just now there were weak fluctuations, and the cloth was slightly rubbed. After a few breaths, the calm presence slowly stepped forward with light steps.

…………Dividing line…………

The mellow little sumo wrestler put his things in front of His Excellency the General, and then sat cross-legged across from him with his back facing outwards, holding a brocade box under his chubby hand.

"Old man——" Baozi, who was called Zhan Taowan, raised his eyes and glanced at me, his eyes somehow strange?

I slowly lowered my gaze, and saw between the two of them was a simple wooden plate with animal-shaped four corners, with criss-cross lines on it, and a box full of milky white balls in the brocade box opened for the steamed stuffed buns.

This is...Go, right?Is it just that Go is not black and white?Why only use Baizi?Silently recalling the rules of the competitive event in my memory, I touched my chin, thinking that maybe the game is played differently in this place?

Under my somewhat nostalgic gaze, General Huang Yuan and Zhan Taowan Baozi picked up a white ball from the brocade box, and placed it in the center and corner one after another.

As they tapped softly with their fingertips, the extravagant and noisy outside world was isolated, and the air seemed to settle down. In a trance, every inch of this place was filled with extravagance, exuding a cold and elegant taste.

After quietly watching for a long time, I realized that these two people were playing blindfold chess, using only one color flag. While thinking about the chess moves, both players must remember every move they took before. It is a game that tests memory. .

…………

Perhaps it was because I stared at the chessboard for too long. After the general made another move, he raised his head and glanced over, then lowered his eyes again, and then said, "Would you like to play a game later?"

"No, I don't know how to play chess, no matter what kind of chess." I stared at the white space on the chessboard with some headaches, thought for a while, and twitched the corner of my mouth, "It's so boring~ Can you go out for a walk? Which one will follow."

"No——" Your Excellency the General didn't raise his head, he casually played with the few white pieces in his hand, but his attitude was quite firm, "If you feel bored, you can take a nap and just lie on the side, I don't mind the old man ~"

wipe!I silently rolled my eyes, and after a while I heard the man say slowly, "The auction of the Muse will be divided into three stages, the highlight is at the end, and now it's just the beginning."

Maybe thinking of something, he raised his eyes and glanced at the screen, first slowly pressed a piece on the chessboard with his hand, and then laughed a bit nastyly under Baozi's distraught humming, "It looks like it's coming soon—— "

"It is a scene that must be staged on the Muse every year."

The man withdrew his gaze and continued to pay attention to the chess game. He raised his hand and nodded in the air, "It's like a routine. The Muse will display it every year, but every year it doesn't matter. Let it be an intermission."

"Wait for it to be put away, there will be wonderful things to start bidding~"

Is it really okay for you admiral to treat me, a wanted criminal, so warmly?

Is it just being so verbose by nature, or is it true that you hit it off with me...as agreed to be unpredictable and strategizing?I twitched the corner of my mouth, turned my face to the direction of the screen, and looked over casually. The picture that gradually became clear in the center of the screen was...

My heart skipped a beat, and I slowly narrowed my eyes.

A mass of transparent jelly substance, wrapped in a dark blue clam?Like amber, there is a faint golden texture flowing on the surface of the object in the center, and there is no use for it, but for some reason, staring at it makes my heart beat faster, and the blood in my whole body is about to boil.

"That thing... how to sell it?"

…………

The blurted question couldn't wait for any answer, I turned my head eagerly, but saw the admiral staring at the chessboard as if he didn't hear it. Bai Zi swept it into a mess.

"I ask you, how, how, sell that thing!"

"Eh——what are you..." The man hissed, then raised his eyes with a headache all over his face, "It's a mirage, and it's said to be a message in it. No one knows its origin, or even its authenticity."

While talking, he quickly put the disordered chess pieces back to their original positions one by one, "You said it, and of course no one cares about things that are useless."

"Even if you wanted it, I'm sorry because the seller asked for barter."

After the chessboard scattered on the chessboard had almost recovered, the man stopped his movements and let Xiao Baozi take over to resume the game. Then he snorted, folded his arms around his chest, and looked over lazily from the corners of his eyes.

"[The branch of a plant that has never appeared in this world], the seller's request has not been changed for more than 20 years. Although Zhan Taowan promised to exchange things from you, the old man really can't think of what you can use to replace what you want. ~"

Quietly looking at the admiral with a helpless expression, after a while, I turned my head and stared at the screen, and repeated the exchange condition he said in a daze, "A branch of a plant that has never appeared before in this world?"

"Hey—this thing has been around for more than 22 years, right?" I held my breath, cautiously, even reluctant to blink, "It first appeared on the black market in the New World, right?"

"Yes~" The man was silent for a moment, with an elusive tone in his tone, "It is rumored that its user entrusted it before leaving in order to wait for a certain person to hear it one day."

"That's it~" I closed my eyes, hiding my momentary gaffe.

…………

Opening his eyes, he pulled out his hand that was in the pocket of the cloak, raised the metal chain hooked by his fingertips, and threw it straight to the raised point of the vermilion railing.

The Muse nautical needle handed over to me by the captain of the Red Heart hit the dot. In an instant, a circle of dim light appeared on the screen. In the picture, Charles raised his head suddenly, and his eyes met mine. , I couldn't hide the shock in my eyes.

"It's not an exchange~ I'll pay for it myself."

I turned my head, raised my eyebrows at the surprised admiral, smiled slightly, then lowered my eyelashes, stretched out my hand, picked up a certain piece on the chessboard with my fingertips, and swapped it with the next one.

"This pawn is misplaced, kid."

Slightly rubbing my fingertips to touch the warmth, I slowly raised my eyes, my eyes met the astonished Baozi's face, I hooked the corners of my mouth, "Although I can't understand the chess game, and the white pieces are contaminated with two kinds of qi, I still separate them." Be clear."

After that, I withdrew my hand and used it to support my chin, squinting my eyes quite comfortably, pretending to be ignorant of the cast of gazes that contained various meanings.

I'm the best at this kind of thing, ╮(╯▽╰)╭.

So, I would like to trouble you all to be stunned and stupefied, and it would be best if you can't recover by the way.