Before Byrnndi Wald could speak, Kaido, standing beside Ayr, clenched his fists and growled.
"You bastard! You think you can snatch the Devil Fruits from me?"
His voice rumbled through the auction house like thunder. His target was clear—the three Devil Fruits.
Seeing this, he stepped forward, blocking Byrnndi Wald's path.
The crowd erupted into whispers.
"Are these two insane?! They're actually demanding something from Byrnndi Wald?"
"That's suicide! Byrnndi Wald has a bounty of two billion Berries! Apart from the Rocks Pirates and the Roger Pirates, almost no one in the New World can challenge him!"
"Kaido might be making a name for himself, but he's still just a rookie. Sure, he killed a pirate worth 100 million Berries earlier, but he's nothing compared to Byrnndi Wald!"
"Wait, who's that guy next to Kaido? Is he his subordinate?"
"No idea, but both of them are out of their minds!"
"Pfft, young and reckless. They'll die trying to steal from Byrnndi Wald."
The entire auction house was filled with disbelief.
To them, Ayr and Kaido standing against Byrnndi Wald wasn't just bold—it was suicidal.
Byrnndi Wald's laughter boomed across the room.
"Hahaha… Two brats think they can take something from me? Go ahead, try it."
His gaze barely lingered on Kaido.
As for Ayr, Wald had no idea who he was. The black robe and mask resembling the CP agents concealed his identity.
Then—
Ayr and Kaido charged.
The moment they moved, the room was filled with gasps.
"They're really doing it?!"
"Hahaha… they must have a death wish!
"They actually think they can rob Byrnndi Wald? They're dead men walking!"
Byrnndi Wald's crew didn't even flinch.
They had been fighting alongside him for years.
Byrnndi Wald had slaughtered pirates worth over a billion Berries before.
Kaido and Ayr charging at him? That was nothing.
Byrnndi Wald sneered, stepping forward.
"Let me teach you two brats a lesson about the sea. In a pirate battle… the weak die."
Then, he lunged at them.
"DIE!"
Kaido roared, gripping his mace tightly.
Armament Haki flooded the weapon as he swung down with full force.
BOOM!
But—
Byrnndi Wald caught the mace with one hand.
The auction house shook from the impact.
Yet the mace didn't move an inch.
Kaido's eyes widened.
"W-What?!"
Byrnndi Wald grinned.
"You see the difference now, brat?"
Kaido gritted his teeth in frustration.
No matter how hard he pushed, his mace refused to budge.
Byrnndi Wald was too strong.
Kaido would become one of the Four Emperors in the future, but right now—he was still too weak.
Byrnndi Wald could overpower him with just one hand.
But—
A voice whispered behind him.
"You forgot something, didn't you?"
Byrnndi Wald's pupils shrank.
A massive killing intent washed over him.
SHING!
A blade sliced through the air.
Ayr had already moved.
In an instant, he had slipped behind Byrnndi Wald and unsheathed his sword.
SLASH!
The impact sent Byrnndi Wald flying dozens of meters.
He crashed through tables and chairs before finally stopping himself.
A thin cut lined his chest, blood trickling from the wound.
The room fell into absolute silence.
The pirates watching were frozen.
Then—
"W-What just happened?!"
"The guy in the black robe… actually hurt Byrnndi Wald?!"
"Yeah, it was a sneak attack, but still… he sent him flying! And that's Byrnndi Wald we're talking about!"
"Wait… wasn't he Kaido's subordinate? How the hell is he this strong?!"
"No way! If he can wound a monster like Byrnndi Wald, he's no lackey!"
Even Kaido was staring at Ayr in shock.
"Who… the hell are you?"
Kaido had attacked with everything he had—yet Byrnndi Wald barely reacted.
But Ayr?
With one strike, he had managed to injure Byrnndi Wald and send him flying.
Kaido clenched his fists.
In just a few exchanges, he understood something—
The gap between him and Ayr was massive.
Ayr, however, remained calm.
"Does it matter who I am?" he replied, stepping forward.
"The important thing is… that guy's getting up."
Kaido looked back.
Byrnndi Wald, despite the wound, was already rising to his feet.
His expression was unreadable.
But his bloodlust was unmistakable.
Kaido tightened his grip on his mace.
"Tch. So that's your plan, huh?"
He wasn't an idiot.
Ayr wanted him to keep Wald distracted.
Ayr wasn't here to fight.
His goal was the Supreme Grade blade and the Devil Fruits.
And for that, he was using Kaido as bait.
Ayr glanced toward Byrnndi Wald's crew.
They were still guarding the stolen items.
Ayr stepped toward them.
"Give me the sword and the Devil Fruits."
The crew laughed.
"You think we're scared of you just because you got a lucky hit on Captain Wald?!"
"Idiot! Even if we aren't as strong as our captain, we can still tear you apart!"
"You want the loot? Come and take it!"
Ayr's eyes darkened.
"Alright."
SHING!
Without another word, he swung his sword.
Blood sprayed.
In one clean motion, he had sliced the pirate guarding the treasures in half.
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