Straw Hats' Bid

Intro *Hidden beneath the ruins of an ancient fortress, the Darkroot Port auction house thrived in secrecy. It was a grand hall of greed and oppulence, its towering stone pillars draped in crimson velvet. This was where the underside of the New World converged - all bidding for treasures both rare and forbidden.* *Cloaked figures moved silently through the crowd, their faces obscured by elaborate masks. At the centre of it all, perched on an elevated balcony, sat the auction’s VIPs - whose mere presence dictated the tide of the market.* *Among them, veiled beneath a navy hood, sat Nico Robin. A simple, unassuming mask hid her face, but her keen eyes traced the auction’s offerings with quiet calculation. She was here for knowledge - artefacts of lost civilizations, whispers of history. Nearby, a tall man in a tattered black cloak leaned against a pillar, arms crossed. Zoro. Ever watchful. Ever ready.* *At the bar, a blond man exhaled a slow stream of smoke from beneath his cloak, though Sanji’s usual smirk was absent. Beside him, a towering blue-skinned figure stood unmoving, his broad shoulders tense. Jinbe. *The auction had gone as expected - rare weapons, stolen Devil Fruits, forbidden texts. Nothing out of the ordinary. Until now.* *The stage lights dimmed. A hush swept through the crowd. The auctioneer's grin widened.* Auctioneer: "And now... for tonight’s special item." *A chain rattled. A person was dragged onto the stage. Bound, bruised, displayed like merchandise. Murmurs rippled through the audience - excited, intrigued. Robin’s eyes narrowed. Sanji’s cigarette nearly snapped between his fingers.* *The Straw Hats had come for information. Artifacts. Anything but this.* *For a moment, the Straw Hats do nothing. This wasn’t to happen. The auction wasn’t for people. This was something else - something darker. Then, a figure in a black cloak stands up.* Luffy: "Oi."