71 Chapter 71

Immediately after, their bodies began to move uncontrollably. They slowly straightened up from the bowing position and assumed a kneeling position.

"Clang~"

Kid and Law trembled as they involuntarily drew out their weapons.

Gripping their swords tightly with both hands, they slowly pressed the sharp tips toward their hearts.

As the sword's tip drew closer to his chest, Kid tried his best to resist but could only slightly slow down its speed. Anxiety consumed him, causing the veins on his forehead to throb violently. He spoke urgently.

"Hey!! You two, come up with a plan quickly! If this continues, we'll really die here!"

"Don't order me around! How many times do I have to tell you?!" Trafalgar Law was also irritated.

At that moment, even he couldn't control his own body. He was in the same situation as Kid.

"Ah? Are you guys in trouble?" Luffy's voice suddenly rang out.

Kid and Law instinctively turned their heads to look.

There stood Luffy, strangulating his own neck with both hands.

However, as a rubber man, choking his own neck seemed to have no effect on him.

Observing Luffy's relaxed expression, they contemplated the situation where they had exhausted themselves resisting the swords with all their might.

Furiously, both of them yelled at Luffy.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Just as Kid, Law, and Luffy were arguing, an untimely gunshot echoed through the air.

"Boom!"

The three of them turned their heads to see a Marine soldier's head pierced by a bullet.

Crimson blood mixed with white fragments splattered around.

The Marine soldier collapsed to the ground without any further movement.

"Thump!"

At that moment, the three of them noticed.

The many Marines who had surrounded the auction house, much like themselves, were either kneeling or pointing their guns at their own heads, or positioning their swords against their hearts.

Death loomed before them, enveloping their bodies and minds with fear.

They gritted their teeth, desperately attempting to halt their own actions. But no matter how hard they struggled, they couldn't prevent the impending doom!

"This is unbearable!"

"Ah!!!"

They screamed in horror, tears streaming down their faces.

In the next second, one after another, they pulled the trigger or thrust the sharp blades into their hearts.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang...."

In a mere moment, Marines fell apart at their own hands.

Some resisted stubbornly, but their resistance was short-lived. Eventually, they succumbed to their own demise.

"Bang!"

"Puff!"

Witnessing this horrifying scene, Kid, Law, and Luffy felt terror gripping their hearts!

Once fearless, they now wore expressions of fear.

Their trembling eyes conveyed the boundless terror they had buried deep within.

"This... This can't be real!"

"Are you kidding me?! How can I die here?! Stop, damn it!" Kid roared at the sky, veins bulging all over his body.

Nevertheless, the sword in his hands continued to press against his heart, slowly piercing his skin.

Meanwhile, inside the auction house...

Rayleigh carried the injured Hatchan on his back and directed Camie, Nami, and the others to evacuate through the path he had cleared.

Just as Nami and the rest stepped into the opened passage, Rayleigh prepared to follow.

Suddenly, a calm voice resonated from the entrance, reaching every corner of the auction house.

"Where do you think you're going, Rayleigh?"

Upon hearing this sudden and unfamiliar voice, Rayleigh, who was about to enter the passage, and Nami and the others who had already entered, turned around instinctively, their gazes fixed on the entrance.

No one appeared before them.

However, Rayleigh and the others distinctly heard approaching footsteps, growing louder with each passing moment.

Soon, Carnes and Albedo emerged one after the other onto the raised platform at the entrance of the auction house.

Upon seeing Carnes' appearance and recognizing his familiar face, Rayleigh furrowed his brows.

Carnes, who was at the entrance of the auction house, peered down at Rayleigh and the others below. He spoke slowly.

"Long time no see, Rayleigh!"

Upon hearing Carnes say, "Long time no see," Rayleigh's memory instantly clicked.

He had come across newspaper articles about this person not long ago, but he hadn't expected Carnes to confront him so soon.

With a faint smile on his lips, Rayleigh entrusted Hatchan, who was on his back, to Sanji by his side.

"Hatchan, I'll leave him to you for now."

"Rayleigh, what are you doing?" Hatchan asked in surprise.

Nami, Sanji, and the others looked on, puzzled.

Rayleigh didn't offer much explanation, but instead turned to face Carnes.

A solemn expression settled on Rayleigh's face as he gradually stepped away from the passageway.

"It's him!" Robin suddenly spoke up amidst the perplexed group.

Everyone turned their attention to Robin, wearing questioning expressions.

"Him? Who is this 'he' that you're referring to?"

"Robin, do you know him?"

Robin glanced at Brook before calmly responding.

"That person is the Carnes mentioned by Brook earlier, the captain of the Gale Emperor Pirates!"

Upon learning Carnes' true identity from Robin, Nami was taken aback. She turned abruptly and gazed at Carnes, who stood in opposition to Rayleigh.

"That's him?! Carnes, captain of the Gale Emperor Pirates, with a bounty of 1,093,000,000 Berries?!"

Taking two steps forward, Robin arrived at Nami's side and leisurely observed Carnes.

"He knows, Rayleigh, and said it's been a while since they met. Now it seems that Brook's recollection was correct."

"This man named Carnes is one of the remnants from the old era, that had been erased from history!"

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