18 The nature of business

"I'm sorry everyone, a few things happened and we were taken off track."

After the small scuffle with the CP-0, Sengoku decided he wasn't going to do anything. What could he do? He was in a cell with Tsuru. He'd deal with him later

"Now please let's get into the 250 million range. There are 8 items in this category but I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

The first item is the Kushi Kushi no Mi. Please give your first bids."

100 people had bid for it.

The process of elimination continued until we reached 350 million.

"So that's all the bids? Item 8 goes to number 2."

"Let's get on to the next one now please."

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"That's it for 500 million range. Now there's three items in the next section all starting at 600 million."

They had been going for hours selling devil fruits and other items.

"This one is a logia with the element of mist. As you know 600 million is the starting bid so let's start."

This one took the longest. Around 20 minutes of slowly highering the prices until he reached 880 million belli.

"Whew, that took a while. Now let's get on with the next one. This item is valued at one billion belli. It's an ancient artefact that dates back to roughly 700 years ago. A pyramid made entirely of gold. Please let's proceed." Sigma appeared on the stage with a cart pushing a giant pyramid that dwarfed everyone in the hall.

The pyramid was something he fascinated by. He made up all the facts and dates about it to make it seem more valuable than it was but part of him wanted to keep it, but he needed to make money.

This was by the far the longest he'd been standing for a single product. He was standing for around an hour and a half waiting for a final bid. He managed to sell it for double the listing price which put a smile on Hisoka's face. The king of a kingdom bought it.

"I thank you all for coming to my auction. The people who bought any items please take the right exit while the rest of you leave by taking the left. The transactions will be completed there."

That was the end of Hisoka's great auction.

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(The next day.)

4 people were gathered in a meeting room waiting around for Hisoka to come.

"I wonder what he gathered us all for. He's quite attractive you know." A red haired woman said. Her voice had a purr to it. She was the queen of the pleasure district. Ava Crystal.

"It doesn't matter, he should know that Kasumi never gave us any orders so he better not try anything." A drunk voice said. This man was the mortician of the underworld if anything had something to do with bodies it would go through his line of connections first. He was simply known as Doc.

"We should leave our hand to fate." A monk looking figure said from across the room. He was known as the gambling king. If you needed to gamble on anything you'd ask him for help but you had to pay a hefty price.

"Shut up old man, whatever he says I'll kill him." A young voice said. He looked around the same age as Hisoka. His entire body was strapped with grenades and ammunition. He was a weapons dealer. Luka was what he went by.

These 4 were the emperors of the underworld. They helped the world government and pirates. They knew no loyalty. They had around the same power as Kasumi during her days as an emperor of the underworld however that would all change today.

Hisoka walked through the door and sat on the empty chair.

"Good morning everyone, I'm sorry for running late." Hisoka announced.

"You better be, We've been sitting here for 30 minutes dumbass." Luka shouted from his side of the table.

"I see." Hisoka took out the pistol that was in his pocket and shot him right between the eyes. His blood splattered onto the

"I'm sorry about that. Let's get on with the meeting. As I'm sure you know change is coming and there's not much you can do about it. The times are changing and that means business is changing. Some things will become obsolete but that's how things are."

"You speak as if you know for certain, how can you be sure." The gambling king asked.

"That's because I can see the current climate of the world. The marines are gearing up for something and pirates are buying at unusual amounts. Something will happen and when it does the world will be completely different from the one you currently know and sadly some of you will be taken out of business. Sometimes businesses who cannot handle or deal with change are hit the hardest. The underworld is no different. Some may think we're a crime organisation or a bunch of thugs looking for a quick grab at money but that's wrong. We are a business and we think as businesses do. We're middlemen and traders. Should what we're doing be considered bad? No, because we're no different from a regular shop or store." Hisoka explained.

"You have a unique way with words." The drunken voice said.

"Let me ask you a question, what will you do if you can't continue doing what you're doing."

"That's impossible." They all said at the same time.

"Even after what I said, you still have a bad way of thinking. There will be a day where some of you will be killed. For some of you, that will be today but we'll get into that later."

The 3 in the room all looked at Hisoka and took out hidden weapons. Ava had a knife in her boots, Doc had a scalpel and the gambling king had a bo staff.

"You're all eager for death aren't you. I have all the information on you. The numbers you make, the clients you have. You know what that means right? You're easily replaceable." Hisoka said with a grin on his face.

They all jumped towards him but their bodies exploded into splatters of blood which spread across the table.

"They accelerated their deaths for no reason. The human mind is an interesting thing. If I was them I would've agreed with everything you said and looked for an escape route in the room although that wouldn't have mattered since I was outside." The voice of Sigma said.

"That's just business Sigma. Taking out all competitors before they can even think to do something."

The nature of business would never change. Ever.