After a brief versation with nelu, Cudius had her both charmed and somewhat fused, but she smiled with obvious delight.

  Cudius's current status was well-known. No lohe disgrace he once was, he had bee one of the most brilliant figures among the Celestial Dragons i years. As the head of the esteemed Donquixote family, he wielded siderable power and influence.

  And unlike many of his peers, Cudius was noted for his striking looks, whily amplified his reputation among the female Celestial Dragons. He was, in fact, quite the sensation, embodying everything one might want in a perfect match.

  With his status and charm, it wasn't surprising that many noblewomen dreamed of being Cudius's wife.

  Yes, among the Celestial Dragons, Cudius was now seen as the golden bachelor, an ideal "son-in-w."

  The rumors swirling around Mariejois about him having an illegitimate child? Hardly an issue for the Celestial Dragons. Nearly everyone had a skeleton or two in their closet. Cudius's case just happeo be more visible, making it a frequent topic of teasing.

  But in the world of Celestial Dragons, where lineage and legal reition mattered most, an illegitimate child without formal aowledgment posed no threat whatsoever.

  After a few pleasant exges with Cudius, nelu felt she'd moved a little closer to her dream of possibly being his wife someday.

  Not that Cudius gave it much thought.

  He soon shifted the versation, his eyes turning to the trio of young girls standing behind nelu. A smile spread across his face. "I overheard you saying you're looking to offload these three sves. As it happens, I'm here today looking for potential acquisitions myself. You mentiohey've all ed Devil Fruits? That piqued my i. If you're selling, why not sell them to me?"

  Cudius's i in Devil Fruits was well-known among the Celestial Dragons. Years ago, he'd been tricked iing one himself, and it had been a sourusement for many. While no one dared to mock him now, it was on knowledge, so his statement raised no eyebrows.

  nelu smiled easily. "If Cudius wants them, how could I refuse? And as for selling, there's no need for you to pay me. I'm happy to gift them to you."

  She wasn't here to make a profit; this was just eai for her, a whimsical way to pass the time. If it had been a sve trader making the request, she would've charged without hesitation. But Cudius? She couldn't bring herself to ask for payment.

  Cudius chuckled and patted nelu's smooth, ptinum-blonde hair. "I couldn't possibly accept without paying. I wouldn't want to diminish the wealth of someone as lovely as you."

  The truth was, Cudius wasn't particurly smitten with her looks but preferred not to owe favors, which could lead to future plications. A simple busiransa was er and less binding.

  nelu blushed at his words and, flustered, quoted a price of 500 million berries.

  It wasn't cheap. Devil Fruits alone rarely started below 100 million berries for even the most basic types. With three Devil Fruit users, the bined value easily exceeded 600 million berries. Zoan-type Fruits typically fetched at least 200 million.

  If Cudius had to estimate the true value of Hancock's Paramecia-type Love-Love Fruit, it would be priceless. In his mind, the deal was a steal.

  Nia ever effit promptly handed a check for 500 million berries to nelu. Business cluded, Cudius made his exit without further versation. He did, however, extend a gentlemanly invitation for afternoon tea iure, which made nelu positively beam.

  At that moment, Nia held the three iron s ected to the Boa sisters, who followed silently behind her. Cudius didn't spare them a gnce, signaling their insignifi at that moment.

  After walking a short distania asked, "Yhness, shall we tinue searg?"

  Cudius g her and replied, "Of course. These three girls aren't going to be Ace's pymates."

  "Uood," Nia said, nodding.

  Hancock, walking behind them, had a glimmer of wariness in her eyes. Whatever thoughts were swirling in her mind, she kept them to herself.

  Hancock was twelve, while Ace was only about three. The idea of the two pying together was ughable. Cudius needed children closer to Ace's age.

  They reached a se where the sves were notably youaking a few steps further, they came across rows of cages housing children no older than five or six.

  "This is just despicable," Cudius muttered to himself.

  He could uand ensving pirates or criminals and might even have appuded it. But capturing i children for svery? That was something Cudius found repugnant.

  Each child represented a broken family, another casualty of the world's injustices. This sve market was steeped in hidden crimes.

  A, Cudius knew he was plicit.

  Though he felt a pang of guilt, he knew better than to let it show. There was nothing he could ge at the moment, and indulging in guilt served no purpose.

  Stopping in front of a cage that housed four or five young children, Cudius gave them a once-over. None of them particurly stood out to him, but it wasn't an important matter.

  "These kids will do. Buy them all," Cudius instructed.

  Nia nodded and moved to iate with the sve mert.

  Just then, a otioed from another se of the market. Voices shouted, and it sounded like someone was desperately calling out.

  "Stel!!!"

  "Stel!!! I'm here! Don't worry! I'll save you, I promise!"

  A young man, imprisoned in a cage, reached out and waved frantically toward the source of the disturbahe dire he was shouting io a Celestial Dragon who held a beautiful woman by the arm—a fellow sve, it seemed.

  "So, a sve hoping to rescue another? Must be lovers. Hic," Cudius thought with a touencholy.

  Celestial Dragons were notorious for their excesses. Takiiful women by force was almost routine, and Cudius could easily piece together the story. This man had been lucky to survive at all.

  After a moment's pause, Cudius looked away. Nia had pleted the transa and was making her way back toward him.

  Suddenly, Cudius Froze.