In the world of high-end One Piece figures, speed was everything. You didn't just "buy" a figure; you survived a digital battle. His eyes darted to the clock. 09:59:58. 09:59:59.

He sat at his desk, knuckles white as he gripped his mouse. On the screen was the "Going Merry Exclusive" listing—a limited-run, high-detail figure of Monkey D. Luffy in Gear 5, hand-painted and sculpted from high-grade PVC. It was the "Holy Grail" for collectors, and the pre-order window opened in exactly sixty seconds. "Come on, come on," he muttered, refreshing the page.

Leo’s apartment was a shrine to the Grand Line. From the life-sized Straw Hat jolly Roger pinned to his wall to the weathered volumes of manga lining his shelves, his dedication was absolute. But today, the centerpiece was missing.