Whatever Link is dealing with, it has nothing to do with Sage. After getting the money, Sage boarded the ship.
With such a commotion, it's impossible that no one informed the Navy. After all, there are World Government officials' properties here, so the notification must be faster than in a normal city.
Sage didn't want to be encircled; instead, he took the opportunity of the Navy coming over to rob his way to Water Seven along the Sea Train's tracks—this was the real task.
"Set sail!"
The entire crew boarded the Death Star, and with Lily's command, they unfurled the sails, raised the flags, and sailed along the waters by the Sea Train tracks.
This track even allows one to ignore the unpredictable climate of the Grand Line and the constantly disorienting directions. Without needing any pointer, as long as they follow the track, they can reach Water Seven.
Basically, ever since he arrived at the City of the Spring Queen, he's been sailing along the branching tracks. The Eternal Pose was just a precaution before, but after testing now, there's nothing to be afraid of.
"Ho ho ho ho!"
Sage's familiar and wanton laughter echoed in the banquet hall. He stood in the center of the hall, opened a suitcase, and scattered the piles of Belly upwards, letting them rain down like a shower of money.
"Take it, once you have it, it's yours, it doesn't count towards the share, consider it my reward!"
The surrounding crew members all raised their hands in cheer, grabbing the money falling from above.
Three billion Belly!
More than any of his previous heists.
He took fifteen hundred million, so casually throwing away a hundred million Belly didn't matter.
After successfully robbing three cities, and with Sage's own Treasure Vault, the cash exceeded two billion Belly!
It's half of what a Four Emperors might have!
Although the bounties on wanted criminals can't represent their true value, this sum of money is not small.
A pirate's bounty represents their level of threat, so they're wanted by the Navy and even the World Government, not based on the amount they rob, otherwise, it would be chaos.
Take Sage himself, a bounty of four hundred and twenty million, yet he managed to amass a value worth tens of billions.
And those top-notch experts on the sea, those high-bounty formidable figures, their level of danger is no less than the smaller ones.
Sage was very pleased this time because the tally of the spoils was incredible.
In addition to seizing a large amount of cash, he also acquired a batch of gold, silver, and jewelry.
Apart from the trade with Link, the crew members were also robbing. Those luxury shops in Carnival City and those well-dressed, noblesse tourists were their targets.
The tourists who come to Carnival City, of course, have spare cash; the truly down-and-out are back home farming, how could they afford to travel, let alone by Sea Train?
Do you really think this Sea Train route from Water Seven to Carnival City, taking several days and nights, is cheap?
It's the only sea track on the Grand Line, and likewise, the only one in the world!
As for why this route was chosen, Sage didn't know, nor did he care; he only knew this time they robbed to their heart's content.
The tourists of Carnival City include many nobles and wealthy individuals from various places. These people might not carry enough cash, but the gold, silver, and jewelry they carry are definitely valuable.
All those things filled half a suitcase for Sage, all collectibles with historical significance.
As for the ordinary stuff, regardless of the amount, Sage generously distributed them to his crew. With one thousand two hundred people, each receiving one piece of gold, silver, or jewelry, it was, of course, something to celebrate.
In terms of money, after deducting the public share and the share for the officers, there were still more than ten billion left. Adding the change seized by themselves, even if all twelve hundred people were deployed, each could evenly split nearly a million Belly!
What else is more profitable than being a pirate? After robbing three cities, in less than a month, each had over a million Belly in savings.
Don't underestimate this sum; it could buy a Skillful Grade Blade, though they are rare and highly valued.
Sage, back in the day farming with his adoptive father, could never earn this much money.
After dividing the money, of course, they started a banquet. Marika, along with the chefs, laid out a feast of dishes and drinks, allowing the gathered pirates to drink to their heart's content.
Sage himself went to the Jewelry Throne, enjoying the exquisite cuisine exclusive to him at the long dining table.
This time it was a celebration. He had Marika prepare one hundred and eight dishes for him to properly revel.
As for the ingredients, they were already sufficiently stocked, no need to deliberately adjust the meal plans.
The crew drank cup after cup of various liquors brought up from the storage, shoulder to shoulder, singing along with those dancing pirates in the central hall, causing Sage to laugh heartily.
"Livelier, livelier!"
He held up the Gemstone Wine Glass, laughing at the crew below: "Once I find a dance troupe, I'll make this even livelier. As pirates, what we want is liveliness! Dance more, and don't just have female pirates dance. That one there, you look like a geisha, you come dance!"
He pointed out a tall figure among the crowd, drinking with the pirates shoulder to shoulder, and laughed heartily: "Dance well, and your Captain will reward you!"
The person being pointed at was taller than Mute, with long pink and white hair, a large physique, wearing thick white powder, and had patterns drawn with black face paint around the eyes, nose, and mouth.