"It's done..."
Link wiped the sweat off his forehead, nervously glancing at the two bodies lying on the ground.
Carnival City is directly governed by the World Government, but because of this, there's no Navy stationed here. These Navy officers were just here on vacation. Once they're taken care of, no one will know about their transaction.
"Alright, go prepare the money, old Ho, follow him and bring the money back."
Sage walked back into the nightclub and gave an order.
"Understood."
Hawkins nodded, watching Link, "Let's go, and please don't do anything unnecessary."
Link glared at him, "When I was working with Sage, you didn't even know where you were. My credibility is guaranteed!"
Hawkins said nothing further, following Link out of the nightclub.
"Get a few people to clean up!"
Sage sat back in his previous booth, shouted loudly, and poured himself a drink.
As for those hostesses...
They had already taken refuge during the fight, scared out of their wits.
With such timidity, they could never be part of his dance troupe.
"Still need to find more people..." Sage sighed.
Those orchestras were the same, too weak, even unable to withstand the Supreme King's aura from his sudden interest. By the end of the performance, they were basically exhausted.
That was the pressure caused by the Supreme King's aura, leading their spirits to react. Sage could feel that their energy and spirit were greatly depleted, probably needing a few days of rest to recover.
An hour later, the lieutenants gradually arrived at the nightclub.
Ajin had sent the signal earlier, and deliberately informed the subordinates, so the lieutenants naturally knew where Sage was.
Lily was the first to arrive.
Her knight's armor skirt was covered in blood droplets, and even her tender face was stained with some.
Behind her, the subordinates carried bags or leather cases, filled with money and land deeds.
"Lily, did you go on a killing spree?"
Seeing Lily's blood-stained face, Sage picked up an empty glass, poured her a drink.
"The people here went too far."
Lily sat next to Sage, downed her drink in one gulp, and said, "These noble tycoons just force endless labor, yet get nothing in return. The real beneficiaries are the exploiters, more despicable than the King, treating people like livestock."
Sage responded with a smile, "Lily, do you know the difference between people and livestock?"
Lily looked at him.
Sage said, "Livestock are assets. If they tire, their owner lets them rest, if they fall ill, they are treated. People... when tired, can only drink something to refresh themselves, if sick, they have to find their own hospital, hahaha."
Lily: "..."
"If you were in charge, it wouldn't be like this, Sage."
"Of course, I believe everyone benefits. If I eat meat, someone drinks soup, everyone lives better than before. That's sustainable governance."
Sage smiled, "Forcing people to work is different than having them work willingly. These people are wasting such a great place. If I had it... I'd evolve new strategies, complete the profit loop, actualize self-worth, and make Carnival City even more prosperous!"
This place is very prosperous, but unfortunately, it's not his.
When he reaches the New World and seizes territory, he'll build an even more flourishing place with this model.
About twenty minutes later, Marika was the second to enter the nightclub.
She was better off than Lily, smiling, without much blood on her, though her hair tips were a bit bloodstained, so she had taken out quite a few people.
Marika, too, was angry at this place because she saw those starving children, forced back from begging, dying without giving up their homes.
She couldn't stand that, and since Sage had ordered it, it was a chance to kill two birds with one stone.
"Ah, it's lively here."
She glanced at the Navy by the door, smiled, "Sage, is it settled?"
"Almost, once Renedia arrives with the cash, we can leave."
Sage extended three fingers, "Sold for thirty billion Belly, not a small sum. Lily, tell Doflamingo when we return, I'm adding another fifteen billion investment!"
"Understood," Lily noted it down.
Soon, Renedia arrived at the nightclub with some people, sitting angrily on the sofa, "Sage, I'm so angry, I want a drink."
"What do you mean drinking, you're underage, somebody get her a juice." Sage said exasperatedly.
A subordinate went to the bar, poured an orange juice and brought it over.
Although the three women seemed normal, a closer look revealed some unease.
Not in a good mood...
"All right, all right, there's no need to be like this. We're just pirates, pirates who rob, not here to handle everything. Of course, pirates are free, so intervening when dissatisfied is normal. Just do what's right in your minds, the rest doesn't matter."
Sage clapped his hands, laughed, "If you really want to do something, wait until I rule the world, then talk, hahahaha!"
"When you rule the world, make sure those despicable guys respect their inventions, and stop making fakes to scam people!" Renedia shouted.
"You give that order!" Sage shouted.
"Yes, giving the orders myself, would be better..."
Marika chuckled, "Everything else, as long as we follow Sage, will be done."
"Confidence in me is a good thing, because I'm the Captain, and I'm confident in myself too."
Sage raised his hand, clenched it tightly, "There's no need to overthink, just complete our plan first!"
Not long after, Link returned with other black market traders, carrying thirty black suitcases.
These people were his companions from Logue Town, trading on the black market together, they all came to the Grand Line together.
Thirty cases, totaling thirty billion Belly, exchanged for the land deeds Sage acquired.
"Pleasure doing business, if you ever make it to the New World, after I secure some land, we'll have plenty of opportunities to work together!"
After Sage had his subordinates take the money, he left with his group.
Leaving Link staring blankly at the land deeds in several bags.
"What to do? Sell them? Someone would take them for half price," a merchant suggested.
"Don't do something stupid!"
Link gritted his teeth, "Give away the house deeds, don't take a single Belly! Get the citizens on our side, and for the profit industries... report to Lord Umit, he'd be interested. We might lose money this time, but if we secure just one industry, that's our foothold! It's worth it to buy the entry!"