Swayed by desire, living in luxury, oppressive power... yet no one hates it.
Even Kuzan doesn't feel anything is amiss.
But it's just like this...
"That's why I can't stay here."
Kuzan said meaningfully, lifted a wine glass, filled it with the half-drinked wine, raised it to Sage, "Thanks for the hospitality, junior brother."
"Don't call me that, I've never apprenticed under Garp, just learned a few moves. By your logic, since I've learned the Six Styles, should I find a master? Learned Thundering Hakke, then Kaido's my master too?" Sage said with a sneer.
"Ah la la, you've learned Kaido's moves as well?"
Kuzan scratched his head, "Anyway, I've seen enough here, next up, I want to see some new places. The perspective after leaving the Navy is indeed different."
"As long as you don't cause me trouble, do as you like, I won't see you off." Sage lifted a Gemstone Wine Glass, clinked it at Kuzan from afar, without standing up, watching him leave.
Not long after he left, Lily walked in through the door. She glanced at Sage, who wasn't eating fast but was somehow finishing his meal at an oddly rapid pace, and asked:
"Just let him go like that? That's an Admiral... With him joining, our strength would have been much greater."
"Ha!"
Sage chuckled, "Let him join? A guy who's been in the Navy for so many years, and a guy with such strong fighting power, would he easily leave the Navy? It's obvious he left with a purpose, someone like that, how could he be loyal to me?"
If he forcibly kept Kuzan, assuming it worked, given his nature, it certainly would be a cooperative mode.
The premise of Sage's cooperation with others is having something equal.
Doflamingo and Crocodile's business channels, Teach sharing the risks and pressure of the New World with him.
If Kuzan joined his Pirates, it certainly couldn't be cooperation, Sage had no intention of cooperating with his subordinates, that would only divide his ruling power.
He's not concerned with the purposes for his subordinates joining, but the premise is... he must be able to suppress them.
Like Lucci, he knows what Lucci wants to do, and is aware of the purpose of Jabra's trio placed there, but they are indeed working for him.
Because they're ones Sage can subdue, confident no issues will arise.
He's not afraid of Kuzan joining, but there's no need for it, the guy surely has ulterior motives, if something goes wrong, wouldn't that be playing with the foundation he built?
Fearlessness and foolishness are two different things.
Beyond his grasp, Sage is not attached, although the landlord is greedy, he knows not to plant land mines.
Upon hearing this, Lily nodded, "If that's the case, there's something I can understand, when Akainu and Aokiji... no, Kuzan were fighting, the place chosen was Punk Hazard, not far from Dressrosa."
"According to Doffy's words, there's an important business there, but due to the battle, the island surface of Punk Hazard is now half magma, half frost, affecting the business, could it be..."
"Possible, the Navy, they have their own thoughts."
Sage took another sip of wine, picked up a piece of meat with bones, tore off a large chunk, and laughed:
"The World Government and the Navy are ultimately different, sometimes what they do conflicts, but subordinates can't defy their superiors, a ten-day ten-night battle... hahaha, maybe there's another purpose."
Lily pondered and said: "There's one more thing, Akainu is now the Fleet Marshal, according to intelligence, he's busy with some 'World Draft,' wanting to select powerful people from all over the world to join the Navy, possibly due to the massive loss from the Summit War and Kuzan's departure."
Because of Celent's Navy siege event, Lily intensified intelligence efforts... essentially keeping Jabra and Lucci more connected, obtaining a lot of intel.
"World Draft, huh..."
Sage froze for a moment, thought of something amusing, and said with a grin: "In the old days, the Navy recruited young, slowly nurtured them, only then would they recognize the Navy's justice, although not many top ones emerged, once they did, they were top-level powerhouses."
"But now it's different, times have changed, what's the difference between Sakazuki's draft and my recruiting subordinates? The righteous Navy, now it's rotting too, current them, no different from us, just the identity is different."
Sage poured another drink and said, "Only getting weaker."
That did remind him of something.
The old Navy, the older generation was Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr.
The middle generation was Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru.
Each was a top powerhouse, especially now, the strength of Akainu... Sage acknowledges it, undisputed first strike power on the seas.
But once the World Draft happens, the nature completely changes.
"The Navy becomes warlords? Hahaha, no, that Akainu guy, he's the 'Fifth Emperor' standing shoulder to shoulder with the Four Emperors!" Sage laughed wildly.
Fujitora? Ryokugyu?
Those guys are strong but not decisive, compared to Aokiji and Kizaru, the strength is far from enough!
Equivalent to Akainu leading two Emperor's aides, what else if not the Fifth Emperor?
"Where are we now in terms of progress?" Sage asked.
Lily pursed her lips and said:
"Gin conquered three islands, Hawkins and Urouge headed southeast, Hawkins four islands, Urouge two islands, but called yesterday discovered an island rich in 'Scissors Shrimp', planning to go there."
In a month and a half, excluding the half month spent returning, the remaining time other high-ranking officers except for that dead weight Moriah were not idle.
Renedia busy making cannon weapons, also continuing to master Pluton's technology.
Marika busy creating new dishes, additionally managing domestic food logistics.
Lily overseeing everything.
Practicing has not been neglected either, personally supervised by Sage.
Hawkins and Urouge headed to other directions, as planned to occupy islands discovered along the way.
"Progress is good, what are Scissors Shrimp?" Sage asked.
"A shrimp resembling a scorpion with a long tail, claws like scissors, but the flavor is rich, the meat is thick, it's top quality." Lily said.
"Oh?" Sage became interested, "Let Urouge get some as soon as possible, have Marika look after the preparation, good things should be tasted first..."
"Not a big issue, but there's a pretty big problem..."
Lily said gravely, "The place Urouge found seems to be a bit close to Big Mom's territory."
…
Upon the great sea.
A black two-masted pirate ship sails slowly, with a carved demon face on the ship's bow wielding crossed halberds, while the Sail and Pirate Flag bear the Starry Sky Pirate Flag.
This is Urouge's personal vessel.
As territories expanded, these high-ranking officers on conquests began to have their own ships.
Urouge's ship was essentially the same as when he hadn't yet joined the Disaster Pirates, except the flag changed, everything else the same.
"Master Urouge!"
The navigator at this moment was at the ship's bow with binoculars, suddenly breaking into a cold sweat on the forehead, called out once, turned to run, and ran into a strong body.
Urouge with a peculiar grin, looked down at the pirate only reaching his belly, and said with a smile: "Don't panic, what did you discover?"
"Island, island..." The navigator stammered, pointing backward.
"Oh? Discovered an island?" Urouge said: "Then let's speed up, conquer it today, bring back its specialties."
"No, it's not, it's beside the island..."
The navigator shouted: "A ship with Big Mom's Pirate Flag!"
Urouge paused, grabbed the binoculars from the navigator's hand, and gazed ahead.
In view, they just could make out the outline of a diamond-shaped island, yet before the island was a ship...
On the ship's sail, painted was a skull with pink hair, lipstick, wearing a hat, the crossed part was a spoon!
Big Mom!
"Not the Hymn Queen ship, just a ship of the Big Mom Pirates, not even a tart ship... Has a personal emblem, another officer?"
Urouge put down the binoculars, the strange smile on his face grew wider.
"Here is an area within Whitebeard's territory, are they want to seize this island? I won't easily admit defeat..."
He tossed the binoculars back to the navigator, walked to the ship's bow, and said:
"If the young monk leaves like this, Sage will be angry, won't he... Let's go over there and smash them!"