The hearty laughter, accompanied by the sound of thunder, reverberated in the Royal Palace.
Lily deeply looked at Sage, whose expression revealed a sinister intent against the heavens. Despite the strong storm and the bean-sized raindrops, hitting a person could even crush people.
Yet amidst his laughter and arrogance, there was such helplessness.
The wind and rain cannot deter resolve!
"I'll go and notify them now."
Lily turned and walked towards the inside of the Royal Palace.
Need to make a call to bring those guys back...
"Lady Lily..."
The female pirate accompanying Lily worriedly said, "Are we really going to fight Big Mom? She is one of the Four Emperors..."
"Hmm?"
Lily paused, looked at the woman wrapped in a headscarf yet dressed decently, and said, "What do you want to say, Sena?"
Unlike Sage not knowing his subordinates, Lily remembered those holding positions under her.
The current O'hara, after developing for more than half a year, is already on the right track, unlike before when Lily had to expend great effort to govern.
Constantly expanding outward for conquest, it's impossible not to have losses. Some subordinates died, some were gravely injured and lost their will, and some simply didn't want to be pirates anymore.
Some people left secretly, some retired, while others accepted Sage's arrangement to station elsewhere with legitimate jobs.
Among them, those with decent qualifications and management skills were appointed as officers, cooperating with Sage in governance.
Like the affiliated islands, typically stationed with some reputable pirates as officers, then jointly governed with local figures chosen by the commoners.
These high-ranking officers have their own areas of jurisdiction and are called ministers.
Marika and Renedia manage food supplies—she's the Minister of Logistics—and weapon factories—she's the Minister of Military.
Supporting their work, there's the pinnacle of officers, called assistant officers.
The ministers manage people, the assistant officers handle affairs.
Lily is the Prime Minister, unlike other ministers, she has three assistant officers under her.
Sena is one of them.
She isn't from pirates, but a resident of New O'hara, showing great aptitude from a young age.
After Lily slaughtered the nobles, she stood out and was quickly discovered for her talents by Lily, promoted to assistant officer.
But since her superior is a pirate, naturally she encountered some matters of the Pirates.
The Disaster Pirates are indeed powerful, but compared to the Four Emperors, they're far inferior.
Sena wasn't fearful, she was just concerned.
In facing Lily's inquiry, Sena hesitantly said:
"Lady Lily, our forces combined with those stationed on affiliated islands total only eight thousand. Big Mom is a Pirate Emperor, being a 'Four Emperors' for a long time, shouldn't we prepare a bit more?"
She didn't think Sage would lose, it's not about lack of confidence.
Her family, before Sage arrived, were among those waiting to die because they couldn't afford medical treatment.
When Master Sage arrived, their family was saved!
What does this represent? It represents the benevolence of Master Sage!
That's why Sena was willing to work for Sage, and knowing he needed people, she was the first to step forward.
Initially applying as a maid, she was identified by Lily for her management talents—a maid was a waste of her skills—appointed as an officer, and then rapidly promoted to assistant officer.
She truly wished Sage to win, and sincerely hoped he could become the Pirate King.
But the more so, the more caution is required.
Their forces were significantly insufficient, enough to maintain territories but insufficient to initiate a war against the Four Emperors; even if emptied, only eight thousand, far from adequate for combat.
Moreover, with even a reduction by half, their foundational territory couldn't be maintained.
Taking everyone out to battle at this time is obviously inadvisable; once enough preparations are made, with sufficient forces, then there's nothing to fear.
However, this suggestion she dared not propose to Sage directly, only able to subtly remind through Lady Lily.
The only ones qualified to persuade Master Sage were these high-ranking officers, especially the original three leading ladies.
"Prepare? How much preparation is enough?"
Lily said, "Prepare until thirty thousand? Yet then we'd have more territory, wanting preparations, no amount will suffice."
"Since founding the Pirates, we've been preparing—raiding in the East Sea, raiding in Paradise—to achieve something in the New World. Preparing and preparing, nothing avoided; what must come will come."
"The sea won't provide enough time for preparation, no matter who's ahead blocking us, blocking Sage's plans, we must fight!"
Lily glanced over and said, "You're not a pirate, you don't understand some things. So-called preparation... cannot be omitted, but neither relied upon solely. If Sage wants a fight, then that's an order, proceed with the task."
"Yes, I understand, Lady Lily." Sena bowed and stepped back.
Watching her departing figure, Lily's eyes flickered.
Lose?
It's not impossible, after all, they are the 'Four Emperors'. If Sage and she agreed to battle, as long as the opponents aren't foolish, they'd surely present their strongest defense.
But knowing the possibility of loss, would one choose not to fight?
Forget Sage's personality, even Lily herself found that impossible!
She is a Sword Master!
In the improbable scenario of overwhelming defeat, should all subordinates be lost, it would only impact the affiliated islands.