The transaction between the World Government and the Revolutionary Army continues to unfold, benefiting from the emergence of new populations and cluster industrial bases, which further boost Sage's weapon production capacity.
Apart from these two parties, the rising global tension also makes various countries feel the crisis. Those capable of producing guns are manufacturing them, and those lacking the ability simply start buying them.
Sage's recent weapon sales are not only free from worries about selling but also almost unable to meet the production capacity.
Ordinary weapons, sell!
Wine Iron Ore weapons, sell!
He uniquely controls the export of Seastone weapons, unlike during Kaido's time when even Seastone was sold out.
Besides, the production of this thing is genuinely low, and machine technology is useless. It must be crafted by artisans.
Selling it only controls casualties and doesn't expand wars.
Regarding Ability Users, the Revolutionary Army seems to have many, with almost all important officers being Ability Users, and the Navy even more so. Once Seastone is used, it's easy to create a decisive battle.
This is also something Sage doesn't want to see. Ordinary weapons are enough. To deal with Ability Users, a large investment of troops is necessary, and more weapons will be needed.
Sage naturally hopes both sides will fight fiercely, the more intense the better.
However, until now, it seems to be in the preparation stage, with continuous weapon orders. Although there are minor conflicts according to the intelligence received, it hasn't turned into a full-blown war. It's unclear what they're waiting for.
"Escaped?"
In the Royal Palace, Sage looks at Lily, who has come to report.
"Yes, the news of Sabo's death in Mary Geoise in the newspaper is false. According to the received intelligence, he should have escaped. As for Cobra, it's confirmed that he is truly dead."
Lily pauses, then says: "However, it's incomprehensible. I remember in Alabasta, Straw Hat was also on the royal side. Being Straw Hat's sworn brother, why would he choose only Cobra, and... why only Cobra?"
If he could take down one Cobra, why not take down more kings?
That would cause even greater chaos.
"Who cares." Sage laughs: "This intelligence isn't very useful to us for now. Let it be. As long as our business has no mistakes, let Lucci and the people below focus mainly on the war recently. The Underworld should also be proactive. I need to know the accurate intelligence of each war to know how much to sell."
Regarding the price, he admits to selling one high and one low. He won't deny it until things settle. However, he must control the quantities.
To prevent one side from achieving successive victories and turning it into a decisive final battle.
"Understood. There's one more thing to report..."
Lily takes out a regional sea map, places it on the table, and points her long, slender fingers at the center of the map, "This place is very strange. We've occupied all around it, yet it remains a blank area."
That regional area on the map is a sea area within Kaido's sphere of influence, surrounded by several islands. Those islands have changed colors with their conquest, but the central region is still shrouded with a symbol of mist, representing the undiscovered.
The sea map of the ocean is always roughly outlined. The detailed maps are drawn only if someone has drawn them.
But these things either don't circulate or no one has ever reached there.
The sea is magical and vast, especially the Grand Line, with its varying magnetic fields and even less circulation, where many undocumented lands exist.
"If it's undiscovered, go discover it." Sage says, "Send the people below to see what's there."
"Yes." Lily nods and exits.
...
Mary Geoise.
Pangu Palace.
Between Powers.
"Damn it!"
Topman Warcury, one of the Five Elders, sits on the sofa, hands crossed under his chin, speaking in a low voice: "To let Sabo escape, we must find him!"
"Yes, he indeed poses a threat, having seen the adult..."
Shepherd Ju Peter, with hands in pockets, nods slightly: "This is no ordinary Revolutionary Army, and should be dealt with strongly."
"And those rebellious Revolutionary Armies, along with kingdoms not paying the Heavenly Tribute, must also be punished." Marcus Mars, with legs crossed, speaks casually.
Saturn, leaning on a cane, gazes out the window at the distant residence of the Heavenly Celestial Dragons. Some people are executing a Heavenly Celestial Dragon.
That's Mjosgard of the Donquixote Family, a peculiar man who never wears a bubble helmet in the Lower Realm. During the World Conference, for the sake of the Mermaid Princess of the Dragon Palace Kingdom, he opposed his kind.
The executioners are their internal law enforcement organization, the Divine Knight Order.
"The Donquixote Family, they're a bunch of oddballs."
Saturn casually says, turning to face everyone, "Finding Sabo is important, but there's another matter we can't ignore. It's been five hundred years, and that matter is approaching."
"I've already sent people there."
Sitting on the sofa, holding a sword, Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro nods his bald head. "If used well this time, there will be no mistakes in the future."
Upon hearing this, the other four all turn their eyes toward him.
"Found it?" Saturn asks.
"Found it, that special fruit. Only that ability can completely erase existence, making people forget everything. Although it's within Sage's territory, he can't possibly remember. As long as this period is erased, it will suffice. A five-hundred-year time gap is enough to make anything disappear."
"If used well, we can erase some history in decades."
Nusjuro's lenses glinted, "However, now it's for that, the legend containing an entire world's wealth, capable of fulfilling any wish, overturning everything..."
The others exchanged glances and spoke in unison:
"Golden Mist."
...
"Sage, there's something to report."
Two days later, Lily appeared again before Sage, taking out a sea map and pointing at the center, "This place is very strange, we've conquered everywhere around it, yet this part remains blank."
"If it's blank, let someone discover it. It's no big deal, just send a few ships over."
Sage waved his hand indifferently, but after saying this, he was obviously taken aback.
"Lily..."
"Hmm?"
"Don't you feel a sense of déjà vu? Haven't you come to see me before?"
"Of course, two days ago, I came to report on the movements of the Revolutionary Army, and also..."
Lily frowned, trying to say something, but there was indeed no related matter in her mind.
She should have the memory.
In terms of internal affairs, she analyzed everything in detail, even if some things Sage didn't want to hear, as the Prime Minister, she needed to keep them in mind.
For such a long time, she had never forgotten anything, not even had a hazy memory.
Yet now, she clearly remembered she should have reported something, so why was there no related memory?
This was really odd.
This is dereliction of duty!
It's a disgrace!
Lily silently withdrew, preparing to go back and thoroughly investigate what exactly was missed.
A few days later, she came to Sage's room again with a sea map, "Sage, this place is very strange, we..."
Midway through her sentence, she froze again.
The sense of peculiarity became even stronger.
"Déjà vu, very strong déjà vu."
Sage glanced at the sea map, stood up, and looked out the window into the distance, "And the time?"
"The passage of time isn't an issue."
Lily said, "I accurately remember how many days have passed; six days ago, I reported to you about the movements of the Revolutionary Army and Mary Geoise, and inspected the port trade and weapons factory relocation. Four days ago, I remember coming again, then went to tally the bank accounts. However..."
She looked at the sea map on the table, "The peculiarity, it comes from here. Despite having discovered and conquered the surrounding areas, why is there a misty central zone left? It doesn't align with our way of doing things, nor with my goal of drawing a complete sea map of the world."
The position of the Disaster Pirates' Navigator has never been abolished, and besides managing internal affairs, Lily needed to chart discovered sea areas and reorganize existing ones.
An unknown land, even if Sage's plan hadn't reached there, they would first explore and draw up the sea map.
Since there's no issue with time, and their memory feels odd, it certainly isn't a problem with their minds.
"Let me see what's going on,"
Sage turned around with a smile, "When unsure, solve it by ability. When the cause is hard to find, excel in ability. There's a high probability of an ability user here, making me lack these memories in my territory. So, what's here? Or what is hidden?"
There are similar abilities.
Sugar's Hobby-Hobby Fruit possesses such power.
"Just in time, the Kingdom is flourishing and thriving recently, making me bored."
Sage grinned, "Let me see what's on this island."
"Understood, and the personnel?" Lily asked, "Currently on this island and available within three days are Moriah, Hawkins, and Urouge."
These three women are accompanying crew, a must-have when setting sail, no exceptions.
A navigator, a chef, a shipwright, are indispensable in any case.
"Just bring Old Hawkins and Old Urouge along, hmm... And prepare some good fishing rods, I have a feeling my luck is hot right now, might even catch something."
Lily: "..."
Since when isn't your luck hot?
What's the use of hot hands if the fish aren't biting.
"I'll go prepare right away." Lily said while gripping the hilt of her sword at her side and went to prepare for the voyage.
Sage sat back down, poured himself a glass of wine, and suddenly chuckled, "How interesting... There aren't many who dare cause trouble in my territory now."