Infrastructure work is something that goes on constantly, and even if Sage doesn't give any orders, the previous plans are still being carried out step by step.
The buildings on O'hara Main Island and Vice Island are already being replaced, and because they've taken in more territory and more people, part of the industrial functions have shifted; those who ended up idle just naturally threw themselves into the construction industry.
With more people, naturally the speed of architectural renewal goes up.
Right now, O'hara is already full of those mid-rise buildings with huge floor areas, for people to live in, and all kinds of goods, big and small, are also being supplied from the port to O'hara as a priority.
Above the bustling crowds, a flock of crows suddenly appeared, flying past.
The northwestern sky was a bit yellowish; the flock of crows, silhouetted against the sun, seemed to blend into the sunlight, making it easy for people to overlook them.
Flying toward the sun, the crows landed in a small alley, strangely gathered together, and transformed into a tall, burly, pale-skinned bald man.
The man had a feather coat draped over his upper body and wore a metal mask shaped like a bird's beak over his mouth; from afar he looked just like a giant bird.
Revolutionary Army, Northern Army Commander, Crow.
He glanced to both sides, walked out of the alley, looked at the people coming and going on the street, narrowed his eyes slightly, then also took two steps forward and blended into the crowd.
Looking like this, he didn't really stand out here.
Among the passersby, there were people with horns, there were people of the Long-legged Race with long arms and legs, and one could also see Fishmen, as well as Mermaids riding on mounts; and, more than that, there were even some bizarre guys that looked like beasts and humans merged together.
With these kinds of people around, Crow's strangeness didn't seem all that strange.
However...
Just like Koala said, it's very prosperous.
"Come have a look! New stock just in!"
At the entrance of a shop, a clerk was shouting at the top of his lungs, and a crowd had gathered around.
Next to that clerk, on a raised platform, there was a Radio Snail with its eyes closed.
"The latest Video Snail, containing twelve newly shot reels, with recordings of songs sung by world-famous diva idols. Anyone who buys one in our store today also gets a bonus of three free updates!"
Among the gathered crowd, someone stepped out and asked, "Do you have any 'Master's True Inheritance'?"
"Master's True Inheritance?"
The clerk froze for a moment, then reflexively said, "Oh, you mean Sa—"
Smack!
The boss suddenly rushed out and gave him a hard smack on the head, pressing his head down as he bowed repeatedly to the crowd:
"My apologies, this guy is new here from another island and doesn't know the rules yet. We do have the Master's True Inheritance, but as for the price, it's three times that of these regular goods, and we've got a thousand copies in stock—first come, first served."
"Give me one!"
"Mine, mine!"
Hearing that, everyone who'd gathered rushed into the shop like a swarm.
In the crowd, Crow watched this scene and frowned slightly.
True Inheritance?
"Looks like beneath the prosperity, there's still a layer of Pirate oppression..."
From the beak-like mask, a voice suddenly came out, making those rushing to buy turn their heads toward him; the atmosphere suddenly froze at that moment.
A bead of sweat slid down Crow's temple.
He'd just subconsciously turned on the amplifier, and that's why the sound came out...
"Alright, go on buying your stuff."
Just then, a man wearing a pink suit and a horned mask that covered the upper half of his face suddenly appeared and waved to the people around.
"Lord Who's."
The people all gave him a bow, then didn't bother with anything else and went back to scrambling for their goods.
The man in the pink suit held a cigarette in his mouth, crooked a finger at Crow, and said, "Come with me."
"So I've been discovered..."
Crow followed him over with an expressionless face.
"Not discovered—we knew from the moment you showed up."
The man blew out a puff of smoke and said, "My name is Who's-Who, formerly one of Kaido's Tobi Roppo, now under Sage's command, the new leader of the Imperial Court Guards, an organization separate from those Government Special Agents, an organization that oversees everything."
As he spoke, Who's-Who smiled, turned to look at the people swarming into the shop, and said:
"That Video Snail is loaded with lots of interesting footage; plenty of people are willing to buy it and take it home to watch. The Governor says this is called a 'movie' and is also a kind of industry. As for that 'Sage's True Inheritance', that's a stage play put together by the folks down below to flatter the Governor, with someone who looks like him playing the role."
"Things like 'defeating the evil Big Mom' or 'taking down the oppressive Kaido' and so on are all produced spontaneously by the people, but they're made really well and are very popular around here; they're practically in short supply now."
Crow fell silent for a moment and said, "Then take me to see Sage. Our Revolutionary Army has business to discuss with him."
"Thought so. You Revolutionary Army types are really odd—every time you send someone, they have to hide and observe first... Since you wanted to observe, you'll have to wait now."
Who's-Who pinched his cigarette, flicked off some ash, and gave Crow a mysterious smile: "You're not the only one who's come."
...
Royal Palace, reception room.
Smack.
Sage leaned back, propping both legs up on the table, biting on a cigar and letting the smoke drift upward, staring in a domineering way at the white-robed man in front of him who seemed to be wearing a black-and-white mask.
"How much did you say?"
"Five hundred thousand Belly per gun."
Guernica wiped the sweat from his forehead. "At this price, we..."
"You taking me for a beggar?"
Sage waved his hand, and Renedia immediately drew a Flintlock Gun and aimed it at Guernica. "Sage, just shoot him. This guy is insulting my work!"
"But your guns are mass-produced... And we're being sincere here, buying weapons in bulk. No matter how you look at it, it should be a bit cheaper, shouldn't it?" Guernica said.
"Mass-produced, sure—but mass production still has its quality standards, Guernica..."
Sage sat up, took the gun from Renedia, fiddled with it a bit, then set it on the table and pushed it over.
"This gun may look like a Flintlock Gun, but it's got a three-round cylinder inside and can load three lead bullets. It doesn't blow the barrel and needs little maintenance; just the manufacturing cost alone is very high. I used to sell them to you at eight hundred thousand Belly apiece, and that was only because you seemed sincere—I was giving them to you at a loss."
"And now not only are you refusing the original price, you even want a discount? What, you think just because your face is black and white you can play both sides? Have you forgotten about that little incident where your so-called Science Defense 'weapon trash' fought me on the Golden Ship?" Sage sneered.
"That's a different matter. Conflict was inevitable. But those above believe Master Sage is a very rational man. We're also willing to cooperate with the Governor of Disaster. It's just that this time the order volume really is huge, so we were hoping for a discount..."
"One million Belly."
Before Guernica could finish, Sage gave him a smile. "Non-negotiable—one million Belly per gun."
"Master Sage!" Guernica was startled. "At that price, we..."
Sage waved his hand and smiled. "There's a saying that what goes around comes around—you might not get it. Back when it was a buyer's market, I had to beg and scrape just to open up sales channels. Now that it's a seller's market, if I still sell cheap, wouldn't that be letting this chaotic world down?"
"Guernica... hm, the World Government's Nika. I actually quite appreciate you—you're polite and you do your job well. Back in Wano Country, the fact that you managed to slip away in the chaos and even bring intelligence out, you really ought to be thankful to me. After all, I'm a kind and benevolent person."
"Shouldn't a kind person get something in return?"
Sage stared at him and said, "One million Belly. If you agree, we ship immediately. Population, resources, all of that can be used to offset payment—but this price will not change, because..."
"Who told you to start a war?"