Sage turned to the window, looking at the Royal City, which was now more bustling with neon lights and people than half a year ago, a smile rising at his lips, "In the end, it will move according to my plan."
Just do it, the rest...
Leave it to Sage's own strength and influence, and it will certainly succeed!
...
One year later.
Mary Geoise.
Yet another year of Radio Snail connected World Conference.
Though the World Conference is held once every four years, it's been happening annually these past two years, one can't tell if it undermines authority or enhances it.
This time, Akainu came alone, arriving at the conference room, biting his cigar as smoke billowed around his face, he didn't even glance at the sullen faces of the Five Elders and Shamrock, sitting quietly at the corner of the long table, waiting patiently.
"Sakazuki..." Warcury spoke lowly.
"I said long ago, doing it this way wouldn't work. But speaking of the past now is pointless. All we can do is keep looking forward." Akainu said indifferently.
The global situation has not weakened as the World Government hoped, but rather it grows ever more unwieldy.
The Revolutionary Army is still encircling, and although the Navy has desperately retracted its forces, it can still barely protect Mary Geoise from raids, delivering some supplies above so the Heavenly Celestial Dragons can eat, but eating well is no longer realistic.
There were disruptions from the Heavenly Celestial Dragons initially, but the external situation was evidently wrong, the chaos was subdued by the Divine Knight Order, thus maintaining peace.
Externally though, the situation in the Southeast Sea is tense as well, with the Navy, Pirates, Intelligence Organizations, and Revolutionary Army tangled up in constant warfare; skirmishes happen daily. The Navy barely maintains order, yet the front line fluctuates, the overall situation retreating.
That eye-catching Straw Hat kid remarkably settled in the East Sea for a year, traveling the entire year before re-entering the Grand Line, which brought the East Sea into chaos.
Compared to the Grand Line, the Revolutionary Army's power in the East Sea is even stronger.
In the northwest, it seems peaceful, but everyone present knows the issue in the Southeast is due to the limitless supply from the northwest.
Whether it's the Navy, Pirates, Revolutionary Army, or their World Government, weapons and supplies are bought from there.
This appears to be a bizarre balance.
Once one side gains the upper hand, the other side's supply strengthens, as if they were fighting crickets, keeping them in balance despite the perpetual clash.
Everyone can see it's deliberate. That disaster has long become a force, subtly guiding the global situation.
Yet even persuasion is utterly useless.
The Five Elders tried direct communication with the disaster, met with delays or silence, claiming ignorance and misunderstanding, insisting weapons weren't sold by them, attributing it to smuggling, blaming the Underworld.
But everyone knows, in today's world, Sage holds significant weight in the Underworld.
However, a contract is a contract, and the World Government truly cannot bear the outcomes of reigniting war with Sage now, which would skew the balance drastically.
The most opportune time has long been missed.
Now it's a matter of stalling, watching helplessly as they spiral into broader conflicts.
This World Conference, too, is a result of this.
The heavenly tribute from the Southeast Sea is entirely unreachable now, with too many Pirates and Revolutionary Army blocking the way, the only hope left is in the Northwest Sea.
Despite the chaos in the Southeast Sea, the Northwest Sea fares slightly better, appearing chaotic but with powerful nations growing stronger.
Relying on their heavenly tribute and the receivable early Grand Line tribute, the world can still witness the authority of the government; if it's not collected this year, there will be issues.
They abide by the agreement, and Sage does as well, besides business dealings, there has been a significant hiatus in robberies this year.
At least on the surface, it's like this; everyone is just as invested, how they sabotage in secret is left to their own devices.
"This year's heavenly tribute must be collected; make those crews pay a two-year share."
Nusjuro said, "Additionally, they need to dispatch their own ships for protection, conditions can be negotiated, for those powerful nations, we might waive half, but ensuring they pay is mandatory."
"Seconded, I agree."
Peter nodded at the five screens, signaling, "We can begin now."
The Radio Snail opened its eyes, the screens flickered before lighting up, drawing everyone's gaze, visibly stunned.
The three screens of the Southeast Sea and Grand Line had no issue, this year several countries declared their refusal to pay heavenly tribute, but many others supplemented, some had been 'corrected', restored by the World Government, overall unchanged.
However, the West Sea and North Sea showed issues compared to the previous year, with half the screens plunged into darkness as if never opened, and those dark screens were originally for powerful nation focuses.
The Flower Country in the West Sea, the Lubunier Kingdom in the North Sea, even Germa 66, which was reintegrated into the World Government with a territory, were the centers of attention...all absent!
Power succumbed to silence, while in O'hara's Royal Palace, several ships disguised as merchant ships docked at the harbor, a group mingling with the crowd, among them vaguely visible were some high-ranking officers leading and escorting something, taking these normally dressed or cloaked figures into the Royal Palace, arriving at a chamber filled with thrones.
"I've long heard that the disaster has an interest in collecting thrones."
The hooded man pulled back his hood, revealing a face with small round sunglasses, glancing at the thrones and smiling, "They're quite familiar, many thrones from the West Sea's nations are here."
"North Sea has them too."
The ordinarily dressed, but pale-skinned middle-aged man casually said, "All were originally from territories incorporated into our 'domain', how should this matter be explained then?"
"It's very simple."
A robust man with striking golden hair and lightning-shaped facial hair moved forward first, sitting on one of the thrones, "Purchased from the Underworld, the disaster truly enjoys thrones."
Germa 66, Vinsmoke family patriarch, Judge!
After him, two others also sat on thrones.
One was the King of the Archipelago Kingdom on the other side of the West Sea, rising within the year, King of the Kara Bi United Kingdom.
Another was the King from the North Sea, also rising within the year, occupying three sizable islands akin to a continent, creating new territories in the Outer Sea, attracting numerous residents to develop resources in the Nidelles Kingdom.
These two were originally minor allied nations, but since last year when they agreed to collaborate with the disaster, they've amassed considerable wealth, and the kings aren't fools, seizing this opportunity, despite population loss, it pales in comparison to the wealth gained.
"Then let's begin."
The King of the Flower Country nodded, stepping forward to sit among the thrones, watching Vladimir sit as well, saying:
"Only five qualified to attend here, is this considered the first meeting? Then let's discuss future world directions."
"It's quite simple."
The King of the Kara Bi United Kingdom shrugged, indifferently saying, "All here are seniors to me; I joined later, earned less, smallest in qualification."
"A hundred billion; this part I'll use to buy some robots and weapons, isn't it good for the nation to become stronger? The enemies around me aren't few...
"So, I'm the smallest here, I'll speak directly. From today onwards, future heavenly tribute, I won't pay!"