One day later.
Under the storm, the Death Star continued its voyage. Over the past two days, Sage experimented a few more times, deliberately getting Pearl drunk so he would fall asleep. Every time Pearl slept, he would clutch the gold coin and head northwest, stopping only when about to get into the sea, where Gin knocked him down with a punch and retrieved the coin.
In the captain's cabin.
Sage toyed with the skull gold coin, saying, "It doesn't matter if it's day or night, as long as you fall asleep. Even seawater doesn't nullify the ability, looks like it's an ability creation."
"Isn't the sea supposed to restrain ability users?"
Lily standing next to him asked, "Can't it nullify the ability?"
"No, it can't."
Renedia, eating a dessert on the sofa, said, "The sea only makes ability users weak and renders them helpless on land. The ability itself doesn't disappear."
The sea or seastone merely limits the extent of one's abilities, not reverting them back to ordinary people.
When a rubber ability user enters the water, they're still rubber.
Even abilities like appendage and creation, once used, it's unheard of for seawater to nullify them. Some ability users can even eliminate their body without nullifying the ability.
Abilities only have a restraining relationship.
Old Sand fears water. As soon as he touches water, he reveals his true form.
Sage recalled that Moriah, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had zombies that feared salt, not water, just because seawater contains salt.
But not all abilities are afraid of the sea.
This gold coin isn't afraid of seawater. As an ability creation or appendage, its 'curse' remains ever-present.
"Ah, but it doesn't work on fish."
Marika prepared a cocktail for Sage, placed it in front of him, and smiled, "It's not applicable to all life."
"Maybe the ability user didn't think too much…"
Sage chuckled and looked at Lily, "Have you contacted Doflamingo?"
Before Doflamingo left, they exchanged Radio Snail numbers on both sides.
Of course, Sage had a Radio Snail. During a transaction with Crocodile earlier, he was given a few for communication.
"Contacted, but he himself hasn't arrived." Lily said, "A guy named Trebol answered. I don't quite like him, feels sticky. Even the Radio Snail looks sticky. But I told him the request, and they'll wait for Doflamingo's arrival to respond."
Sage smiled at the remark, a noble Knightess really dislikes sticky, disgusting stuff...
"Never mind, let's keep sailing. Marika, add a roasted piglet to today's lunch. I suddenly crave it." Sage asked.
"Understood." Marika responded with a smile.
Sage's food intake is astonishing, becoming increasingly luxurious. The minimum is thirty-six dishes, the maximum being a hundred and eight, with no more than half repeating day to day.
Not only is the quantity large, but Marika must personally cook them.
At this stage, even severely wounded, unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't haphazardly swallow food for healing.
Because the conditions are ample.
Whether looted or purchased, the ship was stocked with sufficient supplies. Of course, no food can be stored forever at sea. These items were prepared based on Sage's appetite. Otherwise, they'd spoil over time.
At nightfall, Sage anchored at an island to rest.
Such a big storm isn't suited for island exploration. The ship is stable enough, and Sage preferred staying in the captain's cabin, drinking, smoking, watching the rain, while outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared, yet inside remained calm.
"Bulu bulu bulu bulu..."
The Radio Snail on the table suddenly opened its eyes, sounding off.
With a cigar in his mouth, Sage picked up the receiver with one hand, observing the snail-shaped creature as it transformed like an amoeba.
Its eyes morphed into sunglasses, and the previously expressionless face adopted a sinister look.
"Fufufufufu... Sage, are you looking for me?" The Radio Snail laughed sinisterly, projecting Doflamingo's voice.
"Oh, speaking so robustly—it seems like the injuries are better, huh?" Sage exhaled smoke, grabbing a nearby bottle to pour himself a drink.
The Radio Snail is peculiar; it doesn't show drinking actions or expressions, but smoking results in an added cigar or cigarette-like projection on the face.
So...
The sea is truly wondrous!
"Hey, you're the one seeking me out for business! Shouldn't you speak a bit more politely?" The Radio Snail's forehead pulsed with a vein.
"Do you still care about that, huh, hahahaha... You know the request, how will you deliver the stuff to me?" Sage drank his wine, smiling.
"Fufufufu, let me remind you; I have information for the first half, but even I can't gather it all completely. Even for the first half, there are too many islands, your request is unrealistic. Why not consider what you plan to do in the first half? How much do you intend to rob?"
Representing Doflamingo, the Radio Snail laughed.
"Of course, as much as possible!"
Sage gripped his hand tightly, "I want it all!"
"Sage, it's not realistic... Fufufufu, even if you want, you won't gather intel quickly."
Not just the world, even within the Grand Line, the World Government might not clearly have the island count. Making a sea map from known intel is easier, but acquiring so many Eternal Poses takes time.
Sage understood this, thought it over, and said, "Mark the worthwhile places for robbery; don't worry about the routes, I just want places with wealth."
"Fufufufu, that's simple. Where's the trade happening? Is there a specific location? I remember you set off from Jaya Island, right? The next magnetic island recorded by the Log Pose is Long Ring Long Island, right?"
From the Radio Snail came the voice: "If we don't make any stops along the way, we can arrive in about twelve days."
The magnetic field of Jaya Island, as with Sky Island, is the same. Sage knew they originally belonged to the same island, with half having ascended to the sky.
In terms of sea routes, they all point to the same line's magnetic field.
After all, not all islands possess magnetic fields.
As long as you're on the route, different islands will connect to the same island's magnetic field, as long as the nodes between don't change.
Jaya Island can lead to Long Ring Long Island, and Sky Island also points to Long Ring Long Island. From one node to another, the magnetic field on the route remains unchanged.
"Am I the kind who doesn't make stops? Besides, twelve days is too long..."
Sage glanced out the window and said, "I'm currently staying on an island with a small volcano. It's half forest and half flatland. With your information, you can find it, right? I'll wait for a day; bring me the goods, no problem?"
"Fufufufu, you're truly overbearing, but since we're cooperating, I'll agree to your request. You'll see it tomorrow."
After speaking, the other side of the Radio Snail hung up.
Such a small matter, Doflamingo has no need to haggle over it.
It's just that Sage was quite curious. This guy's territory is in the New World, and even flying there himself would take him several days. How to arrive in a day?
But soon, Sage understood how exactly this guy managed it.
By noon the next day, a ship rushed into the storm, nearing the Death Star.
"Is it Master Sage?"
Before the ship even approached, a loud voice rang out from the ship. Someone with a loudspeaker shouted forward: "We are under the orders of Master Umit of the Deep Sea Current, sent to deliver the sea map and information to you!"
Deep Sea Current, Umit...
One of the six "emperors" of the Underworld, controlling the transport industry, business sprawling across the entire sea.
It's not that he controls the entire sea's transport industry, but within this industry, he is the biggest leader.
Doflamingo needn't act personally; just a phone call settles it.
He's the one leading the figures in the Underworld, using them to find the island where Sage was staying, and just coming over close by.
These people don't care about whether one is a pirate or not; as long as it's business, deals with the devil will be done.
The Navy has supply points worldwide for nearby delivery of supplies and information. Similarly, pirates venturing across the sea also have their own channels.
Sage, now due to his cooperation with Doflamingo, gained the convenience brought by this channel.
"So, doing business with industry is profitable and convenient!"
In the captain's quarters, Sage looked out the window at the ship slowly departing the storm, disappearing into the wind and rain, and said resentfully, "Once I have territory, I want to develop such a business too!"
"We're also doing transportation business?" Renedia was delighted, "That's great, then I can build lots of ships and let folks sail them."
"Oh! Rena! Yes, that's the kind of thinking we need!"
Sage's eyes brightened: "It's a good business idea; once we find suitable territory, we'll do it!"
"Sage, the information is very detailed."
Lily hugged a stack of sea maps and documents, placing them on the coffee table before the sofa, quickly scanning. Along with it, a batch of Eternal Poses was delivered.
"Found it, information about Anu Country..."
She picked up a piece of paper, instinctively wanting to hand it to Sage but suddenly paused, realized something, and her movement stopped halfway.
Sage nonchalantly drank a sip of wine, "Read out the crucial parts."
He was illiterate, so handing it to him was of little use.
Lily nodded and said: "Anu Country, a land full of stones. The island lacks soil, it's entirely made of stone. As Bellamy said, this country survives by mining stones, but it's not that poor, as it attracts many people wanting to make a fortune to spend there. The overall economy is okay, and the island's entertainment industry is pretty good. The key point is..."
She lifted her head, looking at Sage, "The people of this country are strong, boasting ten thousand standing troops, and they have some noteworthy strong figures as well. Additionally, their king, according to reports, is quite a formidable guy."
On the sea, it's not just those well-known entities; strong figures who have yet to shine on this sea stage are everywhere.
Like the guy later known as 'Fujitora'...
Before joining the Navy, few on the sea knew him.
But that doesn't hinder him from being a strong individual.
Within countries, strong figures emerging won't be few.
After all, being human means one has a home...
No matter who it is, there's always a birthplace.
"Strong figures?"
Sage laughed heartily: "Isn't that great? Let's head over then!"
Fighting strong figures, gaining strength, is also part of his plan!
Relying solely on training to stabilize oneself in the New World would take too long.
Sage doesn't want to miss the swiftly approaching...
The world's change!