"Let me out?"
Sage chuckled, holding rum in one hand and a glass in the other. He stood up and walked over to the throne, sitting back on the golden velvet lion-headed armchair in Sphinx's furious gaze.
"Not even Impel Down dares to say 'let' me out, and you think you're qualified to let me out?"
Sage poured another glass of wine, propping one foot on the armrest, striking a leisurely and lazy pose, and said:
"I'll give you an opportunity: two billion Belly. That's all it takes for me to give up the robbery and leave here."
"Impossible!"
Sphinx gritted his teeth and said, "You're just one person. We're sure to win!"
"So, you're rejecting my terms?" Sage asked.
"You're all alone... We'll hold this place until we die!"
Sphinx said, "Besides, we are a member nation of the World Government, and the World Government won't let your actions slide!"
"Hohohoho! Yes, which is why I escaped from Impel Down!"
Sage laughed heartily, "If you're not accepting, then I guess the negotiation has broken down!"
He downed another glass of wine and continued pouring more rum, glass after glass, until the rum was completely finished. Then he casually tossed the empty glass towards the unconscious King.
"Tenfold Southern Star Empty Bottle Hit!"
Bang!
The bottle appeared before the King with an almost indiscernible speed, suddenly enlarging with heavy force. As the bottle shattered, it also crushed the King's head.
A crimson gleam flickered in Sage's eyes as he grinned menacingly, "If we can't negotiate, then forget it, I'll just take it myself!"
Buzz!
Sphinx's eyes widened, unable to even scream at the King's death before an indescribable pressure descended upon him, forcing him to his knees.
Thud...
Thud...
From the back, the sound of numerous bodies hitting the ground was heard.
Sphinx struggled to turn his head, only to see the soldiers stationed outside the Royal Palace were now all fallen, just like those who had stormed into the palace. No more than twenty could still stand.
The soldiers gathered outside the Royal Palace, although not all from the Royal City, were a considerable number; yet now, they couldn't resist at all!
"You see, it's just that simple!"
Sage laughed, "I gave you a chance, and you refused, relying on these? But with the King and soldiers gone, what do you have left?"
Looking down at Sphinx kneeling, his smile turned gruesome, "I negotiated with you because I wanted to. Honestly, you had no right to refuse. That's the truth of the ocean: only those with a large enough fist have the right to negotiate!"
Because he was strong enough, he could ask the Royal Palace to prepare food without worry, even if he could immediately see some was poisoned.
But so what?
He could even expel Magellan's poison, so he didn't care if these foods were poisoned. Eating them was like adding seasoning.
On the ocean, those with strong enough bodies can ignore poison.
He was willing to negotiate mainly because he didn't want to wait around, as there would be a fight when his crew arrived. With that time, it was better to let someone bring the money out.
But if they refused... then he'd just have to take it!
"You killed the King... You're crazy! That was the King!" Sphinx clenched his teeth, forcing himself to stand up, shouting incredulously.
The King!
The King, who had lineage and legal rights!
The master of this country, the one they served for generations, gone just like that?
"Don't you know who I am?"
Sage asked strangely, "Me killing a King, is that so surprising?"
At least half of his bounty had this factor in it.
Sphinx was stunned. He had heard of the calamity's reputation, knowing the calamity's actions; it's said that whenever he arrives at a place, it results in massive casualties.
Citizens die tragically, cities are turned to ruins, hard-earned wealth plundered clean.
An extremely dangerous figure.
But hearing and seeing are not the same.
The King is dead, and logically, he should retreat now, gather soldiers, and kill this dangerous Pirate.
But...
Sphinx turned to look at the few remaining outside the Royal Palace, those barely standing, feeling a bitter realization as he was dizzy.
Not an opponent...
Numbers meant nothing to this guy.
"You will die!"
Sphinx's eyes reddened, he cried out mournfully, "You will die!"
"Humans can't live forever, don't say such childish things, but..."
Sage grinned, "You should go before me."
Slash!
Sphinx's body stiffened, looking down at his chest where a blade of straw had suddenly pierced through, with blood pooling at the tip, dripping down.
He slowly turned his head, seeing those guard captains trying to hold on, also pierced by straw.
A blonde man with an emotionless face stood at the back of the Royal Palace, wielding a sword transforming into straw.
"Today, you have the aspect of death."
Hawkins moved his arm, withdrawing the straw from their bodies, condensing it into the sword hilt, transforming it into a sword blade.
He stepped past the unconscious and corpses, entering the Royal Palace, casually sheathing the blade.
"It's been a week, Captain."
Hawkins stood in the hall, looking up at Sage seated on the throne, and said calmly, "You don't seem like you've been imprisoned at all."
A series of motorcycle engines roared from behind him, as ten bikes carrying the Demon Race burst into the Royal Palace, appearing outside.
Sage bared his teeth gradually, "What should someone who's been imprisoned look like?"
"At the very least, they should be more dispirited."
Hawkins said, "Looking like you, only makes us... more confident."
Sage threw his head back, laughing, "Hohohoho, Hawkins, you sure have learned to talk after a few days!"
Marika got off a motorcycle, glanced at the empty plates on the dining table, and smiled, "Ah, seems I won't need to cook then."
"No, Marika, you're just in time."
Sage said, "The chefs here kept trying to poison me, though their cooking skills are quite good... But the chefs are all passed out, and I'm not full yet. Go make something to eat. I haven't had your cooking in days."
"Oh, a long-lost order from the Captain, I'll just borrow the kitchen then." Marika maintained a gentle smile, walking into the Royal Palace kitchen.
"Master Sage!"
Bellamy and the Demon Race charged in excitedly, "We're here!"
"Oh! Bellamy! Good... let's start from here."
Sage rose from the throne, laughing, "Ransack thoroughly, don't leave anything valuable, loot the palace and then the city."
"Yes, Master Sage!"
Bellamy swiftly waved his hand, leading the Demon Race to begin looting in the half-collapsed Royal Palace.
Though few in number, the motorcycles had higher carrying capacity than manpower. In this Royal City, Sage needed no supplies, just gold and treasure.
"Sage, this country..."
"No need to say."
Hawkins was about to inform Sage of intel about the country, but Sage waved him off, "I don't care about those things."
"You know?" Hawkins was stunned.
"What would I know?"
Sage laughed, "I don't know anything, and I don't care. We're Pirates, no need to stress over a robbery target. Anyway, it's robbery; how these rich folks got their treasure, I'm not interested."
When he came over, he briefly glanced at the city's full view. The most prosperous area was around the Royal Palace, the second circle was civilian buildings, and the third circle was the slums, the largest and most populous.
But this had little to do with Sage; rather, it allowed him to lock onto targets more easily.
The wealthy weren't scattered but gathered in one place...
That's a great thing!
As for the country's culture and history, whether tragic or heroic...
Sage wasn't interested.
This wasn't his territory to rule, so why bother.
The ocean is vast, the world is wide. If he were to listen patiently to each one, how much time would that waste?
Once looted, leave immediately.
As for what happens after the robbery, whether people from the slums seize the Rich District or the nobles and tycoons resume control, that's their business.
When it comes to robbery, Sage only has a few rules; just follow them.