Renedia talks about technology with detailed expertise; in this regard, she's far beyond a ten-year-old kid.
"But I've searched all over Dressrosa and found no good steel; the best is already with me, yet I'm not satisfied, so I've halted."
Renedia said, "Sage, you have a solution, right?"
Sage thought for a moment, reached out his hand to Lily, who pulled out the Radio Snail, dialed Doflamingo's number, and handed the receiver to Sage.
"I don't know about good materials, but I bet Doflamingo does. If he doesn't, then we'll go as planned. I'm quite pleased with this ship."
The Radio Snail connected, imitating a devilish smirk behind sunglasses.
"Hmm hmm hmm hmm, Sage, calling me for something?"
Sound emerged from the Radio Snail.
"Indeed, there is..."
Sage conveyed the request to Doflamingo, who paused for a moment and then resumed his chuckle: "There is, indeed, but... let's see if you dare."
"Are you joking with me?"
Sage rolled his eyes, "There's nothing on the sea I've dared not; spare me the nonsense and spill what you know."
"Hmm hmm hmm hmm, the steel you mentioned, there's indeed a place. It's a giant enterprise providing steel across the sea, and it's the designated procurement location for the World Government."
No one ever has too much steel; it's needed for shipbuilding, weapons, and production.
The World Government requires a massive scale of it.
The place Doflamingo mentioned is in the New World, along the rightmost of the four routes, but also quite near the Red Earth Continent.
"That island is called Columbus, an Iron Ore Island, existing for unknown years, with Columbus Company stationed there, supplying a lot of steel to the Government."
"I once thought of collaborating with them. If I could get that steel through channels, it would transform into many weapons, but they refused."
"According to the information I know, this company-selling steel's island, every three hundred years, a piece of 'Mother Steel' emerges. It's claimed to be the finest steel. If you obtain it, it should satisfy your ship's needs, but..."
"Hmm hmm hmm hmm, to deal with them, Sage, be cautious. The island's residents are tough, and the World Government wouldn't approve."
Recently, he repeatedly watched Sage's live broadcast of executing Heavenly Celestial Dragons and his recorded sale of them, feeling both delighted and disgusted, gradually coming around.
Heavenly Celestial Dragons... might not be that crucial to those old fellows; individuals like Sage have appeared on the sea more than once.
Comparatively, that island's importance should outweigh the Heavenly Celestial Dragons.
"Mother Steel?" Sage paused, "Is it valuable?"
"Hmm hmm hmm hmm, definitely. If not for the troublesome residents and proximity to the World Government, I'd want to claim it. If you go, you'd be doing me a favor."
Within the Royal Palace, Doflamingo's grin widened further.
The presence of that enterprise also obstructs him, given his status not as a world-scale arms dealer; he does manufacture weapons, and his controlled channels ensure their marketability.
This company, sharing the Red Earth Continent fringe, also sells steel, even in the Underworld.
He needs to be wary of the World Government, but Sage doesn't...
If he uses Sage to eliminate this entity, the World Government's reliance on him in the New World's arms market will increase.
Indeed, after he finishes, the Radio Snail, simulating Sage's wanton expression, emits an arrogant sound:
"Troublesome? Anyone more difficult than me? Get me the Eternal Pose there, that's all."
Bang!
Sage hung up the call and said to Renedia: "I don't get technology, but robbery is my expertise! Let's go take it!"
"Oh-ho!"
Renedia hopped up, raising both hands excitedly, "Is there really such good material? Three hundred years... I'm so looking forward to it if its properties are adequate; I can create the Power Instrument!"
Instead of pondering materials endlessly, why not steal what's ready-made; it saves lots of trouble.
Purchasing is likely not an option; a thing appearing every three hundred years wouldn't be cheap.
His money is useful.
Stealing directly is the best way.
"An Iron Ore Island..."
Sage thought and said to Lily: "Rich in steel, pity it's not within my desired influence."
"Captain, placing a flag should be easy, right?" Stansen asked, a bit puzzled.
For Pirates in the New World, the simplest way to claim territory is to plant a flag, signifying the island's acceptance of Pirate protection.
It's basically collecting protection fees.
It's the approach of every New World Pirate, and nobody is exempt, except anomalies like Doflamingo.
"Planting a flag? What flag? It's not in the planned area, nor can we extend influence there, easy for the Navy to push back; just accomplish my plan. That island isn't that important."
Sage sneered: "Besides, this flag-giving method doesn't suit me. I may be a Pirate, but I'm a landlord. The plan's preliminary phase can use it, but afterward..."
He extended five fingers, closing them tightly, "I want taxes, I want people! I want it all!"
Protection fee collection is too crude; the immediate priority is territory. So after venturing into Whitebeard's area, stabilize the domain first; flagging isn't problematic then.
But he aims to be a landlord, especially for chosen bases; absolutely not using any flag-placing methods; he seeks rule, money is merely incidental.
"Lily, gather our forces, we set out!"
Sage commanded: "And, get a ship from Doflamingo, hoist our flag."
The original Death Star was dismantled because, according to sea traditions, new ships must have old ship souls; Death Star's materials were not bad, and as Renedia's first battleship creation, they decided to load them centrally into the new ship after dismantling.
Currently, Sage is without a ship, but Dressrosa surely has one.
Before long, as Lily made successive calls, the vacationing subordinates arrived one after another.
"This time let's exclude the Demon Race, they stay here as guards. Even my assured self has unexpected happenings occasionally, should something from the gutters destroy my ship, it'd be too worthless."
Sage instructed: "Gin, you stay with the Demon Race, progress in Six Styles training shouldn't halt; Jabra, you three from CP9 stay too, assist Gin personally."
"Everyone else follows me. Moriah, you don't mind stretching your legs, do you?"
"Hehehehehehe, eagerly-awaiting New World's first battle, eh? If too dull, I'd get weary." Moriah cackled.
"Who knows, Doflamingo said he felt they were tough, ha ha ha ha ha, maybe we meet some intriguing individuals!" Sage laughed boldly.
The New World hosts formidable entities, not limited to Pirates.
Similar to Four Emperors' dominion covering half of the New World, many places even they find challenging.
Piracy is a hot trend, yet Pirates aren't solitary. The sea is full of powerful figures.
Individuals comparable to Pirate Emperor might be scarce.
But those who can contend with a Pirate Emperor... not only exist, they're many!