Of course, Sage also knew that achieving this rule would be somewhat difficult.
But he had his ways...
Renedia led her people through the city gate, and, with no resistance from the soldiers, stormed into the estate. They eliminated all resisting guards, dragged out those nobles unwilling to surrender, and plundered the estate's treasures, piling them up in the street.
"Come, take a look!"
Sage jumped into the city wall, kicked aside a fainted noble, pulled over that captain, and pointed at the valuables piled on the street, "How much Belly do you get per month?"
"I..."
The captain hesitated for a moment before saying, "Eighty thousand Belly."
"You're a leader, right? Just eighty thousand Belly? And guarding these rich people's estates... What about the rest of you?"
Sage asked the other guards and soldiers as if he was one of them.
The soldiers of the inner and outer city had the same wages, only the ease of their positions varied.
Ordinary soldiers earned fifty thousand Belly a month, not even as high as some wealthy people's guards.
The captain got eighty thousand Belly.
Commanders were usually nobles, self-employed salaries, essentially as much as they wished to fill in. Ordinary people couldn't aspire to these positions.
The officials in the Gares Kingdom were by election, but it was mostly a noble election system. Generally, only those who lived in the inner city had the right to participate in the election, and only the best among them were selected.
To gain election rights, to become a real 'person,' everyone wanted to live in the inner city, but as a guard captain, he knew even if he got inside, it didn't guarantee election; it was just a qualification. Real power still circulated in the hands of those nobles.
Unless they were really wealthy.
For ordinary people like them, there was nothing to aspire to, not even the most relaxed position in the inner city, the 'Military Police,' whose salary was the highest, but not available for them, the outer city people.
Being a guard captain in the inner city was already the limit.
During peacetime, their living standards were decent; they could ensure their family was fed, had their own houses, and accumulate some savings over a year.
But now it was a civil war; both sides were fighting fiercely on the sea route, and although they weren't thinking of entering Augustine anymore, it was still affecting the supply situation.
The farmland outside the city had long been unattended due to war. Although the war didn't last long, material shortages were becoming apparent, and now the prices in the city were noticeably rising.
That's why Sage's invitation tempted many; everyone was really short on money.
"But this is only temporary."
The captain tried hard to shift his gaze from the treasures piled on the street and said,
"Master Tihana has already summoned all nobles from the main island of Gares, with a force of up to a hundred thousand, preparing to crush Master William. Master William has only fifty thousand troops in Timadon, and until recently, because of you... because of the issue with the invited United Army, he couldn't spare manpower, but now it's resolved and is ready for a decisive battle with Master Tihana."
"Whoever wins will be the master of the Gares Kingdom, and by then, you group of pirates will have to leave obediently."
Upon hearing this, Sage thought for a while and smiled, "Oh... clever people, inviting pirates over as mercenaries to buy time for gathering forces here, right?"
He looked at the captain, "You sure know a lot."
"It's all those masters often saying stuff there, that's what I overheard."
The captain glanced at the fallen nobles on the ground and said, "I heard about the hundred thousand troops setting off from various places, divided into eighteen commanders, converging on Augustine, you can't possibly win."
"Eighteen commanders... that's eighteen routes, huh huh huh, quite the game players."
Sage patted the captain's shoulder, and words with a devil-like tempting power rang in his ear,
"Are you really willing like that? Think about it, this is all money, as long as all these nobles are gone, this can be yours too. High prices? Prices are high because these people took the goods. Really look!"
The looting of the estates was swift; three hundred members of the Demon Race not only moved treasures but also a huge amount of supplies, almost piling up into a small mountain.
Sage turned around, stretched out his hands to the guards who arrived due to the noise from the North District, "Pledge loyalty to me, and I will share the wealth with you! This is the only opportunity, once I completely rule Gares, you'd have to make greater efforts for spoils!"
"Now it's different, I can solve your high price problem, I can grant you wealth, I can make your families live better!"
Boom!
Once again, a bolt of thunder exploded in the sky, illuminating Sage's unrestrained face.
"Join me, pledge loyalty to me, I'm already inside, do you want to let this wealth be handed over to those newly arrived pirates? Clearly, everyone is the same, don't you want to bet on my victory?"
"As long as I win, you won't be taxed with all sorts, prices won't be arbitrarily raised, there won't be nobles over your heads, only me! Under me, everyone will be equal, ho ha ha ha ha!"
Boom!
A torrent of black and crimson rolled upwards like a pillar from around Sage's body, his Supreme King color even sucked the sky inward, though it became darker, it made the storm stop here.
It also made the treasures and supplies piled up on the street look even more abrupt.
For the soldiers who came upon hearing the commotion, all they saw was that pirate arrogantly laughing on the city wall and, from the broken gate, those piled treasures...
Honor?
Power?
They had none.
But they had something better than these.
For those driven by desire, some just wanted wealth.
For those with righteous hearts, those plentiful supplies were ways to let their families, those around them, even to let this city, live comfortably.
A way to restore peace times...
At this moment, many hearts trembled.
Sage might not understand everything, but some things don't need to be understood in the field; they are bound to happen.
The United Army won't gain anything here; the arrogance of the nobility is palpable. If they truly were unwavering, they wouldn't have let Sage enter the city without any resistance.
Everything has its reasons.
His plan doesn't even need support; as long as these people don't hold him back, it's enough!
Money, Sage wants it.
But the resources...
He can pour all of them into the city, ensuring the prices are stable and nothing goes wrong.
...
The soldiers at the city wall and North District still haven't agreed to Sage's invitation, but they will voluntarily maintain order for Sage.
When pirates enter the city, there are always those looking to take advantage of the chaos for a quick gain. With these people maintaining normal order, it can ensure nothing goes wrong in Augustine City.
And more than a hundred noble and wealthy families from the Inner City were all brought out.
At the same time, Lily and her group also breached the Inner City, capturing everyone. The same plan was used while Sage confirmed that the soldiers of the Inner City wouldn't resist. He also communicated through Radio Snail to the other three districts.
In total, five hundred noble and wealthy families from Augustine Castle were all captured by him, gathered in front of the Royal Palace in Augustine Castle, at the plaza.
Meanwhile, the Inner City was opened, allowing anyone to enter.
Renedia also found a Video Snail to connect Augustine Castle's signal, preparing a city-wide broadcast.
"Distribute the resources, Zack, manage it well yourself, ensure every district can host a banquet."
At the plaza, Sage spoke to Guard Captain Zack.
"I'm not your subordinate, I didn't agree to you…" Zack said.
"Hahaha, what does it matter? You're the captain here, your duty is to patrol and maintain order. I'm the pirate here to deal with all the issues, I'm forcing you to distribute resources, so it works out."
Sage laughed for a while, walked to a high platform, looked at the nobles kneeling below, and laughed: "I don't like meaningless slaughter, but you have blocked my path, yet I will give you a chance. You are nobles, whether palace nobility or territorial nobility, you have land in the Kingdom, right?"
"Hand over your lands and renounce your noble status, then be ruled by me, and I'll let you go, how about it?"
"A pirate! Stop dreaming!"
A noble tried to struggle to his feet but was pressed down by two subordinates and could only kneel on the ground. He raised his head and glared angrily at Sage, "You cannot rule the Gares Kingdom, as long as Tihana and William launch an attack, everything will be fine!"
"Yes, but you'll be dead by then…"
Sage pulled out a cigar, urged his mouth outwards, and Lily, who was nearby, took out a gemstone-adorned gold lighter, lit the flame, and gave Sage a light, handing him the lighter.
"Where did it come from?"
Sage glanced at it and said, "Good quality."
"Of course, stolen. I thought it was nice, so I left it for you." Lily said.
Sage nodded, put the lighter away, and said to those kneeling, "Really no one? Now address the Video Snail and say you're giving up your ruling rights, willingly live as a commoner. I don't like dealing with the weak, and to me, commoners are the weak."
"Calamity!"
Among the nobility and wealthy, all recognized Sage.
A fat, big-eared noble wearing a fur coat with white fluff roared: "You damn thing, you even ruined my bakery! I hoarded so much flour, and you destroyed it all! I won't let you get away with this, when the army arrives, I absolutely won't let you get away!"
Other nobles all showed resentful expressions; none begged or surrendered.
They are nobles!
A mere pirate, how dare he stand against the nobles? Even if Sage could defeat Gares Kingdom, he wouldn't gain ruling power.
Unless they acknowledge him, it'll never happen.
Conversely, only by pleasing them can Sage stabilize his position.
"Look, look… Lily, this is the truth of the nobles, always so arrogant, never understanding that in the face of a real slaughter, so-called status means nothing."
Sage pointed at them and said with a smile to Lily: "Why are they not afraid? Because not enough killing has been done; if enough were killed, killed until they feared, these guys would soften."
"I understand." Lily nodded coldly.
"Hmm hmm hmm…"
Sage now aimed at the Radio Snail, "Then, you should be able to see it, right? I, Norton Sage, want this place, so I will also wage war on you; the winner takes all!"
Landowners don't need people with equivalent ruling power, Sage doesn't need those who disobey him.
Talent or whatever can be entirely raised from commoners, how much knowledge is needed to collect taxes?
Not like he is illiterate.
Breaking noble bones on the Heavenly Street, he can also accomplish!
He raised his hand, in the frightened eyes of the nobles, suddenly lowered, "Kill them!"
Bang bang bang!
The surrounding men raised their guns; hearing Sage's words, either revealing ferocious expressions or showing concern, but regardless of everything, they followed his orders, pulling the trigger, firing bullets.
Killing nobles...
This is an exciting thing!
No wonder Sage, who can take down a Heavenly Celestial Dragon, is called Master Sage!