Banquet hall.
More than thirty ragged, emaciated people were brought here, each stumbling and hesitant, afraid to touch anything, as if they might fly away from this splendid place to avoid tainting it with their breath.
If it weren't for Sage's insistence, no one would have dared oppose, and they wouldn't even have dared to enter.
But soon, this restraint and humility vanished.
The chefs directly served the dishes, and the aroma of the food made their eyes glow green; their attention was no longer on the banquet hall but focused entirely on the food.
Before long, they couldn't hold back and rushed forward, not caring about the heat, without even grabbing utensils, scooping the food straight into their mouths with their hands.
Hunger makes everything else seem insignificant.
Now in their eyes, there was no palace, no splendor, only the thought of how to finish off the food.
"Ah, seems like you are pretty hungry, take your time eating.
Marika showed a comforting smile: "We have plenty of food here, you'll be satisfied."
The group nodded eagerly, not really hearing anything as they devoured the food hungrily.
"Hohohohoho!"
The sudden loud laughter made everyone turn their heads.
"Eat! Eat well! Even if one dies, one should die with a full belly!"
Sage pulled out a chair, sat at the head of the table, and nodded to Bella to pour him a glass of wine.
"Eat your fill first, then we'll talk!"
He waved his large hand, allowing them to continue eating.
As a landlord, besides lending money, repairing bridges, building roads, and offering relief is also part of the landlord's duty.
It's just some food, Sage could certainly afford to give it away.
It wasn't until their bellies became visibly round, and their complexions gradually turned rosy, did they lean back in their chairs or lie on the ground, revealing satisfied smiles.
People from the sea are quite resilient; such obviously famished individuals could eat so much at once without incident, quickly replenishing their nutrition, letting their stick-thin bodies recover somewhat.
"Are you full?"
Sage swirled the gemstone wine glass, seeing them stop, then asked: "Can you speak rationally now?"
Hearing the voice, they just nodded but quickly thought of something and stood up in panic.
The first one who spoke before bowed his head and cautiously said: "Your Majesty..."
"I told you, call me Pirate Captain, I'm not a King, and you're not my subjects, so no need to call me master."
Sage waved his hand and said: "Where did you come from?"
"Yes, Pirate Captain, we came from the West Sea..."
This response made Lily frown, "And how did you get here? With your strength, you wouldn't reach the Grand Line."
No matter where you come from, you have to cross the Inverted Mountain, and then either from Fishman Island or Mary Geoise.
These folks' attire was not affluent, not like those of wealthy disaster victims, and they weren't strong, just ordinary people, not the kind who could delve into the deep sea and reach the New World.
If they were from an island in the New World, Lily wouldn't be surprised, but the West Sea... it doesn't fit here at all.
"Sir Knight... Princess... um, Queen... Pirate Captain's Wife."
The person looked at Lily, fumbling over the right title, and said:
"Originally we were just pirates in the West Sea, then we ran into that guy, he easily defeated us, then crossed the Calm Belt and brought us here."
This group were pirates too.
To be exact, pirates for less than three days.
The reason was they couldn't survive, were about to starve, and had no choice but to go to sea, but without permission, illegally going to sea makes one a pirate.
However, just three days at sea, without a ship, using a few rotten logs as a raft, they were caught by that Kaiyou.
"Crossed the Calm Belt?"
After hearing it, Sage was a bit surprised, "That guy..."
"Kaiyou," Lily interjected.
"He has such techniques?"
Crossing the Calm Belt technique, Sage clearly has.
It's not Pluton's technique, mainly because they also won Navy warships, a thorough inspection reveals it.
After all, Renedia is an Ability User, while dismantling the ship, accidentally touched the seastone embedded at the bottom and discovered this technique.
But it's expected for them to have it; however, someone with a bounty less than ten million, even knowing it, may not be able to execute it.
Seastone embedding technique looks simple, but not just anyone can do it.
Sea folk, even sharpening a knife is considered tough, so many crude weapons flood the market.
Tough seastones and forging methods mingled with seastone metal suffice to deter many.
Now, a guy with a less than ten million bounty possesses the ability to cross the Calm Belt, that's pretty surprising.
Lily recalled and said: "He didn't seem like a regular pirate, possibly had a bounty for illegal sailing, essentially still a businessman."
"Oh... like Link, but more of a rogue path."
Sage nodded, tapping his fingers on the table, addressing them:
"Since you're here, stay and work for me, you should be quite willing, I won't go into details."
Already at the brink of starvation, there's no room for choice, there are jobs everywhere at Sage's place, just find one you like.
"Pi-Pirate Captain? No, master!"
Their eyes lit up with joy, asking: "Would you let us stay? We are pirates..."
"Do you even count as pirates? Hahaha, don't joke, of course, if anyone wants to become pirates, you can come serve me, those unwilling can find their own job, so be it, someone, show them out."
Having obtained what he wanted, Sage lost interest.
"Master, Master! Please save my family!"
Suddenly, one of the famished individuals kneeled, begging: "Everyone is starving, we're on the brink of death!"
"West Sea, my plans aren't there for now, crossing the Calm Belt poses risks, never mind."
He was still receiving territories of Whitebeard.
Furthermore, crossing the Calm Belt wasn't inherently risky, it was risky for him.
West Sea, part of the World Government's domain, offers nothing worthwhile past it.
"If you wish to stay, stay; if not, find a way to go back, West Sea is too far, and anyway, rescuing a few won't..."
"Please, Master! Our Kingdom's fifty thousand people are starving, I know it's a luxury to ask, but I still want to beg you!"
That person kneeled, thumping his head onto the ground.
Smack!
Sage struck the table hard, "Of course, it's necessary to rescue them! Fifty thousand people you say... I have to save them!"
Fifty thousand enduring famine?
Hell, that's fifty thousand laborers!
"Given you called me master, whatever you need, my Disaster Pirates will support the cause. Besides, a famine-stricken lot could move elsewhere; then come to me here, I can ensure you're well-fed!" Sage laughed heartily.
Lacking labor?
Not anymore now!