Just like adding flour when there's too much water, or adding water when there's too much flour.
With a growing population, the demand increases, which in turn leads to more demand, with most of the population settling on the surrounding islands, boosting output.
An island with only a few villages and a town, or even without a town, can certainly accommodate more people and continue to increase local specialties with its vast area.
With continuous resource and population influx, O'hara has ushered in a new wave of prosperity.
In the areas designated within the city, houses are constantly being demolished and replanned, and new buildings are erected.
And they are taller, said to be nearly a hundred meters high!
This building is utilized for those running big businesses and offices of the various affiliate islands.
Before the building was even constructed, merchants came, waving their Bellies to buy a floor to call their own.
Some wealthy merchants even wanted to buy the entire building, but were refused, having no choice but to buy a single floor.
Among them is Link...
"Mr. Link."
"Mr. Link, would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?"
"Mr. Link, fresh bread with double layers of beef, would you like to try it?"
A corpulent man walked through the streets, listening to the enthusiastic greetings around him, nodding and responding with a smile.
He thoroughly enjoyed his current life.
Rich, openly rich, without worrying about breaking the law and getting arrested here.
Not like before, hiding and sneaking around, and even being respected.
Everyone knows he's the Black Merchant responsible for buying pirate goods at the docks, but so what, he has no conflict of interest with the people here.
With a brightened persona, he sometimes does good deeds, like treating today...
Although there's a little less freedom, for a Black Merchant like him who can sit and collect loot without worrying about where to sell it, this is the best.
If you can make money sitting, who would want to stand...
Bowing to Sage's leadership back then was, looking back, the right choice.
He had nothing to do with the recent merchant cleansing event; he has always followed the rules.
The eighteen Black Merchants from Logue Town all adhere to the rules, unlike those merchants who have become uncontrollable, they clearly know Sage's rise to power.
Before he became a Four Emperor, they dared not go against him, now that he's a Four Emperor, who knows what those people are thinking.
However, due to that incident, he did acquire some bargains.
Many industries were auctioned, and as an insider, he got some shares.
Like a large amusement park in the city, and a mine in the mountainous area, he acquired both.
Now, besides being a Black Merchant, he is also a legitimate businessman.
"Sigh..."
Link walked to the street corner, gazing at the construction site in front, sighing at the building with its foundation laid, reaching upward layer by layer.
"Why can't I just buy the entire building..."
He wanted to buy that building directly, but could only buy one floor, even if he told Sage that if necessary he'd build another as a base for their black market, it was still refused.
Sage's plans hadn't reached that point yet. For now, either don't buy, or only buy one floor.
But as the first skyscraper, taller than the one in Carnival City, how could he not buy it.
It's a symbolically significant place, even if he can buy a whole building later, that's for the future.
Besides, even if he doesn't want to buy, he has to.
Sage wants to save face...
He turned to look at the much busier street than before and the gradually approaching silhouette of a ship beyond the building height, revealing a satisfied smile.
This world is where they can truly shine!
...
Two months later.
Shampodi.
Since Sage entered the New World, it's been two years, and this archipelago on the first half of the Grand Line, near Fishman Island, has seen declining control ever since the Navy Headquarters moved to the New World and the old headquarters was rebuilt.
Due to the disastrous event two years ago, the Heavenly Celestial Dragons never came back, causing not only the previously lawless zones, but even the originally normal areas to become landing spots for pirates.
The Navy is present, but compared to the numerous pirates, the Navy can't suppress them.
"Now is the time to make a name!"
A bearded pirate, standing over another pirate he just defeated in a brawl, shouted loudly:
"Urouge! Hawkins! Renedia! Marika! Lily! And Norton Sage! They were all Super Rookies before, now they're famous on the seas!"
"The New World is the place for us to make our names, come on out to sea with me!!"
Countless pirates, dreaming of fame, set their sights on the Super Rookies of two years ago because there were no remarkable newcomers last year, instead, the dazzling 'Age of the Worst' shone brightly in the New World.
Among them, one figure marked as a major target, some aspiring to be like.
He became one of the [Four Emperors]!
What?
Blackbeard?
Though very formidable, he isn't considered a 'Super Rookie,' as he entered the New World as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"It's so noisy over there..."
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Shampodi Islands, a man in green clothing, with three swords at his waist and a green algae head, glanced in that direction with a single eye, "Let's go take a look."
Saying so, he started to walk off in another direction.
"Hey! You're going the wrong way!"
A row of transparent ghosts blocked the green algae head's path.
A Gothic Lolita girl, holding a parasol, hovered in the low air, yelling at Zoro:
"Why! You clearly hear it, how can you still go the wrong way!?
"Tch... I didn't ask you."
Zoro clicked his tongue, bypassing the row of ghosts, saying: "I told you I don't need an escort, go back, aren't you looking for Moriah? You'll just get in the way here."
With that, he headed toward another direction... virtually perpendicular to the town's location.
"What?"
A row of ghosts suddenly shot into action, passing through Zoro's body.
Thud.
"I'm a stupid squid..."
Zoro knelt on the ground, adopting an 'OTZ' pose.
"Really..."
Perona held her forehead, sighing, "If I leave you alone, you'll never reach your destination in this lifetime, alright... I'll help you out."
"Once I drop you off, I'll go find Lord Moriah!"
Two years of time, and Perona had repaid the favor to Hawkeye, taking advantage of Zoro's voyage this time, she was also tagging along, heading to O'hara to find Moriah.
Watching Zoro regain his confidence, turning red with frustration, Perona pointed him in a direction and let him go first, watching from the side.
She was determined to see how many times this guy would get lost here!
A few hours later.
"Everyone!"
Inside Shakky's Rip-off Bar!
A silly guy wearing a Straw Hat, carrying a big cloth bag, pushed open the bar door, striking a large figure, "Long time no see! We're... finally setting sail!!"
...
Storm City.
Royal Palace, training room.
Bang!
The enormous sound resonated as Alabasta's Poneglyph scraped against the ground, producing a harsh noise, violently colliding against the Haki-covered wall.
Though so, it triggered slight tremors within the training room.
"Phew..."
At the center, a white-haired man, bare-chested, exhaled long, his breath shooting like an arrow into the air.
With a crackle of noises, he stretched his body, slowly relaxing, the Haki covering the floor and extending to the walls retracting.
"Sage."
Lily walked in from the door, handing him a towel and a newspaper.
Sage took the towel, wiped the sweat from his face, then glanced at the newspaper in Lily's hand.
On it was a page that made his gaze focus.
The image on the page was of a familiar Straw Hat, baring a large grin.
"After two years, the four-billion bounty dangerous pirate sets sail."
Lily read the headline, saying: "The Straw Hat appeared at Shampodi, with all its members present, causing a ruckus before setting out to sea..."
"Heh... it's been two years, huh."
Sage tossed the towel to Lily, walked to the liquor cabinet to open a bottle of wine, drinking down several gulps, he licked the wine from his lips, laughing:
"I'm quite curious to see what kind of commotion he can stir up..."
His gaze shifted to the Poneglyph moved next to the wall, a sinister smile spreading on his lips.
"The seas are bustling with activity now."
A bright, neat fist imprint was prominently displayed on that Poneglyph!