"What's Kizaru up to?"
Lily walked over, frowning, and asked, "He just stopped you for a moment?"
Though driving Kizaru back was a good thing, anyone with eyes could tell that Kizaru shouldn't have been this weak.
If admirals were just like this, pirates wouldn't be holed up in the New World.
"Don't worry about him, his heart is in turmoil, not firm at all. If you're going to do something, you should see it through. After all, people can never truly abandon their inner selves," Sage said.
Even beasts have their own logic in this world, let alone humans.
Kizaru was just acting, willingly dispelling any defense to take his full force attack head-on. If not for his tough physique, that one kick from Sage could have killed him. It was a direct kick to the head, with the 'true damage' from the North Star Divine Fist, a normal person would have exploded.
It's just that this kind of person, without any weaknesses and being a Logia-type, dares to act so recklessly.
Haki can 'grab' the body, but that's just grabbing, not a counterbalance. It can't touch during elementalization to restore them to their true form.
It's not Seastone.
And acting like this is nothing more than him being unable to get over that mental hurdle.
It's merely a case of good relations or something like that. Sage isn't interested in exploring others' backstories, but people aren't inanimate objects. Pirates adhere to their codes, not to mention those in the Navy who inherently stand for order.
In the end, it's just a difference in stance.
Regarding Vegapunk, who holds technology five hundred years ahead...
Rumors are spreading across the sea, the World Government can't be unaware of Vegapunk's true role?
But he isn't interested in that. What he wants is stability, no matter what era it pertains to. Even if it means reverting to the era of primitive society, he doesn't care too much about slash-and-burn agriculture.
Even Sage isn't interested in that. He just wants prosperity. As for what technology looks like, it's not very important. Each period has its own prosperity, and the sea is not held up by just one person like Vegapunk.
Even if he's a champion weightlifter, he can't lift such a heavy load.
Manpower can do things, machines can do things, it's all a prosperous scene.
He's a well-tested feudal landlord and capitalist, not some ghost hovering over the sky.
"Let's go, find Vegapunk."
Sage chuckled and continued forward with his people.
It seemed like there were sounds of battle up ahead, making quite a ruckus.
However, in their group, they didn't see many Navy personnel, they all seemed to be drawn ahead.
But Sage hadn't walked far before he saw a familiar face.
There was Lucci lying on the ground, stripped down to the waist, eyes rolled back, consciousness scattered.
He had just confronted Luffy, but only one punch and he was knocked into a dazed state...
Being called the 'Fifth Emperor' on the sea, Lucci doesn't recognize that title. The real Four Emperors are strong individuals like Sage, deserving of the title Sea Emperor. Someone like Luffy definitely wouldn't be acknowledged by him.
But the problem is, even though he's already awakened, he still couldn't beat the guy...
Even got floored with one punch.
Has the gap... become this big?
Unwilling, truly unwilling.
"Yo, isn't this Lucci? Long time no see, why are you lying here? It's cold on the ground, don't catch a cold."
The wandering consciousness of Lucci flickered upon hearing the familiar voice. His unfocused eyes started to gather, recognizing the familiar face looking down on him. After a moment, he slightly raised his arm to cover his eyes.
"Sage... why are you on this island, I had no information at all."
"To give you a surprise! If I had known you were on this island, I would have called to ask you for information, maybe if you did your best a bit, capture Vegapunk for me, things would be different."
Sage laughed: "So, who beat you?"
Lucci was silent for a moment, then said, "Straw Hat kid. I heard he fought you to a standstill in Wano Country, so I wanted to test him out. That guy, too, has grown to quite an impressive level. As for Vegapunk, our orders are to eliminate... but with you here, it's probably unlikely."
"However, the Straw Hat Gang's target is also Vegapunk, and they've probably already succeeded."
"That's it?"
Sage said, "Going through all this trouble for that? I see quite a few warships here, just be honest, no Radio Snail, no one's listening in."
"Mother Fire Seed."
Lucci sighed: "Something Vegapunk invented, said to possess infinite energy, it's something the higher-ups absolutely must obtain."
"Mother what?"
Renedia was startled and hurriedly asked, "Infinite energy? Is that real?"
The 'Mother Steel' she obtained doesn't even claim to be infinite energy, it needs to consume existing items from the sea for energy regeneration. One fire seed can produce infinite energy?
"It's true, Vegapunk developed it personally, it's in the 'Research Layer' above. Our purpose here is also for this."
Without a Radio Snail listening, Lucci spoke directly.
If Sage hadn't come, there'd be no issues, as this was something kept from Jabra and his crew stationed in O'hara. Jabra didn't know, and naturally, Owl wouldn't know.
But Sage had already arrived, and Lucci knew his character. He's not someone who just believes what others say. Since he's here, a pirate's nature would definitely lead to taking advantage. Instead of having him find out afterward and question him, it was better to just say it outright.
Since more than two years ago when he saw the state of the dead Heavenly Celestial Dragons at Shampodi, he practically accepted the half-pirate, half-government situation. So, acting didn't involve much hesitation, and he wasn't afraid of being held accountable by the World Government.