"In this sea, in the first half of the New World, my dominance is unparalleled! Likewise, I am not stingy with rewards!"
Sage laughed sinisterly, "Tell them, as long as they find Vegapunk, there will be heavy rewards!"
"Including civilians?"
"Including civilians! The time is almost right, and the current development is gradually slowing down, so some people should start to be useful!"
Sage spread his hands, "The Great Age of Sailing? Hahaha, with just the pirates participating, it's not called a Great Age of Sailing. Only with everyone's participation is it truly the Great Age of Sailing! Tell them, whoever first discovers an unknown island, I will promise them 1% of the profit from the local industry!"
This is the fastest way to explore the first half of the New World.
...
In fact, Sage's reward isn't even necessary. Once he gives an order, the people under his rule naturally start moving.
Of course, the orders announced to the public are not to find some Vegapunk, but to find a not-so-ordinary island.
And this order is loyally executed, but with rewards available, it more easily arouses the desires in people's hearts.
Sage knows this very well, understanding human nature better than anyone else.
And it's very simple.
Where's the good in working without pay?
Oppression is temporary; win-win is the long term!
And by doing this, Sage will receive a more substantial return than what is given away!
Eating cake is not impressive.
Making the cake bigger is the real skill!
This reward is not limited to anyone, regardless of their race.
First, a thousand Fishmen who discovered Pluton dived into the sea, starting to explore uncharted areas, while more ships and warships headed to places not yet mapped, continuing to investigate.
Even under Sage's orders, the civilians under his rule scarcely pulled out people, buying or renting ships to explore all around the New World.
The sea is vast, but with about four million people, pulling some for sailing doesn't make it seem too big.
It was about seven days later that Lily brought some news.
"We have a situation."
Lily said crisply, "In the waters southeast of Wano Country, we lost two warships. The last message said there seemed to be a giant sea beast there."
"Southeast of Wano Country?"
Sage was taken aback, "Near the Calm Belt?"
"No, it's a giant sea beast, not a Sea King. Based on the sailing distance, it should be right in the center."
Lily said, "And although there wasn't time to describe it, it seemed a bit mechanical..."
"Defense force?"
Sage's eyes lit up, "There's a good chance. Let's take a trip, it's time to make a move. Even if it's not there, once we get information from subordinates, we can adjust our direction, saving a lot of time."
"Understood, what about the personnel?"
"Everyone!"
Sage snarled, "Three-Phase Seven Stars, all deploy!"
...
Eggerhead Sea Region.
Although it's a part of the New World, the disaster of rising sea levels caused by the destruction of the Lulucia Kingdom in the first half hasn't completely ended.
Some sea areas still sometimes experience violent quakes, causing storms and turbulent waters.
For instance, right now, the sea nearly capsizes, stirring up whirlpools, then creates a giant water ball that crashes back into the sea.
For a time, the sea is not suitable for sailing, as crises can form anywhere without warning.
However, in these dangerous waters, when met with a shadowy cloud, it seems insignificant.
A more violent storm replaces the maritime hazard, lightning striking continuously from above electrifying the sea surface, and the fierce wind suppresses the overturned water, yet its intensity creates numerous large whirlpools.
The harsh rain curtain veils the sea beneath the dark cloud, making everything in the surroundings indiscernible.
In the storm, a Black Ship sails steadily. In the lookout room atop the Black Ship, Gin holds a telescope, watching ahead through transparent, hard glass, hoping to find traces of an island.
Meanwhile, on the second floor of the main structure on the Black Ship, Urouge sits on a sofa, flipping through account books, looking at the recent loan business, holding the receiver of the Radio Snail in the other hand.
"This amount isn't enough, you're in the West Sea, right? The lender is a Great Noble from the Askali Kingdom. He has more than just Belly. Lend more money to him, with a higher interest, best if he uses mines and land in his territory as collateral."
The person on the other end of the Radio Snail stuttered, "Urouge-sama, that Great Noble is no longer borrowing, he seems to have weathered the storm."
"Then don't you know how to create a new storm?"
Urouge chuckled sinisterly yet kindly, but his words were as venomous as snakes and scorpions, "How could money ever be enough? It's never enough. While we preach justice and don't force loans on people, you can purchase his products at a high price. Nobles are in business too; just make him understand that he must expand his business, and his money won't be enough."
"What to do when money isn't enough? Of course, continue borrowing. Apart from us, who else can lend him money? I'll give you Link's contact, go find him, he knows what to do."
After speaking, Urouge hung up the call and dialed another, continuing once it connected, "Moshi Moshi, is it Clare the debt collector? The due date is approaching; have you collected the debts yet..."
In charge of the loan business, Urouge is getting more skilled in handling operations recently.
After all, lending is a major business for landlords, occupying a substantial part of his business in the Underworld.
But they aren't the kind to extort or coerce loan recipients through kidnapping or robbery. That's what pirates do, not related to lending.
Otherwise, who would dare borrow money from them?
Yet the lending must continue. Coercion doesn't work, so enticement is the method.
Through this method, they recently acquired some lands in countries previously out of reach, and there's no denial because, with the name of the Four Emperors, no one dares to offend them for now.
Unless truly able to restrain this desire, they will eventually achieve their goals.
Moriah sat opposite, listening to Urouge and chuckling, then fiddling with his miniature zombie figurines.
Hogback recently produced a new type of human material, allowing disabled pirates to regain normal bodies without using stitched animal parts, though the material is still in the experimental stage due to its low strength.
But its unique plasticity makes Moriah use it to play with figurines.
Several bizarre human models were molded on the table, like a creature with eyes all over and a model with eight arms...
On another large table, Hawkins held a new deck of cards, and after a moment of observation, he set a card face down, then drew a card and presented it face up.
"I set a hand card and summon a Navy captain in attack position, end my turn!"
Opposite was Sage, who smiled slightly, "You've already lost, Old Haw!"
Sage drew a card from his hand, "I use 'Storm' from my hand, its effect destroys all cards on both fields! Now your cards are gone! Then, I special summon the twelve-star 'Catastrophe,' with infinite attack power! When this card appears, I automatically win!"
"Incorrect!"
Hawkins raised an eyebrow, "Captain, summoning 'Catastrophe' requires tributes, you must first summon two ten-star Admirals, or one eleven-star Admiral, or an eleven-star 'Four Emperors' as tribute to special summon Catastrophe."
"Joke! Wasn't this card made using my template? As the master, why would I need tributes to summon myself?"
Sage sneered, "Besides, do you even understand what a bluff is? A bluff is a victory!"
Hawkins: "..."
He should never have played cards with Sage...
This deck was made when idly chatting with Sage, who often talked about Dark Archmage or Blue Eyes White Dragon. Out of curiosity, Hawkins asked what it was, and upon hearing the rules from Sage, he created the deck.
They were meant for lighthearted fun.
The rules were also dictated by Sage, with him devising more detailed rules.
But how could it be so blatant in disregarding rules...
"Sage."
Lily walked in from outside, "There's been a discovery. It seems they've found an island... an island with an eggshell-shaped head."