This is far from enough.
As a veteran pirate, he knows how Whitebeard reached the pinnacle of fame in the past, causing people to retreat at the sight of the Whitebeard Pirates.
That was purely achieved through brutality.
That earth-shaking might, destroying countless factions and islands that opposed him, relied on terrifying achievements to ascend to the peak where no one dared to provoke him.
What Sage needs to do now is exactly the same.
Facing powerful enemies is too distant, killing the king is also far away, only by letting these ordinary people know that destruction is nearby, and disaster accompanies them, can they genuinely feel reverence at the mere mention of his name!
...
O'hara Royal Palace.
Lily, as usual, reports to Sage.
"The expansion of the front lines is going smoothly. Right now, we are dealing with some islands that are still waving their flags out of luck and stubbornness, but the resistance we encounter isn't strong, and our breakthroughs are proceeding smoothly."
Lily held the latest information as compactly as possible, "So far, in the second half of the New World, we've already sailed halfway to the destination, and once we reach the end, the preliminary plan will be completed."
"Every island we encounter has been recorded. When we decide to expand further in the future, these islands will be useful. The current plan remains as we originally set, and we are digesting it; as for Blackbeard..."
She tucked the information away, looked at Sage, "still unable to be found, as if he disappeared."
"Oh? Is he prepared to take a big gamble?"
Sage glanced forward at the sea map of the New World area, which displayed the range they had currently advanced, while the territory represented by Red Hair had disappeared, and Blackbeard's area had become considerably smaller than before.
"Given this extent, he should be willing to gamble. The power of the Quake-Quake Fruit, by attacking first, could potentially cause significant destruction to O'hara, if coupled with a tsunami triggered by the quake, even Pluton could be disabled momentarily."
Sage pondered, "Now, apart from you three female officers, the rest are out conquering, leaving the main forces empty, which means I'm here alone, even Issho has been dispatched for patrols. He knows this intelligence; this is the last opportunity. Once my main forces return, he'll have no chance at all."
"Teach along with Kuzan, it's almost sufficient with just the two of them. He wouldn't lack confidence to that extent..."
Sage leaned back, picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and shifted his gaze from the map of the New World area to the direction of the Red Earth Continent.
"Garp is also missing, so... is it the World Government?"
"Do you think Teach would cooperate with the World Government?" Lily asked.
"That's how he became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea initially. Now that my momentum is increasing, although cooperating with the Government, we're all cautious of each other. With a new ally, considering the World Government's nature of using anything useful regardless of past grievances, there's no reason they wouldn't agree."
Sage sneered, "Perhaps that fellow's scheme might truly succeed, doesn't he want to form a Pirate Kingdom and become the king of all pirates in the world? That would essentially make him a different kind of Pirate King; once successful, many might be willing to join his kingdom."
"A Pirate Kingdom recognized by the World Government has never existed. Those carrying bounties, once they switch to the Pirate Kingdom, would have true legal plunder, promising everything."
Actually, if Sage wanted, even he could become a Celestial Dragon, making O'hara an alternative Pirate Kingdom, equating to an additional legitimate identity, surpassing the Seven Warlords of the Sea, nominally claiming as the king of all pirates.
If Teach is to proceed, it should be along this path.
Not everyone supports Sage.
More pirates desire to see Sage dead, turning O'hara into a feast for numerous pirates to divide.
But now, since this obviously cannot happen, once a Pirate Kingdom is established, they can still form a massive force, allowing pirates to unscrupulously seize territories of Non-Adhering Countries, claiming them as part of the Pirate Kingdom, transforming into nobles overnight.
Yet, being a pirate, this means basically the whole world becomes open for their looting.
This possibility, in the past, the World Government wouldn't approve, but things have changed now.
Nika has emerged and caused quite a stir, performing well in Egghead.
And now, reaching Elbaf, seems like he is planning something peculiar again.
The Revolutionary Army has also sparked disputes in various places, alongside pirates sailing forth in large numbers due to Vegapunk's statements, diverting the Navy's focus.
Moreover, with Sage essentially reigning over the New World, confirming no one can rival him, treating the New World like his backyard, a surrender from a comparable entity might actually be accepted.
"And Kuzan, despite being a Navy Admiral, knows a lot. Garp's significance remains globally recognized, no matter how dismissive the World Government is. To maintain its rule, it wouldn't let Garp endure such humiliation in pirate hands."
"Either assassination, letting Garp die directly, though not likely, as Teach has been prepared for Hive Island's destruction, hiding Garp signifies tight vigilance. So ultimately, Teach might actually succeed in forming a Pirate Kingdom."
Sage said, "Become a bridgehead against me... Lily, tell them not to force it, speed up the progress, I estimate it won't take long before I see news of Teach becoming a king in the newspapers. Whether in Paradise or at the edge of the New World."
If at the edge, it signifies Teach ready to go all in, but if in Paradise, it suggests he is still lying low, awaiting something.
"The possibility in the latter half is quite high, I reckon."
Lily followed Sage's thinking and said, "If so, he could take advantage of more assistance from the World Government to grow stronger and seize the opportunity to fight against us."
"Hard to say, I prefer he proceeds like this, saves me the trouble. But this fellow knows history and quite a bit about it, regarding Nika... he surely knows something, after being one of the Four Emperors for quite some time, occupying Hive Island, he must've collected considerable intelligence, easy to speculate, right?"
Sage's mouth curled, "The fate represented by Nika, ignoring it might lead to something interesting."
Confronting the World Government with one's own strength seems romantic, but Sage isn't that idle.
He's here for business!
With Nika's emergence, even Red Hair bet his life, opting for belief, undoubtedly suggesting a grand mystery.
Whether the key to One Piece or the nemesis to the World Government, including Elbaf's Harley Divine Scripture, it doesn't require Sage's presence; Hajrudin, as a royal descendant, to express their regret for not partaking in the expedition, has already sent the news along with images.
Sage saw the mural depicting Nika and a batch of strange items, targeting that enormous demon holding the sun.
Whether prophecy or resurfacing of scenes from a thousand years ago, it is already stirring.
The will of the demon, fate, combined with human desires and expectations might truly allow Straw Hat to create some kind of commotion.
He is aware the World Government's focus on him isn't as intense as their focus on the Straw Hat.
Operating with O'hara at full force, he could almost destroy half the world, yet, in this aspect, pales compared to one Nika...
"The owner of that Void Throne, unsure if it's cowardice or true knowledge of something... never mind, doesn't affect my plans, if the Sun God truly is a deity, then it's simple, I'll become a god!"
"Just say, no need to hide my presence, I'll seize Teach and refine him instantly... ahem, anyway, as long as I grow stronger, nothing to fear from those things."
After joking, Sage laughed aloud, "He will give me answers, no need to rush... this won't take too long, considering his age is much older than mine, hohohohoho!"