Bridge Kingdom, also known as Laborer Kingdom, full name Trachewolf, was ordered to be built seven hundred years ago, intending to connect all the islands in the East Sea. So far, this bridge is still under construction.
Most of the people on this bridge are from non-World Government affiliated countries, as well as criminals sent from various places.
This bridge covers a large area, and over the centuries, the former 'laborers' have settled here, forming a new kingdom with those continuously sent over, hence the name Bridge Kingdom.
With Marika's reminder, Sage thought it was a great idea to find subordinates in the Bridge Kingdom.
After two days of storm, it finally stopped. At this moment, the subordinates were cleaning the deck with mops, creating rows of soap bubbles on the spacious deck.
"Everyone, please have something to replenish your energy."
Marika, holding a giant platter in one hand, gently called to the pirates working hard.
A group of pirates quickly ran over and picked up the freshly baked bread with meat from the platter. After eating, each one felt invigorated.
"Marika-sama's cooking is incredibly delicious!"
"Being able to taste Marika-sama's cooking makes life worthwhile!"
"Being a pirate is really great!"
Some were even moved to tears.
"As long as you're full," Marika smiled warmly, "then please continue to work hard."
"Yes, Marika-sama!"
The pirates picked up their mops again, cleaning the deck three times faster than before.
After boarding the ship, Marika quickly established herself among the pirates, becoming very popular.
With her exquisite cooking skills, she soothed people's hearts with delicious food.
And her gentle nature made her patient whenever listening to the pirates talk, even patiently advising them, like a caring elder sister.
After all, who wouldn't like a long-haired, kind older sister who cooks well?
Letitia never scolded Marika whenever she saw her, and anyone she didn't scold definitely had a place on this ship.
Seeing the pirates starting work again, Marika walked with a smile towards the third floor of the deck building.
The third floor space, aside from the top where the control room has an all-around view, also houses the meeting room below it.
In the meeting room, Pearl was busying about, setting up dishes on every table.
The dishes were made by Marika, but setting them up was Pearl's task.
Once the dishes were set, Sage entered the meeting room, found a chair to sit down in, adjusted his seat, clicked his tongue, and said, "This throne is really uncomfortable. Next time, let's get a throne for the meeting room."
It felt nowhere near as comfortable as the one in his captain's cabin.
"Why not just bring that stone throne from Deep Forest Kingdom here?"
Renedia found a place to sit, picked up a piece of fish with chopsticks and popped it into her mouth, showing a look of happiness, "Delicious!"
"What good is a piece of broken stone? I already kicked it apart, and don't say it's some kind of artwork. Even a stone found on an island has endured a thousand years of history, but I don't need such things, especially when being poor. Now, the only things I want are gold, silver, and jewels, so the throne must be luxurious too."
Sage poured himself a cup of wine from a small porcelain bottle, drank it down, and continued, "Alright, let's start the meeting."
The layout of the meeting room wasn't formal, everyone sat around Sage casually, with Lily the closest, then Letitia and Marika, and finally Gin and Pearl at the farthest end.
"The Bridge Kingdom doesn't have much of a landing point, getting up there is quite tricky. So my plan is... I'll go up first, recruit subordinates, and if anyone agrees, I'll smash the bridge so people can descend onto the ships from the broken bridge. How about it?"
"Is this called a plan?"
Renedia was startled, "Isn't this just being headstrong?"
"What else could I do?"
Sage shrugged, "I'm not the type who likes to plot in secret, being straightforward is the simplest and most effective."
There are ways to enter the Bridge Kingdom.
Their ship hasn't hoisted the Pirate Flag yet, mainly because there are too few people and Sage hadn't decided yet.
But to prove they're pirates, they have raised black sails; otherwise, a ship without any symbol could easily be misunderstood.
Pretending to be a merchant ship or a slave-trading ship to get close to the Bridge Kingdom for an ambush?
Wouldn't that be like Krieg?
Sage wasn't fond of such behavior.
"What can we do?" Lily asked.
"First, learn the Moon Step. Without sufficient strength, you can't accomplish anything."
Sage picked up a piece of fish, "Once we recruit enough subordinates, we can roam the East Sea full-speed, looting and accumulating wealth. You all should focus on training, and once everything is ready, we'll advance to the Grand Line!"
Chewing on the fish, Sage poured himself another drink, raised his glass to everyone, "Let's pillage our way to the New World!"
...
In the East Sea, a navy ship marked with a dog head logo.
"Thirty million..."
Coby, holding a mop, looked at Luffy's wanted order in the corridor of the navy ship and resolutely said, "Luffy, you're advancing toward your dream, and I'm about to enter the Grand Line. Next time we meet, I'll surely become a Navy Officer!"
"Coby! Come and help, don't slack off!" Helmeppo called out nearby.
"Coming!"
Coby sparked into action, running forward.
And on the deck, at the bow, a burly man wearing a white suit, draped in a navy cape, with a dog head hat on his head, stood with both hands in his pockets, gazing at the sea.
"Vice Admiral..."
A man with a hawk nose dressed like a mafia approached, "Lu... Straw Hat has already entered the Grand Line."
"Has he? Then we probably won't encounter him! Wahahaha!" Dog head hat laughed loudly.
"Yes, it's tough to meet after entering the Grand Line, however..."
He picked up a wanted order, "This one is still hanging around the East Sea."
Dog head hat glanced at the wanted order, "Did he take out that idiot Ennio?"
"Yes, Norton Sage has been robbing numerous towns, destroying two... no, three countries now. Latest news is that he stormed into Deep Forest Kingdom, killed the king, burned down the royal palace, and captured the 'king' of Shallow Sand Kingdom."
The eagle-nosed man said, "Rumors are spreading at sea: wherever this man appears, there's bound to be a 'calamity'."
"Wahahaha, does Shallow Sand Kingdom really have a king? I've heard of Deep Forest Kingdom rumors too. This Sage guy did a great job!" Dog head laughed joyfully.
"Vice Admiral, you shouldn't say such things." The eagle-nosed man reminded.
"Hmm..."
Dog head hat looked again at the photo on the wanted order, "If he's still in the East Sea, then let's catch him! Bogard, where do you think he'd go?"
"Reportedly, his pirate group is still small, definitely recruiting pirate subordinates. The nearest place is Bridge Kingdom, Shallow Sand Kingdom... and Bridge Kingdom has ties with him. If he 'captured' the king of Shallow Sand Kingdom, he's very likely to go there." The eagle-nosed man said.
The lower half of the dog head hat's face split into a toothy grin, revealing his smile, "Let's go there!"