Early the next morning, under Nami's excited waving, the small and adorable Sunny set sail, a stark contrast to the Death Star.
The money didn't go to waste; the two sisters had a lab in their village, but Sage didn't want to escort them. Straw Hat was more laid-back, and although the sisters wanted Sage's protection, they seemed to be closer to that Straw Hat guy when it came to friends.
Even at last night's banquet, the subordinates who had their food snatched by him didn't get angry in the end; instead, they joined in the fun.
Zoro was looking for someone to have a drinking contest with, Nami organized a drinking competition, and won 100,000 Belly, Brook played cheerful music, Chopper and Usopp performed a comedic dance, and Franky showcased new machinery, which made a group of mechanics enthusiasts' eyes sparkle, especially Pearl...
He never forgot about giant iron men and all that, but Renedia no longer built such things.
She used to hide in a robot to avoid being underestimated because of her age, but now there's no need for that.
A shell of iron doesn't compare to the comfort of being herself.
"He's a man with a special charisma."
Lily looked at the gradually departing two-masted ship and said, "He can quickly mesh with those around him."
"Huh? I don't really like him."
Renedia frowned and said, "Too laid-back. How could such a pirate have 300 million? Such a guy should have long been buried at sea."
"Not really."
Marika approached with a smile, saying, "This group seems laid-back, but each has their own goals while acting centered around that Straw Hat. They're a lot like us, just a different style."
And very different indeed.
They also have their dreams, but these dreams are based on being under Sage's command, with strict hierarchies.
But those people seem different, looking quite equal, but at key moments, they respect that Straw Hat.
Can't really say which type is better, just different habits.
"I don't like it either,"
Lily said lightly, resting her left hand on the sword hilt, and walked toward the captain's room, "Let's go, Sage wants us for a meeting."
In the meeting room on the third floor, a round table had been set up, with ordinary chairs all around, except for a golden velvet throne facing the door.
When Lily and the others reached the third floor, Hawkins and Lucci were already seated on either side of the throne.
Hawkins was drawing Tarot Cards, placing them on the table one by one, divining something unknown.
Lucci occasionally glanced at the seated people, expressionless.
Gin was bringing a few subordinates to serve snacks at the seats, and after everyone left, he sat at the chair backing the door.
With Lily and the others seated, the key members who had a say in the Disaster Pirates were all present.
"Sage called for this meeting, where is he?"
Lucci waited a while, found that Sage hadn't shown up, and frowned as he asked.
Lily sipped tea slowly, Renedia was focused on the snacks, while Marika smiled silently, all without a word.
Hawkins drew another Tarot Card, placed it on the table, and said to Lucci, "Destiny always appears when it should. No need to be so impatient."
Lucci let out a cold laugh, "I don't believe in destiny."
As a special agent, believing in destiny meant getting nothing done.
Nonetheless, Lucci took Hawkins seriously.
Because his ability was indeed miraculous; as an ability user himself, he understood the power of abilities.
Turning the impossible into possible, that's an ability user.
He also knew about Vegapunk, the genius ahead of the world by 500 years in technology, who had concluded on the Devil Fruit.
It was the power of 'wishes.'
Wishing for this or that... under countless desires, Devil Fruits are born.
All ability users receive these 'wishes,' but because of this unnatural origin, they are spurned by the sea, the Mother Nature.
Neither the Zoan-types that transform into animals, the Paramecia-Types that can divine fate, nor the Logia-types that control natural disasters are born this way.
They are trivial compared to Sage, whose unnatural power is truly terrifying.
Never seen anyone use a cannonball to suppress an impending volcanic eruption.
Though it was a shell from the main cannon, and naturally large, no matter its size, it's but a cannonball.
"We just had a banquet yesterday, and today the mood is this tense?"
Footsteps sounded from the stairway, and everyone turned to see a white-haired man, shirtless except for martial arts pants, emerge, displaying the beauty of muscular lines in his movements.
He casually sat on the room's only throne, propped his legs up, and reclined, "Still, the throne is the comfiest; regular chairs just don't suit me."
It was Sage, having had a good night's sleep and a morning workout.
"Why don't you just make yourself a new one?" Renedia asked, curious.
"It wouldn't have that charm,"
Sage chuckled, "A throne needs history and depth; aside from the materials, the ruling royal family's history adds to its allure. Only such a throne feels comfortable!"
Lucci cast a discreet glance at him.
This was a classic example of someone lacking reverence.
Even in the vast seas, pirates like this were rare.
Although pirates were lawless, they ultimately held some reverence for the World Government.
Pirates like this, without fear, were invariably those who had made a big splash on the seas, like the current Four Emperors...
Sage, too, belonged to this category.
As did that Straw Hat kid...
"Moving on, let's discuss the plan,"
Sage glanced over the key figures, saying, "Our next target is the endpoint of the first half, which means we've completed the first half of the Grand Line and are reaching the other side of the Red Earth Continent. Unlike Inverted Mountain, there's no shortcut this time."
Upon hearing this, Lily glanced at the small Compass in her hand, which was pointing downward, just like when they faced Sky Island.
Sage said, "Fishman Island, a place 10,000 meters beneath the sea, is a route I don't plan to take. So there's only one way: go straight up the Red Earth Continent and cross from there."