No one present objected to Sage's words.
Lily and the others knew the situation well, and Hawkins had the fortune of witnessing it.
Gin would never speak up; where the captain points, that's where they go.
Lucci frowned deeply, "You want to go to Mary Geoise?"
"There's only this one way."
Sage said, "Going into the sea is impossible, so there's no choice but to go upward."
He's always been confident in his bad luck; though he's not afraid, he's never reckless.
The endpoint of the first half, that enormous Red Earth Continent spanning the world, offers only these two routes.
"It's very difficult." Hawkins said calmly, "We probably won't be able to approach Mary Geoise."
Going into the sea practically means total annihilation, but going upwards... they didn't have that capability either.
That is Mary Geoise, the hub of the World Government.
If a pirate could get close, it would have been breached long ago.
"Pirates can't possibly enter Mary Geoise."
Lucci said, "The best way is still coating in Shampodi."
Mary Geoise does allow entry; those civilians can apply, abandon their ship, and pass through Mary Geoise, then buy a similar one in the New World.
But pirates can't do this.
Throughout history, reaching the New World or returning from it has relied on coating.
"Coating?" Renedia asked curiously.
She had heard Sage mention going into the sea to enter the New World, but she still didn't know exactly how to go into the sea, mistakenly thinking they'd need to build something like a submarine.
Hawkins explained, "Coating, Shampodi secretes a special resin that can be used to coat the ship, which then acts as a tool for diving, allowing it to descend to great depths. Generally, we pirates enter the New World this way. But it also depends on skill; if the skill isn't good, the coating could break underwater, and we'd end up buried at sea."
Like entering Inverted Mountain, every year pirates with dreams reach Inverted Mountain, only to have their ships destroyed and lives lost. But unlike Inverted Mountain, where survival is possible, once something goes wrong at the bottom of the sea, survival is impossible.
"It sounds dangerous," Renedia nodded.
"There's no place on the sea devoid of danger."
Sage took a sip of wine and laughed, "From the start of entering the Grand Line, it's been about eliminating those who aren't fit. Whether it's luck or strength, those who don't cut it simply can't survive on the Grand Line."
"As for how to go to Mary Geoise... it's simple."
He glanced around at everyone, then uttered something that made everyone freeze, "Heavenly Celestial Dragon."
Everyone's expression changed.
Even Lily, raised in a royal palace, knew of the existence of Heavenly Celestial Dragons and had once been threatened by Ennio, saying he would send her to marry a Celestial Dragon...
Was that a wife?
Just a name; in reality, there's no difference from being a slave.
The fame of such creatures, there are too few who don't know.
World Nobles, in terms of status, are at the pinnacle of everyone and are the ones you absolutely can't provoke.
But according to Sage's meaning...
"What do you want to do?" Lucci's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
"It's easy to guess, Lucci. You should have figured it out."
Sage bared his teeth in a grin, "Shampodi is very close to the Red Earth Continent, and it's also a place where Celestial Dragons frequently descend..."
Lucci's pupils shrank, and he clenched his fists tightly, "I don't agree with what you're doing. If you go through with this, we'll withdraw!"
As special agents of the World Government, they knew too well what the World Nobles represented—they were the masters of the World Government, a presence above all, almost becoming another 'race.'
Another 'race' above everyone.
Lucci still wanted to return to the World Government, whether for past training or to take revenge on Spandam, he planned to return to the World Government.
Although they were expelled, it's not impossible, because they held many secrets that, if the World Government found they couldn't silence them quickly, would eventually lead to an invitation back.
Because Lucci doesn't plan to oppose the World Government, and the World Government would notice their intention; once reinstated, their status would change.
No matter how strong Sage is, even if he reaches the level of the Four Emperors, he still can't contend with the World Government.
It's the biggest, strongest, and thus the most legitimate.
Lawful killing and seeking justice unlike the weak can only be achieved by the World Government.
In the past, raiding was inconsequential because Lucci knew the World Government wouldn't easily offer a bounty.
But dealing with Celestial Dragons...
"Lucci..."
Sage grinned at him, "Not just anyone can withdraw here; surviving to complete your plans is better than dying here, right? Besides..."
He continued slowly, "Don't you want to try it—what it feels like to challenge authority?"
A cold sweat trickled down Lucci's forehead, not just him but everyone present, including even Renedia, this young one who wasn't prepared like Lily, showing an expression of astonishment.
"Your justice involves killing, right? Anyone can be killed, so what about the Celestial Dragons?"
Sage chuckled lightly, "Celestial Dragons can of course be killed too. Think about it, effortlessly taking off those heads, isn't that something you'd like to know how it feels?"
He stood up and patted Lucci's frozen shoulder, "Regarding sin, you should be clearer than me, right? To kill wantonly, to maintain your 'justice,' the blood of those people would be the best proof!"