Chapter 1119 - 661: Tot Musica
Elbaf, the Giant Country, is a strategic force that Sage does not want to give up. If it doesn’t work out, he can very generously start with business negotiations; after all, as long as Hajrudin recognizes him, it’s fine.
During this period, all he needs to do is wait for Elbaf to send over the Eternal Pose.
That place is quite hard to enter; it’s difficult to navigate just by relying on ships alone, as the sea route leading to Elbaf is filled with dormant mist, like the Devil’s Triangle, but even more exaggerated, making it nearly impossible for anyone to traverse through the mist.
Sailing there seems unlikely, so Sage might as well go himself; after all, the mist cannot cover the entire world.
"And..."
With a smirk on his lips, Sage said, "Bella, bring my chessboard over."
"Yes, sir."
Bella bowed and retreated, then shortly returned with a rectangular chessboard—not chess or international chess, but simply a board based on the New World’s navigation map.
With Lily’s strong support, Renedia handled it personally, and Marika crafted the board with full logistical care.
On it, the black pieces represent Sage’s forces. The other side isn’t white, but a sophisticated shade of gray.
According to the intelligence he received, Sage moved the black pieces forward on the board, past some non-resistant gray areas, pushing the black pieces overall to threaten the gray zones, especially where the Red Hair Pirates and Blackbeard Pirates special pieces are starting to be cornered.
He might be illiterate, but he’s definitely serious about planning. Although the plans are simple... in reality, strategy itself is inherently simple.
Completing a purpose, achieving a goal—those are details. True strategy boils down to one word...
Win!
How could he not know how to execute a strategy!
Lily’s command comes directly from him!
"To be safe, put you on the brink at Elbaf first."
Sage picked up several pieces, covering the gray areas around Elbaf, his smile widening, "Teach is like a rat now, hiding even deeper than you, but it’s fine; that guy can be forced out by pressure. You’re different—an easygoing fellow, beyond mere survival, you certainly have your own convictions. Wanting to wait for something in the New World still requires prestige as support."
"If the Red Hair Pirates disappear from fame, them facing me is inevitable. Whether you appear targeting my subordinates or go to this world’s strongest nation, apparently capable of challenging me, Elbaf, for aid, you will inevitably face me. Just apply some pressure."
"Once? Twice? Three times? It doesn’t matter..."
Sage stared at the chessboard, the battle scenario in his mind gradually becoming clear, eventually breaking into a sinister smile: "Ten days! Within ten days, I’ll force you out! Hahaha, by then you better be ready for it! This time, you can’t escape! Hahahahaha!"
...
Though he spoke of ten days, in reality, Sage received two surprising pieces of news three days later.
Delivered by Lily.
"Sage, two things..."
She arrived with a somewhat puzzled expression and a hint of confusion.
"The Straw Hat Pirates were dazed by the dormant mist when crossing the Sea of Mist, then captured by Road."
"Road?"
At that moment, Sage was lying on a massage bed, enjoying a maid’s back massage. He raised his head and frowned upon hearing this, "Never heard of such a powerful entity, escaped from the sixth level? What’s the bounty?"
The folks escaping the sixth level; some retired directly, others were still in Paradise, and some continued chasing dreams in the New World. Moriah previously fought in the front segments and encountered a few, but none were his match.
After all, there’s only one opponent, while here, Moriah fights with Seven Stars. With group battles, winning is expected.
Pirates don’t even need to kill opponents because these people don’t hold any ruling power—driving them away suffices, as pirates losing means losing it all, and these Great Pirates from the sixth level know the rules. There might be complaints, but they’re also fearful of extreme revenge.
Losing means losing; revenge comes after. The former leaves them alive; the latter is reckless. They can’t even challenge the Three Phases, let alone Sage?
Sage is indifferent to such people. If they could be recruited, of course, that’s best. But these are seasoned thieves accustomed to freedom; not one wishes to join Sage—only willing to retreat.
This is normal indeed; if recruiting were so easy, Sage wouldn’t have been so patient with Moriah back then.
Strong individuals have their own wills.
Sage assumed it was a Great Pirate from the sixth level that thwarted Straw Hat.
The Fifth Emperor hadn’t reached the level of a Four Emperor due to the lack of a force and his carefree, unimposing nature unable to enhance a bit of prestige.
Great battles weren’t devastating, and fame was achieved, yet hardly conveyed how powerful he truly was.
Otherwise, Lucci wouldn’t have denied the Straw Hat’s ’Fifth Emperor’ title back in Egghead.
At least in Wano Country, a guy could fight him closely; fame has spread, yet many from the seas still refuse to believe in the Straw Hat’s prowess, insisting on personal verification.
To some degree, isn’t this also a lack of prestige?
But Lily’s next words made Sage sit up directly, causing the white scarf around his waist to fall off.