Achieving Nothing, I Can Only Be the Pirate King

Sage shrugged, "As for Haki, I’m not like that Red Hair sneaky guy, suppressing my own Haki. When I’m here, I’m here, nothing to hide."

Suppressing Haki is a common technique, and suppressing it to the utmost degree is what leads to Observation Kill.

Sage disdained such tactics, so he wouldn’t do it.

He openly declared that he was there.

He didn’t purposely use Supreme King Haki, merely chose not to conceal his own power, but that aura was truly not something ordinary underlings could withstand.

"Arriving and taking out our main player, what do you want to achieve?"

Crocodile snorted, "He’s someone I specifically ’bought.’

Sage shook his head with a smile: "What use is keeping someone with a problem, if you want to insult me, show some strength. Otherwise, sooner or later you’ll shame the organization you’ve established."

He knew the concept of spending heavily for talent, that anyone who gets a bounty will certainly receive rewards, which helps attract more people to the Cross Guild.

But that wasn’t a reason Sage could tolerate.

He was displeased, and that was enough.

"Besides, you have too many so-called main players."

Sage pointed outside at Mr. 3, laughing: "That guy is about to become famous on the seas, almost took out the Cyan and Red Ghosts, perfect to be the new main player."

With the Egghead incident, the Giant Race also appeared, and the most representative Cyan and Red Ghosts are sure to have their bounties reset, not low since they were worth a hundred million Belly a hundred years ago.

Given current inflation, a billion or eight hundred million isn’t much, and twenty or thirty isn’t little.

Clearly, they’re about to be renowned on the seas again, and the one who almost took them out, the third brother, would definitely be widely known.

"Cyan and Red Ghosts?"

Crocodile furrowed his brow, "Seems I’ve heard of them somewhere..."

"Pirates of the Giant Race, leaders of the Giant Warrior Pirates that roamed a hundred years ago."

Boa Hancock glanced at Mr. 3 outside the door in surprise, "Does he have that kind of record..."

Kuja Island, as an equally ancient nation, might not be familiar with current sea news, but they knew some old news very well.

"Save that talk for later. Sage, I invited you here to discuss cooperation."

Crocodile sneered, walked over, and kicked Buggy’s head away, "Get to work! Buggy, use your talents, start a banquet."

"Got it."

Sage laughed heartily, "Discussing things in this damn place? I’ll flip the table, hahaha!"

Buggy might not be strong in combat, but he’s an expert at setting the mood, and after a bit of rest, he miraculously recovered from his injuries.

In fact, Buggy’s injuries weren’t much anyway, most were on the body, covered by a cloak you couldn’t really see them. As for his face, the three knew their limits, they didn’t hit too hard.

On the circus’s second floor, the Disaster Pirates’ leaders gathered with the Cross Guild’s, while below, the pirates once intimidated by Sage’s revealed Haki, weren’t afraid when Buggy spoke.

There was nothing to fear anyway, Master Sage was good friends with Buggy, it was normal they couldn’t withstand Four Emperors pressure.

Conversely, Four Emperors ’Disaster’ ignored them, but Four Emperors ’Star Clown’ valued them like treasures!

In comparison, their own leader seemed better.

Watching Buggy, on the second-floor balcony with a glass of wine in one hand, his other hand detached and flying around, full of energy, Sage smiled and also picked up his glass, clinking with Crocodile, and drank it all.

"Amazing, Buggy, his ability development has reached a certain extent, any major injury to the body seems to split away."

It’s not just segmenting, not like a model kit with detachable parts.

That’s a presence where the entire body can split, significant injuries are avoided by the ability, allowing it to be vigorous in a short time.

"Indeed."

On this point, Mihawk has voice, as he actually struggles most against Buggy.

Because slashing, even with Haki-infused slashes, are extremely small openings, and any opening allows Buggy to split past.

It feels a bit like Katakuri, but not as strong, since Sage senses Buggy’s move is perhaps a passive ability.

"Before talking business, let me introduce you to someone."

Crocodile laid down his glass and said to Daz Bonez sitting on the sidelines, "Bring him up."

The man, similar in complexion to Gin, seemingly the same race, always stable, stood without a word, descended the stairs, soon returning with a burly man.

"Buggy boss!"

The man first shouted in admiration at Buggy celebrating on the balcony, then approached everyone, excitedly saying: "Sand Crocodile boss, finally time to dispatch me!"

"Everton... forget it, no need for detailed introductions, you’ll probably won’t remember."

Crocodile said, "Ability User, possesses the ’Track-Track Fruit’, can designate tracks for objects to move like laying rails. Once a direction is set, even the hardest objects are pushed aside, similar to the Revolutionary Army’s Western Army leader, possessing a power capable of breaking the Red Earth Continent."

Upon hearing this, Marika glanced at him with a smile, "It sounds similar to Leti too."

"Considerably of the same category."

Crocodile nodded, "I invited you to discuss this, I roughly know what you’re aiming to do, otherwise you wouldn’t be targeting Red Harbor... Tch! Pluton is actually in Wano Country, did you already know? Were you mocking me during the Alabasta days!"

The news of Wano Country being dismantled and vanished already spread. Such a large nation disappeared overnight, linked with Sage’s actions, Crocodile could deduce it.

A one-shot island destruction, and if ancient weapons moved, islands could be seen as ships... definitely Pluton!

For the weapon, he hid in Alabasta for years, humiliated by the Straw Hat’s defeat.

Clearly when allies with Sage, even if unwilling to speak out, could have hinted he wasted effort?

This guy hails from O’hara, surely knew long ago!

Sage chuckled when hearing, "I went to Wano Country prepared to die, it wasn’t easy. That’s past now, no point dwelling upon it. Now, since you figured it out, explain your vision. It’s risky, but I’m ready to swallow it alone, would you attempt opening one at Red Harbor, those old heads won’t agree with you."

"I’m not asking their approval, Sage... isn’t a small passage just for us great?"

Crocodile said, "I don’t know what deal you’ll strike with the World Government, but no matter the chosen location, their knowing means the passage under your control will be under theirs too, becoming as eye-catching as the front half’s Gate of Justice."

"Doing business under such scrutiny is bad, isn’t it? With our exploits in the underworld, rather than letting the World Government find us, we should establish a smaller route here."

Crocodile exhaled smoke, "Select an unnoticed spot, create a concealed secret passage as a fallback for unexpected events. Only by cooperating with me can you achieve this."

Properly piercing the Red Earth Continent is quite a grand project; the World Government surely focuses on Sage, likewise scrutinizing all Disaster Pirates leaders.

But with the attention focused, natural oversight occurs elsewhere.

This is Crocodile’s chance.

"The route will remain yours, yet allow me to handle underground dealings, I only want thirty percent."

He didn’t peddle negotiation, presented maximum sincerity upfront.

Negotiating with Sage is futile, Crocodile understands him, doing business willingly is certain, but in his position, he’s disinclined to haggle.

Also, Sage acts by mood.

Solid relationship and maximum sincerity ensure his agreement.