Chapter 1049 - 629: Garp? (2)
His hook was placed at the top center of the model, with a building on it. "This is Mary Geoise, the World Government Headquarters. Tsk... now that I study carefully, I realize the Red Earth Continent is incredibly towering."
"Heh." Sage let out a cold laugh.
Ten thousand meters under the sea is the limit, no, only the limit of Fishman Island; below it is even deeper, an endless abyss.
Vegapunk said that people used to live on a supercontinent, but it was only two hundred meters below sea level, and the ocean remained dominant.
The Red Earth Continent is extremely tall, at least taller than Elephant Lord’s home in Zou, and Elephant Lord...
Stands at thirty-five thousand meters.
Sky Island is only ten thousand meters!
Though most of that body is underwater, the elevation isn’t so exaggerated, roughly around a few thousand meters.
However, the scale of the Red Earth Continent completely surpasses Sky Island.
No wonder Kuma’s body was full of burns when brought over; at such a height, even with Fruit Ability, there’s a limit to exhaustion.
At such a height...
The ocean is truly marvelous.
"As for the opening..."
Sage, observing the white waves floating on the table, pointed his finger towards the back of the Red Earth Continent, the location of Paradise.
Sam’s sculpting ability is precise; he even marked the buildings in Paradise near the Red Earth Continent, including the triangular cycle of Marineford, Impel Down, and Enies Lobby, as well as Shampodi, the closest to the Red Earth Continent.
"Just place it here."
Sage pointed to the other side of the continent parallel to Shampodi. "Break through the continent and connect it to Shampodi; it can also be a transit point."
After all, historically, many pirates gather there, a mixed bag, and smuggling is particularly easy, especially after the Navy Headquarters relocated.
"I thought you would choose the position parallel to Fishman Island..."
Crocodile remarked in surprise, "I heard you have quite a few Fishmen under your command, are you cooperating?"
"What’s the use of choosing that location? Can you even break through to Fishman Island? If you did that, Fishmen and Mermaids would consider you their savior." Sage laughed heartily.
The Red Earth Continent is bottomless, while Fishman Island is just a hole in the entire continent...
Not every dive to the seabed can reach Fishman Island and then onto the New World.
If carried off course by underwater currents, you’d crash into the continental rock wall under the sea, similar to Inverted Mountain, but the margin for error at Inverted Mountain is much higher.
If you’re fortunate enough to navigate Inverted Mountain, you can pass through the reverse ocean currents into the Four Seas. Even the slightest mistake at Fishman Island leads to a dead end, wrecked ships, and lost lives underwater.
Choosing Fishman Island is completely unrealistic. Plus, its location, if parallel, is too close to Mary Geoise and not far from the elevators.
It’s entirely unsuitable.
"Shampodi, huh..."
Mihawk pondered for a moment, then nodded, "It’s a good idea, even if we enter, people would assume we coated the ship and came up from underwater, no one would suspect."
He looked at Sage, "However, you seem very serious about this matter, considering even this... are the goods not selling?"
"Ha! Even if I do nothing, O’hara will remain prosperous beyond my death."
Sage sneered, "I’m just planning for the future!"
Investments naturally come to an end, and when they end, it’s a crisis.
But Sage is far from reaching that step; O’hara hasn’t even hit its peak, let alone decline.
The situation of unsold goods is absolutely impossible to happen within a hundred years.
Yet some preparations must be made; he has no intention of slow expansion.
By connecting the entire Grand Line, he intends to fully transform Paradise into his own business haven, ensuring a watch over the Four Seas and more security for his future plans.
"It’s decided!"
Crocodile gestured to Sam to withdraw his ability, his other intact hand forming a tight fist, issuing a trademark laugh, "Completing this plan will mean the entire Grand Line, for us, will have no barriers! Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
"Hohohoho!"
Sage laughed wildly, "I have a new Plan!"
Paradise, he knows it all too well!
So well that he could devise a makeshift Plan!
Half a day later, the banquet concluded, and a satisfied Sage did not linger, setting sail from Kale Bali Island, towards the location provided by the World Government’s Life Paper.
With Red Harbor gone, the Eternal Pose lost its effectiveness; he could only ensure not to get lost at sea by having the Navy stay at the original site and using Life Paper for positioning.
As strong as the Four Emperors, one must still abide by basic rules when facing the vast ocean.
...
"Rob Paradise again?"
In the captain’s cabin, Lily listened to Sage’s words, stunned for a moment, then asked, "Is that the plan? But wasn’t the route opening meant for business?"
Sage’s plan was simple. It was to revisit the past, revisit old places, retrace his journey, relive the past hardships.
The route he came... was indeed robbery.
"Not just that."
Sage grinned, "Over two years, have those places I robbed recovered? Isn’t it time for a sustained fishing strategy again?"
"Aside from those places, any place en route, especially poor places, needs a cleanse. If they’re too impoverished, wouldn’t their people unable to survive choose to follow us? For prosperous places, they need to be destroyed; destruction leads to reconstruction, and that creates business. In the end, it’s all for me!"
He opened his arms, excitedly stating, "What I’m going to do can’t be stopped."
This is also why he agreed with Crocodile.
Negotiating with the World Government will definitely establish a grand passage, which allows for legitimate business.
And in the shadows, his business can proceed through his clandestine path, fulfilling his plan. Even if the World Government gets wary, they will investigate through the channel he opened.
One overt, one covert, with robbery driving his plan forward, he doesn’t even need Hawkins to divine it; his plan is innately 98% successful!
Lily nodded thoughtfully, her eyes gleaming.
In that case, the oppressors along the Grand Line... she can also use them to fulfill her own ideals.
The New World is chaotic and disordered, yet most places lack the Heavenly Tribute, whereas Paradise clearly has more order, yet starvation is common.
It’s also a massive irony.
"It’s doable. These significant figures of ours shouldn’t appear, but the Cross Guild can, so can the Fishmen and Fur Race. Let them carry out our plot." Lily presented a proposal.
"No need for that! I said no one can stop me. Since we’re negotiating with the World Government, I’ll boldly go! Personally go!"
Sage laugh heartily, "It’s always been the Adhering Countries robbing the Non-Adhering Countries. This time, let’s switch it up. I, the ’Non-Adhering Country’, will also savor the taste of Adhering Countries! Those top-ranking large countries, I haven’t tasted their flavor yet! The Navy is busy dealing with the Revolutionary Army, ensuring the sanctity of the Heavenly Celestial Dragons. They can’t and won’t be able to stop me..."
Bang!
Before the last ’me’ could be uttered, there was a distinct tremor inside, accompanied by the sound of an explosion outside, as if a shell had been fired over.
A shell?
Lily quickly reached the cabin door, pulling it open to see a hole on the bow deck still smoking, with crew members exclaiming angrily amid the sulphurous smoke.
You’ve got to be kidding!
They are the Disaster Pirates, with their flag flying right there. Who blindly fired a shell at them?
But that’s not the main concern.
Lily furrowed her brow, showing a puzzled expression.
Besides the black color of this ship, it has long been nourished by Haki, not just Sage’s, but also the cadre’s Haki training, involving Haki covering the ship’s body.
Over time, this ship officially became a ’Black Ship’, albeit still superficial, but it’s not something ordinary shells can penetrate.
"A warship?"
Lily looked towards the sea area where the sudden appearance of the Navy warship made things even more confusing.
The Navy?
Would the Navy engage them?
At this time, they’ve practically reached a ceasefire; it should be prohibited.
"Sword?"
Just as Lily thought that, a hearty laugh echoed in her ears.
"Puhahahaha!"
The distant voice made Lily’s pupils shrink as she stared at the silhouette at the front of the warship, exclaiming in shock, "Garp?!"