NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 23: Win-Win!
As usual, Sage swung his leg in a swift kick, severing the mast of the warship and breaking free from its pursuit.
The sea at night was pitch black, with only the moon and stars providing a faint glimmer. However, the drifting ships on the ocean reflected that dim light, radiating a golden glow.
On the black-sailed warship, a group of pirates held lanterns, gazing at the treasures scattered across the deck, their eyes shining with excitement.
Sage's eyes sparkled too, even more excited than those pirates.
This was the first time he had seen money! Back in the day, he had engaged in so many ventures without ever seeing a single berry, but now he was finally seeing money! The berries he had stolen from the mayor amounted to eight million, not counting the value of the gold and jewels.
"So I say, there's nothing worth robbing from the poor; robbing half a town only nets you a million berries, but robbing a wealthy person gives you everything!" Sag said proudly.
The seasoned pirates all nodded in agreement.
Commoners have expenses; it's a miracle if they can save a little from their earnings. Compared to robbing a town, they preferred to target merchant ships.
"Now, let's divide the loot! Lily, hand me the sword!"
Sage laughed heartily, extending his hand toward Lily, who drew her slender sword and placed it in his palm.
"I'm the captain. Out of the eight million berries, I'll take four million. The navigator gets a 5% share, and Akin, as the head of the combat team, also gets 5%. Paru, you take 3%, and the rest will be divided among everyone else. I won't take a share!"
Logically, the captain could take another share of the remaining money, but Sag generously declined.
"As for these treasures..."
He gripped the slender sword and sliced through the center of the treasure, pushing half aside and moving the other half toward the pirates. "The rest is all yours. The officers can pick first, and the others can take what they want. If anyone is dissatisfied with their spoils..."
He pointed at the barrels of wine that had already been brought up, laughing, "Then let's have a drinking contest! Whoever wins gets the right to claim the spoils. Let's make it lively!"
"Oh!!" The pirates cheered loudly.
Gold and jewels cannot be divided precisely, as no one knows their exact value, and they cannot be immediately exchanged for berries. Essentially, it's a matter of taking turns.
As for size and weight, that was even less of a concern.
It was better to decide through a drinking contest, which suited the pirates' spirit.
Sag returned the sword to Lily and called out to the pirates, "Have a good time! Tomorrow we head to Nadia!"
"It's Natiya!" Lily corrected him again.
"Close enough."
In a good mood, Sag didn't argue with Lily, humming a little tune as he returned to the captain's quarters.
Lily's expression shifted, and she followed Sag into the captain's quarters.
"Lily, aren't you going to join the fun? I remember you don't have any money either. Now that we've got some, shouldn't you be thinking about where to shop and buy something? After all, you're a girl."
Sag sat in the chair, propping his leg up, smiling as he spoke.
"That can wait until we find a town. But you... are we going to keep robbing in the East Sea? Even if you save enough money to buy land, as a pirate, you'll eventually be exposed, right?" Lily asked.
She wasn't dissatisfied with Sag's focus on robbery; after all, she was a pirate too, and robbing was part of the job. That wasn't the issue.
She was just worried about Sag's dreams.
This guy was dead set on buying land and becoming a landlord.
If he were to retire quietly, perhaps he wouldn't be pursued by the World Government, but if he didn't keep a low profile, he would eventually be discovered.
Though she hadn't been with Sage for long, Lily had learned a bit about him; he was not a low-key person.
After spending a few days with Akin and the others, Lily understood what most pirates were like: either resting on deserted islands or temporarily settling in weak villages. While they did rob towns, she had never heard of anyone charging in without considering the defensive forces.
Most pirates primarily targeted merchant ships, trying to avoid the navy.
But Sage was different; perhaps due to his strength, he didn't consider these factors at all. As long as he could find a target, he would rob it. Now he even wanted to stir up trouble with a country.
Not only was he not low-key, but he was also quite arrogant.
After all, he wanted to be a king even while fishing. Moreover, with his bad luck, even if he managed to rob enough money and buy land, could he really hold onto it?
"Who said I want to buy land in the East Sea?"
Sage chuckled and said, "I take my ventures seriously. Whatever I do, I aim for the top, and being a pirate is no different. But some paths are different. Lily, do you know what the Pirate King is?"
"Gol D. Roger?" Lily asked, puzzled.
"I'm talking about the meaning behind that title."
Sage said, "Also, it's Gol D. Roger, don't be misled by the news."
"D," Lily murmured, not quite understanding the difference, and continued, "If you want to be the Pirate King, you have to find Raftel, right? That's how you get recognized as the Pirate King."
"That's the problem; some people aren't interested, like me."
Sage said, "I have no interest in Raftel. Just because you become the Pirate King doesn't mean you have to go to Raftel. If you have enough power and reach the pinnacle of piracy, who dares say that isn't the Pirate King?"
Sailing the world, finding the final island, and then being targeted by the World Government, desperately hunted down.
That kind of Pirate King didn't interest Sage.
"Since we've become pirates, we can't just lounge around in the four seas. The four seas are where the World Government's power is strongest. Staying here only means being targeted. The only place to go is the New World, the latter half of the Grand Line; that's where my goal lies!"
Sage clenched his fists. "'Beasts' occupy Wano, 'Big Mom' established Totto Land, Whitebeard planted a vast number of flags in the New World, and even the youngest 'Red-Haired' has a stable backing!"
"These people are known as the Emperors of the Sea. They have vast territories and numerous subordinates, doing whatever they please. They are all in the New World; only there can I fulfill my dreams!"
He wasn't foolish; how could a pirate think about buying land in the East Sea?
He had that thought before because he hadn't opposed the World Government. Whether farming, fishing, or being a bodyguard for merchants, even as a star in the industry, it was all within the World Government's permitted scope.
At that time, he was legal, of course thinking about legally owning territory and being a legitimate landlord.
But now that he was a pirate, it was illegal. To fulfill his dreams, the four seas and the first half of the Grand Line were out of the question. While it was possible to be a pirate here, even quite easy, to be a big landlord, he could only go to the New World.
He had never seen a pirate who could occupy a place in the four seas or the first half for a long time.
Washing white and going ashore?
That wouldn't make him the Pirate King!
At that time, whether buying with money or seizing by force, the New World offered the greatest opportunities.
Those emperors of the sea and silver medalists had paths that could be replicated.
Seizing territory and declaring oneself king, he could say his dream was halfway fulfilled.
As for seizing territory in the East Sea, theoretically it was feasible, but practically it wouldn't work.
The East Sea indeed had non-member countries, those not under the protection of the World Government, but that was useless. Not to mention the defensive forces of those countries themselves, even if he succeeded, it would give the World Government an excuse to add another member state.
Rather than worrying about the World Government, it was better to head straight to the New World.
There, he could fulfill both his dreams of being a landlord and the Pirate King, achieving a win-win situation.
Win-win!