Forty-five billion...
Even Sage himself was stunned for a moment when he saw this number.
He certainly wasn't naive enough to think his bounty had dropped to four and a half billion or something...
Bounties only ever go up or get revoked, they never drop.
Although sometimes it can be seen as a measure of popularity, it's not true popularity but rather a mix of danger and strength.
Price drop?
That would mean not only is his danger unacknowledged by the Navy, they're also ready to forget about his crimes, which is the only reason it could drop.
Forty-five billion Belly, compared to his previous bounty, is a difference of a full eight billion Belly, which is equivalent to a Three Commander.
Defeated a Four Emperors and then exceeded the bounty of the prior Four Emperors?
That's not how it works; even if it increased, it couldn't increase by that much. He estimated beforehand it might be around forty billion, which meant he officially entered the 'old Four Emperors' threshold.
And now this number...
"This price means that people have begun to seriously regard my danger..."
Sage looked at his wanted order and grinned: "Released at this juncture... Including your bounty, as well as Marika's and Lady's, all of them are directly tied to me. It's the World Conference, using me as an excuse to demand money."
Lily was taken aback and thoughtfully said, "Sage, you mean... we're the excuse?"
"Yes and no, your bounties would rise even if not now. It won't take too long, basically during the period when I take over Big Mom's territory. But regardless, it wouldn't be now, and it would just be you three."
"Lady is the family's manufacturer. Many weapons are her designs, modeled by her hand; how could she not be targeted? Marika is responsible for settling people from various places, right? I've heard she's quite popular outside?"
"Yes..."
Lily said, "Organizing those sent from elsewhere is her duty. Over time, those people also call or write back home, gradually making her well-known. Now, she's rumored outside as the 'Holy Mother' and 'Goddess,' indeed very popular."
Professional matters are handled by professionals.
Lily is good at planning and executing, skilled in killing, and even more adept at killing nobles, but facing civilians face to face to soothe them... that's not her nature.
This is something Marika can do; her gentle warmth and heartwarming culinary skills calm and earn the dependency of each frightened civilian who arrives.
This saved Sage so much trouble. As long as they initially behave, by the payday, they'd settle down, adding to his workforce.
Just kidding... He actually pays!
But the initial work is all done by Marika. Truth be told, in terms of stabilization, she made a substantial contribution.
Of course, this led to a chain reaction. Those previously homeless or unable to survive settle here and promptly notify family and friends.
After all, here, as long as you work, you get paid!
And everyone can find work!
Such a good opportunity must be shared with those close to them. They've survived, but others haven't yet.
As for the Pirate Realm...
What pirates?
Where are the pirates?
They are a Non-Adhering Country, unrelated to the World Government, and do not adhere to its rules.
Here, there are no pirates, only benevolent lords and their virtuous underlings!
Just as Lily has multiple titles, Marika too has other titles. Many even regard her as a spiritual beacon, crossing seas to worship and find solace here.
"High popularity and many attracted; it's favorable for me, but not for those kings and nobles."
Sage chuckled, telling Lily in front of him:
"And you're here, Lady earning their money, Marika uprooting them, you more directly take their lives. Add me at the helm, naturally, the bounty has to go up."
"Raising the bounty, recognizing the threat, they'll give more money... after all, the Heavenly Celestial Dragons are quite spendthrifts, right, Kalifa?"
"Boss, asking me on this, I can't answer, just saying it's a possibility." Kalifa pushed her glasses up, her expression unchanged.
She was no longer as surprised as initially.
Killing the Heavenly Celestial Dragons was one thing; that was the past. Now Sage, directly in front of her, points out issues with the World Government, and he has some real points...
Like before, Sage laughed at the Navy who enthusiastically send those unable to pay taxes or survive; just that group, the Navy could surely reap benefits. Rescue them, train them, they'd surely be a resilient force.
No one would increase manpower so freely, but they actually sent people over to bolster his workforce.
A few more times like this, and he wouldn't need to pillage; just bring everyone over, because a dead nation's treasures are worthless.
Humans, with emotions and thoughts, are the source of material flow and economic operation.
Kalifa found these points logical, so she reported them to Lucci, who also agreed and informed the Five Elders.
The Five Elders agreed and then shrugged, telling Lucci not to meddle and just be a good dog.
Lucci could only tell Kalifa to mind her own affairs.
"Go, send a telegram."
Sage smacked his lips, waving Kalifa off, "I might not act on the World Conference, but the excess money they've priced into the Celestial amount, I want half! Rest assured, I only need it for a year!"
"Afraid, that truly can't be done..."
Kalifa instantly responded, "Sage, doing so would directly lead to war with you. You'd be disrupting the entire world's order."
Different from the small Grand Line in the New World, what Sage asked for was a blow to the World Government's core; there's no way they'd agree.
"Hmm... never mind, then go make me some chicken soup." Sage said.
Kalifa: "..."
"Boss, that's harassment."
She pushed her glasses and said helplessly.
This wasn't the first time; every time she reported, Sage asked for chicken soup.
At first, she thought Sage was hungry and wanted her to notify Marika, only to find he wanted it made by her own hands...
That mischievous look left her feeling odd, though she couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Her being a mole wasn't news; everyone knew, right?
She asked, and Sage's answer was that double agents must know how to make chicken soup.
"Hohohoho!"
Sage threw his head back and laughed: "There's always a chance I can get a piece of that cake. Let's head back first, get the banquet started, and digest the turf!"