"It will affect my plan."
Sage rejected: "The area where King is stationed and Katakuri's Totto Land complement each other. Using Totto Land as the front line, the Hundred Beasts can serve as reinforcements. Once attacked by the Navy, they can drag them into the battlefield. It seems peaceful now, but no one knows what the next step might be. There have been many cases where business remained business, and conflict remained conflict, haven't there?"
The World Government is the main focus here. The Cross Guild is an outpost, with the two affiliated pirate crews at the rear complementing each other, controlling the defense line of the first half of the New World. With their combat power and level of surveillance, if they launch an offensive at sea, they can hold off the Navy for a long time.
As for the islands... those islands are merely resource sites, not very important, unlike O'hara, which is the business stronghold. As long as they can protect Dressrosa, that's enough.
And during the time of stalled combat, it will be enough for Sage to act.
This was his plan, at least the initial plan in facing the World Government. But now, with the two Four Emperors behind him stabbing in the back, if this continues, he could easily end up being a firefighter, overwhelmed and unable to respond adequately.
The downside of having too much territory is beginning to show at this moment.
The Four Emperors, as the absolute powers of the sea, there's no question about having the capability to expand territory, but expanding territory is easy, guarding it is a bit challenging. Therefore, whether it's Kaido or Big Mom, the core territories aren't large. One is Wano Country, the other is the Totto Land Islands, and the rest is merely leaving a flag.
Teach is about the same, occupying Hive Island, and likewise just leaving a flag on the remaining territories but not actually protecting them, instead indulging his underlings in looting.
Red Hair is even stranger, without even a base of operations, just a ship roaming the sea. Wherever he plants his flag is his base, wandering around, making it impossible to pin down, yet the threat remains there.
Lily's strategy is to make Sage give up part of his territory to strengthen defense, but that doesn't align with his plan or disposition.
A great landowner only recognizes the land he's consumed, even if it turns barren, still his, and no outsider shall cultivate it!
He must find a way to further enhance his strength and still needs a figure of well-established stature, not some Vice Seven Warlords caliber, but at least someone like Lily...
"Hmm, there is someone ready-made."
Sage thought of something, his eyes lit up, and he turned towards a distant warship, "Did Fujitora come over?"
While negotiating conditions, he did include the option for the World Government to release Fujitora. Just now, due to anger, his Observation Haki was suppressed. Now that he's calmed down, he can sense it.
"Yes, he arrived early, probably waiting for your battle situation. Now, it should be possible to hand over." Lily said.
"Let him come. Such a good opportunity cannot be missed!" Sage shouted.
Lily nodded and said to her subordinates, "Turn to port, approach the warship at the ten o'clock position!"
The Death Star had been stationary for eight days, finally commenced movement, sailing on the sea again.
Soon enough, the warship tasked with monitoring was overshadowed by the massive black ship, mooring in front of the warship, making Strawberry instinctively draw his dual swords.
"It's you, Blockhead, I thought it was some numbskull, oh... right, it's either grievously injured or dead, definitely couldn't come to lead the team then."
Sage stepped on the ship's railing, looking down at the wary-face of Strawberry, "As you can see, I'm still alive. Per the agreement, hand over Fujitora!"
Something interesting emerged from the development at Egghead.
Navy Vice Admiral Doberman, seemingly had his head blown up by Saturn from a glare after provoking him, whether dead or not is unknown.
If the intel isn't wrong, then right after Doberman got glared at, Saturn likely perished.
Strawberry said nothing further and waved his hand, instructing the Navy to bring forth the blind man stripped of his Navy cloak, wearing just a purple kimono, with Seastone Chains binding his hands and feet.
"It's a pity you were delisted, as I always regarded you a man of justice," Strawberry sighed.
"A filthy transaction?"
Fujitora unveiled his pupil-less eyes, first turning to look at Sage above, then shook his head: "Though once wavered, I now find it a blessing for my eyes to be blind, as it's better not to see filthy things... It's just unexpected that I end up being traded a second time."
He didn't simply know of the World Recruitment and voluntarily enlisted. To be accurate, it was because he'd accumulated huge gambling debts in a casino bought over by the World Government, consequently transferring debts, thus opting to serve the Navy, while coincidentally aiming to abolish the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Now, having accomplished the goal and freed the slaves in Mary Geoise, being traded again is quite normal.
"My apologies, Mr. Issho," Strawberry also sighed, taking out a key to unlock the Seastone Chains.
"No harm done, although I was ready to end my residual life in Impel Down, yet regaining freedom is truly fortunate. However..."
Fujitora accepted a staff sword from a Navy soldier and walked step by step towards the gangplank laid down by the Death Star. Once on board, coming to Sage's side, he faintly said:
"...Although I thank Mr. Calamity for the rescue, I haven't agreed to serve Mr. Calamity and become a pirate."
"But you didn't refuse either, did you?"
Sage sneered: "No rush, as long as you're here! Come on, give him a bath, he stinks too much, then we can talk further! Set sail, to O'hara!"
The gangplank retracted, the Death Star turned, disregarding these warships, heading towards O'hara.
Strawberry watched the departing Death Star and shook his head, "It's about to get chaotic again..."
They had also received intelligence about Red Hair and Blackbeard attacking O'hara. It's likely that the well-informed parties are also aware of this news.
The current seas really are every party for themselves.
The Navy targets the emerging Revolutionary Army and the increasingly rampant other pirates, while the New World is headed for turmoil, affecting various forces, throwing things into further disarray.
Ever since Whitebeard's death, the world has been advancing in an unknown direction.
It's beyond what we, the Navy, can entirely control...
...
Two hours later.
In the captain's cabin.
Sage saw the clean-looking, newly clothed blind man being led in by his subordinates, then pointed to the sofa, letting them seat him and put away a cigar he was about to toss over, sniffed, and shook his head:
"I don't consume tobacco."
"Then have a drink."
"Rum will do."
"No such cheap stuff, things any Tom, Dick, or Harry drinks won't appear on my ship. You there, take this bottle over to him."
He instructed his subordinate as they grabbed a bottle from the liquor cabinet. After filling a glass, Sage waved his hand to dismiss them and then said:
"Fujitora, no, from now, I should call you Issho. I'll get straight to it. You probably know what happened, Red Hair and Teach attacked my stronghold. I'm planning to recruit some strong people to reinforce defense. Anyway, you're not settled now, you can't return to the Navy, how about working for me?"
Beyond the caliber of a Vice Seven Warlords, under his command, there's only Lily, and Fujitora belongs to that class too.
Only with this caliber can one truly contend against the Four Emperors.
Others are merely defense.
According to Sage's own grading, a Weak Admiral may bear a 'weak' in name, but they're genuinely not weak. Whether Ryokugyu or Fujitora, tying with a Four Emperor might be tough, but as forces preventing a Four Emperor's approach, dragging them for considerable time, they absolutely qualify.
Of course, excluding Sage himself, considering his specialty form, slightly weak against prime Logia-types, against non-Logia-types, as long as his fists connect, combat naturally flows more smoothly.
"I was a Navy Admiral not long ago, and now to become a pirate? Mr. Calamity, your reputation in the world isn't very good, but Lady Lily has once communicated with me, I am willing to visit O'hara and have a look,"
Issho said in a deep voice: "After all, there is some reputation under your governance."
"Have a look? Who else could you choose besides me? Are you returning to the casino to watch over venues?"
Sage laughed: "Fine, I'll let you look around, just don't leave!"
For recruiting Fujitora, unlike his previous patience needed for Moriah, in this current situation, as long as Fujitora gets over there, he's basically his!