The place where Sage was at that moment was a slave trading center.
After disembarking, the officers split up, and Sage began searching for the professional dancer he had longed for.
In this lawless area, under each of the big trees of the archipelago, there were slaves for sale, and it didn't take Sage long to find one here.
Finding team members was difficult, not to mention professionals, but when it came to selling slaves... they had everything!
"Welcome!"
The boss, sitting on the central sofa, lit up upon seeing the visitor. He stood up promptly, rubbing his hands and grinning ingratiatingly, "What kind of slave... I mean, what kind of talent would you like to choose, dear customer?"
"Talent?" Sage scoffed with a sneer.
"Of course, this is the 'Mortal House' professional introduction agency, and we have a great variety of talents here."
The boss eyed Sage up and down, his smile growing, "I'm certain you'll be satisfied."
The white-haired man in front of him clearly appeared wealthy!
As someone who mingled at the forefront of the Grand Line, besides slave trading, he had a good eye for judging people.
Or rather, he had a keen eye for money.
The red beads around this wealthy customer's neck were red coral from the South Sea, and judged by the luster, they were top quality.
The golden engraved wristband on his left wrist, not to mention the purity of the gold, the engraved patterns were unique to the North Sea, and used a lost technique, making it extremely valuable.
The gemstones and gold accessories on his fingers were also exquisite items; he even spotted a dragon carved black jade agate ring, crafted with the skills of the Grand Line, possessing significant historical heritage.
The gems adorning the leather belt also carried a hefty value.
No matter how he got them, one thing was clear: he was wealthy!
Sage ignored the flattery of the boss and started wandering around the glass cabinets that lined the walls.
The space was divided into two levels, with the glass cabinets partitioned by bars. Each compartment housed one person, with a price tag hanging outside.
The one wearing a white coat on the far left was priced at...
Seventy-nine thousand Belly.
Such a low price indeed.
The purchasing power of Belly varied from island to island due to their lack of connection, even under the Government's jurisdiction, causing price differences.
In some places, prices were high, in others, low, but they were relatively standardized, like with weapons.
A worthless sword went for fifty thousand Belly, and this price range wouldn't vary much.
Seventy-nine thousand Belly...
Less valuable than a decent sword.
"This one comes from a non-affiliated country, a person without rights, but he's a doctor. Buying him could be useful in times of illness," the boss explained.
"A doctor? That's rare talent, and he's sold for so little?"
Seeing the figure in the white coat standing up within the showcase, with a look of fear mixed with a plea for help and pity, Sage lost interest.
Such a person was too weak, just by looking, one could tell he was a weak-minded individual, with no useful value if purchased.
And after making a round, Sage didn't find anyone worthwhile either.
The people here seemed just ordinary; at best, there were a few Pirates, but none had any real value, considering the highest price didn't exceed fifteen hundred thousand Belly.
So even if they were Pirates, they weren't bounty-bearing Pirates.
The main issue was that Sage couldn't see any willpower in their eyes.
"Is there nothing else? I want dancers, professional dancers who aren't afraid of stormy seas and possess tenacious willpower," Sage asked the boss standing beside him.
"Customer, the talents here value cost-effectiveness, each professional skill is guaranteed, and once bought, you can have them do whatever you want... as for dancers, look at the woman on the upper level, she has a great figure and could be trained as a dancer." The boss continued to promote his goods.
This shop was just an ordinary slave shop, everything had a clear price tag, and true high-quality goods were naturally not available, but buying a slave for use was definitely possible.
"So there's nothing, right? For tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of Belly, you're quite poor too. If there's nothing else, how about granting my subordinate's wish?"
"A wish?"
The boss was momentarily stunned, then forced a smile, "Certainly, what kind of 'talent' does your subordinate desire?"
"No..."
Sage gave him a smile, "It's a head."
Shing!
In an instant, the boss's head was intersected by a flash of the sword, causing a faint itch on his neck. Before he could pay attention, just as he was about to speak again, he suddenly felt his vision tilting, noticing the wealthy man's gaze dropping lower and lower, until it was on the ground. His vision whirled before he lost consciousness.
The sword light darted swiftly, severing the head of another person sitting on the sofa, and swiftly flashed through all the display cases.
Snap!
In just an instant, Lily reappeared behind Sage, sheathing her thin sword with a light sound. With this sound, the glass of the cabinets rapidly cracked and fell into smooth cut shards, causing the people inside to widen their eyes.
Meanwhile, Mute and about a dozen members of the Demon Race, who were standing by, broke through the doors at the center of the cabinets, rushed inside, and began looting.
As for the people inside the cabinets, except for the one in the white coat, who stood dazed for a moment before quickly running away, the others acted as if they hadn't seen anything, still curled up within the shattered cabinets, either lying there or sitting idly against the walls.
"Aren't you leaving?" Lily asked solemnly.
"We'll just get caught again anyway."
A somewhat burly person glanced at her and shook his head, "It's all pointless struggle. We all got caught by the traffickers here. Even without a collar, they'll find us and catch us again."
"I see, so you've lost the will to resist."
Lily nodded without further word.
The moment she saw the trafficking spot, she knew there was 'oppression', but she also understood that people... must rely on themselves.
Having created an opportunity to resist and escape, if the other side didn't cherish it, Lily wouldn't give a second chance.
She had no time to waste with these people because more who were willing to seize such an opportunity deserved her to grant it.
"Mmph, mhm."
Mute soon emerged from inside the doors, carrying a small sack filled with Belly, amounting to several million.
"Not bad."
Sage remarked with a grin, "A few million from one shop, with a total of twenty-nine shops, amounts to a couple hundred million Belly."
"Sage..."
At this moment, Lily's eyes revealed a red dot, instinctively looking towards the door, "Someone's coming."
Beyond the wide-open doors, a burst of dust was stirred up, as armed men with grim faces gradually approached.
On the Shampodi Islands, there's no shortage of bounty hunters eager to earn fame and fortune...
Sage never concealed himself after landing; it was normal to be spotted.
And now, they were here.
"There are far too many who don't understand the gap in power..."
Without even glancing towards the door, Sage pulled a cigar from his cloak, while Mute drew a lighter from his pocket, kneeling on one knee to light it for him.
"Lily, two minutes."
"I won't need that long."
Lily gripped the sword hilt and looked outside the door, "Thirty seconds will be enough."