"Alright, twenty million Belly, buy yourself... But where's the stuff?" Sage asked.
"It, it's here!"
The Pirate Captain reached his hand with shackles and cuffs into his trousers...
This wasn't shameful at all; when it comes to hiding stuff, you can hide it anywhere.
Especially for a slave like this, caught and brought here, surely they've been looted clean; leaving a Treasure Map with them, it's naturally better to keep it hidden.
He pulled out a crumpled ball of paper from his trousers, unfolded it into a piece of parchment.
"This is the Treasure Map, right here on the Grand Line; follow the place, and you can find the treasure I've buried!"
As he spoke, he tried to approach Sage, wanting to show him, but was restrained by the subordinates.
"Are you seeking death?"
Pearl took displeasure, giving him a punch to the abdomen, causing him to gag once, curling up slightly.
Such filthy stuff, dare to approach Master Sage!
After hitting him, he seized the Treasure Map, scrutinizing it carefully.
The authenticity of a Treasure Map can't be distinguished; surely, there's fake among them, and quite a few.
The pirates at sea basically don't have any fencing channels, the loot even gets unable to be spent because many ports and cities forbid Pirates' entry. Once discovered, pirates are reported to the Navy, and guards are dispatched voluntarily to resist them.
A pirate crew usually no more than a hundred men, besides robbing merchant ships, hardly has the audacity to approach towns. Only when lacking supplies do they dare to take risks, find a port market, loot the corners and replenish supplies, then leave swiftly without diving deep.
The only place pirates spend money is at those ports and towns that don't forbid Pirates, indifferent to whether they're chaotic or pricey, it doesn't matter. As long as money is spent this way, pirates, especially Pirate Captain's money sometimes can't be spent out.
Because there's so few of these places, and for normal pirates, especially those gallivanting on the Grand Line, their plunders mostly profit them handsomely.
The renowned Seven Warlords of the Sea 'Empress' Boa Hancock, upon one expedition, robs a few merchant ships, enough to sustain her Daughter's Kingdom for a period of daily needs.
For ordinary pirates, they've robbed so much money yet to spend, nowhere to store them, can't keep it on the ship all the time. The ultimate solution is to bury it on an uninhabited island, especially not appearing on sea maps within the maritime areas, then create a Treasure Map.
Wait till someday unable to fight, then go find their treasure spot, find a place to live incognito.
But to prevent others from getting their Treasure Map, they don't make just one copy but several, most are fake, mixing the real among them. So if there's a mishap and Treasure Map is unfortunately gotten by someone else, those people will only exhaust their effort in vain.
What?
Not making a Treasure Map?
Even the person himself might not know where the treasure is. Burying treasure is for retrieving later, not for burying it where even he can't find, or else sink it to the sea directly.
That's why there're many Treasure Maps at sea, mostly treasures left behind by former pirates, though some pirates believe they're unlikely to live until that time, generally getting by for the moment.
What are so much money needed for?
Can it be kept?
With money, live merrily, once spent, continue plundering.
At sea, pirates like Sage even count rare, let alone 'not much'.
So pirates like him who often loot towns have exceptionally high bounties, not to mention looting towns... even raiding nations, assassinating Kings!
This sold Pirate Captain belongs to the type who buries treasure, but whether it's real...
Pearl can't see through.
He looked for help toward Lily seated at the forefront on the lavish seat, just about to speak, when Lily's cold gaze swallowed his words.
What a joke...
A sea map taken from such a position, can she even look?
Twenty million Belly?
Can that be considered money?!
"Master Sage, not sure if it's real, looks real..." Pearl forced a smile.
"It's real, absolutely real!"
The Pirate Captain exclaimed: "This is what I've always kept close to me, I wouldn't fake it!"
Hidden there, how could it be fake...
"The sea maps are surely real, all been the places passed, but whether there's treasure inside, that's unknown."
Sage smiled, announced to everyone: "Put the Pirate Captain aside for now, now there's an extra Treasure Map, unknown if real, but maybe worth a try. Anyone buying this Treasure Map? No base price, offer any, possibly a twenty million Belly value Treasure Map, just need you to run once, spend a bit of money for a chance, very worthwhile."
The seated wealthy aristocrats still remained silent in terror.
But the pirates at the back showed great interest.
"Treasure Map!" Nami's eyes started to gleam.
No matter what occasion, couldn't suppress her nature.
After all, that's real money!
"Twenty million Belly... what's such value worth running for, we're all pirates with bounties over a hundred million."
Apoo sneered, "Not necessary, wouldn't anyone fail to take out twenty million Belly?"
Already at Shampodi, everyone is poised to enter the New World, won't bother backtracking for the first half's treasure anymore.