"Why am I insistent on buying materials from those poor folks, and why do I announce the rebuilding on the sea through newspapers, urging them to quickly bring goods? Do you really think I'm that rich and foolish, doing charity?"
The stones, wood, and iron nails for rebuilding aren't free. They're excavated and gathered by the kingdom's commoners, and we need to pay for that.
When merchants bring building materials, we have to pay for those too.
"What is money? Money is a bastard! Why do I replace aid with work, giving money to those poor souls rather than food directly? It's because when they have money, they'll buy things themselves."
"Those poor souls producing grain and the merchants selling it will also earn money. With money, they'll buy other things, and those selling their goods will earn money again, then use it to buy what they need."
"This way, they get what they need and can save money. With savings, they'll buy more things. Establishing this cycle raises these people's living standards, and then I can collect more taxes."
"Free? What do I need that for? It's not like I can't afford it. Let them buy it!"
After hearing this, everyone's heads in the restaurant seemed to pop up a question mark.
Renedia tilted her head, full of question marks.
"Sage..."
Lily pursed her lips, silently looking at Sage after a while, "Aren't you illiterate?"
She's surprisingly unable to understand what this illiterate is saying!
Sage's temple throbbed with a vein, "I just can't read, doesn't mean I don't understand! Even if I don't, I've played Victoria 3!"
Also aware of that damn Hayek!
So magnificent! Hayek!
This game might be a bit crude, can't fully embrace laissez-faire, but Sage opts for economic intervention… with force.
For instance, when merchants come to sell supplies and materials, the Pirate's intimidation keeps them from raising prices, making them follow the average sea rates.
As to what price exactly, he doesn't know, but Doflamingo does.
Let him compile some information and statistics.
Merchants will make money, commoners can afford purchases, and Sage will receive taxes.
Win-win-win!
He's winning big time!
As long as there is enough power, operations can stabilize and only make his territory flourish.
What Sage needs to ensure is the strong deterrent power he innately possesses.
"Victoria... the third?"
Danger flashed in Lily's eyes, instinctively gripping the sword temporarily assigned at her waist, "Who's that woman?"
Sage...
Playing with women?
Although she knows someone like him would do such a thing, hearing it suddenly still made Lily's heart tighten, filled with inexplicable displeasure.
"That's not a woman... or maybe it is, seems like a person's name, can't recall clearly."
Sage rubbed his chin, waving it off, "That's not important. Anyway, it can't be free. The money I give them will surely buy necessities."
As for the initial investment, it doesn't matter.
Belly belongs to the entire sea; as long as there are goods, you can surely buy them.
Having territory now, within his land, Sage doesn't need money. The more prosperous the territory, the more 'wealth' he will gain.
"Understood, I'll remember."
Lily replied and then said, "Also, Sage, I took a look around just now. Our food and materials seem to be running low... If we follow your method, though I don't quite understand it, if the food isn't enough, prices will rise, and the money distributed won't suffice."
"What are we lacking?" Sage asked.
"Everything," Lily said, "Wood, iron, stone, clothes, food... Just the daily needs of these people take up a lot, and since we need to rebuild, even more materials are needed."
The entire city being rebuilt, plus the nearly a million homeless within the city, requires an enormous amount of necessities. Whether merchants or outlying commoners providing could supply only so much.
"What about the Little People Race?" Sage asked.
"They've gone to Timadon. Moriah called a couple of days ago and is still searching for a place to settle. Even if they plant, it'll take time," Lily said.
The Tontatta Tribe is the best at planting among the Little People Race, but however good they are, it still takes time.
"Then let's plunder!"
Sage waved his hand grandly, "Just plunder outside. I happen to have plans. All we need is to stabilize here and move on to other territories!"