"Ha, ha, ha..."
On the deck amidst the torrential rain, eighteen merchants were either lying down or kneeling, gasping for breath.
In the middle of the deck, drenched by the rain, Renedia flashed a peace sign at them, revealing her small tiger teeth, "Hahaha, thank me, I saved your lives!"
"Saved us? Nonsense!"
The eighteen people unanimously felt their heads swell with anger, shouting sharply, "We almost died!"
The lightning didn't hit them directly, it struck the sea right next to Link, but soon after, an air cannon blast hit the remaining body of the ship they were clinging to.
If they hadn't burst forth with strong vitality in their near-drowning state, fighting against the huge waves to swim under the Death Star and climbed up swiftly using the rope net...
If they had been a bit slower, they'd really be finished.
"Just admit that you were saved, you're alive, that's what matters."
Renedia pouted, then glanced at the chubby merchant, saying, "Wow, it's really you, Fatso, long time no see."
"Long time no..."
Link forced a smile, but didn't finish his sentence before Renedia turned and walked into the building, "If you can move, come inside, Sage wants to meet you."
Link pulled at the corners of his mouth, a vein bulging on his forehead, suppressing his anger, took a deep breath, staggered to his feet, pulled up a nearby merchant, and together they stumbled towards the banquet hall on the first floor.
As they entered through the door, they heard a very familiar, hearty laugh.
"Hohohoho! Isn't it my old friend, Link! Oh, and you guys, the black market merchants from Logue Town, long time no see."
Sage sat in front of the throne, not making any movement, just biting a cigar and smiling at them, "Why, aren't you staying in Carnival City, what brings you to the New World, were you chased away?"
The last time they saw him was in Carnival City, where he sold the entire Carnival City to this guy.
He is indeed considered an old friend.
"Here, hot soup."
Marika, pushing a cart, smilingly served them soup, and after Link thanked her and drank a few trembling sips, feeling his body warm up, he finally relaxed completely.
"Isn't it that I saw the news of you conquering Gares, so I specially came to find you."
Link, having regained his composure, looked intently at Sage and said slowly, "Gares... will you sell it?"
Sage's grin widened a bit more at the words, "Who do you represent coming here?"
Off to the side, Lily instinctively gripped her sword handle, a glint of coldness in her eyes.
Link was straightforward, "The Six Great Emperors in the Underworld all have plans, and in my opinion, the World Government might be involved too. I'm just a messenger... But, knowing you, if you were going to sell, you would have done so already, not dragged it out. Personally, I want to buy some enterprise from you, name your price."
Sage obviously treated this place as his territory, being a part of the New World, an area beyond the World Government's control, and currently, like Blackbeard, he is a pirate drawing much attention from the world, possessing the qualifications of a Four Emperor.
Selling everything was probably out of the question, but establishing some businesses in the World Desire City, Link felt, could be achieved.
He was confident about this, even though he lost some money in Carnival City, he managed to carve out a niche, and profits were starting to come in. No matter the price Sage set, he could pool together a sum, and then leverage this transportation hub to continue making money.
No matter the amount, he could agree, as this time it was the eighteen black market merchants from Logue Town who came!
Despite experiencing a shipwreck, their foundations remained, and at least if Sage agreed, they could mobilize funds through channels.
"Not for sale."
"Okay, at that price... huh?"
Link was about to agree but immediately sensed something amiss, looking at Sage, confused, "Not for sale?"
"Of course not for sale, not for any price, expensive or cheap."
Sage grimaced, "I make the decisions in my territory, I am the only ruler, land, industry... everything belongs to me."
"But you're just a pirate..."
Link was puzzled, "Owning so much territory doesn't serve any purpose, even Big Mom needs us from the Underworld."
What's the use of a pirate occupying such a vast territory?
Robbing every day?
It's a transportation hub!
Isn't it a waste?
"You just don't understand, we used to be in the same trade, now let's say we are moonlighting. Besides, can't pirates do business? I see Doflamingo doing well, if he can do it, why can't I? I didn't have capital before, now I have too much, I can do whatever business I want!"
Sage stretched out his hand, clasping it strongly, "Gemstones, shipbuilding, weapons, food, lending, robbing, whatever is profitable, I do it all. I just conquered an island, an island that produces grains and fertilizers, and now I have ready-made food. Once I finish developing Timadon, I can sell food and make a fortune, do you think I can do business?"
Link couldn't help but take a step back at Sage's words and swallowed hard instinctively.
This breadth of business... far wider than his own.
He just wanted to set up a black market in the World Desire City.
"Link, old friend, and you all..."
Sage smiled at them, "What's the point of just following others and drinking soup, I'm always generous with talent, under Umit and Jibson, how much can you earn?"
"Why not work for me, I only charge 40% business tax, plus you pay taxes on your personal profits. Here, in my territory, you can engage in any business, and I'm willing to entrust the black market to you, as long as you pledge loyalty to me."
The black market definitely exists.
This is a major transit point. Some pirates are unwilling to join them, yet Sage doesn't drive them away. The loot these people acquire will definitely end up here, and that's all business.
What he lacks right now is talent in this area, and Link arrived just at the right time.
Aside from that, his extensive business ventures also need someone to help him sell them. He can't personally negotiate business with Doflamingo, can he? If someone could come to help him now, he might even expand the business.
As for Sage's invitation...
Link was very tempted!
He's not a fool; the prospects are visible.
He put in so much effort to occupy just a small share of the industry in Carnival City, hoping to conduct business there and engage in some black market smuggling through Umit's channels.
But now, it's different; it's the entire Gares!
Moreover, there might even be more territories.
This person is a natural disaster, a strong contender for the Four Emperors!
Allying with him seems like a great idea.
"No one competing with us?" Link's eyes darted around.
"No one in the black market will compete with you for this business. It's yours. Not only will I collect taxes, but I will also pay you!"
Sage laughed, "If I need anything from the black market and you have it, I'll buy it from you instead of taking it outright."
These words made Link and the eighteen black merchants' eyes sparkle!
They were being paid!
Before Link could express his stance, some merchants immediately fell to their knees, shouting in unison, "Master Sage, we pledge our loyalty to you!"
Link turned around and glared at them, then also knelt on one knee, "As long as you deliver on your promises, I will be loyal to you and work for you!"
They never planned to refuse, and now even less so.
Because he's offering so much!
"Hahaha, hehehe, you won't be at a loss!"
Sage threw his head back in laughter, "The Underworld business, if they can do it, so can I. Sooner or later, I'll take them all down. Everything will be mine!"
"You can definitely do it; you're a natural disaster after all!"
Link also had full confidence in Sage, "Seizing territories and enslaving them, we can get a continuous supply of raw materials; all these can be sold for money, and we can compete with them."
"Enslave?"
Sage was momentarily stunned and then scoffed, "Who deals in that stuff? I pay money; it doesn't matter who it is. As long as they work for me, I'll pay according to the work they do. Things that cost nothing are the real risk."
"What money?"
Link blinked, a bit perplexed, "Why would you pay for places you conquer by your own ability?"
Even the World Government doesn't pay!
So many people from Non-Adhering Countries don't have any human rights, they're just captured for labor, and there's no mention of pay.
Moreover, Sage is a pirate!
Sage rolled his eyes, "What's so good about slaves? Do you think capturing them saves trouble? They work for free, but actually, it's no trouble saved at all because these guys have no value!"
"Have you ever owned cattle? No, right? I have. When I wanted to become the King of Farming, I had a cow. This cow, you have to feed and water it, and take care of it if it gets sick, fearing it won't work for you."
"They say it's your property, but it's actually a massive hassle."
"How do these slaves differ from cattle? Do you have to clothe and feed them? If you don't have enough slaves, do you treat them if they get sick? Otherwise, if they die, you lose labor. You can't kill them all, so who do you enslave then? Wouldn't you have to pay for all this yourself?"
"Even if the clothes they wear are worn out, it's still money spent, and they won't do their work wholeheartedly."
"If you pay them wages, it's different. They earn n amount for n work, so they'll work earnestly. With money, if they're hungry, they'll buy food; if they lack clothing, they'll purchase some; if sick, they'll seek treatment. You don't have to worry about anything, just pay them!"
"And those guys who earn money from selling things will also spend it on other things, creating a cycle. The economy will then prosper, and I'll be able to collect more taxes—it's way more cost-effective than unpaid slaves!"
"You think I'm paying money out of charity? This is all business; do you even understand business?"
Sage's torrent of words left Link stunned and Lily also a bit bewildered.
She'd heard this theory before.
But she never knew that not enslaving others could actually have this effect...
Yet it did seem a bit odd.
Being oppressed, being enslaved, should be what benefits those kings and nobles.
Letting people be unoppressed should be a disadvantage.
Paying for work seems like a good deed...
Even pirates adhere to principles, and Lily has her sense of justice, always thinking that what Sage does is indeed a good thing.
But why does something she sees as a good deed sound more evil than enslavement when it comes from Sage's mouth...
Isn't this a good thing?
After all, they're getting paid, and quite a lot.