Strategy and command, Supreme King, strength, Lily's growth is evident to all. I heard that while he was unconscious, she single-handedly split a large warship, slaughtered the Navy on board, and even took down a Navy Vice Admiral.
Moriah is even more impressive. He was strong to begin with, and recently regained his confidence and mastery of Haki.
As for others, they may have fame, like Marika and Renedia. Their reputation is adequate too, after all, they followed Sage from the East Sea period, joining as officers when it was first founded.
As for the likes of Hawkins and Urouge, they lack even fame. After all, they're not like Marika and Renedia, with one managing the provisions and the other managing the ship.
But overall, none are strong enough. They might be high-ranking officers, but to become the supreme 'Three Phases'... that's not just a title, it entails great risk. If they're not strong enough, they'll end up dead out at sea, and Sage would lose his reputation, while these people would lose their lives.
They can't just be stepping stones for others.
Sage would rather leave the position vacant than choose someone at random.
Perhaps in a few years, as their strength grows, one might emerge among these high-ranking officers.
As long as they meet the standards, no matter who it is, as long as they serve him, they can stand out.
The banquet continued late into the night, and only when everyone was overpowered by alcohol did it finally quiet down.
Renedia went to sleep early. Urouge and Hawkins, one drunk on the floor, the other returned to his room to sleep, having drunk quite a bit as well.
In the banquet hall, still sober, were only Sage, Lily, and Moriah.
"Sage, perhaps we should consider acquiring the 'Road Poneglyph' now."
Moriah personally poured a glass of wine for Sage and slowly said, "To become the Pirate King, you need the 'Road Poneglyph.' I know of two pieces, one with Kaido, and another with Big Mom. The other two, one piece is with the mysterious burned man, but he's too secretive. As for the last piece, we don't know, but we should start the search."
Sage can already clash with Kaido and even harm him. So, with him, the future where Kaido is defeated is not far off.
The wish to defeat Kaido is right before Moriah's eyes!
So preparations for the distant future need to be made.
"Road Poneglyph?" Lily asked.
"Yes, Road Poneglyphs, like the Poneglyphs in the training room, only they're red and contain information about the Grand Treasure. Collect all four to locate it!"
"Two pieces are easy to talk about because we know where they are, but the other two, one is with the burned man. He's very enigmatic; they say he travels on a Black Ship, and when he appears, storms come, sinking approaching ships. But at least there's a clue for this one, the other piece has no leads at all."
Lily paused, subconsciously glancing at Sage.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Sage rolled his eyes, "Do I look like the burned man?"
Lily snapped out of it. Though they had the Black Ship and storms, Sage didn't have burn scars...
No way!
Lily narrowed her eyes, "Sage, you're an O'hara Survivor, weren't you once sunk by Akainu?"
She remembered Sage mentioning that when he was two years old, Akainu destroyed a refuge ship with magma.
Does that count as burns?
"Cut it out, I only reached the New World this year. I was starting up in the East Sea before, where are the burns?" Sage took a sip of wine, grumbly said.
"Heh heh heh heh, the burned man is an old tale, it can't be Sage; he's too young for that."
Moriah laughed, "However, I do know about O'hara in the West Sea, and as an O'hara Survivor, Sage, you have an advantage. If we obtain the Road Poneglyph, we won't need others to interpret it; you can decipher it yourself."
"How can a literate idiot like me interpret anything!"
A vein bulged on Sage's forehead, "I can't read!"
"I believe that, just... Sage, there are things you can't explain." Lily said.
Otherwise, how could he know that the Poneglyph in Alabasta recorded Pluton's location?
But it's true that Sage himself can't read, Lily didn't think Sage would lie; such a thing he would disdain to do.
"If it can't be explained, then it can't, it's not important."
Sage waved his hand dismissively, then suddenly paused, "Although... there is one Road Poneglyph that I do know of the location, but no rush, let's wait until we firmly settle and occupy Whitebeard's territory before discussing it."
He did remember a Road Poneglyph...
It's on Zou.