Chapter 1204 - 704: Situation_2

"What do you want?" Holmes, the millionaire, changed his expression.

"Giving you an opportunity."

The mafia spoke, pointing at the local people wandering outside the collapsed walls.

"Anyway, you have nothing left, but those people are still useful. After so many years of operation, you have some prestige locally. Use your influence to promote the prosperity of the New World O’Hara and attract them over. In that case, I’ll give you enough capital to continue having a chance to make a fortune."

"After all, this island is yours. Isn’t it just a matter of your words on how you want to do it?"

"Is the mafia so kind-hearted?" Holmes was skeptical, "Besides, without these people, who will work for me?!"

"That is not for me to manage. Whether you buy slaves or deceive people here, that’s your business. But lending you money does come with a price. The things produced here can only be collected by us, and as for the price... You’ll surely profit."

"So, do you agree?"

"How much money will you give me?" Holmes didn’t hesitate long and directly asked.

Given the current situation, what else could he do?

If he frequently hesitated, he wouldn’t have reached the point of controlling the entire island by now.

"Depends on your sincerity..."

The mafia set their eyes on those ordinary people, "The more people you persuade, the more money I will lend you."

This wasn’t the first time doing this.

Capone Bege silently sighed.

Having retired in the West Sea, being one of Sage’s underground world liaison and agents there, he felt more distress than during his time in the Grand Line.

The Grand Line was merely risky, but here... He’s beyond busy!

Previously, he helped Sage’s men deal with asset issues, given the pirates were unpredictable. Although he was wanted, he was still a mafia family with influence in the West Sea, making these tasks not troublesome.

But not being troublesome doesn’t mean it’s not busy.

Besides dealing with assets, he also had to find ways to infiltrate, saturating certain places with his mafia, thereby pressuring the local rulers to accept O’Hara’s ’free trade.’

Free trade, what freedom?

Only O’Hara could buy and sell their goods, and they couldn’t choose, only passively accept this freedom.

And it couldn’t be noticed by the World Government and the Navy, or the trouble would escalate.

Sage wouldn’t start a war with the World Government over him; both sides’ struggles proceeded in secret.

Initially, dealing with these matters would have been fine over time.

But now, there was more work!

He also had to oversee population transfers and continue handling asset control...

Yet, he couldn’t help but do it since O’Hara’s current scale was overwhelming, Sage was becoming increasingly dominant.

What’s more important...

He too benefited from being here.

Aside from receiving informal protection from the Four Emperors without needing loyalty, he also earned considerable money, and expanding mafia influence was part of his duties, which collectively motivated his efforts.

"How long will this go on..."

Capone Bege rubbed his temple in frustration.

This was just the beginning.

He had heard, over in the New World, numerous pirates were arriving, all to plunder.

This chaos they would stir undoubtedly would be enormous.

Indeed, apart from the West Sea, the North Sea experienced similar events, although the ones with the same function as Capone Bege there were the Vinsmoke Clan.

But compared to Capone Bege’s worries mixed with benefits, they didn’t have much trouble.

The New World’s pirates obtained permits and received their required ships, impatiently set sail upon acquiring them, heading to the two seas for plunder. The destruction they caused in the North Sea directly gave the Vinsmoke Clan opportunities.

Need people?

Simple!

They transported people themselves, and as for the territory, they claimed it!

Local people were evacuated and industries plundered; merely pinning blame on some leaders for pirates allowed them to occupy the area, rather than sailing the seas with snail ships claiming territories as ’landless nations.’

Legal or not...

With enough money, they could make the World Government turn a blind eye.

Moreover, the World Government was currently overwhelmed handling the Revolutionary Army’s impact on major member countries; they really couldn’t pay attention to such marginal islands.

And for the Navy, once everyone was gone, they suggested to the World Government they were willing to station ships there to fend off pirates, a bit of money was enough to take root despite lacking legality.

It all comes down to time now.

With time, legitimacy would eventually be theirs.

Sage’s move was indeed brilliant!

If more people like these came, they could expand in the North Sea too!

They required no one; they could clone themselves, as for these feeble ordinary people, they could leave them to others if wanted.

No need for Sage to send ships; the Vinsmokes already possessed technology to cross the Calm Belt, it wasn’t difficult.

Only it wasn’t this direct crossing, but borrowing snails to cling to the Red Earth Continent, climbing all the way to the New World’s Red Earth Continent, then descending to enter the New World.

In the Grand Line, many also fell into the madness of Sage’s plan.

Beneath the Red Earth Continent, the Gate of Justice.

Ever since Sage and Akainu fought and punctured the Red Earth Continent at the former Red Harbor location, this gate was built as a new barrier to block pirate convergence from both sides of the route.

But not everyone was excluded; the appearance of the Gate of Justice also granted high officials in the World Government rights to freely pass through.

They didn’t merely rely on salary, having some industries more or less, and across the sea... there was more than just freedom.

A vast amount of goods, which besides themselves, the people in the first half of the Grand Line ’Paradise’ could never approach, they could only passively accept goods.

The materials obtained from O’Hara sold for high prices, some even targeted the East Sea and South Sea. Crossing the Calm Belt wasn’t too difficult for them.

Currently, the Gate of Justice had an opening specifically for supply ships, and these ships mostly belonged to government officials, with some Navy vessels joining in for a piece.

Sage reinitiated trade; this opportunity surely needed to be seized.

Only, amidst the cargo ships coming and going, a ship flying the Starry Sky Skull Flag was amongst them, making nearby merchant ships stay far away, and the Navy stationed within the Gate of Justice’s channel looked on with tension at the sight of this ship.

The ship of calamity reached here too.

And they couldn’t say anything, a command was given from above: upon seeing the ship of calamity, act as if it wasn’t there, let them do as they please.

Whether misunderstood or angry, ultimately, they accepted this order obediently.

"This time it’s the two of us teaming up, Master Gin."

On the deck, the corpulent Link smiled at the stern Gin next to him, "Let’s hope our endeavors in Alabasta go smoothly."

"It will go smoothly."

Gin swung his staff creating a circle, "Things have been settled long ago; denying it is impossible. Master Sage said agreements signed are irrevocable, lacking the power means complying obediently. Master Link, establishing factories is the second priority. First, we must secure sufficient population in Alabasta to fill O’Hara, don’t be blinded by money."

"Of course, I’m also a supporter of Sage, I’m not that blind," Link chuckled.

Only fools worked seriously in Alabasta; O’Hara was the prosperous place, that sandy land was nothing beyond limited resources.

Better to gather some people not just for filling O’Hara, but also for filling his responsible industries.

...

O’Hara.

Research Institute.

Sage looked at Teach, bound by countless ’ropes’ like a statue, sneering, "About time, Teach."