https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-126-The-Cursed-Golden-Country-4k-/12610884/
Chapter 127: Getting Stronger is Part of the Plan!
Chapter 127: Getting Stronger is Part of the Plan!
One day later.
Amidst the raging storm, the Grim Reaper continued its voyage. Over the past two days, Sag had conducted several more experiments, deliberately getting Par drunk and putting the gold coins on him while he was passed out. Each time he fell into a deep sleep, he would grasp the coins and head northwest, only to be punched by Ajin and have the coins taken away just before reaching the sea.
In the captain's room, Sag toyed with the skull-and-crossbones gold coin. "Whether it's day or night, as long as I fall asleep, that's all it takes. Even the seawater can't disable the ability. It seems to be a creation ability."
"Isn't the sea supposed to suppress the abilities of devil fruit users?"
Lily, standing beside him, asked, "You mean it can't disable the ability?"
"Nope," Renetia replied from the couch, where she was enjoying some sweets. "The sea just renders them powerless and turns them into landlubbers. Their abilities don't actually disappear."
The sea, or sea prism stone, only restricted the use of abilities and didn't turn people back into ordinary folks.
A rubber devil fruit user would still be made of rubber even when immersed in seawater.
Even with an ability like creation, once it was used, there were no reports of seawater being able to disable it. Some abilities were so intrinsic to their users that even if their physical bodies were destroyed, the abilities wouldn't be disabled.
Abilities only had counterabilities.
Old Sha, for instance, feared water, and as soon as he came into contact with it, he would reveal his true form.
Sag recalled that one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Moria, used a zombie creation ability that was weakened by salt, not water. It was just that the sea happened to contain salt.
However, not all abilities were affected by the sea.
This gold coin, for instance, was unaffected by seawater. As a creation or additional ability in a devil fruit user, its 'curse' was ever-present.
"Oh, but it doesn't work on fish, though," Marika said as she poured a glass of wine for Sag and brought it to his table, smiling. "It's not effective against all life forms."
"Perhaps the ability user himself didn't think too much about it," Sag chuckled, turning to Lily. "Have you been in touch with Doflamingo?"
Before Doflamingo left, they had exchanged numbers for their Den Den Mushi.
Of course, Sag had a Den Den Mushi. Crocodile had given him a few when they traded, to stay in contact.
"Yes, I've reached out, but he's not there in person," Lily said. "A guy named Trebol picked up, and I don't really like him. He feels slimy, and even his Den Den Mushi looks sticky. But I conveyed our request, and they'll get back to us after Doflamingo arrives."
"Never mind, let's just keep sailing, Marika," Sag said with a smile. "Add a roast suckling pig to today's lunch, I suddenly feel like having some."
"Aye, aye," Marika smiled in response.
Sag's appetite was astonishing, and it only grew more extravagant by the day. The minimum number of dishes he had per meal was thirty-six, and it could go as high as one hundred and eight, with not even half of the dishes repeating from the previous day.
Not only was the quantity large, but it also had to be personally cooked by Marika.
Now that they had reached this stage, even if he were severely injured, he wouldn't resort to hastily swallowing food to heal unless it was absolutely necessary.
After all, they had the means to ensure a constant supply of resources.
Whether it was through plunder or purchase, the ship always maintained ample provisions. Of course, there weren't any permanently storable foods on the high seas, so these supplies were specifically prepared with Sag's appetite in mind; otherwise, they would spoil over time.
It wasn't until nightfall that Sag finally docked at an island to drop anchor and rest.
With such a fierce storm raging, it wasn't suitable for exploring the island anyway. Besides, the ship was stable, so Sag preferred to stay in the captain's room, drinking, smoking, and watching the rain, unperturbed by the thunder and lightning outside.
"Blurp, blurp, blurp."
The Den Den Mushi on the table suddenly opened its eyes and made a sound.
Sag, biting on his cigar, picked up the receiver and looked at the snail-like creature, which was now morphing like an amoeba.
Its eyes transformed into a pair of sunglasses, and its originally expressionless face now wore an evil grin.
"Hehehehe, Sag, are you looking for me?" The Den Den Mushi cackled with the voice of Doflamingo.
"Oh, you sound so full of vigor now. Seems like your injury is healing nicely," Sag said as he blew out a puff of smoke and casually picked up the wine bottle next to him, pouring himself a glass.
The Den Den Mushi was peculiar. It didn't show any drinking motions or expressions, but when it came to smoking, a cigar or cigarette would suddenly appear on its face.
So, the sea really was magical!
"Hey, it's you who's looking for me to get something done! Shouldn't you be more polite when you're making a request?" The Den Den Mushi's temple vein popped out.
"Do you even care about that anymore? Hahahaha. You know what I want. How are you going to get it to me?" Sag took a sip of wine and smiled.
"Hehehehe, let me give you a heads-up. I do have the intelligence for the first half, but even I can't collect it all, let alone the entire thing. There are just too many islands, and your request is unrealistic. Why don't we negotiate instead? What exactly do you plan to do in the first half? How much money do you intend to rob?"
The Den Den Mushi, representing Doflamingo, laughed.
"Then, of course, the more, the better!" Sag said as he tightly clenched his fist. "I want it all!"
"Sag, I'm telling you it's not realistic. Hehehehe, even if you want it, it's not possible to gather all the intelligence in a short time."
Not just the entire world, but even within the Grand Line, the World Government might not have a clear grasp of the number of islands. While it was easy to create a map based on known intelligence, the number of eternal poses required was no small matter.
Sag was well aware of this, and after some thought, he said, "Just mark the places worth robbing. Don't worry about the route; I want to go wherever the money is."
"Hehehehe, that's easy. Where do you want to make the trade? Do you have a specific location in mind? I recall you set off from Gaya Island, so the next island with a magnetic field recorded by the Eternal Pose should be Long Ring Long Land, right?"
The Den Den Mushi on the other end replied, "If we don't make any stops along the way, it should take about twelve days to get there."
The magnetic field of Gaya Island was the same as that of Sky Island; Sag knew that they originally belonged to the same island, but half of it had been raised into the sky.
In terms of the route, they were both pointing to the same path.
After all, not every island had a magnetic field.
As long as they were within the same route, different islands would be connected to the magnetic field of the same island, as long as the nodes in between remained unchanged.
Gaya Island led to Long Ring Long Land, and Sky Island also pointed there. From one node to another, the magnetic field within the route would not change.
"Am I the kind of person who dawdles along the way? Besides, twelve days is too long," Sag said as he glanced out the window. "I'm currently on an island with a small volcano. It's half jungle and half flatland. Can you locate it with your intelligence? I'll wait for you here for a day. Bring me what I want, and it should be no problem, right?"
"Hehehehe, you're quite demanding, but since we're about to embark on a collaboration, I'll agree to your request. You'll see it tomorrow."
After saying this, the Den Den Mushi on the other end hung up.
For a small matter like this, Doflamingo didn't need to haggle.
However, Sag was curious. This guy's territory was in the New World, and it would take him several days to get there himself. How could he make it in just one day?
But soon, Sag figured out how this guy had managed to arrive so quickly.
At noon the next day, a ship ventured into the raging storm and drew closer to the Grim Reaper.
"Are you Captain Sag?"
Even before the ship had come alongside, a loud voice boomed out from a megaphone, "We are subordinates of Umite, the 'Deep Sea Current' and one of the six 'Kings' of the underground world, in charge of the transportation industry, with business all over the Grand Line! We have come to deliver the sea charts and intelligence to you on his orders!"
Deep Sea Current, Umite—one of the six 'Kings' of the underground world, controlling the transportation industry, with business reaching every corner of the sea.
It wasn't that he monopolized the entire transportation industry on the Grand Line, but within this industry, he was the undisputed leader.
Doflamingo didn't need to lift a finger himself; one phone call was all it took.
This guy was also a key figure in the underground world, and he could easily locate the island where Sag was currently docked, then send someone nearby.
These people didn't care about the distinction between pirates and non-pirates; as long as there was business to be done, even the devil himself would get involved.
The Navy had supply points all over the world, allowing them to send supplies and intelligence swiftly. Similarly, the pirates roaming the Grand Line also had their own channels.
Now that Sag had formed a collaboration with Doflamingo, he too gained access to the convenience these channels provided.
"So, doing business and having an industry is the key to making money and gaining convenience!"
In the captain's room, Sag gazed out the window at the ship that had just disappeared into the storm, its silhouette fading into the wind and rain. "Once I have my own territory, I'll develop this kind of business too!"
"We'll get into the transportation industry as well?" Renetia was delighted. "That's wonderful! Then I can build lots of ships and have people sail them!"
"Oh! That's right, Reneti! Yes, that's a great idea!"
Sag's eyes lit up. "This is a great business opportunity. Once we find a suitable territory, we'll get started on this!"
"Sag, the intelligence is very detailed."
Lily placed a stack of sea charts and a stack of documents on the coffee table in front of the sofa and quickly scanned through them. Along with these, there was also a batch of Eternal Poses.
"I've found the information on the country of Anu," she said, picking up a sheet of paper. She subconsciously reached out to hand it to Sag but paused halfway, as if she'd just thought of something.
Sag took a nonchalant sip of his drink. "Just tell me the important bits. Handing it to me is pointless since I can't read a word."
Lily nodded. "Anu is a country of stones, an entire island without any soil. The people there make a living by quarrying stones, but they're not exactly poor. Many aspiring fortune-seekers are drawn to the island, boosting its economy. The entertainment industry is also quite prosperous, but the most critical thing is..."
She looked up at Sag. "The people of this country are strong. They have a standing army of ten thousand, and there are also some notable powerful individuals. Moreover, their king is said to be a formidable figure."
There were countless strong individuals on the Grand Line, beyond just those familiar names.
For example, there was the man who would later be known as 'Fujitora'. Before he joined the Navy, not many people on the Grand Line knew of him.
But that didn't diminish his strength.
And within the nations themselves, there were also numerous powerful individuals.
After all, everyone had a place they called home.
"Powerful individuals?"
Sag laughed heartily. "Then that's perfect! Let's go there!"
Engaging in battles with strong opponents, increasing his strength—that was also part of his plan! Relying solely on cultivation would take too long for him to establish a firm foothold in the New World.
Sag didn't want to miss the opportunity to be a part of the soon-to-unfold world-changing events!
(End of Chapter)
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