Chapter 308: Black Ships, Storms, and a Scorched Man!

Chapter 308: Black Ships, Storms, and a Scorched Man!

"To have sustained such severe scars..."

Lily's concern was evident as she asked, "Is Kaido that strong?"

"Even stronger than you imagine," Sagacknowledged, picking up a bottle of wine from the table and popping the cork with his thumb before taking a hearty swig. He sighed in relief afterward.

"Rest assured, I didn't come out of it unscathed either. I left my mark on him as well."

The seven scars on his body, forming the shape of the Big Dipper, were permanently etched into his flesh, defying the healing of his entire being. As for why they formed that particular constellation, it could only be attributed to coincidence.

Kaido's moves were internally destructive, packing a punch that Sagacouldn't deflect, especially the final blow. One could say Sagafell short of withstanding it entirely.

No matter how powerful the Infinite Haki was, there was a limit to its strength. At that moment, Sagahad gathered all his might, neglecting even his body's defense, and took the hit head-on. Coupled with the immense exhaustion, the fact that he could remain standing for a while afterward was impressive.

After all, he wasn't really doing sit-ups.

"Oh well, as long as my plan succeeded, I'm satisfied."

Sag turne toward Lily, "How many people did you bring?"

"Two thousand, but I checked, and they're all shipworkers," Lily replied. "Also, we lost half our men."

According to the original plan, they would bring everyone from the island, and with Sag's ability to enlarge the ship, they could transport them all to Garess. However, with Kaido's intervention, Sagwas unable to increase the ship's size, resulting in insufficient space for everyone.

Being able to accommodate two thousand people on the ship was already quite an achievement.

In a battle between powerful beings, the weak would perish from the sheer force radiating from the clash, even if they were merely bystanders.

Nevertheless, the primary objective had been accomplished.

Sag's plan was to ensure that Tias would not compete with him in the shipbuilding industry, and everything else was secondary.

As for the countless deaths on the island...

Not a single person felt burdened by it.

Neither subjective nor objective factors would induce any guilt.

Not even Lily harbored such emotions. When faced with insurmountable odds, she remained unperturbed, understanding that there are some things beyond her control.

They were pirates, not embodiments of justice or saviors of the world. Their actions were driven by self-interest.

As for oppression...

Under Sag's rule, there was none! A fair day's work for a fair day's pay—that was the best form of governance!

The storm raged on as they sailed closer to Garess, only subsiding as they neared their destination.

Upon their return to Augustinburgh, representatives from various factions within the Garess Kingdom gathered, and Sagannounced a banquet to celebrate the acquisition of a new batch of shipworkers and the addition of Slyman as a junior officer.

Hosting a feast to welcome new recruits was a tradition that Sagheld dear.

As a landlord, he relished the opportunity to indulge in revelry night after night.

Slyman had regained consciousness during the voyage and promptly pledged his allegiance to Sagwithout hesitation. He had no other choice. The battle between Kaido and Saghad left Tias in ruins, and the only civilians left were the two thousand shipworkers on Slyman's vessel. At that point, it didn't matter who was right or wrong; joining forces with Sagwas the wisest decision Slyman could make.

Based on what he heard from the people on the ship, Slyman knew that those who remained behind would not face unfair treatment. In fact, they might even fare better than they had in Tias.

The officers wanted to see their captain, curious about the scars Kaido had inflicted. Saghad endured numerous battles, including a three-on-one confrontation in the City of Seven Waters, and although there were signs that his opponents had held back, most of his fights had been life-or-death struggles. Yet, he had never before borne any scars from those encounters.

And now, after clashing with Kaido, he bore the marks of a severe injury!

Night fell.

The banquet hall buzzed with the presence of numerous underlings, and the doors leading to the courtyard were flung open to accommodate the gathering.

The expanded culinary team, led by Mary, pushed carts of delectable dishes into the hall, enhancing the festive atmosphere.

Inside the banquet hall, a group of high-ranking officers sat at the main table, their gazes fixed on Sag, who occupied the head seat, his chest wrapped in bandages.

Bandages served more as a psychological comfort than anything else. Regardless of the severity of an injury, it was customary to apply bandages, even if Sagdoubted their effectiveness. However, his subordinates believed in their healing power.

"You fought Kaido?" Moriah, who was in charge of tidying up in Timaton, had also returned, and he wasted no time in asking, "How did it feel?"

Of course, he wasn't inquiring about Sag's wounds, which were already well on their way to healing, as evidenced by Sag's hearty eating and drinking over the past two days.

He wanted to know about the battle itself and their chances of victory.

On their way back, Lily had mentioned that Saghad seemingly grown stronger, yet even with that improvement, the fight had ended in such a state. It could only mean one thing—Kaido had become even more formidable than before!

"Mhm," Sagacknowledged, swirling the wine in his gem-encrusted goblet. "At twenty times the power in all forms, I lost. I have to admit, Kaido is incredibly strong."

Losing was acceptable; there was no shame in it.

Sagknew defeat all too well, whether in battle or in his ventures. He was no stranger to taking risks and facing setbacks.

As long as his plan succeeded, that was all that mattered.

Kaido's attacks had been too much for him to bear, and he had even lost consciousness. In contrast, Sagwas certain that Kaido could still move afterward.

"In that case, he's definitely doomed."

"If I pushed my fruit's power to thirty times, I'd die, and he'd be severely injured."

"At forty times, we'd be evenly matched."

Sag guzzled his drink, slammed the empty cup onto the table, and let out a sinister laugh. "At fifty times, I'm confident I could kill him!"

That was his estimation.

Now that he had a clear development path for his fruit, his next step was to enhance his body while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of his fruit's power.

Naturally, the stronger his physical body, the greater the amplification of his power.

"Fifty times?"

Moriah grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "My dream is now in your hands!"

"As a landlord, it's only right that I shoulder the dreams and wishes of my subordinates!"

Sag gestured for Bellana to refill his cup, then stood up, cup in hand, and laughed heartily at the crowd in the banquet hall and the courtyard beyond.

"So, hand over your dreams and wishes to me! Serve me, devote yourselves to me, and I shall grant you everything your hearts desire! All the wealth and glory I attain will be shared with you! Hahahaha, whooohahahaha!"

"Lord Sag!"

"Captain Sag!"

"Master Sag!"

"Boss Sag!"

"Your Majesty!"

Everyone in the banquet hall and courtyard raised their glasses, whether made of glass or wood, and shouted in unison.

The variation in titles reflected the different affiliations of those present.

Among the attendees were members of the Calamity Pirates, subjects of Sag himself from the Majin race, merchants loyal to Sag, and even some working civilians.

Sag was unconventional in his approach to hosting banquets, not restricting participation based on status or qualifications.

Civilians were also invited, specifically chosen by Lily, and they were all outstanding individuals with significant influence in their respective industries, either from within the kingdom or its affiliated islands.

As Lily observed this scene, her gaze shifting from the exuberant crowd to the boisterous Sag, she suddenly spoke up. "Sag, now that we've consolidated our power, it's time to make an announcement. It will reassure them and help them settle down. It's time for your coronation."

Now was the opportune moment! Despite Sag's claim of defeat in his battle against Kaido, his crew and allies saw it differently. With their combined might, they were confident that victory in the larger war against Garess was assured.

It was time for Sag to ascend the throne!

"Hmm?"

Sag was taken aback for a moment. "Lily, let's not get off-topic here. I may be illiterate, but I understand manners. Don't bring up that 'base' topic; it's distasteful. Don't say it, it's unpleasant."

Lily: "..."

What did she just say?!

"I'm suggesting that you become a king, Sag. It's time to take that step." Lily took a deep breath before continuing.

"King?" Sag laughed loudly. "With kings come nobles, and I don't like sharing power with others. I am unique; I am the ultimate landlord! Everything you have belongs to me, hahahaha!"

"It's about time you had a proper title!"

There was a hint of gritting teeth behind Lily's smile. "In any case, this is no longer just about occupying this place as pirates. It's about becoming the true rulers. King, governor, general, protector of the nation—whatever you want to call it, but the fact is, Garess needs you now, Sag!"

"Leave it to me, Lily. I know you can handle it."

Sag smiled. "A title is just a name. I could even be called the Son of Heaven... Well, no, that doesn't sound quite right."

Lily rubbed her forehead and sighed. She knew Sag would react this way. He wasn't concerned with such superficial things; what he sought was substantive power.

However, sometimes, these superficial titles held great importance to the common folk.

Establishing legal authority was crucial at this juncture.

"How about 'Lord'? Lord Sag is our master!"

Las, who was inside the banquet hall, spoke up.

"We of the Majin race are Lord Sag's property, as are all the civilians in the nation. They, too, can call him Lord. Lord Sag is the nation, and the nation is Lord Sag!"

"Savior." Maryka smiled. "Your underlings refer to you as the savior of pirates."

"Heeheeheehee, how about 'Heroic King'? I acknowledge him as a great hero, destined to become king!" Moriah cackled with glee.

"Terror Duke." Hawkins suggested this title after some serious thought.

"Kaumi." Urqui was concise as always.

"Captain is good enough for me." Ajin preferred the traditional title.

"Hmm? I think 'Son of the Storm' sounds nice. Well, since Sag doesn't like the idea of being someone's son, how about 'Lord of the Storm'?" suggested Reneetie.

"I'll say it again, I have nothing to do with storms!" Sag shot a glare at Reneetie.

"But many of our crew members are saying that the third Supreme Executive will be the Storm." Reneetie insisted, "Otherwise, why haven't you chosen the third one yet?"

"It's because I can't find the right person, damn it!"

Sag grit his teeth. "If you all performed better, my 'Trinity' would already be complete."

The three Supreme Executives, collectively known as the 'Trinity', had been decided upon several months ago.

"Subordinates are also divided according to their strength and prestige. Only when one's strength and prestige reach a certain level can they break free from the ranks of the high-ranking officers and become supreme executives.

To be precise, it's not Sag's selection; it's something that the crew came up with as their numbers grew.

The first choices are Lily and Moriah.

One has the qualifications, serving as both the navigator and commander. During the voyage, Lily was the one giving orders and making arrangements, and after occupying the nation, she was the one managing the details. She was naturally promoted to the position of supreme executive by the crew.

As for Moriah, he is a former Shichibukai, a hero of the West Blue, and a renowned figure on the high seas. His strength and prestige are also recognized by all.

So that's two of them, but as for the third one... Sag isn't unwilling to choose, it's just that the others aren't quite up to par.

In terms of strategy and command, Lily has the King's color and her strength is evident. I've heard that while Sag was unconscious, she single-handedly split a large warship in two, slaughtered the Marines on board, and even took down a Marine vice admiral.

And Moriah, well, he needs no introduction. He's strong, and recently he's regained his confidence and reawakened his Haki.

As for the others, perhaps they have the fame, like Maryka and Reneetie. Their reputation is sufficient, after all, they followed Sag since the East Blue days and were by his side during the early founding.

As for Hawkins and Urqui, their fame falls a little short. After all, they aren't like Maryka and Reneetie, one in charge of the stomachs and the other in charge of the ships.

However, overall, it's a matter of insufficient strength. Being a high-ranking officer is one thing, but to be a supreme executive, a member of the 'Trinity', is another. This isn't just a title; it's about shouldering great risks. If their strength isn't enough and they're killed out at sea, Sag would lose face, and these people would lose their lives.

They can't be used as mere stepping stones.

Sag would rather leave the position vacant than choose just anyone.

Perhaps in a few years, as their strength grows, someone among these high-ranking officers will emerge.

As long as they meet the criteria, whoever serves him with dedication will be able to stand out.

The banquet continued late into the night, only coming to an end when everyone was too drunk to carry on.

Reneetie had retired early, and Urqui and Hawkins had passed out, one on the floor and the other in his room after drinking quite a bit.

The only ones still conscious in the banquet hall were Sag, Lily, and Moriah.

"Sag, perhaps we should consider obtaining a 'Road Poneglyph,'" Moriah said, pouring Sag a cup of wine. "To become the Pirate King, one needs the 'Road Poneglyphs.' I know of two: one is with Kaido, and the other is with Big Mom. As for the other two, one is with the Scorched Man, though he's very mysterious. And the last one, we have no clue about its whereabouts, but we should still dispatch our crew to search for it."

Since Sag was already able to clash with Kaido and inflict injuries, with Moriah's help, they would surely be able to defeat Kaido in the future, and this future wasn't too far away.

The dream of defeating Kaido was within Moriah's grasp!

So, it was time to prepare for an even more distant future.

"Road Poneglyph?" Lily asked.

"Yeah, Road Poneglyph," Moriah replied. "Just like the historical texts in the training room, but these are red and record information about the One Piece. If you gather all four, you can find the location of the One Piece!"

"Two of them are fine; we just need to know where they are. But the other two... One is with the Scorched Man, but he's very mysterious. They say he rides a black ship and brings storms wherever he goes, causing nearby ships to sink. However, at least we have a lead on that one, but the last one, we have no idea," Moriah explained.

Lily frowned, glancing at Sag.

"What are you looking at me for?"

Sag rolled his eyes. "How do I look like the Scorched Man?"

Lily paused, realizing something. "While it's true that we have the black ship and the storms, Sag doesn't have any burns..."

Wait!

Lily narrowed her eyes. "Sag, you're a descendant of Ohara, and wasn't your refugee ship sunk by Akainu when you were two years old?"

She remembered Sag mentioning this incident. Back then, when he was just two years old, Akainu had destroyed their refugee ship with his magma powers.

Would that count as being burned?

"Don't be ridiculous," Sag scoffed, taking a sip of wine. "I only came to the New World this year. Before that, I was in the East Blue, starting my business. What burns are you talking about?"

"Hehehehe, the Scorched Man is a very old rumor. It can't possibly be Sag; he's too young," Moriah laughed. "However, I also know about Ohara in the West Blue, and as a descendant of Ohara, you have an advantage. If we obtain a Road Poneglyph, we won't need anyone else to decipher it. You can do it yourself!"

"How can I decipher anything when I'm illiterate?" Sag asked, a vein popping out on his forehead. "I can't read!"

"I believe that," Lily said. "But Sag, there are some things you can't explain."

Otherwise, how could he have known that the historical text from Alabasta recorded Pluton's whereabouts?

However, Lily didn't think Sag was lying about his illiteracy. It wasn't something he would bother with.

"If I can't explain it, then I won't," Sag waved his hand dismissively. "It's not important."

Suddenly, he paused, a realization dawning on him. "But... there is one Road Poneglyph that I know the location of. However, we don't need to rush for it. Let's wait until we've firmly established ourselves and occupied Whitebeard's territory."

There was one Road Poneglyph he remembered...

It was on Zou.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end