Chapter 435: Two Years Later
Chapter 435: Two Years Later
Just as water is added to flour, and flour is added to water, an increase in population leads to greater demand, which in turn attracts more people. Most of the population settled on the surrounding islands, boosting production.
With only a few villages and towns on each island, and some without even a town, there was plenty of space to accommodate more people and expand local specialties.
With a constant influx of resources and people, Orlara welcomed a new era of prosperity.
In the designated areas within the city, buildings were demolished, and new ones were constructed according to the urban planning.
And they were building even higher, rumored to reach nearly a hundred meters!
This skyscraper was intended for those conducting large-scale businesses and serving as offices for the satellite islands.
Even before the building was completed, merchants had already arrived, waving their belli, eager to purchase a floor of their own.
Some wealthy merchants even attempted to buy the entire building but were refused, settling for a single floor instead.
Among them was Linke.
"Mr. Linke."
"Good day, Mr. Linke. Won't you come in for a cup of coffee?"
"Mr. Linke, freshly baked bread with double beef. Care to try some?"
A rotund, pot-bellied man strolled down the street, smiling and nodding in response to the warm greetings from those around him.
He relished his current life.
Wealthy and openly so, he need not fear the law or arrest here.
Unlike before, he no longer had to hide in the shadows and was even held in high regard.
Everyone knew he was a black merchant who acquired goods from foreign pirates at the docks, but it didn't matter; he had no conflict of interest with the locals.
Now that he was in the open, he occasionally did good deeds, like today's treat, which Mr. Linke paid for.
Though he had less freedom, this was the best situation for a black merchant like him, who could sit and receive stolen goods without worrying about where to sell them.
Who wouldn't want to make money while sitting down? His initial respect for Sage had proven to be the right choice.
The recent incident of merchant purging had nothing to do with him; he had always followed the rules.
The eighteen black merchants from Rog Town were all law-abiding, unlike those merchants who had gone rotten and turned against the heavens. They were well aware of Sage's rise to power.
When Sage wasn't one of the Four Emperors, they dared not oppose him, and now that he had become one, they didn't know what those guys were thinking.
However, due to that incident, he managed to get some good deals.
Many businesses were auctioned off, and as an insider, he secured some shares.
For instance, he acquired a large amusement park in the city and a mine in the mountains.
Now, in addition to being a black merchant, he was also a legitimate businessman.
"Ah!"
Linke walked to the end of the street, gazing at the construction site ahead. He sighed, looking at the building in the center that had its foundation laid and was being built layer by layer.
"Why can't I just buy the whole building?"
He had wanted to purchase that skyscraper outright, but he could only buy one floor. Even if he asked Sage, and if that didn't work, he could build another one as their black market office, but that was refused too.
Sage's urban planning hadn't reached that stage yet. If he wanted a building, he would have to wait for the opportunity in the future. For now, he could either not buy it or settle for a single floor.
But as the first skyscraper, taller than the buildings in Carnival City, how could he not buy it?
This place held symbolic significance, and even if he could buy a building on his own later, that would be a matter for the future.
Moreover, even if he didn't want to buy it, he had to.
Sage wanted to save face.
He turned to look at the bustling streets, more vibrant than before, and the faint outlines of ships approaching, surpassing the height of the buildings. A satisfied smile spread across his face.
Only in such a world could they find their place to shine!
...
Two months later.
Wave Island.
It had been two years since Sage entered the New World. This archipelago, located in the first half of the Grand Line near Fishman Island, had seen a decline in control since the relocation of the Marine Headquarters to the New World and the reconstruction of the old headquarters.
After the terrible incident two years ago, the Dragonians no longer visited this place, turning not only the former lawless areas but also the previously normal regions into landing spots for pirates.
There were Marines, but they were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the sheer number of pirates.
"Now is the time to make a name for ourselves!"
A bearded pirate, standing atop a defeated opponent from a recent battle, shouted, "Urci! Hawkins! Renetia! Marika! Lily! And Norton Sage! They were all Supernovas before, and now they're famous out on the high seas!"
"The New World is where we'll make our mark! Let's set sail!"
Countless pirates harbored dreams, all inspired by the Supernovas of two years ago. The previous year had not produced any formidable figures, but the 'Era of Extreme Evil' had become a dazzling light in the New World.
Amidst the chaos, many set their sights on the Cataclysm.
He's become one of the Four Emperors!
What?
Blackbeard? He's powerful, but he can't be considered a Supernova. He entered the New World as one of the Seven Warlords.
"It's so noisy over there!"
In the bustling Wave Island Archipelago, a green-clad man with three swords at his waist and green algae hair glanced in that direction with his single eye, "Go take a look."
He then headed off in another direction.
"Hey! What's wrong with you!"
A row of transparent ghosts blocked the green-haired man's path.
Dressed in a Gothic Lolita dress and holding a parasol, Perona floated in the air, shouting at Zoro:
"Why? You heard the noise, so why did you still get lost?"
"I didn't ask for your help," Zoro muttered, sidestepping the row of ghosts. "I said I don't need you to send me off. Go back. You're just getting in the way here."
He then headed off in a direction almost perpendicular to the town's location.
"What?"
Suddenly, a row of ghosts activated and passed through Zoro's body.
Thud.
"I'm a smelly squid," Zoro knelt down, maintaining an 'OTZ' posture.
"Really?"
Perona touched her forehead and sighed, "If you go alone, you'll never reach your destination in this lifetime. Fine, I'll help you this time."
"After I send you off, I'm going to find Moriah!"
After two years, Perona had also repaid her debt to Hawkeye. Taking advantage of Zoro's departure, she decided to follow him and head to Orlara to find Moriah.
Looking at Zoro, who had regained his confidence and whose face was flushed red with anger, Perona pointed in a direction and let him go first while she watched from the side.
She wanted to see how many times this guy could get lost here!
Several hours later...
"Mina!"
At Shachi's Shakedown Bar! A silly-looking guy wearing a straw hat and carrying a large cloth bag pushed open the bar door and struck a pose, "Long time no see! We're finally setting sail!"
...
Storm City.
The palace training room.
Bang! The loud noise caused the Alabasta Historical Monument to scrape against the ground, creating an ear-piercing screech as it slammed into the Haki-covered wall.
Even so, it caused a slight tremor in the training room.
"Huff"
In the center, a white-haired man with his upper body bare exhaled deeply, his breath almost like an arrow shooting into the air.
With a series of crackling sounds, he stretched his body, slowly relaxing as the Haki beneath his feet retracted.
"Sage."
Lily entered from the doorway, handing him a towel and a newspaper.
Sage took the towel and wiped his sweaty face, then looked at the newspaper in Lily's hand.
There was a page that caught his attention.
"After two years, a dangerous pirate with a bounty of forty million has set sail."
Lily read the headline aloud, "Straw Hat Kid caused a ruckus in Wave Island with all his crew members, and then they set sail."
"Heh, it's been two years," Sage tossed the towel to Lily and walked to the liquor cabinet, opening a bottle of wine. He took several gulps, licking the wine from his lips, and smiled,
"I'm curious to see what kind of trouble he'll stir up."
His gaze shifted to the Alabasta Historical Monument, which had been pushed against the wall, and a sinister smile slowly spread across his face.
"The sea is quite lively these days."
On the Historical Monument, there was a bright fist print, prominently displayed!
(End of Chapter)
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