"We are not gods."
Lily's voice, amidst the noisy environment, accurately reached Vegapunk's ears.
"Without us, those nobles wouldn't treat people any better, they'd just be worse. But over time, as long as they keep supplying us with raw materials, they will eventually be conquered by us, or... unable to withstand the oppression, they'll grip their weapons and oppose the nobles and kings exploiting them, eventually becoming one of our own."
"The price we offer is quite fair, never so cheap as to be unsustainable, which goes against Sage's ideas. So, either endure the oppression of those noble kings, living a life no better than a beggar, or..."
Lily's eyes, as she spoke these words, seemed to shimmer with an indescribable light, "Rely on yourself!"
Conquest is an endless task, and not all islands have raw materials that can be turned into commodities. Over long internal management, Lily has understood.
Dreams alone are useless; nothing can be achieved overnight.
Many things cannot be rushed; Lily doesn't even know where those places are, and even if she were to rush and kill all those noble kings, it would be pointless without pre-planning; things would remain the same.
Only in this way can O'hara's reputation grow stronger, radiating to nearby undiscovered islands and kingdoms that people don't contribute coordinates to, until those oppressed can no longer bear it, pick up blades and fight back, that'll be sufficient.
Sage downed his drink in one gulp and laughed, "A person possesses a mountain and, under the name of owning the mountain, hires nearby villagers to go up and plant fruit trees. When the harvest season comes and they're sold, each person struggles hard to get a tiny bit of money, while the largest portion is taken by the guy who owns the mountain."
"So, tell me, isn't a guy like that obstructing me from collecting taxes? Clearly, they could earn more money, live a better life, and pay more taxes, but the guy who owns the mountain is in the way, so I can't collect taxes, and they have no money to buy more things, which makes it awkward for me."
"But I don't know where that mountain is, and everyone's quite busy, not to the point of searching for a tiny mountain everywhere. So, what should we do at this point?"
Sage grinned viciously, "The simplest way is to make those commoners feel the gap, in the face of a strong gap, give rise to resentment, and then... pick up a blade to kill that mountain owner and bring the mountain over to me."
"In this case, their income increases, and there's no middleman earning the difference, daring not to pay my taxes! With their bellies full and money in hand, they can buy more goods; services that can win multiple times, it's just a matter of them discovering it."
"You say..."
He raised the glass towards a side floor-to-ceiling window, from the window one could see the outside environment, bustling streets filled with crowds, all ethnicities harmoniously gathered together, voices seemingly penetrating there, breaking into Vegapunk's ears.
Prosperity and vitality were displayed in the faintly audible sounds.
"In this place, you wouldn't want it mysteriously destroyed either. With over two million permanent residents in O'hara, if it were suddenly destroyed, wouldn't it be quite regrettable?"
"Such a lively place, I would regret it, and you would too. Vegapunk, I've heard you've made quite a contribution to the whole world, but on the World Government side, they won't throw the achievements to the world, but I will!"
He stood up and took the wine bottle from Bella, personally pouring a glass for Vegapunk.
"Your inventions, as long as they benefit me and can make this place more prosperous, I'll take them all. Even if you want to throw the achievements outside, as long as they can afford it, I can do it."
"Research funding, however much you need, there's a big bank over there, with more than trillions deposited. You don't need to serve me, but you can serve O'hara, this place... doesn't it represent humanity more than the World Government?"
Vegapunk stared at the gradually filling glass of crimson wine and couldn't help but nod, "Coming here means I had this idea, the inspection of the avatar is over, according to the evaluation..."
He raised his glass, stood up, and drank it in one go, "I don't need fame, serving a Great Pirate, how outsiders evaluate doesn't matter. I accept staying here, to serve you!"
"Hohohohoho! You're very welcome!"
Sage laughed loudly, walking over and patting Vegapunk on the shoulder, "From today, you'll be the dean of O'hara Science Academy! Including research and teaching, I'll entrust it all to you! A group will come over to assist you in compiling textbooks!"
"Teaching?" Vegapunk was taken aback but soon guessed something, "You want to leave behind this scientific power?"
"More than scientific power, body techniques, firearms, sailing, world knowledge, I teach everything! I'm short of talent!" Sage laughed heartily.
He truly was short.
Under his command were tens of thousands, but all were recruited big brutes; although strength is important, other things are also very important.
Some islands, even conquered, lack execution power, stationed pirates, need some sort of organizational execution ability.
The uppermost cadres, which one isn't forced to learn a bit, did Urouge not learn finance to figure out how to lend?
Did Gin not learn management to handle the port properly? So now he's gone back for training in embarrassment, but this part can't just be ignored, forcing him to learn it and entrust him with the task.
The people below, it makes one speechless.
Among them, there's a group who have a bounty over a hundred million stationed on various islands, with the 'Great Barnaby' as the representative, he does well, managing an island in excellent order.
But so many, only one emerged.
The rest can't even chop a tree properly.
After chopping, you must cultivate, protect the environment, ensure sustainability!
As it turns out, it took Lily to notice the wrong and give personal instructions, even then, finding someone knowledgeable in forestry took a lot of effort.
So many islands, so many people, can't really count on Lily to manage them alone; by the time she takes care of it, the day has cooled down.
Link and the others have eased some of the burden, but as the territory expands, the burden is back.
What he lacks, is capable Assistant Officers!
This segment, let those unwilling or retired disabled pirates, after teaching, fill in.
And the remaining teaching is for the future.
Sage can live long, he's just turned twenty-four, teaching for twenty or thirty years he'll only be in his forties or fifties, but the new generation will have grown, with new talents filling in, making the future even more prosperous.
But before that...
"After finishing this banquet, first deal with the most important.""
Sage said, "That thing is already waiting for you to start."
"Pluton, is it..."
Vegapunk sighed, "Is it fate? If it really must reappear in the world, then let it reappear, maybe it will bring a different peace to the world."
Pluton, Sage is determined to activate it; only by activating it can he complete the next step of his plan.
The development and discovery of the New World's first half have stabilized, but this stability is the most frightening.
Newly discovered islands mean more raw materials, and those renowned and driven by Sage to produce raw materials islands and kingdoms also mean he will have more products.
Sooner or later, he'll need a market to sell products, so it might as well be done in one step, find the most populated place and see how much can be absorbed.
Fishman Island as a transit point, the populous Alabasta as a dumping ground...
Enough for Sage to expand for a good period!
Only in this way...
Sage poured another glass, drank it down in one swoop, wiping the fresh red wine from his lips, licking his lips, he grinned viciously, "...can satisfy my deepening desire!"