The Death Star docked at the port set sail once again, stirring up yet another storm on the seas.
Inside the captain's cabin, Lily looked at the waves outside the window and, for once, showed a smile: "This time, the intensity is much less. Sage, last time you summoned those Sea Kings took quite a toll on your bad luck."
"You're slandering me!"
Sage rolled his eyes, "First it was the storm being summoned by me, now it's the Sea Kings? So I also share the blame for the sea level rise... Damn, I really do!"
He had just tested the cannon not long ago.
Indeed, the sea level had risen by another meter.
"There were losses this time as well."
Lily said: "The additional one-meter rise has turned some uncharted small islands into reefs completely. The sea maps of those areas need to be re-marked to prevent navigation problems."
"And, although we had a plan in advance, warning people to evacuate and tidy up their belongings, the rise in sea level is irreversible, and our resource islands have suffered varying degrees of area reduction."
This seawater, once it hits the coast, can turn the surrounding area into sandy beaches. People think the one-meter rise isn't much of an impact, but that's for larger areas. For regular islands, a one-meter rise is disastrous.
Moreover, adding up both times, it's already two meters, surpassing the height of the average person.
Sage himself is only 1.9 meters tall.
"There are pros and cons."
Sage said: "First, I have to admit that I was a bit too imaginative. The deterrent power of the Ancient Weapons is there, but their power isn't as great as I imagined. I even thought about blasting through the Red Earth Continent with a single shot. In hindsight, I was drunk."
With that, he lit a cigar and then pushed the Gemstone Wine Glass on the table.
Lily sighed, turned to the wine cabinet, and said, "How about some Napa Red Wine?"
"How do we still have this wine? I remember it being seven hundred thousand Belly, right? From now on, if the wine in my cabinet is less than a million Belly, don't bother putting it there."
Sage waved his hand, "Let Bella clear it out later."
Lily nodded, pulled out a bottle of red wine: "Musigny Red Wine of 1510."
Then, without waiting for a response from Sage, she opened it and poured him a glass.
Sage nodded in satisfaction and, after taking a big gulp, continued:
"As for the benefits, you know, forcing the World Government to negotiate with us allows us to complete the plan to break through the Red Earth Continent, connecting the whole Grand Line."
Lily pensively said: "Exchanging necessary costs for the stability that follows, with the deterrence of Pluton, they wouldn't dare act recklessly. In this way, even if the World Government doesn't cooperate, they won't stop you."
"Exactly, Lily."
Sage chuckled: "Piercing through the Red Earth Continent is a laborious task. That place is huge, even if I act alone, I would need to cut through an area at least two or three times the width of the Grand Line. If someone gets in the way, I can't succeed. Only if those people shut up and pretend not to see can this work be accomplished."
He took another sip, "As for this negotiation, perhaps we can save a lot of effort."
"Oh, what are you talking about? Come, have some food."
Just as he finished speaking, Marika came up from the inner staircase with a large silver platter, placed the tray on the desk, and lifted the cover to reveal the dish inside.
"Just made 'Sah's Black Truffle Butter Baked Butterfly Clam.'
The shells lay quietly in a black enamel plate, resembling an ancient gold coin sinking into the depths of the sea. The outer shell was brushed with a thin layer of golden color like a cicada's wings, whether honey or edible gold lacquer, it shimmered with a molten dark gold color under the warm light, with slightly curled edges revealing a few caramelized blemishes.
Inside the shell, the snow-white meat spread like silk folds, the cross cuts on its surface oozed crystal clear juices, and the black truffle butter sauce slowly seeped through the blade marks, the thick amber liquid wrapped with fine truffle particles, flowing sinuously within the texture of the clam meat.
Three fresh black truffle slices thin as paper, hovered above the clam meat in a spiral trajectory, the edge of the truffle slices also grilled, radiating a caramelized golden brown halo, and beside them were scattered bits of emerald asparagus tips, each asparagus standing straight like a miniature bamboo forest, with a droplet of truffle oil almost falling from the tip.
When the cover was lifted, steam rose, and the scent of brandy burst forth, mixed with the warm aroma of fermented butter, like a silent explosion, making one's fingers itch to grab a bite.
The ingredients were certainly top-tier, after all, it's food specially supplied to Sage, coupled with Marika's skills, any dish casually put out there would belong to top-notch restaurant cuisine.
The kind money couldn't buy.
"Shellfish?"
Sage picked up a piece with a gold-gemstone-encrusted fork, and as soon as he put it in his mouth, his eyes lit up, "This is great! Why haven't we had it before?"
Lily also picked up a piece with a fork, and after eating it, a layer of intoxicated blush appeared on her face.
Feels like about to burst out of clothes...
Marika smiled and said, "Last time when we were at Egghead, a batch of Sea Kings died. I thought the ingredients shouldn't go to waste, so I had the Fishmen go over and harvest some. These shellfish were found in the stomach of the giant Sea Kings who weren't dead yet, just fainted. They seemed to be symbiotic; it's hard to obtain. I'll think of ways to try and cultivate some."
Sage swiftly demolished half of the dish, licked his lips unsatisfied, and grin, "Hmm... Lily, later on, help coordinate, find a Sea King, stun it, and catch it to see if we can cultivate it."