Chapter 23: Win-Win!
As usual, Sag used *Rankyaku* to sever the mast of the pursuing warship, breaking away from the chase.
The sea at night was pitch black, with only the faint light from the stars and moon. But on this vast sea, the drifting ship reflected that faint light, shimmering like gold.
On the black-sailed warship, a group of pirates held lanterns, their eyes gleaming as they gazed at the treasure scattered across the deck.
Sag's eyes were also gleaming, even more excitedly than those of the pirates.
This was the first time he'd actually *seen* money!
Back when he was trying all those different careers, he hadn't even seen a single Berry. Now he'd finally gotten his hands on some!
The Berries looted from the mayor amounted to eight million, not counting the value of the gold and jewels.
"That's why I say, there's no point in robbing the poor. You rob half a town and only get a million Berries. Rob one rich guy, and you get everything!" Sag said proudly.
The veteran pirates all agreed with this.
Civilians all had expenses. They were lucky if they could save a little of their earnings. Compared to robbing a town, they preferred robbing merchant ships.
"Now, it's time to divide the loot! Lily, give me the sword!"
Sag laughed loudly and held out his hand to Lily. Lily drew her rapier and placed it in his hand.
"I'm the captain. Of the eight million Berries, I'll take four million. The remaining amount, the navigator gets 5%, Gin as combat captain also gets 5%, Pearl, you get 3%, and the rest is divided equally among everyone. I won't participate!"
Normally, the captain could also take another share of the remaining money, but Sag was generously forgoing it.
"As for this treasure..."
He held the rapier and sliced it down the middle of the pile of treasure, moving half aside and pushing the remaining half towards the pirates. "The rest is all yours. Cadres get first pick, and the others take what you want. If you're not satisfied with your loot..."
He pointed to the barrels of rum that had been brought up early. "Then have a drinking contest! Whoever wins gets the right to choose the treasure. Let's get this party started!"
"Oooooh!!" The pirates roared in cheers.
Gold and jewels couldn't be easily divided, because no one knew their exact value, and they couldn't be immediately exchanged for Berries. It was basically a case of each person taking what they wanted.
As for size and weight, there was even less to say.
It was better to settle it with a drinking contest, which was more in line with the pirates' tastes.
Sag returned the sword to Lily, turned to the pirates, and shouted, "Have a good time! Tomorrow, we're heading to Nattia!"
"It's *Nattia*!" Lily corrected again.
"It's all the same."
Sag was in a good mood and didn't argue with Lily. He hummed a tune and returned to the captain's quarters.
Lily was about to follow, then followed Sag into the captain's quarters.
"Lily, aren't you going to join the fun? I remember you don't have any money, right? If you get some money, shouldn't you be thinking about where to go shopping, buying some things, you're a girl after all."
Sag sat down in his chair, propped up his legs, and said with a smile.
"We'll have to wait until we find a town for that. But you... are we just going to keep robbing in the East Blue? Even if you save enough money to buy land, as a pirate, there will come a day when you're exposed, right?" Lily asked.
It wasn't that she was dissatisfied with Sag's focus on robbery. After all, she was also a pirate, and pirates were supposed to rob. That wasn't the problem.
She was just worried about Sag's dream.
This guy was determined to buy land and become a landlord.
If he retired peacefully, maybe the World Government wouldn't pursue him, but if that happened, he couldn't be low-key, and he would eventually be discovered.
Although she hadn't been with Sag for long, Lily had some understanding of him. This guy wasn't someone who could keep a low profile.
After interacting with Gin and the others for a few days, Lily also knew what most pirates were like. They either rested on deserted islands or temporarily settled in small villages. While they did rob towns, she had never heard of anyone directly attacking without considering the defensive forces.
Most pirates primarily focused on robbing merchant ships, trying their best to avoid the Marines.
But Sag was different. Perhaps because he was powerful, he didn't consider these things at all. As long as he could find a target, he would definitely rob it. Now he even wanted to go and cause trouble for a kingdom.
Not only was he not low-key, he was even very flamboyant.
After all, he even wanted to become a king when fishing...
Moreover, he was very unlucky...
Even if he managed to rob enough money and buy land, with his bad luck, could he really hold onto it?
"Who said I'm going to buy land in the East Blue?"
Sag smiled and said, "I'm serious about my career. No matter what I do, I have to reach the top. The same goes for being a pirate. However, some paths are different. Lily, do you know what the Pirate King is?"
"Gol D. Roger?" Lily asked, puzzled.
"I'm talking about the meaning behind the title."
Sag said, "Besides, it's *Gol D. Roger*, don't be misled by the news."
"D..." Lily murmured, not quite understanding the difference, and continued, "The Pirate King, find Raftel, right? That's how you'll be recognized as the Pirate King, right?"
"That's the problem. But some people aren't interested, like me."
Sag said, "I have no interest in Raftel. Becoming the Pirate King doesn't necessarily mean going to Raftel. If you have enough power and become the pinnacle of pirates, who can say you're not the Pirate King?"
Sailing the world, finding the final island, and then being targeted by the World Government, desperately trying to hunt him down.
Sag had no interest in that kind of Pirate King.
"Since I've become a pirate, of course I can't just laze around in the Four Blues. The Four Blues are where the World Government has the most power. Staying here means getting targeted. Only by going to the New World... the second half of the Grand Line, that's my goal!"
Sag clenched his fist. "'Kaido of the Beasts' occupies Wano Country, 'Big Mom' established Totto Land, Whitebeard has a large territory in the New World, and even the youngest, 'Shanks', has a stable base of operations!"
"These people are known as the Emperors of the Sea. They have vast territories, many subordinates, and they can do whatever they want. They are all in the New World, and only there can I fulfill my dream!"
He wasn't a fool. As a pirate, how could he still think of buying land in the East Blue?
He had that idea before because he hadn't clashed with the World Government. Whether it was farming, fishing, being a bodyguard or a merchant, or even a *yangge* star, it was all within the scope allowed by the World Government.
At that time, he was legal. Of course, he wanted to legally own land and be a legal landlord.
But now that he was a pirate, he was illegal. If he still wanted to fulfill his dream, the Four Blues and the first half of the Grand Line were out of the question. He could be a pirate here, and it might even be easy, but to be a landlord, he could only go to the New World.
He had never seen a pirate who could permanently occupy a place in the Four Blues and the first half of the Grand Line.
Going ashore and washing his hands clean?
That wouldn't make him the Pirate King!
At that time, whether he used money to buy or violence to seize, he had the greatest chance in the New World.
The paths of those Emperors of the Sea and silver medalists could be replicated.
Seize territory, establish himself as king, and his dream would be half-fulfilled.
As for seizing territory in the East Blue...
Theoretically, it was possible, but in practice, it wasn't.
The East Blue did have non-affiliated countries. Those countries weren't under the protection of the World Government, but that was useless. Not to mention the defensive forces of those countries themselves, even if he really succeeded, it would give the World Government an excuse to intervene, and they could even add a member nation.
Rather than worrying about the World Government, it was better to go directly to the New World.
There, he could fulfill both his landlord and Pirate King dreams, achieving a win-win situation.
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