"Big Mom, huh... I heard that due to the Straw Hat Gang's intervention at Fishman Island, she's been forced to postpone."
Lily said, "Will this timing conflict with our plans?"
Big Mom's tea party is a highly anticipated event on the sea, typically the period is the most tense, because not only will all her children and subordinates be present, 'celebrities from various fields' associated with her will also arrive.
Whether it is military strength or tension, it is unprecedented; the influence of the Four Emperors will draw attention no matter their actions.
However, she's very smart, choosing the timing to coincide with the World Conference that is held every four years.
The World Government is busy escorting royal families, holding the conference, and the Navy is dispatched worldwide, so they really have no time to care about this matter.
It's like the member countries are hosting the World Conference, and the Underworld is hosting its own 'World Conference'.
Sage is very brave, but he also needs to discern the situation; if there's a simple mode, he wouldn't intentionally choose the difficult one, otherwise he wouldn't have first targeted Big Mom or Kaido.
For Big Mom, the tea party is a grand event, and for Sage, it is a rare opportunity.
The World Conference overlooks Big Mom and also Sage; the original plan was to seize the chance during the World Conference to find Big Mom, defeat her, and everything else would follow smoothly.
Moreover, those rats in the gutter rarely come out; such a rare opportunity must be seized, or it will be difficult to find them next time.
Sage had been searching for Du·Feld for over a year without finding a single shadow, but at the tea party, these people will definitely appear!
"No problem, whether sooner or later is the same; the World Conference has a long duration, plus the escorting time back... We have enough time to complete the plan!"
Sage rose from the bathtub, a sinister smile on his lips: "Of course, my plan is not just one; you know, Lily, I also have Plan B, C, D."
"The most important part of this plan is not to eliminate Big Mom but to get rid of those rats in the Underworld. They've controlled too many industries, so much that I can't squeeze in."
"All this time, I've only managed to gather some people in the assassination industry; those free agents in the Underworld aren't quite obedient either, as I can't control them."
"Whether directly or indirectly, if we want to rule them, we must hold the various channels paired with the industry chain in our hands. These industries, without saying they represent the whole world, definitely account for more than half, no, a substantial majority!"
"Since you've conquered Dressrosa, then some things should be expedited, Lily..."
Sage, naked, excitedly moved closer to her, "I have a big plan!"
"As long as we control global warehousing, transportation, entertainment, news, and finance, and have a batch of Underworld enforcers at our disposal, our industries will achieve the highest level of expansion. At that time, various resources, free trade, all prosperity will converge to me!"
Sage tilted his head back and laughed heartily: "Desire unfulfilled is indeed uncomfortable for me!"
"Hmm, hmm..."
Lily instinctively diverted her gaze; whether it was from the bathing or seeing something she shouldn't, her cheeks flushed, her voice trembled slightly with a hint of stuttering.
"I, I will help you, Sage."
She was about to reach out when Sage left the bathroom.
"Of course, this will take a long time, so we need to establish the groundwork, Lily, I'm counting on you, hoo-ha-ha-ha!"
Sage laughed for a while and said, "Once you're done bathing, come out for the banquet, it's also your celebration party, everyone has arrived!"
Lily discreetly tugged at the corner of her mouth; her voice turned cold again, saying, "Understood."
As Sage left, she immersed her body completely into the water, her head submerged halfway, only leaving a pair of eyes with remnants of panic.
"Next time, next time I must..."
...
The banquet is held in the palace's banquet hall, and the courtyard doors are opened for those in charge of the island to have a place to sit.
Though it's daytime, the banquet hall is already illuminated with lights, with expensive utensils shining under the firelight, and a thick carpet with floral patterns extends from the entrance to the banquet hall's end.
Nearby, there are bands holding various instruments, ready with rhythm, as well as lavishly dressed dancing girls.
If you only saw these, you'd think it was a gathering of aristocrats.
But in reality, the banquet hall is filled with a bunch of rough individuals.
There are thugs wearing only pirate shirts, fierce and fearsome; there are well-dressed island managers, yet crude in their language; there are illicit businessmen in fur coats whose words are filled with crime; and the local native forces serving as guardians and security officers.
But not a single well-mannered aristocrat.
Under Sage's leadership, besides the Three-Phase Seven Stars and New Star, there's also a pirate leading a ship; these individuals, who could once be captains at sea, are just team leaders here, overseeing more ordinary subordinates.
"Been really busy lately..."
Link sat at a round table and spoke to some pirate captains gathered around, "You guys have it easy, just need to train enough; if you're bored, you can go out and rob something, and you've got everything."