She was quite enthusiastic about it, using her Observation ability in the market every day.
For Sage, this was entirely normal, nothing particularly special about the Observation ability, because everyone's will is different, and in the realm of the Observation ability which requires great mental strength, different wills lead to different areas of expertise.
Some timid ones have a better sense of danger than others.
What? Timid people don't have willpower?
Being timid isn't the same as being dejected; whether one is brave or not doesn't necessarily conflict with having a firm will.
It's like a Hero and a Berserker, they are not the same profession.
A Swordsman with the Observation ability is better at sensing famed swords and the aura of fellow swordsmen, while also being more sensitive to weaknesses.
So it's not strange at all for someone to have a better sense of ingredients.
Like Sage himself, he is quite sensitive to valuable treasures.
Just gold and jewels don't catch his eye; they must have a story, a provenance.
Simply put, he's more sensitive to antiques.
As for those miners, the next day, when Sage was preparing to go fishing, they all knelt before him.
"Master Sage!"
Robby prostrated on the ground, looked up and called out after seeing Sage, "We've decided to follow you!"
"Follow me?"
Sage paused for a moment, then laughed, "Why, isn't staying in this Land of Love, Passion, and Toys good enough?"
He had no particular thoughts about this group of miners; he helped them simply as guides, and he had promised them freedom. Now brought to Dressrosa, they could settle here.
"It's very nice here, we've seen many fascinating things...but we also know who brought us here. You gave us freedom, you were the first to be kind to us. I know you have a group of Demon Race people who also came from underground just like us, since you could accept them, then we..."
"They are strong, you are just ordinary people."
Sage interrupted Robby's words and glanced around at these miners.
Having arrived at Dressrosa, they washed their faces and changed their clothes, looking much refreshed. But many, unlike Robby, did not have eyes filled with determination, rather there was worry and fear, and confusion about the future.
Sage said to Robby, "I appreciate courageous people, so here's the thing, I'm about to occupy my own territory in the New World, and people like you are surely needed."
"If you truly wish to, then wait here for now. When I send out the call, I will grant you the eligibility to become my subjects."
"Thank you, Master Sage!" Robby was overjoyed and bowed deeply.
He indeed felt uneasy; no matter how good and warm Dressrosa was, to Robby, it still lacked a sense of security.
Only by staying near Sage could he feel that sense of security.
As for Sage, if these over a thousand people were willing to come to his territory in the future, they could also serve as employees in some key industries. Joining the Pirates was out of the question since except for that kid with an impressive gaze, the others were just ordinary people, and they would die quickly as pirates. A few battles would wipe them out.
No matter how short-handed Sage was, he was looking for daredevils who could at least last a few fights, not ordinary folks unworthy even to be cannon fodder.
"This reminds me of something..."
He was originally planning to go fishing, but Robby's interruption reminded him of an unfinished business.
Thinking this, he waved his hand, and a subordinate who was resting nearby quickly ran over, "Master Sage?"
"Find Lily for me and bring a team to come with me."
"Yes!"
Soon, the subordinate found Lily, who was practicing. At that moment, Lily was wearing a dress-like white gown without armor, accentuating her golden hair as if it was glowing. Although the neckline of the gown wasn't deep, her impressive figure still vaguely revealed the valleys and hills.
"Sage, you called for me?"
"Yes...The matter about Greenbit last time, it's just right to make a trip. The miners can wait for later, but this group of Little People Race should best be recruited," Sage said.
Lily pondered for a moment and said, "I asked the locals, they see Greenbit as a deserted island. A long time ago, people could cross by the bridge, but since Fighting Fish have inhabited the area, no one dares to go there anymore. They don't know about the Little People Race. But Doflamingo knows, I believe he's hiding something. Should we ask him?"
She had been to Greenbit many times and indeed hadn't found any Little People Race, but she could still sense that they existed, just unseen.
"What's the use of asking him? He can't just manifest a Little People Race for me..."
Sage looked towards a direction outside Dressrosa, saying, "Doflamingo definitely has a group of Little People Race, but given his character, we don't know how he got them."
"Getting the Little People Race to farm for me would be easy, just a show with Doflamingo would suffice. But I don't like it that way, this time I'll personally go to Greenbit and ask."
The Little People Race, if his impression serves right, this race is very simple and easily trusts others.
Doflamingo has the Little People Race, so if Sage truly wants them, he can obtain them. Just play a role as the savior of the Little People Race.
But such actions aren't meaningful...
He wants the Little People Race to willingly follow him, because governance must be willingly accepted by the governed!
The Little People Race possesses the incredible talent of cultivating plants, if they are to be used as a core element, then deceit is out of the question.
Otherwise, it would only lead to eventual downturn.
A group headed towards the bridge, as Fighting Fish leapt from the surface, horns pointed at those on the bridge, diving towards them.
"Get lost!"
Sage just glared at it, and his Supreme King aura collided with the Fighting Fish, making its eyes roll back as it plummeted from the sky into the sea.
"Damn it, when I fish for you, you don't jump, but now you flaunt when I'm not fishing! Get the hell away!"
He swore profusely as he crossed the bridge.
On the other side of the bridge was a wild, overgrown deserted island, the plants on it towering like giant trees. The fruits growing on them were exceptionally large, roughly the size of half of Sage at first glance.
Around them were peculiar wild beasts, and Sage always felt that their gazes were somewhat lecherous, squinting their eyes like that old monkey, Kizaru.
"We haven't discovered much here..."
Lily placed her left hand on the sword hilt, looked around, and said, "It's likely underground, but we haven't found any entrance."
Greenbit is a small island, but "small" is a relative term.
Compared to Dressrosa, it indeed is a small island, but to normal humans, this island isn't small at all. The plants are also very large... forcing to call it a small island might be to the Giants like Stansen, then it's a small island.
Looking from a Giant's perspective, everything in this world would make perfect sense.
"Then let's not go down, let them come up themselves."
Sage said to Lily, "Have you tried calling them?"
Lily gently shook her head.
"There you go, sometimes being direct makes things simpler."
Sage took a deep breath, stomped down hard, and shouted, "Little People Race Chief, come see me!"
That stance was much like the Monkey King summoning the Earth God.
Thud!
The great force made a shallow pit under Sage's foot and caused a slight tremor in the vicinity.
Lily pursed her lips, tactfully said, "Sage, even if they're underground, it should be deep down. Mere sound wouldn't make them..."
Rustle...
Suddenly, there was a faint noise from the surrounding jungle. A red glint flashed in Lily's eyes as she instinctively looked towards her back.
On a branch extending from a tree, a green creature no larger than a palm appeared.
"Why are you calling for our chief!" The creature spoke human language, startling Lily.
It actually worked...