If nuclear deterrence has emerged, then it must be possessed.
Sage has no impression of the future development of the world, but given the current situation, holding an apocalyptic weapon is absolutely right.
Sage's words plunged several avatars into silence, and then Shaka, who represented 'integrity', was the first to agree with his words.
"Idealism alone cannot change the world. Lacking force means being at the mercy of others. If it's for peace, force is essential."
Shaka looked at Sage, "However, we also don't want to work for the disordered Pirates. We've always been prepared for sacrifice. Rumor has it you're different, but we still need to see."
"Doesn't matter."
Sage confidently said, "Rumors are just rumors. Seeing for yourself will truly enlighten you. Once you've seen, you will definitely stay."
He had absolute confidence in this aspect.
The towns he captured were countless, and none of the bustling places were as prosperous as his city. More importantly, under his rule, people absolutely had enough to eat.
...
O'hara.
The deep-water docks of O'hara were already awakening like a giant beast.
As the junction of two lands and the only traffic route on this line, this current between two continents is not shallow but rather a very standard deep-water port.
As morning arrived, the port became busy.
Neutral merchant ships not belonging to the Disaster Pirates and pirate groups flying black flags fought fiercely in the Outer Sea, but as soon as they entered O'hara's affiliated waters, they immediately put away their guns and cannons.
The merchants stood on the side of the ship and looked down at the small pirate ships rushing alongside and grinned at the captain on the deck who looked at them with gritted teeth, showing off with gestures.
Now that they're in the Inner Sea, dare they still attack me?
At worst, they could abandon all their cargo, and when it comes to compensation, this pirate ship would absolutely be enough to cover it.
If it really doesn't work, aren't there some captives...
O'hara forbids slavery, but not penalties. If someone violates the rules of that Disaster, and cannot pay the compensation, they will be captured for forced labor, with advance payment of compensation wages to these 'victims'.
In short, never let those who come to trade suffer a loss!
But the risk is high; if robbed outside the Inner Sea, even by a little, it's their bad luck.
But now that they're inside, that means their goods can be sold here, then buy a batch of valuable goods and leave, making a profit.
Though in the name of the Disaster Pirates, the first half of the New World hosts many Kingdoms, with some affiliate countries not yet conquered. Those kingdoms are mobilizing their troops, causing the demand for materials to increase massively.
That benefits Sage and the merchants within the Kingdom, even some nobles.
Doesn't troop mobilization require weapons?
In the New World, if you want weapons, either manufacture them yourself or buy from the Disaster. If manufactured, it requires manpower, leaving fewer people to grow grain; if bought, it requires a lot of money.
Whether buying materials or weapons, all must be sourced from the Disaster, particularly as their weapon quality is excellent, attracting more buyers for weaponry, special products, and selling mined minerals, grains, salts from their countries, rewarding their nobles and merchants acting as intermediaries.
As for nations...
Merchants have no nation.
Some merchants have already set up industries within O'hara, just waiting for the king's troops to arrive, to become O'hara citizens from then on.
The business environment here is so favorable that merchants feel like putting Sage in a statue and worshiping him.
As for those foolish nobles, nobody cares about them.
The entire O'hara port gets busy from dawn, with numerous ships docking and unloading, goods moving to port markets, while local merchants await to assess the goods.
The only building in O'hara taller than the Royal Palace hosts the offices of merchants from all over, with Sage allowing free commerce beyond core industry, unleashing incredible vitality.
Merchants from various islands register companies here, dispatch personnel, even subordinates, specifically waiting at this port to trade with others.
Among them, there are even Fishmen.
A Ray Fishman dressed like a gentleman and wearing a monocle, opened a box, took a glance at the lead bullets inside, and shook his head, "We don't take these."
He opened another box filled with iron ore, "This is acceptable; given your quantity, 12,000 Belly per ton."
"Why not take the lead bullets, they're weapons!"
The merchant protested, "Don't Pirates need ammunition?! There can never be too much of this! Also, the price of iron ore is too low; it's wartime! The World Government is at war with the Revolutionary Army, at least 20,000 Belly!"
"You're new here, aren't you?"
The Ray Fishman looked the merchant over, who seemed to come from a frigid island, wearing a fur coat, and said:
"Who doesn't know that Lord Sage is the biggest arms dealer? We don't lack raw materials, and everyone knows we've taken over Wano Country, so the iron ore is more than cheap enough."
Ocean prices vary, especially in the Grand Line, where prices differ in every place.
Take iron ore for example, the most ordinary iron ore, not refined iron, is priced at 8,000 to 12,000 Belly per ton in the Grand Line. Recently, during wartime, prices have risen and can be sold for over 20,000.