Inside a tavern in Demon Valley Town.
"Why is it so expensive!" Nami exclaimed in disbelief.
Just ordering a drink and some food, she was already shocked by the prices.
The price of a drink was three times that of outside.
It was just like a black market.
The tattooed tavern owner wiped a glass and laughed, "This place is a town made up of lavish-spending pirates, so high prices are normal. If you really can't stand it, just wait here for four days, it'll only take four days to recharge the Magnetic Power."
"Four days, I can't even stand it for two."
Nami lay on the bar and said to the owner, "Pirates full of violent looks are everywhere, how does a place like this maintain order..."
The owner shook his head and chuckled, "There's no order here, brawls happen on the streets every day with casualties everywhere, it's just been quiet these past two days."
"Why?" Nami asked.
"Because a big-shot has recently arrived..."
The tavern owner spoke with a hint of reverence, "That person doesn't like noise, the ferocious Bellamy Pirates were too noisy and ended up being hung on the wall, they're still not down yet."
"Other pirate crews don't dare either, these past few days have been the most pleasant time doing business, if that person stayed in Demon Valley Town, it would be great, but unfortunately, once recharged, they'll leave, and the town will return to its usual state."
"A big-shot..."
Nami murmured and then shook her head, saying, "Owner, do you know where I can find information about the Sky Island?"
The noisy tavern suddenly fell silent at Nami's words, even the owner kept wiping the glass in surprise, gazing at Nami and the others.
"What's wrong? Is there something off?" Nami asked puzzled.
"Hahahaha!"
Soon, the tavern erupted with loud laughter.
"Sky Island! Someone still believes in the existence of Sky Island!"
"Naive pirates! Sky Island is just a legend. Due to the Knock Up Stream, some ships get blasted into the sky and then fall back down, so ancient sailors misunderstood, thinking there was a Sky Island above. Can't believe people still believe it now!"
"Hey, are you guys really pirates! Hahaha!"
Nami's face instantly turned bright red.
Meanwhile, Luffy and Zoro's expressions gradually became solemn.
"Hahahaha..."
The owner wiped away tears of laughter, "There's no such thing as Sky Island. Instead of thinking about those things, why not think about the treasures that exist in reality."
"Uncle..."
Luffy calmly said, "Have you ever seen Sky Island?"
The owner was stunned by that gaze and subconsciously replied, "No."
"Then have you ever sought it out?"
"No either..."
"Then..."
Luffy bared his teeth, "If you don't seek it out, how can you know if it exists or not? We have a sea map, so we're going to find the Sky Island!"
His words were plain, yet filled with immense power, causing those who were mocking to pause, and then...
The mocking grew louder.
"Naive pirates, get lost!"
A pirate sneered, grabbing a bottle to throw it, "People like you don't deserve to be in our Demon Valley Town. This is a place for pirates chasing reality, things like Sky Island, of course, are..."
"Of course, they exist."
A voice suddenly sounded from outside the door, followed by a few silhouettes appearing.
Seeing the newcomers, the mocking tavern fell silent, even the pirate raising the bottle to throw it froze, looking fearfully and respectfully at the silhouette in the doorway.
One of the silhouettes walked forward while saying, "Sky Island indeed exists."
The three at the bar saw the newcomer, their pupils contracted, and Nami's hands covered her face, her frightened body twisting away.
Zoro placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, staring intently at the approaching person.
It was a white-haired man, wearing a black cloak with red trimmings, under which was a lotus-edged open shirt, a string of red jade beads draped across his chest, fingers and wrists adorned with gold jewelry, making him look like a nouveau riche.
But for such a nouveau riche...
They were quite familiar!
"Sage!" Nami exclaimed fearfully, "Why are you here!"
"We're on the same route, of course, I'd be here."
Sage cast a glance at her, then looked at the pirate holding the bottle, saying, "So, if I say Sky Island exists, do you think it exists?"
"Yes, yes, Master Sage, I think it exists," the pirate stammered fearfully.
"No, you don't think that, you're just afraid of me because my fists are big, so I'm right."
Sage chuckled and ignored him, continuing, "Whether it exists or not depends on personal discovery. There's no need to heed others' nonsense. Let those who want to mock do so, those without the courage to discover or pursue are just small fry in the sea."
Luffy and Zoro's eyes gradually widened, sparking with light.
"Hehehe!"
Luffy pulled his straw hat down, grinning, "Are you guys going to Sky Island too?"
"Not interested."
Sage sat down at the bar and said to the owner, "Put these poor wretches' tab on me."
"Yes, Master Sage!" The tavern owner shouted loudly.
"Really? Can I order meat?!" Luffy's eyes gleamed.
"Who's the poor wretch!"
Nami yelled angrily, then turned to Luffy, "Hey, Luffy, he's the enemy, don't be swayed by small benefits!"
"Eh?"
Luffy blinked, pondering while scratching his chin, suddenly understood, he smacked his left fist with his right hand, and shouted, "Hey! You, return Vivi's stuff!"
"I'm a pirate, it's only natural to steal things. Why should I return them?" Sage said.
Luffy blinked again, nodded, "Makes sense."
Bang!
Right after he spoke, his head was knocked around by a punch, with Nami roaring, "How does that make any sense!"
"But he's Robin's little brother, doesn't seem like a bad guy, even though he defeated Ace, Ace himself said he would get revenge."
Luffy laughed freely, "That's how pirates are."
Zoro was taken aback, "Robin's..."
"Brother?" Nami paused, staring at Sage for a while, then clapped, "Come to think of it, they do look alike!"
"That's right, among pirates, there are no enemies, only conflict of interests. For now, we have no conflict. In honor of you treating my subordinates, feel free to come and have a banquet at my place too, consider it me repaying the favor," Sage chuckled.
The chef under them was Gin's benefactor.
The raccoon dog ship doctor had treated his men.
Regardless, Robin was his blood-related sister, she just kindly warned him not to be too ostentatious earlier, which counted as fulfilling her obligation.
Sage wasn't heartless, if someone does something, he naturally responds positively.
As for Alabasta...
Sage wasn't bothered by such things, Crocodile's failure was mostly due to his own reasons. If he had had more resolve, he wouldn't have given up after being beaten.
In that state, even without the Straw Hat, the same defeat would happen again next time.
Luckily he's given up now, Sage didn't lose out either, there was still a chance to pick up the plan again, if he gave up later, investing too much money would have been a total waste.
Even now, that Sand Crocodile still owes him 500 million!
He'll never forget that!
"If we're not enemies..."
Nami paused, then her eyes lit up with greed, she wriggled closer, "Are you really covering our tab?!"
"Who do you think I am? Covering a bit of your food and drink, you think I'm as poor as you?" Sage sneered disdainfully.
Zoro squinted his eyes and glanced at Lily standing behind him, then said, "You especially came here just to invite us to a banquet?"
"You're overthinking it, it was a spur-of-the-moment idea. As for now..."
Sage shook his head and told the owner, "Bring me the same as what those two are having."
Two?
Nami was stunned and saw that Sage wasn't pointing at Zoro but at Luffy and the man sitting next to him.
A dirty, heavy-chested, unkempt man...
"I came to see you..."
Sage turned his head to gaze directly, "Teach."
"Zehahaha..."
The man let out a strange and deep laugh, "What you said earlier, was very good... indeed, those without the courage to pursue are just a bunch of lackeys!"
"What do you mean dreams don't exist, chasing reality, just the words of cowards!"
He opened his arms, yelling, "A man's dreams will never end!!"