Doflamingo wore a sullen expression, his eyes behind the sunglasses fixated on Sage, though there was no murderous intent.
An old pirate knows the rules of the sea.
He had lost.
Similarly, Sage truly hadn't gone for the kill.
Things had reached this point; grandiose words held no value.
Better to focus on real benefits.
After a pause, his brows relaxed, and he smiled, "Fufufu, alright, you've won. What's your plan?"
Sage spread his fingers wide, "I'll give you five hundred million Belly, along with a fortune in gold, and you help me make money!"
Excluding the collectibles now in the captain's cabin, his treasure vault held over seven hundred million in cash and a vast amount of gold and jewels, which could also be converted into money.
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow, "Fufufu, this amount of money... Alright, then what?"
Sage paused, "What do you mean, then what?"
"Aren't we supposed to cooperate?"
Doflamingo asked, "What do you want, and what are your objectives? Seven Warlords of the Sea, perhaps? There's a vacancy. If you want the position, you won't need a head; I can manage it for you. Or lacking weapons? I've got connections for that too, and of high quality."
Sage: "..."
"Don't bother with those things!"
With a swift wave of his hand, he said, "Five hundred million is enough; anyway, just help me make money!"
"Your purpose in seeking cooperation is just to have me help you make money?!"
Doflamingo was so furious he was trembling, "And only five hundred million?!"
If it weren't for the seriousness in his eyes, he'd think Sage was fooling him...
He, a dignified Warlord of the Sea, King of Dressrosa, a leader in the Underworld, thought he was engaging in life or death with someone who had grand schemes, a highly ambitious person.
All this hassle just for making money?
Is that it?
What can five hundred million Belly do?
A casual bounty in the Underworld could easily fetch five hundred million!
"What I need, you can't give, so money will have to do."
Sage leaned back on the sofa, biting a cigar, "Cooperation is that simple. Anyway, in the future, if I have industries, I'll sell through you."
He truly didn't have anything to collaborate with Doflamingo on, besides money.
After all, he didn't have territory now, nor could he develop his landowner business without it, which could only happen after grabbing territory in the New World.
But territory was something he didn't need Doflamingo for.
In this sea, lineage is deeply ingrained, a king remains a king, a noble a noble, a commoner a commoner, and for slaves, it's a lifelong psychological trauma.
There are those who resist authority...
But mostly they become pirates on the sea.
For pirates, power comes first, yet even so, acquiring large territories isn't easy.
Places like Dressrosa and Wano Country, just like the Flamingo, were acquired through scheming and leveraging one's status.
Even Kaido couldn't take Wano Country forcefully and supported a puppet instead.
Large territories he couldn't give, small territories Sage could seize himself.
As for covert operations and indirect rule...
Sage wasn't interested.
Why should he sneak around as a landlord?
Wouldn't that defeat the purpose?
His goal is to openly govern, openly inform the world, and openly enjoy, which is Sage's aim.
"Industries?"
Doflamingo paused, "Fufufu, alright, sounds like you have ideas. In that case, I'll propose a cooperative method. I'll provide intelligence and support you on the sea. When you venture into the New World, I have enough channels to distribute your 'industries'. Consequently, if I have trouble or requests later, you must assist me. Of course, I'll help you too."
Anyone can find a way to cooperate here.
Even mighty Kaido needs him for weapon sales.
Tesoro, despite seizing the fruit he obtained, still collaborates with him now.
These people all have sufficient interests.
Sage does too...
This guy can beat him and possesses a strong ambition, even proclaiming governance over the world...
He could serve as an ally.
Whether it's to pull those people down or to... deal with Kaido.
Sage, upon hearing this, looked over with depth, observing Doflamingo's increasingly sinister smile. He stood up, retrieved a glass from his desk, picked up a bottle of wine, and returned.
First, he poured a glass for himself in his gemstone wine glass, then poured one for Doflamingo, raised the glass, and slowly said, "Deal!"
"Fufufu, happy cooperation!"
Doflamingo raised his glass, clinked it with him, and burst into laughter.
As for how much of this laughter was genuine or fake.
Sage didn't know and didn't care.
As long as there's a place for his money, not to mention still being able to earn money now.
Doflamingo didn't linger long, after finishing the glass, took the five hundred million Belly and the gold from the treasure vault, wrapped it in threads, and flew away.
Such a person, even if heavily injured, isn't someone ordinary people can extort from on the sea.
Regarding this, Sage was reassured and pleased.
"Lily!"
The captain's cabin, Sage laughed heartily at Lily as she walked in, "The money finally went out, the treasure vault can now have new treasures! Or else it would be filled to the brim, giving me headaches!"
"Just like that, you're trusting that guy?"
Lily asked, "After all, he was an enemy before... and you fought him so badly."
"Doesn't matter, the money's given out. That batch of gold, converted, is worth three to four hundred million Belly. I consider it ten billion; since Doflamingo took it, he owes me ten billion, and that's my capital."
Sage leaned on the boss's chair at the desk, smiling, "Investing and making business is all good, but I can't lose. If he loses, that's his problem. My money must earn, and earn a lot. At a 40% interest rate, he took ten billion Belly; next year he must pay me four billion in interest; principal won't return, and each year I'll ask him for it. Crocodile too, took five hundred million Belly; he has to give me two billion in interest!"
Crocodile is in jail, where can he find the money...
Furthermore...
"Usury?" Lily asked.
"Isn't it normal for landlords to lend at high interest!" Sage laughed, "Only such wealthy folks get substantial interest payments."
Poor people?
Sage has no interest in the perpetually struggling.
But for the wealthy, he has great interest.
Whether robbing, or doing business, it's the rich that are more worthwhile.
Especially someone like Doflamingo, who holds major business channels and a country to boot.
When he gets territory, this money can be injected into his industries!