Pirates: Your emperor has returned!

He replied, "Perhaps it's a connection between users of the same Devil Fruit?"

Crocodile was speechless for a moment.

He couldn't refute it, since the other party did indeed possess the Sand-Sand Fruit's power, even if the way to use this power was completely different from his own.

But then another problem arose.

The same Devil Fruit can only reappear on the sea after the user dies.

I've already eaten the Sand-Sand Fruit, so why is this man named Rowan still alive?

……

The noise from the outside world interrupted Crocodile's train of thought.

Rowan's opening of the tomb was so loud that it naturally attracted the attention of the Alabasta King's army.

They were already clearing out rebel forces nearby, and now, led by King Cobra, they had come to the tomb of the former king to conduct an investigation.

Among those accompanying him were two guardians of Alabasta, Zoan-type Devil Fruit users: Pell the Falcon and Jackal Jakka.

Also present is King Cobra's only daughter, the little princess of Alabasta—Neferutari Vivi.

The group arrived at the tomb of the former king and witnessed a scene that left them bewildered.

The enormous and magnificent mausoleum now has a large hole cut into it.

Countless grains of sand lifted up stones of all sizes, suspending them in mid-air, and also cleared a path leading directly to the tomb.

Two figures were at the end of the road.

One of them is Crocodile, a national hero they know all too well.

The other was a stranger they had never met before.

"That is……"

Cobra narrowed his eyes; of everyone present, he was the only one who recognized the man's clothes.

That is the oldest armor style in Alabasta, existing only in records!

Kobra had thought such things had long been lost to the annals of history, but he never expected to see them here.

Tomb raiders?

No, no tomb raider would perfectly wear the stolen items on their body, right?

That outfit looked like it was tailor-made for that man!

Cobra thought for a moment, then, ignoring Bell and Jaka's objections, stepped forward and solemnly inquired:

"Excuse me, who are you?"

Rowan did not answer.

He stared at Cobra, then his gaze shifted to Vivi not far away, his heart trembling slightly.

It's a familiar feeling.

In fact, Rowan had no offspring, but that feeling was not based on blood ties.

That feeling originated from Alabasta itself, binding their fates together!

Rowan strode past Cobra and casually patted Vivi's head.

Weiwei looked up, as if she had sensed something as well.

Rowan walked up the gravel steps and came to the ground.

The surrounding area was a desert that was both strange and familiar.

In the distance, there is a small oasis.

A group of rebellious pirates retreated to the oasis highlands, putting on a last stand. The royal army attempted to suppress them, but was short-handed, resulting in a stalemate.

Cobra was about to lead his men to help when Rowan waved him off.

Luo Wen squatted down, grabbed a handful of yellow sand, and slowly stood up.

The sand slipped from his fingertips and scattered in the wind.

Swish!

Rowan suddenly clenched his fists, and the surrounding sand began to respond to his call!

Splash...

One by one, the figures of soldiers rose from the yellow sand.

Faintly, those around seemed to sense the wind emanating from the brutal battlefield of eight hundred years ago!

The gravel soldiers, spears in hand, stood atop the yellow sand, ready for battle!

Rowan gazed into the distance, his voice long and drawn out, carrying a strangely ancient feel.

He said slowly:

"Alabasta, your emperor... has returned!"

[3. Chapter Three: One Man Forms an Army]

"Alabasta, your emperor... has returned!"

The calm and ancient voice, falling into the ears of those around, stirred up a thousand waves!

As the yellow sand settled, the five gravel soldiers remained by Rowan's side.

Upon seeing this, the royal soldiers grabbed their weapons and stood guard around their king and princess.

The two lieutenants of the Kingdom Guard, Bell and Jaka, were ready to activate their Devil Fruit abilities at any moment and entered battle mode!

However, King Cobra stepped out from the crowd once again and solemnly asked:

"who are you?"

Rowan turned around and slowly replied, "I am Ryan Rowan."

As soon as the words were spoken, the King's army did not react, but Cobra and Vivi's pupils suddenly contracted!

Ryan Rowan?

As members of the Nefertari family, they were very familiar with this name!

When they were young, they had all read about the history of the Neferutari family.

Among them, the name Ryan Rowan is listed alongside that of Nefertari, the founder of the Nefertari family!

The two were close friends and sworn brothers.

The latter was the founding king of the Kingdom of Alabasta.

The former was the only emperor of the Alabasta Empire!

The figure before me gradually overlapped with the portrait in historical records.

Both the outfit and the person's appearance were exactly the same as described in the records!

"You are... our ancestor?"

Cobra was somewhat incredulous, but the sense of destiny he felt left him no room for doubt.

Upon hearing this, Rowan thought for a moment and suddenly laughed, "If my sworn brotherhood with Nefertari is valid, then you are indeed my descendants."

"Wow!"

Vivi, who was standing to the side, immediately became excited.

After all, he is only six years old, and his concerns are different from those of ordinary people.

"If you're of the same generation as the first clan leader, then wouldn't I have to call you great-great-great-great-grandfather!"

Rowan: "..."

After thinking for a moment, he corrected himself, "Actually, just call me ancestor."

Kobra nodded and said solemnly, "Ancestor."

Rowan: "..."

He was younger than Cobra when he died in battle, so it was quite unusual for an older man with a six-year-old daughter to call him ancestor.

After thinking it over, Luo Wen changed the subject.

What era are we living in?

Cobra replied, "1507 in the Sea Calendar."

Crocodile confirmed that Rowan was in the future, eight hundred years later, while Cobra's answer revealed the exact time!

"What a great era."

Rowan grinned.

Many major events that would influence future generations were still in their infancy, giving Rowan ample time to adapt to this place and plenty of opportunities to experience them all.

But first of all...

Rowan raised the spear in his hand, which was also the scepter representing his former status as the emperor of the Alabasta Empire.

The gun was pointed at the oasis highlands where the king's army and the pirates were locked in a stalemate.

"The territory of Alabasta is not a place where mere pirates can run rampant."

Rowan's voice was calm, yet it gave people an unquestionable feeling.

Jakka and Bel, the two vice-captains of the King's Guard, still harbored doubts, but King Cobra's actions had already made his stance clear.

The man before you is none other than Ryan Rowan, the founding emperor of the Alabasta Empire!

They, revered as the guardians of Alabasta, naturally did not want their current king to lose face before his ancestors, so they immediately bowed and said:

"We will make the arrests immediately!"

"No need."

Rowan shook his head and stretched his shoulders slightly. "After sleeping for eight hundred years, I need to do some exercise, otherwise I'll get really bored."

He'll take action personally?!