Pirates: Your emperor has returned!

"This is a setting that even science fiction novels wouldn't dare to use lightly!"

"..."

Commoners, nobles, navy personnel, pirates...

Countless people were astonished by the information published in the newspapers, but they had no choice but to force themselves to believe it.

After all, the world government's newspapers are their main source of information about world events, and the news published in them has never been wrong.

Back in the day, when the newspapers published the news that Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, had been arrested by the Navy, not many people believed it!

……

However, Alabasta is not a heavily defended Impel Down, and even ordinary people have ways to verify the authenticity of this news.

Many people used the Den Den Mushi (snail phone) to contact their friends and family in Alabasta and received a definite answer.

The emperor of the empire from eight hundred years ago, Ryan Rowan of the Golden Dawn, has indeed been resurrected and is currently in the royal palace of Albana.

At the same time, people also received some reassuring news.

According to the residents of Alabasta, the emperor of the empire eight hundred years ago was not a terrifying, war-loving tyrant.

On the contrary, he looked like an ordinary person wearing light armor.

He can laugh, drink, marvel at the deliciousness of food, and be driven to despair by mischievous children.

But at the same time, he is also very strong.

Someone witnessed him throw a black spear that directly destroyed a slave trader's huge warship!

……

A certain pirate crew.

They had just received a log pointer to Alabasta, intending to travel to that famous superpower for resupply.

But the pirate captain saw today's newspaper.

"Turn around and head back."

The pirate captain said to his first mate, "I don't want to be the one to test the limits of an emperor from eight hundred years ago!"

……

This scene has occurred in various sea areas.

None of the pirates wanted to be guinea pigs testing Rowan's limits, so they all planned to avoid contact with Alabasta as much as possible before the situation became clear.

Thanks to this situation, the caravans that had dealings with Alabasta had a much calmer journey.

They didn't know what kind of person Ryan Rowan was, but since he could intimidate the pirates, that was all the better!

On the other hand, many people are also curious.

What will be the next move of that emperor from eight hundred years ago, Ryan Rowan?

……

He just woke up.

Rowan woke up in his room.

The Alabasta royal family is known for its frugality, so the room was not large. Apart from the bed, there were only some basic necessities such as tables, chairs, paper, and pens, but Rowan did not care about this.

He got dressed, drew back the curtains, opened the window, and took a deep breath.

The morning light in Alabasta is as comforting as ever.

Indeed, only eight hundred years have passed. The sun is still the same sun, so what difference could there be?

……

After breakfast, Rowan went to the study.

As soon as the door opened, a small figure was seen sitting at the table, studying the ancient books that Cobra had sorted out from the basement.

Rowan looked at Vivi apologetically.

"Um...you didn't come down all night?"

Vivi: "..."

As expected of our ancestor, the very first thing he said upon our first meeting this morning left me speechless.

Another cold voice came from behind.

"Hehehe, she arrived even earlier than me."

Rowan turned his head and saw Crocodile, who was smoking a cigar and reading a book.

Because it was a study, the cigars were not lit.

Crocodile did not give up; he was still trying to find any clues about Hades in ancient texts.

As for Vivi, the little princess is diligently organizing the discussion records about the "Four Seas Alliance".

Luo Wen ruffled Weiwei's hair, then asked with a smile, "What do you think?"

Vivi didn't answer because Rowan was asking Crocodile.

The latter raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

“You didn’t say much yesterday,” Rowan asked with a smile. “So, what do you think about the idea of ​​the Four Seas Alliance?”

"truth?"

"To be honest." Rowan nodded.

Crocodile thought for a moment, then smiled darkly and said, "I think it's fine."

Upon hearing this, Rowan was somewhat surprised, after all, Crocodile was a rather pragmatic person, and in principle, he shouldn't have agreed with Nefertari's idea.

"Tell me the reason?"

"It's very simple, because I think this Four Seas Alliance will be a thorny problem for the world government."

Crocodile raised an eyebrow.

It felt as if it were saying: You're sure to be curious about what I'm about to say.

He felt very pleased and unconsciously took a puff of his cigar.

hiss……

Ok.

It didn't light.

Rowan smiled and gestured for Crocodile to continue.

"Tsk!"

Crocodile was quite displeased, but he still frowned and gave his conclusion.

"The Four Seas Alliance can break the 'monopoly' of the world government."

"If we can truly bypass the World Government and establish a close connection on this ocean, then we can easily acquire money, culture, resources, ships, weapons, and even... military strength!"

Crocodile became more and more excited as he spoke.

After all, his purpose in pursuing Hades was to gain greater military power!

"To be honest, I don't think your friend is a 'gentle' person at all."

Crocodile raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "He actually put forward such a warmongering proposal!"

Rowan shook his head and pressed, "Why?"

"Don't you understand?"

Crocodile closed the book. "On this sea today, real military power is strictly controlled."

"Weapons, warships, gunpowder... nothing can escape the supervision of the World Government."

"Even in the underworld, it's the same!"

"You don't actually believe that the underworld exists outside the control of the World Government, do you?"

"But if there is a force that has the ability to 'autonomously generate military power,' then it means that it can challenge the world government!"

After listening to Crocodile's words, Rowan shook his head repeatedly, "No, you don't understand Nefertari, he wouldn't do that."

Crocodile shrugged. "So, what do you think he'll do?"

"He wanted to make the ocean a unified whole."

Rowan said slowly, "If it were Nefertari, she would probably focus on the internal workings of the Four Seas Alliance first."

Crocodile sneered, "Without power, how can you fight the World Government?"

Rowan slowly replied, "Man is power itself."

Crocodile declared, "War will always come!"

Rowan nodded.

"But—a war should be the end game, not the beginning game."

[Chapter Thirty-One: Nothing Surprising]

war.

What is war?

Crocodile is all too familiar.

He had at least spent some time in the underworld and had come into contact with many war profiteers.

In Crocodile's view, war is nothing more than a bunch of old guys sending a bunch of young people to their deaths for the gold coins in their pockets.

All interactions between the two parties are for mutual benefit!

But at that moment, Crocodile was pondering Rowan's words.

Although there isn't much history about eight hundred years ago, Crocodile can roughly guess what kind of era it was through Rowan's narration and his performance.

The chaotic battle continues!