Pirates: Your emperor has returned!

Looking at Weiwei, whose mouth was agape, Luo Wen patted her head and couldn't help but laugh.

It felt like an elder looking after a granddaughter.

Then, he regained his composure, brandished his scepter, pointed it towards the direction of the Santana Oasis Inn, and growled:

"Soldiers, advance!"

[4. Chapter Four: Siege and Advance!]

Deserts are dangerous, and the uninhabited deserts of Alabasta are even more so.

During the day, pedestrians face not only the scorching sun and high temperatures, but also the ferocious beasts hiding under the gravel!

Even the King's army had to be extremely vigilant to advance through the desert.

The slightest mistake could lead to a terrible price!

In order to quickly stabilize the siege of the oasis station of Santana, King Cobra chose to lead his royal army across the desert.

What was supposed to be a dangerous journey was changed by the unexpected appearance of a person.

……

In the vast desert.

An army is advancing in a mighty force.

This army has a very unique composition.

The outer perimeter was a defensive array composed of 10,000 gravel soldiers.

Inside the inner circle were the more than a thousand royal soldiers who should have been on high alert.

The presence of the gravel soldiers allowed the royal army a rare moment of relaxation.

The gravel soldiers exuded a strange aura, which made the surrounding beasts much more docile and dare not make any rash moves.

This is also why Rowan summoned the gravel soldiers ahead of time.

Among the King's army, Bell and Jakka led the way, with Rowan, Cobra, Vivi, and Crocodile following behind.

They, like the King's army, advanced on foot.

Cobra and Vivi were willing to share weal and woe with the King's army.

Rowan and Crocodile, being users of the Sand-Sand Fruit, found hiking in the desert much more comfortable.

As for why Crocodile was able to walk alongside the royal family.

Cobra didn't care much about formalities, and Crocodile was a hero of the country, so he naturally acquiesced.

Crocodile frowned as he sensed the presence of the Sand Soldiers.

It's Conqueror's Haki.

Massive quantities of unique and outrageously detailed Conqueror's Haki!

While deterring surrounding wild beasts, it avoids causing widespread casualties.

The beasts lowered their heads, their submission more a sign of submission than fear!

After the army passes, the beasts can immediately recover and continue their lives.

……

"Such a monster is hidden in Alabasta..."

Crocodile murmured, his eyes flickering slightly.

Rowan noticed Crocodile's gaze but didn't care.

At this moment, he is talking to Cobra, learning about what happened after his death.

Ryan Rowan died in battle in 719 of the Sea Calendar, while the World Government was established in 720 of the Sea Calendar by a coalition of twenty kings.

In other words, he fell on the eve of the establishment of the World Government.

After his death, having no heirs, his close friend Neferutari took over the Alabasta Empire according to Rowan's own arrangement.

However, without Rowan, the Alabasta Empire's strength can only be considered as first-tier among nations, not top-tier.

In the same year, due to pressure from the other nineteen nations, Nefertari was forced to change her empire into a kingdom and participate in the establishment of the World Government.

However, he declined the opportunity to settle in Mary Geoise and become a Celestial Dragon, choosing instead to remain in Alabasta.

Afterwards, Nefertari adopted her own name as her surname, establishing the Nefertari family, which continues to this day.

Neferutari Cobra, the twelfth king of the Kingdom of Alabasta!

……

Rowan's reaction after hearing Cobra's story was unexpected.

Cobra had expected the emperor from eight hundred years ago to be furious, believing that Nefertari had squandered the foundation he had built, but Rowan clearly did not think so.

He couldn't help but clap his hands and burst into laughter.

"Just as I expected, it's Nefertari's style!"

Cobra was taken aback. "Ancestor, you're not angry?"

"Angry? Why should I be angry?"

Rowan extended his hand.

Gravel rose from the ground, seemingly alive, and flowed slowly through his fingertips.

"This is a difference in philosophy, and has nothing to do with right or wrong."

"My ideals created the Alabasta Empire; while Nefertari's ideals have allowed the Alabasta Kingdom to continue to this day."

Rowan pinched a grain of sand between his fingertips and gazed into the distance.

"I can feel that although there are many difficulties, this is indeed a very good country, and you have done a great job."

Cobra smiled and nodded, looking pleased.

Vivi, on the other hand, seemed somewhat unconvinced.

"Of course, Father is a very powerful king!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Wen smiled, picked up Weiwei, and supported her with one hand, letting her sit on his shoulder.

Rowan is slightly taller than Crocodile, about 2.8 meters, so Vivi can see a pretty good view.

Her gaze swept across the sand dunes, pointing ahead.

"Ancestor, I can see Santana!"

The group arrived at the top of the hill and looked down at the oasis post station that had been occupied by the rebel army.

The centurion of the King's army in charge of the defense came to report.

Kobra waved his hand and ordered, "All troops, prepare for battle!"

But Rowan stopped him, saying, "No need. Have the royal army lift their defenses, and leave the rest to me."

The centurion, who had just arrived, didn't recognize the strangely dressed man and couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

"Sir, the rebel army numbers over a thousand. Even Mr. Crocodile can't guarantee that not a single one will escape, can he?"

If small groups of rebels escape and enter other cities, it will inevitably cause civilian casualties, which is one of the reasons why the royal army does not choose to launch a direct attack.

But Rowan shook his head.

"I am not alone."

He held Vivi on his shoulder with one hand, and raised his scepter with the other, pointing it at Santana.

To the centurion's astonishment, an army of ten thousand gravel soldiers marched forward from behind the sand dunes.

Click! Click! Click...

The collision of gravel with gravel creates the sound of "footsteps".

Their movements were perfectly synchronized as they slowly approached Santana.

Rowan chuckled softly and asked the little princess on his shoulder:

"Vivi, do you know which direction Alabasta's capital is in?"

"know."

Vivi nodded, pointed ahead, past Santana, "It's over there!"

Albania, the capital of Alabasta.

There stands a historic palace there, which was completed four thousand years ago.

There are countless secrets surrounding this palace.

Rowan also lived there for a long time.

"I miss it a bit, I want to go back and visit."

Rowan sighed inexplicably and turned his gaze to Santana.

There, the rebels were in a panic at the sudden appearance of a large army of gravel soldiers!

The scepter struck the ground, and the gravel soldiers quickened their march.

Until—charge!

"So, you guys..."

Rowan raised his head, swung his scepter horizontally, and the sand and gravel churned.

That undeniable voice echoed in everyone's ears—

"Don't block the emperor's way!"

……

The rebel troops who had occupied the oasis post station were now starting to panic.

They didn't know what had happened; they only saw the royal army retreat, and then the gravel soldiers suddenly appeared and charged at Shantana!

After a brief period of panic, they managed to regroup.