Pirates: Your emperor has returned!

Two days later.

Alabasta.

Albana, the Royal Palace.

Crocodile tossed the report of the trip onto Rowan's desk, which included details of their attack by a group of dangerous pirates.

Luo Wen opened the report, flipped through it, and understood.

"Oh, they've been attacked by pirates. That's dangerous."

That's extremely dangerous.

Crocodile lit a cigar for himself and gave Rowan a half-hearted laugh, displaying a visibly dismissive attitude.

There's no need to pretend it's something everyone knows.

After all, how could that old man not see what I had done?

Rowan smiled helplessly and instructed, "Remember to act within the 'rules' of the Four Seas Alliance. We must abide by the rules we set ourselves."

Crocodile clicked his tongue on the surface, but nodded nonetheless.

On the high seas, established rules and conventions are of utmost importance.

For example, in Water Seven, apart from a very few hotheads, almost no pirates dare to raid the port of this "world shipyard," because both pirates and the navy need ships.

No one will sympathize with someone who has crossed the line of shared interests, no matter how miserable their fate may be!

……

Crocodile was smoking a cigarette to the side.

Luo Wen silently flipped through the documents on the table.

A week has passed since the air route to the islands was opened.

Because there are no other pilots, currently only the balloon octopus airship that Habu is in charge of travels between Sky Island and Alabasta, and each round trip takes about four days, for a total of eight days.

This means that the first caravans to the Sky Island, after departing from Alabasta, are still on their return journey and have not yet returned.

However, because adult balloon octopuses can carry a huge amount of weight, the relatively slow round-trip speed is not the key issue.

Many young navigators are already following Habu on this route, and Habu has promised Rowan that he will teach them, just as his own teacher taught him.

Rowan could tell that it was really hard for Hab, who wasn't good at interacting with strangers, to suddenly have a dozen or so "students," so he advised him to try teaching one or two first.

But Hab stammered and shook his head, refusing Rowan's suggestion, saying, "If the teacher sees that so many people are interested in her book, she will be very happy!"

Upon hearing this, Rowan had no reason to refuse and went with Habu.

Although the pilots of the balloon octopus airship do not need to master a vast amount of meteorological knowledge like Habu, they still have to spend a long time undergoing specialized training to ensure the safety of the many passengers on board.

Based on their existing meteorological background, it is estimated that it will take about two months for the first batch of balloon airship pilots to conduct their first test flight.

That's the crux of the problem.

……

Not just balloons and airships.

Among the first shipments of goods imported into Alabasta from the Sky Island was a large quantity of "Beetles".

This batch of shellfish, a specialty of the Sky Island, is not numerous, but its variety is astonishing.

On the one hand, the residents of the Sky Island have incorporated various types of shellfish into their lives, making their lives much more convenient.

On the other hand, when it comes to using special shellfish in combat, perhaps no one has more authority to speak than the indigenous people of Apayado—the Shandians.

They developed various combat methods using all kinds of shellfish, arming themselves to the teeth, and once fought to a standstill against a Sky Island Guardian Force that outnumbered them by dozens of times.

Now that Sky Island has joined the Four Seas Alliance, the Sky Island God Gan Fall has taken the initiative to seek peace with the Shandian people and even returned the land that originally belonged to the Shandian people.

In fact, Gan Fall had long wanted to end the long and brutal war between the two sides.

However, the deep-seated animosity between the two sides had become so severe that neither side could "stop" anymore.

Enel's threat alone wasn't enough, but the addition of the Four Seas Alliance was enough to cool their feverish heads.

The major battle that took place on Apayado became a key turning point in the stalemate between the two sides.

Thus, under Gan Fall's strong push, Apayado was no longer an "island of gods" inaccessible to ordinary people, but became an ordinary island.

soil?

Anyway, the fixed air route has been established, and we can go to Qinghai at any time via balloons and octopus airships, where we can get as much soil as we want.

Some Sky Island inhabitants, who considered "Bass" a precious treasure, then realized that the world was truly vast.

What you treasure may be commonplace for people elsewhere, and vice versa.

Conflicts and wars fought over mere dirt have lost all meaning.

The Sky Island has finally ushered in a long-awaited true peace and has begun a period of recuperation.

Vepa, nicknamed "War Demon," representing the Shandian people, also agreed to join the Four Seas Alliance.

The first airship port city was built on the edge of Apayado!

Before parting, Rowan and Weapon discussed many things about "Bei".

Indeed, mastering the use of a glove requires long-term training, but...

A team armed with shells can also unleash unimaginable fighting power in battle!

How strong is it approximately?

Despite their dwindling population, the Shandian people managed to hold their own against the entire Sky Island's guard force with their guerrilla unit of less than a hundred men.

Their elite combat strength is even comparable to that of Enel's four priests.

Alabasta's regular army numbers approximately 600,000.

……

Therefore, the Four Seas Alliance is not short of people.

What the Four Seas Alliance needs most right now is "time".

Time to organize and digest all the resources at hand!

……

Rowan rubbed his temples, planning to discuss it with Cobra and the others when he had time later.

This kind of meticulous domestic work is something Cobra is better at and can do more easily.

He calculated the time.

"The octopus airship should arrive tomorrow. I'll go to the rapeseed flowers."

Rapeseed flowers—Alabasta's famous port city, known for its perfumes, is a city with a strong commercial atmosphere.

Now, thanks to the establishment of the Four Seas Alliance, the rapeseed flowers are even more prosperous than before.

Crocodile frowned unhappily and said in a deep voice, "Count me in."

"Are you going too?"

"I'm going to Sky Island."

Upon hearing this, Luo Wen was taken aback. "A girl is waiting for you?"

Crocodile: "..."

To prevent the spread of messy rumors, he simply revealed everything: "I'm going to go and see the historical texts there."

There's no need to hide it, because even if you did, Rowan would bring it up anyway.

Although Crocodile couldn't understand the writing on it, he always hoped to find some clues about ancient weapons.

Rowan nodded, but there was a hint of regret in his eyes.

"So you were more interested in the historical texts after all..."

Crocodile: "..."

After thinking it over, he decided to change the subject.

"Speaking of which, there's supposedly a lunatic over there at the rapeseed fields who got there before us. Didn't you hear about that?"

"No."

Rowan shook his head and pondered, "If it's a mental illness, contact Dr. Kureha; she also does research in neurology."

"That's an adjective."

Crocodile's eye twitched, and he picked up the teacup beside him, intending to take a few sips to calm his anger.

He then asked, "By the way, why did the Navy suddenly send people over? What are their plans?"

"Oh, you weren't there then, you went to Drum Island."

Rowan replied, "The Navy wants to set up a branch in Alabasta."

"Hehehehe, the navy is dreaming!"

Crocodile gave a gloomy laugh and picked up his teacup.

While drinking, I was still muttering to myself.

The Four Seas Alliance today, in terms of military potential alone, is absolutely capable of dominating the first half of the Grand Line!

Isn't this the "military power" I've always dreamed of?

The Navy has absolutely no chance of getting involved in this pie now!

Rowan nodded. "Yes, I agree."

Crocodile: "Pfft!"

The tea I had just taken a sip of sprayed out.

Purple Pen Literature

[Chapter 77. A Sense of Disconnection]

The next day, the two teams arrived at the port city of rapeseed flowers almost simultaneously.