Pirates: Your emperor has returned!

One, from Albania.

Led by Rowan, along with Crocodile, Vivi who insisted on coming out to play, and Bel, the vice-captain of the Kingdom Guard, who accompanied them as bodyguards.

The other one comes from Sky Island.

The balloon-octopus airship caravan has returned for the first time. Eight days ago, they brought back a large amount of goods that were not available on the Sky Island from Alabasta, and now they have returned safely with a large amount of Sky Island specialties.

Rowan looked up and could see the balloon-octopus airship slowly descending in the sky from a great distance.

After being carefully adjusted by Alabasta shipwrights, the originally simple cabin now has a volume almost equivalent to three ships, reaching the level of a commercial fleet.

The amount of goods it carried was naturally quite large.

"cowry……"

Crocodile muttered to himself, quite interested in this little gadget with its immense military potential.

As for Rowan, he was somewhat curious about the navy personnel who had been sent from the Navy Headquarters.

Crocodile's description of him can be taken into consideration, but it cannot be taken as gospel. After all, although he is a Shichibukai, he is still a pirate at heart, so it is natural for him to dislike the Marines.

As they entered the rapeseed fields, they encountered the old mayor of Yaruja Town, with Hoka, a fishman from the neighboring fishman village, accompanying him.

They came to greet them after hearing that the balloon-octopus airship had returned.

Yaruja is, after all, a port town with a limited capacity for handling goods, and it needs time to develop. Therefore, the main port for trade with the Sky Islands was located in the rapeseed flower field.

"Oh, oh, the ancestor was talking about him, I know."

The old town mayor nodded repeatedly. "I heard someone say yesterday that the big guy seems to be living right by the dock now."

……

When everyone arrived at the dock, they happened to catch the balloon octopus airship landing.

The workers at the docks were helping to load and unload cargo. Among them were local Alabasta workers, Sky Islanders, Shandians, and even a few Murlocs.

But the most conspicuous one among them is a human.

……No

Was that really a "human"?

He was tall and muscular, but if you had to say his height, it would only be a little over three meters.

It may seem high to ordinary people, but it's not uncommon on this vast ocean.

What truly attracts attention is his "breadth".

His muscles bulged, supporting his body like rocks, and countless scars, large and small, proved that this man had experienced real war.

At that moment, he was shirtless, helping to move a huge box.

The boxes that would normally require more than ten people to load and unload were lifted by him alone, and then gently placed on the ground.

"call!"

The man exhaled; he, like the workers around him, was covered in sweat.

However, judging from his relaxed demeanor just now, he must have been helping out for quite some time.

A local girl from the rapeseed flower area came to deliver water to the dockworkers, and also gave a cup to this burly stranger.

Although I don't know them and they look a bit scary... they've all come to help, so they must not be bad people!

The man scratched his head, picked up the corner of the water glass with his large fingers, and then swallowed the water.

"Hooah!"

The man sighed at the sweet water, then smiled at the young girl and said, "Thank you, could I have another cup?"

"Of course, don't be shy, uncle!"

The little girl was about to hand over the cup when she accidentally tripped and fell, spilling water on the burly man's trouser leg.

The burly man immediately bent down and helped the little girl up, looking flustered.

"Are you alright?"

"You twisted your ankle? Let me massage it for you..."

"Don't cry, don't cry, look at my funny face! Wow!"

……

Crocodile, who witnessed this scene from afar, twitched slightly at the corner of his eye.

How should I put it? I have a feeling—

Strange.

That's so weird!

Although Crocodile disliked the Navy, he also knew that there were indeed a few people in the Navy who were willing to put aside their pride and fool around with ordinary residents.

But a person always possesses something called "temperament".

Crocodile had spent many years at sea and was very confident in his ability to judge people.

At first glance, Crocodile felt that the burly man was surrounded by a strong smell of blood!

He killed someone?

more than.

Has he killed many people?

...It's not that simple!

Crocodile has seen too many creatures who enjoy slaughtering the weak along the way; they are nothing but filthy stench.

But the burly man in front of me was different.

That was a murderous aura that was almost tangible!

Unlike Whitebeard's arrogant composure and confidence, and unlike Rowan's way of thinking which seemed to gaze into the abyss.

That burly man must be the one who stepped onto the mountain of corpses and the sea of ​​blood—and he himself had built that mountain of corpses and the sea of ​​blood.

Crocodile had no doubt that the burly man's large hand could twist an ordinary person's head off his neck!

But here's the strangest part.

There was a strange sense of disconnect between the aura this guy exuded and his words and actions.

Now, that burly man was so anxious because he had made a little girl cry that he almost cried too!

That can't be faked.

……

"The base commander of the Navy's special branch... is this guy?"

Crocodile didn't understand, but he was deeply shocked.

He was about to step forward when Rowan stopped him.

"No rush, let's take a look first."

After saying that, he led everyone to sit down at a nearby stall and ordered a glass of juice for Weiwei.

Crocodile crossed his arms and asked, puzzled, "Honestly, why did you agree to the Navy's proposal?"

Logically speaking, with the current military strength of the Four Seas Alliance, it is fully capable of maintaining the safety of the sea lanes on its own, and there is no need for the navy to intervene.

Rowan's goal was to free the Four Seas Alliance from the World Government's restrictions, so why would he deliberately invite a wolf into the house?

But Rowan countered Crocodile's question, "The Navy, what's wrong with that?"

Crocodile chuckled coldly. "The Navy? Aren't they the 'face of the World Government'?"

"No, I'm referring to the word 'navy' itself."

Rowan said slowly, "What's wrong with an army that maintains maritime security?"

"You want to use the name 'Navy' to build your own navy?!"

Crocodile was taken aback; he understood Rowan's thoughts.

At present, only the World Government possesses true "naval power." Other countries, even the current Four Seas Alliance, do not have a regular naval force.

First, world governments wouldn't allow it; second, there's a lack of experience, and it would be time-consuming and laborious to implement.

If we can truly take advantage of the opportunity to establish a naval branch in Alabasta and train a group of trustworthy "our own navy," it would be a sure-fire way to make money.

Even so, Crocodile couldn't help but frown.

"The Navy's Crane is no pushover. If you try to outsmart her, be careful you don't get played!"

"Actually, many things are not that complicated. We might as well wait and see."

Rowan smiled and pointed to the sea.

In the distance, a pirate ship is slowly approaching.

The crowd of people moving around on it and the noisy sounds proved that they were definitely not a group of well-meaning visitors.

……

This kind of thing is actually quite common.

Gazing at the pirate ship, the lookout at the rapeseed flower wharf was about to sound the alarm and call for the king's army to assemble.

But Barlow’s loud voice suddenly echoed across the dock.

"Don't be afraid, everyone. I have something to tell you!"

Barlow stepped forward and loudly reassured them, "I'm a navy man, I'll talk to them!"

Purple Pen Literature

[Chapter 78. Skilled at Persuasion]

Since the Great Pirate Era began, the seas have never lacked pirates.

In contrast, there is the navy.

However, the "parts" within the "whole" can sometimes have different properties.