Morning.
Whoosh... Swish!
At news offices around the world, news birds flapped their wings, carrying the day's newspapers to every corner of the globe.
On the front page of the newspaper was an oil painting.
This was actually a rare thing.
After all, in this day and age where photos are everywhere, it's hard to believe that a painting could be important enough to be on the front page.
So, what was the painting?
A work of art?
Yes, being a work left by a famous painter from hundreds of years ago, it wouldn't be wrong to call it an antique.
But that wasn't the reason the painting was on the front page.
The real reason was what was in the painting.
It was a portrait.
In the picture, a man wearing light gold armor held up a staff that looked like a long spear.
Around him, endless golden sand swirled, and countless soldiers, facing the direction he pointed, held their weapons and roared as they charged.
Behind the man was a bright sun.
Sunlight broke through the darkness, lighting the way for the army to advance.
The full name of the painting was "Emperor," and it was created by the famous painter Lake Danlderd in sea calendar 1015.
It received high praise as soon as it was released.
The sun and the emperor were both very strong elements, but Lake Danlderd was able to perfectly combine them without either one overpowering the other. He was a genius.
According to Lake Danlderd's own memoir, the inspiration for the painting came from a mural he had seen.
The mural was eventually destroyed in the war, but it was deeply etched in Lake Danlderd's mind.
In his memoir, he said:
"As a painter, I have a duty to bring that image back to the world."
"As for who the man in the painting is?"
"Well, you can call him this..."
"Golden Dawn."
...
Ryan Rowan, the Emperor of the Alabasta Empire from eight hundred years ago, is revived!
This explosive news, spread by newspapers, swept across the entire sea like a storm.
...
"Hey, hey, hey, I ordered a newspaper, when did it turn into a science fiction magazine?"
"An old guy from eight hundred years ago, revived?!"
"This is a setup that even science fiction novels wouldn't dare to use!"
"..."
Civilians, nobles, Marines, pirates...
Countless people were surprised by the information published in the newspaper, but they had to force themselves to believe it.
After all, the World Government's newspaper was their main source for understanding world events, and the messages it published had never been wrong.
Back then, when the newspaper published the news that the Pirate King Gold D Roger had been arrested by the Marines, not many people believed it!
...
However, Alabasta is not the heavily guarded Impel Down. Even ordinary people have ways to confirm the truth of this news.
Many people contacted their friends and relatives in Alabasta via Den Den Mushi, and received a definite answer.
That emperor from eight hundred years ago, Golden Dawn Ryan Rowan, had indeed been revived and was currently in the royal palace of Alubarna.
At the same time, people also learned some reassuring news.
According to the residents of Alabasta, the emperor from eight hundred years ago was not a terrifying, war-loving tyrant.
On the contrary, he looked like an ordinary person wearing light armor.
He would laugh, drink, and marvel at the taste of food. He would be helpless against naughty children.
But at the same time, he was also very strong.
Someone had personally seen him throw a black spear, directly destroying a slave trader's huge warship!
...
A certain pirate crew.
They had just obtained a log pose pointing to Alabasta, planning to go to that famous superpower for supplies.
But the pirate captain saw today's newspaper.
"Turn around, go back,"
The pirate captain said to his first mate, "I don't want to be the one to test the bottom line of an emperor from eight hundred years ago!"
...
This scene happened in various seas.
The pirates were unwilling to be the guinea pigs to test Rowan's bottom line, so they all planned to avoid contact with the country of Alabasta as much as possible until the situation became clear.
Thanks to this situation, the merchants who had business with Alabasta had a much quieter journey along the way.
They didn't know what kind of person Ryan Rowan was, but since he could deter pirates, that was great!
On the other hand, many people were curious.
What would that emperor from eight hundred years ago, Ryan Rowan, do next?
...
He just woke up.
Rowan woke up in his room.
The Alabasta royal family has always been known for its plainness and frugality, so the room was not large. Besides the bed, there were only some basic things like desks, chairs, paper and pens, but Rowan didn't care.
He put on his clothes, opened the curtains, pushed open the window, and took a deep breath.
The morning light of Alabasta was as comfortable as ever.
Well, only eight hundred years have passed, the sun is still the same sun, what's the difference?
...
After eating breakfast, Rowan went to the study.
As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw a small figure sitting at the desk, 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 the ancestor, the first sentence he said when we met for the first time in the morning made it impossible to answer.
Another cold voice came over.
"Hehehe, she arrived even earlier than me."
Rowan turned to look and saw Crocodile, with a cigar in his mouth, holding a book and reading.
Because it was the study, the cigar was not lit.
Crocodile did not give up. He was still wondering if he could find any clues about Pluton in the ancient books.
As for Vivi, the little princess was carefully organizing the discussion records about the "Four Seas Alliance."
Rowan rubbed Vivi's head, then smiled and asked, "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 of the idea of the Four Seas Alliance?"
"The truth?"
"The truth." Rowan nodded.
Crocodile thought for a while and smiled gloomily, "I think it's good."
Hearing this, Rowan was a little surprised. After all, Crocodile was a very practical person and shouldn't agree with Nefertari's idea.
"Tell me why?"
"Simple, because I think this Four Seas Alliance will be a tricky problem for the World Government."
Crocodile raised an eyebrow.
It felt like he was saying: You will definitely be curious about what I'm going to say next.
He felt very happy and instinctively took a puff of his cigar.
Hiss...
Um.
Not lit.
Rowan smiled and gestured for Crocodile to continue.
"Tsk!"
Crocodile was quite unhappy, but he frowned and gave his conclusion.
"The Four Seas Alliance can break the World Government's 'monopoly.'"
"If we can really bypass the World Government and establish close connections on this sea, then whether it's money, culture, resources, ships, weapons, or even... troops, we can get them easily!"
Crocodile became more and more excited.
After all, the purpose of his pursuit of Pluton was to obtain more powerful military power!
"Honestly, I don't think your friend is a 'gentle' person at all."
Crocodile raised an eyebrow and smiled, "He actually proposed such a war-crazed proposal!"
Rowan shook his head and asked, "Why?"
"Don't you understand?"
Crocodile closed the book, "In today's sea, the real military power is strictly controlled."
"Weapons, warships, gunpowder... everything is under the supervision of the World Government."
"Even the underworld is the same!"
"You don't really think the underworld is an existence outside the control of the World Government, do you?"
"But if there is such a force that has the ability to 'generate its own military power', then it means 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, "Then what do you think he will do?"
"He wants to make this sea a whole."
Rowan said slowly, "If it's Nefertari, he should focus on the Four Seas Alliance itself first."
Crocodile sneered, "Without power, how can you fight the World Government?"
Rowan replied slowly, "People are the power itself."
Crocodile said, "War will always come!"
Rowan nodded.
"But - the so-called war should be the ending, not the beginning."
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