What exactly is inside that ship?
Crocodile didn't want to ask Rowan directly, because that would annoy him.
So until they arrived at the dock, he was still observing the ship, but still couldn't figure it out.
Rowan glanced at Crocodile and suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, the World Government has been much quieter this past month."
Crocodile nodded, obviously distracted, and replied casually:
"Of course, after all, you gave them a 'reason' they couldn't refuse on Drum Island."
Not long after leaving Drum Island, Crocodile also learned what Rowan had done.
Destroying an island - that might take some effort for Crocodile, but it's not difficult.
But to simply split an island in half without making any noise, while the gap between the two halves is less than a hair's breadth, that's pretty outrageous.
As Crocodile spoke, his eyes stared intently at the ship.
He really wanted to know how Rowan was going to make this ship fly into the sky.
Rowan rubbed his chin, feeling that Crocodile was acting strangely, so he simply said, "Why don't you ask, and I'll answer?"
Crocodile glanced at Rowan and lit a cigar for himself.
"I won't!"
Then, he turned into a sandstorm and flew onto the ship.
The moment he set foot on the deck, Crocodile was suddenly stunned and felt even more uneasy.
This ship... is too steady. It doesn't feel like a warship for long voyages, more like a passenger ship.
High-end passenger ships deliberately increase the ship's weight to maintain its stability at sea, for the comfort of the passengers on board.
But at the same time, this also reduces the ship's sailing speed, making it unsuitable for long-range warships.
But this ship now not only has a large draft, but the whole ship is also very stable in the sea.
Crocodile stomped his foot on the deck.
If it's supplies, it seems like there's too much.
Could this ship be carrying a lot of other cargo?
While he was wondering, the others also put the wooden planks on the deck, and Rowan led them onto the ship.
Among these people were the Alabasta Royal Guard led by Bell, the Fish-Man warriors led by the Fish-Man Hocka, and the Drum Kingdom elite guard led by Dalton.
In addition, a medical team jointly formed by doctors from Alabasta and the Drum Kingdom followed closely behind. They all volunteered to go and had some fighting ability.
The three forces plus a medical team added up to nearly two hundred people.
For an army, the number of people is clearly not enough, but the quality of this team is extremely high.
Two animal-type Devil Fruit users, more than a dozen Fish-Man warriors, plus the elite forces and medical teams of two countries.
Not to mention Rowan and Crocodile, who are both Logia-type Devil Fruit users, such a lineup alone is enough to sweep through a small country like the Drum Kingdom, let alone ordinary pirate groups.
Moreover, Rowan's purpose in going to Sky Island is to establish diplomatic relations, not to fight a war. As an "expedition" to Sky Island, the strength of this team is already sufficient.
So Crocodile thought about it and the question came back to him.
Are they going to rely on that animal-type bird-man to carry these people into the sky one by one?
He smoked his cigar, frowned slightly, and felt very annoyed.
...
After three days and two nights of sailing, the originally calm Log Pose finally changed.
It began to become unstable, sometimes pointing forward and sometimes pointing towards the sky.
An Alabasta navigator informed Rowan of this situation.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Rowan nodded slightly, thanked the navigator, and then suddenly asked, "Do you have any paper? Like the kind in a notebook, just one sheet."
The navigator quickly tore off the last page of his notebook and handed it to Rowan.
Rowan took the page and stepped onto the deck from the cabin.
The Fish-Man Hocka and two other Fish-Man warriors had been waiting for a long time.
"Mr. Rowan."
Hocka nodded to Rowan, "We are ready."
"Be careful."
Rowan instructed, then watched the three Fish-Men jump into the sea.
At the same time, the surrounding sailors began to get busy.
Crocodile noticed the actions of the others and also came to the deck.
He frowned.
During these few days of sailing, Crocodile had read a lot of information and finally had a rough idea of Rowan's plan.
Rowan probably wanted to come into contact with a very special sea condition called a "Knock Up Stream", which would push the ship into the sky, completing the so-called "ascension".
But as a result, many problems arise.
First of all, although Knock Up Streams are famous special sea conditions in the surrounding waters, it is impossible to easily predict the exact location where the sea condition will appear unless you are a local who has been observing the currents for a long time.
Secondly, even if you find the Knock Up Stream, ordinary people simply cannot survive in such a terrifying current without the help of a top navigator.
What is needed here is not just a "navigator", but a "top navigator"!
Regardless of strength, even the most powerful people cannot safely survive in a natural disaster that destroys everything.
Finally, and most importantly, even if you are extremely lucky, there is no guarantee that they can successfully land near Sky Island after the Knock Up Stream takes the ship to the sky.
Once you are pushed straight into the sky and don't happen to land near Sky Island, it means you will fall straight down from ten thousand meters, plunge into the sea, and everyone will be wiped out!
"The risk is too great..."
Crocodile lit a cigar. If it were him, he would definitely not choose such a risky method.
Rowan found a box and sat down, waiting silently without saying a word.
A dozen minutes later, Hocka and his two companions successfully returned and jumped onto the deck from the sea.
"Found it."
Hocka stretched his shoulders and said to Rowan, "Southwest, about two nautical miles from here, very close, and it's about to erupt."
Rowan nodded and ordered the helmsman to head in the direction Hocka said.
Crocodile watched this scene silently.
Using the Fish-Men to locate the specific location of the Knock Up Stream?
Great, now the first problem is solved, and there are two left.
Crocodile became more and more certain of his previous guess, and also understood why Rowan didn't bring Vivi along for this trip.
Whether it's flying into the sky on a Knock Up Stream or the harsh climate on Sky Island, neither is something a little girl can handle.
He leaned against the mast, watching as the ship he was on sailed to the place Hocka said.
A dozen minutes later, Crocodile heard a roar from the sea.
The stable ship began to shake violently, until it tilted and swayed!
The helmsman shouted, "Everyone to your positions, the rest grab the railings!"
The sailors immediately did as they were told, and Dalton and Bell were even more ready.
They had all learned from Rowan that this trip was extremely dangerous, but like Crocodile, they didn't know Rowan's specific plan.
The Fish-Man Hocka yelled, "Be careful, the Knock Up Stream is coming!"
Crocodile immediately elementalized his feet, using sand to fix himself to the deck, his face grave.
I hope that old monster really has a way, and isn't just going to gamble on that illusory "luck"!
A huge vortex was gradually forming on the sea surface, swallowing the ship the others were on, several meters below sea level.
That was the sign that the Knock Up Stream was about to erupt.
The entire ship began to shake violently, and the bow tilted downwards.
"Hey!"
Crocodile frowned and said to Rowan, "Use your plan quickly!"
He didn't believe that Rowan didn't have a backup plan.
But when Crocodile looked up at Rowan, he was even more puzzled.
He saw Rowan playing with the piece of paper he had gotten from the navigator earlier, folding the paper continuously, finally turning it into a "paper airplane."
"Whoosh..."
Rowan whistled and threw the paper airplane out.
The paper airplane followed the chaotic surrounding air currents, and together with the ship, was swept toward the center of the vortex.
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