Other cranes might not be able to say for sure.
But she was certain that Ryan Rowan of the "Golden Dawn" was not a man who would easily ask for help.
No matter the situation, this emperor from eight hundred years ago had always been accustomed to taking the lead, controlling the overall situation, and never being led by others' noses.
Therefore, when such a figure personally asked if someone could provide help, it meant that things might have gotten out of hand.
…
"Ms. Tsuru."
"Marine, if we arrange for the residents of Alabasta to evacuate as quickly as possible, what would the efficiency be?"
This question stirred something in Tsuru's heart.
After thinking for a moment, she finally replied, "Very slow."
"The Grand Line's Marine forces have very few large fleets available to mobilize."
Tsuru explained plainly, "Furthermore, Alabasta is already a famous superpower on the seas, with a permanent population of ten million. If you want to evacuate the entire country, the human, material, and financial resources required would be an astronomical figure."
"There isn't a single force or person on this sea that can achieve this."
This was certainly a disappointing answer.
If the person asking were truly a "king" anxious about the impending arrival of the Four Emperors, he would likely be very distressed right now.
Marine's inability to help meant that the World Government behind them could not offer assistance either.
Thus, in dealing with the impending arrival of the Four Emperors, they could only rely on themselves.
But the one asking Tsuru now was not an ordinary "king," but the Emperor of Alabasta, Ryan Rowan, the "Golden Dawn."
Therefore, after receiving the disappointing answer, Rowan merely nodded slightly.
"Understood, Ms. Tsuru."
Then, Rowan changed the subject and cautioned, "If you are coming to Alabasta, please be careful."
"Your Majesty the Emperor from eight hundred years ago, I don't deserve such an honor…"
Tsuru smiled wryly and shook her head helplessly.
She actually didn't want to communicate directly with Rowan, as it was too taxing.
Even for Tsuru, it was difficult to keep up with Ryan Rowan's train of thought.
If she had to draw a comparison, it felt as if Rowan's mind naturally had a "skip" button.
When she conversed with Ryan Rowan, they always seemed to skip the unnecessary parts and quickly move to the next options.
This was certainly a highly efficient way of conversing, but it made it difficult for ordinary people to understand what Rowan was saying, leading to Ryan Rowan's reputation for having "extremely jumpy thoughts."
Just like now.
After learning that "Marine cannot arrange the evacuation of Alabasta's permanent residents," Rowan paused briefly and immediately asked the next question:
"Ms. Tsuru, what is the probability of Marine initiating a Buster Call?"
The question was asked lightly, but the content made the nearby Marine soldiers involuntarily flinch.
What… how did Buster Call come into this?
That was Marine's ultimate weapon, capable of erasing a small island from existence, and only a Marine Admiral was qualified to initiate a Buster Call.
But one point had to be considered.
While Marine's Buster Call could easily destroy a country, its actual effectiveness against the mere four "Four Emperors" on the sea seemed somewhat awkward.
After all, those four were top-tier powerhouses capable of easily destroying a country with their bare hands!
Therefore, the surrounding Marine soldiers couldn't figure out the intention behind Rowan's question, and it was Tsuru who finally grasped it.
The "Buster Call" Rowan was referring to was not aimed at the Beasts Pirates, but rather asking Tsuru if there was a possibility of the World Government launching a Buster Call against the "Four Seas Alliance"!
Was there truly such a possibility?
Marine Headquarters – no.
World Government – yes.
Tsuru spoke, slowly saying, "Possibly, but the probability is not high, and Sengoku would receive advance notice, so it wouldn't be launched suddenly."
This answer provided Rowan with enough information to assess the potential future changes in the situation, which was sufficient.
"One last question."
Rowan spoke slowly, his voice calm.
Hearing this, Tsuru also took a deep breath, her mind racing again.
As the chief of staff of Marine Headquarters, she couldn't afford to lose face in front of Ryan Rowan.
Therefore, Tsuru had to react as quickly as possible to Rowan's questions and provide corresponding answers.
Afterward, Tsuru heard Rowan chuckle lightly.
"For the victory celebration afterward, do you have any dietary restrictions?"
This question stunned Tsuru and the Marine soldiers around her.
A moment later, Tsuru shook her head helplessly and smiled gently, "Just prepare whatever you can, Your Majesty the Emperor. I'll be bringing a large group of big eaters to freeload."
"Certainly, don't worry."
Rowan smiled and hung up the phone.
Then, he picked up a piece of coral from his desk. It was not ordinary coral; its material seemed exceptionally special.
Rowan blew hard on one end of the coral with his mouth, and a large air bubble emerged from the other end.
"The little trinkets of the Fish-Man race are indeed quite interesting."
…
That day, more than half of Alabasta's residents began to take action.
Most of them received notifications and, under the escort of the Royal Army, were to proceed to nearby coastal towns for advanced evacuation.
Coastal towns?
When Crocodile first heard this order, he was genuinely confused by Rowan's thinking.
If the Beasts Pirates truly intended to launch a war directly against Alabasta, then it should be the coastal town residents heading inland to avoid the conflict. Why was Rowan's action the opposite?
Soon, Crocodile understood the reason.
The Four Seas Alliance possessed an inherent advantage that no other maritime force had: excellent relations with the Fish-Man race.
Therefore, the Four Seas Alliance could acquire many unique items from the Fish-Man race.
For example, a special type of coral that could create tough and large bubbles, allowing ordinary humans to move freely underwater for a short period.
And when these bubbles reached a certain scale, they could create a refuge underwater large enough for many people to move and live in for a while!
The principle was very similar to Fish-Man Island, the homeland of the Fish-Man race.
Crocodile listened to Rowan's explanation, holding the special coral in his hand. He weighed it and then asked, "How many refuge sites have you prepared?"
Rowan extended his fingers and pointed below them.
"The seabed near Alabasta's coast is our refuge site."
Crocodile understood.
— Refuges, very, very many.
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