What do you mean?
What did Ancestor really mean?!
The messenger had been in contact with Rowan for a while and knew that this seemingly dignified ancestor was actually quite approachable.
In fact, Rowan would often chat and laugh with ordinary soldiers.
In front of such a man, the messenger felt he didn't need to hide his emotions or questions too much.
That's precisely why he was so surprised by Rowan's retort.
...
The messenger asked:
"Ancestor, why don't we send troops to support Mr. Dalton and the others as soon as possible?"
Rowan paused and shot back:
"When did you get the mistaken idea that the only enemies are the Beasts Pirates?"
Such words immediately sent a chill down the messenger's spine.
It wasn't just the messenger; anyone involved in this battle in Alabasta would likely feel their scalp tingle at that question!
What was this talk of "getting the mistaken idea that the only enemies are the Beasts Pirates"?
Looking at Rowan's furrowed brow, the messenger had never seen his ancestor wear such an expression!
...
Rowan saw the messenger's confusion.
And what he was about to say truly needed to be conveyed to their side in the battle accurately and without error.
Therefore, Rowan waved his hand and conjured a perfect replica of an Alabasta model in his study.
He beckoned, signaling the messenger to come to the model sandbox with him.
"This place is the Rapeseed Flowers,"
Rowan pointed to a corner of the coastline.
Even though he had heard it many times, when the messenger actually witnessed Rowan's power to create a sandbox out of thin air, he couldn't help but marvel.
But Rowan's actions didn't stop there.
He gently wiggled his fingers.
Immediately, elements and characters such as "the Falling Ogre Island," "the Sand Giant," "King of Calamity, Jack" "King of Pestilence, Queen," "Dalton," "Four Seas Alliance Allied Soldiers," and "Beasts Pirates" appeared on the sandbox.
The messenger had never seen such a large and vivid collection of detailed models.
Upon closer inspection, these "models" were all moving in different ways.
The most obvious was the Sand Giant.
He had just shattered the Ogre Island, then consecutively knocked away King of Calamity, Jack, and heavily struck down "King of Beasts, Kaido" onto the ground.
His enormous size made him particularly prominent in this sandbox.
"Alabasta is a superpower, with a vast coastline. This is our country's advantage, but also one of the enemy's main attack points."
Rowan spoke slowly, then suddenly turned to the messenger and asked:
"King of Beasts, Kaido, what kind of person is he in your impression?"
"This..."
The messenger was taken aback. He had never expected his ancestor to ask him such a question!
After thinking for a while, the messenger tentatively replied, "King of Beasts, Kaido, is... a strong person?"
Rowan: "..."
He covered his eyes, sighed softly, and then lamented, "Ah, it was just a casual question, you didn't need to think too hard about it."
Messenger: "..."
After a brief interlude, Rowan continued his explanation:
"King of Beasts, Kaido, is a smart man."
"If he were truly just a brute as he appears, he wouldn't have been able to become one of the 'Four Emperors'."
Rowan's gaze deepened, and he smiled, "To become one of the Four Emperors, simply being 'strong' isn't enough. You must also possess a certain level of influence and 'necessity'."
This statement only made the messenger more confused.
While the idea that "becoming one of the Four Emperors requires a certain level of influence" was easy to grasp, the concept of "necessity" was something the messenger couldn't understand at all.
Rowan looked at the messenger's expression and explained:
"The so-called 'necessity' refers to their 'necessity' to continue existing in this sea."
After a moment's thought, Rowan added again:
"– For the World Government."
"Huh?"
The messenger became even more confused by Rowan's explanation.
What did "for the World Government" mean?
As pirates, weren't the Four Emperors supposed to be the complete opposite of the World Government?
In the messenger's view, the World Government should be wishing for the Four Emperors and all pirates to disappear as soon as possible. Why would the Four Emperors have a "necessity" for the World Government's existence?
This was beyond the messenger's comprehension.
Seeing this, Rowan wiggled his fingers, manipulating the surrounding sand to float, and asked:
"What is the 'Justice' held by the World Government?"
The messenger thought for a moment and then replied without hesitation: "Marines."
Indeed.
When it came to the "Justice" of the World Government, what could represent it better than the Marines, who themselves wore "cloaks of justice"?
Then, Rowan nodded slightly and asked a seemingly bizarre question.
"Since the Marines are Justice, why doesn't the 'Just' World Government simply call themselves 'Marines'?"
"What?"
The messenger was instantly confused.
He couldn't understand Rowan's question at all. What was all this about?
The Marines were an organization under the World Government, and beyond the "Just" Marines, the World Government had other functions.
Otherwise, this sea would be ruled by the Marines!
Thinking this, the messenger frowned slightly and pondered, "Is it because the World Government has other functions?"
Rowan narrowed his eyes and pressed, "What functions?"
The messenger shook his head, "I... can't quite explain it."
"I'll tell you."
Rowan grinned and suddenly said, "It's to rule the world!"
"Ah?"
The messenger's mouth hung open. He wanted to refute something, but after thinking it over, he found Rowan's description to be incredibly accurate!
Isn't the World Government the organization that rules the world?
But... then again, what does this have to do with the current situation in Alabasta? What does it have to do with the "necessity" of the Four Emperors' existence?
Rowan held up a finger and shaped some floating sand into the iconic seagull emblem of the Marines.
Then, he continued:
"To maintain rule over the world, the most important thing is to maintain the 'balance' of the world."
"A balance between 'good' and 'evil' – that is, a balance between 'Justice' and 'wickedness'."
Upon hearing this statement, the messenger suddenly froze.
He looked carefully at the Marine emblem made of sand and suddenly saw a faint "scale" within it.
One side of the scale was the Marines, and the other side was...
What?
"It's pirates – or rather, 'evil,' which includes pirates."
Rowan said sternly, "And the most significant 'chip' within 'evil' is the 'Four Emperors'!"
"Understand?"
Rowan looked at the messenger with a smile, and that smile and answer sent shivers down the messenger's spine.
"'Pirates' and 'Marines,' 'Four Emperors' and 'Marine Admirals,' are all necessary for the World Government to rule the world..."
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