"Go to Heaven?"
Hearing this answer, Crocodile frowned, a little confused.
He had participated in some Four Seas Alliance meetings as a listener, so he had a general understanding of the action plan, which made him even more puzzled.
Rowan had said that in the early stages of establishing the Four Seas Alliance, they had to break the World Government's control as quickly as possible on a "non-violent" level, establishing fixed sea routes to make contact between different places closer.
The purpose of this trip to Drum Island was exactly this.
The group successfully built a "bridge" between Alabasta and Drum Island.
The establishment of this fixed sea route has turned the originally dangerous long voyage into a direct highway.
When traveling on it, if there are extreme weather conditions, local troops will provide support as quickly as possible.
As for the pirates, according to Rowan's plan, presumably soon no one would dare to easily attack ships flying the Four Seas Alliance flag.
Countless experts in the field of medicine will use this safe, fixed sea route to constantly travel between Alabasta and Drum Island, bringing their valuable knowledge with them.
By using the advantages of their respective countries, these scholars will eventually push the medical fields of both countries to new heights!
Research talents in the medical field are very important to a country, not only for the people's livelihood but also as a valuable resource in times of war.
At the same time, even if the World Government knows all this, it cannot change this fact.
Regular medical research is not the same as researching real history. The World Government cannot recreate the situation of Ohara, the island of archaeology.
Rowan has a firm grasp of the World Government's way of thinking, making it impossible for them to find a so-called "legitimate reason!"
And if you continue to think along these lines, Crocodile can come up with many fixed sea routes that are very important to establish.
For example, Water 7, known as the "world's shipyard," is where most of the Marine's warships are built by the island's shipwrights.
Even if the World Government would not allow Water 7 to build warships for Alabasta, the craftsmen of Alabasta could still learn shipbuilding techniques there through the sea route.
Like medicine, these techniques can be used for people's livelihood and can also play a "different" role at key moments.
Another example is Fish-Man Island, located 10,000 meters below Sabaody Archipelago in the deep sea.
The race war between fish-men and humans has been going on for a long time, and it is impossible for ordinary human kingdoms to establish sea routes with Fish-Man Island.
But Rowan is different.
Not long ago, he represented Alabasta in taking in a group of fish-men refugees - more accurately, fish-men slaves - and even helped them establish their own village.
This is something unimaginable for the fish-men!
This alone has given Rowan the qualifications to contact Fish-Man Island.
Forming an alliance with Fish-Man Island will bring the Four Seas Alliance something different from medicine or shipbuilding technology – a purer form of naval power!
How many people in this world can compete with the fish-men in the sea?
…
Crocodile thought his ideas were two good options, so he was even more puzzled by Rowan's words.
"You want to... go to Heaven?"
Rowan nodded. "Yes, go to Heaven."
"What's in Heaven?"
"An island," Rowan replied.
Hearing this, Crocodile understood what Rowan was saying.
An island in the sky – that is, a sky island.
Rowan's next step is to go to a sky island!
But after learning the truth, Crocodile was even more confused.
Sky islands – because of the relatively closed nature of the islands on the Grand Line, this name is completely a legend for people in the surrounding waters.
People who "only wander" in this sea do not believe in the existence of sky islands at all.
But Crocodile is different. After many years of traveling at sea, he naturally understands that so-called "sky islands" are just a special type of island that really exists.
He has even dealt with many sky islanders. Except for having two small wings on their backs, they are almost no different from ordinary people.
Crocodile laughed darkly. "I didn't know there was a sky island on this sea route."
"There is."
Rowan nodded. "Above Jaya Island, but this sea route lacks a normal way to get to that island, so no one has been there for many years."
Crocodile's eyes flickered slightly.
He wasn't curious about how Rowan knew this information; it was probably through some special channels.
What really made Crocodile wonder was something else.
"Why did you choose there for your next step?"
"Because it's in the sky."
Rowan replied.
Crocodile couldn't help but sneer and was about to say "that's obvious," but suddenly he seemed to have thought of something.
"Wait... in the sky?"
Rowan nodded, moving his finger to create a sand table model that was accurate to an unbelievable degree.
The first thing created was Alabasta.
"Before the Four Seas Alliance can completely gain a foothold, the World Government will definitely look for opportunities to interfere."
"On the military level, I believe I have given the World Government a good answer, so they will choose to obstruct on a business or regulatory level."
"Drum Island is a neighboring country, so it's easier to deal with, but Alabasta is too far from Water 7 or Fish-Man Island, and it must pass through several islands for supplies."
Rowan moved his fingers, outlining a sand table map of the first half of the Grand Line.
After connecting the islands with sand, the situation became clear at a glance.
"These islands are currently unrelated to the Four Seas Alliance, so they will definitely obey the orders of the World Government."
"They will either seize goods for inspection, or simply prohibit the crew of the Four Seas Alliance from leaving the country under the pretext of inspection."
"It's very troublesome to deal with this kind of thing without starting a fight."
Rowan said, suddenly laughing, "So, we have to establish a sea route that the World Government can't control."
He moved his fingers, and two sand islands suddenly appeared, located above and below Alabasta.
Crocodile's eyes narrowed, revealing a strange light.
Rowan continued to explain:
"Taking the fish-men village as a center, underwater, we can develop underwater villages connecting Fish-Man Island."
"As for the sky, once a fixed sea route to a sky island is established, the entire Four Seas Alliance can overcome the possible restrictions of the World Government, achieving a three-dimensional front integrating the sea, land, and sky!"
He waved his hand.
Whoosh…
The elaborate sand table scattered in the wind, leaving only Crocodile deep in thought.
After a few breaths, Crocodile finally fully understood Rowan's thinking and sighed.
Ryan Rowan's style of doing things has always been like this.
Although someone in the World Government will inevitably see Rowan's plan, they are truly helpless about it.
Crocodile lit a cigar for himself.
Rowan suddenly said from the side, "Speaking of which, going to Heaven is very troublesome, right?"
Crocodile nodded. "Indeed."
Rowan continued, "The unknown sky island is probably a very troublesome place, right?"
Crocodile nodded again. "Indeed."
Rowan asked again, "This time the operation requires bringing a lot of people, right?"
Although Crocodile felt that Rowan was asking too many questions, he nodded again and said, "Indeed."
Rowan immediately followed up, "So you will come too, right?"
Crocodile casually said, "Indeed."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Crocodile: "Huh?"
You can read 50+ more chapter on patreon com/JYouyi