Baro——
Former Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.
Disciple of former Marine Admiral [Black Hand] Zephyr, currently the base commander of the Marine's Alabasta-gt branch, retaining his Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral rank.
After the Sky Island established diplomatic ties with Alabasta, the "air route" connecting them was created.
This "air route" stretching down from ten thousand meters high is a rare sight even in the Grand Line.
For many years, no port could directly reach the mysterious Sky Island, let alone have a corresponding port on the Sky Island to receive ships.
Therefore, this "air route" was a "miracle" for ships at sea, no less significant than the Sky Island itself.
And this "miracle route" was also called the "Road of Clouds" by the merchant fleets!
As this Road of Clouds became known to the world, at Marine Headquarters, Tsuru and Sengoku, who were responsible for decision-making, recognized the "significance" of the Four Seas Alliance.
As for a commercial alliance, the Marines, and even the World Government, could not stop the development of the Four Seas Alliance.
If the Four Seas Alliance were allowed to grow unchecked, or if they rashly tried to suppress it, the consequences would be something neither the Marines nor the World Government wanted to see.
Therefore, the Marine Headquarters Great Adviser, Tsuru, proposed a plan:
To specially establish a Marine branch in the "heart" of the Four Seas Alliance, Alabasta, named the gt branch!
This proposal was smoothly passed with little resistance.
It's understandable, really. Who at Marine Headquarters had the authority to block a proposal that both Tsuru and Sengoku agreed to?
...
Oh, and Garp.
But he was taking a nap at the time, and Tsuru didn't wake him.
...
In short, the proposal to establish the gt branch met little resistance.
Even the World Government felt the same.
They were naturally happy to have Marine influence set up in the superpower Alabasta, which would greatly contribute to maintaining stability in Alabasta and its surrounding areas.
— As long as Alabasta "agreed."
Or rather, as long as Ryan Rowan, the [Golden Dawn] behind Alabasta, "agreed"!
Anyone could see that this emperor from eight hundred years ago seemed to have other ideas about the World Government.
This was definitely not someone who would stay quiet!
Therefore, establishing a Marine branch in Ryan Rowan's territory was akin to provoking a tiger, a suicidal act.
Although, perhaps due to their official "Marine" status, Ryan Rowan might not directly harm the Marines stationed in Alabasta, there were still many ways to make someone suffer.
Not to mention anything else.
If Ryan Rowan banned nearby merchant ships from trading with the gt Marine branch and heavily searched the Marine warships delivering supplies, they could completely cut off the gt branch's supply lines.
At that point, let alone training new Marines, it would be a question of whether the already stationed Marines could even remain in the branch!
— Of course, such methods might seem crude, merely a possible analogy, and Ryan Rowan might not actually use them.
However, one thing was certain.
The assignment to go to Alabasta and participate in the establishment of the gt branch was by no means an easy task; it might even cost one's life!
...
This point was actually not crucial.
Among the Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals, every single one of them was someone "not afraid of death."
This group of people had long been prepared, always ready to die fighting pirates on the battlefield.
Of course, there weren't many "pirates" on this sea that could make them fight to the death.
In short, "death" did not instill fear in these Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals, let alone a little difficulty from the host country.
But the key issue was that the Marines' objective was to try and achieve peaceful coexistence between the Marines and the Four Seas Alliance, and to maximize the "benefits" the Four Seas Alliance could bring to the Marines.
To achieve this crucial ultimate goal, there weren't many remaining candidates among the Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals.
Established Vice Admirals like Momonga and Yamakaji were too well-known, easily provoking subconscious "hostility" from the Alabasta side.
Among the new generation of Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals, many were radicals who would find it difficult to coexist peacefully with the Four Seas Alliance.
After a thorough screening, the former Marine Admiral and current Marine recruit instructor, [Black Hand] Zephyr, proposed a candidate—
Baro.
This fellow was not well-known at Marine Headquarters.
The only notable point about Baro was his straightforward demeanor; he was someone who couldn't keep secrets in his heart.
Therefore, after Zephyr's suggestion, many expressed their doubts.
Could the important task of representing the Marines in contact with the Four Seas Alliance really be entrusted to someone who appeared somewhat foolish?
Tsuru looked at Baro's file, pondered for a moment, and gave an affirmative answer.
"Hehehehe, this young man might actually be the one."
Tsuru looked at Sengoku and explained with a smile, "He's slow-witted, but precisely because he's so slow-witted, he might actually be able to get along peacefully with that emperor from eight hundred years ago."
...
And so it was.
Upon arriving in Alabasta, Baro was indeed warmly welcomed by Ryan Rowan.
The establishment of the gt Marine branch was also treated with the highest level of courtesy by the Four Seas Alliance, and Ryan Rowan did not even show any dissatisfaction with Baro's public recruitment of Marines!
Most of the Marines did not understand the purpose of Ryan Rowan's actions.
After all, allowing the Marines to recruit personnel on his territory did not seem like a profitable deal.
Only Tsuru and Sengoku vaguely saw the clue—
Letting the Marines compete for personnel with the Four Seas Alliance?
Of course not!
Ryan Rowan was trying to cultivate "Marines" belonging to the Four Seas Alliance!
Whether this was good or bad for the Four Seas Alliance, the Marines, and the World Government, Tsuru and Sengoku could not clearly say.
But in any case, the Marines did establish a long-term cooperative relationship with the Four Seas Alliance.
This was certainly a good thing, but Sengoku was still curious why Baro, this somewhat simple Marine, got along so well with Ryan Rowan.
To this, Tsuru's answer was rather thought-provoking.
"Because there's something 'common' between them, Sengoku."
Tsuru said slowly:
"Both of them are 'outsiders'..."
...
Ryan Rowan was an outsider in this sea.
Baro was the same.
He held the pirate captain's head in his hand, trying to persuade the cornered pirate with his own words to put down his weapon and surrender on the spot.
This was, of course, impossible.
The pirate captain suddenly tensed up, pulled out a smoke bomb from his chest, and then slammed it hard on the ground.
Puff!
Smoke billowed everywhere, and the pirate captain used the opportunity to break free from Baro's grasp.
He picked up a steel sword nearby and prepared to confront this scoundrel who had suddenly appeared on his ship.
But when the smoke cleared and Baro's appearance was revealed, the people on deck couldn't help but freeze.
This burly Marine strongman was now shedding tears and snot!
His hand was wrapped in black Armament Haki, and he grabbed a spear that was trying to sneak-attack him.
Then, with a "snap," he crushed the steel spearhead!
"Why can't I ever persuade you guys?"
Baro, was crying.
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