The sudden voice drew everyone's attention.
A man wearing a cowboy hat, with a few freckles on his face and a string of red beads around his neck, walked out of the smoke and dust.
Despite the blazing sun overhead, the man was bare-chested, showing no concern about getting sunburned.
Or perhaps, to this man,
Compared to the potential harm brought by the harsh environment, openly displaying the pride on his back at all times was far more important.
"Ace!!!"
Looking at the man who emerged from the smoke and dust, the famously face-blind Luffy instantly recognized him. He became so excited that he started wriggling around in Maud's grasp like a silkworm pupa.
"That man is Luffy's brother!?"
The somewhat flustered Straw Hat Pirates stared at Ace as he walked over slowly. Along with their surprise, they also felt that he looked vaguely familiar.
"Fire Fist Ace."
Maud calmly watched Ace, feeling slightly surprised.
Before Ace had spoken, he had already sensed the aura rapidly approaching through the smoke and dust.
He had assumed that aura belonged to someone from the Donquixote Family, but he had never expected it to be Fire Fist Ace.
He vaguely remembered that Ace had indeed appeared during the Alabasta arc.
For him to appear at this point in time meant that the potential butterfly effect had not influenced Ace's movements.
Maud pondered inwardly.
"Yo, Luffy."
Ace approached, his gaze passing over Maud and settling on Luffy, who had been bound up like a dumpling by shadow chains and was moving in a rather comical manner.
After a moment, having finished his greeting, Ace shifted his gaze and stared intently at Maud.
"Please let go of my brother, Shichibukai... Maud."
"What if I don't?"
With a smile, Maud suppressed Luffy's wriggling. Then he began