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Three hours later...

In the tavern, Deuce looked around at the overflowing bottles of various spirits, tears welling up in his eyes.

He angrily picked up one of the bottles and gulped it down.

Immediately afterwards, Deuce was so overwhelmed by the spiciness that he almost spat out his tongue.

"Hey, this isn't spirits at all, it's practically just alcohol!"

This prescription is completely unreasonable!

Deuce glared fiercely at the tavern owner.

Despite Deuce's disapproving look, the landlady, holding the pile of fresh water in the backyard of the room, laughed heartily.

"Oh dear, honored guest, we've been so short of water lately that we've had to distill the liquor again and again."

But that means the alcohol content is at least higher, right? Haha!

While laughing, the proprietress led her employees to scoop up fresh water and drink it down in large gulps.

Although the fresh water in front of me wasn't cool in the hot air, it was actually a bit warm.

But the proprietress and her group still let out those incredibly refreshing yawns, as if they were drinking iced cola...

Beside him, Ace, who was taking a big gulp of strong liquor, patted Deuce on the shoulder.

"Haha, Deuce, don't worry about the details."

"This conscientious merchant sells such pure liquor, it's so fiery you can practically burst into flames with just one sip, isn't that great?"

As he spoke, Ace took another big gulp of wine, then let out a fiery burp reeking of alcohol...

Seeing Ace's carefree attitude, Deuce was furious.

"How dare you say that, Ace? You've replaced all our fresh water with spirits!"

Things are alright now, but what about next?

It takes at least five days to store the Log Pose in Alabasta. What do people drink during those five days?

"You can't drink seawater!"

"Relax, relax, guests. If you really don't have any fresh water, we can also sell special seawater distillers here."

One of those machines can provide about 300 milliliters of fresh water per day. One person only needs to buy five or six machines to meet their needs for the whole day!

However, we can't use Beli to settle the payment; we need fresh water to buy the machine!

As soon as the landlady finished speaking, Deuce and Ace suddenly burst out with completely different shouts.

Deuce: "Damn it, you swindler!"

Ace: "Really? What a conscientious merchant!"

After saying that, they both looked at each other, and Deuce muttered something in dissatisfaction.

"How could they be honest businesses? They took all our fresh water and then told us we needed to buy a seawater distiller!"

How could we possibly have the money to buy it?

At the same time, Ace laughed and patted Deuce the shoulder.

"Don't think like that. We need to look at it from a different perspective. In Alabasta, fresh water is money."

So, when the shop owner sold us the distiller, wasn't it the same as selling us a money printing machine?

Money can actually be distilled slowly on its own!!!

At this point, Ace suddenly remembered something, and he abruptly turned to look at the landlady.

"Wait, ma'am, isn't distillation just a matter of high temperature?"

I'm not very educated, so I don't really understand, but it should be about turning water into steam, right?

At this point, Ace looked around and then laughed as he addressed the crowd.

"I'm a user of the Mera Mera no Mi, heating up seawater is a piece of cake for me. How about we pull off a heist together?"

I'll warm up the seawater, you guys prepare the tools to collect fresh water, and then we'll split it 20/80 – I'll get 80% and you get 20%!

If I can get enough fresh water, I might be able to use it to buy enough Treasure Tree Adam Wood!

"A city as big as Alabasta couldn't possibly be without even a single Treasure Tree Adam's Wood, could it?"

"Of course, my esteemed partner!!!"

As soon as Ace finished speaking, the proprietress next to him started trembling with happiness.

She grabbed Ace's hand!

"I'll prepare enough tarpaulins right here by the dock. You heat them up, and I'll collect the steam!"

However, a 20/80 split won't work; you'll have to pay extra. If you're really that good, you'll need a lot of people to collect steam for you!

It should be at least 37%!

"So be it. I'm not really going to use fresh water as money anyway. I just need to exchange it for some materials from the Treasure Tree Adam to repair and upgrade my ship!"

Ace immediately gripped the landlady's hand tightly.

Feeling the warmth of Ace's hand, the proprietress felt as if she were experiencing the warmth of her husband who had been dead for many years.

The proprietress looked at Ace with a happy expression.

"Quickly, let's get started without delay!"

I'm going to turn my tavern into a water bar, and then make it the biggest and strongest, achieving even greater glory!!!

"As you say, we'll start right away!"

Deuce, go check if there's a shipyard or auction house around here!

Treasure Tree Adam is beckoning to us!

With Ace's final words, the two of them successfully reached an agreement.

Then, five hours later...

When Crocodile arrived in Katorea...

What he saw was a scene of hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people gathered at the docks and along the coastline, cheering as they used various steam-absorbing devices to collect scalding hot fresh water...

At this moment, Ace was standing at the bow of his ship, with a fireball, a hundred meters in diameter and resembling a small sun, floating in front of him.

The fireball floated on the water at the edge of the dock, and huge plumes of steam were boiling and gushing out of the sea nearby.

Seeing the thick steam rising into the sky, the proprietress and Deuce and his group used metal and wood to build a huge tarpaulin to block out the thickest part of the steam.

The water droplets formed by the condensation of steam gradually converged into a small stream, slowly sliding down the oilcloth into the prepared water tank!

And often, before the water could even fill a vat, it would be bought up by all sorts of merchants with strange and unusual items.

The merchants even organized mercenary groups to prevent the surrounding civilians from looting them.

Soon, Ace's ship was filled with all sorts of gold ornaments.

After buying the fresh water, the merchants actually transported it to the outskirts of the crowd of millions and started selling it.

Logically, with stable freshwater revenue, the price of freshwater should fall.

But there were millions of people present. Watching others buy fresh water first and drink to their heart's content drove all the remaining people, who hadn't had enough water in a long time, into a frenzy.

And just like that, the price of fresh water kept rising...

This is what Crocodile saw, and when the gathered people saw Crocodile...

"Ahhh! Oh no! National hero Crocodile is here!"

"Great Hero Crocodile, that pirate is a really good person, let's not capture him yet!"

"Yes, this pirate is a good person just like you. He's actually helping us produce fresh water. If those merchants weren't selling it for such a high price, I would have knelt down before him!"

"Lord Crocodile, could we wait a while before capturing these pirates, until they stop producing fresh water?"

"Hero, let's capture these pirates and then produce fresh water together. If you were in charge of distributing the fresh water, a kind person like you certainly wouldn't be like those capitalists who squeeze money out of you like crazy!"

"Yes, sir, let's capture them and force those pirates to continue producing fresh water!"

If we were in charge, we certainly wouldn't act like those damned businessmen, charging exorbitant prices to our own people and neighbors!

In an instant, all sorts of sounds reached Crocodile's ears.

Surrounded by civilians with their own differing thoughts, Crocodile pursed his lips and let out a long sigh.

Honestly, he really wanted to kill Ace. That bastard's actions had reduced the drought pressure on the city by countless times.

I have put in a lot of effort and expended countless hours to absorb the moisture from the sea.

As a result, that damned Devil Fruit User pried open a gap!

Most importantly, no matter how angry I am right now, I must still show gratitude to that Fire Fist!

Because I am Crocodile, a national hero!

Of course, one cannot kill pirates who have brought help to the common people against their will!

After assessing the situation, Crocodile immediately put on a smiling face and walked towards Ace's ship.

In the distance, aboard the Piece of Spadille, Deuce saw Crocodile being escorted by a crowd as he approached.

He moved closer to Ace and spoke to Ace, who was focused on maintaining the fireball.

"Ace, Crocodile from the Shichibukai is here!"

Haha, he seems to be doing quite well. Everyone here knows him and calls him a hero!

"Ha?!!"

Upon hearing this, Ace immediately looked in Crocodile's direction.

Seeing Crocodile being welcomed by almost everyone, Ace looked on with envy.

"That's amazing! To have gained the approval of the entire city, no wonder he's Shichibukai!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ace continued to maintain the fireball while charging towards Crocodile.

In the distance, watching Ace gradually approach, Crocodile took a deep breath.

The next moment, he waved to Ace in a friendly manner.

"I rushed over as soon as I heard about the pirates in Katorea, but I never expected that what came today wasn't pirates at all, but our saviors!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Crocodile rushed in front of Ace and grabbed Ace's hand.

"Young man, your name is Ace, right? I am Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. On behalf of all my fellow countrymen in Cotlina, I must thank you for your kindness and help!"

"Hey-hey!"

Hearing Crocodile's words, Ace adjusted his hat in shame.

"I'm just doing what I can, and I'm not doing it for free!"

"While producing fresh water has helped you a little, I'm also being paid. I only did this for the materials needed for the Treasure Tree Adam."

"That's nothing!"

Hearing Ace's words, Crocodile responded loudly.

"Whatever your motives for doing this, we should remember the help you have brought to the people of this city."

The result is far more important than the start or the process!

What you did truly saved many people from water shortages, and for doing so, you certainly deserve the title of hero!

But..."

Crocodile then raised his voice again, speaking with righteous indignation.

"But no matter what, you shouldn't have charged the common people so much money!"

Okay, don't you need the materials for the Treasure Tree Adam?

After disbanding my pirate crew, I decided to retire to the beautiful and prosperous city of Alabasta.

My old pirate ship is now abandoned and sitting in the museum I prepared for it.

And a large part of that ship's hull was built from the Treasure Tree Adam that I bought in Water 7!

Now, I've decided to formally give you my old ship; that number of Treasure Tree Adam should be enough to satisfy your needs.

So, Fire Fist Ace, I hope you can provide fresh water to the people here for free!!!

At this point, Crocodile's triumphant voice seemed to pierce the sky, and his words caused waves of thunderous cheers to erupt from all the civilians who heard them.

People shouted Crocodile's name with great excitement, then looked at Ace expectantly, waiting for Ace's decision.

On the other side, Ace was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.

"Crocodile, you really are a great person!"

I understand, I don't need to continue trading fresh water anymore!

From this moment forward, all fresh water will be free, and all the gold on my ship will be returned to its original owners!

At this point, Ace spread his arms wide, and as the fireball rapidly expanded to a diameter of two hundred meters, two more equally enormous fireballs appeared on the surrounding sea!

The crowd waiting for the steam was immediately in an uproar, and they sped up their efforts to gather fresh water!

Crocodile.

He gritted his teeth slightly, then nodded with a smile.

"As expected of this year's Supernova, Fire Fist Ace, I admire you!"

Let me help you! Although my Devil Fruit ability can't get you water, I can at least help maintain order at the scene!

As soon as he finished speaking, Crocodile immediately took control of the water-fetching team.

Countless grains of sand floated into the air, forming various guardrails and roadblocks made of sand and dust.

Soon, the people around them gradually became more orderly, following the cordon set up by Crocodile.

Walking along the police cordon, countless people were expressing their feelings.

Fortunately, they encountered this passing pirate, and fortunately, their country had a national hero like Crocodile, who was so generous and righteous that he was willing to sacrifice his own money to bring fairness to the common people!

So while they were queuing, they also offered their blessings to Crocodile in their hearts.

Little did people know that Crocodile, with a beaming smile on his face, only wanted to say one thing to Ace.

He really wanted to point his finger at Ace and yell at him, "I gave you the old ship made by Treasure Tree Adam, and you're still not in a hurry to leave!"

Are you even a pirate anymore?!

You're practically a hero in the eyes of the common people of Katorea City, just like me!!!

Time flies, and seventeen days have passed since Ace and Crocodile met.

Because of its enormous size, the Dark Bird Ship was much slower than ordinary ships.

The journey to Alabasta by Cobra by boat takes about five to seven days.

But it took the Dark Bird Ship seventeen days to finally catch a glimpse of the distant coastline of Alabasta and its bustling docks.

The bustling dock drew most of the cadres to the bow of the ship, who gazed with interest into the distance.

Among the crowd, Rayleigh was clearly the most eager. After seeing the three small suns floating on the sea, he smiled with great emotion and said...

"Those three fireballs over there must be the Mera Mera no Mi!"

Haha, I've finally met Ace!

Judging from the fact that people around him were constantly thanking him, this kid shouldn't be such a bad guy, haha!

But...

I'm really worried that Garp will raise Ace to be a complete idiot like himself!!!

Tickets, please!