Rain swept across all of Alabasta like a storm, drenching the entire desert. Even the blazing sun overhead no longer felt so merciless.
Ren said, "You're Alabasta's princess? You can fly my flag. Your country will come under my protection too."
At those words, Vivi, who had already been thrilled by the rain, grew even more excited.
Crocodile, on the other hand, looked furious as the rain battered him. He knew that if Ren protected Alabasta, his plan could never succeed. A story had once spread through the New World: a pirate crew had attacked a village under Ren's protection, and every member had been slaughtered. Even pirates associated with that crew had been killed.
No one was allowed to trespass on Ren's territory.
Crocodile fell silent, then said coldly, "We're leaving."
Ace watched Crocodile turn away and called out, "Crocodile! Come back with me and see Pops this time. He really wants to see you!"
Crocodile roared in anger, "Get lost! I don't want to see that bastard! If he wants to see me, he can come here himself!"
Ace shook his head. "Hey, hey. Making your father come to see his own daughter? That's not very filial of you."
"Screw you! I'll fight you right here! Call me his daughter one more time and you'll never hear the end of it!" Crocodile roared.
Being called a woman made Crocodile genuinely furious.
He glared at Ace with even greater venom.
Ace, however, looked relieved. "Maybe it's better if you don't go. I don't want Pops pressuring me to marry you. If you were a beautiful woman, that would be one thing, but a woman who's changed sex? I couldn't take it."
Ace hadn't spoken loudly, and the rain made him harder still to hear. But this Crocodile wasn't the