Just as Sanji Meow challenged Ace, the pirates around them began clamoring.
Xie Wen pricked up his ears and listened, quickly piecing together what had happened.
The whole affair was simple. Ace had fought Sanji Meow twice, with one loss and one draw, so he had been looking to even the score ever since.
But once Ace caught up to him in strength, Sanji Meow cunningly began avoiding fights on the grounds that he was a cook, not a fighter.
Previously, Ace could do nothing about it, but once Sanji Meow got a wanted poster too, he began mocking his bounty to goad the little yellow cat into fighting.
The crucial point was...
He had taunted Sanji Meow in front of the older Palico girls, including Suika Meow, Hua Mei Meow, and Sasha Meow.
That struck the little yellow cat right where he was vulnerable, leading to the scene just now.
"That guy Ace... he's learned some bad tricks too!"
Stroking Klee Meow and Ai Haibara Meow in his arms, Xie Wen lamented with a pained expression, "He used to be such an innocent idi-uh... guy, and now he's setting traps for little kitties! Being a pirate really does corrupt people!"
Even with Whitebeard sitting right beside him, Xie Wen showed no mercy with his remarks.
Whitebeard and Ai Haibara Meow both gave him a sidelong look without saying anything.
Klee Meow, however, gently tugged at Xie Wen's clothes and asked in confusion, "But don't you trick Sanji like this all the time, Big Brother Xie Wen, meow?"
(=ω=)
Silly girl, why did you have to blurt out the truth?
Xie Wen pinched Klee Meow's little cheeks and completely ignored her question. "Come on, let's watch those two fight."
"Yaaay!"
(=＞＜=)
The little ragdoll's attention was immediately diverted. She quickly