One Piece: I'm Destined to Be the Son-in-Law King!-Chapter 226: Drought or Rain?

The morning sun peeked through the curtains. Uta, still drowsy, wandered downstairs, unaware of the night's events. Her eyes widened as she spotted two figures slumped in the lobby, covered in bruises and blood.

"Who are those two?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Roya dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about it, just some petty thieves who got what they deserved."

He glanced at the two unconscious CP9 agents, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. Yamato had taken care of them before he even came back last night. That girl is sharp, he thought, nothing escapes her notice. He remembered her strength, how easily she could shatter Iron Body.

"Time to set sail!" Roya announced, his voice full of enthusiasm.

"Okay!" Uta chirped, her earlier unease forgotten.

The Frost Wolf Mini sliced through the waves, leaving the port behind, its bow pointed towards Reverse Mountain. Alabasta was next. It was a powerful kingdom, an ideal place for a concert, and a necessary stop on their way to Sky Island.

Roya stood at the helm, the wind whipping through his hair. Behind him, Yamato and Uta were in fits of laughter, riding Little Pink around the deck. With the Log Pose guiding them, they could sail straight to Alabasta, saving precious time.

But time is slipping away, Roya thought, a knot of worry tightening in his stomach. He had been pushing himself relentlessly, training every day, but his progress felt agonizingly slow. The Five Elders... He had a feeling they would summon him before his vacation was over. He needed to become stronger, and fast. Training was essential, but it was the crucible of battle, the clash with powerful foes, that truly forged strength. I need to stir things up a bit, he mused.

---

Two weeks later, the Frost Wolf Mini arrived at Alabasta's bustling port. Fullbody and Bege's fleets had arrived ahead of them and had already made contact with the royal family. King Cobra, a strong supporter of the Peace Band, had offered them the best venue for their concert and promised to help with promotion. The entire kingdom buzzed with anticipation for the upcoming event.

As soon as Roya and his companions stepped ashore, soldiers of the Royal Army appeared, ready to escort them to the royal capital. Roya noticed a commotion in the town.

"What's going on over there?" he inquired.

Captain Bell, the army's vice-captain, replied with a touch of embarrassment. "A pirate was causing trouble, but Mr. Crocodile took care of him before we could intervene. We can't thank him enough." Since Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had come to Alabasta, he had consistently dealt with any pirates before they could cause harm. He was a hero, preventing losses and rescuing civilians.

"I see," Roya said, a smile playing on his lips. "Captain Bell, would you mind introducing me? I'd like to pay Mr. Crocodile a visit."

"Of course!" Captain Bell responded eagerly. "Mr. Crocodile resides in Rainbase. We can take you there if you have the time."

"Thank you," Roya said with a nod, steering the conversation in another direction. "I've heard Alabasta is facing a severe drought. Is that true?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Captain Bell said with a weary sigh, his face etched with worry. "Except for the Royal Capital, the rest of the cities haven't seen rain in two years. Sandstorms are becoming more frequent, and the Sandora River is drying up. Eluma, downstream, has already been destroyed." The Sandora River was Alabasta's lifeblood, the foundation upon which all its cities were built. Without it, the entire kingdom faced ruin. The lack of rain, coupled with the relentless sandstorms, was devastating. And the fact that only the Royal Capital received rain had fueled rumors that the King was secretly using rain-making agents, causing the drought in the rest of the kingdom.

"Hmm," Roya murmured, nodding thoughtfully. He knew Crocodile was behind the drought, but it was the Warlord's power, and there was no way to investigate openly. But , an idea sparked in his mind. "Captain Bell, I have an idea before the concert. I hope you can help me."

Roya explained his plan, leaving Captain Bell speechless. "Can this really be done?"

"It doesn't hurt to try, does it?" Roya replied with a sly grin. Since he couldn't directly accuse Crocodile, he would lure him into revealing himself.

---

Three days later, Rainbase. The city was a haven of prosperity, Crocodile's stronghold, and the only place untouched by the drought.

Inside the opulent "Rain Dinners" Casino, Robin held a concert poster, her head tilted in contemplation. "That Black Hair is here. Are you interested?"

"Whatever," Crocodile said, swirling the wine in his glass, a cold glint in his eyes. "That sailor who saw the rain-making agent ship... Did you dispose of him?"

"Yes, he's been taken care of," Robin said, her face expressionless. The rain-making agent plan had been in motion for two years. There had been a few close calls, but they had been handled discreetly. No one would ever trace the ship back to Rainbase.

"Brrr Brrr~" The Den Den Mushi rang.

"Yes, I understand," Robin said, picking up the snail phone. After listening to her subordinate's message, she turned to Crocodile. "Boss, that Black Hair wants to see you."

"Hmm?" Crocodile frowned. His dream plan was only a year away from fruition, and internal strife was brewing. He didn't want any disruptions, and he certainly didn't want to clash with Black Hair. Why is Black Hair looking for me?

"Ha ha ha ha!" Crocodile boomed, a hearty laugh echoing through the room. Whatever Black Hair's purpose, he would find out soon enough. He was also curious about the man who had taken down Doflamingo.

---

Meanwhile, in the casino lobby, Roya sat at a gambling table, playing cards with feigned interest. Should I just kill Crocodile? he wondered. Alabasta was a superpower with over ten million people and one of the original twenty kingdoms. Its friendship would be invaluable. But Crocodile was a hero to Alabasta, and King Cobra likely trusted him. Besides, he had the status of a Warlord. A reckless move was out of the question. Crocodile wasn't like Doflamingo, with his fatal weakness.

"Ha ha ha ha!" A booming laugh echoed from across the room.

Crocodile approached and sat down opposite the gambling table. "What an unexpected guest, Vice Admiral Black Hair."

"Mr. Crocodile," Roya said, a slight smile on his face. "I apologize for the intrusion."

"Vice Admiral Black Hair doesn't need to be so polite. We are allies, after all," Crocodile said, his gaze piercing, as if trying to see through Roya's façade. "I wonder what brings Vice Admiral Black Hair to my humble abode?"

"Nothing much. I heard about your contributions to Alabasta and wanted to pay my respects. It's not often you see a Warlord of the Sea this dutiful." Roya stood up and gestured towards the outside. "By the way, Mr. Crocodile, I've prepared a gift for you. Would you like to come out and take a look?"

"Gift?" Crocodile frowned, wary of Roya's intentions, but he agreed to follow him outside.

The two men stepped out of the casino and into the scorching heat.

"Just wait a moment; it'll be ready soon," Roya said, looking up at the clear sky.

Soon, thick clouds began to gather, pouring out of the azure sky that had remained unchanged for two years. The sky gradually darkened.

"Crack!" Thunder rumbled over Rainbase.

People rushed out of their homes, staring at the dark clouds in astonishment.

Raindrops began to fall, pattering on their skin and the parched earth. The residents realized what was happening.

"It's raining!" After two long years, rain was finally falling!

The rain intensified, quickly turning into a torrential downpour.

Roya turned to Crocodile, who was drenched from head to toe, and his smile widened. "Mr. Crocodile, do you like this gift?"

"..." Crocodile clenched his fist, his face contorted with rage.

That Black Hair kid, how dare you deceive me!

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[T/N:

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