Having traversed countless realms, can you possibly be as clever as me?

"Oh? So the Axis Cult is actually the Revolutionary Army's financial backer?" Robin looked slightly surprised, then asked疑惑地问道.

"Then why has the World Government consistently turned a blind eye to the Axis cult?"

"This is a question that has always puzzled me," Crocodile said, exhaling a puff of smoke as he watched the white dust gradually dissipate in the dry air.

"But back in the New World, I did manage to get one of the Whitebeard Pirates' division commanders to mention this. Apparently, the Axis Cult had done something significant that instilled fear and apprehension in the World Government's higher-ups..."

"So no matter how much these Axis cultists cause trouble, the World Government will not take action against them, but it will do everything in its power to eliminate their existence and strictly order member states not to allow these cultists to enter their countries."

"Oh? Something that could terrify the World Government?" Robin asked with a hint of interest.

Could it be...?

“Yes, what you thought is pretty much what I guessed.” Crocodile put down his cigar, looked at the Axis cultist who was now on the ground, grabbing a passerby and shouting “O Nege!”, and sneered.

"I suspect that the Axis Cult possesses Poseidon, one of the three Ancient Weapons! If it weren't for that, how could the arrogant World Government and the Celestial Dragons be so wary of it?"

"But the world government may be afraid, but I will not be afraid!"

Crocodile waved his coat with an air of triumph and declared in an unquestionable voice...

"Once I obtain Hades, these Sea Kings will be next! That's why I let them into Alabasta, so I can extract more information from them!"

"And when I gather Pluto and Poseidon together, even the World Government will have to kneel before me!!!"

Robin looked at Crocodile in front of her, lowered her head slightly, and lightly brushed her fingers against the brim of her cowboy hat.

Their speculation wasn't wrong, but... Robin felt things weren't that simple.

After all, although the people in this Axis cult all seem very abnormal, it is undeniable that they are very united and firmly believe that there is a god behind them.

Such devotion is rare on the high seas, and there must be irreplaceable reasons behind such a powerful sense of unity.

Perhaps... there really is a goddess behind them?

Thinking of this, Robin chuckled to herself, amused that she could be so naive.

How could gods possibly exist?

If gods truly exist, how could they allow such a tragedy to occur in her hometown...?

Boom!!!

Just then, a sudden clap of thunder interrupted Crocodile's ambitious fantasies and Robin's memories.

Crocodile frowned as he stared at the distant sky. A huge, dark thundercloud was approaching, churning with dazzling lightning.

It's raining? What happened? Did someone from the company use dance powder while I was away?

—Wait a minute! Even if someone used the dance powder, they shouldn't be gathering here! The Rainlands and Alba are worlds apart!

946 >>

Crocodile's expression changed slightly, but the next moment, the sky plunged into complete darkness.

The roaring electric snakes rolled densely in the dark clouds, while countless people in the streets and alleys came out of their rooms and stared blankly at all of this.

What they saw was a continuous, seemingly endless layer of dark clouds, and thunderclouds so dense they were terrifying.

Their throats bobbed as a possibility, a longed-for possibility, roared in their hearts!

Then, the next second—

Beep~ Beep~ Beep~

One cold raindrop after another patted the tip of their noses, then grew larger and larger, until it seemed as if the whole world was engulfed in a downpour!

Amidst the relentless downpour, a voice rang in everyone's ears.

"Hmm, this goddess has heard your prayers, and will now give you ten times the water resources!"

......

"Anima Neeris is flat-chested, rain comes!!!"

As the bishop chanted a spell that no one could understand, and perhaps even he himself didn't fully comprehend, he pointed his finger to the sky!

The sky was clear and cloudless.

It was as if a cawing crow flew in from the sky, and a graceful tumbleweed rolled across the desert.

"Enough! I'm such an idiot for still having any expectations of you Axis cult lunatics!"

"Get out! Get out of this country!!!"

The Alabastas gathered below instantly felt they had been tricked, and angrily hurled all sorts of trash at the bishop in the air.

The bishop was struck on the head by a stone, bleeding profusely, but ignoring the pain, he stared blankly at the overly clear sky.

"Lady Aqua, why have you not shown yourself? Have you abandoned this country?"

The clear sky remained as quiet as ever, the blazing sun reflecting off the air, creating a serene sound.

"Goddess, look at these people! They live in a scorching hell!"

"They have no water to bathe, no water to cook, and even little water to drink!"

"It's something that seems to be everywhere in this world, yet they don't have the right to enjoy it!"

The bishop's voice gradually grew louder, becoming somewhat mournful, even desperate.

Because he didn't understand why prayers that were often effective elsewhere on the sea were useless here!

Is it because the goddess loathes Alabasta, loathes this cursed desert land?

The bishop felt somewhat powerless. Although he still firmly believed in the doctrines of the Axis Church, at this moment, he was overwhelmed by strong doubts and self-loathing.

He was born in Alabasta.

He was rescued by the Axis cult members on a slave ship after being captured at sea, and from then on he devoted himself to following the Axis cult.

Hearing about the disaster in his hometown, he brought so many followers back to his hometown, firmly believing that the goddess's power could save the country!

But why did it take him a full six months?

He exhausted every method: prayer, sacrifice, supplication, praise.

No matter how much he prayed, no matter how much he called out, he could not summon a single drop of rain. This was the twentieth time he had prayed.

The unwavering faith he had maintained seemed to have finally crumbled. Looking at his compatriots cursing him and the believers who doubted his faith, the bishop closed his eyes in anguish.

Did the goddess abandon this country, or...?

There is no such thing as a goddess at all.

“That won’t do. You’re not a proper Axis.” A mocking voice boomed in the bishop’s ears.

He suddenly opened his eyes, looked around, and the voice continued to echo in his mind.

"No need to search anymore, I'm not here, Bishop. Your faith is not firm—I'm not saying you doubt whether Lady Aqua exists or not, but you actually blame yourself."

"Have you forgotten the rules of the Axis Church? — It's always someone else's fault, don't blame yourself!"

"But we've been praying to Lady Aqua for rain..."

"Oh, this is because of bad signal, some locals causing trouble, and the area's religious beliefs are too mixed—anyway, it's definitely not my fault!!!"

The owner of the voice used a demeanor perfectly consistent with that of an Axis to shirk responsibility.

"But now that I've come, there's rain; I've come, there's water. So there's no need to wait, and there's nothing to fear!"

"A downpour... is coming."

"You'll be rewarded with ten times the water resources!"

As that wise, laughing voice faded away, the countless dark clouds instantly disappeared from the clear sky.

The Alabastas, who had been arguing and cursing below, suddenly stopped and stared blankly at the sky.

Endless black clouds instantly replaced the cloud cover over Alabasta, and then—

Light rain, drizzle, heavy rain, downpour!!!

Endless rain, as if pouring down the Milky Way, crashed down upon the entire Alabasta!

947

666. The fire of resistance, the strife among believers

"Water, Daddy, I want to drink water..."

The daughter's weak voice reached the father's ears from inside the house, but he covered his ears tightly.

Was he heartless? Was he ignoring his daughter's pleas as she lay dying?

No, of course not.

He was simply out of options. Ever since three days ago, when even the last well in the village could no longer produce the yellowish muddy water, they had been at their wits' end.

Water, his daughter needs water, and he needs water too, but where will the water come from?

The rain never fell from the sky; there was no rain anywhere except in the capital.

The underground water had long been drained, and even the Santo River, which they regarded as their mother, had almost dried up.

Who can save their lives? King Cobra? Princess Vivi? Or that 'hero' Shichibukai Crocodile?

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!"

The powerless and humiliated father covered his ears and wept, yet he didn't even have the right to cry.

Having gone without water for many days, my body is now so dry that I can't even squeeze out a single tear.

Just when he was in despair, suddenly, a holy... and silly female voice rang in their ears.

"Hooray! Don't worry, Aqua is here!!!"

"This goddess will now shower you with rain! Ha, eat my water resources and your water supply will increase tenfold!"

Aqua's powerful voice resonated in the air and in everyone's hearts!

The father, who had been waiting to die, suddenly opened his eyes wide when he saw the torrential rain falling from above and quickly took his daughter out!

"Wake up, baby, the water's here, the water's here!!!"

The father stood in the pouring rain holding his dying daughter and shouted, but how could someone who had almost died of thirst be easily healed by rain?

Just as he was looking at his daughter's unresponsive body with near despair, the next moment—