Chapter 64 You Witnessed It
Positioned by the window of his office, gazing at the port in the distance, which had become significantly busier, Brett did not express regret regarding the progress of Fish-Man Island. Instead, he sensed that the navy and the government must be orchestrating something.
Despite the recent period of calm, he remained skeptical that the Navy and the World Government would simply overlook the prior events.
Unlike the pirates roaming the seas, he had remained on Fish-Man Island, appearing daily. The government had solely engaged in routine calls and gossip.
Is this customary?
This is assuredly not customary.
Then, one can engage in some deduction.
What if the government has indeed acted, but remains undetected?
This scenario is quite plausible.
Hence, what measures might the government or the navy enact?
The absence of any visible action suggests that they may have relinquished their public campaign for prosecution or are perhaps opting for self-arrest.
Could it be suggested that they are considering a covert approach?
Is it possible they intend to deploy spies to Fish-Man Island for clandestine evidence gathering, followed by overt disruptions?
Or are they merely contemplating an assassination attempt against him?
Should there be an enhancement of immigration inspections? Implement a sizable X-ray machine at the entry point. Such technology should be accessible at sea.
Brett contemplated this.
Ultimately, while issues may initially remain concealed, they will inevitably surface.
Brett was unable to resolve his thoughts and decided not to dwell on them. Did Shyarly not mention. There is no need for concern.
If she claims it is permissible, it must indeed be acceptable.
Allow circumstances to unfold naturally.
In the afternoon, Brett departed from Fish-Man Island, not in pursuit of sea beasts. There was no news today, so he sought out old acquaintances.
"Hahahaha! Are you here? My friend! ! "
In the murky depths of the sea, the immense creature emitted a roar that reverberated through the abyss. To Brett, it was merely an expression of enthusiastic greeting.
"I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival! Come! Let the clash begin! The life of a warrior only shines in combat! "
Before Brett could respond, the colossal tail hammer had already struck him.
Thus, the battle begun.
Brett had consistently engaged in practice, although the development of his armament Haki required the stimulus of battle.
With Jinbei initiating small classes to train the captains, Arlong and Fukaboshi among others, Brett sought Alexander as his opponent for sparring.
The proud deep-sea warrior was exhilarated by this prospect, and the two clicked instantly.
Brett deflected Alexander's tail hammer with a single strike and asked hastily, "Alexander, how is your Haki training progressing? Have you achieved any progress? "
"Hahahaha, the proud deep-sea warrior Alexander is a genius! " He erupted in laughter, and as the pliers arrived with force, he exclaimed, "I have become aware of the latent strength within me! Hahaha, my dear friend, wait for me to unleash it, and then we shall engage in battle. Prepare for defeat! "
"Very well. " Brett consented without hesitation.
He was also intrigued by how powerful the warrior shrimp would become upon mastering haki.
This opportunity was perfect for him to refine his armament haki.
When the armament haki is initially awakened, it can only envelop the body or weapons. At this stage, it is somewhat loose and lacks strength in both defensive and offensive capabilities.
However, by continuously concentrating the haki, one can gradually learn the second technique: hardening.
By focusing more haki eney together, both defense and attack can be significantly enhanced. Brett has been diligently working on this since he unraveled armament haki. It appears he has finally made some progress, yet he still has a considerable journey ahead before achieving mastery.
He was not in a hurry. It took Luffy a year to completely master hardening, but with a competent sparring partner, he should be able to expedite the process somewhat.
As for more advanced techniques such as flowing external destruction and internal destruction, they remain quite distant for Brett at this stage, so he will proceed at a measured pace.
He reached out to Alexander, and the afternoon was drawing to a close.
He headed back to the office to attend to the day's documents before clocking out.
As evening approached, Brett decided to have dinner at Shyarly's establishment.
His current workplace is located in the port area, which is conveniently near Coral Hill, allowing him the opportunity to visit daily.
Upon entering the café, Brett was met with the bustling rush hour, where many patrons greeted him warmly.
"Is Director Brett here for dinner? "
"Master Brett has arrived! "
"Boss Shyarly, Director Brett has come to see you! "
Brett has become quite the prominent figure on Fish-Man Island, recognized by all. The heightened military patrols and the previous conflicts have earned him the respect of the community.
The inhabitants of Fish-Man Island are now aware that a man named Brett seeks to transform the nation and is actively taking steps to realize that vision.
Brett greeted the residents amicably, then navigated through the crowded room to the counter, stating, "Business is thriving today. "
He surveyed the hall, remarking, "There appears to be an increasing number of humans. "
Shyarly glanced up at him and replied, "It's likely because businesspeople are aware that the renowned Director Brett frequents this lesser-known café, and they want to come and meet a significant figure. "
'Lesser-known?'
Brett smirked lightly, "Do you not think it would be appropriate for you to adjust my salary, Shyarly? I have contributed positively to the business here. "
Despite his elevated position and authority, Brett's actual salary was not particularly high, and he had recently settled a debt of 100,000 berries he owed to Jinbei.
Shyarly scoffed disdainfully, "Haven't you been granted the privilege to eat and drink without cost? "
"In that case, the tuition fee for instructing me in coffee preparation should be covered," Brett replied with a grin.
"Nothing comes at such a low price. "
Shyarly averted his gaze again, documenting details in the ledger, "The cost for that can only be settled by producing coffee that meets my standards. "
"That's settled then. "
Brett beamed, "It's quite hopeless. I suppose I must exert myself, right? "
After dining at the Mermaid Cafe, he declined the advances of businessmen, engaged with the mermaid ladies, and when the transactions neared conclusion, he began his coffee-making lessons with Shyarly.
Once everything was wrapped up, Brett recognized it was still early and resolved to return to Fishman Street. He intended to visit the training ground the following morning to assess Jinbei's teaching progress.
Since the fish bus does not travel to Fishman Street, Brett opted for his usual route via the waterway.
Navigating back through the tube is significantly faster than traversing on foot.
The pipelines constructed through bubble technology extend in various directions, which might disorient outsiders; however, for inhabitants like Brett, they are simply convenient.
Following the pipeline, he arrived at a relatively isolated area.
Fishman Street lies on the outskirts of Fishman Island, both geographically and politically. While the political climate has shifted, the geographic position remains unchanged.
Between the bustling urban center of Fishman Island and Fishman Street lies a section of the Forest of the Sea. The topography in this region is quite elevated, with the pipelines nearly grazing the ground.
Brett did not pause and continued along a familiar path.
At that moment, a voice suddenly called out from ahead.
"Stop! fishman friend, please help us! "
Brett halted his swimming and peered forward.
In the coral thicket ahead, a red-haired human approached him, halting to shout eagerly, "Help! My companions are injured! "
Brett glanced beside him. A tall and robust man lay on the ground, accompanied by three individuals seated nearby.
'Humans? Present in this location?'
"What happened to you? " Brett asked as he leaned out of the pipe and spoke loudly.
Simultaneously, his observation Haki extended across the area.
"Are you Director Brett? It's a pleasure to meet you! "
The man with red hair recognized Brett and appeared quite enthusiastic. He exclaimed, "We are businessmen who have come to this island for commerce, but we ventured too far while visiting Fish-Man Island and became lost. One of my associates sustained an injury by accident. Would you kindly assist us in leaving this place? "
Brett maintained a tranquil demeanor.
He discerned an intriguing sound.
Emerging from the pipe, Brett descended to the ground and approached as if nothing had transpired, stating, "Is that so? You have indeed been quite reckless; this is not a suitable place for you to be."
He directly walked past the man with red hair and approached the person lying on the ground. "Let me assess his injuries. "
Behind Brett, the red-haired man expressed joy.
Bastiu had not anticipated it would be this straightforward.
Even though several days were spent meticulously verifying Brett's route back to Fishman Street and another half week locating an appropriate place, there were even a few wasted days due to the man's absence from Fishman Street recently.
However, this effort had now yielded results.
Bastiu steadily made his way toward Brett from the rear while calmly surveying the three people seated on the ground.
The bodies of the three people sitting tensed simultaneously. Even while seated, they were poised to spring into action and confront any enemy.
Brett bent down to examine the person lying on the ground, whose thick beard and hair obscured his facial features.
As Brett considered this, he remarked without turning around, "Your companion does not appear to be injured. "
"How can that be? Please examine him more closely. "
Bastiu advanced, holding his breath in anticipation.
"Ah, Brother Jinbei, what brings you here? "
Brett abruptly lifted his head and spoke.
'What?'
Bastiu was momentarily taken aback. The three seated people turned their heads in unison, and the man lying on the ground visibly trembled.
At that moment, Brett spun around, enveloped in lightning, declaring, "Electrical Propulsion - Electric punch! ! "
His powerful fist struck harshly against the face of the distracted Bastiu, instantly causing his visage to cave in and warp, accompanied by the sound of bones cracking.
BOOM—!
Bastiu's body was propelled backward.
"Bastiu! ! "
The elderly man lying on the ground bellowed and erupted in flames.
' We've been had! Now we have to employ brute strength to subdue him!Tsk'
Fists, dark fists, lunged forward.
Brett faced him without showing hesitation and retaliated with a punch.
Boom—! !
A resounding roar reverberated through the coral jungle, causing the ground beneath them to erupt.
Brett was compelled to stagger backward.
"What an astonishing display of armament haki."
Once he regained his balance, he could not help but exclaim.
The level of force exhibited was far beyond his capabilities. Thankfully, he had not entertained the notion of attacking this person first.
"Fishman Brett, your days are numbered! " The old man's arms were entirely darkened.
He presents as a formidable adversary.
Far more powerful than Hager; one can discern that with a single strike.
' Even though I don't know him, I need to get serious.'
Brett gradually exhaled, and crimson scales began emerging across his skin.
"Since you are going to see this form, say goodbye to life.''
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