Chapter 66 Tesoro's reminder
This coral jungle is in disarray.
Brett had reverted to his human form, seated on a gravel patch, staring blankly at his right hand.
Invisible waves enveloped his hands.
"I have gained a bit of strength. " Brett exhaled deeply.
Although Rayleigh's teaching skills are frequently questioned, his assertions hold validity. Haki does enhance during battle with powerful opponents.
Following the skirmish with the nameless marines, Brett sensed his haki increasing, albeit modestly.
More significantly, the techniques for hardening have become somewhat clearer.
Brett reflected.
'As for my current abilities, even in a battle with Jinbei at full strength, I doubt I would be defeated easily.'
It could be seen as having barely crossed the threshold of the general disaster level.
Naturally, the complications have escalated.
Brett turned his gaze to the side. The body of the marine, whose name he did not learn until he had killed him, was reduced to charcoal by flames.
The animosity with the navy is deepening.
Brett felt a tinge of melancholy.
'Dearest Shyarly, where lies the turning point in the future you mentioned? Why do I have the impression that we are inevitably heading toward an all-out conflict with the Navy if this continues?'
"Brett! What is happened?"
Jinbei's robust figure hurried over from the depths of the coral jungle, speaking anxiously.
Following the battle, Brett had immediately contacted Jinbei via transponder snail.
The situation is dire.
"I was just attacked. " Brett stated.
"Attacked? " Jinbei appeared startled, then asked in disbelief, "Is it pirates—or rather, an initiative from the government? "
"It's the Navy. "
Brett gestured towards several corpses strewn upon the ground, "But I have already dealt with them. "
"Sigh--"
Jinbei released a sigh of relief, "Those guys will not relent. As long as you are unharmed. . . hold on,"
He suddenly recognized something, "The person dispatched into the depths of the sea to apprehend you must be a senior naval official, right? "
Brett nodded, "The leader is likely an officer of the rank of Vice Admiral."
Jinbei remained silent for a moment, then located a nearby stone and sat beside Brett.
"Is it time to prepare for battle, next? " He asked.
"My personal assessment is that this possibility cannot be dismissed. "
Brett replied, "Yet, Shyarly's prophecy indicated that nothing significant would occur. "
"Really? "
Jinbei was immediately filled with joy, "Since Shyarly stated it, there should undoubtedly be no issue. "
Although this is rather unscientific, metaphysics operates in such a manner. Without rationale, the future beheld by Shyarly will certainly unfold. Whether through careful analysis or impulsivity, the outcome will invariably align with the foreseen future.
"At any rate, let's simply act as though we are uncertain about how to proceed. We have merely dealt with a group of pirates seeking vengeance. "
Brett remarked, "The Navy's decision to deploy people for covert infiltration indicates their reluctance to bring this issue into the open. "
Jinbei acknowledged this with a nod.
"I, therefore, checked around and concluded that these are the only five people." Brett stated.
"Okay. "
During the night, the Immigration and Entry Administration began operations, while the Neptune Army was activated as well.
Although four of the five Navy personnel were reduced to ashes, one fortunate person remained alive.
The Marine, who had initially fallen unconscious due to Brett's actions, has now become a crucial piece of evidence, and the soldiers stationed at the port swiftly identified him and subsequently located their vessel.
The vessel itself was unremarkable. However, upon asking people from other nearby boats, it became evident that one individual aboard one of those boats was quite peculiar.
"Director Brett, is it necessary to conduct a search at this late hour? What happened? " a man claiming to be the captain asked with curiosity.
Brett felt a sense of admiration for his acting abilities. He perceived the underlying panic and terror within the man.
"You are affiliated with them," Brett asserted directly.
"This cannot be, how is this even possible? " The man's expression shifted drastically as he anxiously defended, "You must be joking,right? "
Brett chuckled softly.
The sound of deceit was palpable.
Those who remained silent were apprehended.
However, these people were quite defiant. Regardless of the nature of the interrogations or torture they endured, they maintained that they were merely ordinary traders without any knowledge of the situation.
Eventually, the unfortunate individual who had been knocked unconscious regained consciousness. Upon learning of the events, he appeared despondent and claimed he was merely seeking Brett in connection with a certain pirate who had previously met his end at Brett's hands, expressing a desire for vengeance.
After enduring the interrogation until dawn, Brett's patience wore thin.
In reality, it was pointless. Their identification as Navy personnel had long been established.
If they chose to contest their identity, they were free to do so.
At the very least, the Navy could not openly refute the claims made against them.
However, if a high-ranking official, such as a Vice Admiral, were to perish, the ensuing covert unrest could surpass the current situation.
Perhaps the celebrated Garp or the formidable Black-hand Zephyr would personally intervene next time.
This situation was quite bothersome.
Without even having a moment to rest, Brett and Jinbei proceeded to the palace to consult with Neptune. A productive discussion ensued among the three.
The ultimate decision was to maintain their current position and await the fulfillment of Shyarly's s prophecy, or rather to leverage the circumstances as they unfolded.
In the morning, Jinbei resumed his teaching at the training grounds amidst the ongoing events, while Brett returned to his office to continue his work, acting as though nothing had occurred.
Later that afternoon, just as Brett had settled down for a nap, his secretary, Miss Kayla, abruptly entered, knocking on the door.
"Director, Mr. Tesoro, is here to see you."
'Tesoro?'
Brett tapped his face to rouse himself from his drowsiness, stating, "Let him enter. "
Before long, his partner Mr. Tesoro entered Brett's office, clad in his customary vibrant pink suit.
"It has been a while since I last saw you, my friend," he remarked.
Tesoro wore a broad grin, a testament to his potential as a part-time celebrity in the future. His smile was indeed infectious. "The collaboration can begin. This time, I have provided you with something that may prove useful: information regarding numerous common pharmaceuticals, along with accompanying equipment and design schematics. "
"Is that so? "
This was genuinely encouraging news.
Fishman Island has an abundance of doctors, yet it lacks the capacity to manufacture its own medications, relying heavily on external supplies.
"I have also included some data about marine flora. Many materials that are unattainable from the ocean floor can be substituted with marine plants. "
Brett felt an urge to embrace Tesoro and express his gratitude with a hug.' This guy was exceptionally thoughtful.'
"Naturally, I will entrust this responsibility to you as well," Tesoro remarked.
"While no gold deposits have been located yet, there is no need for concern; we are actively enhancing our exploration efforts. "
This was mere conjecture. Until he verified Tesoro's sincerity, Brett was too disinterested to pursue matters initially.
However, it now appeared that they could take action. At least for the moment, he seemed quite earnest.
"It is of no consequence; I am in no rush," he replied.
Unaware of Brett's thoughts, Tesoro assumed that investigating mineral resources on the seabed was inherently challenging.
"And what about transportation? "
Tesoro inquired earnestly, "Lately, there are numerous goods I wish to ship across the globe. "
"We have manpower available," Brett informed him. "If you are willing to trust those who are just beginning, you may begin. "
"Hahaha, I certainly have faith in you," Tesoro responded with a smile. "We are partners. "
"That poses no issue," Brett affirmed with a nod.
Suddenly, Brett recalled something.
He will ultimately possess the capacity to sway the decisions of the Celestial Dragons through his financial resources in the future, and his affiliation with the government must run very deep.
Thus—
"Nevertheless, it is possible that our partnership will not endure for long. "Brett exhaled deeply.
"What is it? " Tesoro asked, his brow furrowing, "What is troubling you, Mr. Brett? "
At this juncture, he can no longer withdraw from Fish-Man Island with ease.
"We have, in fact, encountered some disputes with the government. "
Brett stated, "There may be complications ahead, and I might need to leave fish-man island."
"With the government? "
Tesoro's frown deepened, "How is that possible? The government is rather lenient towards Warlords "
"Essentially the Navy. "
Brett interjected, sidestepping the main issue and choosing a simpler explanation, "As you are aware, I was once a pirate. "
Tesoro recognized that the difficulties Brett faced might not be as straightforward as he portrayed.
However, as a prudent businessman, he refrained from addressing it directly.
Tesoro responded with a smile, "If the issue is merely with the navy, then it should not be overly severe. "
Brett raised an eyebrow, "What makes you think that? "
"First and foremost, we must clarify one point, Mr. Brett. The navy is an arm of the government, but their roles are distinct. "
Tesoro continued with a cheerful demeanor, "The Navy is an enforcement body. Their primary responsibilities involve combating crime and safeguarding the government. They are intolerant of various issues. "
"Conversely, the government, particularly the Five Elders, has a different perspective. They do not necessarily oppose wickedness; rather, they seek value. "
"The Warlords were once pirates, many of whom engaged in all manner of wrongdoing, but the government deemed their value sufficient to overlook their crimes, allowing them to operate as legal pirates, leaving the navy uninvolved. "
"It is that straightforward. "
Brett nodded in contemplation, "That appears to be the case. "
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