Chapter 75 About the future
"Ugh! ! I'm sorry! ! "
Loud cries echoed from within the tavern, piercing and chilling enough to make anyone shudder. A man was sprawled on the floor, crying out in agony.
Tears and mucus streamed down his face, which was contorted in pain, giving him the look of a tormented ghost.
Brett stood next to this man, appearing unfazed.
He lifted his foot and pressed down on the man's left leg.
The man's leg was already a mangled mess from the knee down, with shattered bones. Brett's foot landed directly on the knee.
The sturdy bones offered no defense and quickly crumbled into shards.
"Ahhhhhh! ! " Once again, the man's screams filled the air.
The other patrons in the tavern remained dead silent. They all bowed their heads, afraid to even glance in this direction.
They recognized Brett, which kept them from moving.
It's not that the man's companions didn't attempt to fight back, but their necks were swiftly broken.
Only the last remaining man, their leader, who had been boasting moments earlier, now found his limbs crushed. He had lost all his courage to brag and could only continue to cry out in despair.
"Please, please, spare me——" The man was fading in and out of consciousness due to significant blood loss, mumbling to himself.
"Mr. Brett, you're all set! " A man peeked halfway through the door.
Brett nodded, wrapped his foot around the man's neck, and then swiftly kicked him out of the tavern.
Brett made his way outside slowly.
At the doorway of the tavern, at the crossroads, a tall wooden post stood with a noose hanging from it.
A man stood nearby, grinning.
He was a friend of Donald's, and it was thanks to his assistance that they tracked down these individuals.
Brett took hold of the noose.
The man on the ground was still partially aware, "No, no, don't…"
His voice was faint and nearly undetectable as he tried to inch away from Brett.
However, Brett casually flicked the rope, managing to place it around the man's head and secure it around his neck.
"No, no—" The man struggled to turn around, "Please, forgive me——"
"Who is even capable of forgiving someone like you? " Brett calmly pulled on another rope attached to the wooden post, "You have no option but to meet your end."
The man was lifted high up to the top of the post.
Initially, he continued to fight, but soon he only made a few weak movements before going quiet.
The street was empty, devoid of people, but many were peeking out from behind their windows, watching in dread.
Brett carefully secured the rope.
Then he faced the others and said, "If there are still people looking to go after mermaids or fishmen, just be ready for me to show up in front of you."
The silence continued.
After that, Brett walked away.
Years from now, it's likely that people will still remember his figure. They will recall the fear that he instilled in them.
For several hours afterwards, the street remained very calm.
As Brett headed towards Donald's company, he pondered if such a warning held any value.
His conclusion was quite discouraging and likely of little significance.
For some people, if the rewards are great enough, they'll do anything.
Nevertheless, Brett thought that even a small impact from his actions would still hold value.
Donald's business is in the commercial area of the Sabaody Islands, not far from Brett's current location. It is a five-story building that is quite ordinary.
With the help of Donald's friend, there were no issues along the way. Upon reaching the top floor, the sound of crying was heard immediately upon opening the door.
Brett followed the noise and observed four little mermaids sitting in a line on a long sofa, crying while munching on marshmallows.
On a single sofa across from them, Rayleigh sat alone drinking from a bottle of wine.
Only Donald was bustling around, trying to console the little mermaids.
"Mr. Brett, you're back at last! " Seeing Brett return, Donald rushed over, appearing relieved. "You and Mr. Rayleigh must have lots to talk about, right? I won't interrupt you! "
He hurried away with his friend, as if something was chasing him.
"Oh? Finished already? " Rayleigh adjusted his glasses.
Brett affirmed with a nod.
He approached the whimpering little mermaids and crouched down, "Do you recognize me? "
The oldest little mermaid gazed at Brett, her shoulders shaking, but then her expression brightened, "Are you Brother Brett? "
"That's Brother Brett that Nana mentioned, isn't it? I've seen you before! "
'So, she is a friend of little Nana.' Brett smiled and replied, "It's me. I've come to take you home, so stop crying. "
"Wuuu! I miss mommy! ! " The youngest girl cried even louder.
Brett gently lifted her up and softly patted her back, "Okay, okay, I'll bring you back to see your parents soon. "
"Really? " Another little girl looked up, tears in her eyes.
"Yes." Brett confirmed with a nod.
This time, the crying grew even louder.
Brett felt overwhelmed. Since leaving the research institute , he had never felt as powerless as he did at this moment.
"Hahahaha, that's how kids are." Rayleigh chuckled heartily, "Come on, young man, enjoy your drink. "
Brett could only offer some comfort for a short while. Eventually, the children's emotions calmed down.
"It's all my fault," Nana's friend felt guilty, saying, "I was the one who suggested coming to the beach to take a look. "
"It's fine, what's done is done," Brett replied before he patted her small head and mentioned, "Just make sure you don't do this again. Stay away from the beach forever."
A younger child cried, "Humans are so mean. "
Brett noticed Raleigh letting out a sigh.
While he was comforting the kids, Brett was also pondering what to do if a similar situation occurred in the future.
Luckily, adults possess basic judgment abilities.
However, kids are not the same.
It's the right time to come up with a plan.
It would be ideal to guide the kids' behavior and teach them something valuable.
'Ah, isn't that what schools are for?' Brett quietly agreed.
The reason these kids seem so bored is that they have no assignments.
After crying for a bit, the kids grew weary and fell asleep, one after another.
At last, Brett could speak with Rayleigh.
"I'm really sorry, young man, for exposing the kids to the harsh side of life too soon. "
Rayleigh let out a breath and said, "But believe me; there are many other types of people among humans aside from those. "
"I understand. " Brett acknowledged, "However, the elite group that holds the highest position in society consists of exactly those types. "
"People like the celestial Dragons? " Rayleigh affirmed.
With absolute influence and authority for such a long time, how could this group not decline after eight centuries?
"So, Mr. Rayleigh, what do you want to discuss with me? " Brett was intrigued.
In the original story, Rayleigh aligned with Straw Hat because he wore Roger's straw hat and was the person mentioned by the red-haired man as the inheritor of Roger's legacy.
Why did he catch Rayleigh's eye?
"Brett, what are your thoughts on what lies ahead? " Rayleigh smiled. "The future of Fish-Man Island? "
'Possessing Conquer's Haki is a royal trait that only one in a million can hold. This young man undoubtedly seems like he will guide Fish-Man Island into the future.'
Moreover, Fish-Man Island is a crucial element in the plan to transform the world.
How could one not want to engage in a meaningful conversation with such a young one upon meeting him?
"The future? "
Brett was momentarily taken aback. He appreciated the opportunity to talk. He had a strong feeling today. "At first, I thought my goal was just to live a peaceful life. But then I realized that if I stayed idle, I would be restless. I believed that if I could become as powerful as Kaido or Whitebeard, Fish-Man Island would remain safe. "
"However," he continued, "that's not enough. We can't just change individually. Until the world's perception of fish-men and mermaids is completely transformed, Fish-Man Island will never be fully secure. "
Brett could picture that as he gained strength, it would become harder to capture mermaids, leading to more nobles taking pride in having mermaid slaves, and perhaps the value of mermaids would continue to rise.
Unless the class that enjoys enslaving others is eliminated, and the world government that either ignores or endorses this state of affairs is dismantled, Fish-Man Island won't achieve true safety.
This realization came to Brett after leaving the grim atmosphere of the human trafficking auction.
"Is that so? "
Rayleigh gently nodded and reclined comfortably on the couch, saying, "Young Brett, your aspirations are admirable. "
'It's no surprise that his Conquer's Haki has manifested. He will play a vital role in achieving change in the world.'
"Now, let's move forward, Brett," Rayleigh said with a grin. "Even though the journey may be tough, you shouldn't have to face it all by yourself. "
With such a leader steering Fish-Man Island and Neptune, there should be no issues.
Brett grinned and remarked, "I believed Mr. Rayleigh would think it was a fantastic dream, so would you be eager to assist me with it? "
"Haha, how could that be? I'm a pirate who has retired. Whatever happens in the world is no longer my concern," Rayleigh joked.
Indeed, he wasn't the kind and gentle old man.
"I'm a bit shy to ask, but could you offer me some advice, Mr. Rayleigh? " Brett spoke earnestly, "I've just awoken my Conquer's Haki, but I'm completely unsure how to utilize it. "
It's clear that Rayleigh's expertise is vital for building a solid foundation.
'If you aim to strengthen your haki, getting advice from these experienced individuals is much more beneficial than practicing alone.'
"You are quite impolite, young man. "
Rayleigh shook the bottle, yet his grin remained. "Alright, if you can bring me some wine during my leisure time, I wouldn't mind offering you some advice. "
'Not only due to his future role in upcoming changes, but also because of his recent action of freeing slaves, it's evident that this young man is extraordinary.
"Thank you very much," Brett responded with seriousness.
'Even though I'm currently just asking for guidance on Conquer's Haki, I can also ask about some armament haki knowledge in his free time, can't I?'
Wanting to spread this knowledge and cause change, Brett hopes to return this information to Fish-Man Island.
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