Chapter 76 Education, Showdown with Tesoro
Without rushing to begin the first lesson, Brett and Rayleigh decided on a time and location before taking the four young mermaids back to Fish-Man Island.
The parents of the kids were still nervously waiting; how could they keep wasting time here?
Meanwhile, Brett was making his way back.
Mary Geoise
"The human trafficking center fell apart from his punch, and the nobles and wealthy businessmen involved in the auction suffered significant injuries," Saint Mars stated as he shook his head. "There will be some chaos soon. "
"Just say a pirate attacked and tell the survivors to be quiet," Saint Saturn replied nonchalantly. "That guy is indeed powerful. He rivals Jinbei pretty closely. "
"We assisted him this time, so it's his turn to help us now, right? "
Saint Valcurie smiled, "This is the perfect opportunity for him."
At the same time, outside the remains of the Auction House on the Sabaody Islands, someone anxiously made a call to inform someone on the other end about the events that occurred.
They were met with laughter from the other side of the line.
"Ffufufufufufufufufufufufufufufu. . That's quite the entertaining, Fishman, right?"
Brett, of course, had no awareness of the happenings at either location.
It didn't take long for them to return. The young mermaids were eager to get back, swimming quickly ahead. Even though they were still children, they moved swiftly through the water.
Before long, they reached Fish-Man Island.
As Brett led the little mermaids through the entrance of Fish-Man Island, the mermaids and fish-people who had gathered there anxiously after hearing the news felt excitement.
"Director Brett is back! "
"He has returned with the kids! "
Cheers erupted.
"My child! ! "
Several worried parents who had been waiting rushed forward immediately.
"Dad! Mom! "The children also shouted and ran towards them.
There was no scolding or anger, just care and affection. Isn't that good.
Jinbei approached, looking relieved, "Everyone has been worried. "
Brett nodded.
He gained a lot this time. He somehow tapped into his conqueror's haki and developed a clearer, more ambitious goal.
"Thank you so much, Director Brett! "
The previous hotel owner came over, holding his daughter, to express his gratitude. With tears in his eyes, he said, "My kid has caused you trouble. "
"I'm sorry, Brother Brett," the youngest child in his arms said with a sorrowful expression.
"It's my duty to protect Fish-Man Island and our people here." Brett smiled, pinching the little girl's cheek, and then he continued, "Speaking of which, I have an idea. "
"It's risky for kids to be running around all the time, so I'm considering setting up some schools on the island. This way, it can help keep the kids in check and also provide them with some education. As a parent, what are your thoughts on this? How does that sound? "
The hotel owner beamed, "That's great, Director Brett! This will relieve a lot of our worries, and we won't have to be concerned about the children's safety. "
"This really is a wonderful idea! "
Jinbei also agreed enthusiastically, "Neptune will definitely support this plan. "
"Next, I will talk to Neptune about the details. " Brett smiled.
This won't be a small task either.
"School? " The girl in her father's arms looked curious, "What does that mean? "
Brett replied warmly, "School is a place where many kids like you can play and learn together. There will also be teachers who will give you lessons and share knowledge with you."
"Can I play with many friends? " The little girl cheered, "Yay! I want to go to school! "
'That's fantastic if you're excited about it. I hope your excitement lasts forever.'
Brett hurried to Neptune to share his idea.
"This is an amazing concept, Brett! "
Neptune exclaimed with enthusiasm, "Children's safety has always been a big issue on Fish-Man Island. This could help solve it quite a bit! "
"Hold on, don't get too carried away just yet." Brett intervened to calm him down.
Starting a school can't just be talked about.
The initial costs are likely to be quite high.
Even though Fish-Man Island has a population of about five million, there are still around one hundred thousand kids who are of school age.
Brett's plan includes kids from six to thirteen or fourteen years old, which resembles elementary school in his past life. The younger ones need their parents, while the older ones should be somewhat independent. But even so, the numbers are still large.
How many schools should be created?
And what about tuition?
Although Fish-Man Island is becoming wealthier, not everyone is affluent.
Even more crucial are the teaching staff. Can we find enough teachers on Fish-Man Island?
Health, safety, and other issues are also complicated. In short, there are many challenges.
Brett and Neptune spent an entire afternoon discussing this, detailing all the concerns, and then he left Neptune and his team to work on solutions.
Brett realized he was skilled in fighting and had some great ideas, but he was clueless when it came to such intricate government matters.
By the time he left the Dragon Palace, it was already dark, yet Brett didn't plan to rest.
He headed towards Tesoro.
Soon, he encountered him, who had been eagerly anticipating updates from him recently.
"Hey, Brett, my friend, have you made up your mind? " Tesoro continued to be friendly and cheerful as always.
"I'll get straight to the point, Tesoro. " Brett said in a serious tone, "Let's work together to take down the world government. "
Tesoro was taken aback for a second by Brett's unexpected statement and then casually replied, "Isn't this something we talked about before? "
"No, I'm truly serious this time. " Brett didn't even shift his tone, "You should already know what I did today, right? "
Tesoro nodded.
"I destroyed the human trafficking hub in Sabaody and liberated all the captives who were about to be sold," Brett expressed.
Tesoro's grip became firmer.
Brett could sense the turmoil within him.
Perhaps, the trafficking center had affected him deeply.
"I listened to the cries and sorrow of those held captive while I was there. " Brett remarked.
Tesoro appeared somewhat puzzled, he didn't understand what Brett meant.
"Like the frustration and grief you feel now, I can perceive it clearly," Brett stated plainly.
"…! " Tesoro's eyes opened wide in surprise, and he rose from the couch, "Brett, what are you saying! ! "
"Don't fret, I'm not reading your thoughts; I just can pick up on your feelings," Brett reassured him.
Brett said nonchalantly, "It's just a mildly unusual ability. "
"Mildly? Yeah right ! " Tesoro clenched his jaw.
'Even if it's not telepathy, it's still quite intimidating. This means I have no chance of hiding my true feelings from him.'
"I just want to mention, Tesoro, I realize you're sincere about disliking the Celestial Dragons, and you truly had a friend who suffered a terrible fate at their hands. " Brett paused for a second, "You cared for her deeply, didn't you? "
"…"
A somewhat bewildered look crossed Tesoro's face, then he exclaimed in anger, "You bastard, how can you still claim you're not reading my thoughts? "
"I can simply sense your affectionate feelings. " Brett chuckled, "Or maybe you actually have a preference for men? "
Tesoro glared at Brett while grinding his teeth.
"After this moment, I finally got it," Brett declared, "As long as the world government continues to control the world's order and the Celestial Dragons retain their power, tragedies like these will keep recurring. They showcase their so-called superiority by stepping on the lives and dignity of regular folks. "
"What exactly are you trying to say? " Tesoro's voice became icy.
He recognized that there was no reason to pretend any longer.
Brett spoke earnestly, "I can't stand seeing my fellow countrymen locked up in cages anymore. Tesoro, do you want to witness more beautiful girls like her being confined? Trampled on until they're no more? "
"Shut up! Stella is irreplaceable! " Tesoro shouted in fury, "No one in this world compares to her! "
"I'm asking, don't you desire revenge? " Brett's tone was low and serious.
"That's been my thought from the very start! " Tesoro retorted coldly, "You don't need to remind me. This was our original goal for teaming up."
"Really? " Brett gave a knowing smile, "But why do I perceive your fear, confusion, and reluctance? You seem to be making excuses for yourself? "
"You. . . you're spouting nonsense! " Tesoro instantaneously became furious, "How could I—"
"You don't need to answer me, Tesoro; I'm merely conveying what I notice. Maybe you can't perceive it yourself, but I can."
Brett exclaimed loudly, "Think about it, ask her who still holds a place in your heart. Do you truly have the guts to challenge the Celestial Dragons and take them down? "
"You don't have to pretend with me, since you can't deceive me, but I really hope you're honest with yourself too."
"You're afraid, Tesoro "
Tesoro's eyes went wide and he took a step back.
An light, almost ethereal voice came into his mind, saying, "Tesoro, your singing is so lovely. "
'Can I calmly tell Stella, I will bring down the Celestial Dragons for your sake? Is that something I can say?'
Fear showed up on Tesoro's face.
It's the fear that someone suddenly understands your thoughts.
He recollected many memories.
Those torturous times, the destruction and mistreatment from the Celestial Dragons, brought back the fear that struck deep within him.
'I have always worried about what would happen if my secret as a slave got out. Would I be caught again?'
Just the thought of being against the World Government makes it hard to breathe. This is a power that has controlled the world for eight hundred years.
'Do I genuinely want to get revenge for Stella? Have I really considered this seriously? Am I truly committed to overthrowing the world government and getting rid of the Celestial Dragons while I tirelessly work for more money and riches?'
Tesoro's body slumped to the ground. His eyes widened, and tears began to form without him noticing.
Today, he confronted his deepest fears like never before.
He was scared, terrified that others would find out he was a slave, and fearful of becoming foes with the Celestial Dragons.
He reassured himself, by thinking that only his wealth and riches can control everything.
Brett approached Tesoro and spoke earnestly, "It's completely normal to feel scared. The World Government has held power for eight hundred years. In this time, everyone who challenged them has faded away. To say you're fearless is somewhat arrogant. "
"But, Tesoro, you must realize you're not alone. You have me as your ally. We can also gather more allies. There are countless people out there opposed to the World Government! Don't lose hope; we still have chances! "
Tesoro looked up, puzzled.
"Come on, Tesoro," Brett extended his hand, "Starting today, we will genuinely fight to bring down the Celestial dragons."
Tesoro clenched his teeth, and then, he took Brett's hand.
"Brett, I want to destroy the Celestial Dragons"
"Yes."Brett nodded, "I understand. "
"Now, what do you propose we do? "
"Well, first we need to build our strength, then find others who think like us, and finally take the right chance to overthrow the world government. "
"Are you serious? "
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