Chapter 123 Guidance, acting
This lively banquet was just beginning.
The Whitebeard Pirates were generally a rambunctious bunch, and after a few rounds of drinks, they were already rowdily engaging Brett.
"Hahaha, nicely done! I can't remember the last time Big Mom was so thoroughly embarrassed!" chuckled Foll, a veteran of Whitebeard's crew. "Even Roger himself avoided directly confronting her back then - he just snatched the road Poneglyph right out of her hands!"
"Haha, Brett, you pulled off something even the Pirate King couldn't!"
Brett felt a touch of embarrassment. 'It was just a small bit of cleverness. It really didn't have much impact on Big mom.'
"Besides, it's not that Roger couldn't have done it, he just didn't want to." As the Roger Pirates were configured back then, why would their captain bother bullying a woman with young children?
'Probably Roger didn't want to make her kids orphans,' Brett mused.
"Speaking of Roger," Tesoro suddenly turned his head, casting a cautious but eager glance at Whitebeard, who was deep in conversation with Jinbei and Aladdin. "Who is more powerful, you or the Pirate King?"
The Whitebeard commanders paused for a moment, taken aback.
"What's wrong?" Tesoro asked, worried he'd overstepped.
But everyone on the seas was intensely curious about this, after all - Whitebeard and the Pirate King were the two greatest powers.
"Hahaha! The nerve of you to ask that!" the pirates roared with laughter. "Our father is the strongest, no one can beat him!"
Tesoro found himself stunned, then couldn't help but smile at the warm camaraderie.
"Don't say such nonsense, you brats," Whitebeard chuckled, a nostalgic note in his voice as he gazed into his cup. "That man Roger had the most fearsome power in the world. Nothing could stop him - he was born to upend the entire world order."
He recalled the chaos the Roger Pirates had wrought, scattering even the mighty Rocks Pirates.
"But of course," Whitebeard said with a proud grin, "he could never hope to defeat me!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Joyous laughter rang out under the starry sky, the firelight casting a warm glow on the smiling faces.
'I'd love to have witnessed that era, when two such peerless titans clashed,' Brett thought, scanning the crowd until his eyes landed on a familiar figure - Blackbeard, the future scourge, laughing along with the rest.
'But I won't let him get that chance. Not with a bond like this between Whitebeard and his sons.'
The question was, how to prevent Blackbeard's betrayal without openly confronting him? Directly telling Whitebeard would only earn him a fist to the face. Blackbeard had been loyal for over a decade - that trust wouldn't be shaken by a single warning.
'The Darkness Fruit will appear in seven or eight years. I have time to find a way to stop him, even if the worst comes to pass.'
"Hey, kid," Whitebeard's deep voice cut through Brett's musings.
He looked up at the towering captain.
"That was well done," Whitebeard said, his expression cool. "But don't pull any more stunts like that in the future."
Brett blinked, slightly taken aback.
"I protect Fishman Island. If you encounter any threats, you should rely on me, not try to handle it yourself. Are you looking down on me?" the World's Strongest growled.
'Ah, I see.' Brett's eyes widened in understanding.
"What the old man means," Marco said seriously from beside them, "is that we're a family, Brett. We want you to get stronger, but don't forget that we're here if you need us. Fishman Island is our home too."
Brett let out a slow breath, then nodded with a smile. "I understand."
"Gurararara! Good!" Whitebeard laughed heartily. "Then tonight, everyone drink to their heart's content! Whoever is unhappy is my enemy!"
"OHHH!"
What an amazing family, led by this incredible man. Brett raised his glass high, appreciating anew why so many were willing to risk their lives for Whitebeard's words.
The lively celebration carried on deep into the night, until finally everyone passed out in a heap.
When Brett woke the next day, it was already well past noon. Only a few had roused themselves, including Tesoro and Jinbei, who were still sprawled on the deck snoring.
"You're looking lively, boy," Whitebeard's voice rumbled.
Brett turned to see the captain already sitting nearby, drink in hand.
'As expected, I'm not even close to his level yet,' he thought, stretching. "But not lively enough."
Whitebeard eyed him shrewdly. "I can see the hunger for power in your eyes."
Brett smiled. 'Of course I need to become stronger. In this world, only the powerful can be truly at ease.'
"But I don't dislike that ambition," Whitebeard said casually. "Men with drive tend to survive better on the seas."
He gazed out at the horizon. "Jinbe and Neptune both say you're the future of Fishman Island. Disappointing your family wouldn't be very manly."
"You're right," Brett agreed. Then he smiled hopefully. "So, Whitebeard, could you perhaps explain the principles of Conquer's entanglement."
Whitebeard glanced at him, amused. "A brat who can't even walk yet wants to run, eh?"
Though Brett believed he was no longer weak, Whitebeard's assessment would be far more accurate.
"No point in just explaining. Why don't you try it yourself?" Whitebeard clenched his fist, black lightning crackling around it.
Brett swallowed nervously. 'That's the fist that could shake the whole New World!'
"Well then, give it a try."
After everyone had woken up and shared a meal, it was time to part ways. On the Moby Dick, Foll and the others waved goodbye.
"See you later, Jinbei, Brett! And Tesoro, let's have a party together next time!"
"Oh, it's a deal!" Tesoro eagerly responded, feeling more connected to the Whitebeard Pirates than ever.
It wasn't until the ship had sailed out of sight that he turned back with a satisfied smile. "They really are an amazing crew!"
"But," he glanced sidelong at Brett, "you look like you're about to drop dead."
Brett sat weakly on the deck, struggling to smile. "It's nothing, just got some pointers from Whitebeard."
Aboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard let out a booming laugh. "What an interesting boy! It seems Jinbei and Neptune's faith in him is well-placed."
As the Whitebeard Pirates sailed onward, Brett and the Sun Pirates returned to Fishman Island. It took some time to reach their destination.
When Brett arrived back home, the island was abuzz with excitement. Word had spread about the World Economic Journal's report - was Fishman Island really going to surrender to the Charlotte family?
As soon as Arlong learned of Brett's return, he rushed to his office.
"I understand we'll no longer be relying on the Whitebeard Pirates, but we don't need to seek shelter under Big Mom either!" he declared adamantly. "We're strong enough to stand on our own!"
Brett didn't bother responding to that. "Help me gather a group of people. We're going to the Dragon Palace."
Arlong blinked, confused. "The Dragon Palace? Brett, have you finally decided to take action against Neptune?"
Brett rolled his eyes. "It's just a show. Anyway, go gather some help, brother Arlong."
"A show?"
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