Chapter 177 Emperor! Movie!
Mariejois, Pangaea Castle, Room of Authority.
The Den Den Mushi's receiver had been hung up on its back. The Den Den Mushi that had been spirited and energetic while mimicking a certain man now lay listlessly on the table, both eyes closed and drooping.
The five old men of varying heights were somewhat silent.
After a long while, one of them finally spoke.
"Is what Brett said true?" Saint Ju Peter's tone was measured, his brow furrowed, voice low - clearly quite hesitant.
"Who knows,"
Saint Saturn shook his head. He sat on the sofa, fingers interlaced supporting his chin, also looking heavy with thought. "Maybe it's true, maybe it's false. We can't read that kid's mind!"
"Though uncertain, we can only proceed on the premise that he - or rather they - already know."
Saint Mars stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window. Brilliant sunlight streamed in from behind him, but it precisely hid his face in shadow. "We can't afford to gamble."
"The logic is sound, but the problem is - Fish-Man Island, the Charlotte family, plus the Beast Pirates. If these three forces really joined hands,"
Saint Nusjuro leaning against the wall in loose white robes, clutching a sword as always, spoke with considerable gravity, "The government would have difficulty dealing with them. Charlotte Linlin and Kaido aside, even that Brett kid can basically be confirmed to possess strength rivaling the Admirals!"
"..."
Saint Warcury sighed, "Their alliance would birth a force even more terrifying than the Rocks Pirates of old."
"Moreover," Saint Ju Peter added, "Whitebeard has a good relationship with Fish-Man Island too."
The Five Elders who held the world's supreme power all fell silent.
"We cannot act yet."
Saint Mars suddenly looked up, saying gravely, "Immediately send people to Totto Land and Wano to investigate exactly what the situation is between those three now."
"Our secrets may have been leaked - we absolutely cannot turn a blind eye!"
Meanwhile, somewhere in the New World's skies.
Brett put away his Den Den Mushi.
Though the Five Elders had said nothing just now, even verbally praising his actions, their true thoughts were self-evident.
"The time to break with the government isn't far off."
Brett sighed, then wrapped himself in lightning and continued flying forward through the sky.
The World Economic News spread across the world once more.
"Deep Sea Emperor? Gurararara!"
In the New World, aboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard looked at the newspaper and laughed heartily, "That Brett kid did well!"
"Brett is certainly impressive," Marco was also laughing nearby, "but he's still far from matching Pops."
"Gurararara! Either way, let's have a banquet! Maybe before long, we can take back Fish-Man Island's flag!"
Also somewhere in the New World.
"Hahahaha, how funny, Captain! Someone's been called an emperor before you!"
The rotund fat man was laughing so hard tears streamed from his eyes.
"Fish-man Brett?"
Nearby, the one-armed red-haired man held the newspaper with a smile. "Looks like a remarkable guy. I'd really like to meet him."
Paradise.
"Kaido!!"
A roar echoed from some mist-shrouded waters, though the attention was entirely on another fellow.
Elsewhere, at the recently destroyed site of the West Keal Kingdom, an old farmer eating lunch with a group of baboons between plowing sessions also picked up the newspaper. His golden pupils were sharp as a hawk's.
"Emperor? I really want to see how much distance remains between me and such a monster."
Alabasta.
"The monsters actually joined forces? Damn it, where exactly is that thing hidden in this country!"
Someone was getting anxious too.
Amazon Lily.
"Sis, look, it's Brett! Emperor - that's what the newspaper calls him! Says he's the man who rules the deep sea!" Marigold waved the newspaper excitedly.
She should be excited - Brett was their ally.
"If it's that guy, maybe he really can!"
Sandersonia was also very excited, "Even Kaido and Charlotte Linlin became his allies. Maybe he really can overthrow the World Government, overthrow the Celestial Dragons!"
If so, that lingering nightmare would surely disappear.
"Emperor?"
The emperor of this country, Hancock, took the newspaper from her sister, glanced at it, then snorted coldly, "That guy has gotten stronger!"
"But I won't lose to him either!"
Conqueror's Haki coating!
Once she learned this, she would definitely possess power to match or even surpass that guy.
Somewhere in the Grand Line, on an island called Baltigo.
"Did Brett really become allies with Kaido?"
The boy in the hat found it hard to believe.
"Hard to say."
The leader of the organization secretly stationed here called the Revolutionary Army, Dragon, felt a headache coming on. "Though Brett's enemy is also the World Government, he's different from us - he only thinks about Fish-Man Island."
Cooperating with Beast Kaido wasn't impossible for Brett.
So was this good or bad news for the Revolutionary Army?
"Let's contact Brett later to ask for details."
The Revolutionary Army commander thought this.
At least, on a worldwide scale, the title "Deep Sea Emperor" was beginning to resonate.
People were starting to realize that the Deep Sea Calamity who brought change to Fish-Man Island was actually quite a remarkable fellow.
And Brett's journey home continued.
After crossing Totto Land's waters, when very close to Fish-Man Island, the Den Den Mushi rang once more.
"Hahahaha, Deep Sea Emperor Brett, you're really something now!"
As soon as the call connected, Tesoro's hearty laughter came through. "Don't forget your old friends."
Brett's mouth twitched, "If you called just to say nonsense, I'm hanging up."
"Alright, alright, let's talk business."
Tesoro's laughter didn't diminish, "The movie editing is complete and ready for official release. I'm planning to hold a premiere ceremony on Fish-Man Island."
"Premiere ceremony?"
Brett raised an eyebrow, "Why on Fish-Man Island?"
"Because Fish-Man Island is one of the world's wealthiest and most prosperous countries now!"
Tesoro said matter-of-factly, "Plus it's the filming location for the story, and I have a good friend in high office there. It wouldn't make sense not to give me a good opening, right?"
Brett's eye twitched. What, if the box office doesn't work out, you expect me to buy out the theater?
"Whatever." he said.
"Excellent! Pick me up when you pass Dressrosa. Get ready Brett, we're about to be famous worldwide!"
"I'm already famous before you are."
"Hahaha, true! After all, you're the great Deep Sea Emperor Brett!"
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