Chapter 323: Gathering Villainous Forces
After Charlotte Linlin and her son departed, the Giant King spoke to Brett somewhat apologetically. "Looks like I've caused you trouble this time, Brett."
"Charlotte Linlin said she won't let this go. I'm afraid she's not just targeting us."
"Doesn't matter."
Brett shook his head. "With this marriage alliance falling through, this outcome was only natural."
The alliance with Charlotte Linlin was incredibly fragile, of course.
With Brett in absolute opposition to Kaido of the Beasts, Charlotte Linlin's willingness to hold back during the previous war stemmed entirely from the marriage promise.
Now that marriage was impossible, what choice Charlotte Linlin would make was self-evident.
"Oh?"
Brett's calm attitude genuinely surprised the Giant King. He asked with astonishment, "So you were already prepared?"
That was Charlotte Linlin—one of three Pirate Emperors, ruler of the Charlotte Family.
Parting ways with such an ally should be an important matter for Fish-Man Island, yet Brett's attitude was excessively composed.
"I've made some preparations."
Brett smiled.
After this marriage incident, Katakuri—you should be even more certain whether what you want to do is right, shouldn't you?
"Hahahaha! If that's the case, let's go. We've delayed long enough—time for breakfast."
"Sounds good."
Brett readily agreed.
Overthinking now served no purpose. Better to fill his stomach first.
While they ate breakfast, Charlotte Linlin and Katakuri rode on the thundercloud Zeus's back, racing swiftly toward Elbaf's borders to rendezvous with the ship that had brought them.
"Mamamama! There's no helping it now!"
Charlotte Linlin laughed loudly. "Looks like the chance to marry into the giant race is completely gone."
Katakuri said nothing. He understood his mother far too well. Though she appeared to be laughing now, the fury in her heart could no longer be suppressed.
"I'll never forgive that bastard Giant King! Sooner or later he'll learn what price comes with refusing me!"
His mother made her threats. Katakuri simply listened quietly.
"Oh, and that bastard Brett too!"
Charlotte Linlin's words shifted, changing her cursing target to Brett.
Katakuri felt something was off. His mother—the mother he'd always believed unmatched—was she raging impotently now?
"But Mama, are we making Brett an enemy as well?"
Katakuri kept his tone and expression bland as always, making himself appear like a robot before Mama, showing no personal emotion, only following orders.
"Isn't he our ally?"
"Ally? What nonsense!"
Charlotte Linlin sneered coldly. "That bastard's been playing me from the start!"
Thinking about it, Katakuri realized that was probably true.
Initially, Brett had promised to help the Charlotte Family control Fish-Man Island. But later that proved to be pure deception—Fish-Man Island remained exactly as it had been.
Only after discovering Brett's extraordinary strength, when Mama found it difficult to cause him trouble, did both sides choose cooperation.
"He claimed he wanted to help me marry into the giants, but really he was just laughing at me!"
Charlotte Linlin practically ground her teeth. "Hmph! In the end, he's the one who formed an alliance with the giants!"
Oh. Jealousy.
Was Mama jealous of Brett?
Katakuri thought this to himself.
"I absolutely won't forgive that bastard!"
"But Mama," Katakuri said, "Brett's strength is extraordinary. Not to mention he has a group of equally powerful allies."
"Dealing with him probably won't be easy."
"He can find allies—you think I can't?"
Charlotte Linlin sneered coldly. "That guy may have many friends on these seas, but naturally, he has even more enemies!"
"Kaido, the Navy, the World Government! Mamamama! Everyone targeting him is a monster!"
Katakuri fell silent.
Mama, you know Brett's enemies like the back of your hand, but you clearly lack awareness of his friends.
Brett has far more friends than you imagine.
"Next we'll contact that bastard Kaido. Don't let his appearance fool you—he's probably already gotten involved with the World Government!"
"That bastard Brett formed a Seven Corners Alliance of minority races, didn't he? Then we'll form our own alliance to answer him!"
So wary of Brett?
Katakuri understood somewhat why Mama was determined to break with Brett.
Having powerful friends was good, but if they became too powerful, they brought fear—especially when both sides lacked real friendship and had clashed several times.
However—
Don't blame me, Mama. I just think you might not be suited to lead our family siblings forward.
Wano Country, Onigashima.
Kaido—busy searching for his vanished daughter again—suddenly received a phone call.
"Mamamama! Kaido! Let's have a chat!"
"Linlin?"
Kaido was astonished. What was this old hag calling about now?
Shortly after, hearty laughter erupted from Onigashima.
"Worororororo! You're talking about cooperation? Then of course I have no reason to refuse!"
Mary Geoise, Pangaea Castle.
"Good news has arrived from Kaido's side."
The Five Elders gathered once again in the office for an emergency meeting.
Saint Saturn smiled cheerfully. "Charlotte Linlin has finally broken with that Brett fellow. She's now willing to join the alliance against Brett."
"Though the reason Charlotte Linlin made this decision is that Brett's relationship with the giants has grown even closer."
"That bastard's quite the social butterfly."
Saint Warcury spoke half angrily, half admiringly. "Before this, who could have imagined this guy could ally with the giants? Even Zephyr became his partner."
"These matters aren't important now. The key is how to eliminate that Brett fellow!"
Saint Nusjuro said in a low voice. "The forces at our disposal are more than sufficient. But the problem is Brett always lurks in the deep sea—we can't find an opportunity to strike."
"The NEO Navy—use them as the breakthrough point!"
"On one hand, rescue Sakazuki and the others. On the other, as long as Zephyr faces crisis, Brett absolutely won't stand by!"
Saint Mars said, "Have the CP accelerate their progress. Find them quickly!"