Chapter 247 Call with the Five Elders
Finally back in familiar surroundings.
When his body was once again immersed in the cold seawater, that sense of security returned.
Honestly, though the process of escaping Mariejois went very smoothly, during that process, it was still somewhat heart-pounding.
Brett naturally didn't want to detonate the Dyna Stones. He didn't want to die.
The forces gathered at Mariejois were too powerful. Direct confrontation absolutely had no chance of victory.
Even that unfathomable Lord Imu was in Pangaea Castle.
If they'd been slower, there truly might have been no chance to leave.
Brett thought so.
"Thought we were finished!" King Neptune also felt fortunate. He said with lingering fear, "Today's events were really too thrilling!"
He'd never been this thrilled in his life.
Breaking with the World Government, facing pursuit from Marine Headquarters' three Admirals plus CP0's strongest shield.
Barely escaping using Dyna Stones' deterrence, but with no ship to return to the sea, ultimately having to jump down from the Red Line.
That weightless feeling during free fall still made his back run cold.
But fortunately, they ultimately successfully escaped and returned to the sea.
"So I already said," Brett, though equally feeling some lingering fear inside, showed an indifferent smile on his face. "Just trust me. Nothing will happen."
"Hahahaha!" Neptune laughed heartily.
However, his smile didn't last long. Soon his brow furrowed again.
"So what should we do next?" He said worriedly. "We've now completely broken with the World Government. Though we're safe underwater, business probably can't continue."
This was what Brett worried about from the start. The World Government would inevitably completely blockade Fish-Man Island next.
Though they couldn't directly attack, economic sanctions and political isolation would definitely be plentiful.
The several member nations under the government they'd finally befriended probably wouldn't dare deal with Fish-Man Island anymore.
Or rather, even if they were willing, Neptune wouldn't want them to bear that risk.
However, this aspect's impact on Fish-Man Island actually wasn't that great. After all, Fish-Man Island's truly important allies were the Heptagonal Alliance nations, and not one was a government member.
But economic sanctions were somewhat troublesome.
Under the government's high pressure, what merchants would dare do business with Fish-Man Island?
In that case, Fish-Man Island's originally prosperous economy would inevitably suffer devastating blows.
Though after these years' development, various industries could basically achieve self-sufficiency in necessities.
But even so, Fish-Man Island would inevitably face decline.
"Perhaps there's still some hope," Brett's lips curved.
Halfway up the Red Line, where the earlier battle occurred—
Aokiji and Zero treaded air ascending, quickly returning to this former battlefield.
"So what's the situation now?" Aokiji asked Akainu.
Akainu sat in the huge hole he'd smashed into the Red Line. He currently looked somewhat miserable.
His clothes had been completely burned away. His entire body was scorched black from flames, like charcoal.
Worse was his right arm—bent into several tooth-achingly unnatural angles. The bone seemed broken into several segments, causing even his right shoulder to bulge high, muscles seemingly torn.
"You actually got injured like this in such a short time!" Aokiji's tone was incomparably grave.
Simply unimaginable what happened. This guy was Sakazuki! A Marine Headquarters Admiral on par with him!
"That guy, Brett is terrifyingly strong!" Light condensed nearby. Kizaru returned. Though smiling, his tone seemed to contain no humor. "Just one strike put Sakazuki in this state."
Strictly speaking, two moves—one Bolo Breath, one King's Fist.
But the damage from Bolo Breath was limited. The key was that punch.
Aokiji and the strongest shield fell silent.
One strike?
Could anyone in the world do such a thing?
Whitebeard, called the world's strongest man, and Kaido, called the strongest creature, definitely couldn't do it!
That man, fish-man Brett—did he already possess strength surpassing those two monsters?
"Moreover," Kizaru added another sentence. "Right before my eyes, he jumped into the sea and dove away."
"...This world really is insane." After a long while, Aokiji made this sigh.
The instant he learned Brett was an devil fruit user, he'd had such speculation, but when truly confirmed, he still felt shocked inside.
Absurdly powerful, and an devil fruit user who could freely move in water.
How could such a troublesome person exist in the world?
From now on, Brett didn't even need to always hide in the deep sea. Even if he came to the sea surface, the government would find him difficult to handle.
"Anyway, report to the Five Elders first." Zero's voice was also full of helplessness.
At this point, what could be done about Brett?
Couldn't dive into the deep sea to cause him trouble at Fish-Man Island—that would be suicide, wouldn't it?
Shortly after, in Mariejois, in a certain room deeper within Pangaea Castle—
The Five Elders knelt on one knee, receiving Zero's call.
"...Very sorry, Lord Five Elders. We incorrectly estimated Brett's strength. No one expected he was an devil fruit user with the same ability as Kaido! Ultimately, we could only watch helplessly as he escaped into the deep sea, unable to pursue further."
The Five Elders, listening to the Zero's voice from the phone, already had foreheads covered in cold sweat.
"Then that's all for now." Elder Mars lowered his voice, then reached out to hang up.
After that, the Five Elders changed from kneeling on one knee to both knees, foreheads pressed tightly to the ground.
"Most sincerely apologies, Lord Imu!" Saint Warcury's voice trembled with fear.
Before the five of them stood a slender, tall black shadow.
Wearing a high crown, entire body shrouded in a pitch-black robe.
He or she said nothing. The indifferent eyes within the robe just quietly watched the Five Elders.
But this calm gaze brought tremendous pressure to the Five Elders. Sweat had already soaked their backs.
Buru buru buru buru.
At this moment, the Den Den Mushi rang again.
"Lord Imu?" After much hesitation, Saint Mars looked up toward their sovereign.
The mysterious figure hidden in darkness still said nothing.
But the Five Elders already sensed this was an attitude of tacit consent.
Saint Mars reached out to answer the call.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"It's me," the other side answered.
"Brett!!"