CHAPTER 253: SUCCESS
The sky split open as Brett surged forward.
He had transformed into his hybrid dragon form, lightning crackling around his legs as he rode the clouds like stepping stones, propelling himself through the air at breakneck speed. Tesoro was wrapped in a swirling mass of clouds, being dragged along behind him through the sky.
"This is insane!" Tesoro shouted, peering down as the landscape blurred beneath them. "Brett, if you ever retire and start a logistics company, you'd make a fortune!"
Brett ignored him.
"But seriously, this ability really is identical to Kaido's," Tesoro continued with obvious amusement. "Eventually that maniac's going to come looking for you, isn't he?"
"Let him come," Brett replied casually. "I'd welcome it."
In fact, Brett had already been considering how to drive the Beasts Pirates out of Wano and claim Pluton. If Kaido willingly sailed up to challenge him, that would only expedite matters.
"Arrogant bastard," Tesoro muttered, but he made no further protest. He knew Brett never boasted. If Brett claimed victory was assured, then it was assured.
"How's your Conqueror's Haki coming along?" Brett asked with a smile. "It's been a while since I've seen you use it."
"Don't worry about it. I won't hold you back," Tesoro responded confidently.
"Good to hear."
Brett accelerated further, racing across the sky.
Tesoro was a prideful man. Brett understood perfectly that he would never accept being a mere subordinate. That was fine—that was exactly the kind of person Brett needed at his side.
---
Somewhere in the first half of the Grand Line, in a sea region known as Paradise, a Navy warship cut through the waves with impressive speed.
On the deck, a short, rotund man cursed incessantly.
"Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!" Wapol shrieked. "Why hasn't Kaido gone to Fish-Man Island and killed that bastard Brett yet!"
Behind him, the Navy vice admiral assigned to escort this insufferable fool rolled his eyes internally.
What an idiot.
As if Kaido would willingly sail to Fish-Man Island to fight Brett. Kaido was a monster, certainly, but so was Brett. In the deep ocean, no one could defeat the fish-man.
The fact that such a buffoon ruled a nation was cause for genuine despair. The vice admiral had witnessed Wapol's cruelty firsthand during their interactions. Yet there was nothing he could do about it. He was merely a vice admiral of Navy Headquarters, without authority to interfere in the internal affairs of a member nation.
Not only could he not intervene, but he now had to respectfully escort this man back to his kingdom.
The higher one climbed, the more one understood the government's true nature. Sometimes, the vice admiral thought grimly, one began to question whether the justice they upheld was justice at all.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden sound.
The roar of wind.
A tremendous gale descended from the heavens. The entire warship shuddered violently. The deck and railings cracked. The sails were torn to shreds. The vessel appeared on the verge of disintegration.
The sea itself convulsed. Fine, violent cracks spread across the water's surface. Waves surged upward in columns, defying gravity, spraying dozens of meters into the air.
The crew didn't stand a chance.
The Navy sailors protecting the ship collapsed immediately, their eyes rolling back as they lost consciousness. Wapol went down even faster, foaming at the mouth, rolling across the deck like a watermelon until he crashed against the rail.
The only person aboard with any capability to resist was the vice admiral himself.
He managed to lift his head, his mouth opening to speak.
Then his body convulsed. His eyes went blank. He collapsed face-first onto the deck with a sickening thud.
Seconds later, Brett descended from the clouds with Tesoro in tow.
"Hey! You bastard!" Tesoro yelped, rubbing his head as the cloud around him dissipated. "Is Conqueror's Haki always this overwhelming?! I wasn't even the target and I felt that pressure!"
"You get used to it," Brett said with a light chuckle. He extended his hand, and clouds rolled out, snatching up the unconscious Wapol from the corner where he'd been thrown.
"Done. Let's go," Brett said simply.
"That's it? I thought there'd at least be a fight," Tesoro complained, disappointed. These Navy sailors were pathetically weak. They couldn't have sent an admiral to provide escort?
He gazed at the cloud-wrapped Wapol. "So what's this guy useful for, anyway?"
"His ability is interesting," Brett replied, summoning new clouds that gently wrapped around Tesoro before launching back into the sky with both of them in tow.
As they flew, Brett explained Wapol's power to his companion.
"The Munch-Munch Fruit? Lets him swallow objects and then combine them however he wants?" Tesoro's eyes lit up as he understood the implications. "Devil Fruits really are the most incredible power in the world! This guy's ability would be perfect for a factory operation."
"Exactly," Brett smiled.
By the time they'd vanished into the distance, the Navy warship was left drifting alone on the sea, its sails shredded and useless.
The vice admiral finally stirred, his eyes snapping open in panic.
He scrambled to his feet, drawing his sword and assuming a defensive stance.
But the deck was silent. The ship's interior was peaceful. Nothing seemed amiss.
He searched carefully, checking every corner of the vessel.
Finally, he understood. They were gone.
The vice admiral exhaled with relief, though his hands still trembled.
Something terrifying had come aboard. But miraculously, no real damage had been done. The supplies remained untouched in the hold.
Then why had they come?
After waking several crew members and conducting a thorough search, the answer became clear.
"King Wapol is missing!" the vice admiral whispered, his face draining of all color.
His political career was over.