Chapter 340: The Reason
Without question, it was war.
In the city below, the war they'd thought had ended was still ongoing.
Gunfire and cannon blasts continuously told the three floating in the sky.
Their previous efforts seemed meaningless. Violence and slaughter still shrouded this city.
Or rather, still shrouded this entire country.
"What's going on?! Didn't those two promise us they'd end this war?!"
Nana shouted angrily.
How could adults be so untrustworthy?!
They'd left so happily earlier, thinking they were heroes who'd saved this country. But why had things turned out like this?
Why were all their efforts futile? Why had everything returned to how it was?
Not just Nana—Shirahoshi also pressed her lips together, appearing completely at a loss.
"What's happening?"
The little princess felt very confused.
She'd clearly heard those two men's inner voices. They'd been sincere—not a trace of falsehood. They'd genuinely, wholeheartedly wanted to end this country's war.
But why was the situation like this now? Why hadn't the war ended? Why were people still slaughtering each other? Why did voices of fear and pain still reach her from all directions?
"Finding the answer is simple."
Brett chuckled softly.
Then he lowered their altitude slightly and roared upward.
"Those in charge on both sides—come here now!"
Wind spread his voice outward. Faster than sound was violent Conqueror's Haki.
In the blink of an eye, both sides fiercely exchanging fire in this small city went weak, no longer having strength to raise weapons.
The fighting people noticed the monster floating in the sky.
Why had he returned?
People couldn't understand this. Couldn't understand why this remarkable Deep Sea Emperor cared so much about such a country nobody else cared about.
But now they had no recourse—they could only obey this man's orders.
Both sides' leaders were immediately supported by subordinates as they hurriedly arrived at the street where negotiations had occurred.
This street hadn't changed much from before. If anything, it had become somewhat more damaged from the recent fighting.
But the people appearing on the street now had changed.
"Lord Brett..."
Those appearing on the street wore expressions full of anxiety and panic.
Brett descended with the two children. Nana immediately asked in surprise.
"Who are you? Where are those two men from before?"
The two men who'd participated in negotiations—theoretically representing this country's king and the rebel leader who'd started the uprising—weren't present now. Replacing them were two men Brett's trio didn't recognize.
A lavishly dressed man pulled out a handkerchief to wipe cold sweat from his forehead. He said urgently, "His Majesty wanted to negotiate peace with them, but suddenly came under their attack! So I'm temporarily commanding now!"
"This man is lying, Lord Brett!"
A man who appeared to be a rebel army higher-up said hurriedly. "The king and our leader wanted to end the war for the people, but were attacked by these despicable nobles!"
Both sides began making conflicting claims again, attacking each other with accusations.
Almost like a replay of the earlier situation between the king and rebel leader.
"Aaah! I can't understand what's happening at all anymore!"
Nana's brain had completely stopped working. She shouted in frustration. "Brett-niisan, what should we do now?!"
Her not understanding didn't matter. Someone understanding the situation was enough.
Brett looked at little Princess Shirahoshi—eyes brimming with tears, already sobbing.
"Why would you do such a thing?"
The two men's lies couldn't affect Shirahoshi at all.
"They wanted to end this war! Why would you hurt them?!"
Both arguing men froze at her words.
As they tried to explain, Brett spoke.
"Now answer Shirahoshi's question properly. Why don't you want to end this war? Why did you hurt the two who wanted to end it?"
Both sides' new leaders fell into tacit silence.
Just moments ago, His Majesty and the rebel leader had returned to their respective camps saying they wanted to end the war.
Both sides' leadership couldn't understand what had gone wrong in their leaders' heads to suddenly have such thoughts.
This wasn't even Brett forcing them—these were ideas from their own hearts' depths.
Saying things like the country and its people were pitiful, they shouldn't let the war continue, wanting to talk with the other side and end the conflict.
A very beautiful vision indeed.
But both sides' leadership had tacitly arrested their leaders. After brief internal negotiations, new leaders had emerged, followed by news that the original leaders had been killed by the opposing side.
This was what Shirahoshi couldn't understand. Why? Why do such a thing?
"It's all because of them—"
The royal army's new leader still wanted to deflect. Brett's body crackled with electricity that struck before him, blasting a huge crater in the ground. The man was embarrassingly thrown backward by the shockwave, rolling several times.
"If you don't tell the truth, lightning will strike you next." Brett said.
Both leaders' bodies trembled.
Could this monster see through their hearts too?
"Because... no one wants this war to end like this."
Finally, the royal army's new commander spoke. He said, "If it ends this way, these bastards won't be punished. They might even become new elites within the country, sharing power that should be ours."
A nation's resources were limited—both natural resources and political resources.
"We've come so far... we're... unwilling to give up..."
The rebel side also spoke with difficulty. He said, "We're not far from seizing control of this country. If we retreat now, merciless retribution will certainly await us afterward."
"..."
Nana scratched her head, wanting to say something but not knowing what.
This was still too complex for her.
"Can't—"
The little princess clenched her fists, speaking very reluctantly. "Can't everyone coexist peacefully?"
Her ability activated unconsciously again. The expressions of both sides standing here grew somewhat dazed.
Then the royal side's leader shook his head fearfully and repeatedly because of thoughts suddenly arising. "No, no, no! We represent all the nobles' interests! If we betrayed them, only disaster would await us!"
Finally, the most fundamental reason was revealed.
"What... does that mean?"
Shirahoshi looked toward Brett.
****
60+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces