Chapter 421: Turning the Tables
"How did this kid get caught by the Navy right after setting sail?"
In Brett's office, Tesoro—whom he'd summoned—stared at the newspaper equally confused.
He naturally remembered the Spade Pirates quite well. After all, they'd visited his company and requested his autograph.
Since they were his fans, Tesoro held no ill will toward them. They'd had no conflicts.
"Who knows?"
Brett leaned back in his wide chair, calmly remarking, "On these seas, nothing's really surprising anymore, right?"
"True."
Tesoro nodded lightly. The Spade Pirates had headed for the New World. In those waters, anything could happen.
"Probably got lost, ended up near a Navy base. Pretty unlucky."
Tesoro shook his head regretfully, then looked at Brett. "So—are you regretting that your teaching these past few days went to waste?"
"Or—"
He grinned, winking at Brett. "Planning to do something about it?"
"Everyone has their own adventure. No need to interfere with their voyage."
Brett said leisurely. "That's what I'd originally say, anyway."
"But?" Tesoro raised an eyebrow.
"But the situation seems off."
Brett said. "Do you think Fire Fist Ace warrants the Government specifically holding a public execution?"
Tesoro thought, then frowned too. "Of course not. That kid's a logia user who refused a Warlord position, sure. But at the end of the day, his bounty's only a little over two hundred million."
Pirates with bounties exceeding a billion were locked in Impel Down. How did a mere two-hundred-million pirate deserve public execution?
"Not to mention that kid's also Hero Garp's grandson." Brett casually dropped another secret.
"There's that too?!"
Tesoro was shocked again. "Then it's definitely too strange. That kid absolutely shouldn't be pushed onto an execution platform."
Right. Unless Ace's true origins were exposed—unless the Government knew his connection to Roger—under normal circumstances, why would the Five Elders publicly execute that Navy hero's grandson?
As for whether Ace's origins had been exposed, Brett felt they hadn't.
If Ace were truly the main objective—if they wanted to kill the Pirate King's son to intimidate these chaotic seas—this execution announcement shouldn't be tucked in a newspaper corner. It should be front-page headline news.
Something was definitely fishy here.
"So the Government's trying to pull something again?" Tesoro asked.
"Most likely."
Brett nodded lightly.
"I see. You called me over specifically for this?"
Tesoro nodded. "Definitely a situation worth noting!"
They had no enemies left in this world. Their only cautious opponent remained the World Government.
Any movement from this final and strongest opponent deserved serious attention.
"Actually, something else happened before this." Brett said.
"Oh? What?"
Brett explained—the suddenly appearing, mysterious Fish-Men of unknown origin.
"There's that too?!"
Tesoro was greatly alarmed. "Then no need to think about it—definitely the Government's schemes, right?!"
Hard not to connect these two events.
Fish-Men lurking in the deep sea. And now Ace's public execution.
"That kid Ace's public execution probably aims to lure you away from Fish-Man Island, right?"
Tesoro boldly speculated. "Then those Fish-Men can act while you're gone."
"I think so too."
Brett nodded lightly in agreement.
Those Fish-Men spying on Fish-Man Island naturally weren't just watching. They obviously had strategic objectives.
The two biggest targets were probably Tom-san and the Dyna Stones.
But with him still on the island, they could hardly act. So they needed some way to draw him away.
Under these circumstances, Ace—who'd just established a connection with him and seemed on good terms—proved perfectly convenient.
"That kid Ace really is unlucky."
Tesoro could only shake his head and sigh. "So, Brett—what are you thinking? What will you do? You called me over specifically for this, right?"
"Since the Government wants me to leave, I'll oblige them."
Brett said calmly. "I also want to figure out exactly what those Fish-Men are."
"Are you serious? You know it's their trap, but you're jumping right in anyway?" Tesoro said in shock.
"This is called turning the tables."
Brett smiled. "Besides, at this point—even if I'm not at Fish-Man Island, can the Government easily conquer it?"
Tesoro fell silent briefly, then shook his head helplessly. "Don't know whether to call you confident or arrogant, you bastard."
"Then explain in detail. How do you plan to welcome their arrival?"
"Well—"
After their discussion, Tesoro hurriedly left, returning to his company. He also needed to make preparations.
Simultaneously, directly above Fish-Man Island—in Mariejois's Pangaea Castle, the Five Elders' office—the five old men were discussing upcoming events.
"Will this really make that Brett bastard leave Fish-Man Island?"
Saint Ju Peter reclined on the sofa, his tone quite low. "At the end of the day, that Fire Fist Ace kid and Brett don't have particularly deep relations."
"Who can say for certain? Right now, all we can do is gamble."
Saint Nusjuro said calmly. "Besides, even losing the bet doesn't matter. As long as the infiltrators remain unexposed, we'll still have many opportunities."
"How's that Garp guy doing? Did we have Sengoku watch him? Can't have him acting out at a time like this."
Saint Mars said.
"That was naturally instructed long ago."
Saint Warcury said. "That old bastard's been Navy for decades. He won't act impulsively."
The Elders nodded lightly.
They acknowledged that Navy hero's loyalty.
"Anyway, all we can do now is wait quietly."
"Indeed."
Now they just needed to wait quietly for that day's arrival. Wait to see whether their plan could proceed smoothly.
Then, one week later, the execution time arrived.
Location: Marine Base G-1.