CHAPTER 265: NEO NAVY
"What? Brett, you're saying you want to cooperate with Zephyr?" In Brett's office on Fish-Man Island, Tesoro stood abruptly after hearing this, unable to contain himself. "You haven't forgotten your relationship with the Navy, have you?"
Of course not. In the beginning, Brett hadn't possessed such grand ambitions. After recovering his memories, he'd simply wanted to return to Fish-Man Island for a peaceful life—marry Shyarly, have children, leisurely wait for the Straw Hat crew to change the world.
That had been Brett's original plan. Unfortunately, a certain Marine vice admiral changed everything.
"But hasn't Zephyr already defected from the Navy?" Brett reclined comfortably in his office chair, legs crossed, fingers interlaced across his knees.
"He's the Navy's enemy. I'm the Navy's enemy. By that logic, doesn't that make him my ally?"
"Don't talk nonsense," Tesoro dismissed Brett's reasoning outright. "I can guess why Zephyr defected—because Weevil became the new Shichibukai! Do you understand what that means?"
"It means that man has abandoned compromise with the Navy, with the government, all for his sense of justice! What makes you think someone like that would violate his principles for you?"
Tesoro's implication was clear: to Zephyr, Brett remained merely a criminal who'd killed Navy personnel—one who'd previously escaped punishment through government protection. Even now that he'd grown powerful and broken with the government, it was just one dog biting another.
"It's worth attempting," Brett smiled. "Our enemies are incomprehensibly powerful. Any additional strength is worth pursuing."
True, Zephyr was aging, had lost an arm, likely suffered from asthma that severely impacted combat capability. Yet he remained a rare powerhouse on the seas. Since this man had also made the World Government his enemy, why couldn't Brett recruit him to his faction?
Of course, as Tesoro noted, this wouldn't be simple. Zephyr appeared composed on the surface, but his later years' experiences had kindled flames within him. Now those flames burned completely unleashed. Hatred of pirates, hatred of the Navy and World Government drove this man. He'd become fierce, fanatical. Recruitment would prove difficult.
Still, Brett wanted to try.
"Do what you want," Tesoro shrugged. "I'm just a guest here anyway. Nobody cares what I think. I suppose I should focus on filming that movie properly."
Brett rolled his eyes.
"Investigate where Zephyr is currently located."
"Contact Morgans about that. You know intelligence gathering isn't comparable to his network."
True enough. Better to let Tesoro concentrate on the film. Morgans would certainly refuse nothing—the moment he heard Brett needed assistance, he'd recognize the implications. That man thrived on chaos, yearning constantly for major news.
---
Meanwhile, in Paradise, on an obscure, uninhabited island in the Grand Line's first half:
Two days prior, a naval warship had quietly landed—though those aboard were no longer Navy.
On the beach, a bonfire burned brightly. Recently caught fish and hunted game were cleaned thoroughly, skewered on sticks around the flames, sizzling appetizingly.
A man and his followers gathered around the fire, their faces flushed orange in the firelight.
"Short-term, we should be fine. By avoiding inhabited islands, the Navy will struggle to trace us," Zephyr said grimly. No longer wearing his Justice cloak, his previously smooth purple hair now stood on end. The gold-rimmed glasses had been replaced with dark sunglasses. He was barely recognizable.
"However, we must reach the New World quickly. Paradise's government and Navy presence is too strong. Exposure would be catastrophic."
Navy bases covered the world, but the New World had the fewest. The New World had been chaotic for ages, essentially beyond government control for decades. Three pirate emperors' existence minimized government authority there.
Reaching the New World meant avoiding government pursuit.
"But Teacher Zephyr," Ain said worriedly, "we can't traverse Mariejois anymore. To reach the New World, we must pass through Fish-Man Island."
Fish-Man Island—Brett's territory.
"We don't need to land on Fish-Man Island," Zephyr replied. "Without landing, we avoid Immigration Bureau inspection. That allows passage to the New World."
Students nodded collectively. Right—Brett was principled. He wouldn't forcibly inspect unwilling ships, merely deny them landing rights.
"Once we reach the New World, we'll organize our forces!" Zephyr stood determinedly. "Since the Navy abandoned justice, we'll protect it!"
"We'll purge the seas of all evil! Pirates, criminals, corrupt military, fallen governments!"
He stood tall, his students gazing up at him with worship—a man they'd follow for life.
"We are the NEO Navy! True justice embodied, bringing peace to this world—the NEO Navy!"
"Yes!" Everyone responded enthusiastically, faces radiant with aspirations and pride.
Since the government and Navy betrayed justice, they would enact true justice themselves!
"Rest for now, then depart toward Fish-Man Island!" Zephyr commanded loudly.
Brett, unaware his sought contact was approaching, continued his preparations.