Chapter 358: Hawkeye's Challenge
Brett landed lightly on the ground, walking over to Shanks and Mihawk with a smile.
Of course he'd been present.
Though he couldn't personally participate in this war, both Shanks and Katakuri were his good friends. Naturally Brett didn't want to see anything happen to either of them.
The plan had been made in advance, true—but who could guarantee nothing would go wrong?
So Brett had arrived at the battlefield when the fighting began, calmly observing from a distance for several days.
"Quite the fierce battle."
Brett smiled as he surveyed the devastated battlefield. The island's central area had been completely transformed into a massive basin, with traces of the monsters' wanton destruction everywhere.
"This will surely be passed down across these seas."
In the future, this battle would probably be called a legendary conflict.
After all, this war had established two new Emperors at once.
Two, naturally.
Besides Shanks, Katakuri—who'd overthrown his mother and seized control of the Charlotte Family—would undoubtedly become a new Emperor as well.
"Hahaha! It wasn't that impressive."
Shanks scratched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly, laughing. "Either way, I really have to thank you for your help this time, Brett."
Mihawk raised an eyebrow.
Shanks said seriously, "If you hadn't warned me in advance, we'd have been in serious trouble."
If Brett hadn't notified him beforehand to seek reinforcements, Shanks would've faced two enemies alone.
No matter how confident Shanks was, he absolutely couldn't defeat Kaido and Charlotte Linlin's combined forces.
"It's nothing."
Brett waved his hand. "You helped me out too."
Without Shanks and Mihawk's efforts, Katakuri wouldn't have captured Charlotte Linlin so easily.
"So all of this was planned in advance by you?"
Mihawk said with surprise. "This war, and Katakuri's betrayal?"
If true, those two—Kaido and Charlotte Linlin—were truly pathetic.
Manipulated like toys.
The Deep Sea Emperor, Fish-Man Brett—what a terrifying individual.
Mihawk thought this to himself.
"Of course it wasn't all planned."
Brett said. "Actually, I never anticipated this war between Shanks and Kaido."
"Well, I certainly didn't want war either, but there was no choice."
Shanks spread his hand—his only hand. "Kaido was far too aggressive."
"But Katakuri—his actions were definitely part of your plan, weren't they?"
Mihawk's sharp eyes fixed on Brett. His gaze was confident.
"Katakuri is indeed my friend."
Brett didn't bother hiding it, nodding directly. "He's been anticipating this moment for a long time."
"I see."
Mihawk slowly nodded.
This made the man even more extraordinary.
Shanks was his friend. The Whitebeard Pirates were Fish-Man Island's allies. Now even Katakuri—the man who'd just inherited Charlotte Linlin's Emperor throne—was this man's friend.
Meaning among the New World's Emperors, only Kaido was his enemy!
Though he might not be able to integrate all these forces, these friendships alone would be enough to shake the World Government, wouldn't they?
"Truly remarkable!"
Mihawk praised sincerely.
This was indeed an extraordinary man.
"I think so too."
Shanks laughed heartily. "But right now, the more important matter—"
"Is the banquet!"
He looked ahead. At the edge of the central basin, Red-Hair Pirates members were slowly gathering.
Thus began the victory celebration banquet.
The results of this war had just begun spreading, stirring the first waves across the seas.
"What? Kaido was repelled?"
In Mariejois, the Five Elders assembled in emergency session and simultaneously expressed shock.
Unbelievable! The Red-Hair Pirates faced both the Beasts Pirates and Charlotte Family simultaneously and still achieved victory?
Even with Hawkeye helping, their combat power should still have fallen short of their opponents.
What exactly happened?
The Five Elders impatiently opened the detailed intelligence report.
Then—
"What?! Katakuri suddenly rebelled?!"
This fact left even the Five Elders somewhat dumbfounded.
Wasn't the Charlotte Family always renowned across the seas for sibling unity?
How did the Beasts Pirates fight the Red-Hair Pirates to the very end, while the Charlotte Family suddenly split—with Katakuri turning against Charlotte Linlin?!
The New World's situation had instantly undergone tremendous change.
"Who could have imagined Charlotte Linlin would suddenly fall from power?"
Saint Ju Peter said gravely. "Katakuri really picked an inconvenient time!"
Originally, whatever happened to Charlotte Linlin was completely unrelated to the World Government. The Five Elders would've been delighted by her death.
But now that woman was the World Government's partner—like Kaido, cooperating with the Government against Brett.
At this critical juncture, that woman had fallen. Hadn't the Government just lost a powerful partner?
"Try contacting him."
Saint Mars said. "Intelligence indicates he's also mastered Conqueror's Coating. Even if he can't match Charlotte Linlin, he should still be formidable combat power."
"Moreover, we can also attempt to rescue Charlotte Linlin."
Saint Nusjuro said. "Now abandoned by everyone, she should need our assistance."
The Five Elders nodded in unison.
This way, this war might not be entirely disadvantageous for them.
The island where the war occurred.
The fierce battle had long ended. Now was the lively banquet time.
The Red-Hair Pirates' cook, Lucky Roux, used ingredients from the ship to prepare delicious dish after dish.
"Hahaha! Everyone drink your fill!"
Shanks laughed heartily, raising his cup high. "That's a captain's order!"
"Ohhh!!"
The officers responded with unified laughter.
Today they should truly celebrate—after all, they'd won a remarkable war.
"Hahaha."
Shanks sat down with a laugh, turning to look at Mihawk sitting beside him. "Well, Mihawk—we'll settle what I promised after we've recovered."
This world's greatest swordsman was an undeniable battle maniac. He'd agreed to help Shanks not just due to their friendship and facing Pirate Emperors, but also for another small condition.
Shanks had promised him a proper match.
But Mihawk glanced at Shanks with some contempt. "Duel with you, a disabled one-armed man?"
The man with eagle-sharp eyes turned his head. He looked toward Brett.
"Fish-Man Brett! Emperor of the Deep Sea! Might I have the honor of witnessing your power?"
"Oh?"
Brett raised an eyebrow.
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