Chapter 345: The Thing Above the Clouds
Brett indeed didn't want to keep tangling with Kizaru. On the surface, he'd thrown a full-power punch, but actually hadn't used much force—just borrowing the force from Kizaru's sword swing to escape.
The final result was naturally successful.
He'd finally fallen into the sea, completing his strategic objective.
The instant he entered the water, Brett went full speed, bringing the two children as he headed without pause toward the deeper depths.
"Yay! As expected of Brett-niisan!"
Nana—who knew nothing—still cheered. "You escaped from those guys so easily!! That's amazing!"
"Now's not the time to celebrate!"
Brett's brow remained tightly furrowed, continuously diving deeper into the sea without pause.
"Eh? What's wrong?"
Only then did Nana belatedly realize something she didn't know about had happened.
"In the sky—"
The little princess explained softly to Nana-neesan. "There's something very scary."
"Something very scary?"
Nana tilted her head.
On the sea surface, after Brett successfully left, Kizaru sighed helplessly. "As expected, trying to capture that Brett fellow with this lineup was a bit too optimistic."
Judging from so many past encounters with that monster, to catch him would require at least all three admirals plus the two Navy legends, right?
Otherwise on these seas, even if they could defeat him, they absolutely couldn't catch him.
"Brett!!"
Accompanied by a roar, Charlotte Linlin—blood still flowing from the corner of her mouth—flew back riding her cloud.
"Oh, Brett has already successfully escaped."
Kizaru helplessly spread his hands. "The operation failed."
"Are you kidding me?!!"
Charlotte Linlin gritted her teeth.
What she'd thought would be a sure thing—an action certain to succeed—had failed!
Had that bastard Brett become this strong?
He'd broken through the encirclement so easily and escaped with such ease?
Charlotte Linlin couldn't help feeling somewhat panicked.
Until today, she and Brett had still been allies. But now they'd torn off the facade.
Given the strength Brett had displayed today, if one day he came to attack Totto Land, how should she resist?
Charlotte Linlin's eyes flickered.
She'd always been an arrogant woman. After all, since she was a little girl, she'd always been strong. Now she was one of the strongest on the seas—an existence called Emperor.
But she was arrogant, not stupid. She could sense the power gap between herself and Brett.
Brett had gotten away this time. What should happen afterward?
"Damn it! That bastard Brett! Still slippery as a loach as always!"
Kaido flew over cursing.
Compared to Charlotte Linlin who'd been punched until she vomited blood, he—having taken a tail strike from Brett—was fine aside from some dizziness.
"This is quite unavoidable."
Kizaru also helplessly spread his hands. "He's the world's only devil fruit user who's overcome seawater, and he's a fish-man. Catching him on the sea isn't an easy matter."
Or rather, this matter was harder than ascending to heaven.
"In any case, Kaido, we should leave!"
At this moment, Doflamingo floated to Kaido's ear on thread, his expression extremely grave.
"Hmm?"
Kaido's massive eyes turned, glancing at him sideways.
What was with this kid? Why did he seem so anxious?
He still wanted to reminisce with Linlin.
"Kaido, we really need to go!" Doflamingo lowered his voice, appearing extremely earnest.
Kaido frowned.
"Fine then. See you next time, Linlin!"
The blue dragon turned around without reluctance, using clouds to sweep up his subordinates and rapidly departing.
"What's that bastard in such a hurry about?"
Charlotte Linlin snorted coldly in displeasure.
She'd just been thinking this was a good opportunity for both sides to strengthen their relationship. After all, they'd formed an alliance now, hadn't they?
"Well then, I'll also take my leave."
Kaido left first. The next second, Kizaru also bid farewell with a smile. His body directly transformed into light, flashing toward the high sky. After one refraction, he'd already vanished into the heavens.
Even now he still believed this time was just coincidence—that the government had detected the Beasts Pirates and Charlotte Family's actions and specially sent him to pick up the pieces.
Since there was no longer opportunity, there was no need to remain here.
"Hmph."
Thus only Charlotte Linlin remained in the sky. She snorted coldly, also turning to leave and landing on the ship to reunite with her children.
"Let's return."
Her children all tacitly remained silent. Everyone knew Mama's mood was definitely terrible right now. If they said the wrong thing at this moment and angered her, they'd truly face disastrous consequences.
Some Charlotte Family officers were even thinking—Brett was so powerful. Now that they'd turned against him, what if he came to attack Totto Land afterward?
After all, this guy had never been alone.
His allies were all incredibly powerful.
The Golden Emperor. The Giant Kingdom. NEO Navy. The Whitebeard Pirates.
As long as this guy wanted, he completely possessed the ability to destroy all of Totto Land!
Mama, wasn't rashly turning against such a person a bit too reckless?
Katakuri sighed softly.
The day for change probably wasn't far off anymore.
Recently, he'd been working hard practicing.
In the distant sky, on the departing Beasts Pirates' side—
"So, Joker, what does this mean?"
Kaido asked Doflamingo. What was the reason for urgently prompting departure?
"Kaido, did you notice? After a certain moment, Brett suddenly became very anxious." This was how Doflamingo answered.
"What?"
Kaido frowned. "What are you trying to say, kid?"
Doflamingo swallowed, then took a deep breath, his expression somewhat pale. "Just now when you and Brett collided, the clouds in the sky split open!"
"I saw it—there's something in the sky!"
"Something? What thing?"
"I didn't see clearly, but I'm guessing—"
What exactly was it?
Having finally dove into the deep sea and feeling safe, Brett thought this.
What could give him a sense of danger comparable to Pluton?
Probably—
After the Charlotte Family's large ship departed, above this now-empty sea surface, above the gradually healing cloud layer, a massive object floated quietly.
It simply hovered above the sea, quietly gazing down upon the entire world.
On the distant other side of the sea, deep within Pangaea Castle, in the Room of Flowers—
A voice spoke.
"What a pity."