Chapter 210 Sowing Discord
Giant Country was located in the latter part of the New World, even beyond Wano Country, quite a considerable distance from Whole Cake Island.
Even if Brett flew there, it would take quite some time to arrive, not to mention by ship—even though this ship was pulled by two Sea Kings.
This would be a somewhat lengthy journey.
When only Brett and Tesoro had been on the ship, this wasn't a problem, since they'd already sailed together for quite a long time before.
Visiting four different ethnic groups was inherently a long voyage.
But the difference was that there was now one more person on the ship.
Katakuri, who had boarded with Charlotte Linlin's orders, brought some changes to the ship that differed from before.
In a familiar territory, suddenly having a stranger intrude—didn't that make one feel awkward?
Fortunately, Katakuri had stayed in his room ever since boarding and never came out, so he didn't really disturb Brett and Tesoro.
"Brett, is this really a good thing?"
On deck, Brett and Tesoro were grilling meat.
Though he didn't eat fish, Brett didn't reject other types of meat.
After all, maintaining this powerful body's operation required consuming more energy, and meat naturally contained more energy than plants.
Tesoro bit into his meat while speaking unclearly, "I've heard that Charlotte Linlin lived in Giant Country for a while when she was small."
"Though I don't know what happened later that caused conflict between her and Giant Country, she probably has a deep foundation for cooperation with them. If she really manages to ease this conflict—"
Tesoro was worried about Charlotte Linlin stealing away their intended allies.
Giant Country was simply too important—they were the world's strongest country, and even Pirate Emperors and the World Government didn't dare show them the slightest disrespect.
"No need to worry."
Brett smiled, understanding Tesoro's concern. "Worrying about it is meaningless anyway."
"You bastard!" Tesoro rolled his eyes.
After all, in the original story, the Charlotte family and Giant Country had almost reconciled. Giant Country's Prince Loki had nearly married one of Charlotte Linlin's daughters.
Though it ultimately fell through, this showed that the conflict between Giant Country and the Charlotte family wasn't as huge as imagined.
Young Charlotte Linlin had indeed done something that enraged the giants, but obviously not to an irreparable degree.
"So what are you really thinking, you bastard?" Tesoro asked unhappily.
"No rush."
Brett leisurely grilled his meat. "I'll go chat with Katakuri in a bit."
"Huh?"
In the ship's cabin.
Katakuri sat in a chair calmly eating.
Tesoro and Brett weren't stingy with his food, even preparing sumptuous desserts for him daily.
The scarf that usually wrapped around Katakuri's neck to cover the lower half of his face had been removed, revealing the stitches on both sides of his cheeks and his fierce teeth.
Before him was clearly his favorite dessert, but Katakuri currently lacked interest.
He sighed.
That night's events kept replaying in his mind like a movie.
The punch his mother had thrown lingered constantly in his thoughts.
Though he had many brothers and sisters, most of whom weren't particularly close to him.
Still, he was unwilling to lose even any one of them.
So at this moment, he could only blame himself for his powerlessness.
Just as that guy had said—if he could become a bit stronger, maybe he could have stopped her that night?
"Hm?"
Katakuri suddenly frowned. He immediately picked up the scarf from the table and put it on, covering the lower half of his face again.
Knock knock knock.
Then the door was knocked on.
"Come in."
Katakuri had expected this, speaking calmly.
Then the door was pushed open and Brett walked in.
"Want to chat?"
Brett said with a light smile.
"I don't think we have anything to chat about."
Katakuri spoke calmly.
"Don't rush to refuse."
Brett casually closed the door and leaned against it, his tone very relaxed, like a neighbor uncle dropping by.
"I think we have plenty to chat about. For instance, how about I give you some guidance?"
"Guidance?"
Katakuri frowned. "Aren't you being a bit too arrogant, Brett?"
"Indeed, meddling in others' lives isn't good."
Brett said with a smile. "But at least right now, I think you need someone to point you in the right direction."
Katakuri snorted.
"Remember what I told you before? If you want to protect something, you'd better become stronger."
Brett said leisurely. "Otherwise, you'll just experience powerlessness like that night."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Katakuri's brow furrowed tightly.
"You've probably already realized what's preventing you from becoming stronger."
Brett said. "If you're always living in fear, how can you become a top-tier powerhouse?"
Katakuri's expression was dark as water.
"Charlotte Linlin is indeed very strong, but she's not unmatched." Brett said casually.
"Shut up!"
Katakuri shot to his feet, his eyes seeming to emit lightning, containing infinite power.
"Why won't you face this reality?"
Brett spread his hands. "Charlotte Linlin is the Charlotte family's greatest protection, their pillar of support, but she's also the biggest volcano buried within the family—the greatest threat to you and all your siblings."
"Shouldn't you have realized this long ago?"
"You bastard!"
Katakuri's arm was melting, a trident emerging. His voice was cold as snow. "Are you trying to drive a wedge between me and Mama?"
Brett casually deflected Katakuri's trident, his smile unchanging. "Still trying to deceive yourself? That night, that brother of yours who died at Charlotte Linlin's hands—was he the first? Or will he be the last?"
Katakuri's forehead was sweating.
Brett's voice was calm, but to Katakuri, it seemed to carry magical power.
Drawing out everything he'd buried deep in his heart, bit by bit.
"Then why not let the Charlotte family have a different guardian—someone gentler, more benevolent, who truly treats all family members as family."
Brett's voice was low. "Someone like yourself."
"I think Fish-Man Island would need such a cooperation partner too."
Katakuri felt his heart pounding.
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