CHAPTER 299 OUTRAGEOUS DEMANDS
"This is a great opportunity, isn't it?"
Brett smiled. "We were just thinking the captured Navy were too numerous and didn't know how to handle them. The government has delivered themselves right to our door."
"I think so too."
Zephyr also smiled.
They'd originally planned to release the surplus Navy soldiers anyway. Now the government was rushing over to negotiate.
Shouldn't they make outrageous demands?
"Then I'll reply to them now." Brett said.
"Mm."
On the other side—the World Government's center, in the Five Elders' office.
"Five Elders, we've received Brett's contact."
A CP0 agent respectfully entered the Room of Authority, solemnly addressing the five old men. "Their side has agreed to negotiation demands."
"Very good."
Saint Saturn nodded.
Willingness to negotiate was good.
If Brett and Zephyr's side chose to tough it out and directly executed Sakazuki and everyone, the government and Navy could only be dumbfounded.
"Did you track Brett's location?"
Saint Nusjuro asked impatiently.
"Very sorry."
CP0 shook his head. "The other side's counter-reconnaissance measures are excellent. We couldn't locate Brett's whereabouts through communications."
"Not surprising. No matter what, that guy Zephyr was once a Navy high official."
Saint Saturn snorted coldly. "Moreover, isn't that bastard Morgans also in a cooperative relationship with Brett? I don't need to explain his intelligence technology."
"I just feel it's somewhat regrettable."
Saint Nusjuro said.
"Yes, quite regrettable." Saint Ju Peter agreed.
If they could really locate Brett's position, then what came next would be simple.
Just have Lord Imu take action, and in an instant they could send Brett and Zephyr all to heaven.
But they hadn't discovered their location.
"Regretting now is useless. Have the Navy side prepare for negotiations with Zephyr!"
Saint Mars said gravely. "We've already lost enough respect this time. The government's dignity has been swept to the ground. But at least—let's recover some losses to the maximum extent."
On that island in the New World that Zephyr had chosen as temporary headquarters, in a certain room, Brett and Zephyr sat properly. Before them sat a Den Den Mushi.
Though negotiating, naturally they couldn't meet face-to-face for talks.
Brett and Zephyr hadn't gone crazy—that would be far too dangerous.
Ring ring ring ring.
The Den Den Mushi rang.
Brett and Zephyr exchanged glances, then reached out to answer.
"Is this Zephyr?"
A steady man's voice came from the other side.
Neither Brett nor Zephyr were unfamiliar with this voice. Especially Zephyr—it could be said he was as familiar as could be.
"Sengoku?"
Zephyr-sensei's voice was quite calm—no excitement of old friends speaking again, no wariness between powerful enemies conversing.
"You bastard really gave us a huge problem this time."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku on the other end sighed—truly like the tone between old friends chatting.
"What's the point of saying such things now? Are you trying to play the emotional card?"
Zephyr snorted coldly. "From the moment I left the Navy, between us—positions have already superseded friendship."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku on the other end of the line fell silent for a moment.
Then he said, "Understood. Then let's officially begin negotiations now."
Brett quietly watched this scene.
Though Zephyr-sensei showed no mercy in his words, it was clearly audible—his heart actually felt quite moved.
No matter what, these were close friends he'd walked shoulder-to-shoulder with since his youth.
"How are Sakazuki and the others doing now?" Sengoku asked.
"You needn't worry about that. Though they're enemies, I haven't become deranged enough to harm them."
Zephyr said. "If you don't believe it, after negotiations I can let you speak with them."
"I naturally believe you on this point."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's response also made Brett quite emotional. Once intimate comrades-in-arms, now on opposite paths, and in the future they'd even come to blows.
How lamentable.
"Then, Zephyr, our side's demand is—we hope you can release all the captives."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku said.
"Absolutely impossible."
Zephyr flatly refused. "Do you think I'm an idiot, Sengoku? Release Sakazuki and the others this time, and next time the one captured might be me."
"So within the realm of possibility, the government will agree to all your demands." The Fleet Admiral said solemnly.
"Impossible."
Zephyr flatly refused. Having finally captured Kuzan and Sakazuki, greatly weakening Navy strength—such an opportunity might never appear a second time. How could he return the tiger to the mountain?
"Releasing captives is fine, but limited to officers below rear admiral and basic Navy soldiers."
"If you insist on that, then we have nothing left to discuss, Zephyr!" The Fleet Admiral's tone also became angry.
"Then let's end negotiations here."
Zephyr absolutely wouldn't indulge Sengoku.
This war had been their victory to begin with. Right now the World Government simply had no way to deal with them.
So why should they compromise with the government and Navy? The ones who should compromise were them!
Zephyr directly raised his hand, preparing to hang up.
"Wait, Zephyr, wait."
Naturally, Sengoku couldn't hold out in the end. "Really can't we discuss this further?"
"There's nothing to discuss about this. You should understand our current position, Sengoku." Zephyr said seriously. "I'm very serious about opposing the government. So don't treat it as child's play."
The other end of the line fell silent again.
"We understand."
The voice on the other end changed to another person—a steady but somewhat elderly woman's voice. "Then let's begin today's negotiations with those people you mentioned as the topic."
"Begin with? Tsuru—" Zephyr couldn't help shaking his head, saying with some amusement, "You don't actually think one day I'll have a change of heart, do you?"
"Who can say for certain about such things?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru on the other end said. "State your conditions, Zephyr. What do you want?"
"Good, this is what negotiations should be like. Then I won't hold back either."
Zephyr said bluntly. "I want fifty Buster Call-level warships, along with matching weapons and equipment, plus one hundred billion berries' worth of gold!"
"Fifty warships?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru exclaimed. "Zephyr, aren't you being too greedy?!"
Compared to the warship demand, even one hundred billion berries was small potatoes.
Those were Buster Call-level warships—ten together could easily flatten a small island!
"Or, you can choose to refuse."
"...The warships can be given to you, but vice admiral-level officers also must be released to us!"
"At most rear admirals, and the ransom must also increase!"
Brett just watched them argue across the phone line—sharp verbal exchanges.
How interesting.
Once close friends, now facing off for their respective convictions.
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