Chapter 462: Father and Daughter's Reconciliation
After hearing Brett's words, Ashier's entire face froze. Cold sweat uncontrollably seeped from his forehead, soaking through his already filthy clothes.
"Hahaha! That's so like you, Brett!"
Tesoro laughed heartily, completely unsurprised. "When you want something, you go straight for it! That's the composure unique to the strong!"
Brett ignored him, merely swimming forward while watching Ashier, waiting for his reaction.
Olga also noticed the atmosphere change. She looked at Brett, then at her bastard dad, and bit her lip.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Ashier remain unresponsive, Brett couldn't help prompting him. "Ashier-san, is this such a difficult request?"
"I'd advise against refusing Brett's request."
Tesoro ominously fanned the flames. "This guy always repays grudges. Everyone who's crossed him has met a bad end."
Ashier's plump body immediately trembled. Who knows what future he foresaw.
"Just agree to Brett's request, bastard dad!"
Olga spoke angrily. "Brett's our lifesaver! What's so great about Pure Gold anyway?!"
"But..."
The old father finally mumbled. "Pure Gold always brings disaster."
"The disaster you mentioned, you mean that lanternfish?" Tesoro grinned. "That guy hardly counts as a disaster."
Ashier choked on his words.
"Even if the lantern's threat doesn't matter, Pure Gold itself will attract countless competitors. Maybe," he paused, "even the World Government will act."
"Then there's even less to worry about."
Tesoro waved dismissively. "Brett here is already the World Government's number one enemy. One more charge won't matter."
"Eh?"
Ashier blinked.
Was the World Government this Tesoro-san spoke of the same organization from his memories? Two hundred years ago, the World Government ruled the entire world, the undisputed sea's hegemon.
"Don't worry, Ashier-san."
Brett finally spoke. "We're going to war with the World Government sooner or later anyway. So this matter doesn't need consideration."
No way? Is he serious? War with the World Government? Ashier swallowed with difficulty.
That's the World Government!
But if that's the case, there's absolutely no excuse left to refuse!
While the old father's mind churned in chaos, Brett changed topics. "However, I'm curious. If you're so opposed to Pure Gold, Ashier-san, why did you create it in the first place?"
"After all, this isn't the first time this metal has appeared."
"..."
Ashier fell silent.
The legend of Pure Gold had circulated for ages. He naturally knew that once Pure Gold was created and news leaked, it would attract many covetous eyes.
"What else could it be?"
Olga spoke coldly and sarcastically. "Bastard dad was definitely greedy! Planning to sell Pure Gold for a good price! Not only got Mom killed, but also attracted Lantern-sama."
"..."
Ashier still didn't speak, his expression only growing more dejected.
"There's more to the story, right?"
Brett said flatly. "Why not just say it? Do you want Olga to keep misunderstanding you?"
Tesoro perked up again.
Gossip to be had.
Ashier took a deep breath, then looked at his daughter with extremely gentle eyes. "Actually, Olga has a terminal illness."
"Eh?"
The previously indignant little girl froze.
"Medicine was completely unable to extend her life."
Ashier raised his hand, rubbing his nose, speaking somewhat nasally. "So I thought of Pure Gold. This metal can slow a person's life. I thought, this way, the child could continue living happily."
"It's just that she could never grow up, never grow into a beautiful girl like her mother."
Tesoro shook his head.
What a helpless reality.
"You're lying!"
The person in question, Miss Olga, screamed. Her eyes filled with hot tears as she furiously pointed at her father. "You must be trying to deceive me, right?!"
"It's true."
Brett's voice was flat, but at this moment utterly resolute.
"What gives you the right to say that?!"
Olga angrily looked toward Brett.
"You must be trying to help bastard dad lie, so he'll give you the Pure Gold extraction method."
Brett said calmly, "Yes, that's what you wanted to say, right?"
Olga froze.
This guy... how did he say what she was thinking?
"Just a trivial ability to read minds."
Brett said breezily. "Ashier-san spoke the truth. If you still don't believe it, you can get a full medical examination once we reach Fish-Man Island."
"..."
The little girl completely froze, murmuring, "Impossible... how could... it must be a lie..."
Brett shook his head and casually waved his hand. Ashier drifted toward his daughter.
After giving Brett a grateful smile, Ashier embraced his daughter.
"I'm sorry, Olga. Dad just wanted you to live happily. I just wanted you to be happy every day."
"Dad never expected that to happen. I'm truly sorry I made you lose your mother."
"But, Olga, I'm so glad you're alive! You're still alive and well. That makes everything meaningful to Dad!"
"It's just, I'm sorry I left you lonely for so long! Made you spend such a long time alone! You must have been very scared, right? Very lonely, right? But don't be afraid, because Dad is here!"
"Dad will always stay by Olga's side from now on! I'll work hard to cure your illness, let you grow up happily too!"
Ashier was already in tears.
"Waaah!"
Olga wailed, burying her head in her father's embrace. Only here could she cry freely.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Ashier held his daughter's small body, also sobbing continuously.
"Truly touching."
Tesoro quietly sighed.
Brett shot him a glance. At times like this, couldn't he just shut up?
The father and daughter cried together for quite a while before finally stopping. Olga had even cried herself to sleep.
"Thank you very much, Brett-san."
Sincerely, Ashier bowed solemnly to Brett.
"No need. It was just a small matter."
Brett said casually. "However, Ashier-san, what illness does Olga have? A disease that medicine couldn't solve two hundred years ago might not be a problem anymore."
"That's right!"
Ashier's eyes brightened. He quickly said, "South Blue Emperor Fever! Back then it was truly incurable!"
"Oh! That one?"
Tesoro grinned. "Even I've heard of it. It was called a major medical breakthrough just a few years ago. Two hundred years wasn't wasted."
Ashier's eyes lit up at once, his lips trembling continuously.
"There's already a specific medicine."
Tesoro said. "Just one injection will do."
Tears again welled from the old father's eyes.
"Really? Is that true?!"
He wiped his tears while saying, "My efforts weren't in vain... Olga, thank goodness, Olga..."
The sleeping little girl smacked her lips, shifting her head in her father's embrace.
"Brett-san, I'm truly grateful!"
Ashier bowed to Brett once more.
He said, "I don't know if this is good or bad, but since you want it, Brett-san, I'm willing to give you the Pure Gold extraction method!"
What happens afterward doesn't matter anymore. He just wants to live well with his daughter. He just wants to be there as that child grows up.
"Thank you very much."
Brett remained calm and composed.
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