Chapter 132 Pizarro's Past
When the warship was halfway through its journey, the liaison officer called the guard at the Gate of Justice in front of Impel Down. After the warship arrived, it flowed directly in through the gap in the gate. Then the Gate of Justice was closed and guarded very strictly.
"Vic, come with me to escort the King of Evil Government in!" Zefa said to Vic after bringing Pizarro out.
Vic nodded and did not refuse. He also wanted to see this legendary underwater prison that was the most difficult to escape from.
The three stood on the deck, waiting for the warship to approach the prison's first sea entrance.
The offshore part of the Impel Down City is like a circular fortress with many warships anchored around it. From time to time, many huge shadows can be seen moving around underwater.
Pizarro suddenly sat down on the deck, and Vic and Zefa were a little surprised.
Pizarro looked at Vic deeply, was silent for a while, and then spoke.
"Orens Vic, I have a story, do you want to hear it?" Pizarro's tone was calm, but Vic could feel that Pizarro seemed to have made some kind of determination.
"Oh, then tell me about it, but speak quickly!" Vic said, looking in the direction of Advance City, and then he also sat down.
Zefa didn't react much, thinking that this was his last self-defense before going to jail.
"I have a friend who was born into a royal family. His father was the king of a country. He received a good royal education since he was a child and was told to be kind to the people of his country." Pizarro's voice was low and his eyes were unfocused, as if he was lost in memories.
"My friend's father was also a good king who cared for his people. Due to climate reasons, the country's crops could only be harvested once a year, and the people could only solve the basic problem of food and clothing. It was difficult for the old king to change the status quo, and he could only collect a small amount of taxes."
"The royal family my friend belongs to is also very frugal. They basically don't waste food or spend money extravagantly. So a country like this can't pay the gold from heaven, and naturally can't become a member of the World Government. So the country has always been unstable, but the people are very grateful to the royal family because they can survive because of the low taxes."
"My friend's father has always blamed himself for not being able to provide a stable environment. His father has always warned him that when you become king in the future, you must find a way to make the lives of your people better, let them live in a safe environment, and protect them!" After Pizarro said this, his emotions fluctuated a little, and his eyes were full of nostalgia.
"My friend always kept his father's expectations in mind and worked hard to learn how to be a good king. However, before he was ready to become king, his father died mysteriously in the palace. There was a hideous bloody hole behind his right eyebrow, but there was no bullet inside and there were no signs of burns on the wound." Pizarro's voice trembled a little when he said this.
"My friend was very sad, but he could not find any clues about the murderer. It seemed that it was done by evil spirits from the underworld. The country could not be without a king for a day, so he became the king without knowing it. He was 18 years old that year, and he could only take on the responsibility of a king in sorrow."
"One month after my friend became king, a masked man came to visit him. He claimed to be from the World Government and asked him a question: Do you want to join the World Government and become a member of the World Government? If you become a member of the World Government, the navy will protect the country and it will no longer be plundered by pirates."
Vic listened quietly and had already guessed what was going on.
"But how could my friend agree to this? Becoming a member state is safer, but the annual Heavenly Gold is not a small amount. Given the current geographical conditions, there are no valuable resources. He can only rely on one season's harvest? If he pays the Heavenly Gold, he might not live to see the second year. My friend did not agree to the masked man. When the masked man left, he shook his head and said: Another stubborn one!"
"My friend was a little confused at the time, but he would not change his decision. However, not long after, many white wolves that had never been seen before appeared in the forest on the south side of the island. They rushed into the town and bit everyone they saw. Many people were eaten by the white wolves. The scene was too bloody."
"My friend organized a lot of people to hunt wolves, but those white wolves were very strong and fast, and ordinary people were no match for them. My friend had no choice but to issue a decree to call on the people to build a high wall to block the invasion of the white wolves." Pizarro paused after he finished speaking.
"What happened next?" Vic asked softly.
"Later, my friend spent more than a year isolating the entire forest and built a 20-meter-high wall. The white wolf no longer posed a threat, but because of the continuous construction of the wall, production could not keep up, and the people's lives became more difficult. Rumors spread in the country that the old king was killed by the current king, and the appearance of the white wolf was a punishment from God. The king was not a wise ruler because he was wasting money and labor building a high wall."
Vic sighed a little. The whole country was easily manipulated. Are they really the masters of the world?
"My friend had no complaints, because he knew he was not the one who killed the old king, and that the high wall was built to protect the people from being persecuted by the white wolf. Because of the delay in production, many people starved to death. My friend distributed the royal family's surplus grain to provide disaster relief, but the grain that actually reached the hands of the civilians was very little, and it was all swallowed up by some corrupt officials and nobles."
"My friend was very angry, but at this time there were rumors that the king was having a great time in the palace eating meat and drinking wine. No one listened to his explanation, and the people gradually began to resent him!"
Zefa was also listening. He was silent, but he did not stop Pizarro from continuing.
"In order to expand food production, my friend decided to open up more farmland, but having farmland is not enough. There must be enough fresh water for irrigation. So my friend issued a decree to let the people dig a large lake in the center of the island so that the annual snow and rain water can be stored and used to irrigate the farmland."
"Well, good policy!" Vic responded.
"It took more than two years to finally open up a large lake that could irrigate all the fields. The gods opened their eyes, and it snowed for a long time after the lake was built. The next year, the snow on the entire island melted, and all the fresh water gathered in the lake. The plan was very successful. The water level in the lake was already very high, enough to irrigate the land that year."
"However, rumors have spread that the king built the lake for irrigation purposes, but in fact it was for his own enjoyment. He could occasionally go boating and have banquets on the lake. My friend did go boating on the lake, but that was to check the water level. As a result, this became a costly and laborious measure, wasting a lot of time and energy. As a result, many people starved to death again!"
"But this year, the harvest was much greater, and the people were able to eat their fill. My friend was very happy, but the country's population had decreased by 20% in the past few years. In order to restore the population and have more manpower to work, my friend issued a decree that no one was allowed to go out after 6 p.m."
"Well, why don't you just make it clear?" Vic inquired.
"Because there are always rumors in the country, my friends know that even if they tell the truth, it will be distorted, so they don't bother to say anything. As long as it is beneficial to the country, it's fine. As expected, there are still rumors. They say that this king is getting more and more excessive and more dictatorial. He even wants to interfere with people's freedom. They were originally grateful for the bumper harvest this year, but now it's all gone!"
"It is difficult for the lower-class people to distinguish right from wrong, and they are easily swept away by the general trend!" Vic said.
"This was the last year of my friend's reign, because he was exiled overseas by a group of nobles. The people did not stop him, they were even happy and held a banquet for him.
The friend was so sad that he drifted alone on the sea in a small wooden boat. Until one day, he got a devil fruit of the mythical beast species, and he gained great power.
He returned to that country and saw that the people were living in an even more difficult situation. They didn't even have a complete set of clothes and were all pale and skinny. That country eventually joined the World Government.
The people saw him and showed disgusted eyes, thinking that everything was caused by him. He lost all his strength and chose to leave there amid the people's shouts of "evil king!" Pizarro seemed to be relieved after saying this, as if he had spit out all the grievances.
"What happened next? What happened to your friend?" Vic continued to ask.
"My friend seemed to have become a different person after such a blow. He relied on his own strength to do evil things and became a complete villain!" Pizarro calmed down again, but his eyes were moist.
"It's a very touching story, but your friend's will is still a little weak, and he has become the person he hates the most.
As a king, after getting a mythical beast-type devil fruit, he should first strengthen himself, and then go back to rebuild the world, use his powerful strength to protect his people, make their lives better, and slowly change their views.
The king should have a broad mind. They have just been fooled, but it is not enough to give up on them completely. Otherwise, they will only live a more miserable life under a bad king!" Vic said slowly.
Pizarro looked into Vic's eyes, and he saw a strong self-confidence in those eyes that radiated a brilliant divine light, as if no difficulties could defeat him.
"Vic, if you have the chance you must go to that country. That country may have what you want. Now you should be able to easily find out where it is." There was an inexplicable light in Pizarro's eyes.
"Maybe!" Vic responded, and everyone stopped talking. The scene suddenly became quiet. Zefa also lowered his head, and his entire face fell into shadow.