Chapter 31: Guidance!
"Hahahahahaha, kid, who am I? I am the man whose name will resound throughout the world in the future. As long as you want to live, is it that difficult to extend your life?" Buggy replied with a hearty laugh.
"My father was the best doctor, and even he couldn't cure my illness. What methods could you possibly have?" Law shouted loudly at Buggy this time.
"Oh, so you're the descendant of a medical family? That makes it even easier. I can save you, but I need something in return," Buggy rubbed his chin and replied with great certainty.
"As long as you can save me, I am willing to become your crew member!" Little Law answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Very good. But before I save you, read this book thoroughly first. Afterwards, I will tell you something, and then I will want an answer. Only if your answer is suitable can you become my crew member. What I need is someone with a clear purpose for revenge, not a walking corpse who kills just to vent." After speaking, Buggy fumbled in his package, pulled out a book, and tossed it in front of Law.
Looking at this book titled "White Town," tears began to stream down Law's face uncontrollably. However, Law ultimately listened to Buggy's words and began to read it without a sound.
Three days later, after finishing "White Town," Law closed the book and then looked at Buggy.
"A hundred years before the [Amber Lead] ore mentioned in the book was mined, the World Government had already sent people to your country, and the World Government had long discovered that this [Amber Lead] was a poison. However, the World Government and the royal family concealed the truth, deceiving the common people into continuing to mine [Amber Lead]. By the time the world discovered the truth, it was already too late. This poison had almost corroded the entire country. Moreover, because the World Government did not state that [Amber Lead] was a poison, but merely helped the royal family leave the country, not only that, but they also pushed misleading information, causing neighboring countries to believe it was a contagious disease, thereby blockading the borders and preventing the people of Flevance from seeking medical treatment outside. People, when in desperate situations, will panic and then erupt. [Amber Lead] could be used to create powerful weapons, 'lead bullets.' In order to get out, to survive, Flevance erupted in war, and this was also what the royal families of those neighboring countries desired." Buggy paused here.
"Why, why, why?" Little Law asked three "whys" in a row.
"Why would the World Government and the royal family go against their conscience to hide the truth? Why, after the truth was revealed, would the World Government not make it public? Why would the neighboring countries desire war? Actually, it's very simple: the profits were too great. While [Amber Lead] brought harm to White Town, it also brought vast wealth. The World Government and your country's royal family both made a huge fortune from it. Then the truth was discovered. The World Government represents righteousness and openness; how could it admit that these despicable acts were orchestrated by them? Therefore, having all of you die was what they desired. As for why those neighboring countries chose war, simple. In the end, it was all for money. That's right, when [Amber Lead] was being mined, your country's royal family and the World Government obtained vast wealth, but not all of it. A portion was distributed among the common people into their homes. As long as war broke out, they could openly invade, and while slaughtering all of you, they could also plunder the wealth you had accumulated." After saying all this, Buggy stared at Law, clearly waiting for an answer.
"Those royal family members all deserve to die! The World Government people deserve to die even more!" Under Buggy's guidance, Little Law at this moment had finally found a clear target.
"Law, do you know, a man must have clear loves and hates. Those neighboring country royals who destroyed your home and killed your family indeed deserve to die. The royal family of Flevance also deserves to die. The World Government personnel involved with [Amber Lead] still deserve to die. But apart from these, nothing else falls within the scope of your revenge. If you don't understand this point, you will live a very tiring life. Revenge is necessary because a man must avenge his grievances. But don't hate blindly, and don't let hatred occupy your life." Seeing that his reminder hadn't completely turned around Little Law's perception, Buggy's expression became very serious as he spoke again.
A ten-year-old child had suffered a drastic change that most people would hardly encounter in a lifetime. It was understandable for his heart to be so dark and filled with so much hatred.
Facing this kind of mentality that urgently needed to vent, trying to suppress it, telling him to forget hatred and such, was unrealistic. Moreover, a ten-year-old child lacked clear discernment. Therefore, guiding was better than blocking. Telling him the truth of the matter and the story behind it, thereby guiding this hatred – this was Buggy's approach.
The biggest benefit of doing this was that it could change Little Law's psychology of hating the world, and of course, incidentally make Little Law grateful to him, thereby achieving his own goals. As for the saintly methods of that Corazon from the Donquixote family, Buggy knew he couldn't learn them.
"I understand!" Clearly, Buggy's deliberate guidance had a very good effect. Hating only a small group of people, while infinitely increasing the hope of revenge, allowed Little Law to completely transform his hatred into motivation to become stronger.
"Very good. Now that the target of revenge is clear, the next steps will be easier. Although the number of your enemies isn't large, they are all powerful and influential nobles. Killing them won't be an easy task. And compared to how to plan their assassination, the most important thing right now is how to save your life. Law, before I save you, we need to make a man-to-man agreement." Buggy continued.
"What agreement?" Little Law asked.
"First, when I form my pirate crew in the future, you must become a member. Second, for eight years, you cannot seek revenge." Buggy's conditions weren't complicated, but Little Law found them very difficult to accept after hearing them.
"Why? Why wait eight years?" Little Law shouted at Buggy.
"First, your enemies certainly wouldn't want others to do the job for them, right? Those royal families are not short of experts by their side. Without sufficient strength, going there wouldn't be revenge, but suicide. I don't want to work hard to save your life only for you to get killed like that. Second, I don't want you to expose yourself too early. Your most formidable enemies are not the royal families of those small countries, but the behemoth that is the World Government. If you lack strength and expose yourself prematurely, getting killed is only a matter of time. Endure for eight years. I promise you that after eight years, when you become an adult, I and the other members of my pirate crew will do our utmost to help you," Buggy said in a deep voice.
"Are your companions very strong?" Staring at Buggy for a while, Little Law finally asked.
(End of this chapter)