When the warship was halfway through its journey, the liaison officer called the guards at the Gate of Justice in front of Impel Down. After the warship arrived, it simply slipped through the crack in the gate and followed the water flow. The Gate of Justice were then closed, and the guards were very strict.
" Vic, come with me to escort the Corrupt King inside!" Zephyr said to Vic after leading Pizarro out.
Vic nodded without refusing; he also wanted to see this legendary Impel Down, the most difficult to escape from.
The three stood on the deck, waiting for the warship to dock at the entrance to the prison's first level at sea.
The maritime portion of Impel Down resembles a circular fortress, surrounded by numerous warships, and large shadows can be seen moving around underwater from time to time.
Pizarro suddenly plopped down on the deck, surprising both Vic and Zephyr.
Pizarro gave Vic a deep look, remained silent for a long while, and then spoke.
" Orens Vic, I have a story. Would you like to hear it?" Pizarro's tone was calm, but Vic could sense that Pizarro seemed to have made up his mind.
"Oh, then tell me about it, but be quick!" Vic said, glancing in the direction of Impel Down, before sitting down as well.
Zephyr didn't react much, assuming this was his final defense before going to prison.
"I have a friend who was born into a royal family. His father was the king of a country, and he received a good royal education from a young age, being taught to treat the people of his country well." Pizarro's voice was low, his eyes unfocused, as if lost in memories.
"My friend's father was also a good king who cared for his people. Due to the climate, the country could only harvest one crop a year, and the people could only solve their basic food and clothing problems. The old king could hardly change the situation and could only collect a small amount of tax."
"My friend's royal family is very frugal, and there's virtually no waste of food or extravagance. Therefore, such a country can't afford to pay the Heavenly Tribute and naturally can't become Affiliated Nation of the World Government. As a result, the country is always very unstable. However, the people are extremely grateful to the royal family because the taxes are so low that they are able to survive."
"My friend's father always blamed himself for not being able to provide a stable environment. His father always told him that when he became king, he must find a way to make the lives of his people better, to let them live in a safe environment, and to protect them!" Pizarro said, his emotions fluctuating and his eyes filled with 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 the wound had no burn marks." Pizarro's voice trembled slightly as he said this.
"My friend was deeply grieved, but couldn't find a single clue to the murderer. It seemed like the work of an evil spirit from the underworld. A country cannot be without a ruler for a day, so he became king in a daze. He was eighteen years old that year and could only shoulder the responsibilities of kingship in his sorrow."
"A month after my friend became king, a masked man visited him, claiming to be from the World Government. He asked him a question: did he want to join the World Government World Government become Affiliated Nation? He said that once a member state became Affiliated Nation, the navy would protect the country and it would no longer be plundered by pirates."
Vic listened quietly, already guessing what had happened.
"But how could my friend possibly agree? Becoming Affiliated Nation would be safer, but the annual Heavenly Tribute is no small sum. Given the current geographical conditions and the lack of valuable resources, relying solely on one season's harvest? If he paid the Heavenly Tribute, he probably wouldn't survive until the following year. My friend didn't agree to the masked man's request. As the masked man left, he shook his head and left with the words: 'Another stubborn one!'"
"My friend was a little confused at the time, but he wouldn't change his mind. 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 people indiscriminately. Many people were eaten by the white wolves. The scene was too bloody."
"My friend organized a large group of people to hunt wolves, but those white wolves were very powerful and fast. Ordinary people were no match for them. My friend had no choice but to issue a decree to gather the people to build a high wall to stop the white wolves from invading." Pizarro paused after speaking.
"And then what happened?" Vic asked softly.
"Later, my friend spent more than a year isolating the entire forest and building a 20-meter-high wall. The white wolf could no longer pose a threat. However, because of the continuous construction of the wall, production could not keep up, and the lives of the people became even more difficult. Rumors spread in the country that the old king was killed by the current king, that the appearance of the white wolf was a punishment from God, and that the king was a wise ruler who wasted money and resources building the high wall."
Vic sighed. The entire country had been so easily manipulated; did they really think they were the masters of the world?
"My friend had no complaints, because he knew he hadn't killed the old king. The high walls were built to protect the people from the White Wolf. Because production was disrupted, many citizens starved to death. My friend distributed the royal surplus grain for disaster relief, but very little actually reached the common people; it was all swallowed up by corrupt officials and nobles."
"His friend was furious, but then rumors spread that the king was feasting and drinking in the palace, having a great time. No one listened to his explanations, and the people gradually began to resent him!"
Zephyr listened attentively, remaining silent but not stopping Pizarro from continuing.
"In order to expand food production, my friend decided to cultivate more land. However, having land is not enough; there must be enough fresh water for irrigation. So, my friend issued a decree ordering the people to dig a large lake in the center of the island so that the annual snowfall and rainwater could be stored and used to irrigate the farmland."
"Yes, that's a good policy!" Vic replied.
"After more than two years, a large lake was finally created that could irrigate all the fields. The gods were enlightened, and after the lake was completed, it snowed for a long time. The following year, the snow on the entire island melted, and the fresh water all flowed into the lake. The plan was a great success, and the water level in the lake was already high enough to irrigate the land that year."
"However, rumors then spread that the king built the lake ostensibly for irrigation, but in reality for his own enjoyment. He would occasionally go boating and hold banquets on the lake. Friends did indeed go boating on the lake, but only to check the water level. As a result, it became a wasteful and extravagant undertaking, wasting a great deal of time and energy, and many people starved to death!"
"But this year, the harvest was much better, and the people were able to eat their fill. My friend was very happy. However, the country's population had decreased by 20% in recent years. In order to restore the population and have more people to work, my friend issued another decree: no one is allowed to go out after 6 p. m.."
"Oh, why didn't you explain?" Vic asked.
"Because rumors are always circulating in the country, my friends know that even if they tell the truth, it will be distorted, so they're too lazy to say anything. As long as it's beneficial to the country, that's enough. Sure enough, rumors started circulating again, saying that the king is becoming increasingly excessive and dictatorial, even interfering with people's freedom. They were initially grateful for this year's bumper harvest, but now that's all gone!"
"People at the bottom of society have a hard time distinguishing right from wrong and are easily swayed by the tide!" Vic said.
"This was my friend's last year as king, because he was exiled overseas by a coalition of nobles. The people did not object; they were even happy about it and held a banquet to celebrate."
His friend was heartbroken and drifted alone on the sea in a small wooden boat until one day he obtained a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, which granted him immense power.
He returned to that country and found its people living in even greater hardship, lacking even proper clothing, their faces pale and emaciated. That country eventually joined the World Government.
The people looked at him with disgust, feeling that he was the cause of everything. He lost all his strength and, amidst the people's shouts of " Corrupt King!", he chose to leave! Pizarro seemed to breathe a sigh of relief after saying this, as if he had released all his pent-up frustration.
"And then what happened? What became of your friend?" Vic continued to ask.
"My friend was so devastated that he became a completely different person. He started to act recklessly, taking advantage of his strength, and turned into a thoroughly evil person!" Pizarro calmed down again, but his eyes were moist.
"It's a very touching story, but your friend's willpower is still a bit weak; she's become the kind of person she hates most."
As a king who has obtained a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, he should first strengthen himself before returning to the world to rebuild it, using his power to protect his people, improve their lives, and gradually change their perceptions.
"A king must have a broad mind. They've just been fooled; it's not time to completely abandon them. Otherwise, they'll only live a worse life under a bad king!" Vic said slowly.
Pizarro looked into Vic's eyes and saw a powerful confidence in those eyes that shone with a dazzling light, as if no difficulty could defeat him.
" Vic, you must go to that country if you have the chance. Maybe it has what you're looking for. You should be able to easily find out where it is now." A strange light gleamed in Pizarro's eyes.
"Maybe!" Vic responded, and the others fell silent. The scene became quiet, and Zephyr lowered his head, his face shrouded in shadow.