"You are the notorious pirate, right?"
A group of villagers approached Kaizen and rudely opened the gate to the mountain road.
Most of their questions lacked any real substance.
"You've got the wrong person," Kaizen replied calmly.
"Stop making excuses, you despicable pirate!"
The people shouted, refusing to trust Kaizen.
"No, he is not a pirate." Enel stood in front of Kaizen with his arms spread wide, trying hard to explain.
"You kid, you're the one who rescued this pirate! We kindly took you in and let you survive on the island. Is this how you repay us?"
The people glared at Enel with bloodthirsty eyes, as if they had done him countless favors.
Enel shook his head, trying to explain but unable to find the words.
Kaizen saw that Enel was trembling with fear. Perhaps he had never faced such a situation before, but he still stood in front of him without hesitation.
Fear is a natural reaction, but taking responsibility is a mark of maturity.
"That's enough, come stand behind me!"
Kaizen pulled Enel behind him, protecting him with his arms.
"Whether I'm a pirate or an ordinary person, I don't want to harm you, and I'm too lazy to do so. Please let me live quietly here for a few days, then I'll leave."
Kaizen looked at everyone with firm eyes and an indifferent expression that allowed no argument.
The villagers were visibly shocked by Kaizen's demeanor and tone, wondering if he was telling the truth.
Having lived two lifetimes, Kaizen knew that people's hearts are fickle. The stronger you are, the weaker your opponent becomes. The weaker you are, the stronger they become.
So the simplest way to solve the problem is to be decisive and firm.
"Dad, don't let this pirate go, capture him and hand him over to the Marines!"
At this, a child said something bold, causing those who were hesitating to snap back to attention.
"Don't be fooled by the pirate's clever words. Once he recovers, he'll bring his crew, and we'll be defeated."
The villagers shouted and stood up, with two large men picking up poles and rushing at Kaizen first.
Their grinning faces were filled with hatred.
Kaizen's injuries were nearly healed, and dealing with these villagers was easy.
He opened his eyes sharply, using only a fraction of his Conqueror's Haki, and the men charging at him collapsed without warning.
"What! What happened? What did he do?"
"Damn it, I didn't see anything!"
"He was just standing there motionless, yet he overpowered two strong men!"
The villagers didn't understand what was happening and were extremely panicked.
Pirates have always been seen as symbols of evil. Those who had never seen one imagined them as demonic beings, cruel and emotionless.
Finally seeing one today, are pirates really such powerful and invincible beings?
This was puzzling, causing fear and oppression. Even when facing an injured pirate, could they only accept defeat?
Should they beg for mercy or do something else?
Suddenly, countless questions filled the villagers' minds.
There was a thud.
A torch fell from someone's hand, the sound sharp and clear among the now quiet villagers.
It was time to wake up. How could they possibly defeat such a person?
"Everyone, run!"
Then, such a classic line came from the crowd.
As soon as it was said, the villagers scattered and disappeared without a trace. Before leaving, they didn't forget to grab the feet of the two fallen men and drag them along.
People hid in their homes as if avoiding a plague, closing doors and windows.
In the blink of an eye, the streets were deserted.
"I have to say, these people are quite humorous," Kaizen said helplessly.
"They all left in a flash." Enel's voice was filled with confusion as he mimicked their hasty departure.
"Hahahaha!" Kaizen couldn't help laughing at Enel's gesture.
The setting sun had completely disappeared beyond the horizon, and darkness began to envelop everything.
The day ended like that.
"Let's go." Kaizen took Enel's hand and headed home.
Are the prejudices in people's hearts really like a big mountain?
Yes, who can figure this out?
At night, lying in that shabby house, Kaizen and Enel looked at the starry sky.
"Will the people in this town drive us away?" Enel asked.
"No. They usually bully the weak and respect the strong, even if the strong are bad people," Kaizen answered calmly.
"Are we the bad guys?" Enel asked simply.
"It's a pity we're not," Kaizen replied with a slight smile.
"Hey! It's a pity I can't be a bad guy." Enel seemed unsure of what a bad guy was and spoke with regret.
"Yes! It's a pity I can't be a bad guy!" Kaizen sighed.
In the past, he believed in justice, then he despised it. Finally, he saw its true face and followed his own will.
"Go to sleep! We'll do something big tomorrow," Kaizen said to Enel.
"What's the big deal?" Enel asked, intrigued.
"Demolish the house."
"No!" Enel sat up, startled.
However...
Early the next morning, with a loud noise, the old house finally collapsed.
"So sad, so regretful, so reluctant to leave..." Enel couldn't describe his feelings.
"Hey! Are you really going to cry over a house like this? It's outrageous."
Kaizen clapped his hands, satisfied with his demolition work.
When he woke up, he felt fully healed, brimming with energy.
"Even though it was bad, I built it with my own hands. It's sad to see it destroyed."
Enel pouted at Kaizen.
Kaizen laughed heartily, putting his hands on his hips.
"Don't worry, I'll build you a real home, a thousand times better."
"I don't need it!" Enel ran to Kaizen, playfully hitting his leg in protest.
Kaizen picked Enel up and said, "Boy, don't be stubborn. Today, come with me to gather wood. You must follow my lead."
With that, he jumped high into the air.
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