Chapter 36 The Scholar! From West Sea, Westdom!
"Believe me, sir. Buy him for 10 million Berries, and you'll have everything in the first half of the Grand Line. With his wisdom and your strength, what can't you conquer?"
"The wise scholar you mentioned, is it him?" Lister pointed to the old, drunken man wrapped in a burlap sack, begging against the wall.
"That's right!" Raoul said loudly without hesitation. "Sir, didn't you see that even in his old age, he still tried his best to live? I was so moved! What great wisdom this is! I couldn't help but shed tears!"
He took out a handkerchief from his chest, wiped away his tears, walked to the old man's side, and asked, "Visdom, tell me, are you a scholar?"
Visdom took a swig of cheap rum and ignored the group.
"Hey, old man, don't forget, you're still a slave to Care for Life Corporation." One of Raoul's men kicked out, aiming a kick at Visdom.
Snap!
Just as the foot was about to hit the old man, it was caught by a hand.
"Respecting the elderly and caring for the young is a virtue."
With a gentle push, Lister's black-clad subordinate lost his balance on one leg and fell to the ground with a thud.
"Idiot!"
Raoul suddenly jumped up and started punching and kicking his subordinate.
"You idiot, how could you lay a hand on an old person? Respect the elderly and care for the young…"
After a brutal beating until the henchman passed out, Raoul wiped his sweat and said to Lister, "Sorry, they were impolite."
Then, he smiled and went to help the old man up, saying, "Visdom, my old friend, how can you be here drinking such inferior wine?"
Visdom shook off Raoul's hand and said, "Stop your hypocritical smile, Raoul. Didn't you kick me out? Nobody wants an old good-for-nothing like him. He can't even sweep the floor. What's the point of keeping him? A slave with no value should be swept out like trash."
"Really? I don't remember that. I've always emphasized to the people at the company that we must take good care of you. Look, I've found you a home."
Visdom rubbed his red nose and said, "Young man, don't be fooled by him."
Lister smiled slightly and asked, "You come from the Western Sea?"
Visdom's hand holding the bottle trembled slightly as he muttered, "I'm just an old man who's about to die. Does it matter where I come from?"
Lister said, "10,000 Berries, Raoul, I'll buy him."
Raoul jumped up, excitedly exclaiming, "What? He conquered..."
"20,000 Berries!"
"His value cannot be measured in Berries, sir! We must respect knowledge. Life may fade, but wisdom will not! 9 million Berries!" Raoul shouted.
"30,000 Berries!"
"Sir, you are insulting me! 9 million Berries, not a single Berry less!"
"100,000 Berries! Last offer. Maybe I should ask around and see how many Berries Raoul can sell for!" Lister said.
"I heard there's a bounty on the black market for Raoul's head, 1.5 million Berries," Visdom suddenly said.
Raoul's face flushed red as if he had been choked. After a while, he stomped his feet and screamed, "100,000 Berries! Take him away, you damned old man!"
"So you're worth 1.5 million Berries!" Lister narrowed his eyes.
Raoul took two steps back and stammered, "What… what do you want to do? Don't do anything rash."
"Don't worry, we're friends, aren't we?"
"Yes, friend!"
"Look at him, he's tired, hungry, and filthy. As a friend, shouldn't you help him?" Lister asked.
"We'll help! We'll definitely help!"
After taking a bath, getting a haircut, and changing into clean clothes, Visdom stood in front of the mirror. With his full head of white hair and a gaunt, weathered face, he almost didn't recognize himself.
"Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye!" Visdom exclaimed.
Raoul sat on pins and needles while enjoying the delicious food with Lister, fearing that Lister might use his head to make money.
Footsteps sounded, and Lister looked up to see a gaunt old man in a gray robe approaching. He bowed slightly and said, "Master!"
"My lord, I have done everything you asked…" Raoul said hurriedly.
The implication was that you should leave!
Lister put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth, and asked, "The food here is quite good, would you like to try some?"
Visdom said, "I've already eaten. Raoul prepared a separate portion."
"You're welcome, we're friends!" Raoul immediately said.
Lister stood up, picked up the suitcase full of 7 million Berries, and asked, "Do you know where there's a hotel?"
"I understand!" Visdom nodded.
Hotel Street, "Sleep Well" Hotel.
Guest room.
As Lister brewed his coffee, he casually asked, "Are you a scholar from the Western Sea?"
Visdom sighed, "A scholar? No, I'm not even a scholar yet. At most, I've read a lot of books and have acquired some knowledge."
"The West Sea has the most scholars and the largest library in the world; it has always been a place I long to visit!" Lister said.
"Really?"
Visdom was somewhat excited. After years of wandering and hardship, hearing others praise his hometown was a feeling that only a wanderer could understand.
"Yes, although I am from the East Sea, there was once a captain from the West Sea who spoke of the West Sea, saying it was a beautiful place."
"Yes!"
"Since you are a scholar from the West Blue, how did you become a pirate and enter the Grand Line?"
Lister handed Visdom a cup of coffee and said, "Of course, I'm just curious. You can choose not to answer."
Visdom sighed and said, "There's nothing to hide. Ever since that incident, the Western Sea Navy has been arresting scholars everywhere, forcing us to flee to distant lands and hide in various places."
"The Ohara Incident!"
Visdom nodded and said with a wry smile, "Although the World Government has blocked the truth about the Ohara incident and fooled the ignorant masses, it cannot deceive the scholars. I was fortunate enough to go to Ohara and study there for a period of time. I met Dr. Clover, the librarian, and I know that they are the purest scholars and would never revive any ancient weapons to destroy the world."
"If you want to find fault, you can always find a pretext," Lister chuckled.
"I am a zoologist and botanist, and I do not live in Ohara, so I escaped this time. There are many others like me, but the government did not let us go. My friends died one after another. I sensed danger and ventured into the Grand Line, until…" Visdom took a sip of coffee, the bitter taste flowing down his throat and into his stomach.
"Plants and animals?"
Visdom sensed that Lister was different from others; his tone did not treat him like a slave, but rather showed respect for a scholar. The thought that had been extinguished in his mind was rekindled, and he quickly said, "Well, I also have knowledge of meteorology, navigation, and medicine."
"You really led a group of ordinary people through the first half of the Grand Line?"
Lister asked curiously.
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