Chapter 18 The gears of fate continue to turn

"Ah."

The Red Earl nodded slightly.

He was very satisfied with Enel's answer. In fact, no matter what ambitions one had, as long as one followed Lex unswervingly, the Red Earl would accept them.

The darkness of human nature is unimaginable. This has troubled the Red Earl for half his life, until Lex appeared in the Red Earl's world, like light, illuminating the long-buried emotion, an emotion called "trust".

Therefore, the Red Earl, who can see through people's hearts, no longer cares so much about the darkness and filthiness of human nature that once disgusted him.

As long as the person can follow Lex loyally, he will generally ignore the filth in their hearts.

It is difficult to have a pure heart in this world. Even the 7-year-old Enelu's heart is filled with resentment towards the entire Bika and has a strong desire to destroy it.

Yes, deep down in the heart of the 7-year-old little Enel, he has the desire to destroy the entire Bika!

Lex, who can also read minds, knows exactly what's going on in Enel's heart, but he doesn't care.

Bika, so what if it’s ruined?

The destruction of an island was too insignificant to the Red Earl and Lex.

Lex has been planning for ten years to fight against the World Government. Is it because he feels sorry for the civilians who are suffering in the sea?

He is not Monkey D. Dragon, not a revolutionary, nor a philanthropist, he is Leon Lex!

An ambitious man, a dreamer!

I chose Gan Yim simply because I wanted to do so.

Did Luffy want to liberate the sea like his father Dragon from the day he set sail? Then why did he still become a pirate?

At the beginning, Luffy just wanted to become the Pirate King, which would make him feel free.

Lex simply feels freeing by going against the world.

Some people ask, why conquer mountains?

Does one really need a reason?

No, no, no, it’s just because the mountains are standing there!

"Enelu, let's have a party! As a ceremony to welcome you, although I'm not a pirate, I grew up with a group of pirates, so it's good to hold a party."

"Eh? Pirate, is that the villain from Qinghai that is rumored?" asked Eneel.

"Yeah, most pirates are villains."

"Oh, but if we have a party, do you have money, Mr. Lex? I don't have much food and drinks here."

"Oh, don't worry. We have everything. Come, look here. I'll show you a little magic trick."

Lex raised one hand and placed it in front of Enel, with a brilliant blue light blooming on his palm.

In an instant, a large amount of food and wine appeared out of nowhere in the house, piled up together, filling most of the space in the small house.

"Wow~!!! This, this~, are you a god?! Mr. Rex!!" Little Enel jumped up excitedly.

"Hahahahaha, this is a power called the Devil Fruit. You will slowly understand it in the future. Okay, now, let's start the party!"

Lex smiled as he looked at Enel drooling madly at the pile of food.

"Yeah hahahaha, great, I'm going to start!"

At this moment, Enel felt extremely happy. He was beaten up for being caught stealing food. After dragging his tired body back home, he met two wingless people from Qinghai. They were completely different from the people on Bika who would beat and scold him at every turn. They even chatted with him as an equal and told him about things in Qinghai.

Mr. Lex even promised to take him to the 'Infinite Land'!

Enelu felt the long-lost warmth and care. He had never felt such tenderness since his mother passed away.

Enel picked up a big, delicious chicken leg. He hadn't eaten this for a long, long time. He opened his mouth as wide as he could, bit off a piece of meat, and chewed and swallowed it in big mouthfuls.

As I was eating, I felt a salty and moist taste on my taste buds.

He raised his trembling, bony hands and kept wiping the corners of his eyes, but the tears could not stop falling. He buried his head in his chest again, but his shoulders trembled continuously, and bean-sized tears kept sliding down his face and falling on the ground.

【Do you know? Mom. 】

[I met another person who treated me as well as you did. I don’t know what he wanted from me, but he wouldn’t hit me or scold me like the people on Bica did. He told me his name was Leon Lex, what a domineering name.]

[I have decided, mother, no matter what he wants to do, I will follow him unswervingly, become his strength, and become a stepping stone for him! ]

[Don't worry, Mom, I will eventually reach the 'Infinite Land' with my own strength! ]

[However, before that, please let me become Mr. Lex's strength! ]

Hearing the voice of the crying Enel, the Red Earl curled up the corners of his mouth and took another sip of Grashi red wine.

Lex continued to drink the sherry in the glass, smiling without saying a word.

"Hey, Enel, continue eating. Try this apple. There shouldn't be many on Sky Island." Lex handed over an apple.

"Thank...thank you Mr. Lex!"

Enel was still crying. Sometimes he was so moved that his tears flowed like a dam bursting, and he couldn't stop them no matter what. At least, that was the case for Enel now.

The banquet for the three people continued. The Red Earl listened to the conversation between the two and took a sip of Grachi red wine from time to time. This was a precious secret wine from the West Sea.

Lex and Enel were eating their food with big mouthfuls, chatting with their cheeks puffed out.

"Hey, Mr. Lex, is that octopus that's bigger than a hundred Beaca Islands real?"

"I've said it several times. Luska is our partner. Of course it's true. Moreover, Luska can speak, but you may not be able to hear it now."

"What!! An octopus can actually speak?! But I can't hear it?"

"Don't worry, with your talent of observation, you will be able to hear it soon." Lex patted Enelu's shoulder.

"What is the color of seeing and hearing?"

"It's the 'Heart Net' on your Sky Island." Lex explained nonchalantly that Enelu would know these things sooner or later.

"What is 'Mind Net'?"

"...It's a power that can make your five senses sharper, and you can detect the breath of surrounding creatures, and even the changes in emotions. If you practice it to the peak, you can foresee the future. Some special ones can also see through people's hearts, read memories, and affect other people's emotions. You will know it sooner or later." Lex explained patiently.

"Huh? Do I have this talent?" Enel asked in surprise. With this power, he could help Mr. Lex.

"You definitely have it, and you're one of the best."

"Great!"

"By the way, Enelu, have you ever felt that you can hear other people's thoughts, or rather, can you hear people talking far away?"

Lex asked, rubbing his chin.

"Hmm~ Let me think about it... Oh, right, one time I was beaten badly and almost fainted when I returned to the cabin. Before I fainted, I heard a loud noise in my ears, as if I heard the voices of people on the entire island. But the next moment I fainted, and after waking up, I never had such an experience again. Is this the observation Haki that Mr. Lex mentioned?"

After hearing Enel's story, the Red Earl looked at Enel with admiration again. This little guy's experience was so similar to his.

They were both considered "monsters" by the people around them, had the same tragic childhood experiences, possessed the same amazing talent of observation, and also met Lex.

"Hmm, as expected, the already amazing Observation Haki talent becomes even more incredible with the blessing of the Thunder Fruit." Lex thought to himself.

"Enel, do you want to have power?"

Lex changed the subject, picked up the yellow lightning-shaped fruit, and asked Enelu.

"What power? Is this the devil fruit Lex mentioned?"

Enel asked curiously as he looked at the yellow fruit.

"Lex, it's better to give this fruit to Gion. There's no need to give this top-notch fruit to Enelu."

The Red Earl spoke up to remind that he also recognized Enel, but it would be better to give the pinnacle power of the Thunder Fruit to Gion.

It is obvious that the Red Earl favors Gion more, which is understandable because Gion is Lex's woman.

And Enelu, after all, is just a new 7-year-old kid.

"Well, it doesn't matter. The fruit will choose its own people. This is not only the will of the fruit, but also the will of the world."

"While subverting the fate of the world, we must always make use of the so-called fate. Fate tells me that this fruit will reach its peak in Enel's hands! Am I right, Enel?"

Enel's heart was filled with emotion when he heard Lex's words.

It seems that Mr. Lex rejected Mr. Redfield's proposal and insisted on giving this fruit with mysterious power to myself, so no matter what, I must let this fruit reach its peak in my hands!

So, Enelu answered loudly.

"…That's for sure, Mr. Lex!!"

"Hahahaha, very good, the gears of fate continue to turn forward!"

As he spoke, Enel took the Thunder Fruit and took a big bite of it.

“Ugh~~!!! Poof~!”

Enel immediately made a vomiting gesture, and his face looked as if he had eaten shit.

However, almost at the same time, arcs of light blue electricity burst out from Enel's body!

Destiny is back on track again.

Enelu was destined to eat the Thunder Fruit!