Chapter 195- A Mutually Beneficial Proposition
Hearing what Liu Guanyi said, the old man tensed up. "Honored guest, didn't you say that you have promised you won't do anything that will negatively impact any community in this region?" He asked with a slightly shaky voice.
"I am, old man." Liu Guanyi smiled. "It's just what if that happens hypothetically. Just to make you think what if that situation really happens."
Looking at the village head's unsightly expression, Liu Guanyi spoke with a reassuring voice. "So no need to look so gloom, old man. In fact, I am here not to give you gloom and doom news but a happy one. You see, all of those problems be it suffering, poverty, the constant fear of being found out by the Zahard Empire, we can help you with those."
"Rather than simply following your predecessors that worshipped FUG despite that they have abandoned them and you to save their own skin, don't you think it's time for you and your grandchildren to deserve better?" Said Liu Guanyi suggestively.
"Listen to me closely, old man. You shouldn't be facing all these hardships FUG for your and your predecessor's loyal support and sacrifice in all these years. If you want still to become stubborn and keep serving your worthless masters who abandoned your people, it's fine."
"But don't be selfish and think of your own people." Liu Guanyi looked at him in the eye and spoke solemnly. "Think of your children and grandchildren."
"I…" The village head was speechless as his eyes seemed to wander around, looking for an easier answer.
"Do you think the Zahard Family wouldn't eventually know something about this place? They will come here and massacre your people. Your children and grandchildren will be killed in cold blood, old man!" Liu Guanyi spoke heatedly.
"No! Something like won't ever happen! We have always been fine since more than ten thousand years ago!" The village head exclaimed with huffed breath.
"Really, old man? What if the grunts from the Zahard Empire comes here not long after we leave this village? Will you be able to take the guilt and responsibility then? Just to keep the loyalty and identity that are tied to selfish people who had run away at the first sign to save their skin?" Said Liu Guanyi coldly, which seemed to pour cold water over the old man as he seemed to calm down immediately.
"Will you be able to take the responsibility for the masscare that will eventually happen in this village, old man? Would you be able to lift your head high after knowing the fact that you are the one responsible for their safety and yet you fail it horribly?"
"The blood of your people, dyed on this once beautiful and harmonious village… all of them burned down and destroyed! And you are the one responsible for it, old man! You are just like FUG, you abandoned them for your stupid ideals!"
"No, I did not…" The village head mumbled incoherently as he held his head with both of his hands.
"You think you aren't responsible if your people die in the hands of the Zahard Empire, old man? Do you think you aren't the one who will bear the guilt if your children are slaughtered? Do you think you won't be the one who shoulders the guilt if your grandchildren are killed ruthlessly by the Zahard Empire?"
"No! I did not do all of those things, it's not my mistake!" The old man screamed hysterically.
Liu Guanyi smiled. "Of course, old man, you didn't do it. It's all because of FUG that your people and your children become the target of the Zahard Empire. They didn't protect you or give you anything for all of your forefathers and you have sacrificed! Blame them!"
"Yes, those FUG bastards! They ran away after exploiting my forefathers' sacrifice and abandoned us to fend for ourselves in this desolate region!"
"That's right, Luslec and those FUG bastards are the ones who make you suffer all your lifetime and also your grandchildren's lifetime! Yet, they only hide in the shadow and do nothing to even lift a fraction of your burden, nor will they help your descendants!"
"They are just selfish bastards who always preach to end Zahard's and the leaders of the ten great families' corruption and iron rule in the tower, yet they all did the same to you forefathers, you, and your people!"
"Yes, those bastards… I can't believe I trusted and worshipped them so much!" The village head spoke as he gritted his teeth.
"Luslec is no hero, old man. He and his organization are just profiteers who always pursue their own benefits. When there's benefit in waging war against the Zahard Empire and the ten great families, they didn't without hesitation and pulled the people of 80th floor along as cannon fodder."
"However, when war isn't something that will benefit them anymore, they had immediately backed off and made a peace with them, abandoning those who followed them like your forefathers to fend for themselves without any slightest consideration."
The village head was about to say something as he clenched his hands but then he only gritted his teeth and relaxed his hands, and let out a deep and long sigh.
"You are right, young man. You have opened my eyes to their cruelty, audacity, and vile nature of theirs that my forefathers closed their eyes from seeing. For this, I am truly grateful to you for undoing the brainwash that had been done by my father to me that had been passed on for millenniums in my lineage." The village head said as he bowed his head deeply, even touching the table.
"No need, old man. We are no philanthropists. We helped you because there's something to gain, but as I've said we are decent people so we won't take advantage of you and leave you with nothing like FUG but instead, offer a mutually beneficial proposition."
"Alright, finally, I'll hear it attentively, young man. You deserve this at the very least after helping this old man realize something important." Said the old man as he nodded his head.
"Good then, I want you to continue to run this village as always but you will educate your successors the understand the FUG's selfish and evil ways. An then, you and your successors will become our insiders in this region."