Chapter 149 - Lauriels Story (2/2)

”Hmm...” Lauriel coughed a little, ”The secret is to have great self-confidence and know that you're right. That is all.”

Great confidence was not Finland's forte, so she realized that she would not be able to imitate Lauriel. Jean used to try to take her into the modeling to make money because she was beautiful, but Finland's self-confidence was so low that no matter how much she liked money, she could not work as a model.

”Then I won't be able to learn how to do it,” Finland said, ”I'm not as confident as you are.”

”Why?” Lauriel asked. ”You're so smart and beautiful. Why aren't you confident about yourself?”

”I grew up in poverty and for years was I bullied by mean girls in school. In the real world, just being beautiful and smart is not enough. You have to be rich, so you don't get bullied.”

”Hmmm... you don't have to be rich,” Lauriel said. ”If you are strong, you will also not be oppressed by others, and wealth will also follow you. I know a beautiful woman who grew up in poverty. She was even forced to become a prostitute on a ship. But she managed to raise her status when she married a pirate. After her husband died, she took over his pirate group and built the largest pirate empire in human history, up to 80,000 men at the height of her glory. She controlled the Chinese Sea and demanded tribute protection from ships that crossed her territory. Her name was Ching Shih*.”

After Lauriel revealed his secret of being an Alchemist, Finland was able to get to know the man better. He was no longer hesitant when talking about his past. He managed to make Finland hold her breath when he told the girl about his adventures in China in the 19th century.

His ship was seized, and he was captured by a gang of pirates led by a former prostitute named Ching Shih. As former Black Bart the pirate, Lauriel understood very well the life of Ching Shih and her gang and he succeeded in impressing the pirate queen to free him and later they became friends.

Lauriel lived with Ching Shih and Cheng Po Tsai, her late husband's adopted son and was his second-in-command, who later became Ching Shih's lover, for several years and helped them organize the management of the largest pirate group in human history.

The group at its peak had 80,000 men. The group later dispersed when Ching Shih and Cheng Po Tsai received forgiveness from the king and became government officials.

”You always seem to live in contact with danger. Aren't you afraid of dying? I know you can live forever, but that doesn't mean you can't die, right?” Finland asked.

”Hmm... why should I be afraid of death?” Lauriel shrugged. ”I'm very good at fighting with bare hands, swords, and guns. I've never been defeated.”

Finland believed in Lauriel's words. His confidence was certainly supported by his great abilities, so that he could very casually tell stories about his adventures, which usually made Finland's heart beat in fear.

Not just living with pirates, Lauriel once freed slaves from Africa from the hands of slave traders. Finland knew that slave traders were one of the cruellest kind of people in history.

Finland really enjoyed riding with Lauriel and she was happy because the man had promised to teach her to ride horses when they returned to the farm for the next vacation, so that Finland could ride on her own.

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*Ching Shih to this day is known as the most successful pirate in world history. I admire her greatly.