In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 109 Three years have passed, and Sherag has undergone a dramatic transformation.
Three years is not a very long time for the Terran race, whose lifespan is generally longer.

But within those short three years, a shocking event occurred that shook the entire continent of Terra.

After years of preparation, under the leadership of the new King of Letania, known for his iron fist, Letania finally launched this expedition that would shake Terra.

Two years ago, Letania launched an expedition against Bolívar and swiftly conquered this territory, which was the subject of much political maneuvering.

If the demise of Bolívar is not enough to alarm the nations of Terra.

So, a year ago, Letania's blitzkrieg against Kazimir was a clear declaration to all of Terra of the new emperor's burgeoning ambitions.

In just two months, the military superpower Kazimir, known as the "Land of Knights," was destroyed.

[With astonishing speed of conquest and the resounding roar of artillery, Letania challenged all the nations of Terra.]

[For a time, everyone in the countries of Terra lived in fear.]

Everyone knew that war was coming and worried that one day its flames would reach them.

Meanwhile, your alarmist pronouncements have been proven true; those who initially criticized your brutal rule have finally come to realize your foresight.

During these three years of immense pressure, the rapidly developing Sherag has become a force that no country can afford to ignore...

"Yay~ Hello everyone~ I'm your old friend, Eureka~"

Under professional filming equipment, a Zalak (rodent) girl with pink curly hair and a pure and lovely appearance held a microphone, waved and smiled in front of the camera:
"Now, behind me lies the recently emerging tourist destination that has piqued the curiosity of countless travel enthusiasts—Shelag!"

"Look, viewers! Wow~ what a tall snow-capped peak! This country, forever shrouded in snow, doesn't seem to be just empty hype!"

Guided by Eureka, the camera lens captured the magnificent scenery of Shelag not far away, a sight that was completely different from what it had been three years ago.

The once deserted Shelag has now been transformed into a sizable new town at the foot of the mountain.

At first glance, tourists from all over the world and of all races are hurrying through this town.

Here, there were many nobles dressed in expensive finery, surrounded by servants and protected by bodyguards, admiring the snow scene that could never be seen in other countries.

There was also a family of three, dressed in heavy clothes, busily searching for a hotel in town.

They even went on a shopping spree in Shelag, wearing thick coats with the words "I love the snow mountain" on them, excitedly looking around and finding everything novel and fascinating.

Despite the outbreak of war, Kherag remained a pristine haven untouched by the flames of conflict.

Here, tourists seem to forget their nationality. Regardless of their country of origin or any deep-seated hatred between them, they temporarily set aside their differences and live together in this pure land.

Of course, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that this is merely an illusion.

Because around the town, there are still many camps stationed there—the camps of troops from various countries.

They had Victoria's guards, Colombia's expedition team, and even Letania's Golden Law Guard, among others.

The camps of various countries stationed here are not large in scale, ranging from a thousand people to less than a hundred people, and the camps are even far apart.

However, the tense atmosphere between the armies of various countries, as if war could break out at any moment, could not be eliminated even by the prosperity of Shelag.

However, even so, this neutral country, which is coveted by various countries, is so safe from any action because of the large number of its own tourists.

This is the only sacred place where people can forget about war.

"As you can see, Kjerag is a tourist destination that has been heavily promoted in various countries this year, and its facilities are comprehensive."

"However, most viewers probably don't know that just a few years ago, Shelag was just an obscure and isolated little country."

"According to legend, it wasn't until three years ago, when the current King of Kalan seized power through a coup and came to rule Shelag, that this snow-capped mountain finally revealed its mysterious veil to us."

It should be said that Eureka is quite skilled as a presenter.

As the designated anchor hired by Enciodes to promote Sherag, she did her homework by researching a lot of relevant information before arriving in Sherag.

"And today, my mission, Eureka, is to guide all my curious viewers through the scenery of this tourist destination!"

"By the way, Eureka, I've also prepared a little mission for myself—it's related to the mysterious King of Kalan!"

"Rumor has it that this young and promising King of Kalan, who led Khelag to prosperity and openness, is only twenty years old."

Eureka was also curious about what the people of Shelag really thought of their king.

"Ah~ I wish I had the chance to meet King Kalan. He must be a very handsome, kind, and considerate monarch~"

As Eureka finished speaking, her live stream continued to attract new viewers, thanks to the support of Sherag's intercity network.

However, Eureka, caught up in her infatuation, failed to notice that...

When she said she was going to investigate the opinions of the Sherag people about the King of Kalan, her live stream was quickly flooded with comments from local Sherag residents.

A closer look reveals that all the arguments and disputes here are related to the King of Kalan.

Moreover, judging from the comments, the reputation of this King of Kalan is extremely polarized.

But Eureka, whose attention was now drawn to the snow-capped mountains, was explaining things to the viewers in the live stream as she walked:

"As you can see, Kjerag is now a major trading hub connecting the east and west sides of this land."

"Not only does it have a large-scale railway station connecting railways from various countries, but there are also sightseeing cable cars and trains at the foot of the mountain leading up to it."

"Of course, Eureka's top recommendation is the unique beast-riding service that Sherag offers!"

"Ah! There's a pack animal rental place over there, let's go say hello!"

As she spoke, Eureka quickly approached Uncle Sherag, the man who rented the pack animals, and greeted him cheerfully:
"Hello, sir~ I'm Eureka from Bolivar TV. May I ask you a few questions?"

"Oh? Little girl, you want to interview me? Sure!"

The uncle who rents pack animals at the foot of the mountain, clearly accustomed to the daily influx of tour groups and interviews, laughed heartily:

"Young lady, you're really pretty. Ask me anything you want, and I'll tell you everything I know."

"Thank you so much, Uncle." Eureka's face lit up with a bright smile, and then she asked:

"Uncle, now that Shelag has cable cars and trains specifically for sightseeing, won't your pack animal business be affected?"

"Haha! Little girl, that's what you don't understand."

Faced with this question that many tourists had asked, the uncle, who had been in a very good mood all this time, patiently explained:

"Foreign tourists come here just to see pristine snow scenery, don't they?"

"The cable car is indeed great, and you can even enjoy delicious cheese stew on the sightseeing train, but for a truly immersive experience, you have to go for our pack animals!"

The middle-aged man proudly patted his docile pack animal beside him, using Eureka's camera to advertise:

"Back when the Shelag people didn't have railway tracks, they rode these pack animals to climb the snow-capped mountains!"

"These pack animals are all intelligent and good animals. They are obedient and well-behaved. No matter where you want to go, just tell them the name of the place and they will take you there!"

“I dare say, in all of Shelag, there is nothing more familiar than them.”

"Just two francs are enough to keep these good companions company all day long. You don't need to worry about their food or sleep; they'll go back to their shed on their own."

"Wow! Is it really that amazing? I really want to try it out!"

Eureka, captivated by the uncle's passionate speech, couldn't help but express her feelings.

In Eureka's live stream, many tourists who had already experienced it gave positive reviews, saying that what the uncle said was true.

Many tourists who missed it by taking the cable car and train up the mountain were filled with regret and vowed to experience it at least once.

Seeing that the older man had started talking, Eureka finally found an opportunity to ask the question that concerned her most.

"Uncle, there's something else I'd like to ask you to share your thoughts on."

"As a native of Khalkha, what are your thoughts on the King of Khalkha, who led Khalkha to prosperity and openness?"

"Uh……"

However, as soon as Eureka finished speaking, the enthusiastic uncle's smile froze on his face, replaced by an indescribable expression.

Facing the camera, the usually talkative man suddenly became hesitant and stammering. After thinking for a long time, he finally said hesitantly, "This... it's hard to say, really hard to say."

"It's true that Shelag has developed significantly in the past three years... I and many others were initially quite unaccustomed to having so many foreigners."

"But now, thanks to tourism and factories, everyone has made money, and it is indeed His Majesty's doing that has brought about this."

"But..."

However, when I recall those three years, those nightmarish, dark times when I was almost constantly overwhelmed by heavy burdens and could hardly breathe, I feel a deep sense of loss.

Considering the elders who died tragically during Chen Qi's coup, and the numerous rumors about his embezzlement and bloodthirstiness, this is further complicated by the fact that...

The uncle, who should have been genuinely proud of Sherag's current wealth, hesitated to utter any words of praise.

After all, this abundance was not something they built voluntarily.

Even though I now enjoy a life of abundance, the vivid memories of oppression and relentless labor still linger in my mind.

After a long while, the man finally managed to utter a muffled sentence:
"Uncle, I'm not well-educated, so I don't know how to say it."

"But I still admire His Majesty quite a bit. Compared to His Majesty, we uneducated bumpkins are probably about as stupid as pack animals, right?"

He left behind some seemingly incomprehensible words, and the uncle, facing a slightly confused Eureka, didn't know how to explain them.

Fortunately, in his hurried glance, the uncle noticed a dashing figure standing in front of a group of well-trained guards, giving a loud speech.

In that instant, the uncle seemed to see a savior and hurriedly shouted:

"Miss Chen! Officer Chen! Please help me, I'm in trouble!"

"...Uncle Philby?"

The person being called by the older man was none other than Chen Huijie, who had become the governor of the Sherag Guard.

However, three years have passed, and Chen Huijie, who seems to have fully integrated into Xie Lag, has become more capable than before.

Unlike his time in Lungmen, this incorruptible senior superintendent now has a face full of weariness from his busy work, but his eyes are filled with more hope for the future and a faint joy.

Upon hearing the uncle's call, Chen Huijie first instructed the guards to return to their posts before quickly approaching the uncle and asking:

"What's wrong, Uncle Philby? Has another pack animal gotten lost?"

"No, no, no, that's not it." The uncle shook his head, quickly stepping aside so Chen Huijie could see Eureka clearly, and said:
"This young girl is a reporter from the TV station, here to promote our work."

"Uncle, I can't say for sure, but I think Officer Chen will definitely be able to properly introduce our Shelag to tourists from outside."

As he spoke, the uncle didn't forget to introduce Chen Huijie to Eureka, saying with a smile:

"Young lady, you probably don't recognize her yet. This is Miss Chen, a general in our Shelag! She's also the governor of the guard!"

"She was one of the earliest outsiders here, and one of the first to follow His Majesty. She is His Majesty's right-hand woman!"

"...Not really, I just did what I could."

Hearing the uncle praise her so highly, Chen Huijie couldn't help but smile.

But when Chen Qi was mentioned, a complex emotion, neither joy nor sorrow, flashed across Chen Huijie's face, and she ultimately pretended not to hear it.

"You're Eureka from Bolivar Television, right? I've heard Prime Minister Ensioudis mention you."

Chen Huijie looked at Eureka, who was promoting Sherag, and said in a rather friendly manner:

“Perfect timing. I’m also on patrol duty. If you don’t mind, come with me to the city of Shelag.”

“I can also tell you about what I’ve seen and heard along the way.”

"that would be great!"

Eureka was overjoyed at this unexpected gain.

When Chen Huijie appeared in the live stream, Eureka's live stream room was completely flooded with a large number of comments.

The vast majority of these posts were made by locals in Shelag, and they overwhelmingly praised Chen Huijie, calling him a "messenger of justice" and "judge of Jeragund."

Of course, there were also a lot of comments calling Chen Huijie affectionately, such as "General", "Miss Chen" and "Officer Chen".

These adoring comments on the screen all prove that the righteous and awe-inspiring Chen Huijie enjoys high popularity among the people of Shelag.

"Attention! At ease!"

However, just as Chen Huijie was leading Eureka, intending to take the fast cable car up the mountain...

Not far from the town, a group of fully armed Victorian soldiers were undergoing their daily routine inspection.

This group of soldiers, so different from the peaceful atmosphere of Shelag, also attracted the attention of many tourists.

Strangely, while tourists may feel uneasy about the soldiers' arrival, the locals of Shelag seem to have long been accustomed to their presence.

They not only dared to approach these soldiers, but even dared to whisper and talk to each other not far away.

The content of their conversation... seemed to be guessing which rancher's family the soldiers were going to drink with next.

"So many soldiers..."

Seeing this, Eureka couldn't help but ask curiously:

"Isn't Kjerag a neutral country? Why would it allow troops from another country to be stationed here?"

"—Because they are only temporarily stationed here."

Beside Eureka, Chen Huijie, who was already used to this scene, calmly explained:
"They came here because they have many matters to report to His Majesty."

"These soldiers came as a guard. Shelag does not allow other countries' armies to have conflicts here, so there are not many teams here."

"I see."

Eureka nodded as if she understood, but soon she turned to Chen Huijie beside her and asked curiously:
"Speaking of which, the uncle who rented the pack animals said that Officer Chen, you were among the first to follow King Kalan, is that right?"

"As a trusted advisor to the King of Kalan, Officer Chen, what are your thoughts on His Majesty the King? What kind of person do you think he is?"

"..."

A deathly silence lasted for a long time.

In the past three years, since Chen Qi began his rule, Chen Huijie has had many arguments with Chen Qi, and even drawn his sword against him.

Now, gazing upon the prosperity that Chen Qi had delivered to all the people of Shelag, she was at a loss for words.

However, having experienced these past three years, Chen Huijie, who already had the answer in her heart, was not stumped and calmly replied:

"...Although I came to Shelag with him a long time ago, I don't actually know him as well as you think."

"If I were to speak my mind..."

Chen Huijie paused for a moment, then gave a complicated smile.

"He may not be a good person, but he is probably a good leader."

“As a friend, I can’t approve of his character, but now that everything about Sherag has done is enough for me to fight to the last moment for him.”

"...Alright, let's not talk about that anymore, Miss Eureka. We're about to take the cable car, so please prepare to pack your equipment."

With just a few words, Chen Huijie, who had completely diverted Eureka's attention, finally managed to cast her gaze towards the distant sacred mountain amidst her busy schedule.

Chen Huijie knew that there, Chen Qi was discussing important matters concerning Sherag with a group of foreign dignitaries and nobles.

However, the guards stationed around Shelag for months and the long-stalemate in negotiations made Chen Huijie vaguely feel that something was wrong.

Qi, what trouble have you run into this time?

Why is it that now you won't even give me the chance to share some of your difficulties?

Are we no longer even qualified to share some of your responsibilities?

(End of this chapter)