Save the simulator and make Sarkaz great again!

Chapter Eight: Though I am alone, I have many followers.

The scorching sun poured down relentlessly on the desert, creating waves of heat. Gale-force winds were frequent visitors, whipping up sand and gravel like an angry beast, rampaging across the wasteland.

In a region where everything is desert, a large settlement suddenly appears, which is quite conspicuous. The harsh environment cannot destroy their desire to survive.

Monest Tavern is a well-known tavern among the Sarkaz settlements. Although it is not a very large tavern, it is one of the best in Kazdel.

Because of the constant natural disasters in the Kazdel region, the Sarkaz settlements relocate from time to time. The larger the shops, the more troublesome the relocation is, making it difficult for the Kazdel region to develop its own economy.

Monest was also the tavern where Shen Lin was taken in. The owner of the tavern, One-Armed Leik, was quite famous in the community. This Goliath was also a mercenary.

During a mission, he was attacked by other mercenaries. Not only were his teammates killed or wounded, but he also lost an arm on the battlefield.

Since then, he returned to the settlement with his remaining teammates and used his last savings to open a tavern, which is how it is now.

A figure stood in front of the Monest Tavern, the hem of a black trench coat fluttering slightly, his red eyes gleaming like jewels.

When Shen Lin returned to this familiar place, he felt a slight sense of emotion. Although only a few months had passed, it felt like an eternity to him.

As Shen Lin pushed open the door, he felt a gaze fall upon him. He followed the gaze and saw a middle-aged Sarkaz man in an old-fashioned coat looking at him in surprise, even stopping his work of wiping the bar for a moment.

Shen Lin took off his beret and smiled slightly at the kind Sarkaz man who had once taken him in.

"Long time no see, Manager Leik."

"You are... Shen Lin?!"

When he saw Shen Lin's familiar figure return, Leik was overjoyed, because he never expected that they would meet again.

Death in Kazdel is commonplace, and it's not uncommon for comrades-in-arms to become enemies tomorrow.

Therefore, it is extremely precious for the Sarkaz people that they can still be friends with their old partners every time they meet again.

The current Shen Lin is vastly different from the down-and-out man he once was. His black trench coat swayed slightly with his steps as he walked up to Lei Ke.

If Shen Lin was once a tranquil and gentle lake, now he is like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, his fierce aura even making Lei Ke take notice.

The disheveled state of the past has been replaced by the present composure, and even Leik couldn't believe for a moment that this was the singer who used to perform at his shop.

Leik filled two glasses of beer and pushed one of them toward Shen Lin.

Rayek had a great liking for the young Sarkaz banshee before him, not only because her artistic talent had helped him earn a lot of money in the past, but more importantly because of her sincere attitude towards others.

"How was your time in Letania?"

"You know, I've always had faith in you, Shen Lin."

Amid the clinking of glasses and under Leik's curious gaze, Shen Lin opened up and recounted his experiences over the past few months.

Upon learning of Shen Lin's unfair treatment in Letania, Leik's initially cheerful expression gradually darkened, and his only arm unconsciously clenched into a fist, the veins on it clearly visible.

“Those damned Leitanians deserve to die.”

Has the hatred from the invasion of Kazdel been etched into his blood? Leik didn't know; he only knew that his life had been ruined by a Letanian employer.

He covered for his employer, who then betrayed them, leading to the outcome he now regrets for the rest of his life.

“I know you’re someone who can’t sit still, Shen Lin.”

Is there anything you want to do now that you're back?

"To be honest, Manager Leik..."

Shen Lin briefly recounted the background of the conflict between the Sarkaz's father and the Victorians, and shared some of his ideas on how to resolve the issue with Leik.

Hearing Shen Lin's thoughts, even the seasoned mercenary Leik couldn't help but open his eyes slightly. Years of experience on the edge of a knife had enabled him to remain calm in the face of many things.

But when he heard Shen Lin say that he was going to get justice for these Sarkaz workers from the Empire, he stared blankly at the young man in front of him, feeling as if he were meeting him for the first time.

“I can’t imagine, Leick…that those enemies who once invaded our homes and destroyed our happiness still hate and exploit us, and now they are all around us.”

“I hate bad guys, Leick.”

“I’ve traveled all over Kazdel’s settlements over the past few months, and the reality is far worse than I imagined.”

"Those factories and mines run by foreign imperialists don't treat the Sarkaz people as human beings at all, but as livestock!"

“They paid the Sarkaz only enough wages to get by, and then provided him with high-interest loans, which he used to open more factories and mines with the blood and sweat he had worked so hard for.”

"They tried to come to our house and acted like this was their territory."

“In the past, when faced with provocation and humiliation from others, workers had to respond in the most humble and insignificant manner.”

“Leike, it’s not because the Sarkaz are inherently inferior, but because they deeply believe in Princess Theresa, that their sacrifices will benefit themselves and the entire Sarkaz, and that Theresa will stand up for them.”

"But things are different now. Their efforts will not benefit themselves or Kazdel, and Princess Theresa cannot stand up for them. Their hard work has become an extension of the Empire's exploitation. It's truly ironic."

"The only condition for the wicked to prevail is for the good to stand idly by!"

"I want to teach them a lesson they won't forget, to drive them out of Kazdel, out of our homeland!!"

Shen Lin did not hide his emotions; the rising anger seemed to want to burn everything to ashes.

The man's words seemed to possess a magical power, drawing Leike into his perspective and allowing him to witness the hopeless state of Kazdel.

For a moment, he felt the anger and sorrow so deeply that he was completely immersed in it. As the man proposed the idea of ​​driving the Imperials out of Sarkaz, his blood boiled.

"well said!"

Before Leike could even respond, a loud bang on the table was followed by cheers from the side, coming from Goliath Sarkaz, who was sitting at another table.

"Those imperial swine should have been kicked out of Kazdel long ago. I hate them all, whether they're Victorians or Letanians."

As he spoke, he raised his beer glass and toasted Shen Lin, who in turn raised his glass in return.

After finishing his beer, the other person gave Shen Lin a thumbs-up and left.

Coming to his senses, Shen Lin looked at the still somewhat dazed Leik and coughed awkwardly twice.

"Ah... I'm sorry, Manager Leik, I didn't control my emotions."

"Gulu..."

Leik swallowed hard, utterly shocked by the change in the young man before him.

Once upon a time, the man before him was just a young Sarkaz novice, but now he has unleashed a blazing light that even Reyk can feel.

"If I didn't know you were a banshee, I would have thought the Flame Demon King's Court had reappeared."

Shen Lin chuckled softly upon hearing this, neither confirming nor denying Leik's teasing.

“Ever since I learned the truth about Kazdel, I have been tormented every day. I cannot turn a blind eye to everything I know.”

"I think that whether I am a Balrog or any other race, I cannot remain silent about this matter."

Upon hearing this, Leik's admiration for Shen Lin was evident on his face. He put down his wine glass and fell into a brief silence.

As Shen Lin recounted his story, he understood the predicament Shen Lin was in.

Babel Tower and the Military Council are likely to ignore this matter, and even if Leikna uses his own connections, he will find it difficult to help Shen Lin.

But what shocked Leik even more was that Shen Lin knew what kind of predicament he was about to face, but he still did it without hesitation.

This kid has a lot more guts than he used to be... If I had had his courage back then, maybe I could have gotten justice for his teammates.

Sensing the sincerity and determination in Shen Lin's words, Lei Ke knew that no matter how he tried to persuade him, Shen Lin would not change his mind, and he sighed softly.

"The help I can offer you is limited..."

"But... I still have something to say to you."

"You are fighting alone, Shen Lin."

Feeling the two dim stars that had appeared inside his body, Shen Lin understood what he meant, and he gave a bright smile.

"Trust me, Manager Leik."

"Although I am only one person, I have many followers."

P.S.: Thank you! Thank you so much for your votes and favorites! (*^▽^*)

Chapter Nine: Then let me ask you, is this female demon male or female?

Rumors have been circulating in several Kazdel gathering places recently that a banshee will be singing for them for free at the Monest Tavern, and that the tavern's drinks will be discounted for a limited time.

The word "free" holds unparalleled appeal for the Sarkaz.

The news attracted the attention of most Sarkaz people, and even some mercenaries became interested.

Uh... I don't care if I'm a female demon or not, I just want to drink beer.

For Kazdel, who lacked entertainment options, a concert was indeed a novel experience.

The Banshee race is only widely known in Sarkaz legends, and it is said that after the victory in the War of the Protectorate, they have been living in the valley to recuperate.

Therefore, very few Sarkaz people have ever actually seen the true face of the banshees, let alone heard their songs.

However, some Sarkaz who had witnessed Shen Lin's performance praised his singing and character, calling him the "heavenly voice" of the Sarkaz.

The only thing that caused widespread controversy in their description of Shen Lin was that he was a male succubus, which many Sarkaz people did not understand.

"Then let me ask you, is this female demon male or female?"

"Then let me ask you, why isn't he called a male demon?"

Many Sarkaz people have virtually no knowledge about male banshees, so they scoff at the descriptions given by a few individuals, which inadvertently led to the escalating public opinion surrounding them.

In short, the idea that Shen Lin is a male female demon has indeed caused a great uproar. Some knowledgeable information brokers claimed that not long ago, the female demon clan did indeed give birth to a male offspring, but his age did not match Shen Lin's.

From focusing on the concert to determining whether the female demon is male or female, and what her origins are.

Human curiosity is boundless, and as the news spread, more and more Sarkaz people became interested in the concert.

Such a large-scale dissemination naturally attracted the attention of some special Sarkaz. When Martha, a member of the Banshee Royal Court, heard the news in Kazdel City, she was slightly taken aback.

"Male succubi..."

Martha's first thought was whether a Sarkaz was impersonating a banshee to deceive people, but the thought only lasted for a moment before she shook her head.

She didn't believe any Sarkaz would dare to impersonate a member of the royal court, and to do so so openly under the noses of the various royal courts in Kazdel.

However... almost every female demon currently exists in the valley, especially the male female demons. Apart from Lady Lamaren's son, there are no other relevant records in the royal court.

For centuries, few male offspring have been born into the demon race, so demons have had to rely on witchcraft to produce offspring, resulting in the gradual thinning of the demon bloodline.

Therefore, every male succubus is of great value to the Succubus Kingdom, as they are key to slowing its decline.

She hesitated for a moment, then instructed her attendants to take the news back to the valley.

She didn't say anything more, she just tightened her cloak.

She decided to go to the settlement herself to verify whether the news was true or false.

……

The scorching sun poured down on this land without reservation, and the sand shimmered with a dazzling light that stung the eyes.

In that vast and boundless desert, a settlement stands like an isolated island. The earthen-yellow houses are arranged haphazardly, their walls weathered by wind and sand, yet they stubbornly resist the encroachment of the desert.

Today, this community was bustling with people, and the once somewhat desolate market suddenly became as lively as the city center.

Among them were even members wearing Babel uniforms, whose clothes bore the prominent Babel symbol, making them easily noticeable.

These Sarkaz outsiders were all curious and asked around about the Monest Tavern and the mysterious banshee.

Shen Lin originally thought it would be quite an achievement to fill the entire tavern, but the Sarkaz people's enthusiasm... or perhaps curiosity, exceeded his expectations.

Shen Lin had originally planned to perform after dusk, but the Monest Tavern was already nearly full by morning, and there was a steady stream of Sarkaz inquiries arriving at the settlement.

"Shen Lin... I didn't realize you had such a great influence."

Even Ersura was shocked by the sheer number of Sarkaz; she had never seen anyone outside the royal court wield such influence.

In her memory, such a grand occasion only occasionally occurred in Kazdel.

They thought they would be successful if they could fill the Monest tavern, but they didn't expect that even if the tavern were to be expanded five times, it would still be difficult to accommodate the number of people who came.

“I think this is all thanks to you, Ersula.”

"You've really helped me a lot this time."

Hearing the man's sincere praise and thanks, the girl remained expressionless, but the slight curve of her lips betrayed her inner joy.

Looking at the bustling market, Shen Lin gently touched his chin.