Save the simulator and make Sarkaz great again!

Shen Lin simply smiled.

"She has done her job very well, let her go back to her vacation."

"By the way, how are Quessina and Liz doing? Are they adjusting well?"

Ersula's fingers paused slightly, the recorder in her hand making a soft "click" sound. She looked up, a barely perceptible ripple flashing in her golden eyes before returning to calm.

“They are very nice.”

Her voice remained calm, but she spoke a few decibels faster than usual.

"Quisassina has performed exceptionally well in her work at the union and has become the head of the outer city agricultural project. Liz's recovery is also progressing smoothly; she can now walk independently and is also involved in the medical department's work."

Shen Lin nodded, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

“They are truly remarkable. Liz, that girl, always manages to surprise us; the honey cookies she sent last time were really delicious.”

She lowered her head, pretending to check the data.

“Your Highness, while Miss Liz’s cookies are delicious, they are too high in sugar and do not meet your healthy eating standards.”

"Hmm... next time I'll prepare a healthy cookie that suits your taste."

"..."

Shen Lin was slightly taken aback, then smiled gently.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Ersula. I'm relieved that they can find their place here."

"However, I still feel that calling me by my name is more pleasant to the ear than Your Highness."

The girl's ears turned slightly red. She didn't say anything, but simply followed silently beside the man.

The two continued forward, their minor emotions coming and going quickly. Ersula caught sight of the small workshop with thick smoke rising in the distance and suddenly chuckled softly.

“Shen Lin, do you know? Last week, an old craftsman who escaped from Bolivar insisted on passing on his family’s skills to the young people in the union.”

"He said that in his hometown, his craft was called the cursed art, but here... his apprentices can already fire those special tiles on their own."

She pointed to the glazed tiles on the roofs of the residential area, the setting sun gilding the tiles with gold.

Shen Lin did not answer. His gaze passed through the swaying wheat fields and landed on the children playing in the distance—the Originium crystals on their necks were exposed to the sunlight, but that did not stop them from chasing a colorful kite.

As dusk settled, twinkling lights began to illuminate the wheat fields.

Those were not gilded lamps in noble castles, nor cheap oil lamps flickering in slums, but glass-shaded lamps bought by the infected with the wages of their own labor.

"Let's go back."

They are now very satisfied with the management of various positions in the outer city, which can be considered a perfect explanation.

As they prepared to embark on their return journey, a melodious tune made them pause briefly.

In the warm glow, they heard someone singing an ancient Sarkaz folk song—a song that had been considered "forbidden" by various countries.

And at this moment, it carries the scent of wheat, drifting freely in the night sky of Kazdel.

……

Victoria

Theresa's caravan slowly departed from Sargon's Crimson Gold Canyon, and whenever she recalled that magnificent land, her heart was filled with emotion.

This trade cooperation not only brought Kazdel abundant resources, but also made her feel the confidence and respect that comes with a strong country.

The caravan traveled eastward, traversing endless deserts and lush forests, finally reaching the border of Victoria.

Victoria, a country renowned for its prosperity and civilization, is a bustling metropolis with streets teeming with people and merchants, where the air is filled with the aroma of spices and bread.

As she passed a newsstand, Theresa suddenly stopped in her tracks, because she thought she saw Shen Lin's image in a newspaper.

She could hardly believe her eyes. Kazdel had signed a peace agreement with Victoria and Letania? How could this be? She quickly went to a newsboy and bought a newspaper.

The front page of the newspaper prominently featured a photo of Shen Lin shaking hands with Emperor Henry of Victoria and Elector St. John of Letania.

In the photo, Shen Lin smiles and looks calm, while Henry and Shi Tongling appear somewhat reserved. However, the three of them standing together symbolize the arrival of peace.

Theresa's fingers trembled slightly as she quickly scanned the contents of the newspaper.

"For the peace of Terra, Kazdel, Victoria, and Letania signed a historic peace agreement today in Laterano."

"In the agreement, the three parties pledged to jointly maintain stability in Terra, cease all hostilities, and engage in extensive economic cooperation..."

Theresa's eyes widened slightly, as if pierced by the light of those words, a moment of astonishment quietly surfacing in her eyes.

what?

She rubbed her eyes again to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

Kazdel not only reached peace agreements with Victoria and Letania, but also gained their recognition and respect!

This means that Kazdel is no longer a marginalized nation, but has truly become a member of Terra's inner circle.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and tried to calm herself down. But the dizziness seemed to be intertwined with her joy, making her feelings complicated and subtle.

"Shen Lin...you really did it."

Theresa murmured softly, a smile unconsciously creeping onto her lips. She couldn't wait to go back and share her joy with him.

However, just as Theresa was about to continue, a servant dressed in a magnificent robe blocked her way.

"Lady Theresa, my master heard that you were passing through this place and specially ordered me to come and invite you to stay for a while. He has important matters to discuss with you."

Theresa frowned slightly, puzzled. She didn't know the servant's master, but the other party's attitude clearly left no room for refusal.

After a moment's thought, she decided to send the caravan back to Kazdel first, while she would stay behind to meet her mysterious master.

"Alright, I'll stay here for a few days."

Theresa nodded in agreement.

The servant smiled with satisfaction and then led her to a manor located on the outskirts of the city.

Theresa was placed in a spacious guest room with a view of a meticulously maintained garden, filled with the fragrance of flowers.

Theresa spent the next few days at the manor.

She strolled through the garden every day, pondering the intentions of her mysterious master. However, the master never showed himself, only conveying trivial greetings and arrangements through servants.

It wasn't until dusk on the fourth day that Theresa finally received her master's invitation.

She was led to the manor's drawing room, where candlelight flickered and a faint scent of herbs filled the air. As she stepped inside, a familiar figure came into view.

Her eyes widened suddenly.

"I have witnessed the flames of war, and I have tasted the false peace. And you and I are but a single boat on this long river."

"The desert kingdom is gasping for breath, and the blade is ready to slice through the veil of falsehood. I originally thought your eyes were the only unpolluted coordinates."

The faint candlelight flickered gently on the long table, casting her shadow as a long, winding inky line. The deep twilight, like a thin veil, draped over her long silver hair.

"Long time no see... Theresa."

Chapter Ninety-Three: You're Not Allowed to Speak Badly of Him!

Inside the reception room, the candlelight still flickered, casting long shadows of the two people on the wall.

Gazing at the graceful figure in formal attire before her, Theresa never imagined that she and Kal'tsit, who had crossed paths several times, would meet again on such a occasion.

"Kal'tsit, what are you doing here?"

Kal'tsit didn't answer directly, but instead gestured for her to sit down, then personally poured her a cup of tea. The tea's aroma wafted through the steam, and Kal'tsit's gaze pierced the mist, looking directly at Theresa.

“I have been keeping an eye on Kazdel’s movements, but my messenger suddenly disappeared without a trace.”

Kal'tsit spoke slowly,

“Logically speaking, as long as Theresa continues to uphold the Sarkaz crown, there shouldn’t be any major storms there, so I acquiesced to all of this.”

"Life is always good at showing off, and what I didn't expect was... Theresa, you chose a different path."

"No... Rather than a clever disguise, I'm more inclined to believe that Theresa, you were kept in the dark by that demon lord."

Theresa realized that Kal'tsit's appearance was no accident. She put down her teacup and looked directly into Kal'tsit's eyes.

"Kal'tsit... what are you trying to say?"

Kal'tsit suddenly spoke, and the rising steam from the tea filled the air before her eyes.

Have you ever seen an anthill washed away by a torrential rain?

"The worker ants always think that the leaves they bring can build an eternal nest, but they don't know that every gift is soaked in the blood of other nests."

"The order in Syracuse is weeping blood."

"When the gang leader was hanged from the chimney of the moving city, did that tyrant tell you that he had massacred several families in Syracuse that very night?"

Kal'tsit's pupils flashed with a sharp light as she stared directly into Theresa's eyes.

"Stop deceiving yourself, Theresa... Look at yourself now, you've been too deeply bewitched by him."

"He ordered the burning of the Lateran church."

"Your dear demon king is stamping the Peace Treaty with their blood."

"I can't bear to see you bewitched by a selfish devil who's just using you, Theresa."

Kal'tsit suddenly stood up, the candlelight behind her swaying violently as the air currents tore it apart.

"In every city he saved, the earth's veins hold bones that are not yet cold—"

"enough!!"

The air in the drawing room seemed to freeze. The candlelight flickered in the silence, illuminating the tense faces of the two women. Theresa's breathing was rapid, her hands clenched into fists, her nails almost digging into her palms.

"Kal'tsit, even if you were my friend in the past, I don't want to hear any more words that slander Shen Lin."

Kal'tsit's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

She hadn't expected that even after things had come to this, she would still be protecting that man.

Was she not being clear enough?

She brushed the frost that had formed on the windowsill.

"Theresia, you remind me of the morning dew at birth."

"So pure that it thought itself the first drop of light to touch the earth, unaware that every inch of soil was soaked with last night's tears."

"Because I don't want Terra to be plunged into war again. The rise of Kazdel is certainly remarkable, but if not handled properly, it could trigger an even bigger conflict."

"Theresa, it's also important to know how to make choices in life. Terra needs to maintain a balance and keep its strength alive in order to face future crises and challenges."

“Remember your original wish, Theresa. We must cooperate again and not let Kazdel continue like this.”

My long-cherished wish from back then...

That was a painful memory she didn't want to recall, because her mistake led to the disintegration of Kazdel, causing countless Sarkaz to be displaced.

It was only thanks to Shen Lin's heroic efforts that everything was saved; otherwise, she couldn't imagine where Kazdel's future would have gone.

Just as Theresa was in agony, a sudden cool sensation flowed through her mind, instantly fading her painful sighs, and Theresa's eyes cleared instantly.

This power...

Shen Lin's image suddenly flashed into Theresa's mind. His simple yet firm gaze from back then was still vivid in her mind. And now, he was still silently helping her.

She took a deep breath.

"No... Kal'tsit, I can no longer understand your thoughts."

"The Sarkaz have always chosen to give up things in their choices, and so the Sarkaz have lost one important thing after another - they have almost nothing left to lose."

A complex light flickered in Theresa's eyes.

Why does the earth hold so many calamities, causing such suffering to the Sarkaz? Why do our children always seem to struggle to grow up?

"From now on, we will not look for problems within ourselves."

"The enemy always mocks us. Kazdel has been annihilated in their offensive, leaving only the Sarkaz's brave but ineffective resistance."

"Perhaps one day, the utopia I once dreamed of will truly come true. But it is undeniable that Shen Lin's appearance has forever changed the future of the Sarkaz. He is the cornerstone of our Kazdel."

"Theresia, you're too stubborn."

Kal'tsit's voice gradually turned cold.