Chapter 74: The Right to Pursue Dreams

“Hmm, the first thing is, I noticed that this Iron Prison Water Dungeon is dark, damp, and not exposed to sunlight—its environment is very poor. Additionally, after reviewing past prison records, I found that many weak prisoners actually died from untreated illnesses during their sentences. This shows that this place is not very suitable for holding criminals. Moreover, the people of Shampoo City are simple and honest. Even if crimes occasionally occur, they are only minor offenses. Disputes between neighbors should not suffer such torment and treatment. So, after thinking it over, I decided to build a simple prison outside the underground maze and move the ordinary prisoners there. Oleg, please handle this matter for me as soon as possible.”

Oleg was stunned.

He had not expected the first task assigned by His Majesty the King to be like this. Logically, the Iron Prison Water Dungeon was as solid as a rock, and no one had managed to escape from it in a hundred years—it was an excellent prison location. But… However, Oleg dared not question the King’s decision in the slightest at this moment. He quickly scrambled to flatter and show his loyalty: “Your Majesty is benevolent and cares for your subjects. Oleg admires you immensely. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will build this external prison in the shortest time possible.”

Sun Fei nodded and added uneasily, “Hmm, very good. But remember, do not disturb or burden the common people, and certainly do not forcibly conscript civilians to increase their labor duties… Actually, I see that the dilapidated wounded soldiers’ convalescence home in the city is no longer usable. Why don’t you take some people to clean it up thoroughly and convert that place into the prison? The royal family’s finances are limited at the moment, so a simple renovation will suffice.”

Oleg knew this was his chance to show loyalty. He immediately took full responsibility and said, “Your Majesty, please rest assured. For this prison renovation, we absolutely will not use a single coin from the royal family. Oleg is willing to cover all the expenses himself.”

Sun Fei had been waiting for him to say that.

He grinned and patted Oleg on the shoulder, nodding affirmatively: “Hmm, I am very pleased that you have such loyalty. Remember, in Alexander’s governance, rewards and punishments are clear. If you contribute achievements that all the people of Shampoo City can recognize, Alexander will certainly not let you suffer losses forever.”

After saying that, Sun Fei smiled and walked out of the water dungeon.

Encouraged by these words, Oleg felt a surge of passion in his heart.

Even the shoulder that the King had lightly patted moments ago seemed to have a warm current flowing through his entire body. He knew that this prison renovation was an excellent opportunity to prove himself. He resolved that even if he had to spend all his wealth, he would renovate the prison properly. Moreover, His Majesty the King had hinted very clearly that this matter not only needed to satisfy him but also all the common people in the city… Such a hint gave him even more confidence.

…

After leaving the eerie and terrifying Iron Prison Water Dungeon, Sun Fei did not ask the guards to accompany him. Instead, he leisurely strolled along the mountain path by himself, enjoying the boundless beautiful scenery of the small city under the setting sun, and proudly humming a few lines of the ‘Pancake Song’ as he slowly made his way toward the city.

Today’s gains were not small. After cleaning up the Iron Prison Water Dungeon and unexpectedly discovering a treasure like the Divine-Demon Ruins map, Sun Fei was in a very good mood. The intoxicating scenery and pleasant atmosphere made him feel like shouting loudly at the sky a few times.

At this moment, the sun was setting in the west, the remaining glow as golden as ever. It was dinner time, and all over Shampoo City, cooking smoke was already rising. Birds were tired and returning to their nests, leaves were returning to their roots, beasts were lowing, and insects were chirping—the land was as picturesque as a painting.

Sun Fei walked along the city streets, in no hurry to return immediately.

He wanted to observe the daily lives of the city’s residents up close. Every scene was quite novel to Sun Fei, who had traveled through time. It was as if he had suddenly stepped into the world of a fantasy movie from his previous life. The city’s tall stone buildings, the majestic statues standing sternly, and the various strange local customs—all flowed and permeated with a kind of exotic charm that Sun Fei had never experienced before. It opened his eyes and gave him a strange feeling of gradually blending into this world.

This small city was now filled with tranquility and peace, as if it were a paradise.

Sun Fei’s ‘fame’ in Shampoo City was now unique—no one did not know him. As he walked on the street, people came from time to time to greet him. Fortunately, although the class system on the Azeroth Continent was strict, it was not like ancient times in his previous life where one had to kneel and worship upon seeing the monarch. This saved Sun Fei a lot of trouble. He smiled and responded to everyone while strolling through the small city, admiring the strange scenery. He was surprised to discover that, without realizing it, he had quietly begun to see himself as part of this small city. A feeling of attachment, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, was wildly growing in his heart.

“Hey, you cunning Zakir, don’t run…”

Suddenly, the sound of children playing and laughing reached his ears. A clumsy little boy dashed out from a side alley and accidentally bumped into Sun Fei. The little boy stared at Sun Fei with his sapphire-like big eyes. Behind him, a group of children—boys and girls, all dirty, with dust on their little faces, some even bare-bottomed—looked at Sun Fei and giggled.

What surprised Sun Fei a bit was that among the crowd, he spotted Louis, the 12-year-old red-haired daughter of the white-haired strongman Pierce. This pretty, delicate girl, who looked like a sparkling little porcelain doll, now had her beautiful hair loose and a few gray stains on her fair face. It was hard to connect her with the cold, aloof little girl from a few days ago who had held onto her father and begged Sun Fei, willing to become his lover if he could save Pierce. After all, she was just a child; it seemed that only when she was with her peers did she show her lively and cheerful side.

“It’s His Majesty Alexander…”

Just as Sun Fei noticed little Louis, she also recognized Sun Fei. A hint of barely noticeable shyness and cunning crossed her porcelain-doll-like delicate little face. She and her little friends immediately swarmed around Sun Fei.

Soon, the passersby in Shampoo City witnessed such a scene—

More and more mischievous children, as if they had discovered some new toy, quietly propped their dirty little chins in their hands, blinked their unblinking eyes, and formed a circle sitting in a small square by the street. From time to time, bursts of happy laughter could be heard. In the middle of the children, their supreme and unparalleled King, His Majesty Alexander, was vividly telling them something, with a sincere smile on his face, like a Bard telling stories to the children. He did not mind how dirty the little ones were, pulling them close to him.

“God of War above, thank you for your generosity in giving us a brave and noble King.”

Everyone who saw this scene felt something slowly growing in their hearts. Some women, who had been angrily looking for their sons with brooms to come home for dinner, were both surprised and delighted to see their mischievous sons sitting in the King’s arms, listening carefully to something. They then quietly stood aside and waited.

…

In the middle of the circle.

“Haha, alright, alright, that’s all for today. There are many more adventure stories about the evil great Mage Doraemon and his lazy servant Nobita Nobi. If you like them, I can continue tomorrow. Now, it’s almost dark—hurry home for dinner!” Sun Fei rubbed the dirty little face of a child beside him, stood up, patted the dust off his pants, and laughingly ended today’s story session.

“Oh… I really don’t want to go home. It’s boring,” the children clamored regretfully.

The little ones were not ready to stop. Each looked at Sun Fei with reluctance, their dark, bright big eyes shining. This gave Sun Fei a great sense of accomplishment, as if he had won a battle. He laughed heartily and said, “You’re still young now. When you grow up, you can become noble Mages and brave, upright Warriors. Like the evil Mage Doraemon, you can personally lead your servants through countless interesting stories…”

“But we can’t become Mages and Warriors… Your Majesty, my father only knows how to forge iron. Maybe I can only become a blacksmith in the future,” one little boy said regretfully.

“Yeah, no Mage is willing to take a commoner’s child as an apprentice, and we don’t have any Aura Manuals…” Another bare-bottomed little boy’s eyes were full of gloom: “My family is too poor; we can’t even eat our fill. My father said he will send me to serve at Viscount Louis’s mansion the day after tomorrow…”

“In Shampoo City, only the sons of Nobles and big merchants can afford teachers…” As soon as this was mentioned, the red-haired little spirit Louis blinked her dark, bright big eyes: “If only someone were willing to teach us… It’s a pity my father, that lazy bum, doesn’t know any Battle Qi at all. Hmph!”

For a moment, the children all felt a bit disappointed. The smiles vanished from their dirty little faces, replaced by a melancholy that did not belong to their age. Which young man did not dream of being a hero? Which child did not want to become a hero admired by all? Unfortunately, harsh reality strangled their dreams before they could take root. Their low social status and the pressures of survival made them lose the right to pursue their dreams at an early age.

Looking at these dejected little faces, Sun Fei felt an inexplicable pain in his heart.

An idea suddenly occurred to him—a brilliant plan.

…

Back in the Royal Palace, the servants had already prepared dinner. Sun Fei still did not see Angela or the little Lori Gemma. He found it strange. The ‘cooks’ in the palace were average; these days, apart from roasted meat, bread, fresh milk, and fruits, Sun Fei was almost sick of the food. He ate a few bites absentmindedly and was about to go to the main hall to be alone, to carefully refine several important plans he had been thinking about these past few days. Just then, Angela returned with the blonde little Lori Gemma.

“Where have you two been today? I didn’t see you all day,” Sun Fei asked with a smile.

“Hehe, Your Majesty, did you miss Sister Angela?” The blonde little Lori winked and pushed Angela toward Sun Fei, laughing as she said: “What a coincidence, we actually met Her Highness the Crown Princess of the Zenit Empire’s Royal Coronation Mission on the street today and chatted with her for a long time… Your Majesty, that Crown Princess is very kind and easy to talk to—not putting on any airs at all. She chatted very happily with Sister Angela… Hehe, oh, and she asked a lot about Your Majesty’s deeds too.”