This Game Is Too Realistic

The thought made Chu Guang's heart leap with joy, and he immediately asked, "What did they say?"

For some reason, Ma Ban's voice suddenly became a bit strange, and he coughed lightly. "... Their request isn't too excessive, but... Well, it's a bit too much, you'd better talk to them yourself."

...

Inside a modestly decorated carriage.

A young man and woman sat facing each other, their noble identities evident from their handsome features and proper posture.

Looking at his sister sitting across from him, Somer's gaze shifted from the window, and his face showed a hint of worry. After a long while, he set aside his indecisive expression and softly uttered, "Sorry."

Beneath her slightly curled brown hair, a pale and delicate face was framed by a small and exquisite nose, from which a casually dismissive reply came. "It's okay."

Afrni didn't take the apology to heart, or rather, she didn't think it was anything to apologize for.

According to the laws of the Honey Badger Kingdom, she had reached the legal age to marry at 18 anyway.

Unaware of the changing scenery outside, her attention was entirely focused on the sketchbook on her lap.

The sketch depicted a tall and imposing man with a dense beard that looked like a broom, and his burly physique resembled that of an adult gorilla.

In the Honey Badger Kingdom, a beard was a symbol of strength. Like her father, who had a very long and thick beard.

In contrast, her second brother, who sat opposite her, had always been underestimated as a successor because he didn't inherit their father's beard, and his physique seemed too frail.

Her elder brother was much stronger and was still leading the resistance army, fighting alongside their allies in Oasis No.9...

However, her father had passed the crown to her least favored second brother.

Afrni focused intently on her sketchbook, her slender index finger gently turning the page.

The plot was reaching a thrilling point.

A barbarian with skin so black it was turning green and golden fangs at his mouth was pinned under the foot of a hero clad in heavy armor wielding a war hammer, next to a pile of bodies cloaked in black.

It was a book brought by a wandering merchant from the East, initially appearing in the market of the capital of the Honey Badger Kingdom. The story was loved by the common folk, and it was later purchased by a minister as a gift for her.

Rumors said that in the southern part of the River Valley Province, a powerful leader led a group of brave survivors, facing beasts several times their number. They killed the Army's tamed dogs, and freed the enslaved survivors...

The commercial routes of southern River Valley Province were thus restored, and cities in ruins prospered under his enlightened rule, with merchants from north and south singing praises of that great man, and the locals lived happily ever after.

For the people of Camel and Golden Lizard Kingdoms, such stories might not be attractive, but for the people of Honey Badger Kingdom, they were as wonderful as fairy tales.

For decades, the Honey Badger Kingdom had faced threats from the west.

Ever since the Falcon Kingdom submitted to the Army, they began to amend ancestral laws and continuously expanded their military, blatantly violating the pact among kings.

Every citizen of the Honey Badger Kingdom knew that the Falcon Kingdom coveted their oasis, while the Army sought to enslave them.

Her father did not want to become a puppet of the Army, betray his faith, nor see all his subjects become cannon fodder and slaves for the big nosed bastards.

Thus, on a quiet night, they were completely invaded by the Army and their hounds.

Although the royal families of other kingdoms were outraged by the Falcon Kingdom's shameful surprise attack and denounced its royal family for betraying the teachings of the Spirit of the Desert, no one was willing to send troops to aid them.

Only when the Lion Kingdom became the next victim did they finally receive a belated declaration of war...

But by then, it was too late.

Although the Lion Kingdom was the leader of the Kingdoms, it was hard to say how long it could last.

Relying solely on the power of the desert dwellers was no longer enough to drive away the distant wolves.

Either cling to stubborn faith and vanish into the sands or seek help from outsiders...

Many had paid with their lives, including her father and mother.

In comparison, the sacrifice she needed to make was truly insignificant.

Pitying the silent face before her, Somer thought she was still immersed in the sorrow of lost happiness, trying to comfort his sister. "I heard that the administrator has four sons, each a warrior excelling in both the literary arts and the martial path."

"Hmm."

"His eldest son is physically strong, his second son handsome and charming, his third son wise and born to be a strategist, and then there's the youngest..."

"Brother." Finally unable to bear it, Afrni interrupted her brother, sighed, closed the book in her hands, and looked at him seriously. "Don't you think this sounds just like a fairy tale?"

As if such plans ever go so smoothly.

Somer paused slightly.

At that moment, a commotion came from outside, and a familiar name was faintly heard.

He frowned, signaling his sister not to worry, reached out to open the door, and stepped down from the carriage.

Looking at the guard captain who was causing a conflict with the crowd in the distance, he shouted. "What are you doing, Tarit?"

"It's Teresa! The queen of the Falcon Kingdom! Those jackals are already here!"

With his rifle raised, the man wrapped in a headscarf stared fiercely at the woman behind Ma Ban, suddenly realizing the prince had stepped down from the carriage. He immediately turned around to yell, "Your Highness, get back in the carriage..."

The elegantly mannered prince suddenly let out a roar, interrupting the guard captain. "Enough! Put down your gun!"

Tarit looked at him in surprise before uttering in disbelief, "Your Highness?!"

Somer stepped forward, staring into his eyes as he continued, "Use your brain and think, how can the Falcon Kingdom, which is currently at war with the Lion Kingdom, possibly reach here!"

That unquestionable gaze was exactly like the late king's, although that face didn't inherit a bit of that great man's majesty.

Tarit hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and threw the rifle to the ground.

Glancing at the gun on the ground, Ma Ban's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, casually waving his hand to signal the guards to pick it up.

When he had led his people to escape the encirclement of the Bonechewer Clan and reached Clearspring City, then parachuted with the Burning Corps behind enemy lines to organize local guerrilla resistance...

Those raiders almost shoved a bayonet into his mouth, yet he never showed a hint of fear, let alone a mere rifle.

In his eyes, what the other guy was holding was no different from a fire stick.

However... Although he didn't take that little threat seriously, it didn't mean that people of the New Alliance would take the threat so lightly. Pointing a gun at them was still a declaration of war regardless.

"I need an explanation." His gaze passing over the man who had put down his weapon, Ma Ban looked towards the handsome young man approaching him, speaking in a no-nonsense tone. "If you can't provide a reasonable explanation, I'll have to ask you to sit in the guardroom for a while."

"I deeply apologize for my subordinate's rudeness. Anger clouded his judgment, but I know this isn't enough to compensate for your loss." The handsome young man slightly bowed, then glanced at his guard captain.

"According to the law of the Honey Badger Kingdom, attempted murderers are shaved bald and bearded and demoted to slaves, to be disposed of by the victim... He is now your slave."

Tarit, humiliated, bowed his head but said nothing, kneeling on one knee.

Ma Ban looked meaningfully at the young man, glanced at Tarit kneeling on the ground, and said under everyone's gaze, "Get up, no one kneels to live on this land, the New Alliance has only brothers and sisters, no slaves."

Tarit made no move until that crisp voice came from behind. "Get up, faithful guard, you are now free... Thank your master for forgiving your foolishness."

Dusting off the dirt from his knees, Tarit lowered his head and muttered, "Thank you." However, the lingering look he shot at Teresa still flickered with hatred.

The diplomatic dispute was resolved, and the atmosphere at the scene was no longer tense.

Ma Ban didn't look at the guard captain wrapped in a headscarf but was rather interested in the young man walking towards him.

He had to admit, the kid was brave. Though he still fell a little short compared to himself.

"Who are you?" Ma Ban asked again.

"Somer, the regent of the Honey Badger Kingdom." The young man bowed slightly. "I represent the royal family of the Honey Badger Kingdom, earnestly requesting your help."

"Then you'll have to speak to our administrator, I'm just the chief of the refugee camp." Ma Ban looked at him, then at the group behind him, and his brow lightly furrowed. "Is that your kingdom?"

Is that all that's left of your people?

Catching the implication in those words, Somer didn't mind. A weak country has no diplomacy, let alone a fallen one. He was well aware of his position.

He merely replied calmly, "They are the most loyal warriors of the kingdom, and of course, we have more people. My elder brother is still leading the resistance army on the frontline, fighting the Army's dogs, and our citizens have never surrendered."

Ma Ban shrugged. "I'll report your situation to our administrator."

Although he sympathized with their plight emotionally, he didn't think a kingdom that had been destroyed had any value left for their New Alliance.

No.3 Oasis in the central-west was at least 1,000 kilometers away. Going through Oasis No.9 and heading northwest, crossing vast deserts, was really too far...

Of course, that was just a fleeting thought in his mind, and how to decide was the administrator's job.

No matter what decision that great man made, he would support it with all his might.

As for now... His job was merely to build up the outpost and help the survivors around the Lucky Valley Municipality rebuild their homes.

"Please make sure to tell him everything exactly as it happened, the misunderstanding just now was not intentional." Glancing at the pale-faced queen, Somer pondered why she was present while he continued in earnest, "Although the threat from the west is a common danger, we will not use this pale and powerless phrase to ask for your unrequited aid."

Looking at the five shabby carriages, Ma Ban couldn't help but laugh and said more than he should have. "Oh, then what can you offer our lord?"

Even if those five carriages were filled with gold, what of it?

Shiny and shimmering gold was practically worthless here.

Undisturbed by the teasing, Somer spoke lightly. "... No foreigner has ever become the master of the desert people, including the Falcon Kingdom, which occupies our oasis. However, we are willing to break this precedent."

He paused for a second before he continued, "I've heard the administrator has four sons. As long as one of them is willing to marry my sister, once their children come of age, I will abdicate the throne to him."

"You will have the bloodline of the Honey Badger royal family, and the legitimate right of succession. Under the blessing of the Spirit of the Desert, your lord's grandson will not only possess 50,000 square kilometers of fertile land in Oasis No.3 and the loyalty of nearly a million citizens but will also have a legitimate claim over Oasis No.2 of the Falcon Kingdom."

Somer said it seriously, without a trace of hesitation in his eyes.

However, hearing this statement, Ma Ban was stunned. His eyes widened slightly and a strange expression formed on his face.

After a long silence, he finally squeezed out the question that appeared in his mind after Somer mentioned something a second ago. "... That first part about our administrator's childrens..."

"Where did you hear that from?!"