Before the curtain of night fell, the bodyguards, who were all buff men, had already secured and put up their tents. They could only eat the dry food carried in the supply carts, since they had wished to travel as quickly as possible within the desert. The caravan boss, who proclaimed himself to be of the Ester family, wished to pursue the question of the "demon's movements" that Xu Jun had brought up. Xu Jun idly chatted with him, and while at it, took the chance to ask about the current situation in Wasteland city.
The southwestern exit of Snow Blade Kingdom is Rum County. However, this did not mean that the territory outside of Rum Country wasn't Snow Blade Kingdom's—heading north from the Snow Blade Kingdom, the vast expanse of barren land and desert there has always been the battlefield of humans and demons. Today's humanity—also known as the Snow Blade Kingdom would prevail and make plans for the territory they had just won. They would immediately build barracks or even a town. Then tomorrow, the demons will invade again and instigate another ferocious battle. Then that piece of land would have to be redrawn depending on who exactly owned it. Then, relatively south of Snow Blade Kingdom was Manse City and White Horse Manor, which Xu Jun had passed through. Whether it was Manse City or White Horse Manor, behind them was the shadow of the Snow Blade Kingdom. Manse City was once a city of Snow Blade, but, after the demons quickly emerged as a force to be reckoned with, Snow Blade had retracted back into its shell. The mayor of Manse City then took this chance to buy out the city, and it became a free city.
The Wilderness City is also a bit similar to Manse City; it was also bought out by its mayor. Speaking of this, it was extremely strange. The mayors conferred by the emperor, or king, had actually paid money to buy out the cities. H this was quite normal in this world. There are many places within <shen>> that drew upon the history and myths of ancient Europe, then exaggerating them to form their own worldviews.</shen>
<shen>Whether it was Wilderness City or Manse City, they all had a common ground of being semi-independent. They seemed to be independent of Snow Blade Kingdom — after all, they had already bought themselves — but in reality, they still had to pull on Snow Blade's tiger skin as a banner. This piece of desert had demons, beastmen, and some elves that lived in the north. None of them were easy to mess with. If they were really a free city with not roots and support, they probably wouldn't make it past three days before being attacked and looted.</shen>
<shen>The difference between Wilderness City and Manse City was that Manse City is more regulated, and was very similar to a city within the Snow Blade Kingdom. The Wilderness City, as its name suggests, was a complete mess with all sorts of people and races. Manse Town was directly connected to White Horse Manor, which was tantamount to being connected to a military fortress. It was safe inside, but also relatively constrained. To a certain extent, the city was managed by the Snow Blade Kingdom's king; however, the Wilderness City was more wild. The forces of the city's great families fought endlessly, and there were also some vile, shady1 dealings with the Snow Blade Kingdom's aristocrats. Even the Snow Blade's king couldn't really manage this place.</shen>
<shen>Although the middle-aged businessman looked pale and insignificant with slightly swollen eyelids and a beer belly, he knows a lot. Xu Jun talked to him through a mixture of lies and truths, and also gave the man his knight badge–as a hero of his degree, almost all of the country's regions have given him badges—the middle-aged businessman was immediately convinced.</shen>
<shen>Xu Jun perfectly took up an extremely greedy expression, and deliberately let the other see it: "Boss ah, your trip this time…you should be making quite a bit of money right?"</shen>
<shen>He said this while also meaningfully gazing at the little Sand Leopard boy sitting alone on the other side. The middle-aged businessman immediately understood: "Master Knight, you don't know how the market is right now. We actually won't be making much."</shen>
<shen>Xu Jun shook his head: 'Don't say it like this. Ever since the demons appeared, many businessmen are afraid to go south this way to catch sand leopard beastmen. You should be earning more. Let me say this, although the Demon King is a bastard, he also lets us make more money."</shen>
<shen>The Demon King Rozenke, who had wanted to be a silent and handsome guy: "…hey."</shen>
<shen>Xu Jun hurriedly appeased him: "Your Highness Prince Ryan, my intention is not actually to say that your lover…no, that the Demon King is a bastard. This is just an expression! Don't take it to heart!"</shen>
<shen>Demon King Rozenke coldly said: "You still have to first explain to me, why exactly you are calling the Demon King my lover?"</shen>
<shen>On this issue, he feels that he could endure violating his nature as the Demon King. He himself was truly surprised by this…thinking back to when he was still a devout believer; he did not even adhere to the pope's call for vegetarianism! He still remembers how the Holy Son, who was his friend back then, was beaten by him for trying to convince him into being a vegetarian!</shen>
<shen>He was furious. He wanted the Hero Xu Jun to say some comforting words and take back the slander regarding the relationship between him and the Demon King—this slander should not exist! Prince Ryan became the Demon King after the Demon King's reincarnation. They were both the same person! How the f*ck would someone be able to be in a relationship with oneself?!</shen>
<shen>However! Perhaps the initial deception was too successful. Xu Jun was unable to generate hostility for the soul within his body, and turned a blind eye to the other's anger. While listening to the businessman, he also perfunctorily answered in his heart: "don't be angry, don't be angry2. You're really so arrogant Prince Ryan."</shen>
<shen>–So f*cking arrogant!!!</shen>
<shen>Demon King Rozenke had to silently think ten times, “this hero's body is mine, I can't harm him," before finally calming down.</shen>
<shen>This king's inner heart is calm and even wants to laugh a bit ->_-></shen>
<shen>The chat between Xu Jun and the businessman was still continuing. When the bodyguards saw that they were chatting and laughing without anything seemingly off, they didn't take it seriously. They just each ate their dried bread and meat. They thought Xu Jun was the most common of knights. The mundane world's way was a bit greedy. Even though there was no difference between these kinds of people and someone from a small city, because of these people's knighthood status, they liked to raise their own worth. Knights, especially lower-class knights from small, border towns, were not plebeians, but neither were they aristocrats. Their status and power were a bit awkward. Xu Jun saw many such knights, or it could be said, he saw many types of such people. It was extremely easy for him to imitate such people when he wanted to.</shen>
<shen>The middle-aged businessman sighed: "Brother Knight, you are a middle-class knight. Even if you are short of money, how much money could you actually lose? You don't understand the suffering of us lower commoners!"</shen>
<shen>Xu Jun thought in his heart, you, an ordinary commoner suffered and suffered and then went off to go kidnap and sell off someone else's child, this I definitely don't understand! However, his mouth continued to speak: "I am lacking money! How am I not lacking money! Every day I beat demons and beat demons; my equipment is broken and I don't even have the money to fix it! Truly!"</shen>
<shen>The businessman patted his shoulder and also breathed out a sigh: "Brother, as a knight…you surely don't lack free time. Why don't you pick up a part-time job…"</shen>
<shen>Xu Jun pretended not to understand: "What could I do?"</shen>
<shen>The businessman whispered: "Brother, looking at this older brother's business, what do you think?"</shen>
<shen>Xu Jun laughed: "trafficking beastmen?"</shen>
<shen>The businessman had a shady expression, his originally pale faced seemed even gloomier under the light of the bonfire: "Around this year, the beastmen… especially the children, are very easy to sell off…"</shen>
<shen>Their voices weren't quiet, as there wasn't anyone to be on guard against. The bodyguard next only smirked, poking and bumping each other while saying some dirty words. That Sand eopard child certainly heard them. He was originally extremely arrogant, and even poking him would result in an exchange that lasted for half a day, a standard, bearish child. However, now he was scared and hugging himself tightly, his head buried between his knees. He seemed to be crying.</shen>
<shen>"Yo, he's so pitiful," Xu Jun evaluated within his heart. However, the "righteous" Prince Ryan's soul questioned him: "You want to be affiliated with these people?"</shen>
<shen>At this time, Xu Jun felt pleased that someone had finally fallen for his mischief: "Of course not! Do I look like someone who would do such a thing?!"</shen>
<shen>The Demon King thought in his heart, based on how you cleaned out my treasury and also that bit of dark history where you wanted my underclothes, how do you not seem like such a person?!</shen>
<shen>Within his heart, Xu Jun shook his head, thinking that although Prince Ryan was extremely righteous, and also a deep backstory, but as expected, he was still naive, so naive! He earnestly remarked: “Prince Ryan, big brother Prince, this businessman is from the Ester family. Within Wilderness City, the Ester family is extremely powerful! I remember that at the end of the year, their family head actually wanted to run for the position of mayor! You tell me, if at this time a certain big news of 'a supporting branch of the Ester family were actually trafficking beastmen!' were to be sold out, how much would the current mayor give me?"</shen>
<shen>Yet, when the Prince Ryan version of Demon King Rozenke heard this, he finally lost all hope in humanity.</shen>
<shen>Translator’s Niche:</shen>
<shen>[1] py = 屁 眼(pi yan) = butthole = going the back door = shady! Return</shen>
<shen>[2] Because it was awkward to translate, I left out a line that showed endearment, but I think the message is conveyed clearly enough. Return</shen>
<shen>Also, Wilderness City remains Wilderness City, because of this chapter’s use of the word, and the english just fitting(slightly better).</shen>