Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

Chapter 417 Slums (Please subscribe, please vote)
Lin Yi did not doubt the authenticity of the orc boy's statement.

The hatred between the Longteng Empire and the tribes is now so deep that it can no longer be described by the word "lifelong feud". It is not an exaggeration to call them "enemies of life and death".

Whether it is the empire or the tribe, the long-term war has exhausted both sides, and the top leaders are eager for peace.

Ironically, the biggest obstacle to achieving peace now is not the top leaders, but the people at the bottom of society, who do not seem willing to let this war end.

Previously, a leader in the tribe had tried to reach a truce with the Longteng Empire.

His efforts encountered unexpected obstacles.

On the very night when he proposed a ceasefire, his family was kidnapped by unidentified persons, and all kinds of threatening letters poured into his home like snowflakes.

Insulting words such as "traitor" and "shame" were maliciously scrawled on the walls of the home.

Moreover, his ceasefire proposal was strongly opposed by civilians within the tribe.

From then on, whether in the Longteng Empire or within the tribe, the top leaders avoided talking about the word "ceasefire" for fear of repeating the mistakes of that leader.

The protracted war has almost brought down the Dragon Empire and the tribe.

After hundreds of years of war, the economies of both sides are on the brink of collapse.

The reason why the economy is barely holding on at the moment is entirely due to the royal family's efforts to divert conflicts and attract public attention by exposing and punishing corrupt officials, making the public mistakenly believe that the economic difficulties are mainly caused by corrupt officials.

The plight of the tribes is even more serious.

Economic problems exist, but the more pressing issue is the population problem.

The ongoing wars have caused a sharp decline in the tribal population, especially those races with lower fertility rates, such as trolls and dwarves, whose fertility rates have fallen below the warning line.

The tribes did not only include the five major races today, but also included other races such as the Centaurs and Elves.

Why don't we see these races anymore?

The reason is simple. The brutal war has led to the destruction of their country and their race, and they have disappeared into the dust of history.

Members of extinct races can occasionally be seen in the Dragon Empire, but they have been reduced to slavery, the last remaining representatives of their race, as the others have died on the battlefield.

What's even more cruel is that the Longteng Empire has now adopted an extreme method, which is that once a female member of the tribe is found, a specially made slender dagger will be used to pierce her uterus, completely depriving her of the ability to become pregnant by stirring her.

Such actions undoubtedly intensified the hatred between the two sides.

The long war has brought the hatred between the Dragon Empire and the tribe to a climax.

In the past, wars between the two countries were mainly fought to compete for resources and divert domestic conflicts.

But now, the situation is beyond the control of the upper echelons, who are instead swept up in the people's will to fight and have no choice but to continue this endless war.

Currently, the two sides are engaged in an endurance contest to see who can last longer and whose collapse will come later.

Judging from the current situation, it seems more likely that the Longteng Empire will survive until the tribe collapses.

Despite the corruption problem within the Longteng Empire, it still has reserves of military supplies and other aspects. In comparison, the logistical capabilities of the tribes seem stretched.

"My Lord, this is the Holy Dragon Academy."

The little boy brought Lin Yi to a place very close to the palace, and then pointed at the building in front of them.

The Holy Dragon Academy is located in a lush royal forest. The ancient and solemn stone gate is open, welcoming every scholar who comes to seek knowledge.

The college's architecture does not pursue splendor, but is dominated by calm gray stone.

The exterior lines of the building are simple and smooth, full of a sense of time. The roof is covered with dark grey tiles, which shimmer lightly in the sun.

In a restaurant near the courtyard, several scholars were sitting around a table, enthusiastically discussing an academic issue.

One of the older scholars was holding a feather pen and writing quickly on paper, his eyes flashing with thought.

A young scholar nearby was excitedly expounding on his views, with exaggerated gestures, as if he wanted to fully express his thoughts. Other scholars either nodded or raised questions, and the atmosphere was tense and lively.

Their discussions, accompanied by the gently falling leaves in the courtyard, formed a vivid academic picture.

"I just happen to be in need of a slave recently, and you're the one."

Just as Lin Yi was checking out the environment of Holy Dragon College, a man suddenly appeared in front of them. He was writing quickly and seemed to be immersed in some profound problem.

After accidentally touching the little boy's body, he grabbed the boy unceremoniously and planned to take him to the Holy Dragon Academy.

A look of fear immediately appeared on the little boy's face, and he turned his gaze to Lin Yi with a gleam of help in his eyes.

"I saw this slave first. Could you please consider a different candidate?"

Hearing Lin Yi's voice, the man finally came back to his senses from his thoughts.

"Hmm? Teacher Lin, you're back too. Since you found this slave first, I won't take him away. I'll go out and find another one later."

Obviously, this man also knew Lin Yi.

After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, he walked towards the street again in a mysterious manner, apparently intending to find other suitable slaves to carry out his experiments.

"Okay, let's go home quickly."

Lin Yi took out two gold medals from his pocket and placed them in the little boy's hands.

The little boy looked at Lin Yi and Su Xiao with gratitude.

He carefully hid the golden list, turned around and jogged into a nearby alley.

For these beggar children, the alleys are like their safe haven, and it is much safer to walk through them than on the streets.

Although there are various robbers, thieves and gangs lurking in the alleys, these dark organizations have their own set of operating rules.

The little boy has lived in this area for a long time, so he is naturally familiar with the distribution of forces here. He knows whose territory is where, so he can avoid danger.

Compared to the dangerous streets, the alleys provided him with a certain degree of security.

At least he wouldn't be suddenly dragged away by the alchemists of the Holy Dragon Academy to be used as a test subject like he would be on the street.

Fifteen minutes later, the little boy returned to a simple shack.

This humble shack, made of rough branches, leaves and discarded cloth, is a warm home for the little boy and his sister to depend on each other in this difficult world.

The space inside the shack is small, but it carries endless hope for the two children.

Some simple daily necessities were hung on the wall, and a worn blanket was spread on the uneven ground.

Whenever night falls, they hug each other tightly and spend one cold night after another on this blanket, with each other's body temperature and heartbeat becoming the most solid support.

The little boy and his sister were slaves in the area, and they had to pay a certain amount of taxes on time to maintain their lives.

"Brother, you're back." The little girl's voice was weak and trembling, revealing her deep dependence on her brother.

Her little face was pale and thin, and her constant coughing was heartbreaking.

The little boy felt a pang of pain in his heart when he saw his sister’s sickly appearance.

He squatted down, gently held his sister's cold little hand, and said softly: "Don't worry, I'll make some money this time, and I'll be able to take you to get treatment soon."

After saying that, the little boy carefully carried his sister on his back and walked towards the black clinic in the slums.

In this place full of poverty and injustice, as long as you have money, you can do almost anything.

Although black clinics have a bad reputation, they are the only hope for lower-class people like them when they are sick.

(End of this chapter)