Life is tough, so Honglong resorts to performing?

Chapter 93 Summary
With Loren's assistance, Giovanni's meat window was emptied at noon for the first time in many years, making a great contribution to the "Clean Plate Campaign." Congratulations!

Even the carnivores in the park no longer need to eat dried, lightly salted cooked meat snacks, but can now eat healthier and more nutritious fresh meat.

As for which one they prefer, well, that doesn't matter.

After finishing their meal, Loren walked together with goblins, gnolls, bear goblins, and other creatures toward the children's theater.

Along the way, even though they were all wearing zoo employee badges, they were still occasionally given strange looks by some people.

Loren, the red-haired humanoid among them, naturally stood out.

As usual, Loren remained unconcerned about the strange looks he received from the crowd.

"It's a bad guy, Mom, it's the bad uncle in the theater."

A child's innocent, surprised exclamation rang out from the roadside. Loren looked in the direction the child was pointing; it must be Hawk, the gnoll who had played the villainous boss for many years.

Unlike Loren, who is a user with limited abilities, the other party's theatrical performances are a basic job, something he does every day.

Hawk looked embarrassed as he faced the gaze of the red dragon, wanting to explain but not knowing where to begin.

Is he going to say that playing villains is great, and that it suits us, the evil faction, well?
The Red Dragon is different from these guys.

He is the zoo's newest mainstay, with his own dedicated enclosure, immense popularity, and the previous success in selling merchandise, all of which demonstrate his commercial potential.

"Let's go to the theater first. I have some new ideas to share with everyone."

As Loren spoke, he raised his hand and chanted a spell, striking the group with several lightness spells, thus increasing their speed.

The children's theater is a cartoon-themed place, with graffiti of the main characters from recently popular animated series on the surrounding walls.

According to the gnoll's explanation to Loren, these graffiti are updated every so often, and he is one of those people who update them.

This fierce-looking guy actually has a knack for art; he's even a well-known artist on the Magic Crystal website.

It's just that the drawings aren't very serious.

Inside the theater, the unicorn Ella was already waiting.

She remained lounging lazily in her rattan hammock, watching the new drama on the crystal screen in front of her, with various snacks placed around her.

A milky white radiance flowed around her, inducing a sense of languor, while the four corners of the hammock hung diagonally in the void.

Clearly, this is a valuable magical item, possessing the ability to fly and float stably for extended periods.

What a great find! It's a pity it ended up in the hands of that lazy unicorn; it can only be used as a hammock in the park now.

Loren thought to himself.

It wasn't that he was discriminating against her, but given Ella's personality, she probably wouldn't take the test to get a license to fly magical items.

Whether she has obtained her individual pilot's license is another matter entirely. Those two wings are only useful when she's on the scales; she probably won't use them on other days.

She will most likely be like me, only able to fly within restricted road areas, namely the zoo grounds.

However, Loren was underage, while the other party was too lazy to take the test.

After all... she rarely goes out.

"Once you're here, find a place to sit. I absolutely support your new script. You can arrange me however you like. I've already spoken to the others. From now on, don't bother me, don't talk to me about the play, or I'll just lie on the stage and starve to death, as you wish."

Ella's languid voice rang out, saying so many words and transmitting so many sounds at once must have been tiring for her.

Next, she'll lie here until rehearsals end and she starves to death!
It's just a rehearsal anyway, as long as the meaning is conveyed, that's enough.

If that red dragon insists on using itself to establish its authority...

Well, it seems there's nothing I can do, so I can only let it be.

Ella thought about it for a while, then felt annoyed and tired, and decided to give up.

Seeing Ella's pathetic state, Loren naturally let her be.

He took out his magic crystal terminal and started reading the latest news.

As time passed, the last druid apprentice and the little fairy arrived.

The tiny sprite, no bigger than a palm, flew right up to Loren and spoke to the giant who was supposedly a red dragon.

“Miss Ella said she’ll listen to you, but don’t make me into that kind of character too, okay? Luca isn’t lazy, she’s very diligent.”

The little fairy Luca began to talk about how much she had done for the zoo; she and the unicorn over there were not the same kind of characters.

"I understand. In that case, you can be the second one to go on stage."

"You are a diligent and hardworking little fairy, a friend of the unicorn. Because of your physical limitations, you built yourself a warm and comfortable little house out of straw to spend the winter."

Loren customized the story for the other party based on their characteristics.

"Your story is about four brothers, so who are the other two?"

The druid apprentice who was inseparable from the little goblin stopped and stared at Loren with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Hawk the gnoll, and Big Bear the goblin."

"They're in charge of the two houses in the back. Um, in the storyline, you guys have to be good friends. Is there any problem with that for any of you?"

Loren ignored the scrutinizing gaze of the druid apprentice; he couldn't be bothered with such a useless fellow and instead focused on planning the plot and arrangements.

Logically speaking, since they spend so much time together, there shouldn't be any problems.

"can."

"no problem."

"Don't treat us like those guys outside."

"Luca can do it."

Seeing that everyone around him had expressed their opinions, Loren began to tell each of them the character settings and storylines he had created for them, ensuring that each of them had their own characteristics while also meeting the requirements of a children's play: the story was simple, harmonious, and had a little bit of educational value.

As Loren finished telling the story, the theater fell silent, and the cast began to contemplate their roles.

The silence was broken when the druid apprentice spoke first.

"Your script and writing are both very good."

"Please allow me to apologize to you. I always thought you were a rude and unruly person."

"But beneath your red dragon exterior lies a heart that is cheerful, observant, and expressive. I feel ashamed of my prejudice against you."

The druid apprentice praised it thus.

Then, he changed his tone and began asking questions.

"I just don't understand why you would break with convention and make the gnolls and goblin bears the more intelligent beings in the story, while making yourself the villain."

Is this a good idea?

"Could I actually participate and become the last friend?"

What are your reasons for designing it this way?

Of course, it's to make more people remember it. This is an anti-cliché technique; conventional methods won't work if you want to leave a good impression on the audience. The devils have come up with all sorts of new tricks for old stories.

Loren thought to himself.

But he also knew that the official reason couldn't be that; it was too common. He needed something more authentic, at least authentic enough to convince the druid apprentice.

"Of course, it's for the Federation."

Loren spoke earnestly,
“Racial equality must be instilled from childhood. If we always show people that goblins are greedy, gnolls are cruel, elves are elegant, and metal dragons are righteous, then even after five hundred years, this world will still not change.”

"To change the future, we must first change the people who will live in the future."

"Think about it, wouldn't people who grew up listening to stories of druids protecting nature be more environmentally conscious?"

Loren explained.

"You have indeed thought this through carefully."

The druid apprentice nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, and then went on to praise Loren.
"Even with the aid of ancient knowledge like the Dragon Legacy, you are still one of the wisest and most far-sighted beings I have ever met."

“Completely different from those short-sighted guys who only care about fame and fortune.”

“I heard that you and Mr. Aaron are close friends despite the age difference. I was even a little jealous before, after all, I joined here because of his story.”

"But now I have only heartfelt respect for you."

The apprentice straightened his clothes, went straight to Loren, and earnestly introduced himself and his identity.

“Evans Morric, a mere viscount from Twilight City, is at your service.”

This little zoo is truly full of hidden talents...

Loren thought to himself, "The fact that nobles from other cities have suddenly appeared almost gave me a fright."

Although they were only viscounts among dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, and barons, the fact that they could still retain their titles under the federal system speaks volumes.

Because the Federation itself did not have titles of nobility, only honorary nobles.

Even the dwarven and elven royal families, who wish to bestow honorary titles, must first report to the Federation.

Those who are honored by the Federation don't say what city they are from when they register; instead, they say "Federal Honored Person So-and-so".

Since Evans Morric has stated that he is a viscount of Twilight City, it means that his family is an old noble family rather than a new honorary noble family of the Federation.

Of course, the new honorary noble could not be a druid apprentice; those who could obtain this title in the Federation were all strong individuals without exception.

However, at the beginning of the Federation, it accepted and retained a considerable number of the old aristocracy.

Especially among short-lived species, the base number is quite large, and the conditions given back then were relatively lenient.

But now, five hundred years later...

As times progress and the Federation's power expands, its laws become increasingly constricted...

If the old aristocracy did not have outstanding contributions from their ancestors, sufficient personal connections and strength, or many long-lived friends to support them...

They don't even need to wait for a spendthrift son to appear; they will be crushed under the wheels of progress by various unexpected events in the process of passing down their lineage through generations.

The fact that Evans' family was able to retain their title in the Federation five hundred years later, and even allow him, a dignified viscount, to serve as a lowly druid apprentice, shows that their family is truly well-off.

They're truly dead rich!

Otherwise, why would he specifically mention his identity to explain his willingness to serve me?
Loren thought to himself.

"How can a viscount like you be allowed to become a druid apprentice? What will happen to your family?"

"Loren asked."

"Currently, all family businesses are under the full management of my sister. I can't compete with her in this area, so if she wants them, then let her have them all."

"If there is anything you or the Green Leaf Rare Animals Zoo can do for me, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Putting everything else aside, Twilight City has the least shortage of actors with special roles and unique characteristics."

Evans explained.

Upon hearing this, Loren also began searching on the magic crystal terminal for information about Somtwilight City.

Even Loren was surprised by the harsh conditions there after checking.

That was a city for the deformed, and even today, nearly half of its citizens receive federal disability benefits.

That was a tragic city established during the early stages of the Federation's founding.

Five hundred years ago, as the Federation continued its advance, some evil creatures who felt that their past actions would never be forgiven by the Federation were forced to unite.

A temporary front against the Federation was formed by saints and demigods from the evil factions, including vampires, werewolves, ghouls, and alchemists.

They breached and occupied an underground city, cursing and infecting all the living people there in an attempt to destroy the Federation's urban development through a plague.

The actions of these guys greatly angered the Federation, and a large number of powerful figures rushed to the scene and sealed off the natural disaster they had created within the city.

Faced with utter despair and utter defeat, the high-ranking members of this group sacrificed their lives and status to a powerful artifact, leaving behind a lasting curse that permanently altered the local environment.

Creatures born within the Twilight Zone of Twilight City have a very high probability of undergoing mutation.

Moreover, if no living beings exist in this area for a long time, this twilight region will continue to expand.

Over the centuries, thanks to the research of countless scholars and the efforts of druids, the Twilight effect within the Twilight City area has been reduced to 1% of its original level, and the free protective suits against aberrations have been updated to the teenth generation.

Even so, the geographical changes over the years have penetrated deep into the very marrow of that city.

Some mutations can even be stably inherited after leaving Twilight City, becoming a marker of Twilight City residents.

Twilight City is a complete tragedy, and its long existence teaches Loren one thing clearly.

The power of the gods remains, even though they have been out of touch with this world for a long time.

A divine artifact from the past, combined with the sacrifices of a few demigod-level villains, can permanently alter the environment of an area, while the efforts of mortal races over hundreds of years have failed to eradicate it.

"Those gods, huh."

Loren pondered, the tragedy of Twilight City made him realize even more the precarious state of the world today, the magnificent civilization like a splendid castle on the beach. If the tide that could cause the gods to lose contact were to crash over, would everything here still exist?

"Only strength matters. Even if the castle is destroyed by the waves, those who can swim always have a better chance of survival than those who can't."

Loren became increasingly determined to stay away from all ridiculous politics and struggles, and to acquire as many resources and assistance as possible to improve himself.

He wants to be a hands-off manager.

In a sense, this is why Loren had not used or contacted the wood elf, Miss Denise, for so long.

He'd rather stay in the Druid's zoo as a performing animal than get involved in the other person's affairs.

Even though the other party might be able to provide him with considerable assistance, Loren still remembers the existence of their class difference and why they met.

An assassination attempt, a power struggle among high-ranking officials.

(End of this chapter)