CHAPTER 585: CHAPTER 504: LACKEY (PART 2)

He buried his head deeply, trembling.

It was not until a few seconds later that he heard the other’s voice again,

"Sharu, is it? Are you... interested in being a mine leader?"

"A mine leader?"

Sharu was stunned.

And Dema again smiled, explaining,

"Heh heh heh, it means managing your clansmen for us, taking charge of some of your daily affairs, and reporting your movements to us at all times."

"If you are willing, you can have meat to eat every meal, and as long as you can manage the Half-Beasts well, making everyone work more efficiently and obediently, you might even be exempt from the mining task... Of course, if there are some troublesome guys you can’t deal with, you also need to report them to us in a timely manner, hmm... just like this time."

"To put it simply, you become the leader of all Half-Beast slaves and liaise with us."

"However, if you do not do well, you will be punished!"

Dema spoke as he smiled at Sharu.

Timid, considerate, quick-thinking, and with management experience.

In his view, this Half-Beast had great potential as a lackey leader!

The only thing he was dissatisfied with was that someone who could easily betray their companions might also easily betray their masters given the opportunity.

This guy likely had only himself in mind, thoroughly selfish.

This kind of character could not be fully trusted; they would betray without warning.

In a sense, this Sharu was a fierce character.

However, as long as he had the strength to suppress such a fickle person and make him work for him, it would save him a lot of energy.

After playing the game for so long, Dema’s mentality had long changed from what it had been before.

Although his self-destructive tendencies persisted, at least when facing NPCs, he was no longer the young man who regarded them as mere data.

*Considering NPCs’ actions just like one would consider a person’s psychology was the biggest proof of this.*

*And this was also a sign that many players truly integrated into the "Elf Kingdom," gradually getting along with the natives.*

"So, how about it? Are you willing?"

After explaining, Dema looked at Sharu again.

Sharu first froze slightly, then looked pleased,

"I... I’m willing!"

Gaining the elves’ trust also meant securing his future livelihood—of course he was willing for such a thing!

Seeing Sharu accept his enlistment, Dema was also satisfied.

*Of course, even if the other could play the part of being deferential, he knew this was not true loyalty.*

*In fact... if the players completely let go, allowing this guy to truly integrate the Half-Beasts of the mine and win their allegiance, it’s uncertain what might happen.*

*Though Rose would suppress them, preventing things from spiraling out of control, it would still be troublesome.*

However, he already had a solution in mind.

After this matter was settled, he planned to have players skilled in transformation and disguise infiltrate the Half-Beasts and spread the news of this Sharu volunteering to be an elf lackey, to completely isolate him from the Half-Beasts internally.

In this way, no matter what this Half-Beast named Sharu initially intended, he would be essentially alienated from the other Half-Beasts.

At that point, he would have no choice but to cling to the players, exploiting other Half-Beasts, and to continue on the path of subservience.

Meanwhile, it was necessary to divide those Half-Beasts prone to defecting just like Sharu.

Heh heh heh, as long as the Half-Beasts were at each other’s throats, unable to unite internally, the players could manage them more stably.

"Alright, leave your mining cart here; this is your dinner for today—a large piece of meat as a reward. Go down! Starting tomorrow, you will officially be the mine leader of all Half-Beasts in this mine."

Dema said.

"Thank you, Elf Lord!"

Sharu looked overjoyed, repeatedly expressing his gratitude.

He pulled out his bowl and took the food, delighting in the smell of that large piece of roasted meat, his expression drunk with delight.

He hadn’t seen such a large piece of meat in a long time!

Their tribe had always been a small one, with scarce resources. The last time he saw such a large piece of meat was when their tribe hunted a Demon Beast in the Dark Mountain Range, and the others offered it to him.

However, looking at this large piece of roasted meat as a reward, he was happy for a moment, but then his expression gradually became forlorn.

He suddenly thought of his clansmen.

He recalled the tribe elder who refused to change her beliefs after being captured, ultimately choosing to end her life...

He recalled those who fought resolutely and perished under the elves’ swords...

Meanwhile, flashes of the scenes where other Half-Beasts discussed escape plans with him crossed his mind...

*For a moment, Sharu’s expression suddenly became complex, and he looked a bit hesitant.*

"What’s wrong? Is there something else?"

Dema asked again.

Sharu shook his head, then his expression shifted a couple of times before hesitatingly nodding.

"What’s the matter? Is there something else to report?"

Dema frowned.

"No... it’s not..."

Sharu shook his head.

He glanced back at the mine, looking conflicted.

But soon, he bit his lip and, with a hint of trepidation, asked,

"Um, Elf Lord... I want to ask, regarding those Half-Beasts planning to resist, what are your plans for them?"

"Hmm?"

Hearing his words, Dema was suddenly a bit surprised.

"What? Do you have any suggestions?"

He squinted his eyes, looking at Sharu.

And under Dema’s gaze, Sharu felt a chill run down his spine. He never imagined he would feel such fear towards an elf...

He took a deep breath and cautiously said,

"Well... Elf Lord, I was thinking... although they resist, you know they’re doomed to fail, so... shouldn’t they be given a chance too?"

"Hmm? But... you’re the one who tattled on them... Are you regretting it now?"

Dema chuckled lightly.

Hearing Dema’s words, Sharu looked a bit dejected.

*Did he regret it?*

*He didn’t know.*

*He also didn’t know why he suddenly had the urge to plead for those guys...*

*Clearly, he initially intended to step on those from other tribes to gain the elves’ trust.*

*Clearly, he was supposed to be indifferent to the life and death of those not from his tribe.*

*But now, seeing that he could truly gain the elves’ trust, the price of which was the possible death of those Half-Beasts, he suddenly hesitated.*

*It was truly laughable.*

*Obviously, he had set this all in motion himself.*

*Yet...*

*Sigh...*

*He didn’t quite understand himself either.*

Sharu remained silent for a moment, then could only let out a bitter laugh,

"I don’t know... it’s just... I don’t want to see them die anymore..."

Saying this, Sharu himself felt a bit hypocritical.

At the same time, he felt a wave of anxiety in his heart.

He didn’t know if his words would anger these elves.

However, contrary to Sharu’s expectations, Dema chuckled after hearing his words,

"Sure, if you can persuade them to calm down and work well, we naturally won’t pursue anything else."

Hearing this, Sharu sighed in relief.

But soon, he froze slightly and pointed at himself,

"Me?"

"That’s right; since you brought it up, it naturally falls on you to resolve it. If it can be solved, everyone will be happy."

Dema nodded.

Then, he changed his tone,

"However, if they really cause a big commotion, I can’t guarantee what might happen."

He chuckled, patted Sharu on the shoulder meaningfully, and said,

"Work hard, Mr. Sharu."

After saying this, he put the ores into his storage space and left with the other elves, leaving Sharu standing there in a daze.

Sharu, holding his bowl, stood there blankly for a moment before suddenly coming to his senses and hurriedly turned towards the mine...

His figure disappeared into the darkness.

After finishing the deal with the Dwarves, Dema left Rivendell.

As he walked, he recalled the Half-Beast Sharu whom he had just met.

"It seems there are quite a few among the Half-Beasts who are inclined to surrender..."

*Did he regret it... It seems he at least has a bit of conscience, isn’t a complete turncoat, and his heart isn’t too cruel. Hmm... In that case, perhaps his training potential is actually greater.*

"I have a feeling, maybe I can figure out another way to resolve the Half-Beast issue."

"In this world, there are solutions to problems that aren’t just about fighting... heh heh heh heh..."

Apparently thinking of something, he chuckled again, his slightly sly expression making the players nearby cringe and twitch at the corners of their mouths...