[The next morning, you were gathered together and sent back to your hometown. You set foot on the land of Kazdel once more.]
[This time, you have a clear goal. Carrying your musical instrument, you begin traveling through various Sarkaz settlements, singing your songs.]
[You notice that songs about war and self-liberation are particularly well-received, so you start adapting your music accordingly.]
[You have an innate talent for art. The songs you adapt are welcomed by many Sarkaz, even those who have no understanding of music.]
[You earn money through your performances, and with your earnings, you help some Sarkaz children whenever you can.]
[These unintentional acts of kindness begin to earn you a reputation.]
[You never stay in one place for too long. You move forward, constantly observing.]
[Conflicts are very common in Kazdel, but many disputes are resolved by your clever words and performances.]
[Your name gradually spreads among the Sarkaz. Although many Sarkaz look down on the profession of an artist, no one can refuse a free performance.]
[You advocate for the rights of the Sarkaz, calling for an eye for an eye and blood for blood.]
[One of your most powerful supporters, a Sarkaz mercenary named Ursula, becomes your closest ally. She always consults with you first and eventually becomes your true deputy.]
[With Ursula's help, your journey becomes smoother.]
[After completing these efforts, you notice several shining stars emerging on your body, surrounded by hundreds of dim stars—like the moon surrounded by countless stars.]
[In just a few months, you've traveled to every notable settlement in Kazdel, compiling your understanding of the land into detailed reports.]
[At the same time, you and your followers have helped many Sarkaz people. Among the lower classes of Sarkaz society, your reputation continues to grow louder and louder.]
[During this period, you and your followers witness a Sarkaz man being whipped by a Victorian at a gathering place.]
[After questioning bystanders, you learn the reason: the Sarkaz man was docked half a month's wages simply for being five minutes late.]
[Next month is the man's daughter's birthday. He had pleaded with the Victorian not to deduct his wages, offering to make up for the time with extra work. His pleas were ignored, leading to the whipping.]
[The Victorian cursed the Sarkaz man, calling him lazy and greedy, saying he shouldn't have been so lenient to "people like them." He announced that, as further punishment, the man's total wages would be reduced by an additional 10%.]
[You dig deeper into the situation and learn that the factory where this man works overworks its Sarkaz employees, denies them fair pay, and regularly deducts wages and food allowances. This is the third time wages have been docked this month.]
[The Sarkaz workers in the factory were furious, but when the Victorians called on Babel enforcers to maintain order, the workers had no choice but to comply. The incident was quickly suppressed.]
[You decide that the time has come—this factory will be your first target.]
[Ursula asks you for a detailed plan, pointing out that Babel's attitude heavily favors the Victorians, and that directly reporting the issue might be futile.]
[One of your followers suggests seeking assistance from the Military Committee, which might alleviate the workers' plight.]
[You refrain from expressing an opinion immediately. You know that in order to convince others, you first need to prove yourself through action.]
[You respond that indecision at this stage is natural because your understanding of the situation isn't yet complete.]
[You propose conducting a thorough investigation into the relationship between the factory and its workers, followed by a detailed analysis of specific issues.]
[Your suggestion is quickly accepted, and you efficiently organize your followers into groups and assign tasks.]
[Within just two days, you gather an abundance of intelligence, piecing together the true conditions of Kazdel's workers and factories.]
[The results of your investigation reveal a grim reality: not only will Babel refuse to help, but the chances of receiving support from the Military Committee are also slim.]
[Part of the Military Committee's funding comes from Babel, and Babel's funding mainly relies on taxes and tributes from foreign entrepreneurs like these Victorian factory owners. In essence, their interests are aligned.]
[The factory in question has been in operation for five years. Since its third year, it has been exploiting workers and deducting wages. Over the past three years, the situation has only worsened, with no signs of reform. This alone speaks volumes about the systemic issues at play.]
[You can clearly see that class ideology is deeply ingrained in their minds. To those in power, problems ignored by the upper echelons cannot, and will not, be solved by the people below them.]
Shen Lin's eyes burned with determination. This was not just a battle for one factory or one group of workers—it was a battle for freedom.
He knew now that his mission had grown far beyond personal salvation. If he wanted to save the Sarkaz people, he would need to challenge the system itself.
The fight was only just beginning.