Preparing to Recruit Besta

"Your Majesty, I am willing to accept the same punishment as Kaijin—no, that's not right. I am willing to die to atone for my sins."

"I hope Your Majesty will grant me this."

Besta's voice was filled with guilt and sorrow, but not the slightest fear of death.

The Hero King's gaze was exceptionally calm, as though nothing could shake this monarch.

The Hero King looked at Besta without saying a word.

The atmosphere gradually froze, becoming frighteningly quiet.

Before long, the Hero King let out a sigh.

"Strip Besta of all positions in the Dwarf Kingdom. Expel him from the Dwarf Kingdom. Without permission, he is forbidden from setting foot in the Dwarf Kingdom for the rest of his life."

His voice was full of helplessness.

Upon hearing those words, Besta's expression immediately darkened.

His heart was filled with profound desolation.

Yet he was also grateful. At the very least, the king had not taken his life.

"Thank you for Your Majesty's mercy."

He bowed his head to the Hero King in gratitude.

This time, the Hero King said nothing. He did not look at Besta again, merely turned around and left.

As the Hero King departed, the tears Besta had been holding back could no longer be contained, streaming down his face.

He was filled with regret and resentment.

He blamed himself for failing to see the king's intentions sooner.

He hated himself for what he had done to Kaijin.

He had now lost everything.

His status, his authority, and most importantly, the king's recognition.

If only he had realized the king's intentions earlier.

Then perhaps...

But there were no ifs.

Watching Besta sob uncontrollably, even Rimuru felt somewhat sorry for him.

"Ari, let's help him. He looks so pitiful."

Rimuru said to Mo Li.

"Why should we help him? Don't forget, he nearly made us mine for ten years!"

Mo Li's tone was utterly merciless.

In truth, even if Rimuru had not pleaded for him, Mo Li would have helped Besta. Besta was a rare talent. In the original story, it was precisely because of Besta that Tempest's pharmaceutical industry developed so rapidly. They had even nearly achieved a hundred-percent effective healing potion. Later on, they cooperated with nations across the world. How could Mo Li possibly let such a great talent go? Still, Mo Li needed to test Rimuru. After all, Rimuru was the future ruler of the nation, while Mo Li could at most be considered a chancellor. Rimuru's indecisiveness had to be corrected, or it would cause major trouble later.

"But..."

For a moment, Rimuru did not know how to respond.

Watching Rimuru ponder, Mo Li guided him. "Rimuru, we can save him, but we need a reason. Don't forget, he nearly got Kaijin and the others killed. If we save him, what will Kaijin and the others think of you? Have you considered that?"

Kaijin, standing nearby, had just opened his mouth to explain when Mo Li stopped him with a look.

In fact, although Kaijin resented Besta, he could not deny that Besta was an extraordinary talent, one who would shine anywhere. To put it in perspective, Kaijin was worth a hundred blacksmiths, while Besta was worth a hundred ordinary technicians. Besta not only understood research, but was also well versed in politics. In some ways, he was even more outstanding than Kaijin.

Since Kaijin had decided to serve Rimuru and Mo Li, he naturally had to help ease their burdens. Besides, his grudge against Besta was not one of life and death; it could not even really be called a great enmity. And hadn't Besta confessed in the end? A broad-minded man like Kaijin would naturally not fuss over such trivial matters. At worst, once Besta began serving Rimuru and the others, Kaijin could trip him up a few times. Wouldn't that settle it?

Rimuru, standing nearby, seemed to realize something.

"Ari, we can recruit Besta just like Kaijin. Besides, he must feel guilty toward Kaijin, so we can have Kaijin invite him. We've already decided to build our own faction, and technical personnel like Besta are exactly what we lack."

The more Rimuru spoke, the more excited and animated he became.

"But have you considered whether Kaijin and the others are willing to forgive Besta?"

Mo Li asked Rimuru.

Upon hearing Mo Li's words, Rimuru's entire Slime body froze.

"That's right, it seemed like he hadn't considered Kaijin's feelings at all. What if Kaijin wasn't willing?"

Rimuru immediately fell silent.

"Sigh, couldn't you just ask Kaijin?"

Seeing Rimuru like this, Mo Li said helplessly.

"That's right. You'll only know if you try."

Rimuru pulled herself together and walked toward Kaijin.

Before Rimuru could ask anything, Kaijin stepped forward.

"Lord Rimuru, I agree to your request."

"But won't this put you in a difficult position?"

Although Rimuru felt some sympathy for Besta, she still put Kaijin first. If Kaijin was unwilling, she would not help Besta either. After all, she and Kaijin were friends, weren't they?

"It's fine, Lord Rimuru. Besta isn't actually a bad person. He's merely a minister who wants the King's recognition. And he's very capable—if he served you, he would definitely be a great help. To be honest, there isn't much deep-seated hatred between us."

"At most, he tripped me up a few times. Even the bigger grudges were nothing more than him making me take the blame a few times, costing me my position, and getting my friends hurt. But didn't you and Lord Mo Li already heal them? Besides, our relationship wasn't always like this. I want to have a talk with him too."

"Even if I'm upset, the worst that can happen is I'll make him take the blame for me a few times in the future. So as long as you give the word, I'll drag Besta over here for you. He's caused me trouble for so long—what's wrong with making him agree to a few of my requests?"

Kaijin said magnanimously.

Rimuru immediately brightened when she heard that.

"Thank you, Kaijin."

Then she turned to Mo Li.

"Ari, how did I do this time?"

Looking into Rimuru's big, expectant eyes, "You did very well."

Mo Li lifted Rimuru into his arms and praised her.

"Haha, I knew I was the best."

Rimuru said with a smug look on her face.

Seeing Rimuru's innocent expression, Mo Li could not help but sigh inwardly.

"She still needs to be taught. Rimuru is still too naive. If she stays like this, she'll suffer later on."

What Mo Li had not expected, however, was that because of his presence, Rimuru had found someone to rely on and developed a dependent heart. In the not-too-distant future, she would even drag him into trouble himself.