- May the will of the Mother God be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. forgive us our debts, just as we forgive the debts of others.

In a "sincere" resonance, the Lord's Prayer ended, and the elves and humans sitting around the table raised their knives and forks.

In order to entertain the guests, the Schauer family prepared a very sumptuous lunch, which included Gilmania enema, steak, veal mix, fruit tart, and red wine, which had been treasured for many years.

The atmosphere at the Schauer family was quite relaxed, and the elves' paranoid worship of authority and order, as well as a paternalistic style based on strict social hierarchy and duty, could not be found in this home.

Calm, tranquility, warmth – an almost idealized air pervades this middle-class home.

(That's why they are against war.) ）

Heydrich divided the steak intently, and an unkind comment came out of his head.

Not all, but it is true that some elves—mostly wealthy and middle-class—have become indulgent in pleasures, and even begin to become weak.

They have beautiful gardens, private cars, garage houses, fine dining, and a privileged life that no other race in the world enjoys. After tasting the comfort and comfort of peace, they gradually lost their appetite for war. We hope that we will achieve the goal of peace as much as possible without war, and that we will continue to live comfortably and comfortably while achieving national independence.

(A bunch of fools!)

Blood seeped out of the steak cut, and the confidential secretary was expressionless.

If only the problem could be resolved by peaceful means. What do you need an army for? Without a strong military, wealthy Alfheim is just a fattened livestock, waiting for someone else to be stabbed before the festival - like the old kingdom of Gilmania. How come these fools don't know how to learn their lessons?! Their history teacher died too early and let the health teacher substitute him?

“...... To be honest, I'm scared of the future of Alfheim. ”

Robert Schauer, the head of the family, spoke slowly, and Heydrich, who had been absent-minded, looked at it with the others.

"Mr. Major, please put away your notebook, this is not an official report, just an old fellow's own thoughts. Under the leadership of the consuls, we will surely be able to defeat any enemy. Oh. Don't put on such a scary face. Miss Human, once you meet that adult, you will understand what is going on. But the question is, what about after we have seized the living space? Yes. We will emigrate there. Survive there - and thus provoke a new war. Endless wars of terrorism. ”

Robert let out a sigh of relief and looked at Heydrich, who also stared straight at him.

As the Archon's confidential secretary. Heydrich knew all too well what terrorism was all about.

With enough fanatics of madness, weapons of great power, and a little necessary funding, training, and intelligence support, countless suicide bombs and urban guerrillas will be produced, infiltrating the battle lines, and wreaking havoc in the rear—not prophecy, but something that has already taken shape. After successfully verifying the feasibility of suicide bombs, the Principality's secret organization of magicians called the "Black Hundreds" was no longer satisfied with the "small fights" on the battlefield, and began to research more concealed and powerful suicide bombs, and dropped them into human cities to create a lot of "sensational news". It was only after the successful armistice with Albion that the urgency of this need decreased, and the difficulty of penetrating the front was too great, so it had to be abandoned.

Suicide terrorist attacks have not yet really appeared, but the signs are already emerging. Regardless of when this tactic appeared and what results were caused, it was never a good thing for the "new order" that the elves needed. Since the principality can use suicide bombs with impunity, and the human camp can drive soldiers to launch a meat bullet charge without care, then in a situation where conventional combat is at an absolute disadvantage, the bravery and madness of humans and orcs fighting each other may be turned against elves.

It would be a giant dung pit, a nightmare that elves shudder to think about.

"We need 'detente', not unbridled and indiscriminate use of force, and we should try to avoid war as long as there is a possibility of communication." ”

"The premise is that the other party has the willingness to communicate with you and the sincerity to solve the problem. ”

For the first time since entering Schauer's house, Heydrich opened his mouth, and heard him speak in a leisurely voice:

"I'm sorry, Mr. Schauer. As a soldier, I can't imagine that you are so optimistic, and it is hard for me to imagine that in the current environment, humanity would be willing to engage and negotiate with us as an equal, rather than initiating an attack and eliminate what they see as heresy. On this note, you can ask this Miss Humanity who came from outside. ”

All eyes focused on Minerva, and a trace of embarrassment flashed on the face of the girl who had been bowing her head and being embarrassed.

The full display of force, the assertive, high-profile posture, the skillful use of the diplomatic bureaucracy, the series of irresistible demands of the enemy, and finally the force of the enemy to submit to the knee -- this is the form of diplomacy that Minerva understood in the past, and in her view, there is no more reliable and pleasing form of diplomacy.

Even for the consortium, she thinks that as long as she maintains the basic deterrent power, and then uses it to be gentle and enveloped, she can tame this giant beast over time.

However, these ideas do not work here, in the secret paradise dominated by the elves.

When it comes to national strength, there are many things it represents and implies, including territory, people, and army, but the most intuitive and most indicative of the country's health is financial strength.

The operation of a country is inseparable from the support of money, and money is needed for education, the army, public construction, social order, and new technology -- the stronger the pillar of finance, the stronger the comprehensive national strength will be when it is transformed into forces in all aspects. The reason why Charlemagne was able to look down on other countries was in addition to the vast territory and large population. In addition to the strength of the army, a very important factor is to have a financial system that can support this operation.

But this qiē is nothing in front of Yalfheim.

Behind the splendor of the ideal state is an unimaginably powerful financial system, the creation of magnificent architectural complexes, the provision of compulsory education, housing and a magical carriage for each nation, and the creation of a life of prosperity unimaginable to the outside world. Relying on this system, the elves can easily build a powerful army, both in terms of soldiers and well-equipped, which greatly surpasses the armies of the human camp. Judging from their conversations, it can be judged that the construction of this army has been going on for a long time. And quite a result. In the event of a war, combat missions can be carried out immediately.

What would happen to a war with such an army, and what the final outcome would be, Minerva did not know, and could hardly imagine. But she could see it. The exchange ratio would be too large for Charlemagne to afford.

Standing in a good position. It's the elves.

It's because it's full of surplus. Only then can they look at the various problems they face and the possible actions of their opponents, and debate and discuss them with each other. Plan the most realistic vision for the future and execute it.

Enemies of such elves, Charlemagne...... No, do humans really have a chance to win?

Since the odds are hard to tell, should we accept them?

The idea flashed and was immediately dismissed.

As Heydrich said, at least for now, the human camp can't do it.

Including herself, what she has heard and seen since she was a child is an education that advocates the supremacy of human beings. The priests and the learned told us, "We are the best, and mankind is the master of the intelligent race, and a different race should be subjugated to our feet." That's what they say, and everyone is convinced of it, and they devote themselves to the "holy war" to manifest it.

Now, let all mankind accept the existence of an elven state, and negotiate with them as an equal to their own beings? I am afraid that many people will take this proposal as a joke, send the proposer to a madhouse for retirement, and then mobilize an army to wage a holy war against the elves.

Even if she was a royal daughter, it was impossible for her to rebel against the will of the entire human camp.

Facing the eager and teasing gaze around her, Minerva could only smile awkwardly.

＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃

At the station of Metro Line 1, a train quietly cuts into Durham Station.

Due to the block where the station is located and the time it is time to get off work, the civil servants and other employees of the government agencies are almost all starting to go home at this time. Luckily, Roland and his family took a train heading towards the city center, so they were able to escape the rush hour crowds - even the seven-minute high-speed maglev subway could not alleviate the rush hour congestion.

As the country with the deepest immersion in railway technology and electromagnetic technology in the world, Yalfheim has long paid enough attention to quiet, environmentally friendly and high-speed maglev trains. After the progress of related technologies, the first pilot construction of the maglev subway in the construction of the Yalfheim subway was carried out to alleviate the increasingly congested ground traffic in Yalfheim.

Located 40 meters underground, the Alfheim Metro Tunnel is intended to serve as a bomb shelter and shelter in addition to alleviating land issues. The theoretical maximum speed of the maglev high-speed train is as high as 600 kilometers per hour, and for safety reasons, the operating speed control is about 500 kilometers per hour, which can be called a speed star. With the council station as the center, eight lines connect the whole city, and you can transfer to each line at will for as long as you spend 8 marks, and you can travel all over the city in half an hour.

In addition to speed, the designer also adheres to the spirit of "customer service" and fully humanizes the design and planning of the carriage. The interior of the carriage is flat and cylindrical, which not only meets the requirements of aerodynamics for appearance, but also takes into account the needs of internal space, so that passengers will not feel crowded. Across the middle aisle, there are two rows of seats on the left and right sides with backing to the window, and there are open and closed shelves above the seats for luggage or other belongings.

In the case of the subway, this configuration is too luxurious, but in fact, this is an experimental subway line, and it is not surprising to adopt some high-end configurations to accumulate experience for the future construction of a maglev railway network that links the world. Citizens don't have much of an opinion about it, and who doesn't like to enjoy better service? But for those on the "outside", the maglev subway is a bit too shocking.

Minerva was taken aback, there were no wheels. Trains, which had no steam-powered machinery or even rails, "floated" up and raced underground at high speed like cannonballs—something that gave her numb nerves another severe stimulus.

Probably because there was no sight to see in the underground tunnels, Minerva lacked a real sense of speed and convenience, and quickly recovered from her initial shock and looked at the carriage in which she was riding.

The interior of the car is brightly lit, the level of decoration and hygiene is no different from that of other cars, and the waiters are also smiling with a patterned business style. It's just that the carriage is full of humans in overalls, and the "Human Only" sign hanging on the top of the entrance of the carriage is particularly eye-catching, obviously in a high-speed carriage. The signboard didn't shake either. Indifferently staring at the human passengers.

"Ethnic policy characteristic of Alfheim. ”

Heydrich, who told her this, smiled wryly and got into the elven carriage, leaving her and Roland in the human compartment.

Different races should be distinguished and treated differently according to their ethnic hierarchy - and this idea should be put on oneself in concrete objects and tasted in the first place. Little by little, anger gathered in the girl's heart.

Truly. There is no difference between the service she gets and the elves. But that "human only" sign...... It was like a thorn that stuck tightly to her body and made her very uncomfortable.

Nobody likes to be labeled. Whether it's the yellow satellite armband, the certificate of descent or the color of the skin - this is not a simple distinction, but a blatant discrimination. No matter how good the service is and how equal the facilities are, the feeling of being insulted and treated as an alien always lingers in Minerva's heart.

Loneliness and humiliation kept churning in my heart, remembering that I was in the enemy's base camp, the girl who felt helpless couldn't help but reach out her hand.

Hold the boy's arm, and put his delicate body against the boy's chest.

Maybe it's a good learning opportunity.

After feeling reassured, a slightly self-deprecating murmur echoed in his chest.

The boring, small self-esteem has been worn away by what he has seen and heard along the way, leaving only the confusion, doubt, and envy from the bottom of his heart.

There is no doubt that the level of development of Alfheim is far ahead of that of other countries, and the state of government, culture and art, technology and craftsmanship, and even the intellectual and spiritual outlook of the people have reached a situation that is enough to make people breathtaking. It is probably not an exaggeration to say that they represent the ideal country of the future.

But Alfheim, which is like a paradise, also has an unfriendly side to the outside world and races other than the elves.

"This is the elf...... Alfheim's ...... on Humanity Attitude. ”

After thinking about it again, she didn't say "discrimination", but the meaning was exactly the same.

There are no words that can overcome the elves' prejudice against humans, and he mutters in his heart the idea that "after all, it is a different race", and sits in a suffocating sense of powerlessness.

"It's much better now than before, in the past, human beings were not allowed to enter the city, and once they were caught, they would be sent to labor reform. ”

Minerva didn't know what "labor reform" was, and it was supposed to be similar to hard labor, when a word in Roland's words caught her attention.

"Before?"

"Yes, for a long time I lived in the city and didn't leave until a few years ago. ”

Roland calmly suffered the mixed stares of shock and doubt, and now it was pointless to hide it, and from Heydrich's attitude, and from the words of the Schauer siblings, Minerva was probably aware of this fact. That being the case, it's best to explain a few things before getting to the next stop.

Even though it might upset Minerva, it was nothing compared to the next meeting.

"I can't give you the details, but I'll see that guy later, and you'll understand what's going on. But there's one thing—"

As if very unhappy and reluctant, as if it would cause some kind of damage, the young man snorted for a while, and then said in a low voice:

"Despite some improvements, the racial policy here is much better than it is outside. ”

After saying that, he was silent, and the warmth that was close to his chest also left. The look of annoyance from the betrayal pierced the skin for a moment, and the invisible wall plunged between the two of them, and silence fell.

(Soon, you'll find out what's going on.) ）

Silently mourning these words, Roland lowered his head and stared at his knees.

＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃＃

"How's it going?"

"How could it be ......?"

"How could it be you? It's going to be a failing grade, but I expect you to say, 'It's yours.'" ”

Looking at the smile that seemed to be a sneer. Minerva felt like she was sinking into the soft carpet of the consul's office.

The supple black hair of the night sky, the sculptural handsome facial curves and features, and the deep, bright eyes of the rubies—the messenger of the gods, who had once been associated with the train, sat in the office of the Archon of Alfheim, looking at her through the mahogany desk, which was too big for a bed, and crossed his hands to build a pergola, his lips hidden in the shadows slightly raised.

I see.

That's true.

As he himself said, it was strange that the Supreme Archon of Alfheim was not the messenger of the gods.

The elves who led the elves, who could not use magic, and whose bodies and numbers were far inferior to those of humans and orcs, were silently under the noses of the great powers. It took decades to build a highly developed ideal country. To this day, it is still unknown to the outside world - where else can anyone so freely manipulate the flow of money and information to accomplish this unprecedented feat, except for the agents of the divine will who have close ties to the consortium?

"I see, this is the ideal world form of the Divine Will Agent. ”

Minerva spat out a snarky mockery. It was she who pointed to herself.

A variety of ethnicities gather in a closed environment. Experimenting with different approaches to governance. Accumulate lessons and finally come up with a system of domination that can be widely applied to the outside world - just like what was done in the room.

"I believe that Your Highness can also understand that the duty of your subordinates is 'management. Rather than 'dominating'. For a long time, how to establish a world system in which various races can coexist and coexist, and how to make it operate effectively for a long time has been a task entrusted by the Mother Goddess. ”

The red pupils that reflected his face shot a penetrating gaze, and Minerva's body trembled slightly as he looked directly into the heatless gaze.

"The predecessors before me have also been working this goal, but none of them have succeeded so far, do you know why, Your Highness?"

"This ...... for the Destiny has not favored them......"

After a rare hesitation, the girl gave the most standard and exemplary answer.

Yes, those agents of divine will who have gone to the battlefield to promote justice and faith have done their best, even to the point of dying, and they are worthy of the heavens and the earth. It's just that Nai was unlucky, failed to get the favor of the mandate of heaven, and finally fell halfway to the ideal.

It's beautiful and touching, but it's all nonsense and lies.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. The truth is: their thinking is too rigid, and even if they have the power to transcend common sense, it is only in vain if they do not have a good way of thinking. ”

The red pupil narrowed, and the teasing voice continued:

"They don't even have a systematic and complete idea of how the ideal world should work, but they have a beautiful and unrealistic ideal, abuse their power under the guidance of the rotten ruling class, or tinker with the old system according to their own will - this kind of half-baked reformism has no future. ”

This is not even a mockery, and he doesn't even bother to give spit, and his tone is very smooth.

――Is your line promising?

The question struck Minerva's throat, and her lips twitched slightly, but she couldn't say it.

Judging from what she has seen and heard so far in Yalfheim, I am afraid that no one will question the viability of this new system, and everyone will agree that this is a promising political entity. Comparing the efficiency of the operation of governments and the living standards of the people in the world today, Alfheim can be said to be a kingdom like heaven, which is enough to become the object of imitation for those who are dissatisfied with the status quo and the material for attacking the political system of the country, launching all kinds of anti-system activities, and finally turning into a violent revolution.

No way.

Minerva shook her head secretly, making up her mind at the same time. First, the suspicious should not be made aware of Alfheim's existence. Second, it is necessary to find the problem of the existence of this polity and magnify it.

The first point can be put aside for a while, and then come back to Charlemagne and think about it slowly. The second point, although a bit difficult, also has some ready-made materials.

"I admit that Alfheim is excellent in every way. ”

He took a step back and gave each other a small hand, and then Minerva pressed up.

"However, the 'human only' sign will not appear in Charlemagne. Our citizens will not argue about race. It develops into a physical altercation. ”

"Huh-"

Li Lin let out a meaningful sigh, he leaned back in the chair, and his fingers rhythmically tapped the armrests of the chair.

One step back, two steps forward. Interesting little game, but it's too tender, just a little trick can kill Her Royal Highness without leaving a piece of armor.

"So, let's talk about another issue - the humanitarian catastrophe and genocide in the crown territory. ”

"That is an internal affair within the territory of our country. ”

Minerva's expression became a little uncomfortable, and Her Royal Highness did not know what "humanitarian catastrophe" and "genocide" meant, but it was certainly not a compliment, and she immediately changed to a tougher tone.

"The king has the right to rule freely within his borders. No other country should interfere. ”

"Yes. Yalfheim and I agree with this. However, we also believe that sovereign legitimacy cannot justify acts of genocide, nor can it be cleared of such atrocities, much less provide a legitimate basis for the Holocaust. ”

This was after the Nuremberg trials. A new perspective in the field of international jurisprudence on Earth. It is also the usual reason for the number one hooligan of Blue Star to intervene in the affairs of other countries by force in the future. For Minerva. It's just a strange argument with strong words.

She was supposed to fight back, but as soon as she tried to do so, she found herself trapped. Suffice it to stress that there is no room for interference in internal affairs. Then, the other party's relatively gentle treatment of humanity is obviously more reasonable to accept than Charlemagne's method of dealing with the Crown Leader riot. But without any rebuttal, it is clear that Charlemagne does not have the moral advantage to blame Alfheim from a moral point of view.

Cunning old fox!

Minerva cursed inwardly.

Li Lin leisurely picked up a cup of black tea and blew away the mist, without the slightest intention of taking advantage of the victory to pursue.

From the very beginning, he did not see Minerva as an equal negotiator.

Too young, too impulsive, and too inexperienced, Her Royal Highness is not worthy of the honorary title of "opponent" at all. With a little experience and a thick enough face, she could have ignored the facts, downplayed what had happened in the crown collar, and continued to hold on to Alfheim's apartheid policy -- like the American politician who publishes reports on human rights in other countries every year.

Taking a sip of the tea, Li Lin gave Minerva another shot to the dilemma.

"It is true that there is no racial problem in your country, because the race in question does not exist, or it is about to disappear. ”

"But our people don't talk about race so violently!"

Minerva retorted loudly.

This is her only remaining means of fighting back, and the reckless attack on the internal affairs of other countries is a serious problem after all, whether official or unofficial, and represents an unfriendly ideology enough to become an accusation.

This is a straw that looks like a good lifeline, but it is only a straw after all, and it has nothing to do to change Minerva's predicament.

Heated debates about race?

For a moment, Li Lin wanted to tell Minerva about the "heated debate" about racism and slavery in another world, some stories that sounded very scary.

On May 24, 1856, John Brown, a fanatical abolitionist in Ohio, went to the banks of the Portawatomi River with his four sons and two men, and Uncle Brown, who believed that he was "the representative of God's will to abolition," led his men into three cabins, dragged five Missourians who supported slavery out of their homes, and despite the pleas of their terrified mother and wife, Mr. Brown and his men executed the white men and boys with swords, and then left their bodies in the street as a warning to the slave holders. Upon leaving the scene of the massacre, Mr. Brown declared that "we are carrying out the will of God". This is the famous "Potawatomi Massacre" in the history of the United States.

In return, an Alabama Army colonel sold his slaves and hired an army of 300 men to go to Kansas to fight to defend slavery. Before the army set out from Montgomery, the state capital, a Baptist pastor blessed them, assuring them that God would favor them.

In the North there was the "Red Legs" cavalry led by the notorious abolitionist "Dr. Jennison", and in the South there was the Missouri guerrillas led by "Cold-Blooded Bill" Anderson, known for their dismemberment of victims. The north crossed the border today and set fire to houses, and tomorrow the south sent people to slaughter villages. The North kills one bite today, and the South will pay back five times tomorrow...... The North and the South "debated" the existence and abolition of slavery with the same fervor for four years, and this debate eventually escalated into a brutal civil war that killed an entire generation of young people in the United States.

Heated debates?Compared to the boiled United States, Yalfheim was too mild.

Li Lin did not take out these "precedents", and fought back against the pale counterattack of Her Royal Highness, just one sentence was enough.

"Your Highness, how does your country debate the issue of race?"

“......”

The answer is simple, there is no zài debate at all.

Humans are the best of the intelligent species, and the other intelligent species, fragile and stupid, should be unconditionally subject to the domination of mankind, and if they dare to resist, then destroy them - this is a matter of course for the camp of men, including Minerva, and there is no reason to be questioned at all, and of course there is no debate.

There is no debate or a mild, heated debate, just a little contrast, and the verdict is made.

(Although there is room for improvement, racial policy here is much better than it is outside.) ）

Roland's admonition in the subway came back to mind, and now Minerva finally understood what he meant.

It is true that Yalfheim's racial policy is full of discrimination, but compared to the bloody racial policy of the outside world, it is already very gentle, enough to resist any accusations. Unless the human camp has a racial policy that is at least no worse than here, no accusation will hold water.

Moreover-

"Let's put an end to this childlike debate, Your Highness. You have your country's traditions, we have our situation, and if we solve the racial problem in the traditional way of your country, I am afraid that in less than a month, mankind will disappear from the world. ”

The words, which could not be shaken under any circumstances, restrained Minerva's body and mind like tentacles that strangled prey. If there really is a demon in this world, it must be muttered in this voice. Shocked by the deep, bottomless bright red pupils, Minerva bit her trembling lips.

“...... Well, that's all for today's meeting. ”

Li Lin picked up the teacup again, turned the back of the chair and turned the back of the chair towards Minerva.

"After a full day of visiting and apprenticeship, I think Your Highness should be very tired. Fatigue is not conducive to calm and objective thinking, so please ask Your Highness to rest slowly to eliminate fatigue. At the next meeting, another place and time will be chosen to talk with His Highness. ”

“...... I understand. ”

Minerva, who was approaching the limit of her spirit and body, nodded silently, and the arrogance of the other party to end the conversation unilaterally could no longer make her react.

In Alfheim, in the presence of this divine agent, her will and choice were insignificant—Minerva understood this deeply. (To be continued......)