Alice in the Land of Steam

If the witch society is divided into the witch faction and the secular faction, then what is the difference between the two factions? Is it just based on their identities and positions? Young people think that a more general and more appropriate standard is that the meanings they pursue are different.

The witch faction headed by Tiantis has always been unwavering in promoting the Eden Plan to cut off magic power, as well as the Reality Plan whose specific content is still unclear. This is the lesson Tiantis learned from the destruction of the old world, and it is also the original intention of the association to create a new world without magic power and equal lives. Of course, this ideal is too crazy for most people in the world, but at least, the witches and the philosophers who follow the witches believe in it and believe from the bottom of their hearts that this is the way to get the world back on track. Their methods are too extreme, but they are also based on the fanaticism of idealism.

The secular faction represented by Queen Victoria approved of this plan, not because they had the same great ideals, but because they saw an opportunity to gain benefits from it. Since ancient times, expelling and eliminating aliens and expanding the living space of mankind have been the achievements that rulers have strived for, and it is also an instinct passed down from the time of Saint Tomi. After entering modern society, the various achievements of civilization that came with the Eden Project, such as magic, magic, steam, the great pioneering era, ocean trade and even overseas colonization, all happened to fit the interests of secular rulers, allowing them to spontaneously gather around this sailing ship, so-called supporting the concept of association, but in fact supporting their own interests.

So, what if the Witch Society’s philosophy no longer includes the protection of the interests of secular rulers, and even begins to infringe on their inviolable rights?
If this is the case, the split between the two is natural.

It’s just that young people don’t understand why things have come to this point.

Linger believed that Tiandis was definitely a person with superb political skills, which allowed her to firmly tie the secular rulers to her chariot at every critical stage of the development of the Witch Society. In other words, this was a means of grasping people's hearts. When she was still the young queen of Eden in the old world, she knew the desires and greed in human nature very well, and was suspicious of all lives with too strong personal emotions. With her ability, she could definitely eliminate the crisis of division in the bud, or suppress the vicious influence of the fighting between the two factions to the lowest level.

Instead of the current situation, the Axis powers have gradually withdrawn their overseas troops, which has exposed the contradictions between the secular rulers and the religious alliance. Even the weak Kingdom of Noah has seen an opportunity and started to plan to regain lost territory. So, in the more intense central battlefield and other colonies, are there no conflicts?
Linger could understand the Axis powers' withdrawal. Given the nature of politicians, they would never give up their overseas interests. It is very likely that they were forcing Tiantis to make concessions in this way. Perhaps in their view, no matter how great the ideals, how glorious the cause, or how lofty the goals of the Witch Society were, they could not leave the assistance of secular forces. Of course, this was the same for both parties. If the witches were willing to compromise, they would naturally compromise as well. Mutual compromise and maintaining the original relationship was the best outcome they expected.

In response to this, Tiantis did not withdraw any of the Crusader troops, but instead mobilized troops to fill the vacancies on the front battlefield. Based on the young man's understanding of her, this meant that she refused to compromise.

Does she think that even if the society splits, the power in her hands will still be able to control the situation?

There were the witches of reality who had never taken action and were hard to tell the truth from the false; the seven witches of chaos who had killed countless gods in history, including the witch of strife Favrona who held the complete holy weapon; the sky dragon nest Ladist, the earth witch Feiyemente, the turbo mothership Nidhogg, the alien philosopher Dyson Sphere, and three other constructed mechas with unknown code names; with the prestige of Tiantis in the witch society, even if there was an internal split, there would still be many philosophers and apostles loyal to her... This was a huge force that seemed unmatched.

No, it's different.

Once the witch society splits, the enemies they will face are definitely not just the secular factions that split from it, but also the aliens, extraordinary people, magicians, pagans, evil gods, and false gods that were ruthlessly slaughtered under the promotion of the Eden Project. Even when that day comes, Ling Ge can't guarantee whether the Thirteen Hermits Society far away in the East Continent will also intervene, and there is also Ashur, the paradise town that was once expelled here by the witches...

In short, their enemy may very well be the whole world.

It is true that the secular government of the Western Continent also participated in the various decisions and executions of the Absolute Demon Plan, but when facing a stronger enemy, former enemies can also become allies, and this is the significance of the weak banding together. The individual strength of these enemies is naturally not worth mentioning, and they are all defeated by the Witch Society, but if they unite, it will not be so easy to deal with. Not to mention the others, the animists and the imaginary gods they believe in are a huge threat.

The power of faith in an era can create a god of stagnation like Alexander the Steam God, who transcends time and space and is eternal and immortal. Even if the later ones are less powerful, they are still comparable in number. The Holy Spirit of the Spirit Prayer Society, the Earth Mother Titan of the Fertile Earth Sect, the Spring Spirit Tifu of the Holy Spring Monastic Order, the Deer Head Elder of the Druids, the Mountain Father of the Mountain Guard, the Winter Spirit of the Mist Mountain Hermitage...

If secular rulers slightly relax the enforcement of the "Religious Decree", those displaced believers will instantly become the most fanatical nourishment, and take the initiative to join this war to retake the holy land of faith. Even Ling Ge can think of such an operation, so how could a secular ruler like Queen Victoria, who is as shrewd as she is, not understand it?

By then, what the traveler Rochelle said, “When everyone is united, then we can become one,” may no longer be just talk.

The young man couldn't eat when he thought about that kind of future. He was not worried about the survival of the Witch Society, but what he was worried about was what Tiantis was thinking.
The secular faction has threatened her by saying "the whole world is against you", but the latter's response is "come on". At this time, any normal person should think that the latter must be holding some trump card, right?

Tiantis's trump card...

Ling'er's eyes inadvertently swept across a corner of the table, and his hand holding the spoon paused. After noticing his gaze, Alice, who was silently spreading ketchup, salad dressing and hot butter on the toast and artificially making dark cuisine, was a little confused. She looked around and found that there seemed to be nothing around her that was worthy of Ling'er's special attention. She couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong, Ling?"

"nothing."

The young man retracted his gaze and slowly loosened his hand holding the spoon. He wanted to return to the original train of thought, but the previous thought could not be dispelled from his mind, which made him very concerned. After hesitating for a long time, the young man couldn't help but ask the genius player: "Let me ask you a question, Alice, what is your impression of the kingship of Tiantis?" Alice froze.

The atmosphere in the restaurant suddenly became quiet, so quiet that Ling Ge even regretted asking this question, but he really had no other choice. If Tiantis had any trump card to dare to go against the whole world, the only thing the young man could think of was her royal power. But in reality, the witch never did it herself, and the world didn't know what kind of power she had. In the old Eden period, Tiantis did fight against those rebellious gods and humans, and at the cost of falling asleep and the collapse of the Temple of Heaven, all the gods and humans of various tribes died in one battle. But the video record was too blurry, and it was a long time ago, so it was not suitable for reference.

Only Alice might know. After all, long before the birth of the fourteen kings of the new world and even the celestial Themis, the twin sons of fantasy and reality had already been the agents of the old world, upholding the will of the goddess and maintaining the order of the world. They should know each other best.

If Alice still had an impression of the kingship of Tiantis, even if it was just a rough memory, it would be enough for Lingge to take precautions in advance. In fact, this question should have been asked long ago, when Alice's true identity was revealed, but after experiencing too many things, everyone was mentally and emotionally tense, so Lingge deliberately did not mention it.

Until today, it is inescapable.

The blonde girl stammered for a moment, then lowered her head silently, avoiding the sight of Linge and the others: "I, I don't know."

She was a little depressed: "I don't have any memory of the past, so it's not very clear, sorry..."

Until now, Alice is still resisting those memories, the truths she learned from Themis in the heavens, and even her identification with herself as an Earth player is better than her identification with the identity of the young queen. Since she had memories, she has spent her life in the game. Those dreamy and magnificent fantasies made her intoxicated and brought her so much happiness; but once she accepted her past identity, she got nothing but greater sadness.

Humans are creatures that seek benefits and avoid harm, even if it means avoiding emotions.

Seeing her lost look, Lingge suddenly felt a little reluctant and swallowed the words that were about to ask. He thought, forget it if she doesn't know. There is no need to force Alice. After all, she is very fragile now. She is probably more fragile than the crystal wine glass that Celia treasured in the cabinet, or the violets that Olivia planted in the small garden and refused to bloom. If you are not careful, she will break with a click or wither silently.

The young man sighed silently in his heart and was about to change the subject when a cold voice suddenly came from the side: "You really can't remember anything?"

"Think carefully, you can remember some details, right?" Gloria, who had been eating, suddenly raised her head and asked Alice, with a calm and indifferent look on her face, as if she didn't think it was cruel to interrogate a person who was escaping from reality. Of course, everyone should have realized at this time that she was not Gloria, but another personality hidden in the girl's body, a lonely, indifferent girl who thought she could do all kinds of cruel things without scruples.

"The answer to this question is very important to us. I hope you can understand its meaning, Alice, instead of being like a child who thinks that there will be no other sounds in the world as long as you cover your ears."

With every word Bai Ye said, Alice's body trembled, and finally she shrank back and almost hid behind Saint Shallia, repeating the words "I don't know" over and over again. This look exactly fits Bai Ye's description of her, like a little child who thinks, "I am the world, and as long as I don't accept it, the world will not be like that."

But sometimes, the world is just that way.

If you can't accept it, don't want to face it, change it, or even defeat it, but just avoid it, are you worthy of what you have always called yourself? Where is the heroic spirit that disdains the Witch Society and always says that you want to achieve a perfect ending and make everyone happy? I decided to join you because I believe in you and Lingge, and believe that you can help Gloria, the little fool, get what she wants. Now, everyone has not let me down, Lingge barely has not let me down, and what about you, the genius player? It seems that you are going to let me down?

Words are like sharp swords, piercing through the hypocritical appearance. Under the wounds, the pain is real, as fine as needles, and it hurts. Alice supported the chair with one hand and placed the other hand on the arm that was barely supporting it. She lowered her head and said nothing. Her long golden hair fell and covered her profile, making it difficult to see the expression on her face. But the girl always subconsciously stroked that thin arm, as if there were really countless invisible needles piercing her body at this moment, making her feel waves of pain, and then numbness.

That’s right, after habit comes numbness, and after fantasy comes reality.

Saint Xia Liya stood in front of Alice, looking at Bai Ye with disapproval, but Bai Ye's gaze never wavered from beginning to end. Moreover, although she was questioning Alice, the object of her gaze was not the genius player, but Ling Ge. From her calm and almost transparent eyes, the young man seemed to understand the girl's heart: I told you to learn to be more cruel, not only to the enemy, but also to your own people. It's a pity that you seem to never learn this, Ling Ge, in this case, let me do those cruel things and say those cruel words on your behalf.

Anyway, I am a person born from a curse, so no matter how cruel I am, it is what I deserve. (End of this chapter)