Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1354 Still haven't made a decision?

Tientes sat alone on a bench on the pier, the sea breeze blowing her long hair, which fluttered like sand in the air.

Time crosses the port of Moson, gazing at the blood-red sunset where the sea meets the sky. Everywhere, traces of the past drift in the wind, like wandering souls with nowhere to go: anchors covered in green rust, mooring bollards soaked in salt, and fleet flags drooping on wooden poles, all listless and lifeless, giving one a sense of gloom.

This place was once the starting point of the Age of Exploration, where countless colossal ships, laden with the ambitions of expanding empires, cleaved the seas with their sharp prows, shattering the tranquility of foreign lands and bringing back endless wealth and power. Today, this grand ceremony continues unabated. Newspapers still publish lengthy reports on the situation on the other side of the sea, along with expert assessments, tirelessly assuring the public that "final victory" will be achieved. Meanwhile, the Parliament Palace of the Kingdom of Britta, the King's Hall of the Great Empire of Mindrias, the Federal Parliament of the Republic of White City, and even every national authority involved in this war, are still endlessly debating, reducing a concrete war to cold, hard numbers: astronomical military expenditures, massive and abstract mobilization numbers, logistical supplies accurate to the pound, coldly calculated expected profits, and price-set compensation for the dead…

But neither the commentators in the newspapers, the politicians in their offices, nor the ordinary citizens holding the newspapers with worry or anticipation, realized that at a certain moment, the nature of the war had changed. It was silent and invisible, unseen by anyone. Perhaps the citizens of Moson had inadvertently come closer to it, and the truth lay hidden on the fleet that had set sail from this port three months earlier. But ordinary people were oblivious; they only thought it was a normal departure ceremony, another batch of reinforcements sent to the front lines by the Axis powers. They were invincible and would soon defeat the stubbornly resisting natives of the Eastern Continent, bringing back endless gold and treasure.

Everyone's pockets would be stuffed with gold, the reward they deserved for investing in the war. If it weren't for this reward, why would they harm people they'd never met or known? At least before gold existed in the world, conscience and morality were still very important to people.

Only Tientis knew that the fleet, including this so-called war, was just a facade; what truly mattered was always the people.

Human choices will change the past, the future, countless destinies, and everything else.

Caraboss had made her choice; she had plunged into the vortex that would change everything like a moth to a flame, and she had achieved her goal. Rationally, Tientes should have been pleased; her friend had found the answer she believed in, fulfilled her mission, and never wavered in her beliefs. But when she truly faced this moment, she found herself more confused than anything else.

Walking on a path no one has ever walked before, every step could be a glimmer of hope, but every step could also be an abyss; feeling lost is only natural. Although this might make him seem weak, Tennys thought with a touch of self-deprecation, "I've never been a particularly strong person to begin with."

When the goddess created the world, she was never confused, because she had already drawn inspiration from the games of the Earth world and clearly knew what kind of world she was going to create; when the girls of order opposed the witch's plan, they were never confused, because they still followed the principles they learned from their mother and firmly believed that sincere feelings would not deceive anyone; presumably, when Caraboss faced her respected elder sister with the most resolute attitude and died calmly at her hands with the most generous demeanor, she was never confused either... No matter what the final outcome was, at least such determination was good.

Coldness does not equate to strength.

Tientis can be very ruthless, never caring about life when formulating the Eden Plan and the Reality Plan, whether it's her own or someone else's; but she is destined not to be strong, because that's not a quality that can be cultivated, but rather something that is decided long ago when you choose which path to take, just like the seawater in this harbor, no matter how turbulent it is, it can only rise and fall along the predetermined coastline.

She tilted her head back, her neck tracing a graceful arc, her jawline appearing somewhat fragile in the twilight, gazing intently at this ancient harbor. The Age of Exploration had begun here, yet it could not bring it lasting prosperity. Nearly a century of frequent commercial trade and changing shipping routes had long since drained Moson City of its value. Now, it was excluded from the era it had itself ushered in. Except when the fleet set sail, the docks were once crowded with farewell crowds, ribbons fluttering, cheers thundering; most of the time, it was quiet and lonely, like an old man nearing his end, awaiting death.

The setting sun, like melting gold, boiled the sky and sea together, splashing out intense and melancholic colors. Time here seemed to have been pickled by sea salt, leaving only mottled traces. A few barges drifted lazily near the shore, their hulls covered with thick rust and barnacles. With the rise and fall of the murky water, they clumsily struck the dark moss-covered stone walls of the dock, producing hollow and dull thuds—the only heartbeats in this silent harbor. In the distance, the breakwater appeared particularly rugged in the twilight, like a huge, forgotten scar. Further out on the sea, scattered pieces of shipwreck debris floated: half a mast, a broken barrel, and a few patches of oil slicks, their colors indistinguishable, reflecting a rainbow-like glow in the setting sun.

A few seagulls circled low in the sky, emitting sharp and monotonous cries. Their pale white figures swept past the rusty crane frame and the empty warehouse roof. The once bustling and prosperous building area is now only left with dilapidated wooden beams and peeling paint. The empty windows are like countless dazed eyes, blankly swallowing the deepening twilight.

Footsteps came from behind, crunching on gravel and rotten wood, unhurried and clear, breaking the silence around Tentis as they approached.

"I've been looking for you for a long time, but I didn't expect you to be away from the Radist." The newcomer sat down naturally next to the Tentis. The bench groaned slightly with the weight of the extra person, showing how old and outdated it was.

The visitor's tone was gentle, and although it was a complaint, there wasn't much anger in it, but rather some concern: "I asked Eve and Timmes, and they said you haven't been back for a long time. Does that mean you've been staying in Moson City ever since you left Caraboss?"

Seemingly hearing a familiar name, she was slightly moved. The black-haired witch turned around and gave the newcomer a faint smile: "After all, I saw her off right here, so naturally I'll wait here for good news from her. I just forgot to tell you, and I apologize for making you worry, Pereike."

The Plague Witch, Perec, smiled, but the smile vanished quickly, so fleeting it was almost as if it had never existed. She spoke, her fingers unconsciously crossed on her knees, her knuckles turning slightly white: "So when do you plan to go back? Everyone's waiting for you to take charge."

"Hmm." Tentis nodded noncommittally, her gaze still fixed on the molten gold-like sea, as if glued to it. She seemed rather unconcerned about the so-called "overseeing the overall situation": "How is the Society doing now?"

"Things are relatively stable, but after news of Sister Caraboss's...death reached us, people's hearts began to waver." Pereike paused at the mention of that person's departure, pursing her lips and seemingly swallowing slightly. She carefully observed Tentis's reaction with her emerald eyes, and seeing that Tentis remained quietly listening, she continued, "Some are shocked and unwilling to believe the truth; some are saddened and propose holding the highest-level funeral for Sister Caraboss, believing she deserves such treatment; others are angry, believing that military investment in the Eastern Continent should be increased, both to avenge Sister Caraboss and to deter those barbaric heretics and superhumans, preventing them from developing a rebellious attitude towards the Society; of course, there are also those who hold the exact opposite opinion, believing that the negative impact of this event is immeasurable, that the Society is already in a precarious position, and that it's time to use this opportunity to extricate itself from the quagmire of war..."

Unsurprisingly, it was all the same old tune.

The seeds of conflict had been sown long ago, but back then the society was advancing triumphantly. Strategic success and the unification of interests allowed them to ignore all dissenting voices and forcibly unite all wills into a cohesive whole, moving forward towards a common goal. Only now, with the death of the Dark Witch Carabosse, has it finally been ignited.

The death of a witch is unprecedented in the history of the society, especially one as renowned as the Dark Witch, who slaughtered countless false gods, evil gods, and sorcerers during the Chaotic and Dark Ages, and was considered virtually invincible by all. In the minds of the society's members, the witch was synonymous with the society itself; as long as the witch was invincible, the society was invincible. No matter how difficult the situation or how severe the test, they were always confident they could overcome her. But conversely, if the witch's invincibility was shattered, wouldn't that mean the society also had a weakness, no longer the impenetrable fortress it once was?

Once such thoughts arise, emotions such as anxiety, panic, and urgency that were not originally present also follow. Ultimately, societies are still formed by ordinary people, only these ordinary people, who have always considered themselves the guardians and pioneers of civilization, are finally returning to their true nature.

Tantis then asked, "How many people support a truce? Have they taken any action yet?"

Her voice remained calm, devoid of any emotion, as if she were inquiring about tomorrow's weather.

Pereike adjusted her posture, turning slightly towards Tentis: "The opinion leader of this faction is Victoria, and its members mainly include Heng, Otto, Theresa, Freud, and others. It is said that they are preparing to propose a motion at the next philosophers' conference, suggesting that the society's strategic expansion in the Eastern Continent be gradually scaled back. They believe that maintaining the current scale is appropriate, and if it continues to push forward, it will probably only drag the society into the quagmire of war from which it cannot extricate itself."

Tientis heard many familiar names: Queen Victoria of the Great Kingdom of Britta, Eve's lieutenant Heng, Otto, the head of the Third Research Department, Sister Teresa, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, and... Freud, Carabosse's lieutenant.

Although his commander, whom he had always followed, died in battle on the Eastern Continent, he chose to stand on the side of the truce faction. Was this based on rational consideration, or for the future of humanity? This choice itself seems more intriguing than the death of Carapos.

The thoughts of the others were not hard to guess. The secular regime, represented by Victoria, had gained enough benefits from the colonial wars, but also suffered huge costs. When the benefits reached a threshold and the costs became unacceptable, continuing was merely fulfilling their duty as allies. If they had a suitable excuse to extricate themselves, they could naturally escape the endless military expenditures and mobilization burdens. Heng and Mother Teresa represented the moderates in the association, who had always preferred to guide civilization through the advancement of science and technology rather than through war and plunder. As for Otto, his stance should have been firm until Bai Long's research results were intentionally or unintentionally revealed...

If humanity inherently possesses soul magic, why not explore our potential and create a magic system of our own, free of side effects? This idea completely undermines the fundamental rationale of the Eden Project. In this context, persisting in the extermination of other species will not only fail to help humanity become the masters of the Mirror Star world, but will also sow the seeds of a fatal crisis. Otto's stance is indeed firm; he is a staunch humanist. In fact, most members of the society share this stance. In the past, the Eden Project proposed by Tentis aligned with humanity's interests, and they chose to support it. Now, another path is even more in line with humanity's interests, and they will naturally choose to support it as well.

There is no unchanging stance, only the means to achieve the ideal.

This is the only unchanging law in the mortal world.

At this point, Tentis suddenly remembered something.

"Among these people," she asked, "are Bai Long and Fei not included?"

The absent names seem to draw more attention.

Fei is the head of the Magic Research Institute, the creator and promoter of the magic system; Bai Long is the deputy head, and also the leader of the Faith Power Research Project. If the two of them decide to stand on the side of the truce, then the person representing the researchers within the society will not be Otto.

Upon hearing this, Pereira fell silent. She lowered her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes concealing the thoughts in her emerald eyes, as if she were carefully choosing her words. After a deathly silence of several seconds, she softly replied, "He and she... seem to have not yet made a decision."

Give me some cats