People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

This is equivalent to raising the minimum standard of the entire four Agor races, ensuring that no useless person will emerge in the country. After all, if you have countless opportunities to try and fail at zero cost, as long as you don't have any congenital defects, you can eventually find a suitable industry.

"But this also kills the possibility of a truly strong person emerging in Agor."

Looking at the contact in front of her, Heratia's voice was exceptionally firm.

From the very beginning, when she assigned Clementa to meet the Preservator, she had already made preparations and left a backup plan, monitoring Clementa's every move and location, and relaying the information to herself via communicator.

It wasn't that she didn't trust Clementa.

She simply has more faith in herself.

No matter how trustworthy Clementa was, she was not herself after all. She had some ideas, some ambitions, and some unscrupulous methods. Ultimately, she could not be honest with Clementa, her subordinate who had been educated by Agor, believed in Agor's egalitarian values, and whose sense of justice was perhaps a little too high.

However, she herself had absolutely no way of persuading all the stubborn faction of Agor to let her personally leave Agor's territory and go to meet the "Preserver" of the prehistoric civilization.

She herself could not leave. The great purge she initiated had become the most intense and cruel political storm in the Agor region, which had been peaceful for thousands of years. If she were to give up her position at the center of power and leave now, the resistance forces that she had scattered would immediately unite and take this opportunity to exile her!

Therefore, she could only arrange for Clementa, a representative who, despite bearing her label, was indeed a respectable one due to the first-ever sea-land cooperation, to carry out this mission.

But she will keep watching.

When you finally meet the Preservator, she will appear, skipping Clementa and speaking directly with the Preservator.

However, her little trick fooled the other governors in Agor who were completely overwhelmed by her, fooled Clementa who genuinely believed she was on a solo trip, and even fooled Mark Max. But unexpectedly, yet predictably, it did not fool the Preservator himself.

The other party casually pointed out her little tricks, but fortunately, he did not destroy the communicator directly, but gave her a chance.

"So, you want to be that strong one?"

"The Preservator" asked with great interest.

Heratia shook her head slightly.

Strong?

Agor's problem is not something a strong individual can solve. Their numerous failures regarding the Haizi issue have proven one thing—Agor's current systemic advantages have lost their meaning in dealing with the Haizi problem. What Agor needs is a unique kind of control where Mi's orders can be precisely executed!

To achieve this, it means she doesn't want to be a strong person.

She wants to improve, to go even further!

In front of her most "trusted" subordinate, Clementa, and her not-so-close daughter, Gladys, she said earnestly:

"I want to control everything about Agor!"

"From the economy to politics, from the military to people's livelihood, from society to the wilderness, I want to have complete control over Agor."

"I want to be a tyrant."

Clementa felt a moment of disorientation.

How long has it been since she last heard the term "tyrant"?

She first learned of this title from Agor's history books. At that time, the sea was not yet unified, and like the land, it was rife with deceit and constant warfare. Moreover, because the sea contained a large number of well-preserved relics of ancient civilizations, the wars that broke out among the sea kingdoms were far more intense than those on land today.

Even the Battle of Lontinem, which nearly brought Victoria to the brink of collapse during World War I, was not as devastating as any other battle fought at sea at that time.

At that time, this political system was prevalent in most countries in the ocean.

To put it nicely, he was a tyrant; to put it bluntly, he was a dictator, a monarchical autocracy, a regime that is essentially an imperial system.

History books say that the maritime nations implemented such a system at that time in order to ensure that administrative efficiency could be maximized under extremely high pressure and the constant threat of national extinction!

If there are few enough people making decisions, the speed of decision-making will be fast enough. Regardless of whether the decision is right or wrong, at the very least, when both sides are pointing the deadly weapons of their prehistoric civilizations at each other, the only right thing to do is not to be later than the other side in making a decision!

"Has Agor really come to this?"

Clementine murmured.

To be fair, the Agorians are not yet at their wits' end. The Haisi are still in their developmental stage. Lacking the ability to learn actively, the Haisi, who are slowly evolving through passive adaptation, are not yet capable of driving the Agorians to the brink of despair.

But humans are not creatures that only act in desperate situations.

There is something called "ambition".

"What can you offer in return?"

The Preserver asked.

Heratia calmly replied:

“I am aware of your discussion about the Deep Blue Tree. According to your conclusion, Agor has no chance of winning against the Deep Blue Tree.”

"In other words, unless we rely on you, everything Agor has can actually be considered destroyed."

“I do not wish for Agor’s demise, so what can’t I entrust to you?”

This is a blank check.

Unlike bounced checks, blank checks are signed and handed to you so you can fill in a number. It's like the blank contract the Casimir Business Association gave to Marner.

Heratia was willing to give everything for the sake of survival.

However, Heratia had exploited a loophole. She didn't actually hold absolute control over Agor at this point, although her purges had indeed brought her to the pinnacle of power, to a considerable extent. But this didn't mean she could act entirely against the principles of the Agorians.

Her promise was, in fact, invalid.

Ultimately, she still hopes to use the power of the ancient civilization to complete her transformation from one of the "rulers" who has the final say in the "Supreme Council of Rulings" to the "Supreme Ruling" of the "Republic of Agor".

But she did get one thing right: Lin

"Some things are just about first come, first served, aren't they?"

Surrender early, and you might become a victorious nation. Choose sides early, and you might become a loyal subject. Even offering help and showing loyalty should be done early; providing timely assistance is far better than adding to someone's glory! Civilizations like those of the past don't care about resources or contributions; they only care about one thing: attitude.

Heratia was willing to adopt this attitude.

The Preservator did not answer, but looked at Ernst.

"Ernst, how is it?"

"Does she need my help?"

"Is this helpful in solving the HIV/AIDS problem?"

Ernst pondered for a long time before asking.

The custodian answered noncommittally:

"It is certainly easier to persuade one person than to persuade a group of people."

Heratia also looked at Ernst.

"Mr. Ernst, please give the order."

“I have paved the way ahead; Agor’s loyalty rests on your decision.”

Chapter 901 Because of Me

Long afterward, whenever people mentioned what Archon Clementa's greatest takeaway was from her meeting with the Preservator, Clementa would always recall that afternoon when Heratia solemnly made her request to the Preservator.

"From this day forward, we are no longer the self-proclaimed 'eldest sons of prehistoric civilization,' but rather true 'collaborators of prehistoric civilization.'"

This is truly a cause for celebration. At least the Agorians have finally been relieved of a heavy moral burden, and no longer need to worry that the natural disasters of Precyth, or the punishment of the Preservers, will fall upon them unjustly.

They also have a powerful ally—even though the Preservator didn't agree to take action personally, Ernst alone possesses a behemoth with the power of learning. Who can say what its limits are, or how powerful it will become in the future?

This kid might really be able to save the ocean!

The Preservator looked at Clementa again; Clementa looked somewhat tired.

It's too fast. The times are changing too fast; it feels like we're being urged to run.

Clementa still remembers the doubts and anxieties she felt when she came to Colombia, and now, all her thoughts and feelings have been confirmed.

She knew that from the moment the Preservator agreed to Heratia's request, Agor's future had already changed, heading down a path she had never imagined.

This is a cataclysmic change, unprecedented in a millennium, even ten thousand years. Where the future will lead, whether the outcome will be fortune or misfortune, she knows nothing.

The traditional values ​​she had cultivated in the past, the knowledge she had learned that she was so proud of, and even herself, might become unrecognizable and insignificant in this coming era. She felt lost, unsure whether she should feel apprehensive about the future or happy about her boss's rise to power.

As a carefree Agorian, she felt the weight of the word "era" upon her for the first time!

"Clementa".

Ernst, who had remained silent for most of the negotiations, slowly began to speak.

"Abandon illusions and prepare for struggle."

How can one find a way to have it all, to be true to both Buddha and one's beloved? Ernst could completely understand Clementa's feelings at that moment; he had experienced similar emotions himself.

On a quiet midday, I happened to see a dash in Yuan Shikai's 1930 textbook, followed by 2021. On a peaceful day, I saw the TV screen filled with news of the collapse of London Bridge. During a break from work, I watched a video on a video website where the first modern Assassin used Abe to force someone to open their heart.

From the special military operation that lasted 1 hour and 22 minutes to the current Russia-Ukraine war, and then to the repeated regional conflicts that have made people living in peacetime uneasy.

This "era" seems to be truly changing, with everything familiar from the past gradually disappearing, leaving one feeling lost and helpless amidst the collapse of this order—a feeling Ernst himself had experienced.

In some ways, Agor was incredibly lucky.

The Agorians enjoyed at least tens of thousands of years of peace, experiencing a long golden age of their own, characterized by abundant resources, affluent living, unprecedented cultural prosperity, and unparalleled social stability.

During this period, they absorbed the legacy of prehistoric civilizations and completed in the shortest time the development path that normal civilizations might not have been able to complete even until their demise. They gained, they enjoyed, and they multiplied to this day. Now, they are beginning to face the challenge that everyone must face.

Looking back at the land now, the people there are far from enjoying themselves. They are like lambs trapped in a pen, completely unaware of what's happening. While they are busy nudging each other and trying to decide who will be the leader, the butcher's knife called "the times" has already mercilessly come down on their heads.

"Mr. Ernst, but what are we fighting for?"

Clementine looked up, her face pale.

"The Preservator says that the Deep Blue Tree is far beyond what Agor can defeat. And from your words, I can also tell that the Deep Blue Tree is merely a plan used by the ancient civilization to seek its survival. The real enemy is someone else."

"If even ancient civilizations were powerless against such an enemy, what use would it be if Agor developed into a powerful force?"

"What's the point if the whole of Terra unites?"

"Can we win?"

Perhaps it was because of the blow she suffered today, or perhaps it was because such a problem had indeed begun to trouble Clementa's mind, but she couldn't help but ask the question.

Ernst had actually thought about this problem long ago.

From the very first day he learned of the existence of the [Observer], also known as the [Lumberjack], he began to ponder this question.

He could also understand Clementa's inner conflict.

To truly defeat someone, you must first make them believe.

Make him believe, then destroy his faith. Nothing can save a loser like that.

Clementa was an Agorian. In the past, she had unwavering faith in Agor, in her homeland, and in her civilization. This was because the achievements of her homeland were enough to make her proud of everything on this planet.

But this pride of Yi 0! ☆Eh. Lusou Suo): was destroyed.

This has nothing to do with Ernst. The existence of Haizi, its expansion, and its relentless pressure will eventually push everyone who once believed in Agor to the brink of despair. And when they realize that even if they try their best, they still cannot defeat Haizi, they will begin to despair—either surrender, join, or utterly despondent. This is an inevitable process, and Clementine is neither the first nor the last.

Ernst's existence, to some extent, saved Clementa and many Agorians who were unaware that they were on the edge of a cliff.

The Prehistoric Civilization, a civilization that Agor believed in as if it were a god, believed that as long as the Prehistoric Civilization was willing to provide assistance, everything would be alright!

So, things changed a little. From Agor taking the initiative to make contact with the land, to Heratia deciding to risk herself and Agor to become a tyrant in order to cooperate with the Preservator and Ernst, and then to the Deepsea Hunters coming ashore to serve as Ernst's guards.

But now, this belief is also crumbling.

Ancient civilizations were not omnipotent.

Prehistoric civilizations might be able to solve the problem of the sea lineage, but they are also completely powerless to resist that final catastrophe.

Hardship, boredom, setbacks—it all seemed endless. They had nowhere to go, and all their efforts were in vain; they were nothing more than ants awaiting their doom.

What should I do?

Ernst had asked himself this question several times.

He arrived at an answer, and now he was revealing it, not only to Clementa, but also to the Preservator, Kal'tsit, to Gladys, Laurentina, Skadi, and perhaps even to Precys, who might be listening here in some way.

“Miss Clementa, this will be a long struggle.”

"Those who want to win in the short term and those who think that everything is doomed to failure are both undesirable."

Ernst said slowly,

“Miss Clementa, in the process, we are all destined to lose a lot. We will encounter misfortune and suffer trauma, wounds that may never heal.”

“But, Miss Clementsa, I believe we can overcome everything I’ve said, including everything we may face in the future.”

"If you're going to ask why..."

Ernst smiled slightly.