Chapter 2315 Ceremonial <TOC> Chapter 2317 The Truth
Previous page password is bold portion: Foc9PU?-StO4
Translator: SumTLMan
Before Nemeti regained consciousness, the group temporarily stayed with Parlysania.
Firstly, Parlysania itself was powerful and had been a confidant of Nemeti for many years; secondly, Lush Groot was also present, engaging with the monarchs of various elemental territories, which was one of Rhine’s purposes for coming to the Tidal Realm.
After a brief introduction, Parlysania hummed, “Your arrival was much quicker than I anticipated.”
Rhine responded, “Interest motivates people.”
Parlysania was taken aback; it had merely sought an opening for conversation, not expecting Rhine to immediately address the core of all matters——interest.
The prosperity of resources in the Tidal Realm was both the source of its flourishing and the reason it was coveted.
Everything revolved around interest.
However, due to the sensitive nature of this topic, which extended beyond just the Green Forest Domain, Parlysania was hesitant to delve into it.
Discussing with Angel was one thing, as Angel couldn’t represent the Savage Grottoes behind him. But now that the true representative of the Savage Grottoes had arrived, speaking with him constituted formal negotiations. Parlysania didn’t feel it had the authority to represent the entire Tidal Realm in discussions of interest.
Now that Rhine had broached the subject, Parlysania couldn’t just bypass it. It looked towards Lush Groot, who, although not the strongest in the Green Forest Domain, was a domain monarch and, by status, more qualified to discuss this topic with Rhine.
After pondering for a moment, Lush Groot said, “So, you’ve come for interest as well?”
“That’s certain.” Rhine’s expression remained polite, but his words were straightforward.
“I thought your visit would first address cooperation,” Lush Groot mentioned.
“The purpose of cooperation ultimately boils down to interest. It concerns the wizards’ acquisition of benefits from the Tidal Realm, as well as the elemental creatures’ assessment of their own situations.” Rhine said, “Instead of discussing meaningless matters now, only to fall out over interest later, it’s better to strip away the pretense from the start and engage with the unpleasing core… At least, the connections formed through interest are tangible and real.”
Rhine’s words were somewhat harsh, but the underlying logic was clear to both Lush Groot and Parlysania.
Connections formed through emotions might sound more pleasant and are often celebrated in novels and operas. However, in the real world, connections based on interest tend to be more durable.
Lush Groot hesitated, “I understand your point, but shouldn’t this be discussed with Highness Nemeti?”
“Of course, in the end, I will discuss this with Nemeti,” Rhine began, “But before that, I would like to talk with you all. As the Elemental Monarch, I am curious about your opinions.”
Lush Groot had previously shared his viewpoint with Mr. Pat, agreeing with his proposal. However, now that Highness Nemeti has awakened, some critical decisions regarding survival must ultimately be made by Highness Nemeti herself.
Rhine smiled, “It seems you’ve misunderstood my intention. What I aim to do is to glimpse the overall direction of the Tidal Realm from Highness Lush Groot’s perspective.”
As the Elemental Monarch of the Green Forest Domain, Lush Groot’s opinion might not represent other elemental territories, but it could at least reveal some truths and boundaries. This would better equip Rhine for future discussions with other Elemental Monarchs, allowing him to navigate the dimensions and limits of mutual interests more effectively.
Understanding Rhine’s intent, Lush Groot considered, “Alright, then let’s have a chat.”
The following time was dedicated to the conversation between Rhine and Lush Groot.
The others were merely bystanders, quietly listening and pondering deeply.
Their discussion initially revolved around Rhine’s inquiries about the structure of the Tidal Realm, aiming to deduce the general trend. Eventually, when the topic shifted to cooperation, the roles reversed, with Rhine speaking and Lush Groot listening.
Angel’s trilogy, particularly the last part, briefly described —The Future Possibilities of the Tidal Realm—. However, Angel’s work was merely speculative idealism. Rhine expanded on this foundation, adding more possibilities, covering the spectrum from better to worse.
Using interests as a formula, Rhine discussed how different possibilities could bring changes to elemental creatures.
Elemental creatures, in turn, needed to consider which possibility, under the premise of minimally affecting the overall situation, would be most beneficial for their development.
This included possibilities like “Conquest Management,” “War Opposition,” “Guild System,” “Lordship System,” “Implemented and Theoretical Systems”… with all possibilities included.
Additionally, the “Subordinate System,” where elemental territories become subordinate organizations to wizard groups, could bring many benefits. Elemental creatures could gain more knowledge for self-improvement, but becoming a subordinate to wizards also entails significant sacrifices.
There’s always a trade-off between what is given and what is received.
The Tidal Realm has the advantage of location, while the Wizarding World seeks to complement this with its people and harmony.
Throughout the discussion, Rhine demonstrated a powerful rational thinking process, approaching the topic with an almost indifferent attitude, listing various figures to illustrate the balance of interests and losses.
Many truths were hard to hear, but such is reality.
In the end, Lush Groot did not choose a specific “possibility” but analyzed the choices that the monarchs of the major elemental territories might adopt, based on his understanding.
What Rhine needed was not an immediate decision from Lush Groot but his final analysis.
Therefore, the conversation between the two parties came to a relatively harmonious and perfect conclusion.
As the conversation ended, Parlysania suddenly let out a familiar, strange laugh: “Tu la la la~”
The laughter drew everyone’s attention.
Seeing that everyone, including the elemental creatures, was looking at him, Parlysania said, “I very much agree with the point you’ve made. Behind these seemingly cold discussions, there might be hidden real interests, but it could also be a lie you’ve concocted. After all, this is our first encounter with such content, and you mentioned, it’s a possibility, which means uncertainty.”
“So, how can you make us believe that what you’re saying is true or false?”
Parlysania’s words slightly stiffened the atmosphere, but Rhine was clearly adept at handling such situations, he calmly said, “You’ve raised a very important question.”
Even if the interests link two different groups together on the same boat, without a premise, the two groups cannot develop together.
And that premise is——mutual trust.
This is the key point Parlysania raised.
No one knows whether the other party is telling the truth or a lie, especially when the information between the two parties has obvious generational differences. Rhine possesses knowledge passed down through countless generations of humanity, while the elemental creatures of the Tidal Realm have experienced the apocalypse 3,000 years ago, losing much information. Even without the loss, given the elemental creatures’ years of confinement within the Tidal Realm’s ecological development, their understanding of the outside world remains narrow, seeing the sky as no more than a well’s mouth.
The reason Parlysania immediately raised this point of skepticism is because it had previously met Mr. Feng, from whom it learned about the vast gap between elemental creatures and human civilization. And humans are a group filled with rhetoric, prejudice, and greed.
The inequality of information will inevitably fill the relatively naive party with doubt.
Because of the inability to trust.
And this issue is not only raised by Parlysania. Whenever Rhine goes to any elemental territory, as long as there are wise beings present, this question will inevitably be raised.
All eyes were on Rhine at this moment, wanting to see how he would respond. Even Angel, who deeply believed Rhine could handle everything, wanted to know how he would ultimately solve this fundamental issue of mutual trust.
Rhine did not disappoint everyone; he remained composed and said, “I had anticipated this before coming to the Tidal Realm. Therefore, before I arrived, I went to see a friend of mine and borrowed something from him.”
As Rhine finished speaking, without any visible movement from him, ripples slowly appeared in front of him.
A holy radiance suddenly descended from the sky.
It was like the miracle that descends from heaven after the silent prayers of devout believers.
The radiance, filling the eyes, eventually transformed into two supremely holy descents, landing in front of everyone.
When the glow faded, everyone finally saw clearly what was in front of Rhine.
It was a statue.
In the midst of the statue, two figures are captured in a moment of profound interaction: one, a priest standing about three meters tall, clad in sacred robes, his eyes closed, head bowed in a posture of listening; the other, a girl adorned in a Lolita-style long dress with curls, her attire and every accessory exuding an air of nobility. Yet, intriguingly, this girl is found kneeling, her eyes half-closed, hands clasped in front of her chest in prayer towards the priest.
This arrangement, one standing, one kneeling, one listening, the other pouring out her heart, transforms a simple statue into a vessel of rich religious aura.
When this statue is placed before them, it’s as if they are no longer in the dim, fog-enshrouded Lost Forest but have been transported to a confessional within a church blessed with divine presence.
However, a closer inspection reveals an oddity. The religious aura, typically solemn and somber, is paradoxically infused with a sense of joy and mischief, thanks to the girl’s vibrant dress and her sly, half-closed eyes.
“This is…” Parlysania expresses its confusion, looking towards Rhine, sensing a familiar aura emanating from the statue, reminiscent of the one it felt from Mr. Feng.
“Have you heard of Mysterious Objects?” Rhine inquires.
A look of astonishment crosses Parlysania’s face: “Are you suggesting this is a Mysterious Object?”
Rhine nods in confirmation: “It seems you’re familiar with Mysterious Objects. Yes, this indeed is one.”
Lush Groot, hearing of Mysterious Objects for the first time through Parlysania’s explanation, is equally astounded by the existence of such objects in the world.
Angel, having sensed the strong aura of the mysterious from the statue’s appearance, wasn’t surprised to learn it is a Mysterious Object. However, his curiosity piqued regarding its purpose.
“Is this… the Witch’s Confession?” Sanders, after a careful examination of the statue, ventures a guess, which Rhine confirms with a nod.
Continuing, Rhine turns to Angel: “You were asking about my whereabouts? I went to seek Yohannes, from whom I borrowed this Mysterious Object.”
“Resurrection Gospel” Yohannes, a formidable true knowledge wizard from the Magic Flute Monastery, is renowned for his expertise in life restoration spells. His creation, Yohannes’ Kiss, is said to rejuvenate even the most decayed flesh back to life.
Yohannes is also a celebrated white wizard in the Southern Region of the Wizarding World, known for his exceptional moral compass, a paragon of virtue even among mortals, similar to a philanthropist of the highest order.
Thus, by some mortals who had heard of his name, he was called the God of Light walking among the mortal world. His holy name, even in the Abyss, was widely known.
However, his sense of morality often raised doubts. Moreover, his expertise in the art of life, plainly speaking, the study of life, is a characteristic of the Karabians.
Therefore, some suspect whether he might be a Karabite? The temperament of the Karabians is often quirky and full of malice, which seems somewhat inconsistent with his holy demeanor.
Thus, he often finds himself at the center of debates between the white and black wizards. But after many years of dispute, it is still unknown whether he is indeed a Karabite, and whether his manner is genuinely upright or conceals unspeakable secrets.
“Are you and the Resurrection Gospel close friends, Lord Rhine?” Angel asked curiously, knowing that he seldom interacts with wizards outside of the Magic Flute Monastery, which has led to widespread speculation.
Rhine nodded slightly: “You could say that.”
After receiving Rhine’s confirmation, Angel began to feel eager to inquire about the rumors surrounding him.
Rhine seemed to perceive Angel’s thoughts and chuckled lightly: “I dare not speak recklessly about matters concerning him. However, not all widely circulated news is necessarily false.”
Although Rhine did not reveal much, this statement left much to the imagination.
When Angel wanted to inquire further, Rhine swiftly changed the subject: “Back to the matter of this Mysterious Object, its name, as Sanders has already mentioned, is called the Witch’s Confession, and it belongs to him.”
“I borrowed it from him because it plays a crucial role in my upcoming work in the Tidal Realm. Its existence can also answer the question you had earlier, Parlysania.”
Parlysania paused for a moment and asked, “What is the function of this Mysterious Object?”
Rhine replied, “Truth. It compels people to speak the truth, a kind of truth without any metaphors and almost no loopholes to exploit.”
A truth without loopholes? Parlysania looked skeptically at the statue, somewhat disbelieving.
Rhine did not elaborate further, knowing that sometimes, experiencing something first hand is far more convincing than any verbal explanation.
Rhine flicked his finger lightly towards the statue, activating some mechanism. The statue shone brightly, and the priest, who was bowing his head, began to mutter a strange prayer. As the whispering filled their ears, a light enveloped all those present.
“The Witch’s Confession has been activated.”