The sun is high

Under normal circumstances, negotiation is of course a complex technical activity.

In this kind of activity closely related to the political field, it will inevitably involve a variety of complex knowledge and skills, etiquette, interpersonal relationships, choice and use of words...

Things like this always cause great confusion for negotiators who are not well versed in this area.

When the person in charge of the sword-wielding monastery in front of him spoke, Xiuge was already prepared to face all kinds of troublesome challenges. However, the sword-wielding hermit did not make things difficult for Xiuge in terms of words. Those dwarves who like to turn the negotiation table into a wine table and a boxing ring use the most straightforward and brutal negotiation methods.

There is no unnecessary conversation or any polite politeness. Just ask about the purpose, conditions and ideas directly...

It seems that as long as they can't reach an agreement, everyone can turn the reception room into a battlefield.

Faced with this situation, Shuge acted very calmly. He winked at Richard, who immediately took two steps back, took out his notebook and started recording the meeting, while Shuge himself looked at the monastery. A smile appeared.

"The ideas and goals of our visit to the monastery have already been mentioned in the document submitted to the Legal Committee."

He looked directly at the special female sword holder in front of him and said in a calm tone: "The Dawn Society has completed the de facto declaration of war against the Black Sun Society, but the battle will never only happen in the front. The Dawn Society hopes to supplement its own strength. It has shortcomings, especially when it comes to confronting the Black Sun Society mages.”

The sword holder glanced at Xiuge silently, and then nodded gently: "I have already read that document... I personally agree with the things you mentioned in the document, but..."

She turned around and walked to the side of the reception room, raised her palm and tapped twice on the empty flat wall. A certain ritual hidden in the reception room was quickly activated, and a ritual hidden on the wall was quickly activated. The layers of color quickly faded, and a huge hidden oil painting suddenly appeared.

This oil painting covered by a magic ritual covered the entire wall. Xiuge turned around and saw that countless different battle scenes were depicted inside this giant oil painting - it was actually spliced ​​together from many scenes of similar sizes. made.

In the first picture, a tall figure wearing heavy armor is holding a heavy shield, fighting against a variety of different magical lights. The magic-stifling silver sword in the hand of this sword-wielding hermit has been broken, and only half of it is still covered. He held it in his hand.

In the second picture, many spellcasters in robes were gathering in a barn-like building to discuss something. Above their heads, a relatively slender sword-wielder wearing light armor was already hiding. In the shadows, Xiuge saw that in the palm of the sword wielder was an alchemy bomb that shone with dangerous light.

In the third picture, a sword-wielding hermit was apparently captured. His armor was removed and his body was fixed on a heavy metal prison. His strong body was covered with hideous wounds and bloodstains. With his head lowered, he seemed to be dead, but in the palm of his hand hidden behind his back, he held a sharp metal blade tightly.

The composition of the fourth picture is quite classic. On an empty battlefield, many figures have fallen down. Among them are stumps wearing heavy armor, and bodies torn apart by magic and sharp blades. In this tragic battlefield, In the center, a sword-wielding hermit covered in blood has cut off the last enemy's head with the weapon in his hand, and is holding it high to demonstrate to the surroundings...

"In the history of Van En, except for the war that was just suspended, the Legal Committee has not participated in any war in the true sense... let alone had a direct conflict with any country."

The voice of the female sword holder finally showed emotional fluctuations at this moment. She narrated in a low voice: "Just relying on magic and academics, the Legal Committee cannot establish its position in Van En, so there is They left us, a group of madmen and monsters who have no emotions, are hostile to all wild mages, and are extremely bloodthirsty."

"Eliminate all threats at the very beginning, drown all hidden dangers in a pool of blood, and nail the true control of magic to Merlin... Do you know what we have paid to achieve these goals?"

Neither Shuge nor Richard spoke. Now was obviously not the right time to express personal opinions.

So the person in charge slowly said: "Every year, every month, the number of candidates who have completely collapsed their bodies and wills due to taking those magic potions far exceeds the imagination of the outside world... When necessary, we even Some mage apprentices will be secretly listed as candidates."

"However, even if we can provide armor and weapons for resisting magic, and can use various expensive potions to give the body powerful strength, there will still be countless sword-wielders who will die during the mission."

Speaking of this, she took a deep look at Xiuge: "I don't know much about the Dawn Society, but as of now, the people you can invest in fighting against the Black Sun Society are probably just a few. An ordinary soldier or mage, right?"

She raised her voice: "If the Dawn Society wants to use these people to fight against the Black Sun Society, then you should go to the Votel people instead of coming to us... let them train your young people. Become agents and spies instead of engaging in battles with those spellcasters, which will only turn them into worthless pieces of meat!”

These words can be said to be merciless. For Richard, who has personally experienced the disparity in combat effectiveness between the two sides, the persuasiveness of these words is self-evident.

However, Xiuge smiled and shook his head, and this action made the sword holder in front of him slightly unhappy.

"It seems that Mr. Ernst does not approve of the suggestions I gave?"

"Misunderstood."

Shuge kept smiling: "I don't want to refute your point of view. On the contrary, I agree with your statement. Letting people who do not have the corresponding strength to join the battle is an extremely irresponsible and arrogant risk. However, ...The Dawn Society’s ideas and plans are not exactly the same as what you understand as ‘battle’.”

"Oh? Tell me."

If other people say this, the person in charge will definitely not believe it. After all, there are too many people who like to brag in Fan'en. However, Xiuge's identity and experience are too special. As a monastery, As the person in charge, she also wanted to hear what "high opinions" this young man who once killed his colleagues as a weak wild mage would have.

"The factors that constitute confrontation and battle are extremely complex... As depicted in these paintings, both sides may kill or blast their opponents on the frontal battlefield, or they may sneak into the other party's gathering place and use other Tools and means achieve great results.”

Richard, who was sitting aside, had his eyes shining brightly. He was recording at a very fast speed. He realized that this meeting, which did not seem to be so formal, would have a profound impact on the Dawn Society and the Sword of Dawn in the future. It has the potential to play a huge role.

Xiuge continued: "When I was still running away in Salem City, I only had two magic spells in my hand...and the only thing in my hand that could cause damage to the sword-wielder who was chasing me was a small magic weapon. A normal alchemical bomb."

Hearing this, the person in charge of the sword frowned: "Is it just 'not normal'?"

"Okay, maybe its power and form are indeed a bit weird... But it is undeniable that if a group of 'hairs' suddenly explode in an open field, the lethality it can exert is limited, then The most fundamental reason why this pursuer died is because he underestimated me too much and eagerly wanted to crush me into a small shop with his own strength."

"Mr. Ernst, are you specifically bragging to me about your glorious achievements?"

"Of course not, ma'am."

Shuge shook his head: "The reason why I used this unpleasant case is to illustrate the most important point - the strength of the force does not directly determine the outcome of the confrontation, the acquisition of intelligence, and the understanding of the environment. , the help of external forces... factors such as these may have an impact on the outcome of the incident."

He raised his hand and pointed at the new firearm on the waist of the sword holder: "I noticed that the sword holders in the monastery have replaced their equipment on a large scale. I think you have all felt these new products. The impact brought by them, magic, steam and metal machinery have been perfectly integrated in them, and the integration continues."

“So what if we could use the same thinking in other ways?”

"Think about it, madam, if in the future, the sword holder no longer needs to be there first when taking action, but can rely on those who have mastered the skills of secret agents, carry dangerous weapons with them, and can rely on some magic tools to Professionals who deal with the enemy build a huge hunting ground. After successfully surrounding and locking the prey, sword-wielding hermits with extremely strong combat power take action..."

Perhaps because of the "bad habits" he had developed before, Xiuge's voice could not help but take on a tone of guidance and seduction.

Richard, who was sitting nearby, heard very clearly, so his expression became subtle.

However, the person in charge of the monastery, who had always been extremely serious, had some new expressions at this moment.

She didn't care much about Xiuge's tone, because the picture he painted seemed to be able to effectively help the Legal Committee and the sword-wielding hermits deal with some troubles that were difficult to deal with in the past.

So she said: "I admit, what you said, Mr. Ernst, is very tempting, but to achieve this goal, it is not enough to rely on the monastery... The Votel people are very good at secret agents and spies. Investment is the highest..."

"Easy to handle."

Shuge raised his eyebrows: "Her Royal Highness Sophia, the princess of Walter, is also in Merlin. I will discuss this matter with her."

…

Merlin Lehe's morning passed little by little in peace.

Weilin held the magic book and walked slowly down the long steps of the academy area. Along the way, she had already met many familiar faces. Most of these mages had studied and advanced in the same classroom in the past. He cast a complicated look at her.

Weilin also encountered similar looks when visiting her past teachers and professors.

Probably because they had been notified in advance, these proud mages who had always regarded themselves as orthodox Merlin and their identities did not show much hostility towards Weilin, the "traitor", but the kind of anger hidden in their expressions and words The feeling of alienation is not so easy to conceal.

She is in a bad mood now.

However, what caused this situation was not the strange looks that the mages inadvertently showed, nor the inquiries and inquiries about the Dawn Society and Shuge Ernst that were thrown out from time to time during the conversation.

What really makes Wei Lin feel sad is the situation of one of her mentors.

This mentor was the magic scholar who had helped her conquer lake-level magic and brought her into contact with the special field of "evil magic".

What Weilin didn't expect was that when she saw him this time, he would actually be in the ward of Merlinle and the Healing Mage Academy.

He's crazy.

Completely crazy.

The cause and effect have not been clarified until now. The healing mage responsible for taking care of Weilin's mentor told her with some embarrassment that the mentor was still normal the night before. On that night, he and other professors had a simple discussion Celebration - To celebrate some new breakthroughs and developments he has made in the field of "wicked magic".

"He even bought expensive wine from the outer city. But in the morning, the apprentice found thick smoke coming from his room."

"When others arrived, they found that he had gone crazy... All the notes and documents he used to record the progress of his project were burned by him using fire magic. This is how the thick smoke came."

"On the walls and floor of his bedroom, there are all strange symbols and patterns daubed randomly with magic ink, which do not conform to any kind of magic currently known."

"We have made many rounds of judgments and basically determined that in the process of studying 'evil magic', some inappropriate operations caused a violent shock of magic power, which ultimately caused his own mental damage to be irreversible. of damage.”

Weilin finally finished walking the long stairs. She sat down on the bench next to the stairs, raised her eyes slightly, and then fell back to the ground again.

In the history of Van En, there have been countless spellcasters who fell into madness because of their research on evil magic, and people's views on these researchers are mostly negative.

However, in the face of the shadow hanging in the sky today, this issue that has been resisted by people in the past seems to have finally come to the forefront.