Chapter 1960: Shattering the Filter, Paying the Fine in Advance

It is not difficult to surpass the Elves in terms of power, but to surpass them in thought and spirit is not so easily done.

It can be said that the reason Netheril was able to emerge is inextricably linked to the Elves.

For a long time, in the eyes of the vast majority of Netherese, Elves have always been shrouded in a layer of deification—powerful, wise, noble, and even enlightened and excellent; every positive adjective could be applied to the Elves.

If this positive "colored lens" were viewing one's own people, it would be fine, but if it is viewing a potential and powerful competitor, that is not good.

To be naturally inferior to the Elves in spirit is not something a normal civilization should do!

Xia Duo wants to shatter the deification filter of the Elves, to let the people of his territory know that Elves are merely another type of human with a different appearance, that they are also mortal beings, not some high and perfect race.

What the Elves can do, humans can also do; what the Elves cannot do, humans can also do!

Correctly understanding the essence of the Elves, as well as the relationship between humans and Elves, is the foundation for the future magical civilization to not fall behind the Elves in thought and spirit.

Xia Duo has always been making efforts in this regard, in addition to holding various exhibitions within the territory to familiarize the people with the daily lives of Elves.

The Elves of the Silver Leaf Family who have already settled in Savile Town are also often invited to the territory to participate in various activities held by the Government Hall; in reality, this is for the people to see.

Earlier, when the Keman refugees flooded into the Savile Territory at the beginning of the Drow War, many Savile People saw it, but the people of Daxia Territory did not experience those things; although they had heard of it, they had not seen it with their own eyes.

If he could bring back a group of Elf refugees, and they were the legendary Gold Elves, Xia Duo could almost imagine the shock of his people.

If this kind of thing happened a few more times, coupled with repeated propaganda about the true situation of Elf society, breaking the filter in the hearts of the people would be just around the corner!

……

But since Haichenisi had clearly mentioned that the Seventon Council did not allow the Siluwende Elves to leave Seventon, Xia Duo temporarily gave up on that idea.

After all, receiving refugees involves both Siluwende and Yierlan, which is still somewhat sensitive.

If everything goes smoothly with Iolum, Xia Duo could drive a Floating City equipped with a Strategic Weapon to Siluwende; it is not impossible to encounter a group of Elf refugees in need of shelter!

Since he cannot get many now, it is better to encounter them himself.

Thus, Xia Duo did not continue on the topic of Elf refugees, but instead asked about the situation in Siluwende:

"Councilor Haichenisi, you just said that some of the Siluwende refugees here in Seventon are true refugees; does that mean fighting has already broken out over there?"

"It hasn't truly broken out yet, but the Army dispatched by Yierlan is already continuously taking over the cities of Siluwende!" Haichenisi replied.

"They can still run away under these circumstances?" Xia Duo asked again.

"Through the descriptions of those refugees, we learned that the Yierlan Army has not placed restrictions on civilians, or even Spellcasters. In fact, Lord Xia Duo should have noticed that the word I used just now was 'taking over', not 'occupying'!"

"'Taking over'?"

If Haichenisi had not reminded him, Xia Duo really would not have noticed this detail for a moment; he had just assumed the Yierlan offensive was very smooth!

Now, hearing what Haichenisi meant, it seems there is absolutely no resistance within Siluwende?

In those "taken over" Siluwende cities, the lives of civilians and even Spellcasters are no different from the past, except that the nationality at the very top has changed.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Duo asked again: "In Councilor Haichenisi's judgment, can Siluwende hold out this time?"

"It's hard to say. There hasn't been any word from the Northland Alliance yet. If the various countries agree to Siluwende's invitation to jointly develop the Ancient Fortress, it will inevitably affect this war—if it can even be called a war. If the various countries have no reaction, then Siluwende is likely truly finished this time!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Duo subconsciously frowned. He did not care whether Siluwende existed or not; what he cared about was that this was the first time a country had been destroyed within the Northland Alliance, which would set a bad precedent.

It would even make the Northland Alliance exist in name only, and the Northland would return to its previous state of primitive confrontation.

This is not a good thing for the rising Netheril, and even less of a good thing for the budding magical civilization.

Thinking of this, Xia Duo could not help but raise his own doubts: "Does Yierlan not care about the Northland Alliance charter? What do the Seven Towers say? Is Keman, by settling Siluwende refugees in Seventon, intending to intervene in this matter?"

"The Seven Towers will not express a stance for the time being, let alone actively intervene. Danzo is the same. Only Yierlan and Keman seem to be trying to do something; I am not yet clear on the specifics, perhaps I will receive news before long."

The Sending ended. Haichenisi, who should have waited for Xia Duo to ask further questions or end the conversation, suddenly thought of something and immediately sent another message—

"By the way, Yierlan has already paid a large Supermagic Fine to the Northland Alliance in advance!"

"……"

The attitudes of the other major countries in the Northland Alliance, except for the Seven Towers which was somewhat unexpected to Xia Duo, were mostly as he had initially predicted.

Danzo is an underground Dwarf nation and has never cared much about surface affairs; unless the fighting reaches the Underdark, Danzo should not lean toward either side.

Yierlan and Yierlan are close neighbors. Some time ago, a massive avalanche suddenly erupted in the World Spine Mountains to the north of Yierlan, and then crazed Orcs started an Orc Tide ahead of schedule.

If one were to say this had nothing to do with Yierlan, Xia Duo would not believe it even if he died, not to mention that the existence of Siluwende itself was a check on Yierlan.

Yierlan should not let Yierlan eliminate the surrounding hidden dangers so easily!

As for Keman, there is a vast Netheril separating it from Yierlan; if it really wanted to intervene in something, it might be beyond its reach, but as the potentially most powerful country in the Northland Alliance, acting as a spoiler should not be difficult.

And this also aligns with Keman's interests—at least until it unifies the Listar Forest, it wants to minimize the mutual integration of external Elf forces.

From Keman's perspective, it is best if the outside forces fall apart, waiting only for the True King of the Elven World from the prophecy to first unify the Listar Forest and then recover the outside one by one.

As for the "Supermagic Fine" that Haichenisi specifically mentioned Yierlan had paid in advance, that had never appeared in Xia Duo's expectations.

But the fact that Yierlan is willing to pay the fine at least shows that they are still willing to respect the order of the Northland Alliance for now, and perhaps they also want to use this method to remind the other major countries—

First, I am playing for real this time, do not interfere with me; second, I have already paid the Supermagic Fine, so just pretend you didn't see anything, and you can play this way in the future too.

As for whether the destruction of a country would violate the Northland Alliance charter.

From learning that Yierlan was willing to pay the Supermagic Fine, Xia Duo speculated that although Yierlan is playing for real this time, it would likely still retain the name of Siluwende, just as a pure puppet.

Or a country that only exists in relevant documents!