Chapter 47

Sure enough, when the welcome banquet was halfway through, the elf general with the title of commander, whose appearance was so beautiful as to be almost androgynous, approached Luo Zhengdao with a crystal wine glass in hand. He said politely:

"Sir, on behalf of the Grand Marshal, I sincerely invite Count Fulu to visit our country."

Upon hearing this, the weak Luo Zhengdao's eyes flashed with a glint of sharpness. He knew the crucial moment had arrived and immediately rallied his spirits, saying:

"Oh, I am truly sorry, but I have been having some health issues recently and cannot visit your country at the moment."

Luo Zhengdao's words were both truthful and evasive. Because of this, the other party could not say much more. Given Luo Zhengdao's current poor condition, anyone with eyes could see that there was nothing to criticize. Thus, the elf general, whose beauty made it hard to distinguish his gender, smiled brightly and raised his glass to toast Luo Zhengdao, saying:

"Hehehe, our country's doors are always open to friends. Sir Count, you can visit us at any time you deem appropriate, and we will always be ready to welcome you. To your health and the friendship between humans and elves, cheers!"

"That's good, I will definitely find time to visit the Grand Marshal, cheers!"

As the saying goes, when you meet a kindred spirit, a thousand cups of wine are not enough; when you don't, even half a sentence is too much. The elves had already clearly expressed their intention to recruit an agent, and it was no longer meaningful to try to keep Luo Zhengdao and his group for longer. They soon bid farewell and left the elf flagship.

During the return trip in the small boat, Vena Dubov remained silent for a while before finally, unable to contain her curiosity, she asked Luo Zhengdao:

"Will, why did you refuse the invitation from the Elf Federation? Isn't this proposal a good one?"

Luo Zhengdao, who had kept his eyes closed and remained silent since boarding the boat, did not even open his eyes now. He spoke in a low voice:

"No, you should ask me why I agreed."

Hearing this, Vena Dubov's eyes were full of question marks. She tried to recall the details of their conversation and then tentatively said:

"…Is there really a difference?"

Luo Zhengdao, a smile on his lips, opened his eyes and said slowly:

"Of course there is. I will not participate in a negotiation where the status is unequal, nor will I sign a cheap indenture."

The situation was indeed as Luo Zhengdao described. He now had the capital to refuse a deal with the elves. In the relentless pursuit by the Goblins of the Second Empire, very few human nobles of the Bright Dynasty survived. With a count's title, Luo Zhengdao was a rare and valuable asset. He clearly understood the elves' intentions. These long-eared beings, who were prone to changing allegiances, were simply trying to place an early bet, using a small amount of initial aid to secure future benefits. In essence, the Elf Federation's strategy was similar to that of the unscrupulous venture capitalists in the old world. Given Luo Zhengdao's confidence as a穿越者 and the trump card of being a magic card master, how could he possibly agree to sell his future cheaply? Instead of being pressured into a lower price due to his weak position, it was better to block the other party's offer early, thus taking control of the negotiation.

It was inconceivable for a future noble's tutor to be completely ignorant of politics. Even with only a theoretical understanding, Vena Dubov was not a complete outsider to political operations.

Understanding the meaning of Luo Zhengdao's words, the half-elf beauty still expressed doubt, saying softly:

"Will, are you sure you will soon have the strength to negotiate on equal terms with the Elf Federation? The Elf Federation is a great nation, not just a city-state!"

The Yaling Empire and the Elf Federation, located in the outer regions of the Seven Seas, together occupied a land area not much smaller than the main continent. However, their geographical location was too remote, far from important trade routes with other civilized nations, and they were once considered barbaric. Promoting economic development was a thorny issue. This was similar to the old world, where the industrial cities built by the Soviet Union in the Siberian wilderness, after losing external support, quickly became ghost towns due to their remote location and high living costs.

In the new world, where a hundred races vied for dominance, the Yaling and the elves were middle-aged species. Unlike the long-lived pure-blooded dragons, whose offspring took millennia to mature, the elves and Yalings, while not as short-lived as humans and goblins, who could produce a new generation every decade or so, still had a much slower population growth rate. It took an elf or Yaling child as long to grow up as it took for several generations of short-lived species to be born. It was clear that with such a tragic population growth rate, the Yaling and elves, despite occupying vast lands, found it difficult to develop them.

Due to their racial characteristics, the rise and fall of the Yaling Empire and the Elf Federation were much longer cycles compared to short-lived species. Unless there was a world war of unprecedented scale or a breakthrough in black technology, it was unlikely that Luo Zhengdao would see significant changes in their national strength during his lifetime.

Luo Zhengdao, who was clearly unwilling to sign a humiliating treaty, could not hide his fatigue. He smiled at Vena Dubov and said weakly:

"…No matter what, it will be better than the current situation, right?"

Hearing this, Vena was speechless and could only nod in agreement with Luo Zhengdao's point. The half-elf beauty then said somewhat dejectedly:

"What do you plan to do?"

Closing his eyes to think for a moment, Luo Zhengdao's face, full of weariness and pain, flushed unhealthily. He said, as if envisioning the future:

"I need more reliable people, especially those who can help me control the fleet. Vena, we need to head to the main continent next."

Hearing this, Vena Dubov's curvaceous body trembled involuntarily. She then waved her arms excitedly and said:

"No, it's too dangerous, are you crazy?"

At this moment, Luo Zhengdao, who laughed before speaking, clutched his chest to avoid the lingering pain and said word by word:

"This isn't a big deal. No matter where I hide, I can't escape the goblins' pursuit. Every day I live is dangerous. Don't you understand?"

Hearing this, the half-elf beauty was speechless and looked at Luo Zhengdao with pity, saying:

"But, Will… you're pushing yourself too hard."

Sighing, Luo Zhengdao shrugged indifferently and said:

"Maybe so! But the one who made this decision is still me. Rather than wasting time, it's better to take a risk."

In the old world, there was a classic joke: a peace-loving arms dealer, a chaste prostitute, a liar who never lies, and a politician who embodies all three.

In the world of politics, it has always been a gathering place for the dirtiest, most corrupt, and darkest elements. For the sake of power and profit, blood relatives kill each other, and close friends become enemies. While they smile and shake hands on the surface, they stab each other in the back behind the scenes. This is normal for those in politics. To gain power and profit, all moral and legal principles can be trampled without mercy. This is the essence of politics: no good or evil, no right or wrong, only cold, ruthless calculations and naked interests stained with the blood of the innocent.

If a person believes that fairness and justice exist in the real world, it is called innocence before the age of thirty and stupidity afterward.

An ancient saying goes: "Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox." Luo Zhengdao could see that the elves and Yalings' enthusiasm and friendliness toward him were entirely based on his utilitarian value. He could not find any other reason to justify their motives. Luo Zhengdao was unwilling to be a puppet for others, to serve a different race, and to be discarded after being used. Such examples were abundant in the history of the old world.

Whether from a rational analysis or from a personal emotional perspective, Luo Zhengdao did not believe that actively becoming a puppet for a different race was a wise strategy.

Since he was unwilling to be used, he had to be prepared to blaze a trail where there was none. What was the fundamental difference between a穿越者 and the natives? The biggest difference was not in personal qualities. Before crossing over, Luo Zhengdao was just an ordinary person. After crossing over, he gained the new identity of a magic card master, which was a double-edged sword. At heart, Luo Zhengdao still had the mindset of a commoner. What could a commoner aspire to? Thirty acres of land, a cow, a wife, and children. Of course, this is a bit outdated. Changing it to a car, a house, and a beautiful young wife would better reflect the ideal life situation in reality. The fundamental difference lies in:

A sense of mission! Everything has its inherent reason, and a穿越者 must have a certain mission. This is an indisputable fact.

In the countless穿越 novels Luo Zhengdao had read, he had never found a穿越者 who lived a simple life. These predecessors, whether actively or passively, were swept up in the tide of the times. Some became kings and emperors, some became wealthy, and some, more unfortunate, became wandering stars. The unluckiest ones ended up dead. In short, this tested one's character. In a nutshell, ordinariness is the greatest enemy of a穿越者. Those lacking awareness will die a very ugly death. As a穿越者, you must be prepared to be entangled by various troubles for life.

If you don't believe it, remember to watch the CCAV10 "Science and Life" program before crossing over, and see the fate of those who cry and shout that they are possessed by aliens and various gods and demons.

PS: The new book has already exceeded 150,000 words. Fellow readers, you can start reading now. If you wait too long, you will get used to not reading. The update time will be adjusted to 4 PM.