Chapter 90

Half-elves are the offspring of human and elf intermarriage, inheriting the best traits from both paternal and maternal lineages. Half-elves possess the elves' tenacious vitality and the humans' vigorous energy, making their physical recovery abilities generally excellent. After resting for two or three months during the voyage, Vena Dubov's gunshot wounds were no longer a major concern. While Luo Zhengdao was heading to the VIP lounge to bathe and change, she ran to Zelan's commercial street for a major shopping spree. By the time the half-elf beauty, who had been busy running around to gather all the items needed for the banquet, met Luo Zhengdao again, the sunset had cast a golden glow of varying depths over the Zelan Governor's Residence, making it look like a colorful and varied Impressionist painting.

After everything was settled, Luo Zhengdao rode in a lavishly decorated four-wheeled carriage, escorted by a squad of Elven Cuirassiers, to the Zelan Governor's Residence. Guided by the reception staff, he walked into the banquet hall, arm in arm with Vena Dubov.

"Your Majesty!"

Luo Zhengdao, who had never seen the elegantly dressed and dignified Elven beauty before, knew without a doubt that the woman who could make the Zelan Governor and several high-ranking officials in Elven Navy uniforms willingly follow behind her could only be one person. For Luo Zhengdao, who had seen much of the world, deducing the true identity of the mysterious guest was not a challenge, but merely the result of logical thinking.

While the upper and lower houses of the Elven Empire are the highest legislative bodies and have significant influence on national policies, underestimating the authority and far-reaching influence of the Elven Royal Family in state affairs would be a low-level mistake. This queen was certainly not a mere political ornament. Perhaps due to his preconceived notions, when Luo Zhengdao looked at the Elven Queen, he felt that her warm smile was filled with both feminine charm and the firmness of a stateswoman. The contrasting qualities in this capable and outstanding female of another race made Luo Zhengdao feel a great deal of pressure as he realized he would have to deal with her.

After calming himself slightly, Luo Zhengdao composed his emotions and bowed, saying, "I never expected to meet Your Majesty here, it is a great honor."

The Elven Queen, whose actual age was unknown, had a youthful appearance and slender figure similar to that of an eighteen-year-old human girl. She covered half her face with a white feather fan and said with a seemingly meaningful smile, "Lord Count, you seem quite surprised to see me, don't you?"

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao thought for a moment and replied, "I didn't know Your Majesty was in Zelan, and I failed to come and pay my respects immediately. That was very impolite of me."

"Hehehe, Lord Count, you are quite witty. The welcome banquet is about to begin, please take your seat!"

Since the Elven Queen had deliberately created a relaxed and warm atmosphere, Luo Zhengdao, with his professional smile, had no reason to refuse. He nodded and said, "Thank you for your generous hospitality, I will not be so formal."

The Elven Empire has a vast territory, with more water than land. Besides the indispensable vegetables and fruits in their meals, the elves do not reject seafood. The welcome banquet hosted by the Elven Queen had a wide variety of dishes, no less impressive than the imperial cuisine of the now-defunct Bright Dynasty.

Influenced by the elves' light taste preferences, the cooking methods of these dishes were similar to the Cantonese cuisine of the old world, emphasizing freshness and natural flavors. In terms of specific flavors, special spices that cater to the elves' tastes and aesthetic preferences were added to the cooking process, complementing the traditional cooking methods that relied solely on freshness and sweetness. Despite the abundance of the welcome banquet, the guests were distracted, and even the most exquisite dishes failed to arouse their appetites. What they were secretly paying attention to was the low conversation between the Elven Queen and Lord Count Fulu, wondering what topics they were discussing.

In any world, the real purpose of a court banquet is not the taste of the dishes but the grandeur and ceremony. The guests and hosts would take a small bite of each dish and drink a couple of cups of wine, and the meal would be considered finished. The true theme of the banquet was the negotiation over the division of future benefits.

Knowing that he was not there to eat, Luo Zhengdao tasted a bit of the Elven specialty food and then put down his crystal glass filled with sparkling wine. He smiled slightly and said to the Elven Queen sitting at the head of the table, "I have a general idea of what your country wants from me. Do you know what I need?"

In political negotiations, the initial demands are often exaggerated, and the counteroffers are made to bring them down to a reasonable level. The negotiations between leaders are not much different from the negotiations between gangsters, who try to gain the upper hand in public opinion and then try to get as much as possible. The grandiose and inviolable official rhetoric is for the laymen. Without compromise and trade-offs, there would be no point in sitting down to negotiate. Luo Zhengdao, with his background in classical political science, was a paper expert in theory, but he was also adept at putting on a show.

The graceful Elven Queen maintained her smile, even after hearing Luo Zhengdao's somewhat crude question. She kept her composure as a leader of a great nation and said softly, "Lord Count, by putting aside your noble dignity and honor to become a pirate, it seems you are determined to achieve the goal of restoring your kingdom. Money, weapons, and food are all essential strategic resources, and our country is willing to help our friends."

"What will be the price I have to pay?"

Luo Zhengdao's counter-question was direct and serious. Even though he had no particular feelings for the Bright Dynasty, he knew that betraying one's own people had its limits. A misstep could lead to disaster, and a ruined reputation was inevitable.

There were many negative examples in the history of the old world. Shi Jingtang, a traitor who sold his country for a title, was despised by all. Wang Jingwei's "indirect salvation" left a legacy of infamy. The reason for their infamy was not their betrayal itself but the low price and clumsy methods they used. For example, Emperor Taizong of Tang, who submitted to the invading Turks and paid a heavy price for a temporary peace, later won a glorious victory that erased his past shame. His strategic patience and endurance turned his humiliation into a virtue. Although the White Horse Treaty he signed was a clear act of betrayal, compared to the less skilled Shi Jingtang and Wang Jingwei, it was a world apart.

Learning from history, and considering his pride as a穿越者 (time traveler), Luo Zhengdao would never allow himself to be compared to such despicable figures.

At this moment, the Elven Queen's smile remained radiant, and she said softly, "If the Bright Dynasty is successfully restored, our country hopes to open free trade on the main continent, no longer limiting commerce to the original five ports. All restrictions on the export of specialty products should also be abolished, and the rights and freedoms of our merchants on the main continent must be guaranteed."

Hearing these conditions, Luo Zhengdao's smile became inexplicably strange, and he quickly composed himself, saying in a low voice, "Alright, I understand these additional conditions. Please get to the main point, Your Majesty."

The Elven Queen's expression changed slightly, and she exchanged glances with her ministers before continuing, "For Lord Count to receive our country's assistance, you must accept a title from our country. This is a prerequisite."

In the competition between world-dominating powers, the rivalry is comprehensive and enduring, a marathon rather than a sprint. Strategic plans spanning decades are considered short-term, while true national policies are measured in centuries. The Elven Queen's offer did not exceed Luo Zhengdao's expectations. He had a background in politics and, though not as cunning as those who practiced it, he had accumulated experience from observing many negotiations.

In the history of the old world, there were countless dramatic changes, whether in the official rhetoric or the secret deals and black-market transactions. For researchers downstream in the historical river, these were merely idle topics and cheap material for articles.

Political science, to a large extent, is the study of how decisions are made and developed behind the scenes. In a sense, politics is the culmination of human intrigue and cunning. The Munich Agreement, where Britain and France betrayed Czechoslovakia before World War II, was a mere firefly compared to the truly dark and hidden deals.

During the brief silence, Luo Zhengdao, who understood the principle of power, was already prepared to deny all commitments at some point in the future. He nodded and said, "Alright, I agree."

"Very good, our country will do its best to support Lord Count in restoring the Bright Dynasty."

Luo Zhengdao hid all his ulterior motives, raised his glass with a smile, and stood up, saying loudly, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your generous hospitality. Your friendship will be remembered by humanity, and you have won my friendship and respect. Gentlemen, to the prosperity of the Elven Empire and the health and beauty of Her Majesty, let us drink!"

When they heard the latter part of the toast, the guests also stood up and drank their glasses to the bottom. The luxurious feast was indeed a joyous occasion for both hosts and guests.

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