Chapter 268: Opened Pandora's Box
He offered various benefits in an attempt to glean some inside information from the dwarves, but the response remained unchanged. The only thing that could make them so resolute was the honor that the dwarves valued most.
But that makes it even stranger.
Kurtz listened quietly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. The rhythm was deliberate, measured. He had a deep understanding of the dwarves' stubbornness and trustworthiness.
For the emperor to keep such a secret, he must have offered more than just his astonishing wealth; there must have been other, unknown promises or methods involved.
"Leggett is ambitious. Although the last invasion was repelled, he will never give up." Fidel's worry was evident in his voice. "I suspect that what he is seeking in such a bloody deal with the dwarves is not just ordinary weapons."
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes distant. "It could very well be something that could alter the balance of power on the continent. A strategic weapon, or rather...something like the El sword?"
When Fidel voiced this conjecture, he himself visibly tensed, and a chill seemed to pass through the pavilion. All the signs forced him to consider this possibility. He looked at Kurtz with a glimmer of hope in his eyes, though tinged with fear.
"Kurtz, you are knowledgeable and a disciple of Lady Serie. What do you think? Or, from a magical perspective, what could possibly require such a massive amount of top-grade materials?"
Kurtz was silent for a long moment. His fingers stilled on the table.
In his view, the Southern Unified Empire, though powerful and ambitious, was essentially still a conflict within humanity.
His initial wish was to see a peaceful world where humanity could live together and face external threats, such as demons. Leggett's forceful unification, though ruthless in its methods, was not a bad outcome.
But Fidel's concerns and the dwarves' unusual secrecy shifted his initially indifferent mindset. He straightened slightly, his expression becoming more focused.
If Leggett's goal were not merely to unify humanity but to create a powerful weapon to control the entire continent, then the nature of the matter would be fundamentally different.
He recalled the internal strife among humans mentioned in vague prophecies. Could it be related to this?
However, he instinctively disliked getting involved in human conflicts. The stability of this continent was something he, Norn, and their other partners had worked tirelessly to establish. They had paid a hefty price for it.
Just as the saying goes, civilization has its own way forward, and humanity's path should be decided by humanity itself.
Kurtz only needed to step in when they encountered problems or disasters that they could not solve.
"Mr.Fidel," he said slowly, his voice carrying the weight of careful deliberation, "it is difficult to deduce exactly what it is based solely on the materials and the dwarves' level of secrecy. While a holy sword is certainly possible, I do not believe that a holy sword identical to the El sword could be forged in this era."
He paused, setting the teacup down with measured precision. "When the El sword was reforged, it brought together the strength of the entire Allied Forces. With virtually all the renowned dwarven craftsmen involved, and the addition of incredibly rare materials, the El sword became one of the most powerful holy swords in the world since its successful reforging."
He met Fidel's gaze directly. "Can the Dwarf Kingdom still forge legendary holy swords of this caliber? In fact, I'm not entirely certain either."
He continued, his tone remaining thoughtful. "As for the speculations about magic, the only things that would require so many top-tier materials are large-scale magic arrays and powerful magical artifacts, but that scope is also too broad."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Fidel's eyes, but it was understandable. That is indeed asking the impossible.
Kurtz looked at his worried expression and sighed softly to himself. He didn't want to get involved.
He viewed the infighting among humans as a troublesome and meaningless cycle. He possessed immense power, capable of forcibly suppressing everything and creating the peace he desired. But he knew it would be only a fragile peace on the surface, stemming from fear rather than genuine understanding.
Moreover, he himself lacked the talent to become king. The last time he took action to repel the army of the Southern Unified Empire, it was already the maximum deviation he could make, considering the special nature of the Kingdom of El.
But at this moment, Fidel's intelligence, combined with the dwarves' unusual behavior, made it impossible for him to ignore it completely.
He shifted forward slightly, his hands clasped before him.
"However..." Kurtz changed the subject, looking at Fidel with renewed focus, "Your concerns are not without merit. The behavior of the Southern Unified Empire is indeed unusual, and continuing to let it go may lead to unpredictable consequences."
He took a deep breath. "I will find time to personally go to the Southern Unified Empire to investigate the situation. Perhaps I can find some clues."
Upon hearing this, Fidel was visibly overjoyed. His entire posture shifted, shoulders rising with relief. He had approached it only with a try-it-out mentality, but he didn't expect the other party to actually be willing to help.
"That's wonderful! Kurtz , thank you so much." Fidel quickly expressed his gratitude. "If you need anything, our intelligence system will fully cooperate with you."
"There's no need for such a fuss." Lord waved his hand gently, his tone becoming almost casual. "It's more convenient for me to act alone. Of course, please keep this a secret."
"Definitely! Definitely!" Fidel nodded repeatedly, his relief evident.
After the business was over, the atmosphere became much more relaxed. Fidel sighed again, his expression softening. "Speaking of which, it's all thanks to your Magic Association."
He leaned back in his seat, seemingly finding comfort in the topic shift. "During this period, quite a few mages who have passed the assessments have expressed their willingness to join our country, which has greatly relieved our pressure."
His tone carried a complex emotion, tinged with both gratitude and regret. "Perhaps it's because the Southern Unified Empire has long since applied magicians to military operations on a large scale, even directly incorporating them into the army."
He gazed out at the garden flowers. "The age-old tacit understanding that 'mages do not participate in human internal conflicts' is being rapidly broken, which is truly lamentable."
Kurtz paused slightly, his hand stilling mid-reach for the teacup.
He naturally noticed this as well. His jaw tightened imperceptibly.
It was he who wrote that commandment in the Origin Codex, hoping that the power of magic would be used more for exploration and fighting against external enemies, rather than for killing each other among humans.
For a thousand years, this commandment, though not absolute, has indeed formed an invisible constraint in the hearts of most magicians. But now, this constraint is breaking down.
Have the times changed? Or is it that as long as human ambition and conflict exist, the weaponization of power is inevitable?
He created all sorts of magic in the hope of bringing a better future to humanity, but it seems he had opened another Pandora's box with his own hands.
He picked up his teacup, his movements deliberate. He gazed at the liquid within as if seeking answers in its depths.
"Ultimately, the use of power depends on the person wielding it," Kurtz said softly, as if answering Fidel, or perhaps speaking to himself..
"Rules can be established, and they will eventually be broken. All we can do is try our best to guide and, when necessary, correct any deviations that are too dangerous."
He looked up, meeting Fidel's eyes. "And hope that humanity will make the right choices when given the choice."
[End of Chapter]
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