Chapter 30: An Offer That Cannot Be Refused
Of course, some might ask: Didn't the Akademiya submerge the people of Sumeru City into dreams to use their brains as computational power for the creation of a god?
Isn't that inhumane? Isn't that harmful?
Yes, it is indeed inhumane. It is indeed harmful!
But as stated before, the Irminsul's pollution has reached a critical point. The tree is wilting, and Sumeru could collapse at any moment.
From a ruler's perspective, when a nation is teetering on the brink of extinction, sacrifices are sometimes unavoidable.
Sumeru cannot survive another five hundred years!
The crisis of the Irminsul is like a sword poised at their throats. To ensure the survival of their people, the Akademiya was willing to pay almost any price, including human lives.
They were fully aware that using human brains as computational power would result in casualties, but they had no other choice.
This approach resonates with the concept of "sacrificing the present generation for the prosperity of the future."
One generation bears the hardships of several lifetimes, ensuring that the future is left with nothing but happiness.
Without explicitly informing the citizens, using their brains to provide computational power was indeed an inhumane act. The citizens' near-death experiences and suffering made the sages' actions unforgivable.
But from the sages' perspective, they believed their actions were for Sumeru's future—they were doing the right thing.
From a broader perspective, the affected civilians became victims of the times, swept away in the flood of calamities.
Meanwhile, the sages of the Akademiya stood as rulers who, unable to rely on divine intervention, had wrestled with the crisis for five centuries but still found no hope—leading them to extremism.
Judging their actions as right or wrong becomes exceedingly complex because their decisions defy simple moral categorization.
At the very least, their desire to save Sumeru was genuine. For that goal, they were willing to go to any lengths!
In any negotiation, understanding the other party's current situation and needs makes the rest much easier.
We have already established Sumeru's dire predicament due to the Irminsul's corruption. We've also clarified the Akademiya's mission and obsession with healing the Irminsul, as well as their view of the desert as a cumbersome burden.
Now, let's return to the diplomatic table.
"Absolutely not! Dividing our lands and surrendering our sovereignty would leave us forever shamed in Sumeru's history!"
"We will never agree to this!"
At the negotiation table, the sages of the Akademiya spoke firmly, their attitudes unwavering.
Hearing this, Felina merely smiled, utterly indifferent to their objections.
She raised her hand slightly and said, "Absolutely not?"
"If I were truly intent on doing so, what means do you have to stop me?"
"Fontaine's strength far surpasses Sumeru's, and I too wield the power to turn your entire city to ruins in an instant!"
"And you? Your Archon is weak, your foundation fragile."
"If I were to summon a great tsunami to crash into Sumeru right now, what would you use to resist it? Your knowledge?"
"You…!!!"
The sages fell silent, their faces flushed red as they glared fiercely at Felina. "But if you do this, you'll blatantly violate the Seven Nations' order and bring calamity onto yourself!"
"You're right."
Felina's expression remained calm. "Conquering by force is indeed a last resort. But if I were to kill you all and place sages who support me in power, would that change the situation?"
Her words plunged the sages into a profound silence once again.
Mortal strength is limited. No matter how high their positions or how strong their front, when faced with a true god, their hearts wavered.
Now, under the divine pressure Felina exuded, the sages of the Akademiya once again felt the inherent weakness of humanity and their own helplessness.
They could only glare at the goddess before them and offer a feeble threat.
"Even so, we and all of Sumeru will fight to the bitter end!"
Such threats had no sway over Felina, but upon hearing these words, she paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha!!"
"My previous words were merely a jest. There's no need to be so serious."
"Although I possess the power to subdue Sumeru, I have no intention of doing so."
"As figures of great importance to Sumeru, you must understand that applying appropriate pressure can be advantageous in negotiations. It's simply a diplomatic tactic."
Felina remained reclined in her seat, resting her chin on her hand, her face adorned with an enigmatic smile. Yet, her demeanor radiated immense confidence and the aura of an absolute ruler.
Seeing her attitude, the sages felt a wave of relief wash over them.
As their heart rates surged and ebbed like tides, their faces flushed, and their breathing quickened. Only then did they realize how effortlessly this Archon had manipulated their emotions.
For a sage, one of humanity's brightest minds, such manipulation was unnerving. Yet, in the face of Felina, they found themselves entirely outmatched.
They knew she was toying with them.
"Enough joking."
Felina straightened her posture, her expression turning serious, signaling she was about to discuss the crux of the matter.
Sensing this, Azar and the other sages also sobered up, preparing to respond accordingly. However, they failed to notice that Felina's seriousness was still steering them to react to her lead.
"You don't need to take the notion of military subjugation seriously."
Felina's smile remained kind, yet it carried an unfathomable sense of danger.
The sages couldn't discern her true intentions and could only watch her intently, waiting for her words.
"My earlier remarks were to make you aware of Sumeru's current predicament."
"Facing my earlier threats, you must have keenly felt your own powerlessness and insignificance."
"I must say, despite lacking divine guidance and protection, the Akademiya has done a remarkable job managing Sumeru amidst the other six nations. The nation's stability over these years is truly commendable."
"Yet, my earlier pressure should have highlighted your vulnerability."
"Under the system of the Seven Nations, a nation without a strong god is exceedingly vulnerable."
"The gap between mortals and gods cannot always be bridged by wisdom alone. Whether you admit it or not, this is the reality."
"While Sumeru is currently at peace, you cannot guarantee its future safety. Nor can you ensure it won't face enemies of Archon-level strength in the future."
"Lesser Lord Kusanali has yet to mature, her divine power still weak. If a disaster beyond human control strikes, what will you do then?"
With a gentle smile, Felina's deep blue eyes shimmered with enigmatic power.
She gazed at the sages and spoke softly, offering them a proposal they could not refuse.
"This is a transaction."
"So, what if I told you that I could help you create a god for Sumeru—and resolve the crisis of the Irminsul?"
Felina spoke, dropping a bombshell on the sages present.
As expected, the sages' expressions changed drastically after hearing her words.
As mentioned before, the pollution of the Irminsul is Sumeru's most pressing crisis.
Some may wonder: if the Irminsul is polluted, and even the Dendro Archon doesn't know the cause, how could the Akademiya possibly know?
The Akademiya indeed doesn't know the exact cause of the Irminsul's corruption. However, in five hundred years, given their resources and the Akasha System's ability to collect memories from the populace, it wouldn't be difficult for them to detect that something is wrong with the Irminsul.
It's like looking at someone with pale skin and a weak aura—you can tell they're sick even if you don't know the exact illness.
The Irminsul is like that ailing individual, while the frequent disasters plaguing Sumeru are symptoms of its sickness.
In a nation so intricately connected to the Irminsul, anyone with basic knowledge would recognize that the tree is in trouble, even if the specific ailment remains unclear.
This is why the Akademiya is so determined to create a god—not only to provide Sumeru with high-level combat power but also to create a god capable of diagnosing the Irminsul's illness and attempting to heal it.
Of course, this is all tied to the in-game storyline, which is still two or three years away. The Fatui haven't yet obtained the Gnosis in Inazuma, so they haven't approached Sumeru with the idea of god-creation.
In other words, Felina is currently Sumeru's sole lifeline.
What's more, Felina's previous statements were entirely accurate: Sumeru's current top-tier combat power is woefully inadequate.
If a god tailored for Sumeru could truly be created, it would be an immeasurable boon for the nation!
Thus, the terms Felina offered were irresistible to the sages.
As expected, her words left the Akademiya sages speechless, their previously defiant demeanor vanishing.
They returned to their seats, regaining composure. As time passed, an expression of respect slowly surfaced on their faces.
"Lady Furina, is what you said true?"
"Do you truly have a way to save the Irminsul?"
"Is it really possible for humans to create a god?"
Though they attempted to appear calm, the fervent longing in their eyes betrayed their desires.
"Of course."
Felina replied with a faint smile: "The Irminsul's illness stems from its contamination by forbidden knowledge five hundred years ago. Over the centuries, the corruption has worsened, leading to the escalating disasters Sumeru now faces."
The conference room fell silent.
The sages waited for her to continue, but Felina stopped speaking.
"Lady Furina, and then?"
When no follow-up came, the sages could no longer suppress their impatience and questioned her.
Hearing this, Felina couldn't help but chuckle.
"And then? Then comes the paid content."
"This is the bargaining chip I'm offering in this transaction. Unless you agree to grant me the desert, obtaining the rest of the information will be impossible."
Hearing this, the sages felt a twinge of embarrassment and quickly shifted the topic: "Then, how exactly would you create this god? What would the process entail?"
Felina didn't elaborate further. Instead, she retrieved a stack of documents and tossed them onto the table in front of Azar and the others.
The sages gathered around the documents. As they read, their expressions shifted from initial confusion to astonishment and then to shock.
The Akademiya's most senior sages appeared as if they'd stumbled across a treasure, huddled together and discussing feverishly.
"A body crafted from special materials, powered by a Arkhe reactor sourced from Fontaine, with a Gnosis as its core—creating a giant war machine with Archon-level combat capabilities!"
The sages' eyes widened in disbelief.
As a nation of wisdom, Sumeru's scholars might not fully grasp Fontaine's mechanical science, but theory transcends boundaries. They quickly discerned that the concepts detailed in these documents were indeed plausible!
"Incredible! Such a genius concept!"
"I've skimmed through it—based on the methods outlined here, constructing this Archon-level war machine is genuinely feasible!"
"What extraordinary wisdom!"
Their gazes toward Felina now carried an undisguised reverence.
"Lady Furina, is this machine your brainchild?"
Felina responded with a faint smile and a nod: "This concept was proposed by me and brought to fruition by the scientists of the Fontaine Academy of Sciences."
"So, what do you think? Do you believe me now?"
"Of course! We absolutely believe you!"
Sumeru's two biggest challenges were the crisis of the Irminsul and the lack of top-tier combat strength.
The two bargaining chips Felina presented directly addressed both issues.
To say the sages weren't tempted would be a lie.
They almost wanted to agree immediately to cede the desert, but as decision-makers, they naturally sought to secure more benefits for their nation.
Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Azar feigned calmness and said:
"Lady Furina, I won't deny that your proposal is enticing. However, dividing the nation remains an act of surrender, and the desert constitutes half of Sumeru's territory. To simply hand it over to Fontaine—"
"Stop."
Felina saw through Azar's tactics with ease and immediately cut him off.
"I know you want to bargain for more, but you must understand—I presented precisely what you needed most, which means I've already done thorough research on you."
"The desert is nothing but a burden to you. You should count yourselves lucky to be able to sell off such a liability at such a high price."
"I'm not interested in further dull negotiations. If you're unwilling, so be it."
With that, Felina feigned irritation, extending her hand to summon the documents back from Azar's grasp. Without hesitation, she turned and began to leave.
Felina's steps carried her toward the door, while the sages remained silent, refraining from calling her back.
Felina wasn't willing to offer the Akademiya too much. She was betting that the desert wasn't as important to them as they claimed.
The Akademiya, on the other hand, hoped to extract more from Felina. They were gambling on the desert being crucial to her.
Yet Felina's stride remained steady, her determination evident as she approached the door.
Finally, just as she opened the conference room door and had one foot out the threshold, Azar called out to her.
In that moment, it became clear—Felina had won the negotiation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven