01.
A rumor is a very powerful thing, it may be just a seed, but the weakness of human nature itself will water it and grow a little bit. The same is true for some 'theories' and 'opinions'. Some 'theories' are pre-set by people before they are heard, and the subsequent belief and diffusion are just a matter of course. Rumors stop at the wise, but not the truth.
A rumor, as long as it is born is a victory, no matter how you refute the rumor, no matter how you explain it, no matter how you show the truth, there will always be people who will continue to believe it and continue to be stubborn.
Hill understands this all too well after experiencing cyber bombing on Earth.
Demons have never been monotonous in the field of human thought. From two years ago to now, its proportion has become larger and larger. Its advantage lies in its seemingly perfect appearance.
The power of the words spread by the church lies in two points. One is that people who have money to go to the devil world and those who have no money to go to the devil world are opposed. People who have no money before will envy those who can enjoy the things of the devil world with money Aristocrats or businessmen, but now someone tells them that these people are stupid and have a lot of money. In fact, there is no need to spend so much money. The second is to oppose the human world and the demon world. We humans have defeated the demon race before. Why did we go to the demon world before finishing the tour in the human world? The demon world should not be so good.
In addition, the pope has some knowledge of the real situation in the past of the demon world, so his move is really ruthless.
Hill understands that with the gradual improvement of people's intelligence, other ideas will emerge one day. Dominance by one family does not mean that they will always have one voice, but this kind of development is a natural thing, and there must be a process, unlike The church is behind this situation, and Hill has always been a stingy person.
After the last stroke, Hill looked at the words written on the parchment. He blew on the wet ink, as if talking to himself: "Although pens and paper are better to use, but as expected, parchment and quills It's more romantic."
These words were leisurely and careless, in stark contrast to the harsh instructions on the parchment.
The emperor is hopeful, talking and laughing to kill people.
The clouds outside the window closed and the moonlight disappeared.
02.
Five days later, the first wave of tourists from the demon world tour group returned to the human world, and they immediately became the focus of all banquets. Every time they appeared in public, someone would come forward to ask about related matters. Some of them also heard the remarks in the room, which made them very angry, and they publicly reprimanded these ideas many times, which made the whole situation better, after all, the parties concerned have come forward. More people are waiting for the demon clan's counterattack, waiting for His Highness Greenwald's counterattack, to see how he responds to these remarks.
As a result, Hill remained silent, which surprised many people.
Three days later, "Mozu Magazine" came out, and there were two travel experience articles written by two tourists in the tour group. After all, he is an aristocrat, so the writing style is very good, and it is a personal experience, so it seems sincere, and then matched with a few photos of the devil world, which makes people yearn for it after seeing it. In addition, some short comments from other tourists are attached at the back.
"It's really beautiful!!!"
"I felt like I was in a dream for those fifteen days!"
"I really want to stay in the Demon Realm for the rest of my life and never come back..."
"After that, I plan to reconsider the direction of future development. If possible, I hope to find something to do in the devil world, not only because of the enjoyment of the beautiful scenery, but also because the overall atmosphere here is very good."
Such short sentences seem to be more emotionally arousing than long texts.
Next, a promotional video of the Demon World Tour was launched on the Magic Phone. After gaining the consent of some tourists, they were also photographed and became part of the material.
Fantastic and charming scenery, rich food, great enjoyment, blue sky and blue sea, small town shrouded in mist, firefly forest, adventure in the castle of blood with ancient wind lanterns... all these make people fascinated.
At the end of the promotional video, the demons stood in two rows on the luxurious staircase, and many people almost danced with joy after seeing this scene. Supergirl, Hell Frontline, Siren Singer Sandy, Dragon Arman, Death Knight...all are popular stars, and everyone said together: "Welcome to the Demon World."
Then the camera turned, and it was the Blackstone Tower in the night, with a bloody full moon hanging on the top of the tower, and then Hill's voice appeared:
"Welcome to the Demon Realm. You will find that the scenery in the Demon Realm is very good, and it's not just the scenery."
From the beginning to the end, he didn't appear in the camera. After all, he is now a demon king, so sometimes he has to hold it up. — This is also the biggest reason why Hill turned himself into a prince in the first place.
This promotional film is as perfect as the previous ones, and tourists themselves came out to speak out, so the voices of the folks were much quieter.
Eutin Empire. White Holy City.
When Teresa found the Pope, he was coming out of the Eutin Palace with King Eutin. Teresa and the king saluted each other. The king was still wearing white soft armor today, and his hair was silver. Ancestors have elven blood. His silver-white noble hair was tied behind him, his facial features were exquisite, and there was always a nonchalant smile on his lips. Almost no one knew what he was thinking, and everyone only knew that he listened to everything the Pope said.
Compared with him, the pope looked more majestic, with a white cassock dragging on the red carpet on the steps, and behind him was the white palace with magnificent towers. When he looked down at Teresa, Teresa felt that he had been seen through for a moment, and then he lowered his eyes and explained why he came: "Your Excellency, the demons have released a promotional video."
"Looking at your expression, we don't seem to be going well," the Pope said.
Teresa glanced at His Majesty the King, but said nothing.
King Eutin said with a gentle smile: "Then Archbishop Shelley and His Holiness the Pope will talk about business first, and I will go first." After speaking, he bowed to them, turned and left.
Teresa muttered in her heart why the king was so obedient, he deliberately used that look to indicate that he was an outsider, but in the end he really admitted his identity and left. But now that the king has left, Teresa continued: "The promotional film is as perfect as the previous films of the demons, and the reactions of those tourists who went to the demon world are the same as those who were confused by the demons in the past."
The Pope frowned, pondered for a moment, and said, "Theresa, you have been in the Demon Realm for several months. You know what the Demon Realm looks like, right?"
"I know." Teresa said. In fact, Teresa gave Hill a sweat when the Pope used this trick at first. "It's completely different from what they described." He said.
"There are so many changes in such a short period of time." The pope was still frowning.
"Are you saying that the demons changed the demon world during these two years?" Teresa asked.
"Not to mention anything else, it's just that floating island..." The pope repeated softly: "Where did they get so many supplies and magic crystals?"
"Maybe they're overdrawn?" Theresa speculated.
"The mall in the Devil Realm has plundered a lot of human resources," said the Pope.
Teresa's heart skipped a beat.
"The devil world shopping malls opened in various places continue to earn a lot of gold coins to build the devil world." The pope continued.
Teresa felt some sweat in her palms.
"That's the only explanation. The Demon Realm itself has supplies, and the Human Realm is added..." the pope said, "By the way, did the Demon Race respond directly to the rumors?"
"No," Teresa said. "They just killed the dark threads we exposed."
"Have you not concealed it?" asked the Pope.
"No." Teresa said, "The souls of those who participated were searched by necromancers. Many people left sequelae, and many people gave their lives."
The Pope paused, showing a sad expression, and then he drew a cross on his chest: "The God of Light will bless them, poor children. Damn the demons."
"Damn demons." Theresa also said it again, with hatred in his tone, but the pope didn't know who the hatred was aimed at.
"It seems that this attack has basically failed." The pope shook his head and walked down the steps with Teresa, "I didn't expect the demons to actually build the demon world. It was a mistake."
"I lost some precious hidden clues this time." Teresa sighed, "Your Majesty, forgive me, I think we'd better be more cautious in our future actions." Let's annex the mainland... Anyway, the longer the time drags on, the stronger the power of the demons will be.
"You're right, Teresa," said the pope, "but those children died for their faith, and they deserved to die, so you don't have to worry about it, but you need to bless them."
Theresa: "... oh."
okay. as long as you are happy.
"However, despite this, some of the impacts of our previous actions have been indelible to them. We can try this tactic more in the future. For example, next time, we can..." The Pope looked at the sunset in the sky with a compassionate expression.
Teresa's expression changed, and she finally bowed her head.
03.
The public voices about doubting the tour group have basically subsided, and many people have written to the magazine, hoping that His Majesty Greenwald can publicly express his views on this matter. There are more and more voices for this kind of petition, and it has become a mainstream voice for a while. Everyone is curious and expecting Hill to stand up.
Even Theodore ran over and asked twice.
In the end, Hill wrote this passage in the preface of the next issue of "Makai Magazine":
"I have known about this for a long time. It is not that simple behind this incident. There are other forces contributing to the flames, and similar remarks and even rumors will probably appear frequently in the future. The reason why I didn't respond is that I don't bother to respond. Others We use all kinds of means to suppress the demons and smear the demons, but we don’t need to say anything at all. Just showing the real demons is enough to slap them in the face. Back then, the church said how cruel the demon king is, how ugly the demons are, and how terrible the demon world is. Now You have also seen what we really look like. So I didn’t do anything, just implemented the previous plans step by step. I don’t think you need to pay attention to these things. Let’s watch "Iron Man 2" , will be released soon.”
There are no sharp words, and there are no passionate and demagogic words. Such a few words, but they are domineering and have the function of provoking people's hearts.
... In fact, these seemingly "inviolable" sentences are quite level.
He directly brought out the comparison between the rumors about the demons and the current demons for demonstration, and at the same time laid a psychological foundation for the public not to believe when encountering similar theories in the future.
Of course Hill understands that since the church has been rectified once, there will be a second and third rectification. The pope is not a vegetarian (triple meaning), he can appreciate the benefits of this kind of public opinion attack. The current behavior of the pope, firstly, he himself has studied this aspect, he can become the pope, he naturally has a way of controlling people's hearts, there are no accidents in this world; Is to learn the demons.
"Rumors stop at the wise, I believe everyone is wise."
In the end, Hill said this at the end of the preface.
The effect of these words is a bit like "The Emperor's New Clothes". "You don't believe in the demons" means that you are not a "wise person", because a "wise person" can "distinguish right from wrong", and in the general environment , I believe that the Mozu is correct. Hill has worked so hard to build it for so long, but behind him stands the whole earth, just a pope, a church, and a thousand-year heritage... How can it compare with him
"Everyone, ministers, city lords, famous people, officials, everyone, give them enough money to open a bargaining chip that they can't refuse."
There are thin snowflakes floating in the sky. The snowflakes are so small that they melt immediately when they fall on the body, which makes this snow as soft as the drizzle in spring. Hill sat in the carriage and said to McMillan Warren outside.
McMillan, who had just returned from the Fussen Empire, hesitated, and said: "But my lord, you may not know that now that the Church of Light is strictly investigating all kinds of things related to the demons outside, many people in Fussen have already suffered. implicated."
"Of course I know about this, so what I asked you to do is just send them money." Hill said kindly, "You don't need them to do anything, just send them money and things, that's all. .”
McMillan Warren used to be a trainee magician from the Fussen Empire. When he came to the Yulan Empire for a study tour, he was completely bewitched by the demon culture. Then Theodore made him a big businessman traveling between the Fussen Empire and the Yulan Empire. , specializing in the sale of demon goods. McMillan kept a low profile, so he narrowly escaped the Illuminati Church's thorough investigation a while ago, but some of his clients paid a terrible price for it. Today, under the impetus of the Church of Light, McMillan has suddenly changed from a human being inclined to the demon world to a human being completely inclined to the demon world. On the one hand, it is because of conscience, and on the other hand, it is for his own survival.
McMillan is not an idiot. He understood some of Hill's intentions after careful consideration. Although the temperature is still very cold, he felt sweat dripping from his back: "But my lord, some people may not be Moved by gold coins."
"Everyone has a bargaining chip, even the king." Hill said the treacherous and terrifying words calmly, "You investigate, do, do what they can't refuse. And I will also open A bargain you can't refuse."
McMillan froze for a moment: "What..."
Hill snapped his fingers, and a ball of flames flew out of the carriage, and fell quietly into the wind lantern in McMillan's hand, and then a voice sounded: "It's my first meeting, nice to meet you, I'm Owen, the fire elemental spirit."
Macmillan blurted out: "Can I have my own exclusive chef in the future?!"
When he said this, even Hill was speechless for a few seconds. After a few seconds, Hill said: "... It's fine if you ask him to cook, but I think the first reaction of a qualified magician is The Fire Elemental Spirit will lead you into the realm of the Great Magister."
Macmillan: "Um."
Macmillan blushed: "Sorry, sir, I'm a little too..."
"...Forget it, it's double happiness." Hill shook his head helplessly, and then he lowered the curtain, "Okay, so be it. You have shown your worth, but I hope you will go further, more to demonstrate their value.”
"Yes, my lord." McMillan saluted the carriage, and the flame in the wind lamp in his hand stopped flickering.
04.
milheim.
The bell of the Cathedral of Light rang for the last time. It was powerful and resonant, shaking the air, and gradually spread throughout the entire Winter City.
The Dark Pope Monroe and the Ice Emperor Claude stood side by side in front of the Light Church. The Ice Emperor Claude hesitated a little: "Do you really want to do this?"
"You don't have to," Monroe said.
Ice Empress Claude thought to himself that the Dark Pope was quite easy to talk to, and then he heard Monroe continue, "But I might secretly laugh at you for retreating."
Claude: "..." This is the same type as his object!
"But don't worry, Your Majesty, I won't say it out loud." Monroe continued.
The expression on Ice Emperor Claude's face became even more depressed: "Forget it..." He waved his hand, his expression became serious: "Set fire."
The soldiers next to them were ordered, and a team took torches and walked in, and all kinds of combustible materials had been poured into it in advance. As the torch was thrown into the church, Claude closed his eyes.
The flames spread fast and fast, the wood creaked, the pillars toppled, and the carved glass was blackened.
"Am I blasphemy?" Claude asked softly.
"If one of us blasphemes, it's me and not you," Monroe said.
Claude didn't know that Monroe was talking flirtatiously, so he sighed slightly. His heart was a little heavy. He thought maybe he would be relieved after today, and there would be no Church of Illuminati over his head from now on. , but now he still feels heavy. After all, the Church of Illuminati has been pressing on Mülheim for too many years, so his mentality can't be reversed for a while.
Monroe didn't look at the church anymore, but looked at the sky in the distance. His voice was still in the usual chatting tone. He was different from Hill, who always spoke in a leisurely manner, but his tone was serious. De: "To be precise, it's not about blasphemy, but about not letting the gods continue to blaspheme humans."
Claude looked at Monroe in a daze, but Monroe straightened his appearance: "I'll go back first, Your Majesty."
"Yeah." Claude nodded and said involuntarily: "Your Majesty, you used to be..."
"Since the investigation has been done, there is no need to ask for evidence." Monroe interrupted him.
Claude was silent for a few seconds and bowed: "You have worked hard."
"At least I'm fine now." Monroe seemed to smile, and then said, "At least I'm watching it collapse now."
The setting sun is like blood, the clouds in the sky are messy and broken, and they are all dyed red in different shades by the setting sun. There are golden splashes sprinkled on it, and the whole sky is mixed with various dazzling colors. Orange red is wrapped in dark red, shining gold. It is wrapped in bright red obliquely, like a beautiful dream that was smashed by the strong wind and spread on the sky. The birds in the distance are like black raindrops falling far into the sky. Everything is stunningly beautiful.
When Monroe turned to leave, the Cathedral of Light behind him collapsed.
"Iron Man 2" will be released tomorrow.
—