"I hope you can join us," Fina looked at Anulili's face, and said in her characteristic serious tone, "My lord, I need more strength."
I looked at Fina quite unexpectedly, feeling that this was not her behavior at all. The queen who had transformed herself into a cyborg, who had renounced all emotion, also maintained a lack of initiative after regaining her normal personality. Apart from enjoying the peaceful life after her abdication at home, and occasionally getting together with our family, she rarely has any interest in strangers: let alone Anu Lili, who is the first one today. A time to meet someone. In short, she is like a lazy shadow, and she has never been so "active" as she is today.
And more importantly - she calls me "Your Majesty" now. This is rare. On more relaxed occasions, Fina likes to refer to our family as "friends". Although this rigid way of addressing is a bit ridiculous, it is also one of the signs of her closeness to others. Only on very formal occasions did she refer to our family by titles like "Your Majesty" and "Sir".
"I read the newly updated information in the public information link, and I learned about the Melova people and those slave races." Fina looked at Anulili with some apologies, "I can understand, what you are doing now I have doubts about becoming a vassal of another powerful race again. The psychological trauma left by the Melova people is too serious. But I still want to give you a suggestion: don’t miss this opportunity. The acceptance of the people is important, but the survival of the race Sometimes it is necessary to put aside all emotional factors. The void is not as safe as you imagine. Races like us must unite and form a stronger camp in order to survive. As far as it is currently seen, accepting the support of the empire, Joining the family camp is the best shortcut."
People in the civilization community always have different ways of thinking from other ethnic groups. Whether it is Fina who has abdicated or their generals who are still on the front line, they are used to putting the continuation of the entire civilization first. This is an instinct rooted in their souls in the years of fighting against the shepherds: as long as the collective interest is guaranteed, they can give up all personal factors. This is somewhat similar to the Apostles of Xiling. Now I can also understand what happened to Fina's slightly abnormal behavior today. She must have been touched after learning about the deeds of those slave races: the latter also fought fiercely for freedom, although what they wanted to fight was just some arrogant false gods, which were different from the "" "The Shepherd" is not the same, but it still gives Fina a sense of identity as if she saw her past experience. The sufferings of those slave races may not have been less severe than those of the civilized community that were ravaged by shepherds. Fina hopes that these fateful races can let go of their grievances and become a member of the big family of the imperial family, just like they are now slowly letting go of their guard and establishing a normal diplomatic "complex" with the empire.
Of course, another reason is that she sincerely hopes that the power of the empire can be strengthened. Fina and I are good friends who once fought side by side, and now she is also influenced by the soul instinct of the Apostle Xiling. Her impulse to do something for the empire will not be weakened because she is now "retired".
"I..." Anulili was at a loss for words for a while, "Actually, I personally have no objection to this, Chen... I mean your Majesty the Emperor, who has helped all of us, and the resistance organizations basically know that the Empire and Melo The Wa are very different. But we have to take into account the reaction of the common people who just got out of brainwashing and haven't had time to understand what the Empire is all about...but I promise, I will try to push as many people as possible to understand the Empire. Although my race's technology is still very backward, there are many old slave races in our Thirteenth World who have superb technology, and even cross-world technology. They are more enlightened, and I believe they will let go of their grudges faster."
"Well, it's true that we can't force every intelligent creature to have the same high level of awareness as the apostles of Xiling or the citizens of the civilized community," Fina nodded seriously and analyzed, her blunt statement made Anulili feel embarrassed, "Actually I suggest you come to this totem square, just want you to take some information here. There is a storage device that can be taken away freely under the big monument, I hope you can take one back. These materials can let you understand the servants of the empire faster The military system, as well as the history of our families. Every imperial family has a great story—just as great as your experience of resisting tyrants. You will also know why these civilizations that have won from suffering will willingly follow Behind the Empire, and so loyal."
Under the guidance of Fina, Anulili found the place to copy the materials from under the nearest big monument. These memories have their own reading and playback devices, which are manufactured on-site by the auxiliary equipment of the monument base. People who visit the monument square can take these things freely. They are also the most valuable you can take away from Shadow City" Local specialties" one. As the empire grows, new heroes and epics continue to increase, and the totems on the monument square also continue to increase. These memories will also automatically download updated records from the empire data network. Anulili can take them back as a special gift, and I think these things will be more empowering than technological assistance.
However, when Anu Lili was copying the materials, I still couldn't help touching Fina's arm: "To be honest, I always feel that it's a bit inappropriate for you to invite people to join the team after letting people visit the Totem Square..."
"Did I do something wrong, friend?" Fina blinked in confusion.
"..." I don't know how to explain this feeling. To put it bluntly, it's like asking someone after reading the death list, "Hello, would you like to join the army?"
This kind of thing can really only be done by Fina, whose EQ is lower than Ding Dong's IQ...
When I pointed this out tactfully, Fina looked around the surrounding monuments blankly, her voice seemed a little embarrassed: "Well, my friend, I just think that this place can help this child understand the affairs of the imperial family as soon as possible, no think so much... "
"It's really nothing," my sister said with a gentle expression on her face. "The Monument Square does record the great sacrifices of these races along the way, but it also records the reason why each race is united. I have sacrificed my own freedom once. What they need now is a motivation to get rid of the past and join the Imperial Army. There is nothing bad here. I don’t think the things here can scare Anulili, and if it is a Civilizations with potential will only work harder after seeing these materials, and if they are frightened when they see what Anulili brings back—then there is no need to join the Imperial Army.”
At this time, Anulili had already got the storage device, and her mood seemed to become a little heavy along with the atmosphere in the square. "I'm going to bring this to everyone, for everyone to see," she said.
"Okay, let's go to the next place—there is a change of mood for you."
The group left the Monument Square, and Fina pushed her big ball again. For some reason, it seemed that as soon as they left this circular area, everyone's mood subtly relaxed: I think the rumbling Biberu contributed a lot in this process. Everyone took a shortcut to the Monument Square before, and actually bypassed the most magnificent World Tree in the middle, so the last stop today is naturally the Great Temple of the Goddess of Life. Although it does not belong to the imperial facility, but should be counted as the embassy of the star domain gods in the capital of the empire, it can still be regarded as one of the representative buildings of the shadow city.
If a large tree whose radius can be calculated in kilometers can also be counted as a "building".
In fact, on the way to the Monument Square, Anulili could see the majestic figure of the World Tree from a distance. It is so big that the faint shadow of the canopy almost covers half of the world. City, but looking at it from a distance, it is difficult for outsiders to associate those shadows with a giant tree. The same is true for Anulili: she dare not imagine that there will be such a "plant" in the world that can grow to such a level in a way that completely violates the laws of physics and biology.
In this way, the shocked expression she showed when she saw the real body of the World Tree was naturally easy to understand.
"This... what is this!!"
Bypassing the last crossing before the World Tree, this unprecedentedly large "plant" will jump into the eye in the most impactful way. Looking at it, there is no big arc at all, it is like a boundless high wall Like a dark brown tree trunk, and looking up along this trunk, only a dark green shadow like a sky can be seen, Anu Lili is almost incoherent.
The canopy of the World Tree blocks the sunlight, but the area below it is never completely dark. A kind of soft light particles permeates the ground a few centimeters around the giant tree. Stepping here is equivalent to stepping into the divine world. country's territory.
"This is the World Tree, the control center of the current universe. Well, just referring to the outside world, the control of the world in the capital is in charge of the computer room on the side of the Shadow Fortress," the elder sister introduced the front of her with a smile. Magnificent things, "You know, the real imperial area of the capital world is the shadow space. The space created by us, strictly speaking, the shadow space is the capital. As for the regular universe outside, the Xiling apostles generally don't bother to open it reason, so leave it to…”
"Leave it to Ding Dong!" There was a small cry from my pocket, and Ding Dong happily got out of it, "It's free! Ding Dong is amazing!"
Anulili doesn't understand what is called a world management terminal. In her opinion, planning and managing the basic parameters and laws in the universe is a story from the Arabian Nights: after my sister and I introduced it to her After the function of the World Tree, Anu Lili reacted like this. But sooner or later she will realize the reality of these things, and for now, we are simply opening her eyes.
I squeezed the jingle, swiped the card on the trunk of the World Tree with Little Douding's face, and then led Anulili into this magnificent temple. The World Tree looks like a plant, but its trunk is actually a teleportation device. After passing through this seemingly solid barrier, you can enter the temple garden.
This is not the first time we have come to the space inside the World Tree. It seems that there will be subtle changes every moment: the color of the sky, the surrounding plants, and even the distribution of trails will automatically change with the passage of time and the seasons outside. However, the overall layout here is stable: it may be designed to prevent the owner of the temple from getting lost. Passing through a hazy mist, we came to a space filled with chaotic light. There is no end to the space around, and the sun, moon and stars are not visible in the sky. Only the mysterious light full of life force covers everything. What was in front of me was a large-scale garden, and exotic flowers and plants covered the ground in a wild, unruly but uncluttered way. And at the end of the temple garden is the big house where Tinker should theoretically live: a Gothic cathedral. covered in vines.
"There are two ways to get to Avalon. One is to use the direct portal of Shadow City, and the other is to use the World Tree. If you go through the portal, you will not be able to see the scenery here—what, this place?"
I looked at Anulili with a smile, and wanted to see how she felt about this place that didn't fit the atmosphere of the empire at all.
The other party has seen too many things beyond imagination today, and she should have been numb to some extent, but the endless wonders of Shadow City gave her no time to numb. The sacred cathedral in front of him, and this entire incredible space are beyond reality. Anulili opened her mouth, and finally said: "...have we left Shadow City?"
"It feels different from the style of the empire, right?" My sister said with a smile, "It's really different. This is the style of the Starfield Protoss."
"Star God Race?" Anu Lili said in surprise, "Oh, by the way, I heard from those priests that the Goddess of Life is the Star God Race... So that's the case. Today... Today is really an eye-opener. Shadow City and It's completely different from what I imagined!"
"Then what should the Shadow City look like in your original imagination?" I asked curiously.
Anulili followed us, and while walking in the direction of the portal of Avalon, she described the imperial capital she imagined: "It should be full of magnificent alloy buildings, a very serious big city. The inside has distinct levels , the atmosphere is very solemn. After all, it is the city of gods, so people should all live a life of strict rules like monks. And at first I even thought that I had to learn a lot of court etiquette first! I thought it would be like I saw you in the palace, but I didn't expect it to be in that big square..."
"Well, the previous conjecture is quite unreliable, but the latter conjecture... Many people who came to Shadow City for the first time have said so," I scratched my hair in trouble, "Why does everyone think it must be in You can only see the emperor in the palace? You need to train a lot of court etiquette to talk to me?"
My sister smiled silently and looked at me without speaking.
"Well... probably a normal emperor should do this..."
I felt that this topic seemed a bit awkward, so I quickly diverted Anu Lili's attention: "Let's not talk about court etiquette, what do you think of Shadow City now?"
I really want to know what the other party thinks of this capital of all worlds. This is more or less a childish temper that I want to hear praise after showing off. Whether the "tour" is satisfactory. The latter thought for a while, and finally showed a very happy expression: "There is a feeling of surprise. Really.
Although I have always felt that the place where you live should be solemn and solemn. In a place like the capital of the empire, ordinary races should be graded as dense and live as if they were religious, but to be honest, I think the shadow city I see now... better. I didn't expect so many ordinary races to live together so happily. I didn't expect this place to look more like a tourist attraction than... the Kingdom of God. This place should belong to the Kingdom of God. According to you, this place is the place where gods live for mortals, but it is as lively as the big towns around us. To be honest, I thought those imperial families lived here like a barracks, but now it seems... it's more like a family. Don't worry, I will truthfully tell my people and the leaders of other races what I have seen. "
Speaking of this, Anulili took a special look at Fina, and added with a smile: "Actually, I had such a mission when I set off. The leaders of other races contacted me and asked me to transfer the Record everything, so I can tell them when I come back. They are still confused about the empire now, and they all want to know what it actually looks like, and they have to see it through their own eyes, not what is in the promotional materials. Probably after I go back, I will You will be surrounded by those curious guys.”
At the end, Anulili couldn't help laughing, but I suddenly asked a question:
"Since they also want to see the situation, why don't they come together?"
Anulili was taken aback: "...but I'm the only one who got the pass! This is the capital of the empire, right? Doesn't it require strict inspection to get in?"
I looked at the sky leisurely, and then said with a heavy tone: "Although the shadow city has restrictions on the number of people in the macro world, you are residents of the empire's direct jurisdiction, and each pass can bring at least 20 people..."
Anulili: "..."
"Although I only gave you a ticket, you can actually let those friends who want to join in the fun get a platform ticket, and then you can make up for the ticket when the gate of the world opens... Just look for those people wearing red hoops …”
Anulili: "..."
My sister finally couldn't help but sighed: "Well, although I really don't want to say it, but now for the mortal race under the empire, the steps from the mortal world to the God Realm are indeed similar to the train station..." RS