Mystery: A Spark

"But in the future, war is inevitable."

"Among the four great powers of the Northern Continent today, there are almost no two without conflicts. Their territories are intertwined, and they all have disputes over interests. Under such circumstances, peace is nothing but a beautiful fantasy."

Bernadette took two steps forward, stared at Arthur, and said:

"So, you intend to fuel the war?"

“Why not?” Arthur asked with a smile.

“I don’t like war. Your answer is so blunt. Aren’t you afraid I’ll ruin your plans?” Bernadette’s eyes turned cold.

"Madam, if you really wanted to cause trouble, you certainly wouldn't be here now."

“Besides, you no longer have the ability to stop this plan,” Arthur said with a smile.

“Oh? Is that so?” Bernadette asked.

"Madam, do you know what the key to the success or failure of a change lies in?" Arthur's posture became slightly more casual.

Bernadette stared quietly at Arthur, making no move to play the straight man.

Arthur stroked his chin, feeling that performing a one-man show was getting a bit boring, and said:

"The success of the reform lies in whether a new interest class with strong fighting power has been created."

Among the reform efforts of various states during the Warring States period in China, only Shang Yang's reforms truly ensured that the reforms continued even after his death.

The key lies in the fact that the military merit system he proposed after conducting on-site investigations of the Qin state created a large number of military nobles with strong combat capabilities.

Anyone who dares to sabotage the reforms is essentially digging up the roots of these military aristocrats, and will certainly be executed without a burial place.

Simply put, it refers to the new interest class created by the new law. They will naturally fight desperately to protect the new law because it is the fundamental source of their status and position.

Without the new law, they would be like rootless duckweed, easily uprooted.

Compared to Shang Yang's reforms, most of the reforms implemented in other countries at that time, and even in later generations, were merely stopgap measures rather than addressing the root causes.

Whether it's purifying officialdom or reforming the military system, these measures can only achieve temporary results. As soon as the person in charge of the reform or the monarch who supports it dies, the reform will naturally perish under the attack of reactionary forces.

What Arthur is doing is essentially creating a new vested interest class.

This was a new community supported by the Earth Church and the Steam Machinery Church, primarily composed of workers and farmers.

Most importantly, this process of change cannot be stopped, not even by Arthur himself.

Because this is equivalent to laying a new track in front of the wheels of time that were originally stuck.

Then, he gave the wheels of time a hard kick from behind.

And so, that's how this car started driving!

This wheel rolls forward, either shattered by the resistance of boundless power, or crushing all opposing forces, speeding towards the unknowable future.

Just like a line from a movie says:

What I have accomplished cannot be reversed.

because……

"Madam, if you want to ruin this plan, either kill me before I reveal it and attract the attention of those two gods."

"Or, you could go and take down those two gods who support this plan..."

Arthur stretched out his palm and gestured across his neck, a confident smile spreading across his face.

In fact, the real starting point of this plan was on the Future, under Bernadette's watchful eye.

Therefore, Bernadette actually had the opportunity to nip Arthur in the bud before he even proposed the plan.

However, due to various reasons, Bernadette not only let Arthur board the ship, but also let him meet with Frank, which led to the emergence of this plan.

Therefore, Bernadette herself was actually one of the driving forces behind this plan.

Having thought of this, Bernadette gritted her teeth and said:

"You're deliberately provoking me; you're trying to anger me, aren't you?"

Yes, because people's IQ drops when they get angry... Arthur shook his head and said:

"No, I'm just telling the truth, ma'am. Can't you feel the sincerity in my words?"

“Indeed sincere. Then tell me, what should I do with you?” Bernadette frowned her beautiful eyebrows and sneered.

“Madam, you are now the knife and the cutting board, and I am the fish under your knife. How you want to deal with me is entirely up to you,” Arthur said calmly.

The main reason he wanted to have this conversation with Bernadette tonight was actually to reach a consensus with her on ideas and goals.

Because Bernadette was his important partner, and at the same time, her thinking was relatively open-minded in this mysterious world.

If Arthur can't even convince Bernadette, then he can forget about convincing anyone else to join his cause.

In fact, even people who initially share the same goals may eventually go their separate ways.

For example... uh... for example, Zhang Muzhi and his good brothers.

Chapter 152 This is my will.

In a sea of ​​pink petals.

Arthur and Bernadette stood facing each other, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

Bernadette frowned and looked at Arthur quietly.

After a while, she took two steps back, leaned back, and sat on a bench woven from green pea vines.

Her voice was much calmer, no longer showing obvious emotional fluctuations:

"Tell me your thoughts. You should know my personality, yet you still looked at the contents of the Red Priest's card with me back then. This means you had already anticipated that I would come to you to get to the bottom of things, right?"

Tsk tsk, this woman is really perceptive… Arthur raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips, and said:

“Madam, I was able to see the Red Priest's Tablet because of your help. How could I possibly exclude you?”

"That expedition to the underground ruins was because you gave me information that allowed me to find the opportunity to ascend to angelhood. I owe you a favor. If you don't want me to see the contents of the Red Priest's Card, you can just ask, and I certainly won't insist."

Bernadette rested one hand on the armrest of the bench, propped her chin on it, and said:

"But you didn't make a similar request, or even show any hesitation in your expression. This means that either you don't care about this matter, or you've already been planning what will happen later."

"Based on what I know about you, I'm more inclined to believe the latter."

Arthur said with a hint of helplessness:

"Madam, do you really think of me as a scheming person who plans three steps ahead for every one step I take? That's so unfair to me."

"I am a simple and straightforward person. I always say what I think and I have no guile. You actually think I am a cunning old fox. This is really hurtful."

After saying this, Arthur covered his face with his hands, looking very sad and upset.

"Ha, don't try to play these little tricks on me. Do those words like 'simple and straightforward,' 'without guile' even have a hair's breadth of connection with you?"

Bernadette looked at Arthur, who was covering his face with his hands, and said irritably:

"Back when we were on the Future, little Arthas was a naive and innocent little guy. But look at him now, what have you turned him into?"

She gets angry just thinking about it. The puppy was not only cute, but also very smart and intelligent, and had a somewhat silly personality.

So Bernadette really liked the puppy and took it with her for a while to train it.

Later, when she was in Rune, the puppy would come to play with her from time to time, which was fine.

However, on her way back to Rune this time, she accidentally sensed the puppy's trail and decided to go and take a look. Good heavens, she found herself to be utterly amazed.

It hasn't been that long, and that innocent little puppy has already learned to cheat and deceive, and can spout all sorts of sarcastic and obscene language with ease.

Little Arthas is definitely fine. After all, what bad intentions could a puppy that's only a few months old have?

So the one with the problem must be Arthur. He claims to be simple, straightforward, and without any guile, but Bernadette doesn't believe a word of it.

You can tell from the way he corrupted the puppies that he's taught them that he's definitely not a good person.

Arthur lowered his hand from his face and said with some surprise:

"Arthas... what's wrong with it? Wasn't it fine?"

"That's fine... Anyway, let's get down to business. I want to hear your true thoughts," Bernadette said, sounding somewhat weary.

"Okay, then I'll say it."

Arthur became serious and said:

"Madam, do you agree with my view that the current peace among nations is only temporary and that war will break out again sooner or later?"

Bernadette lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then nodded and said:

"Indeed, it will likely be a few years, or even more than a decade, before another war breaks out again."

"So, madam, peace is not something that comes by waiting; it is something that must be fought for, even at the cost of bloodshed and sacrifice," Arthur said with a sigh.

"What do you mean by 'strive and fight'?" Bernadette asked Arthur.

Arthur paced slowly and said unhurriedly:

"In today's world, many countries coexist. In the northern continent alone, there are four large countries and three small countries, not to mention the southern continent with East Bailang and West Bailang. In addition, there are so many islands at sea."

He stopped in his tracks, turned to look at Bernadette, and said:

"Madam, it is completely impossible to expect so many countries to develop together in harmony without any conflicts."

"People in these countries use different languages, different scripts, and have different cultures, which makes it difficult for people from different countries to communicate. In fact, conflicts may arise due to differences in culture and moral values."

"Furthermore, the Extraordinary World is also chaotic. Putting aside the seven major righteous churches, there are also a lot of various secret organizations, such as the Psychological Alchemy Society, the Aurora Society, the Witch Cult, the Secret Order, etc. They each have their own ideas and goals, and many even regard terrorist attacks as their main mission."

"Moreover, among these twenty-two extraordinary paths, aside from those that are already taken at the top, the rituals required to advance to the highest point through the remaining extraordinary paths inevitably involve causing harm and great disasters."

"The most typical example of this is the Red Priest."

Arthur walked up to Bernadette, looked down at her, and said:

"Madam, do you think that with the extraordinary path of the Red Priests, who wield the power of war, at its highest level, there is no one in control, can this world truly achieve peace?"

Bernadette's eyes flickered slightly as she said:

"So what you're trying to tell me is that you're heading towards this goal, to seize the power of war, for the sake of world peace?"

"Even if you become the Red Priestess, how will you bring peace to the world?"