Civilization: Beyond Two Worlds

"Have we seen each other before?"

Tagris looked at Kang De with his green eyes and suddenly said this.

"…"

"…"

Although this meeting would never be officially recognized, as a scholar, Elandir was still prepared to record this far-reaching conversation… Then he heard this.

—Hey!

He looked at this extremely noble lord in surprise.

Generally speaking, things like "Have I seen you somewhere before?" were usually the start of a conversation. This routine originated from the elves, especially when the elves struck up a conversation with outsiders.

This was because elves had a long lifespan. When facing a young and beautiful human girl, their confident and handsome temperament was first outstanding, and then they asked if they had seen it somewhere before.

Then, he understood. Ah, XX years ago, I had a few encounters with an equally beautiful and generous girl. Could it be that you're her descendant?

In any case, the other party could not verify it—the next step was to perform freely.

The more classic method was to confide in her love and express regret after interacting with her for a period of time. XX years ago, although I was tempted when facing XX, I did not dare to speak for various reasons. Now, things have changed. She is no longer around and has become my eternal regret. I don't want to regret it a second time.

Usually, such a romantic, melancholic, and a little sad confession would immediately defeat the defense of most women. It was not because the elves were noble, elegant, generous, and handsome, but the country was awesome.

This routine was usually effective. After all, there was no Internet, and information exchange was not developed enough. The vast population did not have a place to "exploit the trash of the elves".

Even Elandir was an expert in this when he was young.

Of course, this was not the point.

Most importantly—why did you say that?! Do you know what you're talking about?

In an instant, dense shock and even panic flashed through the Elven Sage's eyes.

Tagris only stared at Kang De, as if he did not know the meaning of his words.

This noble elf royal indeed felt a familiar feeling from Kang De, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

What was this elf talking about?

Kang De frowned. This f*cking sounded like he was hitting on him. The other party was even a f*cking male elf, and he even looked like a bottom. What was the meaning of saying this to him?

"I've definitely never seen you before."

He said, "The elves who met me are all dead."

Alright.

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere changed drastically. The expressions of the elves all changed. Even Tagris was slightly stunned. In the diplomatic concept of the elves, it was one thing for that small cavalry leader to say evil words and have a provocative attitude, but the words of a leader like Kang De were another matter.

This almost set the tone of this visit and negotiation.

The aura of blood and fire never dissipated.

After being stunned, a trace of anger flashed through his eyes. He had lowered himself to come with good intentions, but the other party actually did not give him face—do you know what I'm here for?

He took a deep breath and said calmly, "Are they all dead? Didn't the former commander of the Dusk Legion, Therlandron, return alive? He even brought your message to the council."

Kang De said indifferently, "What's the difference between him and death?"

Tagris stared at Kang De and said in a low voice, "Indeed not. You destroyed the soul and everything of an elf warrior who's good at fighting and brave and fearless. This is even crueler than killing him."

Kang De smiled. "Is it cruel?"

"Cruel," Duke Tilling said. "Do you know the current situation of Therlandron?"

"I don't know, but I want to know."

The Elven Duke stared at Kang De with anger and curiosity. He said calmly, "As the person who personally experienced the Battle of Valentine and the highest-ranking officer who survived, after you released him, he was sent back to the capital by the expeditionary army as soon as possible and entered the council for a hearing."

"You cut off his arm and thigh. He used a walking stick to explain the situation for a few hours and dealt with the questioning of the council members. He's no longer a soldier. All his courage and unyieldingness have been exhausted. What appeared in the council is a dead soul that's already extremely timid and filled with regret."

"Only when facing the councilor's question on how to deal with your deterrence and this war did he raise his head for the first time and say in the strongest and firmest tone that he wanted peace."

"He said that innocent warriors should not sacrifice themselves for the ambition of a small number of people for nothing. He appealed to the councilors present to take out their decisions and conscience and end this war that should not continue. Otherwise, more blood will definitely flow next. He said that you are the most terrifying enemy he has ever seen."

"He's originally a young and strong officer of the pro-war faction. His future is bright and he's admired and thought highly of by many giants. In the parliament and politics, the balance of war doesn't depend on conscience and concepts, but on standpoint and interests."

"He betrayed his faction. His speech was used by the council members of the peace faction and became the best weapon to attack the political enemy. Therefore, the giants of the war faction were furious. He was angrily reprimanded and accused of being responsible for the death of 60,000 soldiers. He stripped all his military positions and honor on the spot. His family was also implicated and sent to the military prison. If not for the Empress, he would have died without dignity that night."

"And now, he…"

Duke Tiling stared at Kang De and said in a neither fast nor slow tone, "He was stripped of all his titles and honor. His family cut ties with him. He was exiled and lived on the streets. Although he won't die, he doesn't have any chance in front of the powerful public opinion machine of the pro-war faction."

"He was accused of being incompetent and weak, causing the destruction of tens of thousands of troops. The families of the dead soldiers believed this statement. He was humiliated, reviled, slandered, and despised, but he never explained. He called for peace, apologized, gave speeches, and lobbied, but very few elves paid attention to him. He became synonymous with a coward. Any shameful elf should have committed suicide after encountering this, but he still gritted his teeth and lived."

"From a high-spirited and outstanding general who was happy to hear about the battle to this. Your Highness Kang De, don't you think this is very cruel? I'm very curious why you did this and how you did it."

Kang De sneered, "Cruel?"

He pointed at Valentine behind him. "Do you want me to bring you around the city to hear the cries and see the way people look at you? Take a look at the houses that no one will live in anymore and see what the destroyed people in the urgently established Keats Court are like?"

"Do you want me to bring you to Valentine National Cemetery to take a look and count how many nobles died, how many soldiers died, and how many civilians died? How many children?"

"Why don't I bring you to another place to take a look and see the artistic creation where the entire village was wiped out by your cavalry and the father, daughter, and children were not spared? The entire village was burned to the ground and bones were piled together?"

Tagris had been listening. In the end, his expression suddenly changed. "This is impossible!"

Kang De raised his eyebrows and sneered, "What's impossible about that? As the hegemon of the world, your Twilight Dynasty is invincible. What's the point of killing a few commoners?"

When Duke Tilling heard about Valentine's casualties, he had been silent. However, when he heard Kang De mention the massacre of the village, his expression changed and he even retorted intensely.

"There's nothing to say about the battle between the two sides. Since it's a siege, collateral damage is inevitable. The Valentine Army suffered heavy casualties, and the six Elven Legions were completely wiped out. These are all the results of the war. Both of us have to accept it, but how can the Royal Army massacre the village and not even let go of the harmless women and children?"

Kang De said in surprise, "Heh, haven't you always been weak and hiding in the mage tower? You actually have such deep feelings for the army. Your military and civilian education are not bad."

Elandir's expression changed slightly, but Tagris did not react. He looked at Kang De and said coldly, "Please don't slander our soldiers."

"F*ck, is there a need to slander the invasion army?" Kang De raised his eyebrows and sneered, "You don't believe me? Do you think someone framed you? I saw it with my own eyes. Why lie to you?"

The elf's pupils constricted.

"When I came to Goethe's land, the first war wound I saw was a village that had been slaughtered and trampled. I caught up to that group of elf cavalry overnight and killed them cleanly. I used their blood to comfort the souls of the innocent who had died. I looked straight into their eyes and watched them die."

Kang De's eyes were sharp and calm as he looked at the other party.

This important figure of the Elven royal family revealed a shaken and unbelievable expression.

"These elves don't think their actions are wrong. That elf kept saying that he was fighting for the Empress and wanted to bring justice and a better life to the Goethe people. He sincerely thought that this war is righteous, but he didn't realize that he's done something like a demon."

"Gigolo, you're curious why Therlandron became like this?"

"I didn't turn him into this. I didn't use any terrifying spells or brainwash him. He realized it himself and saw it."

"The essence of this war."

"The brave soldiers died like weeds. They were worthless and turned into pools of rotten meat. Over there, they carried a heart of passion, but they fought for the interests and ambitions of a small number of people. They walked with death on the battlefield, twisted and crazy, became demons, lost themselves, and then died. In the end, they became a string of cold numbers, but the important figures did not care at all… This is this d*mned war."

"Duke, you definitely don't understand."

"You don't look like you understand at all."

Kang De looked at Tagris, who had fallen into shock. He naturally reached out and patted the other party's cheek. It was actually much softer than he had imagined.

Elandir's eyes widened. He subconsciously wanted to reprimand him sternly, but before he could do anything, a sense of danger enveloped his heart. The red-haired woman beside Kang De stared at him.

Tagris did not even recover and looked at Kang De in a daze.

"How boring. He's indeed a gigolo hiding in an ivory tower."

Kang De sneered, "Duke Tiling, a famous scholar who calls for peace and improves the lives of the people and is admired by countless elves, the famous figure of the peace sect… is only an idiot who takes things for granted."

He looked at Hong San and smiled, "You're right. The peace faction of the elves is still the elves."

Elandir could no longer hold back and said in a low voice, "Your Highness Kang De, please show us respect."

Kang De laughed, "Strange, the invaders stepped onto other people's territory and still want respect?"

Elandir said coldly, "Even if there's a massacre, it's not the responsibility of my Highness. He came here with peaceful goodwill. You shouldn't…"

"F*ck, isn't he from the royal family? Isn't he enjoying all the dividends brought about by the powerful national strength of the elves and the battle of conquest? Why isn't he responsible? Coming here with good intentions? Are you sure?"

Kang De rolled his eyes and said, "If you say that, in the future, when I bring troops to your Elven capital and capture your queen alive, you'll come to tell me that she's not the one who sent troops to fight, and I'll let her go?"

Elandir and Tagris' expressions changed. The Elven experts could no longer endure it, and a terrifying might rose.

On the other hand, the gorilla took a step forward and confronted him head-on. Golden light shone in its eyes. Kang De Dragon circulated his divine power and raised his chin, shouting, "Fight? You want to fight, right? Alright, come, attack. Kill me here. If you can't kill me, wait to go back and burn paper offerings to your capital and the Empress!"

The other party was so crude and rude. Logically speaking, they should fight to the death. However, when they heard this, Elandir and the other elves subconsciously looked at Tagris.

This was because they had never encountered such an enemy.

Moreover, they were not confident in keeping the other party here forever.

Anger lingered in Tagris' eyes. It was unknown which sentence Kang De had triggered, but the impact of Kang De's previous words had not dissipated. At this moment, he was not only angry.

Moreover, Kang De always gave him an extremely familiar feeling.

It made him subconsciously not want to be enemies with the other party.

Therefore, Duke Tiling said coldly, "It sounds like His Highness Kang De doesn't want to talk anymore?"

Kang De smiled and said, "Of course, I want to talk. If a fool comes to give me money, why not talk?"

Tagris said in a low voice, "Then you should give us respect. This is diplomacy, a negotiation between two countries. You're discrediting yourself and Goethe by saying rough words like a rogue."

"Respect is mutual, gigolo. If you don't have the most basic understanding of the nature, meaning, and harm of this war, then we don't have to talk."

"I'm usually a scholarly and easy-going person, but this is Valentine. The dead and living are looking at me. Of course, I'll say whatever I think."

Kang De took a deep breath, "Then let's talk. I don't think there's a need to enter the city. If you don't want those elves' corpses to explode in the wilderness, give us money. Let's negotiate the price here. We'll pay with one hand and give the goods with the other. After we're done, we'll continue fighting. If you can't agree, we'll continue fighting."

…