Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1054 Is it because she is a real witch?
"This world is beyond repair, so we will create a new one."

Tiantis described her proposition as follows: "That is the world I promised you: all things are born equal, from the same source, there will be no magic or anything else that distinguishes them from the innate and acquired. The strength of the strong is only temporary, and the weakness of the weak is only temporary. They will all disappear and return to eternal peace. Bailong, we have worked so hard for so long, and this goal is within reach - as long as you are willing to abandon the burden called morality, you can reap the fruit called ideal. I know this is a very difficult thing, but that is why it requires decisiveness and determination. A sense of identity is important, but in the final analysis -"

She paused for a moment, then smiled. It was difficult for Bai Long to describe that smile. It seemed to be a mixture of four parts of ambiguous expectations, three parts of ruthless self-mockery, two parts of indifferent declarations, and one part of sincere pity. In the long years that this young man had memories, he had only seen this kind of smile once, and that was this time: "For us who have embarked on this path, what is the meaning of moral choice?"

Bai Long couldn't refute it.

Indeed, the Witch Society is an organization based on ideals rather than morality. Perhaps some naive people would associate idealism with the moral sense in the hearts of humans, believing that they are inseparable, but Bolong is already past that age. The hunters in Mount Sosen and the fires in the dark night of the Void Root Swamp all prove that the road to idealism is actually forged with blood and fire. They are not soft even when dealing with their own kind - the religious believers whose faith has been destroyed, the magicians whose lives have been taken away, and the natives whose homes have been invaded on the continent across the sea, don't they belong to the selected group of "human beings"? But as long as the society needs them, they are also placed on the scale to measure their value.

From the beginning, Bai Long should have understood that the Witch Society did not choose "human beings" but a "group that can be used". What do they use humans for? Naturally, to create that ideal new world.

Today, Tiantis has simply stripped away the "humanity", but the ideal has never changed. Therefore, Tiantis can naturally say that moral choices are meaningless. The association never cares about the scale in people's hearts, it only cares about the weight on both ends of the scale.

Bai Long asked himself, how much can my weight tip the scale?
He thought, probably not a lot.

"I don't understand." He finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "Why are you so obsessed with my attitude, Tiantis? Even if I make a choice, I'm afraid it will be useless - this is not something that can be decided by one or two people, unless you have more expectations of me."

But he was just a researcher, and he was studying some theories that had already been proven. Thinking of this, Bai Long found it a little ridiculous. He never could guess what Tiantis was thinking.

"Of course - it's not just your choice." Tiantis gave him a meaningful look and said, "Everyone must make a choice. It is actually an opportunity. I give them the same right as you - the right to choose between ideals and morals."

"Everyone?"

"Everyone."

Tiantis nodded firmly. "Humans are always good at deceiving themselves. Only when they understand that the road they are on has no future, will they seriously consider other options. If nothing unexpected happens, the researchers who participated in this project with you have probably revealed part of the content of this report to those who want to know, such as Victoria, Frederick, or Charles, through various means - sometimes hidden hints, and sometimes unintentional slips of the tongue. I know they have been trying to grasp some confidential information of the association, but they are unwilling to let themselves go deeper into this system. Perhaps the mentality of secular rulers is the same - they want to get something, but are unwilling to give anything."

"No!" Bai Long shook his head painfully, as if doing so could get rid of the words he had heard and keep his memory at the state of one minute ago. He said sadly: "They won't do that. The Reality Project is a research project with the highest confidentiality level. If any information is revealed, it will undoubtedly violate the confidentiality principle of the association. And I know they are definitely not the kind of people who are willing to sell their conscience for personal gain..."

"That's why I said you were naive, Bailong."

Tiantis interrupted him: "You really think that conscience is something without a price tag, but as far as I know, each of them already has his own inclination, either this or that - they are all groups composed of interests. In the past, I protected the association very well and refused to intrude on ideas other than idealism; but later, when I began to learn to relax power, secularism and politics were naturally attracted, like hyenas smelling carrion. What's more -"

What's more, the researchers who participated in the project were all carefully selected by me, except for you and Fei. They are indeed very capable, but they also have selfishness equal to their abilities. They participated in this project first to gain honor and help themselves go further, and secondly to achieve their unknown ideals. But they know that this idea will definitely not be allowed by the real association's top leaders, such as Fei and Bailong, so they have to settle for the second best and move closer to other interest groups.

But there was no need to tell Bailong the truth, not because he could no longer bear the successive blows, but because Tiantis felt that these were just trivial matters and would not affect the final result.

She avoided the topic. "No matter what, since Victoria and the others have learned the news, they will definitely not just stand there and watch without any reaction. But they need to wait for a signal, such as observing my attitude. If I announce in time that I will give up the Reality Plan and choose a more gentle way to transform the world, such as the Magic Plan you just proposed, it will also be in their interests, so they will still support me, and will still closely surround the association and work hard for our common cause... But what if it is not the case? If I announce at the next witch meeting that I will carry out the Reality Plan to the end, even if it means destroying mankind to create an absolutely ideal world, how do you think they will react, Bailong?"

"That will be a disaster." Bai Long shook his head in disbelief and squeezed out a sentence from his throat almost groaning: "You will destroy the Witch Society, Tiandis. Is this what you want to see? You clearly have many ways to avoid this situation, even if those methods may not be perfect."

As the leader of the association, Tiantis has every right to form a private army that belongs only to her to collect the holy relics or religious relics that contain the power of faith on her behalf. This army can be in the hands of someone who trusts her absolutely to ensure that no leaks occur. For example, the dread witch Fei Er, who has been on a mission outside, is a good choice. In contrast, acting under the guise of a real plan is extremely crude, and it even makes people suspect that she actually leaked the news intentionally.

But he was not wrong. Tiantis did create this situation deliberately. As for the reason, she had just pointed it out.

"choose."

She said calmly, indifferent to Bai Long's questioning: "I will give everyone the right to choose, just as they chose this path in the first place. Of course, I can continue to induce them to work for my ideals through concealment and deception, but what's the point of doing that? I understood a truth a long time ago, that is, concealment and deception will not bring the results you want, and I understand it from personal experience. So I let you be one of the main persons in charge of the reality plan. I will provide all the research materials you need, and I don't mind you spreading the most important results, even though you think it needs to be kept confidential - but from now on, the association will have no confidentiality at all. You humans have discovered the biggest secret in the world with your own hands. Naturally, other secrets are no longer important. Only choice is important." At this moment, Bai Long understood what Tiantis meant.

But he would rather not have understood, just as he would rather Tiantis concealed and deceived him from the beginning. He has never been a weak character, but anyone who knows that the cause he has always insisted on is just to destroy his ideals in another way will come to the same conclusion - and can only come to this conclusion.

"Does it have to go this far, Tiantis?"

Bai Long found it difficult to understand her thoughts. He was tormented by being caught between himself and his emotions. "What is the Witch Society to you? And what are I and we?"

Bai Long believed that Tiantis was not without feelings for the Witch Society, but was just a tool to use at will, which could be seen from her past attitude: she was gentle, kind, and approachable, and she never put on airs even when talking to the most ordinary members; she would be happy, angry, and would make one or two harmless jokes; she still remembered the members who walked side by side with her at the beginning, and the names of each philosopher before they abandoned their original identities; she often grieved for the departure of close friends such as Plato and Galileo, and was always impressed by the nobleness and selflessness of Joan of Arc, and even personally named two constructed mechas to commemorate the two old friends who unfortunately died in the Steam Holy War, Dayan, the Knight of the Starry Sky, and Midei, the Son of the Star Cup. Her emotions were so abundant that no one would think she was a cold-blooded and ruthless person, but only thought it was slander and suspicion from the outside world.

But it was this person who started the research on the power of faith as soon as the Steam Crusade ended, and started the reality plan as soon as the research results came out, which shows that she had almost no hesitation when she decided to abandon the Witch Society. However, no one with normal emotions would be so decisive. Even if they abandoned a pet, they would hesitate for a long time, followed by a deep sense of guilt. What's more, it was not a pet, but an organization she founded with her own hands, and countless like-minded partners gathered together for her ideals.

Could a person's thoughts and actions be so separated? Bai Long seemed to recognize the black-haired, black-eyed girl for the first time, and saw a deep compassion brewing in her obsidian-like eyes.

"friend."

She whispered, "I undoubtedly regard you as a friend, Bailong. Perhaps when I first saved you, I just wanted to find a human being who could be used, because at that time I didn't feel that I needed any friends. There was only anger and a strong desire in my heart. But later I found that you are a good person, not only you, but also Fei, Plato, Galileo... You are all friends I recognize. Your character, conduct, and ability are impeccable. I am proud of you and proud of our common ideals and careers. If possible, of course I want a perfect solution more than anyone else to solve all the contradictions in this world. We will all get what we want, isn't that great?"

"But……"

"But," Tiantis gently interrupted Bailong. She picked up a chess piece from the chessboard, the queen chess piece with cracks on its surface, and placed it in front of Bailong's king chess piece. She spoke in a low voice, with emotions more complicated than the night that was falling: "I am the witch of reality, dear Bailong."

A happy ending for everyone only exists in a fantasy world.

But the reality is that it is impossible to satisfy everyone.

Bai Long's breathing suddenly stagnated and he felt deathly heavy.

"Make your choice as soon as possible, Bolong." Tiantis reached out her hand and slightly smoothed the wrinkles on the young man's collar caused by his startled movements. The researcher's white robe really suited him and had an elegant temperament. However, her impression of him always came from the young man who fled in the great forest of Ergolan. He was pale and panicked, but he insisted on not succumbing to what he believed to be evil. Such a person, in such a chaotic era, would surely die if he did not get the protection of others. Tiantis protected him, although she admitted that it was only out of a mentality of exploitation.

The value of being exploited is actually far greater than the value of the person himself.

"You are far more valuable than you realize, Bolong."

She said so sincerely: "There will be many people who will try to win you over. Some of them have their own purposes, some are unspeakable, and some are open and generous. You like some of them and hate others. This is normal. In any case, make a decision based on your emotions, not morality, because sincere emotions will never hurt anyone. Of course, no matter what choice you make, whether you continue to follow me or want to leave me, as long as it is a sincere choice, I will be happy for you."

Her eyebrows curved slightly, and her smile was so gentle and ordinary: "After all, I am a witch of reality."

Same sentence, different meanings.

Bai Long was dazed for a moment by this smile, then slowly closed his eyes. He was grateful, sad, confused, but also in so much pain that he couldn't utter a word.

This is what reality means.

Give me some meow