Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 1132: Chapter 1131: Gawain’s Sense of Urgency

Some things, Gawain can calculate clearly in his heart, and as the Empress of Silver, Queen Belsetia can certainly understand them too. She knows very well that these high-tech looking antenna arrays are technologies firmly controlled by the Cecil Clan, and that mastering these antennas is the only gateway to dialogue with that "signal" (if it can indeed converse). Gawain claims he wants to launch this listening project together with all the countries of the alliance, but will he also open the door’s key?

Obviously, it’s impossible. Gawain might be a generous ruler, but he is first and foremost the leader of the Cecil Empire. Such an uncertain venture, he cannot entrust its initiative to outsiders.

Yet even so, Belsetia is willing to accept this ’invitation’ gladly. Since the Cecil Empire has acquired the core technology and the ’early advantage,’ it is quite normal and natural for them to lead this listening project. However, the remaining ’participation rights’ are equally important, especially for the Silver Empire, which is not weak in technical prowess. As long as the elves can participate in this project, they are confident in gaining their own share of future technical outcomes.

Of course, whether the signal behind this is a blessing or a curse... depends on how the future unfolds.

"When do you plan on announcing this to the public?" After a brief silence, Belsetia suddenly asked, "I mean... announcing it to the entire society... Do you plan to release such information to the common people?"

Speaking the last words, the Empress of Silver seemed a bit hesitant. She knew that one of Gawain’s current goals is to "push knowledge to the masses, return thinking to the people," to the greatest possible extent "make the populace knowledgeable," in order to reduce the awe and deification tendency of all mortals towards the unknown. She understood the necessity of doing so, but now confronted with a secret pointing to an untouched unknown world by humans—she became hesitant.

Do ordinary people who lack knowledge... really have the capacity to accept such things? After being exposed to such secrets, are they really not going to generate new beliefs in their contemplation of the mystical starry sky?

Gawain could greatly understand Belsetia’s concerns; it really is complex, so it also took him a moment of contemplation before he broke the silence, "This might be the first challenge facing the theocracy Authority Council after its establishment—when cutting-edge technology suddenly touches areas beyond common understanding, and even into theological realms, how to explain everything to the public in a way that ensures a smooth transition, allowing blind awe to land safely under the rational logic’s soil."

"We have to confront this issue head-on because as long as our technology continues to develop, similar situations will always arise. Today, it’s a signal from the starry sky, tomorrow it might be an explanation of the shadow realm or even understanding the source of magic power—if we evade explaining these to the public, it’s essentially no different from past ’deification’, with public doubts and reverence for advanced technology accumulating more and more, eventually breeding ’theological interpretations’ targeting new technologies, possibly leading to entities like Machine God Cult, Techno-God."

Belsetia raised an eyebrow, "You mean that this signal and the series of explanations around it should indeed be made open to the public?"

"It should be open, but with full consideration for public opinion guidance and the habitual thinking of the masses, in a gradual, limited, and controlled manner," Gawain said thoughtfully, his mind working rapidly. At this moment, he suddenly realized what the mysterious signal might bring is probably not just a ’greeting from the heavens’ so simple; in a way, it can even serve as a ’real-world drill’ after the establishment of the theocracy Authority Council. Although it came unexpectedly, this ’unexpectedness’ is precisely one of its values. "We need to recognize that ordinary people’s level of knowledge and their thinking ways are different from real astrologers, so we cannot communicate with the common people in the same way we do with scholars..."

"We should first focus on ’popularizing’ the professional knowledge, converting technical terms into language that at least six to seven tenths of the general public can understand. We need some less serious propaganda platforms and speakers to explain—or rather reinterpret—those astronomical concepts that have become upper-class common knowledge since Gondor’s time. Of course, even after explaining this way, they might not truly grasp the differences between stars and planets, but at least they will understand one thing, that ’the world in the sky’ is also understandable, not beyond reach but within the sight of mortals."

"We cannot start by telling them what ’interstellar communication’ means, as it’s easy for ill-intentioned individuals to guide it as a divine revelation or some sort of omen..."

"In addition to official statements, we also need widespread grassroots guidance. We need people to move among the public and observe, know what people are discussing in taverns and squares. We need to organize a vast number of influential speakers who are convincing to ordinary people. These speakers may not be true experts, but in the eyes of the public, what they say is much more relatable and trustworthy than scholars full of obscure words. We should manage these ’speakers’; if they already exist, we should integrate them, if not, we should build them from scratch."

"The public’s minds are not inherently ignorant, but they are uncultivated fields, and if we do not cultivate them, they are easily occupied by ignorant and blind thoughts..."

Gawain spoke while thinking, occasionally pausing to better organize his language and thoughts. He continued to talk about many details, leaving Belsetia and Beltira with pensive expressions, and at last, he did not forget to add:

"Additionally, Belsetia, you must remember that the purpose of all our ’propaganda’ and ’publication’ is not to pursue one hundred percent accuracy and detail—too accurate and detailed technical information would be difficult for the public to understand and they wouldn’t like it. We must ensure these things are not erroneous in main directions and conform to facts in basic concepts, but the main purpose of these things is to..."

"Make ordinary people think," Belsetia nodded before Gawain could finish, "to let them not habitually fall into awe and theological interpretations when facing unknown things, but to learn to use logic to attempt understanding everything—even if their shallow understanding is incorrect, it’s important that they don’t immediately consider that signal as the voice of a god."

"Exactly, that’s the most important work of the theocracy Authority Council," Gawain nodded, "It seems you’ve already understood my theory— which is rare."

Saying this, he couldn’t help but sigh, "To this day, even in the Cecil Clan, many believe that I want to completely educate the public, and dream that everyone can think rationally and be wise and erudite... Alas, even I don’t dare think about that."

As Gawain and Belsetia earnestly discussed, Beltira on the side remained silent for a long time, seemingly pondering something. Only after the discussion beside her concluded did she suddenly say: "Even so, it remains unavoidable that some might use the topics surrounding the signal and stars to mislead the public. They might be ill-intentioned politicians, conservative priests eager to find a breach under the pressure of the theocracy Authority Council, or even cult elements with ulterior motives from the start... The situation may be better in the Cecil Clan, but not all countries can achieve effective control over society, and when such situations occur, the populace will become a breeding ground for heterodoxies."

"Should such situations arise, perhaps we would have no choice but to invoke the Arbitration Court of the Authority Council," Belsetia watched Beltira’s eyes as she said, "Of course, that is a last resort—if we can achieve the goal through widespread instruction, common sense enlightenment, and emancipation of thoughts, we could do without violent measures."

At this, the elf ruler suddenly took a long breath, a slight smile under the starlight, looking at Gawain beside her, "What you’ve just mentioned is very enlightening to me—I’ve held the reins of an empire for seven centuries, sometimes even considering myself a successful ruler, but now it seems... there’s still a lot in the world worth learning from."

"These insights don’t sound like something Uncle Gawain could summarize, is it a teaching from the ’Outland Wanderer’?"

"Does it make a difference?" Gawain smiled, "We are already a singular entity, even if what I just discussed largely comes from the ’Wanderers from Outer Realm’, its details are built upon Gawain Cecil’s understanding and comprehension of this world."

"That’s true," Belsetia chuckled softly, a hint of emotion, "All things considered, what you just said... implementing it won’t be an overnight affair. It seems there’s a need for me to go back and think it over carefully."

She turned around, with her back to the antenna array behind her, and gave a slight bow to Gawain: "It’s already late, so I shall retire for now—can you continue to show me around this magical place tomorrow?"

"Of course," Gawain nodded with a smile, and said to Beltira beside him, "Please escort her back."

Just as Gawain finished speaking, he heard a rustling sound coming from the depths of the leaf sea nearby, followed by a large cluster of flowering vines suddenly blooming and spreading from the overlapping leaves. Amidst the movement of the vines, another avatar of Beltira emerged from them and elegantly approached the Silver Empress, "I will take you to your resting place—Yilian has been waiting for you for quite some time."

The Silver Empress looked at the two Beltiras before her with some surprise, then presented a graceful smile, following behind the second avatar that appeared, turning to leave the platform where the antenna array was located.

Until the other’s figure disappeared, leaving only Gawain and Beltira on the treetop under the night sky, Gawain glanced at the latter: "Can you now simultaneously create and control two avatars?"

Beltira smiled slightly, her face carrying a hint of pride and cunning: "I have many brains."

Gawain: "..."

Some images of madness flickered across his mind, and Gawain nearly shivered in this warm summer night. He quickly shook his head, casting off those mental pollution associations, then fell into contemplation.

After a brief consideration, he looked at Beltira and spoke solemnly: "I remember you mentioned that your main body can still continue to grow... and it has considerable room for further growth?"

"Theoretically... if we only consider ’growth’, the Sorin Giant Tree’s growth potential has not actually reached its limit, and even I myself do not know how large this limit might be," Beltira pondered seriously, wording cautiously, "But in reality, many things need to be considered—firstly, whether such a massive nutrient supply can be ensured, and secondly, how to guarantee stability for such an enormous structure. These two aspects are fairly manageable; I can consciously adjust the new branches and root systems to ensure the structural strength and nutrient supply of the giant tree..."

"Then there’s the environmental carrying capacity to consider. My tree crown has now influenced the entire Sorin Plains’ ecosystem, and under conscious control, this influence has reached a beneficial balance for the time being. But if the tree crown continues to extend, I’ll have to incorporate the entire Plains of the Holy Spirits’ ecological system into the equation, which will result in too many unforeseen components..."

"Lastly, and most importantly—my thinking capacity."

Beltira pointed to her forehead, though it was merely a symbolic gesture: Gawain and she both knew there was only wood inside this head.

She was referring to her ability to think.

"You mean... the scale of the Sorin Giant Tree is too large; if it continues expanding, it will impact your thought process," Gawain frowned, "and even your mind won’t be able to command such a massive body, leading to parts of the giant tree becoming uncontrolled?"

"Exactly," Beltira nodded, "Although now I have... ’transformed’ into this form, seemingly having experienced some degree of mental mutation, enabling me to command such a plant-form body, my mind still has its limits. If the giant tree expands indefinitely, I will eventually lose perception and control over a portion of its body."

Gawain’s tone grew serious: "If part of the Sorin Giant Tree becomes uncontrolled, what will happen?"

"Don’t be so tense; those uncontrolled branches won’t turn into monsters jumping out of the tree crown," Beltira smiled as she watched Gawain’s serious expression, "Just like those disconnected vine ’Beltira dolls’, the uncontrolled branches will likely just turn into ordinary branches and at most wither and fall off, similar to..."

A word suddenly popped into Gawain’s mind: "Hair loss?"

Working overtime leads to hair loss.jpg.

Beltira: "...Though your description is quite precise, why do I feel a bit offended?"

Gawain quickly coughed twice: "Cough, I didn’t mean you, I meant... never mind, let’s pretend I didn’t say anything."

Beltira suspiciously glanced at Gawain, but after a moment, she withdrew her gaze: "Alright, it generally resembles what you said; those uncontrolled giant tree structures will fall off like... hair. By the way, why did you suddenly ask me about these things? Didn’t you say that the Sorin Giant Tree’s expansion has reached a sufficient scale and shouldn’t continue to grow further?"

Gawain remained silent for a few moments, then quietly looked up at the night sky.

The distant Frost Throne Constellation quietly twinkled in the night sky, and in that direction, perhaps there exists a star where eyes like his also gaze upon the same universe, silently pondering questions concerning fate.

"I just suddenly felt an urgency." He broke the silence in a low voice.