Aldenan's council chamber has an ornate triple spire, the largest one is located at the top of the building, which symbolizes the imperial power that shelters and guides the entire empire, and the second spire symbolizes the nobles under the imperial power, also known as the "pillars of the empire", and the bottom spire has the largest area, which also directly covers the council hall, nominally, it symbolizes the glorious citizens of the empire, that is, "the foundation of the empire".

This bold and groundbreaking symbolism is a kind of microcosm of Rosetta's decades of New Deal reforms, although in practice the number of "burghersmen" under the triple spire is not even half of that of the aristocratic councillors, and even fewer people actually have the right to speak, so much so that whenever people mention Aldenan's parliament, they almost default to the old "aristocratic council" at the top, and subconsciously ignore the other part of the council.

Rosetta Augustus has been working hard to change that, and that has really changed in the last two years.

The roaring machines and the large corporations that sprang up overnight allowed the burghersmen to rapidly increase their capital to speak in parliament – strictly speaking, the capital of the representatives of businessmen to speak in parliament.

For the first time, Matilda realized that there were forces that were more effective than royal decrees and guidance.

She sat on the golden high-backed chair that symbolized the royal family, and looked down at the entire rectangular hall below with an indifferent expression, and the magic crystal lamp shone on the place from the roof, making the faces under the roof look clear and vivid. Those who held the greatest power below the imperial power in Typhon's social structure were there, vigorously discussing a plan that could change the entire era, and those who were qualified to speak in the front row were trying to show their persuasiveness and appeal in order to win the support of more ordinary parliamentarians, and more importantly, Princess Matilda, who represented the will of the royal family.

In Typhon's peculiar parliamentary system, the will of the emperor is so important that unless there is overwhelming unanimity among the members of parliament on a bill, one must strive to win the support of the spokesman for the imperial power.

"I still oppose such radical restructurings and restructuring – while I acknowledge the advantages of new technologies and have always embraced the bright future that new technologies bring, we need to be more aware of the size of the existing network of communication towers, and the costs and benefits behind them," a middle-aged aristocrat in a dark blue coat stood up and turned to the councillors behind him. It hasn't even had time to recoup its costs, and it's still unclear whether the new network will be able to function reliably......"

"It's not just a matter of cost and benefit, Mr. Earl, it's a matter of technology," someone stood up again, "don't you know the limitations of the communication tower?" Their technical base is outdated, and it has become a waste to continue to maintain the investment and construction of the network of communication towers under the premise of the magic network of telecommunications, and it is a waste of the empire's wealth......"

"And what about those who maintain the Messenger Tower? What about those who depend on the Tower for their livelihood? We can't just solve problems with the thinking of businessmen – we also have a responsibility to keep people afloat! ”

"This responsibility is more on the seventeen transmission towers to which you have the right to the proceeds, right?"

"Please don't bring personal issues into such a solemn occasion, if self-interest is introduced, then I'm afraid everyone here will lose their voice, sir!"

The controversy below intensified, but the seemingly emotional speakers remained in good order, following the flow of the council, and no one overstepped and disturbed the imperial power, while Matilda sat quietly in her chair, watching it all with a blank expression.

I'm afraid these people will have to quarrel for a while before this session is over.

They've been arguing for a while yesterday.

This seemingly chaotic situation was actually very clear in Matilda's eyes, and she could see that the old nobles had already reached an agreement, but the minor nobles who were supposed to be in the same aristocratic camp in the past were now faintly standing with the merchants—the alliance of the latter would have been inconceivable a few years ago, but since last year, similar situations have happened more than once.

The reason is simple: factories and new companies are amassing more and more wealth and influence, and the "new faction" of the small aristocracy and the middle aristocracy are the main investors in these industries, and they have long been tied to the merchants, while the upper aristocracy still controls the traditional industries and wealth on a large scale, and controls a lot of infrastructure, which makes the latter a huge force that is difficult to resist, although it is a step slow to react to the new investment boom.

The two forces had become more and more clearly divided and occupied their own territory, and each of its members was keeping an eye on the other's every move, and they were watching their pockets tightly, not wanting a copper plate to be left on the other side.

The distribution of benefits is more real than any taking sides.

The friction between the two forces has been increasing since last year, but it has been low in intensity due to the lack of overlap in their respective areas of strength, and it has only recently suddenly become so intense, because certain new technologies have suddenly broken the existing "rules", giving merchants and aristocratic investors a sudden opportunity to get their hands on the infrastructure, and the old owners of those facilities...... The reaction to this was, of course, fierce.

Matilda wanted to yawn, but she held back.

The controversy would not have come to fruition today, but she had foreseen in a few days: a compromise would emerge, the traditional communication towers would be preserved, the expensive facilities would be transformed into carriers of new technology, merchants and aristocratic investors would get a stake in it, and the entire communication network would remain firmly in the hands of the established families and the Mage Guild.

Matilda was even sure that the opportunities to invest in the renovation of the Tower would be unleashed by the established families and the Mage Guild on their own initiative—it seemed to share in the profits of the communications network, but it would make it difficult for aristocratic investors and merchants, who had weak ties to continue to maintain a consistent and hard-line attitude. As long as there is a certain amount of "appeasement", it is easy for compromise members to emerge within the emerging interest groups, who will abandon the radical plan of completely rebuilding a communication network in exchange for more secure and secure gains, which is what the Mage Guild and the big aristocrats behind it are happy to see.

After all, the Mage Guild wasn't stupid, and the big nobles weren't stupid, and they certainly saw the benefits of the new communications network—they just didn't want it to be controlled by someone else.

……

The seriousness of the matter exceeded Archduke Ferdinand's expectations, and this unprecedented crisis made the battle-hardened old duke frown tightly.

"This is the case, my old friend," Rosetta Augustus sat in a high-backed chair, calmly gazing at the Grand Duke standing across from him, "as I have told you before, the gods are not too reliable protectors—a transcendent, powerful, unknown being that is completely above mortals, and I am always wary of them, whether they have been providing shelter to mortals or not. ”

“…… I have never understood your concerns about the gods, but now I have to admit that you are right," said Ferdinand Wendell in a deep voice, "but I didn't expect that we would have to face these ...... in our lifetime."

As he spoke, he couldn't help frowning again: "Regarding the information revealed by Gawain Cecil in the letter, do you still need to verify it again?" I'm still having a hard time believing it...... The ruler of Cecil would be so frank and kind to remind us. ”

"He's a formidable adversary, but he's our friend in this matter," Rosetta shook her head, "In the book Matilda brought, Gawain Cecil mentions more than once that mortal fate must go hand in hand with nature and the power of the gods, and I thought it was just some kind of propaganda gesture and slogan, but now I would like to believe in his sincerity in this regard." ”

“…… We all live on this land. Ferdinand's voice was deep.

"Yes, we all live on this land," Rosetta said lightly, "so I have called you here today to prepare for the catastrophe that may occur on this land." ”

“…… Can we really deal with the threat from the gods? Peddinand couldn't help but be a little skeptical, "Of course, the Cecilians seem to have successfully fought against the 'Divine Disaster', but they are not facing real gods, and luck accounts for a large proportion......"

"We're not dealing with real gods," Rosetta shook her head, "or rather, I don't think gods will directly 'attack' the mortal world. ”

"The gods don't directly 'attack' the mortal world......" Pei Dinan subconsciously repeated, the expression on his face seemed to be a little confused.

"Gods need 'mediums,' and they don't come that easily, do they?"

Peddinan frowned, looking at the monarch in front of him who had sworn allegiance for decades, and for some reason, he suddenly saw a trace of strangeness on the other party's face: "What do you mean......"

Rosetta was silent for a few seconds before suddenly saying something seemingly irrelevant: "You know, I've been envious of our neighbors lately......"

……

After Duke Peridinand left, Rosetta still sat quietly in the study, leaning back on the back chair that could cover the whole person, as if in a long thought, until after ten minutes of silence and stillness, he suddenly raised his hand and turned off the light in the study with a small magic skill.

The night outside was already thick, only the starlight shone on the tower of the obsidian palace, as the lights in the study went out, the darkness spread rapidly, and the starlight outside the window also spread through the crystal window next to it, spreading throughout the study.

Everything in the study was submerged in the indifferent night.

Rosetta tapped lightly on the armrest of his chair, as if he was patiently waiting for something to arrive in the rhythmic sound of tapping.

After dozens of taps, a little bit of dim light suddenly appeared on the table top of the study, and then this little bit of dim light quickly spread, quickly covering the desk, bookshelves, floor, and wall...... In a matter of seconds, the entire study was illuminated by a dim glow, which also filled the window not far away, outlining the scene of Orlandel two hundred years ago.

Dusk fell suddenly.

Rosetta looked up, the familiar things in the study were rapidly changing, some old and old illusions that had long since disappeared from history were covering his familiar furnishings, whispers and chuckles from nowhere sounded from all around, as if a banquet was going on next door to the study, the sound of laughter of the guests came through the walls and a balcony somewhere, and even as if some of the guests had walked into the room through the walls, whispering something in Rosetta's ear.

Rosetta ignored the illusory sounds, just stared silently in the direction of the door, and the next second, the laughter or whispering suddenly disappeared.

Outside the closed door of the study, in the direction of the hallway, some kind of hobbling footsteps that seemed to drag a heavy object suddenly sounded after the whispering disappeared, and seemed to get closer to the place.

In the next second, there was a knock on the door from the direction of the study.

Rosetta didn't respond, and the knock on the door continued patiently.

It knocked for a long time, so long that time seemed to stand still in this eternal twilight, and Rosetta broke the silence: "Can you keep knocking, or do you expect to knock on this door by knocking?" ”

The knock on the door stopped abruptly, and after a few seconds of deathly silence, a low, seemingly innumerable voice came from outside the door: "The strength of your mind is truly amazing...... I've thought you're going to collapse countless times, and yet you're still yourself......"

"Surprising?" Rosetta shook her head, "But you're not human. ”

"It's a pointless detail," said the voice outside the door, "I don't like details, so let's get to the point...... Why did you take the initiative to enter this dream? This is quite rare. ”

"I've suddenly become curious about something, but I can't find an answer in the mortal world—maybe you'd like to answer something?"

As soon as his words fell, a strange atmosphere suddenly filled the entire dream space, which seemed to be mixed with surprise and joy, and at the same time, countless snooping senses came from all directions, as if in the depths of this dream, between those ancient memory corridors and halls and courtyards, the eyes of countless "guests" were also instantly attracted, and they were indifferently watching the direction where Rosetta Augustus was.

In the study in front of Rosetta, the wall that had been hung with ordinary decorative oil paintings suddenly fluctuated like water, and the decorative oil paintings were swallowed up by the wall, and then spit out, but the picture on it had changed to the appearance of Marjorie Augustus.

"Ah, my dear son, have you finally decided to return to our family?"

Then Marjorie became George Augustus: "What a day to celebrate!" ”

"You're celebrating early," Rosetta glanced at the painting indifferently, "and keep quiet." ”

The figures dangling on the oil painting suddenly became blurred, and the low, overlapping voice outside the study door let out a chuckle: "I am full of confidence, but it is not so simple to ask the gods for knowledge...... But anyway, I'm quite happy to do it.

"Ask questions, I'll be happy to answer any question – if you dare to listen."