In the year 868, in April, another spring.

Elena Hinke Warren, the head of intelligence of the People's Republic of China, walked across the empty square and into a small building in the Ankenrein House of Ministers. Here, two years ago, Gastens told them about that future, that terrible future. And two years later, their world is still functioning as usual. Anken Rein has become the most powerful country in the world, and its advanced steam technology has given it an unrivaled vitality. The Negro Republic, the Third Republic, the Alonte Empire, and even the Western Sea nation of Loren Robus have given their markets to Elena Steam Power, which represents the world's most advanced production level.

"Chief!"

The sentry standing guard at the door saluted, and Zink nodded slightly, passing by him. He was very familiar with every plant and tree here, and he easily found the meeting room they used the most.

Pushing the door in, familiar faces looked at Zinke and smiled softly. Chairman Gastens Warren sat at the top of the long table, with a simple little device in front of him, a coil and two metal-like objects, and a glass-blown bubble that seemed to contain something tiny. Zink took his eyes off the little device, looked around, and saw that there was a lot of confusion around him, and he knew that he was not far behind. He pulled out his stool, sat down, glanced at Brooklyn, and said nothing.

Since the meeting two years ago, Sink Warren has arranged for a large number of people to keep an eye on Brooklyn with the highest level of vigilance. After all, the head of the Mage Tower, who represented the old forces, had no reason to give his loyalty to Elena or Gastens . If she betrayed, or leaked, then no one would be surprised. Both Sink Warren and Gastens are ready to kill her, however, to everyone's surprise, the former Master Tower Director seems to be happy with this state, and she transforms herself into a pure scholar, staying in the Tower every day, studying the only proposition.

How long does pyroxene last?

"Chairman Gastens, it's been two years, and although the energy stability of pyroxene is rising at an accelerated rate, according to the current acceleration, it will take nearly a hundred years to reach energy precipitation. Do you have any idea of calling me from the Mage Tower for such a high-level meeting now? ”

Brooklyn didn't say it explicitly, but everyone could hear her impatience. Maybe it was because he had experienced life and death and looked away from him, or maybe he was sure that Gastens wouldn't mind his offense, but Brooklyn's speech was not very polite.

"As you should know, once we have a meeting and call Brooklyn, that's the only thing we can talk about," Gastens did not directly answer Brooklyn's question, "but, fortunately, we are not yet at the end of the day, and we still have a little time to waste." ”

Gastens said as he pointed to the small device in front of him, "I call this thing an induction generator, and this transparent light bulb must be familiar to you." There is also a similar equipment in the pyroxene lighting system. ”

The councillors present looked at the small device in front of Gastens with some curiosity. For their chairman, they already know very well, in addition to dealing with government affairs, Gastens 's greatest hobby is research and manufacturing, he designed the Chaoyang series, the morning light series, the scorching sun series of steam engines, the design of the Thunder series, the Luoshan series of steam weapons, and the giant beast tank that determined the status of Anken Rein's king, including the giant beast II that is now being installed, these equipment, weapons, machines, all from the hands of one person. It is no exaggeration to say that without Gastens' inventions, Anken Rein would not be what he is now.

"Induction generator," Gastens accented on the word "electric." There is no such word in the Rein, this is a new word he extracted from the word lightning, and the committee members present are very unfamiliar with it, "It can't be used yet, but once it can be used, it will mean the end of the pyroxene era, and it will also mean the arrival of the fourth great demon tide, understand?" ”

"So, this is a device that detects the Fourth Great Magic Tide?" Brooklyn frowned, "We now have the equipment to test the stability of pyroxene's energy, do we need to do more?" ”

"It's not just a device to test the stability of pyroxene, it's ......," Gastens pondered, "this is the device that will replace pyroxene after the Fourth Great Tide, and this is the device that can change the world once again." ”

"Electricity?"

Ivan Warren repeated the word used by Gastens, "Like a pyroxene?" ”

"It's not the same," Gastens shook his head, "it doesn't exist now, and when he does, you'll know what to do." I will properly arrange the relevant materials and technologies, and the Elena Academy will also have my backup, so as to ensure that we can gain new technological advantages immediately after the Fourth Great Tide. ”

Although they did not understand what Gastens meant by "electricity", the committee members present were accustomed to Gastens's inhuman performance in technology. They nodded frequently, and quickly accepted Gastens's suggestion, rearranged the emergency plan after the Fourth Great Demon Tide, and added this new equipment.

Because there was not much disagreement and the relevant contingency plans had already been prepared, the meeting did not take place for long. After the meeting, Brooklyn approached Ivan to talk to him about something. Ivan was a little curious, Brooklyn was the representative of the old forces in the old society, and she was also a better type of person among those people, while he himself was the representative of the new forces in the new society, and the two of them did not interfere with the river water, and they were not used to each other for a while. Ivan didn't know why Brooklyn had found him. He didn't mind hearing what Brooklyn had to say, though.

"Commander Ivan", the place of conversation is in another small building in the Government Council, the place where Ivan is looking is quiet and reliable, "You and Sink Warren have followed the chairman to fight the world from the very beginning, for so long, do you have any judgment on the identity of the chairman?" ”

"Are you saying he's not an archmagister?"

Hearing that Brooklyn wanted to talk about this, Ivan suddenly lost interest, "We still don't know if he is or not, but we have always chosen to believe the leader, he said that he is not, he is not, it's as simple as that." ”

Brooklyn glanced at Ivan and knew that this was not Ivan's true words. Even Gastens of his most loyal subordinates, people like Ivan and Zink, must have their own judgment about Gastens, rather than simply following the crowd. However, she didn't want to dwell on this detail for a long time, but went straight to her main topic.

"Regarding the country's preparations for the fourth great demon tide in the past two years, we all know that the investment is huge, and the resources used are also very huge, and even slowing down the pace of our outward expansion to a certain extent. And the idea of the Fourth Great Demon Tide, including the thing called 'electricity' that he proposed today, this information, this knowledge, this kind of belief in it, even the Great Magister could not have it. I think I've been feeling more and more lately that he seems to be able to see the future. ”

Brooklyn's words were not loud, but Ivan stopped in his ears, and there was some shocking resonance. It's not that he hasn't thought about these things, these things, and it's not that he hasn't discussed them with Zink, but neither of them can find the answer to this question, and naturally they can't answer Brooklyn.

"Is the head a prophet, so important? Wouldn't it be good for us if he were? ”

Although there was no answer, it did not prevent Ivan from answering Brooklyn's question. When Brooklyn heard this, she already knew Ivan's answer. She stood up and smiled.

"I see, since you have such a good relationship with the chairman, haven't you thought of asking him in person?"

After saying that, Brooklyn didn't give Ivan time to answer, and turned to leave. Ivan watched her leave, chewing on her words, and remained silent for a long time.

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"You ask me if I'm a prophet?"

Walking on the stone brick road by the lake, Gastens chuckled when he heard Ivan's question, "Am I a prophet, so heavy or not?" ”

"Important."

Ivan nodded, "It doesn't matter, anyway, we are already the most powerful country in the world, and our national happiness index is much better than that of capitalist countries, communism is already defeating capitalism, and we are already about to win." You are a prophet, we rejoice, you are not, we are just as happy. ”

"If only you could see it that way," Gastens replied simply, and then fell silent. The two walked along the lake in spring, the grass was verdant and the lake was green.

"There has never been love without a reason in this world, and there is no strength for nothing. We are all engaged in communism, so we naturally know the truth that we get something from our work. ”

Gastens' voice began to grow deeper, "I'm not a Magister, I'm not a prophet, I just happen to know a few more things than you do. I'm just an ordinary person, and an ordinary person, always going to die. Ivan Warren, have you ever thought about what you would do if one day I suddenly died and disappeared? ”

Ivan stopped. He didn't expect Gastens to turn the conversation to the subject. Who is Gastens heir has been debated at home and has been highly concerned internationally. However, due to Gastens ' age and his suspected status as an archmage, this issue has not yet entered the list of issues that need to be solved urgently.

"Boss, you're kidding, aren't you? You're so young, you can do it for at least a few tens or hundreds of years, right? ”

Ivan snorted, but there was a lack of heart in his tone. After following Gastens for so long, he already knew Gastens temper. The sentence just now, his head, is definitely not joking.

"I'm not kidding", Gastens turned his head, stood still, and looked at Ivan.

"Call everyone in the council, let's have a short meeting."

"Now?"

Ivan's voice trembled, things shouldn't be what he imagined, right?

"Hmm", Gastens nodded, "it's now".

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"Gathering everyone so late, in fact, there is something I suddenly want to decide", standing in front of the old faces, Gastens rarely hesitated, "This thing must be done, in fact, I have been thinking about it for a long time, but I have never found a suitable opportunity." Now that it's a coincidence, I'll settle down, so that everyone doesn't have to think too much. ”

Zinker glanced sideways at Ivan, with doubts in his eyes, he saw something in Ivan's expression, what Gastens wanted to say, Ivan probably knew. The rest of the committee members were less sensitive. Gastens is a workaholic, and it's not uncommon to have nightly meetings, and everyone is used to this style of work, just quietly waiting for what the chairman wants to put on the table.

"Today, we want to determine the next president of the republic, who will be able to succeed me in the event of my death or accidental death or disappearance, and who will be able to run the country and lead everyone forward together."

Gastens didn't make a loud voice, but the whole conference room was as quiet as an empty room with no people, and there was no sound of breathing. Almost all of the members were somewhat surprised by this. Gastens is not even thirty years old, and the international environment is so favorable, and he has not heard of any problems with his body, why did he suddenly mention this matter?

"I can't explain why I mentioned this, but I hope that everyone will settle this matter. After all, you have to have a backup plan for everything, don't you? ”

The room was still quiet, no one wanted to speak, and everyone didn't know how to speak. Gastens coughed twice and went straight to the point.

"If there is no other special reason, I hope that Zink will be able to take over my chairmanship, I hope Ivan can continue to be his commander, and I hope that you can-"

"Boss!"

Zink stood up and interrupted Gastens in an extremely rare way, "I won't do it!" ”

Gastens wasn't too surprised by Zink's answer. He looked at Zink, waiting for his explanation.

"Now is not the time to bring it up, and you don't need to settle it so early! And I don't think I'm more than capable of running a country! ”

"I've got the final say on timing, and I've got the final say on ability—"

Gastens frowned and thought for a few seconds, "You can do it for a few years, if it doesn't work, then change." ”

"Boss!"

Zink was about to say something, but was interrupted again by Gastens, "Don't embarrass me! ”

Zink fell silent, he stood for a moment, looked left and right, and sat down gently. There was confusion and anticipation in his eyes.

"That's it, and then, we need to identify some specific procedures and processes, and I hope everyone can work together to finalize this matter."

The members of the council who attended the meeting looked at each other and then entered the state of work. Since this was Gastens' will, they had no choice but to do so.

I just hope that that day will not come too early.