The keys sound as clear and smooth as striking silver, and an elegant, low, slightly mournful melody emanates from a custom grand piano that reverberates and ripples through the room.

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, Franz Liszt's famous piano piece, is widely regarded as one of the most difficult piano pieces to play, and has almost become the standard by which a pianist is judged (Liszt's pieces are all recognized as difficult). The famous cartoon "Cat and Mouse", which has become one of the childhood memories of many people, won the 1946 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Story with this piece as the track played by Tom the Cat in "Cat's Concerto".

As an essential social skill, the dictator is proficient in how to play all instruments, and his playing skills are even higher than those of the most famous musical greats. For example, instead of Liszt's original, he is playing an adapted version by Vladimir Horowitz, which is more gorgeous, more passionate, and more difficult than the original.

The melody changes from solemn to unrestrained and lively. Octave jumps, fingers – the fingers are not striking the keys, but running, dancing, and flying on the keys. Passionate notes vibrated in the air, and even the air became hot in the music, and finally with a high note, everything calmed down.

The applause rang out, even though there were only a few dozen people in the audience. People from all over the world who listened to the dictator's performance in front of the broadcast terminal applauded wildly at home, on the side of the road, and in the square, and many women fainted to the ground with tears in their eyes, causing a series of chaos. But that didn't stop the rest of the audience from soaking up in the afterglow of the rhapsody and looking forward to the next one.

During the break, media workers were busy adjusting the audio-visual broadcast equipment, and the staff of the official residence were either helping or serving drinks and snacks. The scene was hectic, and only a few people could enjoy a moment of peace.

"Perfect performance, Your Excellency. ”

Nidhogg handed over the hand towel, his face intoxicated.

"I'm sure all of you will go crazy for you. Foreign audiences will also change the stereotype that the elves are only technically successful, and that they are nothing more than a bunch of stupid peasants on an artistic level. ”

"It's not so easy to change preconceived notions, it only takes a few seconds to label a person or a group of people, but it can take decades or more to tear it off. Especially when it comes to racist and ideological contexts, people tend to cling to stereotypes and prejudices. ”

After wiping his hands carefully, even his fingertips clean, Li Lin handed the hand towel back to Nidhogg.

"Maybe it won't change the reality and it won't help their lives, but at least it will ensure their mental health and make sure their self-esteem doesn't hurt anymore. ”

"That's true. ”

A sneer crept up the corner of Nidhogg's mouth.

As soon as some information became clear, the attitude of the countries towards Alfheim became awkward.

The original partner suddenly became the top boss - maybe the international community and the workplace cannot be compared, but the situation faced by the countries is almost like this, the small partners who were originally on an equal footing with themselves, or even relying on their own help, suddenly climbed on the head of the big brothers, in the face of this situation, no matter how good the mentality is, people will also have emotions, not to mention that the countries have never been the group with a good mentality.

Judging from the records sent back by Stasi, the reaction of the top leaders of various countries is not so much angry, but more correctly described as "frenzy". I don't know how many high-end porcelain and stationery have been shattered recently, as for all kinds of swearing...... Some of them can't even be translated by Stasi's linguists, and God knows where the big guys who grew up with higher education learned so much vulgar and dirty language.

Anger after anger, the high-level officials of the countries have not lost their minds, and still maintain diplomatic relations with Alfheim, and the envoys have maintained their usual demeanor and demeanor. The only change is that the already detached relationship has become more hypocritical, and the wariness and fear of Alfheim have been raised by several notches, and the small actions in private are even more constant.

In addition to various private contacts and communication with Charlemagne, the atmosphere of public opinion within the countries is also quietly changing, one of which is that jokes about elven culture began to circulate in the streets and alleys. For example, the so-called artistic concept of elves is "big is beautiful, more is good", except for various square buildings or ancient Gilmanian style buildings, elves have no aesthetic taste and originality at all...... In short, it is in this way to emphasize that "the elves are just a bunch of nouveau riche", "humans are more creative than the elves", and "the soft power of the nations is stronger", and in this way, the self-esteem is maintained.

Their feelings are not incomprehensible, and they are not wrong, the elves who have experienced a thousand years of cultural blank do have a lot to complain about in terms of art - such as the council building with its own rainfall system, such as the triumphal arch that is magnified by three times, such as the pile of large sculptures like ghosts......

If it weren't for the dictator who knows everything but cooking and a well-developed media system, the elves' "hillbillies who don't understand art" hat would probably have been worn for many years. Now that the dictator's solo recital is broadcast to the world, it is expected that the deterioration of bilateral relations will be heard for some time.

"It's easy to be tough, and our strength allows us to do that. But toughness can suppress problems, destroy problems, but not solve them, and create problems. So we don't have to do everything too absolutely, we should soften our bodies appropriately and give the other party room to maneuver. ”

"But ......"

Niederhogg hesitated for a moment and asked:

"Is it okay to just let them come into contact with Roland?"

"No problem. ”

Li Lin waved his hand.

"Anyway, even if we protest and negotiate, they will only make gestures without pain, and then throw two scapegoats out to account for it. It doesn't take a day to relapse. Even after seeing the absolute power, they will not give up easily. This is at stake for their power and their lives, and it cannot be easily compromised. ”

"Our air and sea forces ......"

"Do you want to label yourself a pirate? In any case, Roland will definitely use Albiang's ships to evacuate people and supplies. Attacking a civilian ship flying the flag of Albion in broad daylight and replenishing guns on refugees who have fallen into the water, including women and children? What will the international community say about us? You can guess without thinking. See, this is the essence of pointy-eared people, bloodthirsty beasts in iron boots, beasts that shoot women and children - don't forget, we are aliens in their eyes after all, barbarians who rush into human civilization to burn and plunder, no matter how legitimate the reason for war we have created, how many glorious victories we have won before, it only takes one defeat to make us notorious. Remember, Nidhogg, we're not devils, we're civilized. ”

The famous sinking of the USS Wilhelm Gustav is a case in point, as those who read the history of World War II once claimed that the USS Wilhelm Gustav was a hospital ship full of refugees, and that an attack on it by a submarine of the Soviet Red Navy was a serious breach of the rules of engagement and ethics. In fact, not to mention that in November 1941, the Germans also bombed and sank the Soviet hospital ship "Armenia" with a clear Red Cross emblem, and only 8 of the 7,000 passengers survived, and the Soviet side had reason and right to retaliate. What's more, in 1941, the "William Gustaf" had been relieved of the mission of a hospital ship and was converted into a submarine crew training ship, which did not have the Red Cross logo on its hull when it was sunk, and was equipped with anti-aircraft guns, carrying a large number of registered naval personnel and unregistered army officers and soldiers, as well as ** officers, as well as torpedo boats to escort it, which was completely a reasonable and legal target for attack. However, in order to discredit the political needs of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the Western world still packaged the whole incident as an unfortunate incident of "Maozi's bloodthirsty and barbaric attack on the refugee boat", and it has been passed down ever since.

It can be seen that smearing opponents does not require reason and dialectic, only word processors with pure subject matter and business are sufficient. For an empire that is just starting to rise, even if it doesn't care about smearing, there is no need to send a theme to those potential enemies.

"We are civilized people, Your Excellency. It's just Roland...... With all due respect, his actions are likely to pose a great threat to the Empire in the future. ”

Maybe this world needs the rules of civilized people, or maybe everyone needs to pay attention to their appearance, and they can't make everything ugly. Könedhogg didn't like or didn't care about that, and for the captain of the Guard: at any time, it was always safest to strangle a potential threat in the cradle, rather than watch it develop freely with expectant eyes.

Despite the fact that both the Church and Roland were enemies, and the Church seemed to be a bit stronger, Nidhogg was more wary of Roland, who was a potential threat: he was still young, had a lot of time, and if he was given enough space, he could most likely end up building a country that could threaten the Empire.

So, the exiles who are waiting to flee abroad, resentful and hostile to the Empire—they must die.

"Don't mind, Nidhogg. ”

Li Lin's lips curled, and a hint of mockery appeared on his face.

"A democratic republic, where all people are equal...... It sounds very good, but no matter how good the system and concept are, it needs people to abide by and implement it, otherwise it is no different from waste paper. ”

Not to mention how many people and supplies Charlemagne's side can evacuate in the only four days left, and how much time it will take for these people to be evacuated to accumulate the strength to counterattack back. If Roland believed that a democratic republic was a panacea against theocratic dictatorship, then Li Lin could categorically deny it.

In Li Lin's view, the democratic republic itself is a false proposition.

If there really was such a society, the world would have become a peaceful utopia long ago. There is no need for kings, emperors, divine agents, and gods. Even the Athenian city-state, which first put forward the concept of a democratic republic, also poisoned Socrates, the great philosopher who adhered to the core values of a democratic republic, through the democratic process...... There are so many of them.

It is not so much that democracy has defeated dictatorships, but that those that have been defeated are terminally ill and incorrigible.

Alfheim – The Holy Gilmanian Empire is nothing short of the defeated dogs that have been sent to the pages of history. There is an immortal, immortal, and infallible agent of divine will, and there is a group of citizens with an average life expectancy of more than 300 years. How long will it take for the democratic republic established by Roland to wait for the empire to weaken and give them a chance? 500 years? 1,000 years? 2,000 years? Can this form of government survive for so long? Can it exist for more than 300 years? Can all the people abide by the good ideals of the founding of the country, can the whole country not degenerate into the descent of electoral populism and foolish politics? Can it not be led into the bottomless abyss by degenerate politicians and citizens?

Of course not.

As long as it is a political system established by human beings, it will not be able to escape the cycle of "rise-prosperity-decline", and as long as there are no supernormal rulers like Li Lin who are free from the shackles of convention, they will eventually be defeated in front of Li Lin's strongest ally "Time".

"The best way to negate a democratic republic is not to destroy it by force, but to promote its degeneration, while keeping its own country in a state of relative normalcy and stability, and asserting its own legitimacy by impeaching its various inactions and corruption. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with erecting a negative teaching material, anyway, we have the time and the means to solve it. The Navy, Air Force and Intelligence Agencies were informed that all refugee ships passing through Albion bound for the Southern Colonies were to be monitored and not to be attacked. ”

"Everything is according to your will. ”

"Speaking of Roland, did they make any moves?"

"All efforts are being made to send refugees in the direction of Albion, and there are large numbers of Charlemagne refugees in Brittany, Upper and Lower Normandy, Boulogne, Calais, Flanders. I think he might want to reduce the risk in this way. ”

"It's okay, let him toss. ”

Seeing that it was almost time to rest, Li Lin got up again, and Nidhogg opened the door to the lounge for him.

- Normandy, Calais, Flanders, Brest? I'm afraid these are smoke bombs.

-- The real purpose of making a big deal is to cover up the really important fleet.

- In this case, the location of the core fleet should be some obscure port, and it should be fairly close to Albion proper.

-- Narrow down the selection of suitable targets, and there is one eligible city.

- Dunkirk.