On the road leading out of the city, Enya remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "Teacher, I have an illusion that the ceremony just now, wrapped in a sacred cloak, was like a trade. Everything had a price tag."

She looked down somewhat embarrassed, murmuring softly, "Maybe I was mistaken, but that's really what I think."

"You just realized?"

The Crow Sage looked at Enya, teasing gently, "Enya, the fact that you can see this means the three months of hard journey weren't in vain."

"Ah?"

Enya's beautiful big eyes widened, stammering for a long time, leaving only a sigh.

"I don't like it this way."

"Nobody likes it, but it's the rule of the game," the Crow said calmly.

He stopped walking and cast his gaze towards the Rodinia River not far away.

"Enya, remember. True romanticism is finding beauty in ugliness, not adding trouble to oneself in a beautiful world."

"If you don't like this world, then strive to change it. If you can't change it, learn to adapt to it. Strong people never complain about the environment."

Enya was stunned for a few seconds, carefully pondering her teacher's words, and after a long silence slowly said:

"Teacher, I understand now."

"Let this journey of training come to an end."

Seeing the determined look in Enya's eyes, the Crow Sage nodded in satisfaction.

That's right.

What's the use of disliking? Go and change things.

Enya is not lacking in strength and potential; what she lacks is the mentality of a strong person.

Enya's firm gaze turned back towards Val City State, with a hint of regret.

"It's a pity we can't do anything but watch them share in the glory."

"We are not completely powerless. If we have no chance to share in the glory, then let's throw mud on it."

The Crow said quietly, letting out words that shocked Enya.

After a long while, Enya exhaled deeply and smiled, "Teacher, I know what to do now. Go all out, by any means necessary; utter annihilation is a sign of respect toward the enemy."

"Very good, your training score is S-."

"Teacher, why not S level?" Enya protested softly.

"Because you only have the right mindset, you haven't yet shown results. Once you do, I'll give you an S."

...

In Val City State, the Governor hosted a banquet for guests from various parties in the grand banquet hall.

The arrival of a miracle in Val City is both an opportunity and a danger.

The Land of Miracles will attract global attention.

Val City, with its advantageous geographical location, developed shipping, situated among several major forces, is a buffer zone accepted by all sides.

To the west is the Jin Yuan Kingdom, to the north the Overseas Sussex, to the northeast the Weimar Federation, and to the southeast the Tirol Kingdom.

Any one of these major powers could easily swallow up Val City State.

Moreover, Val City State implements free trade policies, low taxes, and a lenient business environment, causing many commercial guilds to establish their headquarters here.

In the past, with the tacit approval of the major countries, they thrived independently, making huge profits.

This will likely no longer be the case in the future.

The Land of Miracles, indeed.

But such a good place should belong to whom?

First, exclude the locals, Val City State.

Though the Holy Spring is closest to them, they are also closest to other major countries.

Unless the major countries reach another consensus to continue recognizing Val City as a buffer zone and a free trade city, they can maintain independence.

This is clearly impossible.

The benefits of the Land of Miracles are too significant.

The miracle can improve the surrounding environment, increase food production, and improve the people's physiology, and this is just the simplest benefit.

The influence brought by the miracle is an invisible asset.

A weakling with a halo is asking for death; a strong person with a halo amplifies their advantage.

Aside from the Weimar Federation, which is not stable internally, the relatively weakest, with the smallest expansion ambition, Sussex, Jin Yuan, and Tirol are all giants ranked in the top five concerning comprehensive national power.

Any one of them could easily crush Val City State.

After the advent of the miracle, fierce debate erupted within Val City State.

Although everyone united to crush the visionaries who still fantasized about remaining neutral, they couldn't unite on the next steps.

The voice to lean towards Jin Yuan was the loudest.

The reason is simple, heaven is too far, Jin Yuan is too close.

The Jin Yuan Kingdom is a traditional power on the Rodinia Continent, especially strong in land forces.

While some believe the Vladimir Empire's land forces are larger in number, some think Jin Yuan is the strongest in land forces.

If they offend Jin Yuan and lean toward other countries, they must face harsh realities.

What if Jin Yuan's armies come over?

If they surrender later, their value will plummet.

The voice to turn to Tirol is also significant.

The reason is simple, Tirol is closer.

Val City is over a thousand kilometers from the City of Freedom, while Jin Yuan's armies are relatively farther.

However, the City of Art, Tirol, is only two hundred kilometers away.

They at least have the Rodinia River and mountain forests between them and Jin Yuan, but they share a direct land border with Tirol.

The Tirol Kingdom's comprehensive national power is slightly inferior to Jin Yuan, but the power they can project is stronger.

There are also those advocating joining the Sussex Empire.

The reason is also simple, the Sussex Empire is closer.

At the recent Holy Spring Revival Ceremony, Jin Yuan sent a special envoy, Tirol sent the Minister of Culture and Tourism, and Sussex sent a Governor, a Count, and over three thousand fully armed soldiers as well as a river fleet.

It's not an exaggeration to say this fleet is enough to crush Val City State completely. Even if they fortunately held the city, they would suffer immense damage.

Val City State stands right by the river, with the entire city within the range of naval guns.

If Roland were more extreme, sending a few shallow-water heavy artillery ships, Val City State wouldn't even be able to defend the city to the end.

Since the revival of the Holy Spring, Val City State has had no choice but to pick sides.

Choosing sides has never been about who benefits more, but what's worse if left unchosen.

Jin Yuan can bleed them, Tirol can disgrace them, but Sussex can take their lives.

Bleeding is uncomfortable, disgrace is painful, but losing life means game over.

Although the debate is ongoing, following the analysis of a certain cold scholar, several officials within Val City State have formed a lean.

People first have to survive to consider development issues.

Val City State seems capable of navigating among the three major powers, but it's actually a fragile balance.

There are not many dancers who can perform on three eggs.

Although there's already a tendency, the officials of Val City State still haven't made an immediate decision.

For such a big matter, at least observe for a while.

If the major countries fight it out internally, maybe they won't have to choose.

Although the hope is slim, everyone present still harbors a thought.

What if?

What if the countries still need this buffer zone?

What if they are temporarily unwilling to tear each other's faces?

After all, there's a continental convention, without a justified reason, territory cannot be demanded from other countries.

If someone violates the convention, they will face joint condemnation by other signing countries.

Although the spirit of contract and breach is prevalent in this era, the treaty is at least a legal basis and the source of their faint hope.

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