Chapter 371: Order in Three Colors

Chapter 371: Order in Three Colors

"Is there anything, anything at all, that I can do to help?"

Aurelia lightly pinched the hem of her dress, her usually radiant face now pale, her eyes tinged with pain and struggle.

It wasn't just the conflict of her identity and position; more importantly, she knew her power was insufficient to change the current situation.

Even her revered father, Earl of Hall, who she believed to be all-powerful, would be as insignificant as a speck of dust when faced with the entire nation, the North Continent, and the world's institutional rules.

Not to mention, she was just a daughter without real power, who wouldn't inherit the title, and could only receive a few hundred thousand pounds and some properties.

Lu Ke glanced at Aurelia, enveloped in negative emotions, and shook his head with a smile, his voice carrying a persuasive and reassuring charm.

"No, you are too weak. You lack the capital and the ability to fight. You can only passively wait for the war to end, so you don't need to agonize over these things."

These words eased Aurelia's oppression. She opened her mouth, unable to refute, and after a moment of silence, hesitantly spoke.

"Perhaps I can provide some financial support. It won't be much, but it might help a little."

Her recent coming-of-age ceremony marked that she could now manage her portion of the family's wealth, though she couldn't mobilize large sums or sell assets, as her parents still supervised the money.

Lu Ke shook his head again. "You have just entered the Extraordinary world and don't fully understand it yet. Money can significantly help below the Demigod level, but it loses influence at the Demigod level and becomes almost meaningless at the Angel level and beyond."

Aurelia's eyes were filled with confusion. "Angels... I thought the war would be soldiers clashing on the battlefield..."

Lu Ke's eyes reflected an inexplicable glow. "Think back to history. Have you ever heard of significant wars where the lower classes rebelled?"

Aurelia recalled, startled to find that the content Lu Ke mentioned was a blank. The wars she knew were all invasions between the four major powers.

The "Oathbreaker War" that led to the independence of Lunburg, Massey, and Segal from Fenepot, or the war that split the Bailang Empire into East and West Bailang, were primarily fought by military forces, not ordinary people.

"Is it because of the Extraordinary Characteristics?"

The Golden Retriever, Suzy, who had been listening quietly, suddenly interjected, breaking the heavy atmosphere. Aurelia looked over, and Suzy wagged her tail, her eyes wide with innocence.

"Um, actually, I've been reading some books lately..."

"Smart dog."

Lu Ke crouched down and petted the Golden Retriever's soft fur with practiced hands, making it purr contentedly, while he spoke a truth far from innocent.

"Even the regular kingdom armies, relying on technology, gunpowder, steam machine guns, and warships, can barely handle beings below the Demigod level under the 'Mystic Diminishment, Reality Enhancement' law of the 'Arbiter.' Therefore, beggars, homeless people, and workers without healthy, strong bodies have no chance of organizing a meaningful rebellion."

On Earth, where the upper class controls the majority of Extraordinary Characteristics, ordinary people have no power to fight back. Powerful Extraordinary Beings are the ones who can truly rebel.

But becoming an Extraordinary Being means a shift in status, no longer part of the oppressed. Normal people don't think about opposing themselves or overthrowing themselves.

In the original story, when the Fusack Empire declared war on the Ruen Kingdom, it was essentially the War God Badheil trying to weaken the Goddess of the Night's "Anchor", making Her state worse and tilting the balance of battle slightly in his favor.

This is the limit of the impact ordinary people can have.

"So, the truly decisive battles involve high-level Extraordinary powers, not armies of ordinary people."

Aurelia smiled bitterly after listening.

"It's not that we don't want to rebel, but that we lack the ability to do so."

Noticing the fluctuating emotions in the young girl, Lu Ke released the Golden Retriever and gently comforted her.

"Even though you can't help in the battle, you might be able to help after the war."

Aurelia looked up, bewildered. "What can I do?"

Lu Ke's gaze shifted to the tall chimney emitting smoke, the uniform crowds below bustling like an ant colony in the factories, his voice carrying a detached calm.

"Human beings are like seeds. What you water them with determines the flowers they bloom. Feed them milk and honey, and they will return with sweetness and fragrance, graceful figures, delicate features, refined manners, independent thinking, and empathy for the underprivileged and a desire to give back to the world."

"The lower classes, steeped in bitter water, have harsh fates. Most of them inevitably become tainted with theft, slander, envy, and malice toward those around them and those weaker than themselves. They are easily incited, deceived, and misled."

Lu Ke raised his hand, lifting it upward, his palm tilting naturally.

"When the new Order arrives, with new resource distribution and better living conditions for the lower classes, potential criminals will emerge. At that time, a supervisor will be needed."

Aurelia's eyes sparkled with a newfound interest. "A supervisor? It seems you have some ideas."

Lu Ke nodded slightly, raising his chin, his voice calm:

"In my vision, there needs to be a 'White' for strict enforcement and fairness, a 'Black' for dealing with external threats and driving reforms, and a 'Gray' to serve as a bridge between the two, responsible for communication, connection, and oversight."

Strict laws, a nation constantly striving for a better future, and regulatory measures to prevent deviation—though not perfect, this grand blueprint still left Aurelia momentarily entranced.

She pointed to herself, somewhat uncertain, "You want me to be that 'Gray'?"

Lu Ke sized up Aurelia for a moment, then shrugged with a smile at her uneasy gaze,

"You’re far off right now, not just in terms of your Extraordinary Sequence, but also in terms of your perspective, understanding, and experience. However..."

He shifted his tone, "You can aim for this position, can’t you? Being a 'Spectator' would be a great start."

"..."

After a brief silence, Aurelia fell into deep thought.

Her eyes gradually brightened, the color returning to her face, and she seemed to regain her previous vitality, finding a direction to strive for, making her feel less burdened.

She looked up, her eyes sparkling with complex emotions, "I understand, Mr. Emperor, I’ll work hard to become a qualified 'Spectator'."

Lu Ke smiled, "Now that I’ve told you my name, you still call me 'Mr. Emperor'?"

"Ask for your name to learn more about you, but calling you 'Mr. Emperor' feels a bit awkward at first. After a while, it sounds quite natural, and I also hope that one day I can truly call you 'Emperor Majesty'."

Aurelia blinked, her voice rising with a playful tone,

"Though, what you describe about the new nation and the new Order now seems like a rootless weed, more like pretty words to attract investment, an empty cheque."

Lu Ke's eyes narrowed slightly, provoked, "It looks like your psychological issues have improved a bit, you’re speaking less formally and ladylike now."

Aurelia's smile bloomed, the oppressive atmosphere around her dissipating, her tone light and cheerful,

"Maybe, I do feel a bit lighter. But I wouldn’t be so disrespectful to other gentlemen."

"Am I not a gentleman?"

Aurelia touched her lips, her eyes flickering, "From the moment we met, you’ve been too dominant, always controlling the pace of our actions and conversations, and... doing that thing."

"Regarding that, in my homeland, the term 'gentleman' has a different meaning."

Lu Ke moved closer to Aurelia, wrapping his arms around her slender waist, a smile playing on his lips,

"There’s a principle you need to understand: when facing a powerful being and lacking a way to counterbalance, don’t easily provoke them. What if they get upset?"

Aurelia didn’t resist, almost as if venting her emotions, she avoided his intense gaze, relaxed her body, and raised her head high, exposing her white neck, like a lamb awaiting sacrifice.

His warm lips broke through her defenses, and the familiar sensation from earlier made her dizzy and disoriented, Aurelia’s mind empty, filled with a desire to be dominated.

"Mmm..."

As gentle caresses continued, Aurelia felt a hand slip under her dress, touching her legs. She snapped out of her daze, pushing him away with a tense voice.

"Not this, not this, only after we’re married..."

Lu Ke didn’t seem to mind, gently rubbing, "Hmm, so only this is not allowed, right?"

"Probably...?"

Aurelia answered uncertainly, pushing him again as he prepared to continue, her face flushed, her gaze wandering.

"Suzie, Suzie is still watching..."

Lu Ke followed her gaze.

The Golden Retriever, unable to hide its head in time, used its paws to try to cover its eyes, but it was completely ineffective. It tilted its head innocently, its tail wagging happily.

"Don’t misunderstand, I’m just a dog."

It doesn’t understand anything!

Lu Ke looked at Aurelia with a strange expression, "You need to be careful not to be outdone by Suzie. I think it has a lot of potential."

Aurelia: "..."

Just as she felt a bit disarrayed, thinking she might be less important to Lu Ke than a dog, the surroundings rapidly changed, transforming into a fairy-tale kingdom of lush forests, azure lakes, and golden fields.

Her body rapidly shrank, landing in a bud about to bloom. Just as she was about to get up, a pair of strong arms pulled her down, and a warm body pressed against her from behind.

"No, we can’t..."

Aurelia struggled in panic, but then she heard Lu Ke’s soothing voice,

"Don’t worry, I remember. I won’t do that."

Aurelia quietly sighed in relief, her face still red, relaxing, "Then why don’t you let me go?"

In her mind, besides that, it should only be kissing and touching.

Lu Ke sighed, "Dear Miss Aurelia, you have no idea about human imagination."

In the darkness, a panicked voice flashed by.

The sky suddenly darkened, a gentle breeze blew, and the flowers bent under the weight of nature’s might, lowering their proud heads.

After the storm, the rain-soaked buds quietly bloomed, lazily revealing their most beautiful form.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end