King Arthas looked at Link and slowly stood up.
"Civilization is naturally the spirit and will of our Atlantis!"
His finger pointed to the remaining murals on the walls of the hall, which depicted scenes of ancestors conquering the waves and building temples.
"It's our words, every symbol engraved on the stone tablet, that records our glory and wisdom!"
"It's our buildings, those towering spires and magnificent temples, and every stone laid here by our ancestors!"
"It is our sea. This blue ocean nurtured our people and was our former glory!"
He was breathing heavily, as if he might faint from lack of breath at any moment.
"Our civilization is the trident bestowed upon us by Poseidon, the songs of the sea god's priests, every ship that sails to the distance, and every wave that we conquer!"
"If we leave here, our words will lose their meaning, our buildings will become ruins, and our seas will no longer belong to us!"
At this time, he took two steps forward, his face almost touching Lin Ke's nose.
"Holy Pharaoh of Holy Egypt! Tell me, can such a civilization still be considered Atlantis?"
Lin Ke looked into the other person's eyes. He knew very well that the other person had fallen into the illusory glory.
The king of Atlantis had been so blinded by the glory of history that he could not see the dark future of Atlantis.
Lin Ke didn't say anything at first. He came to a wall of the Atlantis Palace and pointed at the picture on the wall.
"King of Atlantis, you are right."
"Writing, architecture, and sea areas are all symbols of civilization."
“It is precisely because of these symbols that the will and stories of the Atlantis people can be passed down from generation to generation.”
“So, this spirit can become the most powerful force within you.”
Lin Ke turned around and pointed to a collapsed statue of Poseidon outside.
"The essence of the Poseidon statue is not what it looks like, what it is made of, or whether it holds a trident."
"It's because the symbol of the sea god is also the symbol of your spirit."
At this time, he pointed his finger at the magnificent murals on the wall.
"But these murals and stone statues are just carriers of civilization, not civilization itself."
“The significance of words lies in conveying ideas, the value of architecture lies in sheltering people, and the value of the sea lies in nourishing life.”
"If these carriers can no longer carry your future, then staying here will only cause your civilization to gradually wither."
King Arthas suddenly frowned, then he took a few steps back and almost fell to the ground.
But Lin Ke didn't intend to stop.
He continued to King Alsace: "What is civilization?"
“Wherever the people are, there is civilization.”
“It is the whisper of a mother as she lulls her child to sleep, the silhouette of a fisherman casting his net in the morning light, and the rhythm of a craftsman hammering iron beside the fire.”
“Civilization is not these cold stones, nor is it this land torn by war.”
“Civilization is alive, it is flowing, and it belongs to everyone!”
As Lin Ke's voice gradually became louder, the looks some Atlanteans gave Lin Ke also changed.
The look they gave Lin Ke was no longer filled with fear, but instead, it was filled with hope.
"Your ancestors may have sworn an oath here, but it was to protect a people, not to guard a collection of ruins."
"If this land can no longer support your future, then what is the point of staying here?"
King Arthas frowned, took a deep breath, and his fingers unconsciously stroked the armrests of the throne.
His eyes swept across the broken murals in the hall. The once glorious Atlantis was now only left with these broken traces.
Then, his voice gradually became hoarse: "But..."
"If we leave here, can we still be considered Atlanteans?"
"What is the difference between us and the displaced refugees and wanderers who have lost their homeland?"
Lin Ke's expression remained calm: "The civilization of Atlantis was not given by this land, but was created by your ancestors with their wisdom and hands."
"As long as your people are still here, your civilization will not disappear."
"In your new land, you can rebuild your homeland, continue your traditions, and even create a brighter future."
"Open your eyes and look into the distance, King of Atlantis."
"The sunshine by the Nile is warmer than here."
The witch suddenly took a step closer to Ramses and gently placed her fingers on Ramses' shoulders.
"Your Holy Pharaoh's words are so touching~"
"But, for him to go to so much trouble, doesn't he have any selfish motives at all?"
Ramses raised his hand instantly, and golden divine light condensed at his fingertips, but Lin Ke gently raised his hand to stop him.
His eyes remained calm, as if he didn't care at all about what the witch said.
"My selfish motives are simple."
Lin Ke said calmly: "I hope to see a powerful ally, not a dying country waiting to be saved in the ruins."
"If Atlantis can rise again, it will be beneficial to both of us."
King Alsace was silent for a moment after hearing this, and then he slowly said, "But how many years will it take to build a new city?"
"Our people have suffered heavy casualties and are exhausted. I'm afraid they can't bear such a burden."
The corners of Lin Ke's mouth rose slightly. He knew that the other party's words meant that he accepted his proposal.
then.
"What if I say, it only takes a few days?"
The hall suddenly fell silent. Even the smile on the witch's face disappeared immediately, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
King Arthas and the guards around him widened their eyes, as if they had heard the words "the sea has no water".
"How many days?"
"Holy Pharaoh, this is no joke."
"How is this possible when a few days is not enough to prepare the materials?"
At this time, Lin Ke took a few steps forward and came in front of the King of Atlantis.
"I am willing to make a promise with you."
"If I do this, Atlantis will forever be a vassal state of Holy Egypt."
"If you can't do it, I will respect you as king."
"What do you think?"
The King of Atlantis first stammered "Ah ah" twice, and he looked into Lin Ke's eyes, and it didn't look like he was joking at all.
"Holy Pharaoh, Atlantis cannot become a vassal state of your Holy Egypt."
"But if you wish, we in Atlantis will pay tribute to you every year from now on."
"And our King of Atlantis will regard you as the master of the country for generations to come."
"We are a nation of blood relatives."
"Holy Egypt is the elder brother, Atlantis is the younger brother."
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