Chapter 690: The King's Demeanor
In February, the catalpa trees in the mountains sprouted new buds, and the woods along the coast were green, making the gray and black valley city more bright and lively.
Tilan walked along the river bank, occasionally looking at the gravel path under her feet. She could hear the sound of the river flowing below. The air here was fresh and much more comfortable than in Ford City.
Although she could easily jump, she still walked down the stairs along the river bank with her skirt lifted, just to enjoy the leisure time of outing and experience the life of the locals.
Far behind her, several guards of the Ford Alliance stood on the shore, preventing strangers from approaching the path, and watching the girl step down the stairs to the river.
At this time, the morning light was shining, and the river water was shimmering with spots of light. The scenery was just right, and several guards were also discussing in a low voice.
"She looks really beautiful, with a very special beauty."
"Me too, I don't know how to describe it, but she is different from those famous ladies in the city."
"Very pure, just like mountain spring water." Although they spoke in low voices, Tilan could still hear them.
The girl gradually stopped and stood on the steps by the river bank, put down her skirt, leaned on the railing and looked into the distance, with a slightly moist river breeze blowing past.
On the other side of Ford City, there is a light green field. Now that spring has just arrived, these crops have not grown yet. As far as the eye can see, there is more blackness of the land itself.
If it weren't for the upcoming war, this city in the mountains would be a very good refuge paradise, where different races gather here and live a relatively stable life.
Although there are class divisions in the Ford Alliance, it is not severe overall. The entire force still has to fight against various natural disasters and mechanical invasions. Due to the shortage of food, everyone is mainly seeking survival, not so extravagant, and the society is also in a relatively simple stage.
After looking at the scenery for a while, Tilan continued to walk down to the river, stood on the stone by the river, watched the water splashing, thought for a while, found a relatively dry big stone, took off her shoes, and then tried to step into the shallow water.
Although she is a very powerful extraordinary person and a popular singer in the Federation, Tilan is not old and still maintains a bit of girlishness. Occasionally, she wants to play and try new unknown things.
The cold water rushed over the ankles along the pebbles, bringing a cool touch. The temperature was not high at this time, and ordinary people would probably jump out after soaking for a while.
Unlike the turbid river water on the grassland that is full of various fish and insects, the river water here comes from the melted snow water on the mountains. It is much clearer and there are no fish and algae.
A few minutes later, Tilan, who had adapted to the cold river water, walked slowly in the shallow water. The pebbles under her toes were uneven, and occasionally a few were very slippery, giving her a different feeling. After admiring and playing in the water for a while, Tilan returned to the shore with a little satisfaction, sat on the stone, and shook her toes to let them dry.
A few minutes later, she put on her shoes and socks again and returned to the embankment.
After walking a few steps back, someone hurried over and told the girl the notice and news.
"Several important representatives from the East have arrived. Lord Hadlin asked me to invite you to the meeting hall." The iron-core guard was 1.6 meters tall, already a tall and strong individual among the iron-core species.
"Okay, I see." Tilan nodded, and after the guard left, she looked back at the river with waves, and then walked into the tall black city gate.
Afternoon, Ford City Meeting Hall.
One meter long black bricks covered the entire hall. Under the light of the fire, they reflected a metallic luster. Tall pillars supported the top of the hall. Although there were windows in the distance, it was still difficult to hide the dullness and depression in the hall.
The number of seats around the central fire pit increased significantly. Today, in addition to Tilan and the three leaders of the Ford Alliance, there were also many representatives of scattered forces.
"This is the chief of the 'Bone Bell' tribe from the east." An old man wearing a deer bone helmet stood up. He was still wearing a bone necklace, an old fur vest, and his skin was dark.
"The chief of the 'Tiger Tooth' tribe from the northern mountains." A sturdy man with painted face stood up. He looked about forty years old, with a body of flesh and a sledgehammer made of unknown animal bones at hand.
"The chief of the 'Swordfish' tribe from the swamp." Wearing a tattered fur coat, the old man had dark eyes, a hunched body, and bone spurs on his back spine, like fish fins.
"The representative of the 'white fur species' in the snowy wilderness." She had thick white hair, except on her face and chest, which made her look a bit like a white ape.
"The representative of the 'Underworld Sea Rescue Association' in the Western Sea." This was a woman with a blue-black fishtail. She was very similar to a mermaid, but her fishtail had a distinct ridge, and the edges were more fierce and sharp. She had long black and purple
hair. "The representative of the 'lava species' who live in seclusion underground and are little known to the world." His skin was as black as charcoal, and he exuded a pungent smell of sulfide. If you get close, you can feel the heat radiating from it.
"The representative of the 'leaf vein species' who roam the forests in the mountains." A figure who looked short and difficult to distinguish between men and women floated above the chair. He had emerald skin and hair.
...
"Finally, it is the leader of the 'Star Chasing Covenant' that was established not long ago in the south, Lady Heshia." It was rare that the host used a respectful title when introducing Tilan. Perhaps in their opinion, except for this person who was worthy of respect, the other representatives could not be compared with the Ford Alliance.
Everyone present focused their eyes on the girl who was sitting at the same level as the three leaders of the Ford Alliance, with speculation, doubt and curiosity in their eyes.
Both the Star Chaser Alliance and the Stone Sword Alliance were new forces that had only appeared in the past year. News spread very slowly in this world, and many people's impression of the southern region still remained on the names of Wolf Blood King Camp, Stone Forest Castle, and Iron Rat Kingdom.
In order to show their dignity, at this meeting, the staff of the Ford Alliance specially prepared a snow-white silk shawl for Tilan to wrap around her shoulders to prevent the girl from looking too young and thin.
After reading her name, Tilan nodded slightly to everyone, and then the meeting officially began with the host continuing to explain.
The first thing was to introduce the current situation so that the representatives of various tribes and races present would know the tense and critical situation.
In fact, if it were not for the notification of the Ford Alliance, many representatives present might have to wait for the mechanical cluster to hit their doorsteps before they knew how bad and tense the situation was. Even after the introduction, some representatives still did not believe it.
"This... I think this is a bit alarmist. In fact, the machines will not act in such a large scale. I think as long as we are careful to avoid it, it will calm down in a few years."
Some small tribes only have a few thousand people in total. They think very simply. As long as they hide in the deep forest swamp, those mechanical bodies will not look for them one by one. In fact, they usually do this and are very skilled. As for sacrifice and death, even if there is no attack by the mechanical cluster, most people in their tribe will not live to 40 years old. Death is very common.
"Maybe we should be on guard, but where we live is far away from the Ford Alliance, and I am afraid there are very few places where we can cooperate." The mermaid-like representative of the "Underworld Sea Rescue Association" shook her head. She was grateful to the Ford Alliance for telling her the news in advance, but
she also felt that this matter had little to do with her. The members of the "Underworld Sea Rescue Association" can breathe underwater. Many of their members now live in the sea water, where mechanical bodies rarely invade. "I really want to help, but our ability is also limited." The representative of the "Leaf Vein Species" spoke. Their races add up to only a thousand, which is indeed very weak.
"Looking at the trend on the map, our "Edelweiss Species" territory is bound to encounter passing mechanical bodies." The woman covered with white fluff answered with a distressed voice.
"Since the three adults have invited us here, they must have some ideas or plans. Why don't you just say it directly?" After that, many representatives at the scene also agreed.
"Please ask the three adults of the Ford Alliance to speak directly." They are not fools. They don't think that this call is just to inform everyone of the crisis.
At this time, the three people sitting at the top looked at each other, and then Holmes spoke.
"Faced with such a large-scale natural disaster, it is not enough for us to rely on the Ford Alliance alone, so we hope to get your help. We need a lot of resources to produce the necessities of war, such as weapons, ammunition, food, equipment, medicine, etc. At the same time, the combatants may have to be greatly increased..."
Holmes described the plan of the Ford Alliance, which roughly means to integrate the resources of various organizations and tribes today, and carry out full production and expansion to deal with the war.
Although the tribes in the east are backward and poor, they have a large population that can be used for arming. The relief associations and settlements on the western coast have many rare resources that can be used to prepare precious creations and medicines. Some well-developed forces also have many people who have received primary education, which can be used to quickly expand the industrial system and increase the output of various weapons and equipment.
It must be said that this idea is very grand. If it can be implemented, it can also unite all the forces in the northern continent and exert super combat effectiveness. However, considering that the forces on this planet have not yet undergone a thorough industrialization transformation, not everyone can implement it as strongly as planned. There are still conflicts and old hatreds between some races and forces. There are many difficulties in truly implementing it.
...
Sure enough, after listening to Holmes' proposal, many representatives agreed on the surface, but still stated that their tribes and forces might find it difficult to complete the various orders and tasks issued by the alliance.
Faced with such a result, the host of the Ford Alliance once again emphasized the horror and harm of this mechanical cluster, but many people still hesitated and could not make up their minds to join.
Some of them did not believe in the Ford Alliance, some felt that even if they joined a small organization like themselves, they would only become cannon fodder, and some thought that this proposal could not be realized at all, and it would be a waste of manpower and material resources in the end.
The hall was divided into several factions arguing with each other, some agreed, some opposed, and some proposed various strange plans.
If they were to come up with a conclusion, the mechanical cluster would probably come knocking on their door. The girl shook her head secretly.
She stood up, and a gust of wind suddenly blew through the entire hall, chilling everyone to the bone. The entire hall became silent.
At this moment, she blinked, and the originally wanton cold wind suddenly dissipated, and then the hall became warm again.
"I hope you realize that this is not a problem that can be discussed endlessly, but a life-and-death crisis that is urgently faced." As a singer, she can convey the sense of terror of the mechanical cluster through sound. She
raised her finger, and the white shawl on her arm slid down a little. As the girl pointed her finger, the projected image in the hall disappeared, and then a clearer and grander scene appeared.
In the three-dimensional scene with sound, a large number of mechanical bodies covered the sky and the sun. They crossed the sea, like an endless gray iron tide, invading the earth. In the distance, the huge floating mothership on the sea showed its outline in the lightning and dark clouds.
Such a vivid and grand scene brought a real shock to everyone, and immediately crushed the luck in many people's hearts. But the downside was that the emotions and scenes conveyed by Tilan were too impactful, causing some representatives to lose their resistance and become extremely panicked.
"We can't fight such an enemy and such a large number at all."
"It's over, everything is over." Seeing the gray iron figures all over the mountains, some people leaned back in their chairs blankly, without any hope.
The people in the hall reacted differently, and Tilan was not surprised. She simply glanced at them and then sat down again.
Now no one opposed the proposal of the Ford Alliance, but some people felt that resistance was futile and were somewhat discouraged.
Seeing that everyone agreed, the host quickly took out the monocular that he had prepared before, and began to arrange various matters to be carried out later, and assigned some of the tasks to the representatives of each settlement.
Looking at the arrangements made by the Ford Alliance, Tilan was somewhat appreciative, but also felt that it was a bit insufficient.
"I think these tasks are not just about notifying and arranging them. We should set up some kind of planning supervision agency to ensure the smooth implementation of various plans." Although resistance may not be successful, she still wants to try. It's better to have something than nothing.
Therefore, under Tilan's advocacy, the various tasks arranged in the plan will be sent to various settlements and places by the supervisory agency selected later to supervise the implementation on the spot. On the one hand, this is to prevent some settlements and forces from sneaking away and inaction. On the other hand, it is also to grasp the progress of various projects in real time, so that problems can be quickly fed back and solved.
It's a bit similar to the early days of the Rose Federation, the taste of planned economy, Tilan recalled while explaining.
At the end of the Fifth Era, that is, the early days of the development of the Rose Federation, the various forces under its jurisdiction were mixed, and the personnel and technology of each organization were uneven. At that time, it was also Isanisha who constantly adjusted and arranged them, and later they were slowly integrated.
After the establishment of the Federation, those past forces either dissipated and merged into the general public, or retained some technical patents and became giant enterprises, or like the elves, became inherited aristocratic families.
When Tilan was arranging and advocating some plans today, she had a subtle feeling, as if she was experiencing the path that Isanissa had taken in the past. Although the process was far less grand than Isanissa's, some of the feelings were similar.
The needs and desires of each tribe were different, and the preferences and characteristics of each race were different. How to properly arrange these organizations from different places and twist them into a united force is indeed a talent that requires continuous learning to master.
Try your best. Although the hope is slim, she still wants to try. After all, the situation Isanisha faced back then was far more desperate and dark than what she is facing now.
(End of this chapter)
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