The Kind of Evil-Chapter 493: A new system.
Days turned to weeks as Anastasha rebuilt the Holy Nation with the help of Magic Tower and Erlina’s connections that provided the materials. The borders and the ports had removed the restriction on entering and leaving the continent. As soon as the restrictions got lifted, all marine ships were used to transport all the materials.
The city that was flattened had risen once again, and the Holy Nation would be the only nation in history that got destroyed and rebuilt three times in less than a year. What made it feel disturbing and surreal was the fact that the Holy Nation was the one and only nation that existed in the whole continent.
Aurelia’s plan had been approved by all the leaders and they decided to support her wish. A new era with a new system where Aurelia had absolute power and authority over the lives that chose to live in Central Neva. She gave the northern area of the continent to Arthor and all the leaders from North Neva, giving them a new place to live.
The Ordinal Conclaves that acted similar to senators had been formed and chosen personally by Aurelia, and there were ten senators in total that would control ten different regions. Central Neva had dozens of nations with dozens of regions, but now the continent was narrowed into ten regions, making each Ordinal Conclave responsible for a big chunk of the continent. The Senators that Aurelia chose were Arthor Wyverncrest, Maximilian Wyverncrest, Morgianne Sancticus, Monica Sancticus, Isador Suncrown, Julius Suncrown, Volos Auvrey the former emperor of the Ruzia Emprie, Ligardis Evermount the former queen of the Crustaria Kingdom, Ulric Ironhart, and lastly Esper Frostspire.
They had decided to rename the continent from Central Neva to Centriva Continent and the leader was High Regent Aurelia Angelis. Everyone would address her as Her Mandate when her title wasn’t needed to be addressed. Nobles and commoners didn’t exist in Centriva, everyone maintained the land they owned before and had the same opportunity to become officials that worked under the Ordinal Conclaves.
A new law was made, a strict and structural law that shackled those who had power in the Centriva. The knight order was called the Ordinal Warden, and the one that led the Wardens was no other than Arandil as the Chief of Ordinal Warden and Castor as Vice Chief of Ordinal Warden. The survivor knights, warriors, paladins, and templars had become Ordinal Wardens.
Ordinal Conclaves and the Ordinal Wardens were equal in power but different in the power they were entrusted with by the High Regent. Neither were incapable of ordering or commanding each other, both only answered to the High Regent. To avoid future conflicts, they had the Great Sage who maintained neutrality and would be the deciding voice that the High Regent would listen to. The Great Sage didn’t have power or any authority toward Centriva, but the Great Sage would be the decisive voice, but that didn’t mean the Great Sage had power over the High Regent.
The news had been spread across Neva, making sure the world knew about the reformation of Central Neva. The other continent couldn’t ignore Centriva’s presence because those who worked under the High Regent were no others but war heroes or powerful families that had contributed to the world, not just the continent. There were people who had decided to move to Centriva out of safety from the demon invasion and the opportunity that it was given.
Rasmus and Anastasha didn’t partake in the making of Centriva, completely showing that they had zero interest in the power it offered. Rasmus’ and Anastasha’s silence was unsettling because it could be interpreted in many different things. One thing that made them unsettled was that those two’s silence might be because they chose to not reveal the flaw so they could abuse it in the future.
"What do you think of this, Count?" Alexander asked, wondering if his former teacher had any thoughts about the new system. "I’m talking about this new system, the Centriva continent," he pointed out, watching Rasmus write something in his personal journal.
"I have none," Rasmus shook his head as he kept focus on his writing. "Sometimes you just need to look and wait," he continued as he let the ink dry before he turned the page and continued writing.
"I see..." Alexander sounded a bit disappointed. "But why is it that I feel a bit uneasy about this. I know that they’re all competent figures, and nobody could even stand equally on one of them. I just feel like..." He paused as he exhaled deeply and raised his brows. "I don’t know... just feel like something is wrong or amiss?" He asked, his gaze distant as he stared at the spot on the ceiling.
"That’s completely normal. Just because one bread is shaped differently from the rest, it doesn’t mean it’s not the same, you’re just not used to seeing it in a different shape and form," Rasmus responded, his lazy gaze focused on the page and his writing.
"But this bread is using completely different ingredients, so I don’t think that’s the case here, Count," Alexander furrowed his brows, tilting his head as he looked at Rasmus.
"Even so, the purpose of the bread is to satiate hunger and to bring satisfaction to the one who eats it. Does it matter if the bread used a completely different ingredients when the purpose is still the same?" Rasmus asked, his voice calm like a man who had nothing but peace of mind.
Alexander pondered on Rasmus’ words for a lot longer, trying to find the logic in Rasmus’ words and what kind of argument to question Rasmus’ words. Alexander might be the only one who could see more than just the tip of the iceberg of Rasmus’ mind. He knew enough that Rasmus didn’t care about the method but the efficiency and the result that met his standards.
"Even if it’s spoiled or poisoned, people would eat it anyway since it still satiate the hunger. To satiate the hunger is one thing, but to satisfy the taste is another matter.." Alexander muttered as he sighed.
"Why would you think that bread was spoiled or poisoned? Did you assume the baker would poison their customers when their purpose was to give what the customers want?" Rasmus asked with his brows raised, and yet he kept his head down glued to the book.
"Well... you always assumed for the worst and to not trust anyone, so I assume you would think that way. At least that’s what I learned from you," Alexander answered as he shrugged and shook his head.
"Just because I did it doesn’t mean you have to. Rather than assuming about the bread’s taste, you should have questioned the motive behind the baker for being a baker. You would have questioned the people in power, not the system. Don’t question the bread, question the baker," Rasmus responded as he refilled his pen.
"Right..." Alexander sighed, realizing that his concern was the system, and yet his argument turned to the baker.
Alexander hummed, pursing his lips until something clicked in his head.
"But the bread can still be harmful or spoiled if the fault is in the ingredients. You can’t blame the baker for it, right? Let’s say that the baker wants to try a different and new recipe, but during the process, the bread suddenly poisoned the customer. It’s not his intention, and you can’t fully blame the baker for it. The system can also cause harm to the people even though the intention of the people in power want nothing but the best for the people," Alexander said with his brows furrowed, staring at Rasmus with curiosity.
"If no one is poisoned yet, how can you be so sure that the bread is harmful. You can’t say it’s bad until it harms someone, and a system is like that. You shouldn’t underestimate these people in power, you should overestimate them. They want what you also want, but again, just wait and see. You must walk, not stand still and ponder like this. You’re not a baker, you’re just an observer," Rasmus answered as he closed the book and put down his pen. "It’s good to question things, but we are just observer here, nothing more unless you decide to partake in it," he stared into Alexander’s eyes.
"You should be the one sitting on my side, Count, you always did. But why is it that you seem to have faith in them?" Alexander furrowed his brows even deeper, confused by where Rasmus stood.
"Because that’s reality, Alexander. If you keep questioning things, reality doesn’t care. What you do is be pessimistic not being aware of reality. Your mind right now is filled with nothing but uncertainty and fear, that’s not seeing reality as a whole, just a possibility. You’re correct that I should be the one sitting on your side, but you’re incorrect to assume that I would ponder about a system, something that you will never be able to fully control," Rasmus explained, his gaze and voice as calm as ever.
Alexander realized that he was too indulged in possibilities without considering reality. He was a bookworm, someone who would indulge himself with knowledge, and he was praised for being knowledgeable even to more experienced figures. But he had forgotten that knowledge with detachment from reality meant nothing.
"Is this your way of living, Count?" Alexander asked, his voice a bit quieter than before. "You chose to see reality as it is and expect it to do harm. Rather than preventing it from happening, you let it be and just focus on achieving your goal in the most efficient way?" He added. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
"Freedom is a weapon. Whether you use it to protect or to harm, both will end up hurting each other. I never control people’s lives, Alexander. You do, all of you do. It’s inevitable that someone will get hurt, and that’s reality," Rasmus answered as he leaned back, making himself comfortable in his chair. "So is responsibility something that should exist without power? No, responsibility only exists for those who act. Whether it’s the system’s fault or the people’s, the blame will always be on the one who partakes in it and holds control over the power," he added.
