Afrni glanced at her brother, sighing softly, knowing he had probably overthought the problem again.
Her brother had always been clever, far more detailed than his peers. It was probably why their father had passed the crown to him. But thinking too much was both his strength and his flaw. He wasn’t facing courtiers or other kings, but a leader who had just dealt a severe blow to the Army on the battlefield.
An elephant didn’t boast of its strength to an ant, nor does it hint at anything. Its mere presence says it all.
If that great man wanted something, he wouldn’t need to hint at it to them. He would either speak up, or take it by force.
To buy her brother some time to think, and to keep the meeting from becoming too awkward, she blinked and took over the conversation. "But as your son, shouldn’t he consider the New Alliance more?"
"That’s an interesting question." Chu Guang, though with little memory of his parents, only remembered the grandfather who raised him. He had thought more than once about how he would educate his child if he became a father.
Looking at Afrni’s innocent face, he smiled. "Of course, if I had a son, I’d expect him to do so, but he could do it in other ways."
"Like becoming a scientist, or a teacher, or a soldier, or an engineer. Whether he goes to a research institute, hospital, school, factory, construction site, farm, or joins the army, there are so many careers he can choose from, something he likes and that others need."
Afrni’s face showed surprise, or perhaps confusion. "Is that enough?"
"It’s enough. The New Alliance you see is made up of these people. As a father, I think if he can live a meaningful life, that’s enough for me. As for the rest, it’s up to him."
Afrni was silent for a moment, perhaps thinking of her own childhood, and sighed softly. "Then you must be a good father."
Chu Guang laughed heartily. "You flatter me."
Afrni curiously continued, "Do you have a wife?"
"Not yet, maybe after the war is over," Chu Guang joked.
He knew what his subordinates around him were thinking.
Including Luca, who wasn’t here, and the young Lu Bei beside him... Everyone wanted him to quickly find someone to pass on his legacy and give the New Alliance a young master. But precisely because they still held such thoughts, it was not the right time.
The New Alliance was everyone’s. It was not just a slogan. After two centuries, they had to realize that they didn’t need anyone to save them. They would be the saviors.
As a young man from a civilized society who had undergone nine years of compulsory education, Chu Guang had never thought about being an emperor, though he hadn’t refrained from playing along with his players’ Sigma memes.
It might sound idealistic, but after all, he had built his house with everyone bit by bit. He was somewhat sentimental.
He just hoped to live peacefully in his old age, hoping his house wouldn’t become a ruin at the first push.
The New Alliance held too many people’s emotions. He saw everything that happened there.
Afrni nodded thoughtfully.
She couldn’t tell what those eyes were thinking, but the path he described in abstract terms was indeed inspiring. Though it wasn’t the teaching of the Spirit of the Desert.
But ancient advice told her that an elephant wouldn’t lie to an ant. If he really thought that way, he wouldn’t make things difficult for them.
Just as Somer finally thought of an idea and was about to take control of the conversation, something unexpected happened. The little princess of the Honey Badger Kingdom suddenly lightly lifted her skirt and knelt on one knee.
"What about me? Can I be your wife?"
Expressions of surprise, astonishment, confusion, and delight appeared on different faces. The atmosphere ignited instantly.
This... This is a proposal right?!
The New Alliance’s laws only stipulated the age for marriage, not that proposals had to come from men. If possible, Lu Bei really hoped the administrator would agree.
It didn’t matter who it was, even if it was someone from another tribe.
Well... Too bad he was a guy. It wouldn’t mean anything if he was anxious.
Unfortunately, the administrator did not accept the foreign princess’s proposal. However, the prince of the Honey Badger Kingdom still got the promise he wanted.
"I can’t disclose the battle plans, but the New Alliance will dispatch troops to fight the Army and those who serve them."
"Whether it’s the residents of Oasis No.3 or No.2, they will all be ultimately liberated. We won’t force them to give up their faith, but we will fulfill the duties of a shelter, opening schools there, teaching them the rules of science, teaching them to farm. Even the Spirit of the Desert can’t interfere with our plans."
Somer quickly said, "The Honey Badger Kingdom royal family will cooperate with your work."
Chu Guang nodded. He wasn’t without self-interest. All help came at a price, and valuing the interests of one’s own people was the foundation of their unity.
However, he would choose a relatively mild means of recompense. In the long run, education was the best remedy for suffering.
Once the River Valley Province had the basis for reform, their people would naturally follow the currents of history.
As for what the Honey Badger Kingdom royal family planned to do then... That would be up to them. Whatever it was, it was too early to say.
When that day came, they might even beg to join the New Alliance. After all, not only the residents of the desert need schooling, but also the royal family. The ideologies brought from that world by players would surely influence them somewhat.
Pausing for a moment, Chu Guang looked at Afrni’s disappointed face. "If you really aspire to create the world I’ve described, spend these days walking around and looking around the cities of the New Alliance. I’ll arrange a guide for you."
He wasn’t narcissistic enough to think that this young girl had fallen in love with him at first sight, so there was no embarrassment.
The words spoken in that situation, whether her brother’s idea or her own decision, had no meaningful reference.
If it was to save her war-torn homeland, she should find another way.
After listening to Chu Guang, Afrni gently shook her head before shooting him a serious look. "I don’t need a guide, if possible, may I follow you? I want to be your student."
Chu Guang smiled, feeling somewhat nostalgic. After all, he had only graduated a few years before being sent to the wasteland.
"Unfortunately, I don’t teach, nor do I have the time to teach you anything. But before you return to the desert, if you want to find a job to pass the time, you can help me organize those books that haven’t yet been categorized."
"There are many interesting books there, from the distant Prosperity Era, which might inspire you for the work you’ll do in the future."
He had collected many books from Yong’s library, and there were stored in the warehouse in Dawn City. The Merchant Guild was responsible for sorting them, but they could always use more help.
As the controlled nuclear fusion reactor was ignited and the equipment from the Enterprise arriving in batches, the New Alliance was full of places they could use talent, especially needing people with literacy skills.
Afrni nodded obediently. "I will complete the task you’ve assigned."
Chu Guang nodded in approval before shooting her an encouraging glance.
Perhaps his plan would go smoother than he had anticipated. After all, it had only been two hundred years since the end of the Prosperity Era. It wasn’t too late yet.