"Oh, that's... a precious first time, huh."
"Such a cheap joke, it's completely vulgar, sir!!"
"This is a real problem, I think this experience is indeed of great value. It plays a crucial role in accumulating experience for impulsive youngsters like you who have little world experience. The courage to actively observe and explore unknown fields is truly valuable for your life."
"What you said seems to make sense, but why do I feel like I'm being made a fool of..."
"Ignore those unnecessary things, the point is what comes next. Nidhogg, continue, what did you see."
"A group of moving statues, sir."
He inhaled the activated air into his lungs, and together with the discomfort, they poured out of Nidhogg's mouth.
"Men, women, elderly people, children, disabled people, pregnant women, and sick people were all chained in the fields to work. Some had a piece of rag to cover their bodies, the majority didn't even have scraps to cover their bodies and were nakedly turning the icy land in the early spring cold. Weeding, removing stones, sowing seeds. Repeating these actions over and over again. If anyone stopped or fell, they would be met with a whip or stick to urge them to continue working, until the day that unfortunate person fell forever. What's truly terrifying is the attitude of those slaves and passersby towards this situation."
"Extremely reasonable, like a process of breathing, eating, sleeping, and excrement. And this process is so barren and numb that it drives you crazy?"
The fragments of information and Nidhogg's tone had already revealed enough information. Without hearing the rest of his words, Li Lin could fully imagine what the scene looked like.
Numb society, numb crowd, dead dignity, dead morality.
Not a fresh topic at all, in every era, every country, every nation, some outraged, some with ulterior motives, some loudly protesting, some lamenting endlessly, discussing such matters. And then calling for the construction of a moral system, improving legal systems, awakening moral consciousness, promoting democracy, as to whether they make a difference is another topic.
"What needs to be clear is, it is not an issue of race, cultural background or systems. It is purely a result of the limitation of social productivity and resource development, coupled with a little innate weakness of the wisdom species."
"... I don't understand the terms you just said."
"You can understand it this way."
He emptied his cup of the remaining tea and refilled it with the red drink, and began to swirl the cup in accordance with Nidhogg's curiosity.
"Imagine all resources of this country, including land, trees, minerals, drinking water, and all the essentials of living life as a cup of water. The drinkers are all living beings residing in this land. And the total amount of water is only that little. If everyone shares evenly, there could be a different kind of imbalance."
"Imbalance? But hasn't it been divided equally already?"
"Would you like to share the same amount of water with a rat? Is the water drunk by a rat enough to satisfy you?"
"But, if they're all humans, then..."
"The differences in individual abilities also determine the priority of resource distribution. Physical functions, beauty and ugliness, intelligence, social skills, mana usage... these inherited wealth through genes have provided the initial cornerstone for the division of class status."
As if touched by some sentiment, he smiled, forcing knowledge of brutal realities into the weightless air with an order to learn and remember.
"Those with power control the distribution of resources — this is the true face of the power of the upper class. Collect resources, allocate resources, manage resources, possess resources, to guarantee the rationality and effectiveness of these actions, develop military forces, that is, an army. Formulate rules, that becomes the law. A living community with a common language, culture, race, or history operating within such frameworks in a certain geographic area is the nation."
"So, the purpose of a nation's operation should be to allow everyone to live peacefully, right? Then why does something like serfdom happen?"
"You got the premise wrong, Nidhogg. The foundation of a nation's existence — the most important guarantee is the survival of the majority. Increasing the average standard of living is not that urgent. As long as common people see [there are people who have it harder than me], it will stimulate their sense of satisfaction. Complaints about the status quo will also lessen. By exploiting serfs, as long as there isn't a sudden collapse in financial conditions, the normal operations can be maintained through steady tax revenue. The living standard of the upper class is guaranteed and the common people don't need to bear too much tax. As for how the serfs feel... who would care?"
"This is really..."
"Hard to believe? You think that way because you are still a child."
The tea water that was no longer shaking was swallowed down his throat. The warmth from the teacup gradually dissipated as it was returned to the table. The voice, which sounded like a sigh and reprimand, echoed like a snicker as it targeted Black Dragon who was seeking an answer.
"Life is never easy, the weight is as heavy as a curse. Under such pressure, constantly moving forward, rubbing off edges against reality. Becoming slick and experienced is a form of growth in life. If you keep looking at the society of the short-lived species from a dragon's aloof perspective, you will only corner yourself into a narrowing path and finally get stuck in a dead end. Right now, you just need to know and remember one thing — humans can be crueler than dragons or snakes."