Li Lin raised his right hand, signaling that the Elf language and their current location were not suitable, and the disguised ones continued the conversation in the human language.
"However, I'm still curious about that magic. No matter what it is like now, a thousand years ago... uh... it was still the best magic. That unheard-of way of using Mana, what should I say—it's very interesting."
Brynhild's question carried a hint of shyness, but it didn't prevent her from expressing excitement and passion with her voice. The surging spirit of learning almost transformed into a visible halo, radiating heat and light all around.
Another subtle shift in perspective.
A thousand years ago, when the legend of Gilmania Kingdom was still alive, the best Mages were indeed the Elves. Human and beast magicians or priests could not even squeeze into the ranks. But now, the Elves and magic are completely insulated from each other, unable to learn or use. Even a small-time Enhancement Series magician - in fact, probably one who hasn't even obtained a certification - has the ability to cause significant damage to a group of young-generation Elves. The glory of their ancestors is not only irrelevant to them but has become a major threat to their survival.
Under this premise, it is quite beyond imagination and illogical for the Elves to still have such a deep reverence and yearning for magic.
Even if their magical yearning could be explained by spiritual needs, such as the pursuit of ancestral glory, the desire for something they do not possess, or curiosity about the unknown, Brynhild's belief that Li Lin's magic—which she described as "having one hundred percent proprietary intellectual property rights, passed ISO9000 certification"—was extremely attractive, was still far-fetched.
No matter how open-minded the Elves are, it's inevitable that there would be ethical controversies and possible accusations when a young girl regards a magic that makes living people explode like an overfilled balloon—very interesting. Using an inappropriate example from Earth: it's like a modest, gentle lady running into a concentration camp, watching prisoners struggling in the gas chamber through thick glass, and then laughing and asking the guards with the skull and double lightning symbol afterward, "Hey, buddy, this is really fun. How did you guys do it?"
This analogy might be a bit exaggerated. The scum who skinned children to make clothes would have no issues with innocence or inhumanity in regards to whether they were executed by fire or gas chamber. Compared to concentration camp guards, Li Lin's handling of situations was much more just. However, Brynhild—
Although not as perverted as some women, her tastes and interests were definitely a bit strange.
How could a girl, a publicly recognized warrior lady, like that kind of magic? How could she find it interesting? By the Mother Goddess, it's too bizarre, too unscientific.
"How did you do it?"
Pressed again, the other Elves also approached with a subtle curiosity, as if their thirst for knowledge and their curiosity about Li Lin's possible embarrassment outweighed the slight discomfort and unease plaguing both their stomachs and minds.
"I'll only explain the parts you can understand."
Adjusting his expectations of the Elves' comprehension to a lower value, Li Lin began to search and organize as simple language as possible to address their persistent inquiries driven by a thirst for learning.
"A significant portion of our body's composition is water, which accounts for about 70%."
The Elves carefully listened to the explanation and recorded every word, despite having doubts, they didn't interrupt or question Li Lin's data and theory.
Such a good learning spirit. Without playing the role of a "study bully," the lecturer secretly affirmed the Elves' learning quality and changed to a rhetorical tone.
"What would happen if all the water inside our body instantly boiled?"
Of course, the Elves who hadn't been exposed to subjects like physics and chemistry didn't know the answer and made a bitter smile. Li Lin took out a wooden teacup and poured a small amount of water from a leather bag into the cup. He covered the cup's mouth with a piece of sheepskin, and tightened it with a thin rope around the outer wall to secure it, making the teacup completely sealed.
"Watch carefully."
With the cup's bottom resting on his palm, the Elves stared intently at the teacup as they waited for the answer to be revealed.
The pale blue corona-like flash appeared again, and the sheepskin cover trembled. The dull sound of boiling liquid vibrated through the leather and into the air. Moments later, the upper half of the sheepskin expanded into a half-spherical shape along the boundary of the thin rope securing it.
"The water in the cup has now boiled and turned into steam. The enclosed cup cannot accommodate the expanding volume of steam. The gas expands continuously, trying to push to the outside, accumulating and exerting pressure from the inside out. Due to the relatively strong cup walls, the softer sheepskin becomes the breaking point. The sheepskin is pushed outward by the force, and finally..."
As the explanation stopped, the flash disappeared, and the sheepskin slowly returned to its original state. Li Lin didn't finish the sentence or demonstrate what would happen in the end. The Elves had witnessed one example, and no one wanted to waste another sheepskin to recall the unpleasant scene.
"So... the bald guy just exploded like that?"
Freya was the first to ask a question after the experiment, her tone and the looks of the surrounding Elves filled with confusion. The audience, including herself, apparently didn't understand the explanation.
Cultural differences.
Even with hands-on demonstrations and the most simplified explanations, the immense invisible cultural gap between the two worlds is still difficult to bridge in a short time.
Li Lin shook his head secretly, and gave Freya a scholarly serious nod. A more simplified and easy-to-understand version emerged:
"The water inside the muscles, bones, and organs boiled and turned into expanding gas, continuously pushing outward. In the end, the bald man was burst open by the gas inside his body that could not escape."
Oh—
All the elves let out a sound of sudden realization, then more questions followed.
[What was the blue-white crown-shaped light?],[Why did the water boil without fire?],[How to condense Mana?]…
"I will explain the further detailed principles and mechanisms after we return."
A simple scheduling arrangement blocked all unanswered questions. Li Lin had the role of a tutor who imparted knowledge and ideological guidance, but playing the part of an encyclopedia or search engine was not suitable now.
Unbearably long time would be spent on explaining concepts like[electromagnetic waves]and[thermal effects]at the wrong time and place, offering knowledge that the other party couldn't comprehend.
"As I've said, there's so much for you to learn."
Li Lin's tone sounded sentimental, and the elves foresaw that they were about to embark on an[intensely fulfilled life of both pain and pleasure]. Rich imaginations combined with anxiety created numerous bizarre and even masochistic scenes, which in turn frightened them and made them grimace.
The elves knew that the emotions written on their faces couldn't escape Li Lin's predictions and control, but he had no intention of comforting these long-eared youngsters.
[Freedom comes with a price], and building a nation and rejuvenating a race were not romantic and leisurely matters. Bloodshed, sacrifice, effort, hardship, and pain – the process was never free of these elements. The young elves should keep this in mind and adjust their mentality to adapt as soon as possible.
The work of ideological guidance needed to be accelerated.
A work schedule was set, and the tender care in his pupils faded away, replaced by the shrewd, sharp yet not offensive colors - the eyes of a shrewd businessman. Reflected in the amber pupils filled with new meaning were the black-clad man Geri and a bearded man.
Thoughts unrelated to business dealings were temporarily pushed aside, and a heartless dealing standard covered with a facade of affability. Li Lin smiled and slowly approached them.
The silent approach was not without meaning, as both parties in their first trade – transactions that violated the law, would demonstrate sufficient caution. During the quiet and slow process of approaching, the trading parties wouldn't neglect any detail of the scene, observing each other's actions, their subordinates' reactions, any changes in the surrounding environment, and whether their own subordinates were well-prepared.
This was how those who traded lives behaved. If they tried to do business with unfamiliar people without even the necessary vigilance, the outcome would surely be to end up as cold corpses, rotting away into piles of bones in the mud.
The bearded man's green eyes, which had seen numerous business opponents, were closely sizing up Li Lin, the juvenile supplier of a peculiar product introduced by his assassin partner, a kid he had never seen or heard of - Siegfried Otto Lilin.
The bearded man did not know much about this obscure youngster, but he was somewhat familiar with his assassin partner. Wali, who had undergone suspicious modifications to blend in with the bloody occupation, was neither skilled nor fond of boring jokes.[Profitability]was his guiding principle in action. Thus, with the mentality of giving his partner some face and trying something new, he agreed to come and inspect the goods, deciding whether to complete the transaction after verification.
Before the transaction officially began, Li Lin's impression score had been set.
Full marks.
Neither humble nor arrogant, without a trace of tension. No fawning was ever revealed, and the movements and smile were extremely natural, composed like an experienced hand in the market, almost indistinguishable from the old opponents and old customers he had dealt with in the past.
[An interesting fellow.]
Somewhat interested in the young man and the favorable business atmosphere emanating from him, the words formed in his mind with a hint of favor.
The youngster extended his hand first, the bearded man followed suit with a slight delay, and the two vastly different hands clasped together.
The benevolent smiles of the elder and the humble smiles of the younger – under the business negotiation model, the smiles of the two wily traders who had never met each other face-to-face were like those of old acquaintances, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere. Both the elves and the bearded man's subordinates discovered for the first time that their superiors had such ample acting talents.