novelraw #278 - Section 278
#278 - Section 278
Because the Azure Vine Empire has established an absolute dominant position economically and militarily, Azure Vine language is now the universal language of the world, with a terrifyingly high adoption rate.
Coupled with the strong output of subtitle groups and high-quality works, the empire's cultural output capability is unprecedentedly powerful.
The boundless space offers a rich array of presentation methods. Movies, television, games, novels—all the cultural and entertainment products that existed on Earth have been launched in this world.
Further amplified by promotional campaigns, it has produced super-popular figures such as unparalleled divas, superstar emperors, youthful idols, and cultural giants, using large investments and productions to dominate neighboring countries.
The Azure Vine Empire not only learned the tricks that Hollywood used to be good at but also played them even better, filming a large number of popcorn movies about Azure Vine people saving the world.
Although the core message always feels a bit off to other races, there are plenty of handsome men and beautiful women, the scenes are grand, the special effects are invincible, and all kinds of merchandise are rolled out, making it difficult for young people to resist.
Using the super influence brought by movies to break the ice, the entire industry chain is then opened up for related IP development, including soundtracks, games, novels, and celebrity endorsements.
With this strategy, Azure Vine culture is super popular in the Eternal Night World, especially its influence on the younger generation is terrifying, starting to generate a longing for the Azure Vine Empire from the bottom of their hearts.
Life there is as beautiful as a picture, opportunities are everywhere, there is no exploitation or discrimination, and every excellent person can realize their value...
Through the soft power output of culture, the Azure Vine Empire has successfully pried open a crack in the hostility of other races without using swords or cannons.
With this cultural background, when the younger generation grows up and gains a voice, the Azure Vine Empire's global leadership will be even more stable.
The Azure Vine Empire's New Year's gala is even more star-studded, a scene that only the top artists can attend, and it widely invites outstanding talents from all over the world to participate.
Orcs, mermaids, elves, dwarves, halflings from Terra… When many small races and less powerful countries discover that their compatriots are standing on the world's largest stage and discover the Azure Vine Empire's slogan of 'inclusiveness,' their sense of identity soars.
The empire's capital also discovered that alien celebrities are popular, so it increased investment and created a large number of top influencers who are happy to sing the praises of Azure Vine's awesomeness.
Not only is it popular with the Azure Vine people, but it can also further deepen other countries' recognition of Azure Vine culture, vaguely grasping another path to join the Azure Vine Empire.
The Azure Vine Empire can develop such a powerful cultural and entertainment force not only because it became rich first but also because of its enlightened policies.
Because Roger took early action to clear out those backward aristocratic classes, the empire's administrative officials are younger, and technocrats such as magicians control the empire's largest power class.
These powerful people are advanced and active in their thinking, willing to listen to opinions from all sides, and their abilities and careers are on the rise, extremely confident in themselves—only in this way can they have the tolerance to accommodate different voices.
What's more, with the brave and unparalleled Empress, who is herself a national idol, they are not afraid of the voices of foreign forces affecting the stability of the empire, so the empire's artistic creation has never had any shackles.
Works that satirize and criticize the Empress can be freely published.
What you said makes sense, and the country will reward you, but if it is slanderous nonsense, then the Eternal Night Empress's loyal fans will spray you to death first, ensuring that works that splash dirty water will not survive 24 hours.
Compared to many other ancient countries, such as the elves, they may have a long time and love immersed in the field of art, and the long-lived species are naturally far more advantageous than the human race in this regard.
However, because there are many ruling groups within, such as the imperial power, theocracy, aristocratic class, and powerful professionals, anyone can freely express their opinions on literary and artistic creation.
Each party may only propose small changes, hoping that the new work will pay a little attention, but these small changes accumulate, and the creator feels like they are wearing heavy shackles when pushing forward, unable to use their full potential.
Literary and artistic works require imagination. When imagination is locked in a cage, no sharp things dare to be touched, and no real content can be reflected. How much is left to write about stories that are truly vibrant and can touch the most sensitive hearts through life?
But in traditional countries where aristocratic forces and feudal forces are ubiquitous, such creative obstacles always exist.
It cannot be said that it stifles all great masterpieces, because the genius's creativity can always stand out.
Just from the proportion of excellent works in the end, the Azure Vine Empire has a great advantage. Over the years, it can naturally cultivate more outstanding talents and give birth to master-level figures.
Then, a positive incentive is formed. With the opening of immigration policies, various people are introduced and settled down, at least providing job opportunities. The number of artists who cannot stand the harsh environment in their own countries and leave, or seek greater development in the empire, is increasing every year.
Any industry has a clustering effect. Even geniuses need to communicate with each other and stay on the cutting edge at all times, in the place where technology is updated and iterated the fastest, to ensure their leading position.
The Azure Vine Empire and the City of Mysteries have gradually become the cultural centers of the Eternal Night World.
It is because they have completely broken free from shackles, and the quality of life of the people has been continuously improved, liberating the people from heavy labor, and a reasonable distribution system ensures that ordinary people also have more time to devote to their hobbies.
Because there is enough technology, and access to knowledge is open to everyone, a large number of excellent cultural and sports workers have emerged, bringing people rich cultural and entertainment enjoyment, and they are happy to pay for this enjoyment.
This forms a mutually reinforcing positive cycle, with the market and practitioners developing together, bringing vitality to the empire's cultural field.
In the current Azure Vine Empire, in terms of core technology, industries controlled by the state belong to the planned economy. The five-year plan clearly arranges the future path, resources are concentrated and rationally allocated, additional investments are completed at super speed, and unsuitable projects are cut off, avoiding the many wastes caused by mutual competition.
But in terms of people's livelihood and entertainment, the empire is fully open, and the market economy operates under the main control. Various capitals can be integrated to make quick money and contribute diverse and excellent works.
Because there are enough excellent works, bringing strong attraction, and because the ultra-high popularity of the Soul-Linking Bracelet provides a broad market and convenient payment methods, the market is willing to pay for excellent works.
Investors have income and are willing to make greater investments, which then leads to large projects competing with each other to seize the market, so the quality of works continues to improve. While people enjoy it, the money in their pockets is unknowingly tricked away.
This is the benefit of an excellent market. Similarly, if the market feedback is not strong enough, good works go unnoticed, and low-quality, bloody, and vulgar works achieve great success, then capital will also shift to these shoddy works.
Because capital exists only to make profits, not to create classics.
Classics are just a byproduct of too much competition. Only when garbage works cannot make money will they hire those individualistic genius figures and spend money and time polishing mature works.
If selling shit can make money, even more than buying food, then who would cook?
This is a manifestation of the bad driving out the good. The empire's entertainment market has embarked on a positive cycle, which is a kind of luck and also the attitude that a strong country should truly have.
In such a festive atmosphere, the empire received the news that the elven empire's border fortress had been breached, and then the Leaf of Asla also fell.
The military naturally always has someone on duty, and the first and fourth fleets, which were on standby, quickly assembled.
The empire's third and fifth fleets are still on missions in other worlds and have not returned.
The second fleet is controlled by Roger and has great autonomy, reporting to the military that it is already on its way to support the elven empire.
"Your Majesty, the support troops request to sortie." Margaret entered the Maple Spirit Moon Shadow Palace to see the Eternal Night Empress and found that she had already put on the standard attire of a battle mage.
"Approve your actions, prioritize protecting elven civilians, and the second goal is to capture or kill Teberra."
"Understood!"
Margaret responded, and then came back to her senses, strangely asking, "Your Majesty, are you not participating in this battle because you issued instructions in advance?"
In previous battles, the Eternal Night Empress would definitely rush to the front line, especially since they had personally made so many preparations for Teberra, why would Your Majesty have something to do at such a critical moment?
Facing Margaret's doubts, the Eternal Night Empress felt a little guilty: "Ahem, I will wait for your news and prepare to directly take the Conqueror's Canyon."
"Understood... Then the supreme command of the coordination of the fleets this time will be held by Commander Roger?"
"Him... okay, in addition, I will appoint an additional advisor to the front line."
The Eternal Night Empress was actually a little unwilling, but she could only agree.
The highest military rank in the empire is marshal, and the commander-in-chief of each fleet is at this level.
This time, because it involves the coordinated operations of multiple fleets, in order to ensure smooth cooperation and avoid disagreements that cannot be resolved, a supreme commander must be designated, with the power to restrain the marshals of other fleets.
The military's default for this supreme commander has always been the Eternal Night Empress, because she likes to personally lead the expedition and has not been absent from any major war.
But this time, the Eternal Night Empress unexpectedly did not participate. The military ranked according to military merit, qualifications, etc., and found that the second was Roger.
In other words, apart from him, there is no second commander on the front line who can guarantee that other marshals have no objections in terms of qualifications. The Eternal Night Empress has to agree even if she disagrees.
Immediately, the empire's fleet set off, and the Eternal Night Empress also left the Maple Spirit Moon Shadow Palace and came to a hangar in the Chapter of Imbalance.
There is a small escort ship here. Although it is small, it integrates the empire's highest achievements in the field of warships. In terms of maneuverability and speed, it has unparalleled advantages over large warships and strategic fortresses and has the ability to conduct covert operations.
The greatest role of this escort ship is actually only one, which is to carry the Eternal Night Empress's exclusive magic puppet, Phantom Maru, to the battlefield as quickly as possible.
After three years and with the private investment of the Eternal Night Empress, the current Phantom Maru is certainly not the large toy that the bald-headed middle-aged researcher polished alone.
It is a super weapon specially adapted to the Eternal Night Empress, which can greatly amplify her personal combat power and perfectly adapt to various combat environments, and make targeted adjustments.
Even if it is given to an ordinary person, the current Phantom Maru can exert the combat power bonus of a divine weapon level, and in the hands of the Eternal Night Empress, and with a professional team behind to temporarily modify various parameters and configure weapons according to the environment, the combat power can be improved several levels.
The biggest feature of this magic puppet lies in the word 'Phantom'. Through the combination of rich subsystems, it can almost perfectly cope with any environment.
Similar to the Virtual Magic God, the combination of ability cards can complete the restraint of any enemy.
The Phantom Maru is based on the Eternal Night Empress's powerful magic power, using the entire empire's scientific research power to complete a higher degree of targeted adaptation, and the upper limit of combat power that can be exerted is naturally far higher than the Virtual Magic God.
"Phantom Maru has completed the pre-sortie inspection."
Frankenstein is now the general manager of the Phantom Maru maintenance team. After receiving the Eternal Night Empress's order, she immediately took action, but she was a little confused about Her Majesty's order, "Your Majesty, do you really want to risk cutting off the enemy's rear alone? Obviously, the empire's fleet group has already made preparations for a frontal advance."
"To prevent too many variables, I must of course arrive at the core battlefield as soon as possible."
"But I feel that your recent actions are all to avoid Ro..."
Bang!
Frankenstein's jaw was shattered, her mandible fell to the ground, and the gears turned helplessly. The rest of the words remained in her stomach.
"Oh, sorry, just had a magical power surge."
The Eternal Night Empress's voice was gentle, and she glanced at Frankenstein threateningly before entering the Phantom Maru.
Frankenstein lowered her head and didn't speak. Her Majesty did it on purpose, definitely did it on purpose, right?
My big data analysis cannot be wrong, there must be something wrong with those two!
Because she was too excited, her suppressed hormones became fanatical...
I finally know the reason for Her Majesty's depression in recent years. Can Lydia, you stupid doctor, do this?
Chapter 256 This is Our World
The main ground transportation route from the Elven Empire to the Azure Vine Empire.
This is a railway and highway network that carries trade between the two countries, extending in all directions and radiating to many surrounding countries.
After years of continuous investment and construction, it has formed the most important transportation transit channel to the south of the empire, the main artery of land transportation.
This route can quickly ensure that the empire's goods are quickly sold to the Elven Empire, and it can also replenish the required raw materials in a timely manner. It can be called the key to ensuring the Azure Vine Empire's economic leadership order.
Along the long route, humans and elves jointly built a large number of fixed outposts, monitoring the safety of this road throughout the entire journey, and each year they can find a large number of contraband and smuggled goods.
At this moment, this route has become the main escape direction after the Elven Empire's border line was breached.
Gladys is holding the rear to buy time and has established a temporary defense line, which is now on the verge of collapse, but at least it has bought enough time.
In addition, the protection on this road has given civilians enough time to escape.
Although the outcome of holding the rear is likely to be death, facing the fierce pursuit forces of the dark elves, there is almost no possibility of survival, but no sentinel squad will choose to retreat.
Because their homeland was under attack, and the fleeing refugees included their families and friends, it was every warrior's duty to fight for their survival.
Because of the appeasement policies adopted by Windsor over the years, the Elven commoners had regained a sense of belonging to this land, and even without mandatory supervision, they would voluntarily fight for it.
Of course, the retreat was not smooth sailing. It was a hasty departure, and many private vehicles encountered energy crises during the long journey.
This caused Windsor considerable trouble. Their transport capacity in all aspects had reached its limit. They had already abandoned all supplies to prioritize people, and having lost those vehicles, they simply did not have the spare capacity to accommodate them.
The only choice left for her was basically to leave those people behind, relying on the vehicles to build another line of defense, and try to block the Dark Elf pursuit troops as much as possible.
After Gladys gave her the ring representing the Queen's position, Windsor gained not only the supreme authority of the Queen but also the weight of the crown.
For Windsor, this was truly a nightmarish night.
Fortunately, at the most critical moment, Roger led the Empire's Second Fleet to provide support.
"My unit will undertake the task of sniping the Dark Elves. In addition, Imperial merchant groups have spontaneously assembled and will help Elves in need to evacuate."
Roger brought the best news.
"Thank you..." Windsor said with a look of surprise, and couldn't help but want to throw herself into Roger's arms for support and warmth, but the next second she stopped.
Now she was the Elven Queen. No matter how much help the Empire brought, they were still two countries, and she couldn't always rule this country with Roger's help.
Her mother demonstrated the responsibilities of the Queen, only with kindness and idealism, but not as a qualified leader. She always had to have more independence and decisiveness.
Windsor quickly controlled her chaotic emotions, forcibly shifted her gaze away from Roger, and said as calmly as possible: "If you don't need my cooperation, I will organize the retreat."
"Just evacuate as soon as possible."
Roger didn't notice the slight changes in Windsor's tone and expression.
Having seen a pile of qualified and unqualified leaders while traveling through many planes, Windsor's growth was good news. Of course, he hoped that the Empire's fellow travelers could also achieve the greatest growth and find a suitable path, rather than just being appendages of the Empire.
In front of the super mixed refugee team retreating from Yggdrasil's Leaf, a team composed of the Empire's Chamber of Commerce and logistics group's fleets and convoys met them.
They brought the magic crystals and other supplies urgently needed by the Elves, and also provided greater transport capacity, greatly alleviating the already overloaded transport, allowing the retreat to proceed more quickly.
At this time, the benefits of the entire world's trade and logistics being established under the guidance of the Empire were revealed.
Whether it was the interface of different types of vehicles, or various universal energy blocks, they had to be included in the unified standards of the Empire, including the automated auxiliary programs that coordinated logistics, all of which had clear Imperial imprints.
So the scene looked chaotic, but it was all under unified scheduling. The two sides completed the connection at the fastest speed, rationally allocated transport capacity, and ensured that the most civilians could evacuate the dangerous area that was about to become a battlefield of gods.
"The Humans... are more courageous than we imagined."
The Elves looked at the vehicles of different models and brands, very moved. Many felt that they were on the verge of despair, but were pulled back.
Many of the Imperial people who warmly welcomed them on board were probably the treacherous merchants they used to hate, but at this moment their ships were flying the flag representing the Qing Teng Empire, transporting them away for free, and providing various comforts.
In the front, when the Elven Empire fell into absolute decline, it was also the fleet with the Imperial flag that helped them block the terrible enemy.
"I knew the Empire would come, they won't abandon us, they've never been afraid!"