Are the Elves Bound for the Sea of Stars?

This time, without even preparing a single dish, Tagelise and Kang started drinking.

Tagelise downed two glasses of white— Sprite —and then, slurring his words, started laughing out loud.

Carbonated drinks can get people drunk... but not this quickly. It's just that Kang De's psychology knows that what might make someone drunk isn't the carbonation or sugar, but rather their long-suppressed emotions.

Tagelise has already explained it very clearly.

He came to say some drunken ramblings.

Let him say what he wants.

Kang De listened to the other person's ramblings with a formulaic smile, nodding in agreement.

This is a skill I've honed since I was a child.

They've become very proficient at it.

This was Kang De's mother was a heroine from Shandong. Every time she returned to her maternal grandmother's house, there would be a banquet, where a bunch of simpletons would roar and boast to each other, like a Caribbean pirate gathering. On such auspicious occasions, Kang De would always be among the guests.

The main purpose was to keep an eye on Mom, so that Teacher Li wouldn't get too drunk and use the wine bottle as a pointer to perform a teaching demonstration.

Kang De's father privately complained that Kang De was a limiter for his mother. When Kang De's mother went racing at the racetrack, as long as Kang De sat next to her, she would definitely know her limits. When Kang De's mother was bragging at the dinner table, as long as Kang De sat next to her, she would definitely not drink to the extent of a berserker.

So Kang De was a little worried about letting his mother go to Africa to visit his father alone this time.

Of course, that's not the point. The point is that during his childhood, Kang De witnessed the various forms of his relatives and elders, led by his mother, whose veins were filled with alcohol. No matter how kind and warm they were usually, they all changed their personalities and became eccentric when they drank.

He always felt that most of the eloquence skills of Shandong people were focused on the tricks of persuading others to drink...

And even now, I still don't understand the seating arrangement rules for the main host, secondary host, main guest, secondary guest, first host, second host, and third host... Oh, I do know about the third host.

In short, based on these experiences, he had a wealth of knowledge and experience in dealing with drunkards.

Basically, it's about smiling and nodding, looking the other person in the eye with a sincere expression and earnest gaze. You agree with whatever the other person says, but what you're really thinking is another matter entirely. My mom often says that there are no hierarchys at the family dinner table, and that's quite a succinct statement.

Although this isn't a family dinner table, there are no distinctions of rank or status.

Kang De poured himself a glass of Sprite, the two clinked glasses, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Tagelise grinned foolishly, then let out a hearty burp. After burping, he instinctively covered his mouth, then realized the situation. He let go of his mouth and burst into laughter, as if he had done something extraordinary.

He was just drinking Sprite, but he seemed to be really enjoying it. He quickly got into the mood, patted Kang De on the shoulder, and squinted at him with a smile, saying, "You actually want to marry the Phoenix King? You've got some nerve!"

Kang De shrugged and laughed, "Is that not allowed?"

Tagelise squeezed Kang De's arm, blinked, his cheeks flushed red, perhaps from drunkenness. "Then you'd better practice hard, otherwise you'll be stuck down there forever!"

After saying that, he laughed heartily again, as if he had done something extraordinary.

I have a feeling that this elf no longer cares about maintaining a persona... oh wait, I mean, about maintaining an elf persona.

Kang De laughed too, "Just kidding! I'm super brave!"

Tagelise hiccuped again, instinctively picking up on the joke, and grabbed a piece of Kang De's clothing, pulling it upwards, becoming increasingly absurd. "Come on, let me..."

Just then, a hand darted out from the side, grabbing Tagelise's wrist and blocking the inevitable attack. The elf and the A Xing locked eyes, neither moving an inch.

The next moment, Kang De seemed to feel the ground sink slightly.

Looking at the locked hands of Tagelise and A Xing, he remained calm, pressed down on both wrists, and separated them like Imperial Uncle Liu —damn, so what's Brother Beibei's fighting strength?

The A Xing protectively embraced Kang De, glaring at Tagelise: "Only I can see Kang De!"

Tagelise, quite drunk and clearly acting recklessly, slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "What do you mean only you can see this? What's this about Goth's princess? And who's that short, scrawny fellow?"

From the moment she arrived on the island, Tina's hatred was firmly established, making her a lifelong enemy of the A Xing. Even after transforming into human form, she never let her guard down. When Tagelise exposed her true intentions, she screamed in anger.

But A Xing, with his wild animal instincts, still managed to distinguish between friend and foe by pulling one faction and attacking the other.

So she scoffed, "That's our own business, it has nothing to do with you, you bean sprout!"

Tagelise laughed loudly, looking up at the sky, and said arrogantly, "Your business? None of my concern? Believe me, I'll say a few words and see how you get out of this!"

How could A Xing back down even slightly? "Then tell me! If you don't, you're just instant noodles!"

The elf retorted angrily, "You wait, once we get back home I will..."

"Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!"

Kang De quickly called for a halt, saying that they couldn't say any more. Some things are better left unsaid; it's one thing to pretend not to know, but if you say them out loud, things will become very complicated.

He quickly filled the elf's cup. "Come on, come on..."

To everyone's surprise, Tagelise stared at him, his lips slowly pursed, and then he burst into tears again.

Grass grass grass grass grass grass grass grass grass.

It's started; another alcoholic has begun.

Kang De pulled a tissue from his pocket, unfolded it, and smoothly wiped the other person's face twice. Then he assumed he was about to chat with the other person—only then did he realize what he had done.

Damn, this is a drinking party in another world.

He shook his head and continued wiping, "Why are you crying again?"

The elf shouted, "I can cry when I want to cry, and laugh when I want to laugh. What, are you going to tell me what to do?"

Kang De said helplessly, "Even crying needs a reason."

"Of course!" Tagelise said sadly, "I finally found someone to drink and talk with, someone who isn't afraid of me or try to control me, but he's always on guard against me; he's my enemy!"

Before Kang De could speak, the elf pointed at the A Xing and shouted, "Don't try to fool me with your words! Otherwise, why didn't you send this woman away instead of keeping her here with you? Isn't it because you're worried I'll harm you? With her here, there are some things I can't say!"

--Isn't this normal procedure? How could I dare to be alone with you?

As Kang De pondered how to express his thoughts tactfully, the elf, already slumped over the table, whimpered, "What's even more infuriating is that I actually understand and agree with your ideas, I'm even speechless, because this is fucking a war, and we started it, damn it!"

My goodness, you might really like this elf.

The more drunk he gets, the more understanding and clear-headed he becomes, slurring his words with seemingly objective logic—isn't that a characteristic of Kang De's mother when she's drunk?

Moreover, every time she gets drunk, she confides her emotional and family problems to Kang De. The theme is always complaining about her father Kang De, and then reflecting on herself, all the way to self-analysis, self-reflection, and self-loathing, resolving never to do it again. Then, like a swallow returning to its nest, she throws herself into her husband's arms, all lovey-dovey, under the moon and flowers, making promises, looking like a model couple that moves China, showering their son with PDA.

Then, when she woke up the next day, she acted as if nothing had happened and continued to bully her husband as before.

After the elf finished her rambling, she looked at Kang De, her large, bright eyes filled with a pitiful charm. "You weren't bothered by the requests and conditions I made today, were you?"

Kang De's expression remained calm, his heart completely unmoved.

Although the elves' counterattack was incisive and brought the ball back to the table, even leading to potential variables and risks, which made Kang De feel passive and unhappy, it was only natural for two countries to use all means in a war. If he was unhappy, he could simply retaliate, but there was no need to vent his anger on Tagelise at this time.

He said, "You yourself said that we're at war. I used those corpses to force you to stop your offensive and consider a countermeasure. That was my move, so it's only natural for you to retaliate."

The elf looked at him and cried again, "This isn't retaliation! You see, you really misunderstood. You must be angry with me and want to get revenge on us—but I'm serious!"

Kang De raised an eyebrow and said, "... Hmm?"

Perhaps this is what Tagelise wanted to say while he was drunk.

Tagelise murmured, "I don't want war either. I want the war to end. Enough elves have died, and even more humans will die. In the current situation, if we disregard everything, we still have a chance to win. But why disregard everything..."

He looked at Kang De, smiled softly, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes. "Even if I win, even if I kill you, what then? Even if I devour Goth, even if I conquer more, what then?"

The elf lowered his eyes.

"They're nothing more than a bunch of ants fighting over scraps of food... They're smug and satisfied with grabbing more scraps, unaware that somewhere they can't see, some creatures that don't consider themselves ants are enjoying the cake that rightfully belongs to everyone."

He stared at the ground.

Vidal's maid was diligent and capable, keeping the floor spotless, but Tagelise's gaze was cold and mocking, as if he could actually see a few ants crawling on the ground.

Upon hearing this, Kang De's heart skipped a beat. "What does this mean?"

Tagelise didn't answer the question. He looked up at the clear blue sky outside the window. "Kang De, do you know what's up in the sky?"

She is the mother of Tanaka Shiokawa, the creator of Blizzard Entertainment 2, and others.

Kang De wasn't quite sure what the otherworldly universe was all about. After all, when he was trapped on the Holy Seal Archipelago, he couldn't find an astronomical telescope in his neighborhood, so he never observed the celestial phenomena. However, the night sky in the otherworld was extremely different from that on Earth. Sometimes the night was calm with starlight, and sometimes it was magnificent and ever-changing with spectacular celestial phenomena. With Kang De's meager knowledge of astronomy, he simply couldn't understand or explain it.

If you ask others, they'll say it's the radiance of the gods, that this is some great man's eternal eye, that this is some great man's divine kingdom and realm, and so on... that's the general explanation.

If someone said such a thing on Earth, they would probably be considered mentally unstable. But in a place like another world, where gods almost certainly exist, perhaps that statement is actually true—it's better to be humble.

So he didn't flaunt his astronomical knowledge. "Although I know that the sky has clouds, wind, sun, moon, stars, and perhaps the light and gaze of the gods, since you asked, there must be other answers, right? Tell me about them."

Tagelise withdrew his gaze and looked at Kang De.

In that instant, Kang De realized something—the so-called aura of dominance truly exists.

Perhaps that was just his feeling.

Indeed, at that moment, he saw in Tagelise's eyes a pursuit and examination of the future, a gaze that was firm and unwavering, knowing the direction and able to guide his subjects.

The elf said with certainty, "There lies an unknown future, a wider world, perhaps an undiscovered world more vast and expansive than any new island or continent, perhaps a resource reserve richer and more astonishing than a few veins of various minerals, perhaps the answer to all the disputes that have been resolved so far..."

--Damn, this elf's journey is to the stars and the sea.

Kang De thought this to himself, but subconsciously nodded, showing no confusion on his face.

Tagelise looked at his face, and suddenly an incredulous look of surprise appeared on his face. "You understand?"

"I know a little, I know a little."

This is almost an inevitable direction for Civilization; any Earthling with a modicum of common sense would understand it.

Kang De said, "But the word you used is... perhaps?"

Yes, but perhaps, because of the unknown, we don't know how big this world really is, or whether we're the only ones left...

The elf's face darkened as she said this, "But there's also... inevitability."

"--What is inevitable?"

Tagelise slowly clenched his fist and said gently, "There are two inevitabilities. First, the wars, battles, and greed in this world have caused enormous internal friction and waste."

Kang De nodded.

He can understand that too.

Because the Earth is like that too.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the pace of human space exploration slowed dramatically, and the dream of reaching for the stars became just that—a dream. The rapid advancements in science and technology, fueled by Cold War competition, also slowed down. Now, there are signs of recovery, but the catalyst is new competition and challenges... Humanity is such a tragic species.

He asked, "And what's the second certainty?"

Tagelise spoke in a low, almost clenched voice, as if through gritted teeth. "There must be a group of beings who, for their own selfish interests, have built barriers that bind this world... They instigate wars, interfere in internal affairs, and even directly annihilate and suppress beings who bring something different to this world, obliterating their creations and efforts—perhaps a discovery, perhaps an invention, or perhaps those beings themselves."

Kang De was moved.

Clearly, Kang De fits all these examples.

But he was moved not because of the potential risks.

Instead, inexplicably, I suddenly remembered the magical creatures of the Holy Seal Archipelago.

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PS1: Four thousand words... No, I can't go on like this. I need to update earlier and more tomorrow! Just you wait!

PS2: I'll also calculate how many words have been returned as a reward in a couple of days. Anyway, I'll get it done within this month.