The Martial Unity

Chapter 1952  The Natural Order

However, I wonʼt supply intelligence if I have reason to believe that the way you humans act upon it will be to my detriment.

”Thatʼs how intelligence exchange agreements usually go,” Rui replied calmly. Good.

Rui turned to the Elder Tree with quizzical eyes. ”Do you dislike humans?”

He wouldnʼt be surprised if it did. Humanityʼs constant encroachment and colonization into the Beast Domain was one of the largest causes for the many disruptions that the Beast Domain dealt with on a daily basis.

This, in turn, was the whole reason that the Elder Tree had created a Garden of Salvation. In order to preserve the species in their environments and ensure they didnʼt fall prey directly to humanity or to the spiked competition within the Beast Domain. Thus, Rui would hardly be surprised if the Elder Tree harbored hatred for humanity. If it did, it was rational enough to recognize that cooperation was still the best way to go.

The Elder was clearly aware of his thoughts.

I am incapable of hatred as an emotion. I am incapable of a lot of emotions that you of the animal kingdom are able to harbor. I am aware that you humans do not share this perspective, but I see humanity as a part of nature rather than something outside of it.

Ruiʼs eyes lit up with intrigue. ”…Youʼre right; Iʼve never thought of humanity as a part of nature.”

Why wouldnʼt you be? Your species is of this world and of this continent, just like all other species. As a species, humanity is a descendant of the last unifying common ancestor that we all share from billions of years ago. The human species is undoubtedly a part of the natural order, as far as I am concerned. If anything…

Rui felt a pointed gaze from the Elder Tree.

…If anything, it is you who is not a part of the natural order. You of another world.

”…Thanks.” Rui huffed wryly.

You do not need to thank me. Ultimately, while I am not fond of the impact that humanity has had on the Beast Domain, I am cognizant of the fact that an overwhelming majority of species in this world would overrun every other species if they possessed the power to do so. Humanity is the only species strong enough to possibly do so.

”That is true,” Rui nodded. If any predator species gained the power to prey on the entirety of the biosphere, then they would eradicate all life into extinction. The only reason this didnʼt happen was because they were far too weak to actually accomplish this goal.

”Say…” Rui turned to the Elder Tree. ”You said youʼd been alive for a millennium, correct?”

It is indeed accurate that I have lived approximately one thousand human years.

”Then do you know what happened prior to your life? And can you tell me what the world was like one thousand years ago?” Rui asked, curious.

He was not a historian. However, he would be lying if he wasnʼt curious about what happened during the Empty Ages. It was far too much of a mystery. It was especially difficult to halt his curiosity when a potentially reliable source on the matter could potentially clear up the mystery.

The Elder Tree was aware of what Rui wanted to know.

Unfortunately, I do not know the truth about the Empty Ages. I also was not sentient when I was a mere sapling. Sentience and intelligence grow differently in the plant kingdom than it does in the animal kingdom.

”Well, damn,” Rui cursed. ”I was hoping that would have solved the mystery.”

Although I was not sentient, however, I can tell you that I was the first of my species. I do not know how I came to be. And while I was not sentient of my sapling days. My body did contain…impressions of what the world was like back then.

Ruiʼs eyes lit up with interest again.

…A broken world.

Rui raised an eyebrow.

One that was healing.

Rui furrowed his eyebrows. ”What?”

I donʼt know. But that is the only impression I can recall. ”Hmmm…” Rui narrowed his eyes. ”Do you mean broken as in civilizationally, environmentally, ecologically, or literally, or in any other possible context?”

Iʼm afraid I am unable to clarify. ”Damn,” Rui muttered. ”Well, whatever.”

That was the extent of his curiosity.

”Howʼs the learning going?” He turned to the Elder Tree, narrowing his eyes. ”I donʼt want any unnecessary delays. I am on a tight schedule.”

I will soon reach a stage where I am confident that I will no longer need your aid. I would recommend you begin preparing yourself for the inheritance of my vast knowledge. If you have any chance of coming away with your mind and sanity intact, it will only be if you have honed your mind to an absolutely optimal state and have made all the preparations you need.

”What do you think Iʼm doing?” Rui gestured down to the Garden of Salvation.

”Taking a walk in the garden?” Kane huffed beside him, breaking his silence.

”I am expanding my Mind Palace with the Garden of Salvation. That takes time and continuous exposure to this place,” Rui retorted. ”It is good that this place is as large as a country. Once Iʼm done with that…”

He narrowed his eyes. ”I will engage in a lot of mental conditioning and exercise.”

”Exercise?” Kane raised an eyebrow.

”This is hardly the first time I have been flooded with information,” Rui replied calmly. ”I have ways to simulate and replicate that as well. I will use that to temper my mind against large floods of information so that it doesnʼt snap.”

”Are you sure thatʼs going to be enough?” Kane raised an eyebrow.

”Well, I cannot be certain, but it is the very best I can do,” Rui remarked calmly. ”Ultimately, only time will tell whether it will be enough. Only time will tell whether it will have been worth it.

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