bacchusnovels Chapter 194 Crystal Forest
Chapter 194 Crystal Forest
At the same time, deep within the diamond-mining country, in a side hall decorated both lavishly and elegantly.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm dappled patterns on the floor.
The room was filled with a scholarly atmosphere, with many crystal bookshelves along the walls, neatly displaying various scrolls, classics, and some peculiar crystal recording devices.
The air smelled like old parchment.
This is Fred's daily classroom where he teaches the little princess.
At this moment, young Princess Diancie was sitting obediently behind a crystal desk that was a little too big for her, her little head drooping.
"Princess, you have frightened this old minister. You must not be so naughty in the future."
The princess looked embarrassed. "Sir, I will never do it again."
It glanced at Fred, whose lips had been curled into a smile since earlier, and said, "Sir seems to be in a good mood today."
In her memory, the old minister who had taught her since childhood always had a layer of weariness and worry on his face.
Saying he looked like he had just been tortured might be an exaggeration, but his furrowed brows spoke volumes about the pressure he was under.
Fred was taken aback by the princess's question, but he no longer suppressed his emotions.
"Yes, Her Majesty the Queen has returned."
Although Her Majesty did not bring back unlimited energy this time, Fred was overjoyed to see her return safely.
As long as Her Majesty the Queen is alive, the diamond-mining nation will surely find a way out.
This is not only her idea, but also the idea of countless subjects. This is the consistent impression Her Majesty the Queen gives: powerful and steady, and nothing can stump her.
It laughed heartily.
Moreover, with His Majesty back, those core political matters that have piled up and are crucial to the lifeline of the kingdom can finally be handed back to His Majesty for decision-making, and the burden on His Majesty's shoulders can be largely lifted.
Heaven knows how stressed he was during this time, having to handle both complicated state affairs and guide his curious little princess.
It was getting old, and it had secretly made up its mind that after the Queen finished receiving the distinguished guests, it would formally submit its resignation as the Chief Minister of the Cabinet to His Majesty, and then devote itself to being a tutor to the princess, peacefully contributing its remaining energy.
Retire, retire! Enjoy your happy retirement!
"From now on, I can focus on teaching Her Majesty the Princess." Fred said earnestly, "Your Majesty must study even harder. You will be the ruler of a country from now on, and the future of countless subjects is at stake."
Princess Diancie hung her head, "Sir, I cannot create new energy diamonds, and the kingdom is about to lose its energy supply..."
The implication is that the kingdom's future is still uncertain...
Learning these methods of governing a country is probably useless.
Fred's expression turned serious. "Your Highness, please don't say that. Don't belittle yourself. This energy issue is not your fault. Her Majesty the Queen will find a solution."
Diancie fell silent, while Fred held an inexplicable trust in Her Majesty the Queen.
It wasn't just him; countless ministers were like that.
A hint of envy flashed in Tianxi's eyes, but she quickly rallied.
I want to be like the current Queen Diancie, a queen whom my subjects can trust!
Just then, guards rushed over from outside the door.
Because Her Majesty the Queen has important guests to meet, they report to Fred immediately if anything happens.
"Lord Fred, something terrible has happened! The Crystal Forest in the mountains behind the kingdom has suddenly begun to wither!"
Fred, who had been lost in his beautiful fantasies about the future, suddenly changed his expression.
The Crystal Forest is the foundation of the kingdom's faith!
Every tiny diamond that completes its life journey will eventually choose to return there, transforming itself into an eternal crystal tree in the forest, continuing to "live" in another form, silently watching over its descendants.
In everyone's hearts, those swaying crystal trees are the embodiment of our ancestors, the spiritual home, and their sacred status is no less than the resting place of ancestral spirits in the hearts of any intelligent race!
Fred rushed over.
When it finally arrived at the back of the mountain, panting heavily, and stood on high ground overlooking the forest that should have been vibrant and full of life, the sight before it struck it like a thunderbolt!
The crystal forest was being rapidly eroded by an invisible force!
A clearly visible, gray boundary, symbolizing the passing of life, is like a swarm of greedy locusts, spreading and advancing outward from the depths of the forest at an incredible speed!
Wherever the boundary passed, the crystal trees that originally possessed inner radiance instantly lost all their brilliance, becoming gray and lifeless, as if all their souls had been drained away.
Each shift of that gray boundary means that hundreds and thousands of crystals formed by ancestors will forever fade into darkness!
This is not the first time this has happened. They have already analyzed the specific reasons, which are that the energy diamonds are gradually weakening and can no longer adequately supply this ancient forest that has coexisted and prospered with the kingdom.
To this end, the kingdom had a contingency plan in place, and manufactured an emergency energy infusion device. As long as enough energy is injected into it in time, the spread of the withering can be temporarily contained, buying time.
Normally, the withering process is extremely slow, often taking months or even years to erode a small area, giving the kingdom ample time to allocate and store energy to contain it.
But today's speed is more than a hundred times faster than before!
It was like an avalanche and a tsunami, unstoppable!
You should know that the withering process is irreversible!
"There's no time to mobilize reserve energy!"
Fred's mind raced, and there was only one thing he could do right now.
It must step up and use all its strength to buy Her Majesty the Queen even a second more to get her there!
"You! Go to the history museum immediately and report to Her Majesty the Queen as quickly as possible! Hurry!" Fred shouted at the equally terrified guard beside him.
Before the words were even finished, it rushed toward the energy infusion device without hesitation and pressed its tiny fist into the palm print groove!
hum!
The device activated instantly, emitting a low, resonant sound.
The next moment, Fred felt an irresistible suction force coming from the device, like a greedy maw, frantically devouring and draining the energy and life force from his body!
It felt its strength rapidly draining away, and a sense of weakness and emptiness emanated from within its body.
Fred turned his head with difficulty and looked at the crystal forest.
It's no use!
The energy he injected was a drop in the ocean compared to the frantic rate at which the withering was spreading!
The gray boundary continues to stubbornly push forward, and yet another crystal forest loses its luster before its eyes!
What to do, what to do!
Fred gritted his teeth and increased the energy supply!
Finally, the crystal, which had been rapidly dissipating, stopped.
The energy being infused and the rate at which it withers and dissipates have temporarily reached a precarious balance.
However, Fred's heart sank to the bottom at that moment, feeling utterly cold.
At the current rate of energy supply, I'm afraid...
I'm afraid I won't even make it to Her Majesty's arrival.
It stared blankly into the distance, taking one last look at the setting sun.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, the crystal, which had just lost its energy, turned into bubbles and scattered, looking exceptionally beautiful against the backdrop of the sunset, leaving only the stones standing in place.
Pity.
I haven't even seen the day when the kingdom's energy is restored...
I haven't even seen the day when Her Highness grows up...
We'd been waiting so long for Her Majesty's return, but we only got to see her once...
It let out a long, leisurely sigh.
Meanwhile, inside the Royal History Museum, Diancie, who had been focusing all her attention on Kirlia, smiled.
The transformation is finally over.
Before my eyes, Kirlia's figure rapidly changed under the white light!