Strait Blockade

Chapter 78 Strait Blockade

Hearing Tallinn's counter-accusation, everyone present was slightly taken aback. Tallinn didn't give them any chance to react, but said with a serious face: "Piltworth calls itself a city of progress, but in my opinion, this so-called progress is a complete joke. The Kumangu Forest has ended. Those ancient trees that have grown for thousands of years, the rare beasts that live here, and the natural laws that maintain balance are all the common wealth of the whole world, not the private property of any one city-state."

Ishtar has understood this principle since ancient times and has taken it upon itself to protect the environment. And what about you? What have you done?!

Is that so?

Hearing Tarin's words, even though Tarin spoke with great righteousness, Qiyana couldn't help but exchange a somewhat bewildered glance with Farin.

Because Skana had handed over all the leadership of this diplomatic mission to Tallinn, even they only learned roughly from Tallinn what they were here to do.

As for what to say, how to say it, and how to guide the conversation, that's left to Tallinn to handle.

And what about Tallinn?

What's there to say to these arrogant, self-proclaimed Piltover women from the city of progress? (From the information age)

Come on, you may not know much else, but don't you understand that Tallinn is good at creating empty, grandiose narratives?!

Facing the surprised or bewildered gazes of the crowd, Tarlin solemnly stated, "If I remember correctly, those hunters in the pioneering teams were equipped with pioneering motorcycles, right?"

Upon hearing Tallinn's question, the councilors representing Piltover also looked troubled. After exchanging glances, Stevan said, "Yes, but so what? It's just to make way for better roads and cut down some trees, so that people can live better lives. It's all just for that—"

"So what is the price?"

Before Stevan could finish speaking, Tallinn interrupted him directly. This behavior would be considered unreasonable in any conversation, but Tallinn didn't care. Or rather, this kind of unreasonableness was in line with the attitude of pointing fingers from a moral high ground.

Tallinn responded with silence.

How could they know what the price would be? All they needed were timber, rare animals, and exotic plants, which they could then exchange for reassuring gold coins and essences.

Although they had prepared many arguments for the Ixtalians' counterattack, it was clear that environmental protection was never on their minds.

It's really not necessary.

After all, during the Rune Wars era, those warlords who controlled the world's runes were dropping nuclear bombs on each other, causing the continental shelf to tremble like a leaf for over a thousand years. And now they're still doing well, aren't they?

But others may choose not to talk about it, but the people of Ixtal cannot. After all, Ixtal is the only ancient nation that can rival Ionia in terms of vegetation density and biodiversity.

The best way to deal with those who like to tout civilization and progress and use technology to create grand narratives is to fit them into an even grander narrative.

"You might think that the tracks of the pioneering locomotives are heading into the Kumangu jungle simply to obtain necessary resources. But what is the truth?"

Tallinn scanned the crowd around him, his voice booming and easily carrying throughout the entire venue.

As the air circulated, the ferocious jackal's aura silently activated. The stimulation of pheromones caused a reaction in people's nerves, and they unconsciously began to focus their attention on Tarlin.

"The heavy tracks enter the originally loose and porous forest, compacting the ground, making it difficult for roots to take root, making it difficult for rainwater to penetrate downwards, suffocating the tiny organisms living in the soil, and forcing the nutrient cycle to be interrupted."

Trees, shrubs, leaf litter, seed bank, mycorrhizal network —

Once the native forest is isolated, birds, animals, and the breeze can no longer deliver new seeds in a timely manner, and the original soil...

It will be overrun by weeds and fast-growing trees, and the landscape will be permanently altered.

"It will naturally regrow." Listening to Tallinn's series of words, how could Stevan, an old man from Piltover, not realize that Tallinn was creating a moral advantage for himself?

As the patriarch of a family that controls the lifeline of Piltover's energy and Hextech technologies, Stevan may be incompetent, but he is by no means powerless.

Even though Tallinn has only just begun to describe things, Stevan has already sensed danger.

This made Stevan realize quickly that if he let Tallinn continue describing the situation, he would be put at a moral disadvantage.

Morality may seem unimportant, but it becomes exceptionally important when the forces are evenly matched.

The reason is simple: Piltover, at least in name, is still an advanced, progressive, free, and democratic city-state.

"If the ground is compacted, then my Phiros family is willing to take on the responsibility of loosening the soil again."

Stevan, with a look of consideration for nature, said, "Your Excellency can rest assured that with the technology Piltover possesses, manufacturing a similar machine would be a piece of cake."

Moreover, as the trees grow, it won't be long before the Kumanggu Mountains return to their former state.

Having said that, Stevan changed the subject, saying, "In comparison, those hunters who were killed can never return."

Tallinn completely ignored Stevan's words and made no attempt to reply. Instead, he addressed Stevan's statement that "the Kumangu Mountains will be restored to their former state," saying, "No, those destroyed forests may never return." Tallinn frowned and said, "What you just said proves that you have absolutely no understanding of nature and ecology, and all your solutions are based on unrealistic guesses and delusions."

Tallinn said, "Those weeds and fast-growing trees only take twenty to forty years to grow, but they only look like the original forest on the surface."

For the species, structure, and ecological functions of a native forest to recover to their original state, it would take one hundred to two hundred years, or even longer. If the soil is severely compacted, it may never be able to return to its original state.

"What if we use a soil loosening machine?" a middle-aged scholar asked curiously.

Judging from the insignia on his body, he should be a graduate of Piltover University, and he is here to attend the conference on behalf of Piltover University.

To this, Taolin shook his head and said, "The soil loosening machine can only solve the surface problem."

"Although soil loosening machines can break up compacted soil and loosen it, allowing plant roots and rainwater to penetrate, this is only applicable to ordinary woodlands and farmland."

Tallinn sighed: "The soil of the Kumangu Mountains is an indispensable part of a sophisticated ecological structure, a sponge-like porous structure formed over millions of years."

After being compacted by a tracked vehicle, all the tiny internal pores collapse. Although a soil loosening machine can create large gaps, the microscopic pores cannot be restored. The soil's water retention, fertilizer retention, and aeration capacity will be permanently reduced.

Furthermore, damage to the mycelial network and the humus layer of fallen leaves is irreparable.

Upon hearing this, the scholar representative from Piltover University nodded thoughtfully and said, "I see. More important than the superficial changes is the collapse at the microscopic level."

As he said this, the scholar exclaimed in amazement, "I never imagined that Ichtal's observations of nature were so meticulous. If you have time, please visit Piltover University. I think after today's events, Piltover University will definitely need to establish an ecology course."

Upon hearing the scholar representative's words, Tallinn's eyes lit up, and he nodded, saying, "That would be wonderful, of course. I have long admired Professor Heimerdinger, the founder of your university, and I have many questions I would like to discuss with this great scholar who is dedicated to the progress of civilization and the development of science and technology."

The main purpose is to visit the mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex and such.

Of course, more importantly, Tallinn saw Heimerdinger as a potential ally.

Having personally experienced the Rune Wars era and witnessed the destruction and cruelty of war, Heimerdinger, as a staunch anti-war figure, was even abandoned by Piltover and forced to live in Lower Zaun during the Battle of the Twin Cities storyline.

It's important to know that Heimerdinger is to Piltover what Skana is to Ixtal.

Not long after the Rune Wars ended, before Piltover became one of the two cities, Heimerdinger voluntarily joined the construction of Piltover.

They personally helped the people here to pick up their hope for survival from the ruins.

After that, Heimerdinger did not choose to become the leader of Piltover, but instead returned Piltover to its people.

He himself founded Piltover University, continuing to provide Piltover with a steady stream of talent.

Although the Piltover Parliament symbolically reserved a seat for Heimerdinger.

However, based on his observations in Tallinn, Heimerdinger estimates that he spends most of his time at Piltover University conducting research, and even diplomatic visits like this are handled by academic representatives and college representatives.

We'll have to have a proper talk about this later.

Divide some, befriend others, and suppress others—in this way, you will have many friends and few enemies.

The old-fashioned playing style will never go out of style.

Thinking this, Tallinn also refocused his attention on Stevan, who was standing to the side.

"Let's get back to the main point. As you just said, they are hunters, so the damage caused by the pioneer motorcycles is just a negligible byproduct."

Upon hearing this, Stevan, who had just relaxed, felt a chill run down his spine. He then said coldly, "These hunters may have made mistakes, but they don't deserve to die. Such cruel treatment will leave their families still grieving!"

"Mistakes must be punished."

Tarin shook his head and said, "The Kumangu Mountains have been an integral part of Ixtal since ancient times, as evidenced in ancient Shurima documents."

Just for the purpose of harvesting timber, the pioneering locomotives caused such severe damage to plants and land.

What about the animals? What about the wild animals that are hunted, slaughtered, and taken away? Are they also there to build cities?

I don't think that's right. This is just those hunters sacrificing the entire Runeterra's resources for their own personal gain!

As he finished speaking, Tallinn's voice softened slightly, but remained calm and firm: "Nature never belongs to humankind; humankind is part of nature. And the moment your hunters step into the jungle..."

They have already stood on the opposite side of disrupting the ecological balance of Runeterra.

Similarly, I would like to ask, is the money obtained from the carcasses of those wild animals that are hunted and slaughtered "simply for their beautiful fur," leading to the extinction of their populations, truly for a better life for the people of Piltover?

Or perhaps—

Turning his gaze to the gold-and-silver-adorned councilors, Tallinn stroked his chin and said, "Or is it just something some ostentatious and incompetent people use to show off?"

That concludes my remarks.

As he spoke, Tallinn sat down again.

Then, the others in the room, such as citizen representatives and newspaper reporters, all turned their attention to the Piltover parliamentary seat.

After a long silence, and realizing no one was willing to respond, Caitlin's mother, Lady Cassandra, took a deep breath, then rose and said, "Piltworth will conduct a thorough investigation into this matter, and we will also re-examine the hunters' actions. Would you be willing to move on to the next topic?"

Upon hearing this, Tarlin didn't press the matter further, as he still had many options and there was no need to dwell on one issue.

And more importantly—the Gilaman family are one of us.

Tallinn simply nodded and said, "I believe Piltover will make the right judgment, in the name of the City of Progress."

Seeing that Tarin didn't press the matter further, Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Tarin was extending a gesture of goodwill towards her.

After all, if Tallinn insists on delving into this matter, the reputation of the entire Piltover will be severely affected, and public opinion will also be affected.

As a family that holds judicial power in Piltover, Cassandra naturally doesn't want too many uncontrollable unexpected factors to arise.

But Lady Cassandra had clearly forgotten one thing.

After Piltover's side finished speaking, it was Tallinn's turn to speak.

"Regarding Piltover's long-term encroachment on Ishtar's inherent territory and its mining, forest development, illegal logging, and poaching without prior notice, we demand that Piltover issue a public apology and provide reasonable compensation."

After a pause, Tallinn added, "Otherwise, we will block the Sun Gate Strait."

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