"But when it comes to outward expansion, you can't be too merciful. We can tolerate everyone, but everyone also has to obey our rules—From Duke of Solin's point of view, what I'm doing is no different from him turning everyone into parts of the Deceased Monarch. I forcibly turn everyone into People of Silverpeak, make them abandon their ingrained, backward customs so they can live better, but in doing so they abandon their own distinctiveness."
"How could that possibly be the same!"
Adalbert could understand what Ian meant; he just grumbled, "He killed everyone and turned them into his tools!"
"I'm just not killing them, that's all." Ian smiled calmly, looking at Adalbert. "And instead I'm just turning everyone into my toys."
His tone was gentle, yet for some reason Adalbert suddenly felt a chill. "You know this, Adalbert. Duke of Solin needs his subjects, so they're tools."
"Whereas I actually don't need them, I just need votes."
"So they're toys."
