chapter_0073

72 – Words are Contagious

72 – Words are Contagious

The crowd was taken aback by Daniel’s declaration of total war, unable to utter a word.

Everyone remained frozen in their seats, exchanging glances filled with confusion, wondering, “What on earth is he talking about?”

Even the anti-war activists wore dazed expressions, forgetting to protest or criticize.

On the other hand, Hans, the public relations officer watching the speech from behind the stage, let out a silent scream.

“What on earth is happening!?”

This speech, occurring simultaneously with the issuance of bonds, was nothing short of a national crisis.

Moreover, it was the first command issued by Selvia, who would become the next Empress, to the propaganda department.

As a result, not only the citizens but also the politicians in the parliament and numerous nobles were focused on this speech.

It was only natural that attention was drawn to Selvia’s first steps.

“That means…”

With everyone’s attention focused, if Daniel were to ruin the speech, the propaganda department would not be able to escape Selvia’s wrath.

Hans, thinking that he might even be dismissed from his position in the worst-case scenario, quickly turned his gaze to a subordinate.

“Hey! Contact the head of the broadcasting station right now! We need to stop the radio transmission!”

“Ah, yes! Understood!”

Once Daniel’s total war speech began to spread throughout the Empire, the propaganda department would have no excuses for their mistakes.

Thus, they aimed to mitigate the risk by at least prohibiting the radio transmission.

While Hans’s subordinate contacted the head of the broadcasting station, Daniel opened his mouth with a determined attitude in front of the crowd of ten thousand.

“Right now, citizens, you may be wondering why I am declaring total war. But in truth, you already know why the Empire must engage in total war!”

The murmurs of the crowd grew louder.

Daniel did not care.

After all, he intended to ruin the speech anyway.

“The Allied Nations have been criticizing and slandering the Empire day after day, urging the Federation and the Republic to join the fight! Everyone here knows that the Federation and the Republic are showing a friendly attitude towards the Allied Nations!”

The murmurs began to subside.

There was nothing wrong with Daniel’s words.

“Unfortunately! It is only a matter of time before the Federation and the Republic, led astray by the deceitful tongues of the Allied Nations, turn their backs on the Empire! Therefore, we must make a choice! Negotiation or resistance!”

The determination reflected in Daniel’s eyes flickered like a blazing flame.

At least, that’s how it appeared to the crowd.

“The anti-war activists say! That the Empire can survive only through negotiation! That we must grasp the hand extended by the Allied Nations to achieve lasting peace! Then I want to ask.”

Daniel turned his gaze to the anti-war faction occupying part of the seats.

“Can you be sure? Can you be certain? That joining hands with the Allied Nations will truly bring peace?”

The anti-war activists did not respond.

No, it would be more accurate to say they could not respond.

Everyone was silent, intimidated by Daniel’s commanding presence.

After staring at their silence for a while, Daniel turned his gaze forward.

“Citizens! I have fought on the battlefield and witnessed the true nature of the Allied Nations! They are vile, self-righteous, arrogant, and impulsive! The peace they desire is not equality! The Allied Nations want the Empire’s subjugation!”

The murmurs that had been lingering in the air completely vanished.

The crowd was now silent, focusing intently on Daniel’s speech.

“The Allied Nations, who claim to seek negotiation, will first take away our guns! After taking our guns, they will seize our food, then our farming tools, our children, and finally attempt to put the Empire in their grasp!”

Some enraged members of the crowd shouted in protest.

“We now know! That we must not trust the Allied Nations! We must resist and drive a stake into their sinister intentions! Therefore, citizens of the great Empire! Do not hesitate! Do not be afraid!”

Daniel raised his right arm high.

“The current Empire has achieved what no one else could! Citizens! Look up to the north! Before even a season has passed, the Empire has achieved a historic victory in the midst of the fiercest war! Is this merely a coincidence?”

A shout of “No!” erupted from the crowd.

As the cheers began to swell like a wave, Hans, who had been behind the stage, stood there with his mouth agape.

Inside, he was filled with admiration.

“This… is working!”

The charisma and perfect enunciation of Daniel were uniting the crowd.

As he noticed this, Hans called over a subordinate who was speaking with the head of the broadcasting station.

“Hey! Tell the head of the broadcasting station to keep the radio transmission going!”

The subordinate, who had been listening to the speech just like Hans, nodded without objection.

Unaware of the positive reactions happening behind the stage, Daniel turned to the crowd and confidently shouted.

“We have won, and we will continue to win! Even if the enemy pressures the Empire with an all-out attack, we will surely overcome! And I promise to proclaim the greatness of the Empire to the other side of the Earth!”

Cheers erupted among the crowd.

However, the anti-war activists remained silent.

Daniel seized on this point and continued his speech.

“Despite our resolve, some anti-war activists ask if we are not afraid of war! To be honest before the citizens, I am afraid. Every time I engage in battle on the battlefield, the fear of death chills my skin.”

Daniel gripped the podium.

“But!”

With Daniel’s powerful shout, the crowd had no choice but to focus.

“It is more frightening to lose our country under subservient negotiations than to lose our lives! Therefore, I go to the battlefield! Losing a life is losing one thing, but losing a country is losing everything!”

In response to Daniel’s words, cheers erupted from the crowd.

Some were even waving the Empire’s flag above their heads.

Now, the only ones not responding to Daniel’s words were the anti-war activists.

They were merely exchanging words among themselves while holding up signs that read “Ban War.”

Their faces were deep in thought.

Thinking that he just needed to provoke them a little more, Daniel slammed the podium.

“If you are not afraid, stand up, and if you know, act! Thus, we will proclaim that the Empire is the greatest nation in the world!”

Cheers erupted once more.

Now, a certain exhilaration danced across the faces of the crowd.

Taking a deep breath amidst the gazes of ten thousand people, Daniel paused for a moment before speaking.

“Finally, under the protection of His Majesty the Emperor, I will speak on behalf of the nation and the people.”

Daniel’s deep voice echoed through the large speakers.

As a result, the cheers diminished, and everyone was listening intently to Daniel’s words.

“I, Daniel Steiner—no!”

Looking up and facing forward, Daniel shouted amidst the flashes of numerous cameras.

“We want total war!”

As soon as Daniel’s words ended, an overwhelming applause erupted.

Amidst the cheers and shouts, only the anti-war activists remained silent.

This pleased Daniel.

“Good.”

The majority of the Empire’s citizens were anti-war activists.

If they opposed the claim that total war was necessary, Daniel’s plan would be perfect.

“What are they doing? They should throw the tomatoes they are holding.”

As he waited for a moment, the anti-war activists began to rise one by one.

Thinking it was finally time, Daniel prepared to exit humorously while getting hit by tomatoes.

Just as he was adjusting his tie, the anti-war activists began to applaud.

“…What?”

In a moment of confusion, the crowd, including the anti-war activists, stood up in unison.

In an instant, the crowd that had risen began to shout amidst the applause.

─ We want total war!

─ Inevitable war over subservient negotiations!

─ For His Majesty the Emperor! For the great Empire!

The combined voices echoed deafeningly.

As Daniel, sweating coldly, stood speechless, the anti-war activists began to drop their signs one by one.

They, too, stood up like everyone else and shouted at the top of their lungs.

─ Finally, for our hero Daniel Steiner!

The voices shouted by the anti-war activists quickly spread, becoming the words on everyone’s lips.

─ Daniel Steiner! Daniel Steiner! Daniel Steiner!

As Daniel looked at the throngs chanting his name, his hands trembled.

In the space where the cheers rang out loudly, Daniel swallowed hard, realizing.

“I’ve messed up…”

He understood that things had spiraled out of control.

Author’s Note

Wow, it’s really cold today…

It’s the first time I’ve woken up from the cold since my military service…

Everyone, be careful of the cold and dress warmly…!

More importantly, today is Friday! I hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

Then, I’ll see you again tomorrow!