Chapter 397

Chapter 397: Chapter 394: "I love you all.Su Ming’an looked across to the other side of the river.

It was a safer residential area, where more and more residents and players were gathering.

Those who had not evacuated yet had left their warm homes and stood in the open spaces, gazing this way.

Despite the great distance, he saw dense crowds of people threading through the streets and alleyways.

There were students clad in coarse clothes, white-haired old people, laborers carrying poles, and women holding children.

Their sallow, wizened faces and their somewhat murky eyes were filled with reverence and fear.

...It was awe for Su Rin and the Soul Hunters who dared to climb the city walls, who dared to leave the Barrier and venture into the most dangerous zones, as well as fear of the possibility that the squad might fail, that the Barrier might not be established, that they might be forced into displacement or even face death.

He even saw the woman who had cursed him at her doorstep, now standing with a vacant stare in her eyes, still holding a piece of naan in her hands.

Su Ming’an withdrew his distant gaze.

He adjusted the megaphone by his face and his voice rang out:

"Residents who stand upon these walls, I believe you’ve once heard my name," he said:

"I am Su Rin."

The people who had been bending over their farmlands straightened up, and the elderly who were reclining in rocking chairs opened their eyes.

They turned their heads towards the south, seeing... that dazzling Barrier that spanned the entire expanse of the pale sky, and also the figure beneath the azure Sea Monsters, shining as if coated in a layer of light.

"Residents of Pulaya," Su Ming’an proclaimed loudly:

"—I love you all."

Aloft the high walls, he stretched out his arms with the azure Sea Monsters behind him, like flames rising vehemently, casting his figure into clear relief.

Some of the elderly with dimming sight squinted their eyes.

Through such a sight,

it was as if they could see the image of an airship from over sixty years ago, when they were young, standing high above them.

A young, handsome, and spirited hero stationed at the peak of the airship, stretching his arms out toward the people he loved.

Amidst admiring gazes and swirling flowers, the young Captain of the airship revealed a confident, fearless smile, as if embracing a bright future.

The setting sun spilled over his shoulders, his surroundings once blazed red like flame.

He had once said:

Below the city walls, the players huddled in the corners laughed at the sound.

"Talking about love? He sure knows how to deceive."

"Exactly, what kind of feelings could he have for an instance’s NPC? He’s starting his strategy mode again."

"Classic move, no need for courtesies."

"Can’t compete, can’t compete, he sure has a way with words, to the point where even I feel pumped up."

"I’ve already started recording, looks like the ’Number One Player Speech Collection’ on the world forum is due for an update."

"Listen closely, let’s see how he spins this tale."

Hiding in the corners like rats, they gnawed on bread to restore their physical strength, counting the paltry Points they had earned from moving bricks, listening to the speech for the sake of those sacrificed as if attending a chit-chat session.

Regardless of what the Number One Player says, they won’t climb the city walls; this action is too dangerous. Even if the rewards are substantial, they can’t achieve it—it’s only those hot-blooded residents who would do such a thing.

"—My love, it has never waned by even a fraction with the passage of time."

The amplified, clear, and resonant voice continued to transmit.

In the distance, more and more residents gathered in the open space. They looked up, craning their necks, listening to this voice coming from the highest place.

"...People of Pulaya, I love you," Su Ming’an said.

Facing the endless crowd, he smiled.

"Whether you choose to step onto this battlefield, whether you raise the weapons in your hands, whether you fight for this nearly capsized nest...whether out of fear or fearlessness, cowardice or courage, selfishness or greatness, that is all up to you..."

"I love you."

"I love you—all of you, no matter what decisions you make, each one of you is a droplet of Pulaya, a persistently living soul of this land."

"Your choices do not signify the nobility of your persona; every concern you have constitutes your freedom, the proof that you, as human beings, live for your emotions and integrity."

"You are free, independent, endowed with every right to make choices for your own lives."

"Therefore, whether or not you climb these walls—I love you all the same."

Those who were resting set down the items in their hands.

Su Ming’an’s gaze shifted slightly, looking towards those on the city wall, their fear poorly concealed.

Within this vast assembly, the residents’ limbs were still trembling.

They were terrified beyond measure.

"As for the Soul Hunters, those daring to climb the walls, I would call you selfless knights," his voice softened, as though to soothe their fear.

"You are not the images of martyrs from ancient times, nor are you mere characters manipulated by the emotions of those above."

"You belong to yourselves. Every decision you make, every word you speak, will be made freely and independently."

"I do not claim any special role for myself. I, like you, am a part of Pulaya, a member of this squad, fighting for this land—we share the same destiny."

Su Ming’an raised his sword in his hand, its tip pointed at the barrier above.

Under everyone’s gaze, his voice became incredibly loud.

In his words, there was no bellowing, no anger, no excess of infused excitement.

He simply proclaimed loudly, very steadily, as if judging all those who looked up to him:

"We are descendants of ancestors who survived harsh environments and brutal competition. We have inherited their refusal to be ordinary."

"We once sought—combat, toil, the heads of our enemies."

"The peace of the past allowed us to live happily to this day, but also made us forget the excitement distant from us. And those outside, who treat us as food and inferior beings, are eyeing this land with greed."

"—We will never allow the happiness hard-won by our forebears to be taken by a horde of ignorant, foolish creatures who know only violence and slaughter. This is an insult to us as intelligent beings, to our responsibility, spirit, to the will of the people of Pulaya."

"Now, to confront this unjust attempt to take away our peace, we will crush them with force."

"Only such an act can deter those ignorant and foolish monsters; we will use weapons and struggle to restore the dignity of our will."

"Apart from the bloody warning and their crushed skulls, no other methods can appease this outrage we feel."

"And you—people of Pulaya—those I dearly love—"

"You can use your swords and shields, knives and guns, to fight, to seize, to welcome the peace and victory you rightfully deserve, to protect the land and people you cherish."

"Your once smooth lives, at this moment, become noble."

"We shall not yield to meaningless violence; we will govern this land with peace and kindness, as has been done from ancient times."

"——To fight for everyone on this vast land, to live for all that we cherish."

"A deep-seated hatred and ideals spanning generations, the roots of history——if we concede here, the battle lines that have been held since ancient times will no longer hold firm, and wars waged in the name of race will become but a mockery."

"...Only by eradicating these damned invaders can we completely resolve this long-standing predicament."

"At its root, to cut out this disaster, you who have taken up arms to drive out these invaders——I love you."

"I love you."

"——If humans are not meant to be purely rational animals, then let emotions, let great love dominate us!"

"I love, I passionately love such emotional you!"

"To fight for the nation, to strive for faith——you——have the ability to prevent all misfortunes."

"Such courage to break deadlocks——stems from us——from the swords we raise, from our bodies, our blood and bones, from our fearless spirit charging forward——"

"That is what we should possess, what we ought to snatch back from these damned enemies——our ancestral land!"

"We unite upon these city walls, our spirited heroism concentrated in our ranks."

"If we succeed, the peace of Pulaya will continue on. These ignorant, disgusting monsters will all be crushed under the wheels of time. Your family, your friends, will all be proud of our victory...and you, you will become renowned heroes, children will sing your names, and every person you save will thank you."

"Not indulging in tranquility, not succumbing to destiny——I love such you!"

Like rolling thunder, the voice echoed across this quiet land.

Players who were cracking sunflower seeds and eating bread stopped, their seed shells scattering on the ground.

"Fuck."

A curse in Chinese resounded in this silent area, breaking the brief calm.

The people on the city walls bathed in glory, as if gazing at every individual in sight.

The motionless crowd closed their mouths that had been open for too long, their footsteps beginning to shift.

"I love you."

Su Ming’an looked at these ant-like, dense crowds:

"Whether you agree with our actions or not, whether you are willing to fight for this hotly contested soil, whether you are willing to continue your will and spirit——"

"...I love you."

"From the beginning, to the end."

He snatched off the megaphone and tossed it to Clifford.

From the beginning to the end, his heart remained calm; the elevated tone, the fervent expressions did not affect his emotions.

Mass movements require not just meticulous planning, stringent execution.

As long as they include "people," people who are driven and guided by emotion, they need psychological influence.

And as a leader observed by all, he needed to carefully guide such easily stirred emotions.

The most ambiguous words sometimes have the most powerful influence; they are imbued with magical powers that allow people to fill in the blanks themselves.

For instance, struggle.

For instance, idealism.

And more so, "love."

They evoked majestic yet indistinct images in people’s minds and, in the speeches to the crowds, they were endowed with a magical charm.

Guiding their sensibilities required no regard for their logic and reason.

There was no need to recount the hardships of the Pulaya situation, no need to humbly beg for assistance in times of trouble.

Just a few highly suggestive concepts, enough to spark emotion, were enough to infect them thoroughly and mobilize their feelings for the goals he proposed, exciting them.

This is what he did.

Soon, just as he had expected, a voice like a roar of a tidal wave erupted in the next moment.

With the addition of emotion and the symbol of a hero, this call before disaster could move people.

Applause like thunderous rain started at one end of the city wall and carried through to the crowded other end.

The first to clap was a Knight of Light in golden armor. In his eyes shone a bright light.

As for the louder, more distant voices, they came from below the wall, from the other side of the river.

Dense like a black stream of people, they had crossed the river, and the collective sentiment had already spread rapidly through these words.

More people joined this squad.

They wanted to get closer to Su Rin, to this legendary figure. A hero in the history of Pulaya, he loved them, and at this moment, he shared their fate.

The Soul Hunter Minister Lucia blended into the human crowd, and as she looked at this grand sight, she clenched her fist.

She remembered what that guy standing at the highest point of the city wall had told her.

"Lucia."

"When you lead these people, you must not use language that’s too direct."

"You have to make even those who do not follow you feel the fervor in your eyes."

"You have to make everyone believe... to the point where you believe it yourself, the theories about ’honor’ you speak of."

Many residents ascended the city wall.

By noon, the time of departure, the squadron had grown to around a thousand people.

Noontime was the best time to strike; sea monsters feared sunlight and fire, and increased temperatures made them uncomfortable, albeit the weakening effect was minimal – but it was better than nothing.

On the side, Clifford, with a slightly stooped posture, approached Su Ming’an, who was gazing at the distant sea.

By now, many people were watching this way, seemingly infected by the phrase "Su Rin loves them," and eager to show their presence. However, the Soul Hunter Minister stopped them, in case anyone had ill intentions.

In the upcoming action, Su Rin was the most crucial factor, as only he could Control the Barrier.

"Such confidence in your speech — don’t you consider the possibility of our failure?" Clifford said softly.

The number of gazes from behind, so many they made the skin crawl, he hardly dared to imagine what would happen if their squad failed.

Su Ming’an glanced at him.

"You have some ace up your sleeve, don’t you?" Clifford thought he understood what the other’s eyes meant.

Thinking about it, the other person was under the blessing of a deity, and not even the King of Sea Monsters could kill him. In such a situation, delivering such a confident speech, he must have something to rely on.

Su Ming’an gave him another look.

That was a look one gives an idiot.

"If the squad fails, everyone dies together." Su Ming’an said, "Who has the time to worry about whether they’re disappointed or not?"