Chapter 176: Candid Speech (Part 2)
"However, looking at the current Federation, technology has stagnated for hundreds of years, and many residents are trapped in heavy work all their lives, forced to toil under the pressure of fame and fortune, as if living under a gloomy and oppressive sky."
"When life sees no hope, it naturally loses motivation. Why are there no exploration fleets from the epoch anymore? Because even if you set sail, you cannot escape the current stagnant system. There is no significant increase in population, no significant increase in demand, and no curiosity-driven exploration demand. Even if we barely develop a new planet, it is most likely to become a new slum."
"I very much hope to change the current situation, to lead the entire Federation out of the mire of decay and despair, much like how the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain slowly restored its vitality and environment."
"This idea has been a thought hidden in my heart for a long time, and I once imagined spending decades to accomplish it step by step." Tilan shook her head after finishing.
"But now, we may not have that much time."
"The Federation's internal issues are arising, a split is imminent, and a massive change is taking place within the Central Star Domain. If we continue to sit idly by, the result will be the collapse of the entire structure, plunging into a prolonged civil war. As the war continues, mutual hatred will accumulate, ultimately leading to the permanent division of civilization."
"Some might say, although this is important, what does it have to do with us in the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain?"
"Under a collapsed nest, no egg is left intact. No one naively believes that hiding in a small house will avoid all calamities."
"When you give up control of your fate, it will be seized by others."
"In the struggle, as new large conglomerates are like Leviathan beasts slowly swallowing up the various Star Domains of the Milky Way, incorporating them into their territories, by then, no matter how much regret you have, resistance will be futile. We will have to accept others' management, who can deprive you of everything you own with a single order, regardless of whether you agree or not."
"I do not want my hometown to become like that, nor do I want the hard-won recovery of the environment to become a sacrificial item once again. Protecting this vast country means protecting ourselves. Humanity is not great because of the individual's strength, but because civilization is strong and great through collective unity."
On the podium, the young girl earnestly and sincerely expressed her thoughts to the audience, causing this belief and emotion to resonate continuously throughout the hall, affecting everyone's mental consciousness.
The scene was quiet and solemn; those who were initially somewhat inattentive sat up straight in the increasingly passionate and immersive speech, gradually changing their perspectives.
Everyone harbors a seed of wanting to be great, even bad people often wish to be recognized by others, admired by countless people. Wealth can satisfy most desires, but this sense of accomplishment and fulfillment in life, as well as recognition in the whole society and civilization, is a higher form of happiness, allowing people to emerge from confusion and inferiority, becoming determined and proud, calm and confident.
A rightly dignified army, with overall quality and disciplinary superiority, triumphs over countless crafty schemes. It needs no concealment, no worry, opening a broad path through the fog.
Since deciding on the path forward, Tilan did not intend to use any persuasive speech to deceive these people in helping achieve her goal.
To plant a great tree, one must straighten its position from the beginning, even the best wishes, if begun with deceit, often end in tragedy.
The audience was amazed by this girl's candid speech and shocked by the urgency of the current Federation situation. After all, the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain is distant from the Central Star Domain, with limited commercial and interest exchanges, and news does not travel quickly.
"In that case, Ms. Hexia Tilan, what do you plan to do, and how can we help you accomplish this?" someone stood up to ask after the girl's speech.
"I hope everyone can understand my decision and support my future actions." She needed the support of the people of the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, at least to tell everyone why she was doing it; this was her responsibility.
"Secondly, although it doesn't comply with Federation regulations, I hope everyone prepares early and gets ready for war." Tilan mentioned another point. Due to the current environment constraints, she couldn't directly ask everyone to immediately restart the once-abandoned military industry, but she knew someone would understand her words.
"Afterwards, I will go to other Star Domains in the Southern Star Region to negotiate with the Songstress and Star Domain representatives there about the Federation's future issues. This is not something that can be done by fighting alone, and I will also strive to gain more allies."
"As for now, I'm probably walking a very dangerous edge, I apologize for acting in this way, but as mentioned before, we don't have much time to gradually accomplish it."
"The decay of the country, the rotten conglomerates, won't fall off by themselves. Conflict is inevitable; no one willingly gives up everything. If we want this country to be revitalized, we need to be prepared for confrontation."
"I entrust the following matters to all of you." After finishing, she stepped back and bowed, slowly straightening up after a long time.
Yes, she just needs to say a few words on the stage, but once orders are issued, countless people will have to toil for this, and more may sacrifice for it in the future. For this reason, she carefully and restrainedly used her power as a Songstress to influence others.
Though it's hard to watch and unsettling, the right path cannot be abandoned. If justice is not upheld, its departure will only bring chaos and corruption, harming more people.
Mercy is conditional; otherwise, it's fostering the arrogance of evildoers, causing more people's suffering.
After it all, enthusiastic applause filled the hall, with the original attendees standing up one after another, looking at the young girl on stage with ardent and reverent eyes. Though her appearance still seemed somewhat gentle, her gaze was as resolute as a clear jewel.
"Tilan has suddenly become so powerful." Standing on one side of the podium, Yulanduoja, dressed in a pale green ceremonial dress, applauded for this young girl, then stepped forward to gently embrace her, and the two stood hand in hand.
"Ah, am I late?" A beam of light shone down from the ceiling, projecting the familiar red-haired Songstress.
Prin's holographic projection looked around at the scene of applause in the hall, then turned to Tilan and Yulanduoja.
"Ahem, although it's a bit surprising to people, I also support Tilan's decision. If those who like me could also support Tilan."
Then the three stood in the light, a scene captured and recorded by the cameras.
In the floating shuttle outside the hall, members of the Court of Judgment who had been monitoring and protecting Tilan watched this scene on screen, and one member couldn't help asking.
"Captain, are we really just not going in to stop this?" He looked about in his early twenties, appearing slightly young.
"How do we manage this?" The captain, with a contemplative look, glanced out the window at the sky.
"Are we supposed to rush in, in front of everyone, to arrest Hexia Tilan? Or immediately report to the Central Council stating that Hexia Tilan is committing treason?"
"If we do the former, we're afraid of not even being able to get out of Jade Skirt, let alone leaving the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain." Arresting a Songstress who committed no principle violation in her hometown is illegal itself, moreover, it would greatly provoke the local residents, and even the Court of Judgment cannot withstand the opposition of the entire Star Domain's public opinion.
"As for the latter, well, her speech is indeed quite dangerous at the moment, but don't you know the current situation? Don't mention that the Central Council is a mess with every member forming factions and fighting, even our Court of Judgment is starting to get chaotic. Harshly labeling Hexia Tilan as treasonous now would only spark another Blanchi. Don't forget, Hexia Tilan is not a naïve and simple Songstress like Blanchi. She currently has support from two Songstresses of the same Star Domain, and Ores is also her friend. Even if we convict her, Ores will surely plead for her, and with her current influence in the Central Star Domain, Hexia is almost certainly protected."
"At that time, a Songstress who isn't dead and whom we've offended,