Forge a path to success.

Chapter 396 From the Trial 20 Years Ago (Part 2)
Soldiers without mass points are meaningless on the battlefield.

Many civilians unfamiliar with warfare often say this, and many conservatives use it as a reason to criticize military camps. However, the truth is quite the opposite. Anyone who has actually been to the front lines in dire situations will understand that the role of a soldier with no quality points is almost exactly the same as that of a soldier with low quality points of 1 to 3.

This is because high-quality ancient dragons and divine trees possess the ability to bestow widespread "blessings." By fulfilling the will of the gods, one can gain power far exceeding one's own. In the city-state of Thornsa, where unity is paramount, the power of these blessings is even more pronounced. The more allies one has, the stronger the blessing; the stronger the fighting spirit, the higher the divine power.

Meanwhile, the army also possesses amplified armor specifically designed for soldiers, mobile temples to aid in combat, and war plants capable of wide-range attacks. With the blessing of numerous relics and divine power, even ordinary soldiers without mass points can fight against heretics with mass points of 2 or even 3 under the protection of this power. There is no fundamental difference between those without mass points and those with low mass points; the only true dividing line is the First Abyss, which divine power cannot directly cross.

Nevertheless, the Jingsha government never encourages non-Ascended citizens to enlist in the military. This is because protection and equipment are ultimately external forces; while they may be sufficient to guarantee basic capabilities under normal circumstances, they are no longer as omnipotent in times of crisis.

Throughout history, countless ordinary citizens have insisted on joining the army. They may lack talent, but they possess the courage to serve their country. They may lack strength, but they have the resolve to fight alongside their compatriots. They are the most tenacious cornerstone of the military.

He was the most loyal soldier of the Thorn Robe.

·
Twenty years ago, on the battlefield.

The specific details are long gone. A blood-soaked wind blew around me, and wheels rolled over unrecognizable corpses. Thunder flashed in the sandstorm, and an array of the dead raced in the distance, where the moonlight occasionally peeked through the air.

This is a battlefield. A chaotic mass grave, a hopeless death zone. Yet the environment is not suffocating, for he breathes deeply, squeezing his lungs, inhaling the foul wind at the cost of a stinging sensation.

Many people were there. Comrades who shared meals and lodging. They advanced blindly, like an ant colony, following orders. Almost no whole people were visible; bloodied limbs stood like a forest. They all gazed into the distance, at a patch of green amidst the chaos, a pristine, emerald-like land.

Once they return to the city-state, everything will end. Their wounds will heal, the pollution will be banished, and they will be able to live. To live peacefully.

That was a dream that would never come true, and the comrades' eyes held a cold resolve. They were brave enough to accept their deaths.

But he was scared.

He was scared.

He pushed past his comrades and sped to the front. The regimental commander's eyes were like black holes, containing the resolute determination of a middle-aged man facing death. He grabbed the regimental commander's arm.

"Commander, please change the route," he pleaded. "Let's take a detour. Even turning back would be fine. If this continues!"

The regimental commander looked down at him and said, "This is a military order."

He was terrified, afraid that he would shout these words out loud, so he desperately lowered his voice: "If this continues, we will all die!"

"Yes."

The regimental commander coldly confirmed.

"We're going there to die."

"The main force needs our deaths. The civilians in the city-state need our deaths. If we don't die, many more will die. Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands!"

He felt himself being captivated by those black hole-like eyes, by the decisiveness and madness in the commander's eyes.

"Let's go. Muster your courage. This is our...meaning!"

He returned to the main force, like a walking corpse. He desperately recalled the stories of training, the remarkable Allied soldiers, and the great heroes of the city-state throughout history. He repeated them over and over, as if possessed by those heroic spirits. He seemed to have become brave again, walking the path of heroes with an indomitable will.

"——Enemy attack!"

They're here. They've finally come. He roared, charging forward like a true warrior. He knew this was the end for a true soldier; he would die like a hero.

Explosion. Dreamlike moonlight. Patches of ghastly blood. The world turned upside down. He lay on the ground, his military knife plunged into his comrade's abdomen. His comrade's sword had severed his arm.

Creatures, like decaying mountains, sneered in the moonlight. The commander's head was twisted off. Headless corpses danced in the moonlight. They shouted "Long live!" and slaughtered each other. He lay among the corpses, miraculously still retaining a sliver of consciousness.

It hurts. It's so painful. Blood is flowing. I want to go home. I'll die if this continues. I'm not a hero at all. Just another corpse, easily found anywhere. In the end, we're all just corpses!

I'll be eaten. I don't want to die. I don't want to die here. I don't want to die!!
Before the man, consumed by despair, appeared a phantom image: the face of an incomparably beautiful woman. He raised his severed limb, pleading for her help.

Help me. Whoever you are. Help me.

But his fingers fell off one by one. They were those of a slug-like moon beast with the face of a beautiful woman.

Ah, I love you!

The moon beast said to him.

The moon beast tore off his limbs.

I love your face!

The moon beast bit off his face.

·
"...Speaker Parriman? Are you listening, Speaker?"

Parriman brushed his hand over the cold iron mask and nodded slightly.

"Excuse me, I was reminded of something from the past... Where was the defense at?"

“Speaking of the military orders your unit once received,” Li Ke said irritably, “the 35th Regiment’s chances of survival are theoretically almost zero, because your mission was ‘bait warfare.’”

This is a common tactic in large-scale wars.

Those who excel at changing their form and concealing their identities will infiltrate a group of ambushes behind the battlefield beforehand. This group is led by a mid-to-high-level expert and will never participate in the main frontline combat. They will strike when small groups retreat or when the main force returns to the city.

If it is a small force, swallow it whole and replace it; if it is a large force, infiltrate the army under the guise of remnants and slowly take it down.

The Fallen Ones and the former Depraved Demons are the heretics who most love using such tactics. In actual combat, even the most brilliant commanders are unable to defend against them: the pressure on the battlefield is too great, the situation is too chaotic, and morale is most relaxed when returning home, making infiltration and attacks almost unavoidable. Once the heretics succeed, at best there will be internal strife in the camp, at worst the entire army will be wiped out, with endless troubles to come.

"...Therefore, Commander Trek dispatched the 35th Regiment under the guise of 'rear patrol' to carry out a decoy operation, with the intention of luring out the fallen ones who were attempting to infiltrate, and then annihilating them in one fell swoop with a strong army."

This is a mission that will inevitably lead to certain death, and only the most loyal soldiers can shoulder this heavy responsibility.

Because once the army collapses and the soldiers flee, the outsiders behind will see through the true intentions, and all the previous gains in the battle will be in vain.

Lico paused for a moment, then said, "Before the operation begins..."

"Our entire unit has been informed of the true purpose of this operation, and we know that if we are fortunate enough to escape, we can return to the nearest city-state. We accepted the order to die only after we clearly understood the true purpose of the operation."

Parryman clearly stated: "In this respect, Commander Trek strictly adhered to the Thorn Robe Code and had no intention of deliberately deceiving or misleading his comrades. This matter was proven in court 20 years ago."

“Uh, ah.” Lico was a little confused, wondering why this person had suddenly started speaking up for her side. “Well—” Parryman interrupted her forcefully: “But I still have to say it. It was an extremely terrifying experience.”

"Survival is nothing but a consolation; cruel death is inevitable, driving one's body toward the finish line of destruction. Fear makes the brain feel as if it is frozen, and the bones are almost broken under the weight of despair. And when fighting the enemy, what one gets is not relief, but a deeper level of pain."

He tapped the edge of his mask lightly, his voice devoid of joy or sorrow: "Therefore, I, along with most of the survivors, harbor resentment towards Commander Trek who gave the order. This feeling is irrational, yet it is also human nature."

“I understand,” Trek nodded. “But what’s the point of you saying all this?”

Parriman chuckled softly: "It's meaningless... I just felt that everyone should know this. Before deciding to step onto the battlefield, they should know that this is a careful decision."

In the spectator stands, Ji Huaisu became wary upon hearing this: "Is this guy trying to pull off those off-field tricks again?"

Vilbert agreed: "His power stems from the people's belief in him. If it were me, I would also try my best to stir up emotions..."

"No." Chu Hengkong shook his head. "There's no self-interest involved. I just wanted to say something. If I keep things bottled up for too long, I'll end up like Parriman, who just keeps talking once he gets the chance."

"We're almost there to hear Parriman's true feelings."

Inside the courtroom, the parties involved had all returned to "normal." Lico and Trek continued to produce battle records from 20 years ago, demonstrating the perilous situation of Parriman's unit. One by one, former officers took to the witness stand, providing corroborating evidence from different perspectives.

"Judging from the records afterward, the 35th Regiment's decoy operation was quite successful. They lured out two 'Crescent Chosen'... whose combat strength was roughly equivalent to our Particle 5 Captain," General Slayne said. "In fact, even the two main attacking forces that followed suffered extremely heavy casualties before they wiped out this Fallen Ones. And at that time, Parriman wasn't even an Ascended One, so I think it would have been impossible for him to have survived."

Parriman chuckled: "However, it is the truth, I have returned alive. Are you all perhaps trying to say that I, Parriman, am already dead? A walking corpse that should have died, but has returned to the city-state and become a 'hero'?"

“That’s not the case.” Lico slammed her hand on the table. “The fact that the decoy team was doomed and that hero Parriman returned successfully are two contradictory facts that occurred simultaneously. And the reason for this is the assistance of a ‘third party’.”

"Does the defense intend to accuse me of being remotely controlled by outsiders?" Parryman crossed his fingers. "I need to remind the judge that this is an extremely serious accusation!"

Banningtik banged the gavel: "Objection valid. Please choose clear wording."

Lico put her hands behind her back: "The judge has misunderstood. What the defense is trying to say is that some kind of force helped Parriman. Some kind of force that does not belong to us, nor to any heretical sect, helped him achieve that miracle!"

There was much discussion both inside and outside the courtroom, with everyone finding the statement utterly absurd.

If it's neither a divine tree nor a heretic, then who could possibly help this former hero? Could it be that some destiny holder spurred him on a whim?

Banningtik banged his gavel repeatedly, then said sternly, "Such an inference never appeared in the trial 20 years ago. If the defense has reasonable evidence, why is this possibility only being raised now?"

“Because 20 years ago, we simply couldn’t control any concrete ‘evidence’,” Trek replied. “More or less, those who experienced it firsthand were aware of its power. But speculation without evidence is ultimately just empty talk and cannot be presented in court.”

But 20 years ago, Speaker Parryman gradually revealed that 'power,' which finally allowed us to obtain the evidence and reach a definitive conclusion.

"That power not only created the hero Parriman, but also made him the current Speaker of the City of Thorns... and directly influenced the voting results of the Independence Bill!"

The city-state was in an uproar; not only the independence faction members, but even the allied faction members found it incomprehensible. Banningtik repeatedly pounded his gavel: "The defense must provide rigorous evidence for this charge. Otherwise, this court will expel them on charges of defaming the Speaker and contempt of the law!"

“That’s exactly what the defense is here for.” Lico nodded emphatically. “Let’s start with Speaker Parriman’s resume. Parriman left the judicial system 18 years ago to become a member of parliament. He joined the Senate 14 years ago. He became a party leader 12 years ago and officially took office as Speaker of the Senate of the City of Thorns 10 years ago.”

"Indeed, Speaker Parriman is deeply popular, and Parrimanism is regarded as the golden rule by many citizens. Even so, his promotion speed is extremely fast."

If any citizen pays attention to politics, they will easily notice that city-state politicians are generally characterized by 'advanced age'. This is because the efficiency of city-state operations is hardly fast, and many races have an average lifespan of over 200 years. It is not uncommon for individuals to spend decades or even centuries to become speaker of the council. The previous speaker had already been in politics for 54 years when he took office, and even so, he was considered 'lightning fast'.

"Speaker Parryman only took a mere 10 years to transform from a war hero into a speaker. His astonishing approval ratings and nationwide celebrations made his inauguration more of a 'cheering' than a 'support.' I witnessed Parryman's inaugural speech ten years ago, and it was nothing short of a collective frenzy. It was like believers welcoming the coronation of a god!"

Banningtik pounded the gavel repeatedly: "Please watch your wording, defense!"

“The defense did not use exaggerated or inflammatory language; it was simply the reality witnessed by the citizens of the city-state!” Lico retorted without backing down. “This ‘unnatural victory’ that was widely accepted by the public was caused by the forces behind Parriman. These forces triggered several ‘coincidences’ unrelated to Parriman, and each coincidence resulted in Parriman himself greatly benefiting.”

She submitted a file as evidence: "This year's Inspiration Mushroom incident is a very representative example of 'human coincidence.' The incident itself is very simple; it's just a small invention used in the arts and the controversy it sparked. The inventor and those involved have no connection whatsoever with Speaker Parryman."

Incredibly, several weeks later, during the voting period, a small number of citizens, having mistakenly eaten the Inspiration Mushroom, cast ballots contrary to their intentions. These citizens were all highly respected 'leaders' within the opposition to the bill, and their erroneous decisions directly caused internal chaos within the opposition, directly contributing to the bill's passage!

Many high-ranking citizens outside the venue expressed their approval. Having experienced the chaos of the Vitex Festival, they themselves harbored doubts about the bill's passage. This matter seemed unrelated to Parriman, but in retrospect, it had precisely exploited a loophole in the city-state's laws…

It's almost like an invention specifically created to interfere with voting.

“This single case is worth investigating thoroughly. And how many such fortunate coincidences have occurred in Speaker Parryman’s political career?” Rico slammed a large stack of documents on the table. “The defense alone can confirm at least 12 such instances!”

“An anti-war protest by retired soldiers 18 years ago accelerated the entry of Speaker Parryman and a large number of independent members into the House of Commons as ‘military representatives’; the aging scandal in the Fort Mansassin House of Lords 14 years ago gave Speaker Parryman and many new members the opportunity to enter the House of Lords; the ruling party’s series of blunders 12 years ago, and the fact that the previous speaker resigned due to family issues during the election 10 years ago, allowed Parryman to take office early through a special process…”

“At every crucial juncture for Speaker Parryman, there are always coincidental events that lend a helping hand. But once or twice is just a coincidence, three or four times could be called being chosen by heaven. But what we are facing now is a total of 12 coincidences, which can never be called coincidences, but rather a careful plan by some force.”

Lico stepped down from the defense table, pointed at Parriman, and said, "This man has orchestrated several politically advantageous events for himself by manipulating the minds of others. He has the ability to manipulate people's hearts!"

"Raise an objection."

Parriman casually brushed her fingers away, remaining unfazed by such a forceful accusation.

"The ability to manipulate people's hearts is a basic quality of a politician. Because the job of a politician is to win the hearts of the people, gather public opinion, and realize the wishes of the masses through action."

"The 'evidence' you have provided is a series of deliberate and unnatural coincidences. However, I feel it is necessary to remind the defense attorney that a person's life is a series of coincidences, and no one lives in a certain future."

With his hands behind his back, he said calmly: "I can openly admit that I foresaw the consequences of these events and used them within the bounds of the law. This is precisely my ability as a politician, and it is because of this political acumen that I was able to respond to the sentiments of my supporters and become the city-state's recognized speaker."

If I am accused of 'bewitching people' simply because of my abilities, wouldn't that be a repeat of the tragedy of the 'hunting of heretics' a thousand years ago? To be labeled a demon simply because of my eccentric nature, or a degenerate because of my eloquence—when did our city-state regress to such a barbaric age, where citizens can be convicted based solely on falsehoods? If such accusations hold true, countless citizens would be brought to the gallows!

High judgment.

In a battle fought with words as weapons, Parriman was undoubtedly the strongest contender in court. Perhaps, throughout the entire city of Thorns, there was no one else who could out-argue him. Rico retreated to the side of the defense table, her words met with skeptical glances from the crowd.

At this moment, the defendant spoke calmly and deliberately.

"So, what if the essence of this 'political ability' is a supernatural power?"

"If the many coincidences that Lico mentioned were deliberately orchestrated by the forces behind you, what do you have to say about that?"

Trek leaned on the defendant's dock, staring at the speaker with icy eyes.

“I know you’re going to try to cover it up with evidence. The evidence is right here in this courtroom, right in front of everyone.”

“Speaker Parriman, your very existence is the best proof!”

(End of this chapter)