Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"If war breaks out, we'll be the first to be affected. And those bastards in the Self-Defense Forces are hiding so far away, they obviously don't want us to come to their aid, they want us to die!"

His words resonated with everyone.

For a moment, the police officers in the audience began to whisper among themselves.

"No way."

"Really? It seems to make sense."

"Indeed, otherwise why would the Self-Defense Forces be hiding so far away?"

The police officers became restless, while my sergeant roared at the crowd below:

"Quiet down, all of you!"

The loud noise startled everyone. They all looked up at the old policeman, wondering what he had to explain.

"Don't forget! The albino monolith is Monolith 32. Gastrea will only attack in that direction. The idea that they want to hide in the back is utter nonsense!"

This claim is indeed irrefutable. The Gastrea spent a great deal of time causing the 32 megaliths to become bleached in order to break through this barrier and enter human territory.

Although the camp was undefended, there was no need for the Gastrea to come over.

“This…” Brick was speechless for a moment.

After all, he only got half-baked information from Isaac, and much of it was misleading and misinformation.

And these misinformation messages are very useful to simple-minded people like him.

"What? Can't you speak?" My patriarch looked at Brick and said in a deep voice.

"I……"

Let me say a few words.

A sudden voice rang out, and everyone's eyes turned towards the direction of the sound. They saw a boy standing in the crowd.

"Who are you?" my patriarch asked.

He instinctively felt that this person was not simple.

"My name is Rentaro Satomi, and my IP address is ranked fifteenth."

There was an uproar.

"Is he Rentaro Satomi?"

"The policeman who defeated Scorpio?"

Ichiro Masaya was slightly surprised; he hadn't expected that the young man before him was the hero who had saved Tokyo.

"So it's Mr. Satomi. What would you like to say?"

Isaac slowly walked onto the stage under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

He looked at the many police officers below the stage, coughed twice, and then said loudly:

Do you want to maintain the status quo?

Everyone heard Isaac's voice, but they didn't understand what he meant.

"Think carefully, why did you participate in this battle? Why did you risk your lives!" Isaac shouted.

"For glory, of course!"

"To protect the people!"

"Defeat Gastrea, uphold justice!"

The police officer below the stage answered.

“Glory? Justice? These are beautiful words,” Isaac laughed, but his expression instantly turned sarcastic.

"It's a pity you won't get either of these things."

The police officers who had been speaking suddenly fell silent, and Isaac continued:

“Think carefully about the [family registration deprivation law] in Tokyo, and think about the way they look at you. Do you think you are in the right in their eyes?”

These words silenced everyone.

Even before the [Household Registration Deprivation Law] was enacted, many people disliked the police, believing that they were monsters who mingled with the cursed children.

Even though they protected people from Gastrea, the police officers were never regarded as heroes by the people.

Isaac continued, "Speaking of honor, take a look at the direction of the Self-Defense Forces."

He pointed to the Self-Defense Forces base in the distance.

"They're hiding so far away. Even if we take my commander's advice and the Gastrea head in their direction first, do you think we can reach the reinforcements from our current position?"

The answer is, of course, no. The distance is too far, and the route is mostly mountainous. It would take at least several hours to get there, and there would be no time to provide support.

"The Self-Defense Forces never expected anything from us police officers from the beginning. Their current actions are simply to steal the credit that belongs to us!"

"Mr. Satomi, do you know what you're saying?!"

My patriarch was glaring angrily at Isaac.

"Then please answer me, Commander Tang, why are the Self-Defense Forces located so far away from us? And why are we deployed here?" Isaac pressed, his voice scorching. "You know very well that we police officers are not suited for fighting in open areas, don't you?"

"But deploying troops here allows for a quick response to requests for support from the Self-Defense Forces."

Do you even believe that yourself?

Looking at the silent old man, Isaac ignored him and shouted to the police officers below the stage:

"Gentlemen! Why should we participate in this battle? I will answer for you. We want to gain sufficient benefits from this war."

"I know what you crave: the respectful gaze of the people, the glory to be etched in history! Plenty of money!" Isaac shouted. "However, as long as you remain under the command of the Self-Defense Forces, you will not receive either of those things!!"

The crowd below the stage began to stir again, and my chaplain realized that things were not going well.

"Ask your hearts what you truly desire, what makes you gamble with your lives!"

"Shut up! Don't say any more!" My patriarch hurriedly tried to stop him.

He knew that if he let Isaac continue, the situation would get out of control.

“You were meant to be heroes! Heroes revered by millions!” Isaac said, a maniacal grin spreading across his face. “Is what you’ve given up worth the price you’ve paid?”

Chapter 301: All Become Subordinates

Isaac's words seemed to deliver a heavy blow to the hearts of everyone in the audience.

Yes, I've been a police officer for so long, when have I ever earned the respect of others?

The people see them as monsters, the police and self-defense forces see them as business thieves, and the government sees them as tools.

If I risk my life to protect the people in this battle, will I really receive the same treatment as someone who sacrificed their life?

"Shut up! Rentaro Satomi!" my headmaster roared. "We are fighting to protect the people of Tokyo, not for those mundane things!"

"Huh? That's just your opinion."

Isaac glanced at him with a slightly mocking look. Then he turned his gaze back to the audience:

"Don't let so-called justice become your shackles. Ask yourselves, what do you really want?!"

The police officers all lowered their heads.

What do I want?

Reputation, money, and...respect.

Isaac's last words shattered their last line of defense.

"Don't you want to be admired by thousands? Don't you want lots of money? Don't you want all those who see you as monsters to repent for their blindness?"

"Don't you want... the glory that rightfully belongs to you?"

The people below the stage began to stir, and I, the headmaster, knew that things were developing in an unpredictable direction.

"Yes, I do!"

"We were protecting them! Why doesn't the glory belong to us!"

"This is what we deserve!!"

From the first person's voice, it gradually influenced everyone like a tide.

They roared, they craved what they deserved.

Suddenly, someone in the audience spoke up: "Rentaro Satomi! Then tell us what we should do!?"

Everyone turned their attention to Isaac, hoping he could provide them with an answer.

Isaac smiled slightly:

"If you trust me, then I will lead you to reclaim what is rightfully yours."

The police officers in the audience were stunned by Isaac's words.

My boss hurriedly shouted, "Rentaro Satomi! What do you think this place is? Our duty now is to protect the Tokyo area, not to do these things!"

Mibu Asaka, who was beside him, also opened her eyes and glared at Isaac.

"When you become a police officer, your life and death are entirely up to you; there's no such thing as a duty!"

Isaac and my patriarch were locked in a heated argument, and some people in the audience were getting restless.

"Mr. Satomi! I'll follow you!"

Brick was the first to speak, walking down from the stage and saying:

"I've had enough of those bastards in Tokyo! I work so hard cleaning up Gastrea, and every time I come back I see those ingrates giving me disgusted looks."

Once there's a first, there will naturally be a second, a third...

"I don't want the Self-Defense Forces to lead us either!"

"Me too!"

"Count me in!"

In an instant, a large number of police officers sided with Isaac.

Of the original five hundred groups of police officers, only about seventy groups are still standing next to my magistrate.