People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Fortunately, neither the Supervisory Council nor the Business Federation had completely lost their minds. What he feared most was that these inhuman bastards would pull some more nasty tricks on him, giving him a "mini-Kasimir shock"!

It seems there's nothing to worry about now.

Taking a deep breath and adjusting his state, Ernst regained his confident demeanor.

The brief silence following the question had reached its limit; just before the critical point had passed, Ernst spoke again:

“I believe many people would answer yes.”

"Seeing darkness is such a simple thing. You can see darkness by turning off the lights, you can see darkness at night, and even simpler, you can see darkness as soon as you close your eyes."

"Yes, in Kazimierz, seeing darkness is a very simple thing."

"Because we all know that the lights that have been turned off can be turned on again. The night has been lit up by the neon lights of the Great Knight's City that never sleeps. As long as we open our eyes, the dazzling spotlights will make each of us look like the main character!"

"That's exactly what I envy so much."

Ernst paused slightly, and as the Kazimirans were caught in a wave of pride and confusion, he spoke again.

"Because, a year ago in Shelag, the kind of life we ​​take for granted in modern society in Casimir was still a luxury!"

His voice shifted from high-pitched to low, painting a vivid picture of that foreign land for all the audience.

"In the night there are no lights, and the two moons do not mercifully guide every traveler. In the biting cold wind, without a small stove, we experience a mental struggle before closing our eyes each time. It is a question that philosophers of Letania, Victoria, Minos, and even this land have studied and debated for countless years—to be or not to be!"

After a brief period of suppression, as if trying to break free from constraints, Ernst's voice rose again, adopting the tone of a "chivalrous sports enthusiast":

"So, I am very lucky. As a fan of knightly competitions, I was born in Shelag. So in this year, I have seen streetlights being erected one after another along the streets, and in the newly renovated city, there are no longer people lost in the dark. With central heating, the people of Shelag can sleep soundly. And I am also fortunate enough to come to the birthplace of knightly competitions, this great knightly territory, to watch this real grand event!"

This is a self-questioning and self-answering exercise, a "self-questioning and self-answering exercise from a knightly racing enthusiast in Sherag," but that's certainly not the point.

Having laid the groundwork for the emotions of the Kazimir people—pride, contemplation, compassion, and worry—gradually emerged and intertwined, Ernst then posed the second question:

"But at this moment, as darkness descends once again upon this great knightly territory of Kavaleria, I can't help but think."

"Besides me, how many other places and how many other people have not only seen darkness, but are living in it? They have the same dreams as us, but not the same luck as us?"

"A thousand years ago, to resist the corrupt Pegasus royal family's shameless act of selling the country to Nightmare, and to protect the lives and property of their people from the Nightmare Khan's invasion, the knightly orders declared the formation of the Knights' Alliance. Today, we gather on the very land where the Knights' Alliance was established. This solemn declaration, like the light of a beacon, brings hope to millions suffering in the flames of injustice that ravage their lives. Its arrival is like a joyous dawn, ending the long night that has bound human rights."

"Yet, a thousand years later, we must face the tragic fact that on this land, including in Kazimir, our compatriots, our people, our brothers and sisters, still have not yet gained freedom. A thousand years later, people's lives are still oppressed by countless shackles and chains, such as Oripathy, wealth disparity, bloodline, and identity. A thousand years later, many still live on a poor, isolated peak on this land that has gradually developed and become materially abundant thanks to Originium. A thousand years later, many still huddle in the corners of our proud, prosperous cities, realizing that they are exiles in their homeland. We gather here today to expose this appalling situation to the world."

"We are fortunate enough to be in the City of Knights, where we have witnessed darkness and overcome it. Every neon light we have lit has torn open this false curtain of light!"

"But I think it goes beyond that."

"Have we, living in a city of knights, lost our chivalrous spirit?"

Why can't we reach out to our fellow countrymen and uphold our inherent right to simply be fellow knightly arena enthusiasts?

I call it "an inherent right of human beings".

"human rights"

Chapter 450 Kazimir, it was you who lit it up!

Human rights, a noble concept, are always relatively respected in reality according to specific needs.

The "I Have a Dream" speech was undoubtedly a success. As one of the most famous speeches in history, it was even selected for textbooks in a major Eastern country across the ocean, which is enough to prove its value.

However, the success of the speech did not guarantee an improvement in the situation; Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech did not truly change the living conditions of Black Americans. Similarly, Ernst's speech did not.

Ernst never expected a single speech to enlighten all of Terra. Language carries weight, but Ernst wasn't a banshee; he couldn't imbue words with magic, much less use them to mind control like Yuri did. Otherwise, he would have cosplayed as the Terran emperor and sat on Jeragund's golden toilet long ago.

Any claim needs to be tested in practice to verify its rationality and feasibility, and the civil rights movement, as well as the Terra International Human Rights Council which Ernst will oversee within the framework of the World Summit, are examples of putting the claim of "human rights" into practice.

"When we act, we must ensure we move forward. We cannot go backward. Now, some people ask those passionate about the civil rights movement, 'When will you be satisfied?'"

Ernst's voice was impassioned, and his rebuttal was equally resounding:

"We will never be satisfied as long as the poor continue to suffer unspeakable brutality at the hands of the police."

“We will never be satisfied as long as the weary bodies of the Tara people of Victoria cannot find lodging at the messenger stations along the wasteland roads or in the inns of the city.”

“We will never be satisfied as long as the basic activity range of the Winter Spirits of Letania is merely to shift from small, impoverished areas inhabited by ethnic minorities to large, impoverished areas.”

"As long as there is still a Sarkaz soldier in the Ursus Empire who cannot enjoy normal treatment after retirement, and as long as there is an infected person in Colombia who feels that his vote is useless, we will never be satisfied."

"No! We are not satisfied now, nor will we ever be satisfied, unless justice and fairness come rolling in like the waves of the ocean!"

Ernst's gaze swept across the audience.

Thanks to Tomás and Viviana, he was able to see the expressions on the faces of the vast majority of the spectators in the arena.

They might feel touched, excited, or confused.

These are all normal reactions.

In a way, Ernst should thank the place where he gave his speech, Casimir, the Grand Knight Commander of Kavaleria, a city with a rich history and culture, and a sufficiently open and progressive mindset.

Just like in another timeline, The Long Night Nearl, the Kazimierz people did not lose their chivalry; it was just that the materialistic society and dazzling consumption had tarnished their precious chivalry. What Margaret Nearl did was to practice the legendary chivalry in her own way, hoping to awaken the morality and character in the hearts of the Kazimierz people.

Ernst did the same thing.

However, compared to Margaret Nearl's somewhat legendary, heroic "rescue," Ernst envisioned a systematic awakening and framework.

A hero sent from the sky can save a person temporarily, but even the most powerful hero will eventually pass away. What happens after the hero is gone? Only heaven knows!

A system is something more long-term and stable. Even if it gradually decays internally and the inertia of the system makes it unable to keep up with the times, it still has an unparalleled advantage over people.

The Victorian hegemonic system was established by Frederick III, a powerful figure who appeared out of nowhere. Even after the last Lion King, Alistair, was hanged, he still managed to keep this bloated and morally deficient empire afloat for more than twenty years. Ernst hoped that the World Summit could last longer, and he did his best for it. This was his dream, another side of him—besides the pragmatic man who was helpless in every way, he also had a dream.

He dreamed that one day, the World Summit would achieve a real and rapid rise to power, truly realizing the essence of its creed: "Terra will survive together!"

He dreamed that one day, in the opera house of Letania, the son of a former nobleman would be able to sit together with the son of a former servant and share their brotherly bond.

He dreamed that one day, even places like Ursus and Sargon, where the hierarchy was rigid, oppression was rampant, class contradictions were huge, and the people's power was limited, would become oases of freedom and justice.

He dreamed that one day, even the Sarkaz, his children would live in a country where they would be judged not by their racial bloodline, but by the quality of their character.

He had a dream today. He dreamed that one day, Kjerag would be built into an ideal city like Laterano, where life was prosperous and the people were happy. If possible, he greedily hoped that a small stove in the Kjerag government office would be named after him, to commemorate his glorious visit there. He also dreamed that one day, the Sarkaz like Nasti would fulfill their dreams, establishing their own Kazdel, whether in the sky or on earth, and that the Terran nations advancing towards that Kazdel would not bring warships and armies, but rather flowers and gifts.

"I have a dream today. I dream that one day, valleys will rise up, mountains will descend, rough and winding roads will become smooth, and holy light will be revealed and shine upon the world."

Ernst said slowly.

Admittedly, some of these dreams can be spoken of, while others cannot. Some seem too absurd to the people of Terra, sounding somewhat horrifying when spoken of, while others seem too small-minded, making them somewhat amusing to hear in this context.

In his position, Ernst knew what he could and could not say, and he also understood the meaning behind the expressions on the faces of the audience at this moment.

A trigger?

This word alone probably cannot describe the feelings of the audience.

No one dislikes beautiful things. When a beautiful vision is presented to people, many will remain hesitant because they know that vision is too distant, too far removed from their current lives, too far removed from the daily grind of life, and even less tangible than hearing news of a 100 yuan raise tomorrow or a stranger giving them 50 yuan on Thursday. That's why people have become numb to it.

But Ernst told them that, in fact, it wasn't that far off.

How long did it take for Sheraq to transform from a poor, remote village without even streetlights and stoves into the host of the World Expo and World Summit, a country that is considered to be on par with Lateran in the future?

a year.

In the Crystallization Era, people no longer need to worry about energy; Originium is so abundant that it's inexhaustible, and it wouldn't even breed Colombians. If people are willing, if they unite, and if everyone extends a hand and shows a little goodwill, a similar scenario is not entirely impossible to repeat.

And they are among those who extend kindness, seemingly insignificant yet potentially crucial.

Perhaps this passion and goodwill are just an excessive surge of emotion triggered by a sudden impulse after listening to the speech, and will be worn down again by the repetitive cycle of going to and from work the next morning after brushing their teeth and having breakfast. But at least at this moment, their sense of pride is real.

At least, at this moment, as an assassin tasked with "monitoring and protecting Ernst" with all his might, Ascalon felt a slight soreness in his nose.

Like, so similar!

If you listen to these words with your eyes closed, who can tell whether you are Theresa or Ernst?

She felt a tightness in her chest, not from sadness or anger, but simply from the negative reaction caused by the clash between the surging emotions in her heart and the pent-up frustration that she couldn't express.

Ascalon could still hold back, or rather, even if she couldn't hold back, she had to.

She was reluctant to leave this place, reluctant to go to Kelsey to report, and even more reluctant to let Ernst out of her sight for more than a second!

Because that means danger.

Last time, she did it just like this... just like this...

The heartache of not having had time to say goodbye surged into Ascaron's heart, and she clenched her fists.

The people of Babel could never forget that figure and her every word and action, but it was precisely because they knew her so well that Ascalon, knowing he was deeply entangled in her, was unable to extricate himself.

Admittedly, Ascalon had heard similar slogans many times. But most leaders of other nations were inherently discriminatory and prejudiced when advocating equality, and Ernst was the first she had ever seen one like him.

The Sarkaz possess a homeland that is judged not by race or bloodline, but by the quality of character—a goal that Princess Theresa pursued her entire life but could never achieve. And Ernst not only said it, but he also did it.

By negotiating with the Duke of Caesar and securing the support of the Grand Duke of Victoria, Ascalon was no fool; she knew what it meant. It meant a first step, a stage of progress, a small glimmer of hope.

This time, she vowed to protect this small hope.

Ascalon pulled his hood down even further, took a deep breath, raised his right hand, and joined the chanting crowd in shouting the name:

"Ernst! Ernst!"

"That's the power of language."

Standing in the VIP box of the Supervisory Committee, Russell looked down at Ernst on the field through the floor-to-ceiling window and sighed with emotion.

It is now the twentieth minute since the circuit breaker event in the four cities.

After nearly eight minutes of tense standoff, all the infected individuals trapped in the core power control room have been eliminated.

What? The Business Federation agreed to let them go? That's their business. When did the Supervisory Commission agree to that?

Inspections and repairs to the switches and control room are proceeding rapidly, and the city's power is expected to be restarted in a maximum of two minutes.

At that point, theoretically, the Cavaliers Association would flexibly determine the outcome of the final move in the Finals based on the specific circumstances. It could be Marner, it could be Jeston, or even a rematch could be requested to truly determine a winner.

But was the winner really not chosen?

Russell disagreed.

Standing on the field, amidst the roar of cheers, he remained steadfast like a pillar in the midst of a storm. Behind him, Marner willingly shone his light, and beside him, Jeston was his subordinate. If everyone standing on the field could be considered a competitor, then Russell sincerely felt that Ernst should simply be declared the winner.

That's precisely why she felt regret.

She had lamented more than once why Ernst wasn't from Casimir. With his talent, if he could be put to use by the Supervisory Council, she might very well pass the position of Grand Knight to him in the future. He believed that with a larger stage available, the likes of the Commercial Federation could not possibly be a match for Ernst.

pity.......

At least we can be comforted by the fact that he is not affiliated with the Business Federation.

Moreover, she has Viviana here to enjoy the breeze.

That kid was stubborn too; he was determined to leave without giving Russell any time to prepare or react. But thinking about it carefully, it might not be such a bad thing. It was much better than being harassed by that business association spokesperson and having the wine newspaper spread rumors about him every day in Casimir.

"Your Excellency, the switch inspection is complete. We will start immediately—"

"No, wait a minute."

A report came through the communicator, and Russell breathed a sigh of relief, but abruptly stopped their actions just before the power was turned on.

He made a difficult decision.

From Sherag to Casimir, Ernst had helped her a lot over the long period, especially this last time. If he hadn't stepped in to save the day, Russell would never have had such a timely speech to buy time.

In the spirit of giving a plum and receiving a peach in return, to prevent this favor from becoming a debt of gratitude to be repaid generation after generation, let her also give Ernst a gift.

"Wait for my command to turn on the switch."

Ernst turned around and looked at Viviana and Marna.

The speech had reached its final stage, but the Grand Knight still hadn't called, which left Ernst somewhat frustrated.

No, did he just remove your power switch and steal it or something? Did it take this long?

But that's the situation. Ernst wasn't sure how long it would take for the Supervisory Commission and the Business Federation to fix the power supply. Fortunately, he was prepared.

Interaction is a required course in public speaking.

"Miss Viviana, please cooperate with me and help me dispel the shadows around me. Mr. Marner, please stop your supernatural powers for now."

Marna and Viviana nodded, and the sun-like light gradually faded, plunging the stadium into darkness once again.

This time, Ernst pulled out his terminal from his pocket.

"So, friends, let's go back to our very first question."

Have you ever seen darkness?

"Darkness is just an abstract concept. It is everywhere. In reality, in life, and even in our interactions with relatives and friends, it exists objectively."