Wolfgang lowered his head, rested his hands on his forehead, stared blankly at the floor, sighed deeply, and said:
"It's no use."
"No one can change the Emperor's mind, not a single one."
"Even if this was Dylan's last letter, it was still powerless to change anything. In the meeting that day, he had already decided to win this war at all costs."
"The Emperor is always like this. Once he decides on something, he doesn't allow any questioning or changes. In fact, there were opponents when the overseas colony plan was formulated, but as you know, it was still implemented, even though there were still many problems to be solved at home."
Dingle said coldly:
"This is the inherent flaw of our country, which has been fully exposed through this war."
"We are not a country that has an army."
"Instead, it's an army owning a country, but that's wrong."
Upon hearing this, Wolfgang's expression froze; he neither denied nor objected.
"Changes must be made before this war completely destroys the country."
“We must save ourselves!” Dingle said in a deep voice.
Upon hearing this, Wolfgang trembled and said nervously, "Are you going to give Dylan's letter to the Emperor? No, you can't do that."
"The Emperor is in a very bad mood right now... He's extremely suspicious. He won't tolerate anyone opposing him at this time, no matter who it is. Dylan is dead, but you're different. This will involve many people."
“Our family, and those…” Wolfgang’s breathing became rapid as he said this.
Dingle's expression was cold as he said, "If we don't do this, we'll be watching the country perish. The army has already suffered heavy casualties, with hundreds of thousands dying in this war, and countless others affected."
“Bad news is spreading every day, people in every city are living in panic, the refugee crisis will soon sweep across the country, and the longer the war lasts, the more people will die from its effects.”
"We cannot ignore these impending tragedies, nor can we sit idly by and wait for our country to become a living hell."
"Only by changing the Emperor's mind and making compromises with the Yan people, even if it means surrendering... can we have a chance to change the status quo."
Wolfgang shook his head repeatedly, his face pale, and said:
"It can't be changed. Didn't you see that the Storm Special Combat Team has taken over the security of Salivia? Even the Royal Castle is full of Bowerman's men."
"Do you think they're just trying to maintain order? No, they're more about controlling us to prevent the emergence and spread of negative ideas that could affect more people."
After hearing this, Dingle said coldly:
"They're already needing to control their own people, can't you see? The Emperor has realized his mistakes, but he's unwilling to admit them, which is why he needs to control speech!"
"We should never have invaded Yan Kingdom in the first place; that's what led to the crisis we're facing today!"
Upon hearing this, Wolfgang raised an eyebrow, a surge of anger rising within him. He couldn't help but glare at Dingle and shout:
"Watch your words! How are you any different from those Kosovo rebels?!"
Dingle's face flushed crimson, and he growled:
"But that's the truth!"
"Only an empty-headed fool would be completely ignorant, and how many idiots are there in the army? It's just that you dare not say it, or are unwilling to admit it, and pretend you don't understand anything, making one mistake after another on the wrong path!"
Wolfgang, enraged, interrupted, "I will not allow you to slander me..."
Dingle did not stop talking, but continued to growl angrily:
You can pretend you don't understand the facts, but you can't pretend you don't see them!
"Those who died because of this war died because of a wrong decision. They could have lived peacefully in a peaceful country instead of losing their lives!"
Wolfgang's chest heaved with rage, his face ashen as he hissed, "For a soldier, dying on the battlefield is their destiny. Countless have died for their country in the Empire's years of war, and they are all glorious! If that's what you mean, what about those predecessors of yesteryear..."
At this point, Dingle suddenly grabbed Wolfgang by the collar and angrily said:
"The past is the past, the present is the present!"
"Don't confuse the concepts. Today's war is fundamentally different from the war of national defense twelve years ago!"
"Listen carefully! This is a war of aggression that we started first!"
Wolfgang's face stiffened; with his collar being grabbed, he was at a loss for words.
"If it weren't for this beginning, I believe the Yan people would never have suddenly come to our country, and our people would not have suffered this disaster. Now, millions of people have been displaced, forced to leave their homes, and are fleeing everywhere. A war has brought us back to the past!"
"Did our forefathers make those sacrifices so that their descendants would seek destruction in war?! No! Absolutely not!"
"Back then, war was the only way for us to seek a future, because we could no longer survive, and we had no choice but to fight violently! The purpose of the struggle was to pursue a stable and peaceful future and to build a happy country. That's why our ancestors risked their lives to fight and became the heroes we remember today!"
"But since when did war cease to be a means and instead become the ultimate goal?"
Dingle's question left Wolfgang speechless; he froze, his face, which had just been ashen with anger, now turned deathly pale.
But Dingle released his grip. His anger gradually subsided, replaced by a deep sorrow. His eyes glazed over as he shook his head and muttered to himself:
"They always say they remember the heroes, always say they inherit their will, and always shout that they want to be proud and brave Goths, even if they die on the battlefield."
"The passionate young men of the empire rushed to one battlefield after another, only to be left with nothing but their weeping mothers at home."
"But the heroes fought for peace and happiness, yet we only know about their bravery and fearlessness on the battlefield, but we forget why they went to the battlefield in the first place."
Who influences our thoughts?
At this point, Dingle walked to the window, flung open the curtains, and yanked the window open. The howling wind immediately made the room whistle, and Wolfgang unconsciously shrank back.
“We have actively distanced ourselves from the goddess Saint Mary, so she no longer protects us.”
“We chose it, and so it brought us endless wars,” Dingle said absentmindedly, pointing to the window with one hand.
Outside the window, a black flag, planted at an angle, fluttered in the wind. The deep red imperial eagle on the flag seemed to come alive, flapping its wings in the night, the sound of the wind becoming its sharp whistle.
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