Chapter 396: The Trial from 20 Years Ago (Part 2)
Soldiers without particles are meaningless on the battlefield.
Many civilians unfamiliar with the war often say this, and many conservatives use it as a reason to criticize the military. However, the truth is quite the opposite. Anyone who has actually been to the front lines will understand that a soldier with no physical qualities can play a role that is almost identical to a soldier with 1 to 3 physical qualities.
This is because high-quality ancient dragons and sacred trees possess the ability to grant wide-ranging "blessings." By fulfilling the divine ideals, one can gain power far beyond their own capabilities. In the city-state of Jingsha, which values unity, the power of these blessings is even more pronounced. The more allies one has, the stronger the blessings, and the stronger one's fighting spirit, the greater the divine power.
The army also boasts specially crafted armor for soldiers, mobile temples to aid in combat, and war plants capable of wide-area strikes. With the blessing of numerous relics and divine power, even ordinary soldiers without a particle can, with their enhanced power, battle against outsiders with a particle level of 2 or even 3. There is no essential difference between those without a particle and those with low particles; the true dividing line lies only in the First Abyss, which cannot be directly crossed by divine power.
Despite this, Jingsha officials never encourage non-mutated citizens to enlist in the military. This is because protection and equipment are ultimately external forces. Under normal circumstances, they are sufficient to ensure basic capabilities, but in times of crisis, they are no longer as omnipotent as usual.
Yet, throughout history, countless unskilled citizens have persisted in joining the military. They lack talent, but possess the courage to serve their country. They lack strength, but possess the resolve to fight alongside their compatriots. They are the most tenacious foundation of our military.
He is Jingsha's most loyal soldier.
·
20 years ago, battlefield.
I can't remember the specific details. A blood-soaked wind blew by my side, and wheels rolled over unrecognizable corpses. Thunder flashed in the wind and sand, and an array of undead raced in the distance, only to occasionally catch a glimpse of moonlight.
This was a battlefield. A chaotic mass of graves, a hopeless place of death. Yet the environment wasn't suffocating, as he breathed deeply, straining his lungs and inhaling the stagnant air at the cost of a stinging sensation.
Many people were there. Comrades who ate and lived with them. Like ants, they blindly followed orders and advanced. There were almost no intact people left, only bloody body parts standing like a forest. They all stared into the distance, a patch of green amidst the chaos, an emerald pure land.
Once they returned to the city-state, everything would be over. Their wounds would heal, the pollution would be driven away, and they would be able to live. Live in peace.
That was a dream that would never come true. There was a cold realization in the eyes of the comrades. They bravely accepted their own death.
But he was scared.
He was scared.
He pushed aside his comrades and sped forward. The captain's eyes were like black holes, filled with the determination of a middle-aged man ready to face death. He grabbed the captain's arm.
"Captain, please change the route," he pleaded. "Take a detour. Or even turn back. 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 tried his best to lower his voice: "If this continues, we will all die!"
"Yes."
The leader confirmed grimly.
"We are going to die."
"The army needs us dead. The civilians in the city-state need us dead. If we don't die, more people will die. Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands!"
He felt himself captivated by the black hole-like gaze, by the decisiveness and madness in the captain's eyes.
"Let's go. Take courage. This is what we're... about!"
He returned to the main unit, feeling like a walking corpse. He desperately recalled the stories of his training, the remarkable Allied soldiers, the great heroes of the city-state throughout history. He repeated them over and over again, as if possessed by the spirits of those brave men. He seemed to have become braver, and with an unyielding spirit, he embarked on the path of a hero.
“—Enemy attack!”
It's coming. It's finally coming. He roared loudly and charged forward like a true warrior. He thought that this was the end of a true warrior, and he would die a hero.
Explosions. Dreamy moonlight. Pale pools of blood. The world turned upside down. He lay on the ground, his saber lodged in his comrade's stomach. His comrade's sword severed his arm.
A decaying mountain-like creature sneered in the moonlight. The leader's head had been torn off. Headless corpses danced beneath the moonlight. They shouted "Long live!" and slaughtered each other. He lay among the corpses, miraculously retaining a shred of consciousness.
It hurts. It hurts. The blood's flowing. I want to go home. I'll die if I keep going like this. I'm not a hero at all. I'll just be another corpse. 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 desperate man, a phantom appeared. The face of an incomparably beautiful woman. He lifted his stump, hoping to be rescued.
Help me. Whoever you are. Help me.
But his fingers fell off one by one. It was a slug-like moon beast with a beautiful face.
"Ah, I like you!"
The Moon Beast said to him.
The moon beast ripped off his limbs.
"I like your face!"
The moon beast bit off his face.
·
"...Chancellor Parriman? Are you listening, Mr. Chancellor?"
Parriman brushed his cold iron mask and nodded slightly.
"Excuse me, I remembered something from the past... Where was the defense?"
"Speaking of the military orders your unit received," Rico said unhappily, "theoretically, the 35th Regiment's chances of survival are practically zero, because your mission was a 'decoy operation.'"
This is a common tactic in large-scale warfare.
Adept at shifting forms and concealing their identities, outsiders would infiltrate a group of ambushes in the rear of the battlefield. These ambushes, led by a mid- to high-level Element powerhouse, would never participate in the main frontline battles. They would target small groups retreating or large forces returning to the city.
If it is a small force, then swallow it up whole and replace it; if it is a large force, then sneak into the army in the name of remnants and take action slowly.
The Fallen and the Hedonistic Demons of yesteryear are the most receptive to such tactics. In actual combat, even the most skilled commanders are unable to prevent them: the battlefield's pressure is immense, the situation is chaotic, and especially when troops are returning home, morale is at its lowest, making infiltration attacks nearly inevitable. If the outsiders succeed, the consequences could range from internal unrest to complete annihilation, with endless consequences.
"…Therefore, Commander Trek dispatched the 35th Regiment to conduct a decoy operation under the guise of a 'rear patrol'. The intention was to lure out any infiltrators and then annihilate them with a powerful force."
This is a mission that means certain death, and only the most loyal soldiers can take on this task.
Because once the army is defeated and the soldiers flee, the outsiders in the rear will see through the intention and all the efforts made in the battle will be wasted.
Rico paused for a moment and said, "Before the battle begins..."
"All of us have been informed of the true purpose of this operation, and we are told that if we are lucky enough to escape, we can return to the nearest city-state. We accepted the order to die only after clearly understanding the purpose of the operation."
Perriman explained clearly, "In this regard, Commander Trek strictly adhered to the Thorns Code and had no intention of deliberately deceiving or misleading his comrades. This was proven in the court trial 20 years ago."
"Uh, ah." Li Ke was a little confused. She didn't know why this person suddenly started to speak up for her side. "Then-"
Parriman interrupted her forcefully. "But I still have to say it. It was a terrifying experience."
"Survival is but a consolation. Cruel death is bound to come, driving one's body towards the finish line of destruction. Fear makes the brain ache as if it is frozen, and the bones are almost broken under the weight of despair. And when fighting the enemy, it does not bring relief, but a deeper pain."
He tapped the edge of his mask, his voice neutral, "Thus, I, along with most of the survivors, harbor resentment towards Commander Trek, who gave the order. This feeling is irrational, but also perfectly human."
"I understand." Trek nodded. "But what's the point of what you said?"
Parriman chuckled. "It's meaningless... I just thought everyone should know this. Before deciding to step onto the battlefield, everyone should know that this is a prudent decision."
In the spectator's booth, Ji Huaisu became alert upon hearing this: "Is this guy trying to pull those off-stage tricks again?"
Velvet agreed. “The source of his power is related to the trust of the people. If it were me, I would also try to stir up the emotions as much as possible…”
"No." Chu Hengkong shook his head. "I don't have any considerations for personal gain. I just want to say it. If you hold back on your words for too long, you'll become like Parriman. Once there's an opportunity, you'll be able to talk endlessly."
"We're almost getting to hear what Parriman has to say."
Inside the courtroom, the parties had returned to "normal." Rico and Trek repeatedly produced battle records from 20 years prior, demonstrating the precarious situation of Pariman's unit. Former officers took the stand, providing supporting evidence from various perspectives.
"According to subsequent records, the 35th Regiment's decoy operation was quite successful, luring out two 'Chosen of the Crescent Moon'... whose combat effectiveness was roughly equivalent to that of our Sephiroth 5 captain," General Silain said. "In fact, even the two subsequent main attacking forces suffered extremely heavy casualties before completely annihilating this group of Fallen. And since Parriman wasn't even a Mutant at the time, I believe it's impossible for him to survive."
Parriman chuckled. "Yet the fact remains. I have returned alive. Are you trying to say that I, Parriman, was already dead? A walking corpse who should have been dead, but returned to the city-state as a 'hero'?"
"That's not true." Rico slammed the table. "The decoy troops' inevitable demise and the hero Pariman's triumphant return—these two contradictory facts are simultaneously true. And the reason for this is the assistance of a 'third party.'"
"Is the defense trying to accuse me of being manipulated by outsiders?" Parriman crossed his fingers. "I need to remind the judge that this is a very serious accusation!"
Benintic banged the gavel. "The objection stands. Please choose clear words, defense."
Li Ke put her hands behind her back and said, "The judge misunderstood. What the defense wants to say is that some kind of power helped Parriman. Some kind of power that doesn't belong to us or outsiders helped him perform that miracle!"
There was a lot of discussion inside and outside the court, and everyone thought this statement was ridiculous.
If it wasn't the sacred tree or the heretic, who else could have helped the former hero? Could it be that a certain fate master had saved him on a whim?
Benintic banged the gavel repeatedly and said sternly, "This kind of speculation never arose in the trial 20 years ago. If the defense truly has reasonable evidence, why is it raising this possibility only now?"
"Because 20 years ago, we had no real 'evidence,'" Trek replied. "To some extent, those who experienced it were aware of the existence of this power. But speculation without evidence is ultimately just empty talk and cannot be raised in court.
But 20 years ago, Chancellor Parriman gradually revealed that 'power', and we finally had the evidence and a firm conclusion."
"That power not only created the hero Parriman, but also made him the current Speaker of the Thorns City-State... and directly influenced the voting results of the independence bill!"
The city-state erupted in outrage, with both the independence faction and the allied faction finding it incomprehensible. Benintic hammered repeatedly, "The defense must provide rigorous evidence to support this allegation. Otherwise, this court will expel you for defaming the Speaker and defying the law!"
"That's exactly why the defense is here." Li Ke nodded heavily. "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 assumed the position of Speaker of the Senate of the Thorns City-State 10 years ago."
“Indeed, Speaker Parriman is deeply loved by the people, and Parrimanism is regarded as a guiding principle by many citizens. But even so, the speed of his promotion is extremely unnatural.
If you're a citizen who pays attention to politics, you'll readily notice that city-state politicians are generally aging. Because city-states aren't exactly efficient, and many races have an average lifespan of over 200 years, it's not uncommon for someone to take decades, or even centuries, of toil before becoming Speaker. The previous Speaker had already been in politics for 54 years when he took office, yet even that was considered "astonishingly fast."
"And it took only ten years for Speaker Parriman to complete the transformation from war hero to Speaker. His approval ratings were astonishing, and the nation celebrated his inauguration with jubilation. The response was more like cheering than support. I witnessed Parriman's inauguration speech ten years ago, and it was a collective frenzy. It was like believers welcoming a god to the throne!"
Benningtick banged the gavel repeatedly: "Defense, please be careful with your words!"
"The defense didn't use any exaggeration or inflammatory language; that was the reality the citizens of the city-state witnessed firsthand!" Rico refused to back down. "This widely accepted 'unnatural victory' was the result of the power behind Parriman. This power triggered numerous 'coincidences' unrelated to Parriman, and each of these coincidences greatly benefited Parriman."
She submitted a file as evidence: "This year's inspiration mushroom incident is a very typical example of 'man-made coincidence.' The incident itself was simple, just a small invention used in the art industry and the controversy it caused. The inventor and those involved have no connection to Speaker Parriman.
"But bizarrely, a few weeks later, during the voting period, a small number of citizens, after mistakenly consuming inspiration mushrooms, cast votes contrary to their original intentions. These citizens were highly respected 'leaders' within the opposition to the bill. Their misguided decision directly led to internal chaos within the opposition and directly contributed to the bill's passage!"
Many prominent citizens outside the venue expressed their approval. Having experienced the chaos of the Thorn Flower Festival, they themselves harbored doubts about the bill's passage. This matter seemed to have nothing to do with Perriman, but the outcome seemed to exploit a loophole in the city-state's laws...
It's like an invention specifically designed to interfere with voting.
"This case alone is worthy of further investigation. And how many such lucky coincidences have there been in Chancellor Parriman's political career?" Li Ke slammed a large stack of documents on the table. "The defense alone can confirm a total of twelve!"
"Eighteen years ago, there were anti-war protests by retired soldiers, which accelerated the process of Speaker Parriman and a large number of independent members joining the House of Commons as 'military representatives'. Fourteen years ago, the scandal of the aging population of the Mansa Star Senate gave Speaker Parriman and many new members the opportunity to enter the Senate. Twelve years ago, the ruling party made a series of stupid moves, and ten years ago, during the election, the former Speaker resigned due to family changes, allowing Parriman to take office early through a special process..."
"Every time Chancellor Parriman reaches a critical juncture, there are always coincidences that provide assistance. One or two instances are just random events, while three or four instances can be considered a stroke of luck. But what we're currently facing is the accumulation of twelve coincidences. This can't be called a coincidence, but rather the meticulous planning of some force."
Rico stepped down from the defense bench and pointed at Pariman. "This man has manipulated other people's minds to accomplish political goals that benefit him. He possesses the ability to manipulate people's minds!"
"Objection."
Parriman brushed her fingertips away casually. In the face of such harsh accusations, he remained as calm as a gentle breeze.
"The ability to manipulate people's hearts and minds is a fundamental quality of a politician. A politician's job is to win over the hearts and minds of the people, rally their will, and realize their aspirations through action."
"The 'evidence' you presented is a series of deliberately unnatural coincidences. However, I must remind the defense attorney that a person's life is a collection of countless coincidences, and no one lives with a certain future."
He stood with his hands behind his back, unhurried. "I can openly admit that I was aware of the consequences of these events in advance and exploited them within legal limits. This is precisely my ability as a politician. It is precisely because of this political acumen that I was able to respond to the feelings of my supporters and become the recognized Speaker of the city-state.
If I am accused of 'demagogy' simply because of my exceptional abilities, wouldn't that be a repeat of the tragedy of the 'heretic hunt' thousands of years ago? Being labeled a demon for my eccentricity, a fallen person for my eloquence, when did our city-state regress to such a barbaric era that citizens can be convicted based on mere lies? If such accusations are even valid, who knows how many citizens will be carried to the gallows!
The difference is obvious.
In a verbal battle, Parriman was undoubtedly the strongest candidate in the courtroom. Perhaps, in all of Jingsha City, there was no one else who could out-verbally defeat him. Li Ke retreated to the defense table in a fit of rage, and the crowd outside cast questioning glances.
At this time, the defendant spoke slowly and calmly.
"So, what if the essence of this 'political ability' is supernatural?"
"If all the coincidences Riko mentioned were deliberately caused by the power behind you, what do you have to say?"
Trek leaned on the dock, staring at the Speaker with cold eyes.
"I know you're going to use the evidence to prevaricate. The evidence is right here in this courtroom, in front of everyone."
"Chairman Parriman. Your very existence is the best evidence!"
(End of this chapter)
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