"Listen carefully, everyone."
The principal stood in the middle of the dim basement, looking around at the crowded refugees in the dim light of a few candles.
This place was originally used to store agricultural products, but now it has become their only hiding place outside the city.
"This young man will be the future ruler of the New Hebrew Empire."
The principal pointed to Elisha who was standing beside him.
Elisha lowered his head, clenched his hands, and tried hard to control his emotions.
He had been in a state of semi-numbness since he saw David's head hanging on the city gate.
Everyone was stunned at first, and then a low uproar broke out.
"Are you kidding me?"
A man hiding in the corner couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Could it be that he is the descendant of the Supreme Ruler King?"
Another woman holding a child took over the conversation, "Yes! We have never heard of the Supreme Ruler giving birth to any children!"
"You are making this up without any basis."
An elder shook his head, his face full of disbelief: "Besides, he is just a child."
"What can he do?"
The argument in the basement grew louder, and only a few people who knew the truth, those who had the privilege of witnessing David's intimate conversation with the principal, remained silent.
They looked at the principal in shock, their mouths open but unable to speak.
In their hearts, the principal has always been a respected sage who would not spread rumors easily.
But obviously, the vast majority of refugees do not understand the relationship between the principal and the city lord.
So, in their ears, what the principal had just said was simply absurd.
A young man whom I have never met before is actually the future emperor?
Isn't this just like a fairy tale?
"Not many people know about this. It's top secret."
"If this situation hadn't happened now, I would never have told you."
The principal raised his voice, trying to drown out the noisy chatter.
The room became a little quieter, but suspicious eyes were still everywhere.
"And the city of Hebron will soon become the capital of the New Hebrew Empire."
The principal continued, his face serious, and he didn't look like he was joking.
These remarks were like a bomb, detonating the emotions in the room again.
People started talking again, with different expressions.
"These are all told to me by City Lord David himself."
"And my duty is to cultivate talents who will be the pillars of the future empire."
He looked at Elisha and continued, "To cultivate talents for our future emperor."
“I never thought that something like this would happen in Hebron!”
"These brutal people have no idea what heaven and earth are. How dare they come to Hebron and slaughter people wantonly!"
The room fell into a brief silence, and grief appeared on people's faces again.
"Even... David..."
The principal's voice choked, and he stole a glance at Elisha.
In the dim candlelight, you can see Elisha pursing his lips tightly, his eyes wet but he stubbornly refused to let the tears flow out.
His thin shoulders looked particularly lonely and strong in the darkness.
The principal's words were like a fuse, igniting the suppressed emotions in the room.
Some people began to sob, some cursed the thugs in low voices, and some angrily questioned the principal.
"What? Hebron is the capital of the New Hebrew Empire? How is that possible?"
"If this was to become the capital, how could the military be so insufficient that those guys could break through the gate and enter the city to slaughter people?"
A bearded man slammed the table and stood up: "You must be talking nonsense! I don't believe this!"
"If this is the future capital, how could its defenses be so poor?"
Once the seeds of doubt are sown, they spread like weeds.
More and more people are beginning to raise questions.
"I think you are in cahoots with this young man, right?"
"Could it be that you also want us to ask for help from the Holy Egyptian Alliance?"
A burly farmer clenched his fists and took a threatening step forward.
The principal didn't flinch. He took a deep breath, and his voice became calmer: "I understand your emotions, but please hear me out."
He looked around, making sure everyone in every corner could hear what he said.
"The Hebrew Empire was in a period of transition, and the decentralization of power was an inevitable transitional phase."
"The reason why City Lord David only brought a small number of troops is because the new empire has not yet been officially unified."
“We chose Hebron because it is relatively safe both geographically and politically.”
At this point, a deep sadness crossed the principal's face: "No one expected such a tragedy to happen in Hebron."
"Now, we have no choice but to seek external assistance."
The room fell into chaos again.
Some advocated leaving this dangerous place immediately and returning home, while others insisted on staying, organizing a self-defense force, and waiting for reinforcements.
"We should take advantage of the night and sneak back to our village!"
An old lady suggested.
"no!"
A strong young man retorted, “If we leave, what will happen to Hebron?”
"What about the people alive in the city?"
"They might be in the city, so we need reinforcements!"
Both sides held their own views and the debate became increasingly heated.
"Quiet!"
The principal slammed the wooden box in front of him.
"The most important thing right now is to keep everyone safe."
The arguing died down a bit, but there were still quiet arguments going on in the corners.
The air in the room became increasingly turbid, mixed with the smell of sweat, dirt, and a hint of blood. After all, some people came with minor injuries on their bodies.
The principal continued, "I suggest we split up."
"Older people and adults with limited mobility were evacuated first and took shelter in their relatives' homes in the countryside."
"There's not enough food here. Some people have to leave first."
A middle-aged man asked.
"But why should we trust you?"
The previous skeptic said, "You said this child is the future emperor, but who knows if that's just fabricated?"
The principal did not answer directly, but turned to Elisha: "Elisha, do you have anything you want to say?"
All eyes were immediately focused on Elisha.
The boy raised his head, and the candlelight illuminated the undried tear marks on his face.
He looked around at the unfamiliar faces. Some of them he had seen when he first arrived in Hebron, but many more were ordinary people he had never met before.
"I......"
Elisha cleared his throat. “I don’t know if I deserve that title, but I guess it’s not important right now.”
"Now, the most important thing is to survive and help more people survive."
"With our current strength, we are simply unable to compete with the enemy."
"We need outside help."
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