The crowd was left speechless, stunned by Daniel’s declaration of total war.

    Everyone froze in their seats, exchanging glances with wide eyes that seemed to ask, "What on earth is he talking about?"

    Even the pacifists, usually quick to protest or criticize, were too dumbfounded to respond, their faces reflecting nothing but bewilderment.

    Behind the stage, Hans, the public relations officer, was silently screaming.

    "What on earth are you doing!?"

    This speech, held simultaneously with the issuance of war bonds, was nothing short of a national priority.

    Moreover, it was the first directive from Crown Princess Selvia, the future Emperor, directly handed down to the propaganda department.

    As such, not only the citizens but also politicians in the parliamentary hall and countless nobles had their eyes fixed on this moment.

    It was only natural that Selvia’s first step as a leader would draw such attention.

    "Which means..."

    If Daniel botched this speech under such intense scrutiny, the propaganda department would also bear the brunt of Selvia''s wrath.

    In the worst-case scenario, Hans might even be dismissed from his post. He urgently turned to his subordinate.

    “Hey! Contact the broadcasting director immediately! Stop the radio transmission!”

    “Y-Yes, sir!”

    If Daniel’s speech declaring total war spread across the Empire, there would be no way for the propaganda department to defend itself from the fallout.

    Hans aimed to mitigate the damage by at least halting the radio broadcast.

    As his subordinate frantically contacted the broadcasting director over the telephone, Daniel stood before ten thousand citizens, exuding resolve.

    “I am sure you are wondering why I am declaring total war,” he began, his voice steady. “But in truth, you already know. You know why the Empire must commit to total war!”

    The murmurs in the crowd grew louder.

    Daniel paid no attention.

    After all, he fully intended to sabotage this speech.

    “The Allied Nations are condemning and slandering the Empire day after day, urging the Federation and Republic to join their cause! Everyone here knows that the Federation and Republic have been showing increasingly favorable attitudes toward the Allied Nations!”

    The murmurs began to quiet.@@@@

    There was no disputing the truth in his words.

    “Unfortunately, it is only a matter of time before the Federation and Republic, manipulated by the Allied Nations’ deceitful tongues, turn their backs on the Empire! And when that happens, we must make a choice: negotiation or resistance!”

    Daniel’s eyes blazed with determination, like flames flickering in the night.

    At least, that was how they appeared to the crowd.

    “Pacifists claim that negotiations will save the Empire! They argue that we should take the hand extended by the Allied Nations and achieve everlasting peace! But I must ask you this.”

    He turned his gaze toward the section of seats occupied by the pacifists.

    “Can you guarantee it? Can you blindly trust that joining hands with the Allied Nations will bring peace?”

    The pacifists said nothing.

    No, it would be more accurate to say they could not answer.

    Overwhelmed by Daniel’s commanding presence, they could only sit in stunned silence.

    After observing their silence for a moment, Daniel shifted his gaze forward.

    Now, a strange sense of exhilaration began to ripple through the faces of the crowd.

    Daniel took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the ten thousand citizens who now looked at him with fervent eyes.

    After letting the moment hang, Daniel spoke again.

    “Finally, under the protection of His Majesty the Emperor, I speak as a representative of the nation and its people.”

    Daniel’s deep voice reverberated through the massive speakers, causing the crowd’s cheers to die down as everyone leaned in to listen.

    “I, Daniel Steiner... No!”

    Lifting his head, Daniel locked eyes with the countless cameras flashing before him and bellowed:

    “We desire total war!”

    The moment his words ended, a torrent of applause and cheers broke out.

    The roar of approval and jubilation mixed into an almost deafening wave, leaving only the pacifists silent in its wake.

    And that silence delighted Daniel.

    Good.

    He knew that pacifists still comprised a majority of the Empire’s populace.

    If they openly resisted his call for total war, it would perfect his plan.

    What are they waiting for? Just throw the tomatoes in your hands.

    As Daniel waited, ready to leave the stage in a storm of ridicule and rotten fruit, he adjusted his tie in anticipation.

    But instead, the pacifists began to rise from their seats one by one.

    Thinking his moment had come, Daniel braced himself to be pelted with tomatoes.

    Then, to his utter disbelief, they began clapping.

    ...What?

    Before he could process the sight, the entire audience, including the pacifists, rose to their feet in unison.

    In a sudden wave, the crowd burst into applause and cheers that shook the amphitheater.

    — "We desire total war!"

    — "A necessary war over submissive negotiations!"

    — "For His Majesty the Emperor! For the great Empire!"

    The unified voices grew so loud that Daniel’s ears rang from the sheer force of their cries.

    As Daniel stood frozen, sweat trickling down his back, he watched as the pacifists discarded their signs, one by one.

    They, too, stood and joined the others, raising their voices in defiant shouts.

    — "And lastly, for our hero, Daniel Steiner!"

    The chant from the pacifists spread like wildfire, echoing through the entire crowd.

    — "Daniel Steiner! Daniel Steiner! Daniel Steiner!"

    Daniel’s hand trembled as he looked out at the sea of people chanting his name.

    In the deafening roar of their cheers, Daniel swallowed dryly, fully realizing what had just transpired.

    I’m ruined...

    The situation had spiraled so far out of control that there was no turning back.