The Valentan Speech

Why should the glory of victory and the hopes for the future be placed on an outsider?

Such inquiries were clearly heard by everyone.

A slight commotion arose in the dense crowd, but when it gathered, it was like a low-key storm, blowing in all directions.

The nobles, representatives, and veterans sitting near Kang De looked at each other blankly.

No one expected that after achieving a miraculous victory, Kang De would utter such words as his first speech to the public, and even to the world.

There were no inspiring shouts, no emotionally moving greetings, and he even emphasized that he was a foreigner, and posed this question to all Goth People.

It was terrible, in every sense of the word— Leona buried her face in her hands, wishing she could cover her ears and run away in a panic. The flowery speech she had painstakingly written had been casually tossed aside by Kang De. What had gotten into this bastard? Why did he have to give an impromptu speech?!

The crowd buzzed.

But the disturbance was minor, and the nobles remained silent; none of them stepped forward to protest.

After all, reverence remained. The terrifying mark, like a meteor shower striking the earth, stretched across the vast land. The flesh and blood of the elves were still fresh. No one wanted to go against Kang De at such a time—of course, it was also possible that Kang De's sweeping generalizations were not swift enough.

The audience's emotions have temporarily stabilized.

Although the incident was sudden, Hong San was not surprised. He had already selected several reliable people and called on Kan Fantian, each with Earth's recording equipment, to aim at Kang De on the stage from various angles. Now that Master Kang had just opened his mouth and uttered such profound words, he simply gestured for the cameramen to keep up.

These alien natives had only recently come into contact with technological artifacts, but that was merely a difference in Civilization and technology, unrelated to intelligence or learning ability. They quickly mastered how to use them—but just as there is a huge professional gap between ordinary people and professional photographers, these aliens only knew how to use them. More advanced skills could not be grasped or understood in just a day or two of learning.

But there are still exceptions.

This guy, Kan Fantian, actually figured things out quite well, relying on his reliable intuition. Compared to the other humans who were stiffly filming with their cameras as if facing a great enemy, he steadily held the equipment in his hands, stared intently at the screen, moved his feet little by little, observed the direction of the sunlight, finally determined the best angle, and then knelt down to record in that posture.

His actions drew many glances, some surprised, some puzzled, some mocking, and some disdainful, but Kan Fantian ignored them all, Green Skin staring intently at the screen.

In the on-screen feedback, Kang De's expression was confident and resolute. Sunlight gently brushed across his face from this angle, casting a radiant glow like a cloak over his clothes. The soft light softened his arrogance and sharpness, making him appear noble and dignified. The slightly upward angle of the shot made him appear even taller, as if standing atop a mountain, looking down upon a world of suffering with compassion and strength.

Before Kang De stretched a vast, dark mass of people, extending into the distance, appearing both awe-inspiring and sacred, like the coronation of a great king, or the return of a legendary hero.

A slight noise came from not far away. Another green-skinned man holding a digital camera had obviously also captured a great shot. Although he didn't make a sound, he looked like he thought, "I think this photo is really cool."

In this silence, amidst doubt and unease, Kang De uttered his second sentence.

"Goth People, do you know where Calonia is? Have you ever eaten the grains and fruits of the fertile green fields? Do you know what the Tuya robes woven from highland white cotton look like?"

Have you heard Saint Ailang's epic poem? Do you remember the voyages of Francis, the Adventure King? Did you participate in the Sun Festival parade? Do you still remember the fragrance of the sunflowers you held back then?

"Can you name the ancient Goth knights? Do you remember the traditions and virtues your ancestors upheld? Do you believe in the Sula, the Sun God? Do you know the origin of your homeland? Do you know the name of this country?"

The crowd grew increasingly agitated, and confusion spread—these were common sense facts, known even to the most ordinary farmers.

"I am not Goth People; I grew up in another land, another country. I knew nothing about these matters until a Valentan People wrote to me saying that he deeply loved the winds of Calonia and the sunflowers of the Sun Festival, and did not want his descendants to wear the robes of elves and never know the story of Saint Ailang and Francis. This was the only reason he fought, and he was willing to give everything for it."

He kept all his promises.

Gazing at the faces, some near and some far, Kang De calmly said, "This man's name was Nick Valentan. Before him lay the elves' letter of surrender and promises of generous post-war treatment. At that time, no one believed Valentan would hold out. Surrender meant survival, the continuation of his family, and even greater glory and wealth. But he made his choice and rests in peace in the land called Goth."

"Those who are buried here today, and those who will be buried here, have all chosen this path."

People had quieted down, completely quieted down, and were listening.

"This is why we are gathered here today, and why I am speaking to you at this moment."

"I want everyone, this country, and the world to know what happened in this battle, to know that there is a group of people who, knowing that the outcome of the battle was already decided, that fighting and sacrificing themselves could not change the result, still stayed here to defend Valentan, to defend their homeland and yours."

"I want you all to understand that this choice is neither foolish nor meaningless."

"Because we have come here, our remembrance and recitation will imbue this great sacred act and sacrifice with a spirit and meaning that transcends Valentan and rises to the level of the entire Goth."

"We dedicate a portion of Valentan to these souls who died for Valentan, as their final resting place, a place that will be great and sacred from this day forward, and for all time to come."

"It is not our mourning and remembrance that makes this heroes' cemetery sacred, but rather the souls of these departed heroes who fought for this land to their last breath that sanctify it. Perhaps hundreds of years from now, we will have turned to dust, and the world will not remember who came here today, nor what we said, but as long as they see these rows of tombstones, they will know what kind of people sleep on this land. They will hold their breath and bow their heads, they will soften their tone, as long as they remember Goth."

"This is the meaning behind the heroes' fight to the death."

The speech was gradually getting into the swing of things, at least that's what Leona thought. The girl's heart slowly relaxed, and she even looked at Kang De on the stage with a fascination in her eyes.

But then, a thunderclap rang in my ears.

"--You probably don't understand what I'm saying."

--Hold!

Leona was stunned, then felt like she was going crazy, and the other nobles had similar expressions.

"Then I'll put it another way that you can understand."

"I was in this city from the moment the elves began their siege. I witnessed everything that happened, from the initial resistance to the city's collapse, and even the choices made by every single person."

"This city resisted to the very end, countless people died for it, but they still couldn't stop the Dusk Legion's massacre, let alone the five elven warbands that could almost wipe out any resistance. The elves broke their promise, countless people cried out as they fled, died in despair. You must remember that nightmare."

"Some are still fleeing, some are still fighting, and people are dying, but in two ways: those who faced the elves and died bravely, and those who turned their backs on the elves and died weeping."

"Then, Star of the Firmament fell from the sky, and a torrential rain of Flame swept across the land. The five elven warbands were annihilated, and you were finally saved, cheering and shouting."

"You bestow all the honor, gratitude, and credit upon me."

"Yet few remember the sacrifices of these heroes, as if what they did was meaningless."

"You're just cheering and jumping for joy, feeling a huge weight lifted off your shoulders."

"Because you believe that my power is enough to rewrite the course of the war, even to determine its end and the arrival of peace, and that I am on your side, so you can rest easy, because I can eliminate all enemies for you, and I am more than happy to do so."

What are you thinking about?

What sweet dreams are you having?

What are you doing?

"Will you grovel before me? Will you fawn over me? Will you flatter me? Will this please me? Will this make me fight for Goth, so that you can stay away from war forever?"

"Is this the peace you desire? Peace bought with flattery and appeasement?"

Why do you think I would help Goth?

"Is it because of your weak pleas and fawning? Is it because of your pitiful state when you faced the elven blades during the massacre, unable to resist? Who do you think I am? Am I an emissary sent by the gods to help you because your prayers moved them? You are so wrong! So wrong!"

The crowd began to stir again, this time on a larger scale than before. However, due to fear of Kang De's danger, no one dared to cause trouble. After all, everyone had seen the ruins of that battlefield. At this moment, just like before, Kang De only needed to repeat his old tricks, and none of the people present would be able to leave.

But a disturbance is still a disturbance.

However, Kang De remained unfazed, his expression becoming even colder and more sarcastic.

"I can tell you clearly that what made me fight for Valentan, what made me determined to annihilate the Five Legions, was Nick Valentan's last will and testament, the warriors who fought to the last moment in the city, the people who sleep here, and those noble and fearless Goth People!"

"It was their sacrifice and fearlessness that moved me and filled me with admiration. Therefore, I joined them and helped them, so that their intense spirit and will would not fade away. This is the significance of what they did!"

"Goth People! Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Why do you take it for granted that you can rely on me to solve all your problems?

Is this my country?

"Does this land belong to my rule?"

"Were the knightly order that arrived on this land and established this country hundreds of years ago Cathayan?"

"Were your ancestors who expanded your territory and built cities all foreigners?"

"Did you really win all fifteen major wars since the Jianguo with the help of outsiders?"

"Were none of the 157 paladins commemorated on Knight Day and Sun Festival Goth People?"

"Am I the one who pioneered the Grand Line and brought prosperity and strength to Goth?"

The voices of denial grew louder and louder, as nobles and soldiers rose one by one. From small denials, they coalesced into a mighty river, growing ever louder and louder.

Kang De slammed his fist on the table, uttering the loudest provocation.

"--The Goth People of this land, your brothers, your fathers, your descendants, were you all propagated by foreigners?!"

"No!"

All the roars transformed into a thunderous roar, a powerful and surging tide.

Kang De's roar overwhelmed all other roars, echoing in the sky.

"What countries did the people who died for this city come from?"

Goth!

Where do Nick's cherished holidays, traditions, clothes, and heroes come from?

Goth!

"Who is fighting the elves!"

Goth!

What have all the sacrifices and struggles so far been protecting?

Goth!

At this moment, everyone who was seated stood up, even the wounded soldiers were helped to their feet. Everyone was roaring, and the boundaries between nobles, soldiers and commoners gradually blurred, because the reason why human civilization is Civilization is because of great empathy. At this moment, nothing else mattered.

Only the name Goth shines.

Facing the roaring waves all around, Kang De roared, "Then Goth People! I ask you one more time, are you going to place the glory of victory and the hopes for the future on a stranger?!"

This time there was no commotion or hesitation, only a unified roar.

"No!"

"Then fight! Fight like them!"

Kang De brandished his fist and shouted, "Only fearless warriors can inspire awe in the enemy! Only they can earn the respect of outsiders! Help and assistance come from respect, not pity. The help you have received was not obtained through begging, but through battle! That is why I stand shoulder to shoulder with you!"

"Fight the elves! Defend your homeland! Like all brave warriors! Fight them in the verdant fields, fight them in the bustling cities, fight them in the wastelands, deserts, jungles, and seas! Until the elves painfully admit that this war is meaningless, until the whole world hears your roar! Until the world recognizes your courage and will!"

The crowd was in an uproar! A frenzied emotion was spreading. Humans, being herd creatures, and even people from other countries like the Empire, stood up involuntarily, their blood boiling with a desire to roar—some were oblivious, some sat down awkwardly, but the Goth People had gone mad.

They chanted fervently, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"Yes! Fight!"

Kang De shouted sternly, "Because this is your country! Your land! Stop begging, gentlemen, have mercy on us, fight for us, help us—never say such things again!"

"Stop begging for mercy, don't kill us! We'd rather wear your clothes, forget our homes and homeland, just please don't kill us—and never say such things again!"

"Outsiders will only admire your courage and will, and will not heed your pleas and cowardice!"

"The elves will not keep their promises; they will only fear your retaliation and courage!"

"So stand up! Everyone must fight! You might say, sir, I'm just a weak peasant, I don't know how to use weapons, I'm of no use in the war—that's alright!"

"It's not just direct combat that constitutes a brave battle. Farmers should work hard to cultivate the land and support the soldiers on the front lines; women should weave diligently so that the soldiers don't suffer from the cold. This is everyone's war. Doing your job well is also fighting! It's also participating in this war!"

"Goth People!"

"I will help you, that is my promise, but I don't need your flattery or fawning. I need you to show me the courage and will of the Goth People! I need you to work! To labor! To fight! In the fields! In the factories! On the battlefield!"

"I promise you, we will surely win! This war will be recorded in history, remembered by our children and grandchildren. Perhaps twenty years from now, by the warm fire, when your young grandchildren ask about this war, you can proudly say that you participated, instead of kneeling and begging before the genie's blade—then they will still remember the name Goth!"

"This is the meaning of our sacrifices and dedication, and it is also the reason for your fight!"

"Now, I'll ask you one last question!"

"Are you willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with me?!"

The jubilant crowd wept, roared, and cheered, their will and strength burning brightly.

Perhaps after today, the fervor of this moment will gradually fade, but it is still a seed.

It will definitely sprout.

Kang De faced the wind, listened, and felt.

Nick, you once said you wanted to amplify the roars of the victims.

You said you wanted more Goth People to hear their stories, to remind the nation of the winds of Calonia and the sunflowers of the Sun Festival, and to roar like the victims.

Now, you heard that, right?

Perhaps long, long from now, today's war will become legend and history, but the departed will still remain on this land. In the still of the night, the empty streets and the desolate city walls will be filled with the returning lords. You fought here, and you have never left.

So don't worry.

As long as people like you exist in this country, the elves will never conquer it.

I know what you need, so I come to sow, I come to give, and you water it with your blood.

Kang De smiled as he watched the scene unfold before him.

Nobles, soldiers, and even commoners surrounded him, all looking at him with fervor and respect, wanting to shake his hand and speak to him. At this moment, people's respect no longer stemmed from his terrifying power.

Today, five days after the end of the Battle of Valentan, Kang De's speech at the National Cemetery has been transformed into exquisite and powerful words, spreading throughout Goth's war-torn lands along with his legendary legacy.

It even spread throughout the world.

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PS1: Only 5000 words! That's why the update is late! Do you think it's worth it? If it is, then vote for me!