As time passed, the Victory Celebration Ceremony soon officially began. A middle-aged man in magnificent robes, surrounded by several imposing high-ranking officials, stepped onto the central platform. Amid the restrained yet enthusiastic applause in the hall, the robed man smiled and pressed both hands down firmly.
The applause gradually subsided. The robed man smiled and said in a loud, dignified voice, "Welcome, esteemed gentlemen and ladies, and of course, our brave warriors... welcome to this place..."
"To this place, where you must endure the ramblings of an old man..." After a pause, the robed man said self-deprecatingly.
As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of good-natured laughter rose through the hall, accompanied by even more enthusiastic applause.
After a moment, the robed man grew serious and waved to stop the applause. He continued, "Before this, we suffered humiliation... Those brazen madmen disregarded the noble birth of everyone present. Likewise, they disregarded the sacred and inviolable majesty of Imperial Law, as well as the courage and fearlessness of the Empire's countless valiant soldiers..."
The robed man's sharp gaze swept across the silent hall. Then his expression relaxed, and he smiled again. "We thank our brave soldiers. It was they... who utterly destroyed those madmen who dared to offend Imperial Nobles of such exalted status and trample upon sacred law..."
"Likewise, we thank them once more. Braving unimaginable danger and enduring countless hardships, they finally rescued the kidnapped noble family members unharmed and achieved this nearly epic, glorious victory... Let us offer them our grateful applause..." After a pause, the robed man continued. When he finished, he smiled and began clapping first.
The hall once again erupted in applause even more enthusiastic than before. It continued for several minutes before gradually dying down at the robed man's signal.
Once the applause