The Plant Empire, Jerusalem, its capital.
The Parliament Building housed a grand hall that stretched wide and far behind doors several meters high.
The parliamentarians whispered among themselves in their seats, complex expressions of tension, doubt, and curiosity painted across their faces.
Under the dim lights, the air seemed frozen. Only the gray dust danced amid the interweaving light and shadow.
When the prime minister entered the hall, the atmosphere in the chamber abruptly reached a tense climax.
Close behind the prime minister came his political allies and several trusted aides. Their expressions were equally solemn, but deep in their eyes was boundless trust and support for the prime minister.
The prime minister looked firm and decisive. He wore a formal black suit. Unlike usual, a golden Cross Holy Radiance—or perhaps a sacred mark of the Church—adorned his collar.
He passed through the crowd and walked toward the podium.
When he stood at the podium, the low murmur throughout the hall still had not faded.
After waiting for a long while,
"Although we suffered defeat in this battle, we will never surrender, never submit. We will fight to the very end."
Prime Minister Wilford looked around, drew a deep breath, and began his opening remarks.
"In this battle, our army suffered thirty thousand casualties. We lost nearly a thousand Magic Cannons, and the ports on both sides of the strait have also fallen into the hands of the Honing Empire. It has become an established fact that the Honing Empire will launch a new offensive against our country or our neighbors. The fall of our neighboring Bliss Kingdom has become an eternal regret. The Fuklo Kingdom's power has been weakened, and the Bliss Kingdom's army has been annihilated. Compared to them, our army is relatively strong."
"Now is the time