Chapter Ten: The Storm in the Grand Hall (Part One)

After listening to Wei Wuji's account, Amango trembled like a dry leaf caught in an autumn breeze, gripping his plush bear tightly, his face buried deep in his palms.

Wei Wuji gently patted the young man's shoulder, unsure how to offer comfort regarding the situation. "At that time, I didn't know whether to stop her, so I held back. Now, if you need to stop her, I can help, but you need to decide quickly. The Republic's secret agent is dead, and this matter will not settle easily. Moreover, that Mr. Hegel seems to be very important."

Upon hearing this, Amango snapped back to reality and jumped up. "Oh, right! What am I doing? A little setback has defeated me? I must find out the truth, whether she has fallen for someone else or if her parents dislike me and hope she marries another. If it's the former, I have nothing to say; I will wish her well. If it's the latter, I will persuade Mr. Hegel. My friend, you promised to help me, right?"

Wei Wuji nodded. "Of course. I'm free at the moment, and you represent a chance encounter for me. Once this is resolved, I can explore this continent."

"Thank you," Amango said sincerely, then voiced his request. "I want to know why Cicely rejected me. If it's because of Mr. Hegel, please help me uncover the real reason. I should go in person, but as you said, Cicely's family is in danger now, and the Inspection Bureau won't let them off easily. So only you can help me. Please protect Cicely's family so they can safely reach their destination."

Wei Wuji looked at the young man, seeing the determination in his expression. He sighed, "I didn't expect you to be such a romantic. Alright, but I need to do something before I set off."

"What is it?" Amango asked.

Wei Wuji replied, "We need to apply some pressure on the Inspection Bureau. This might help your beloved. So, is there anything significant happening tomorrow?"

Amango thought for a moment. "I heard from my uncle that tomorrow, Prime Minister Warren Heights will meet with several groups and the public in the grand auditorium for an impromptu speech. He is a renowned politician, very beloved by the people."

The Grand Auditorium in Valencia was formerly the Royal Theater of the Tienlun Dynasty, remodeled after the success of the Great Revolution. The walls of the Royal Theater were torn down, and a square with fountains was built in front. The original main structure became the current Grand Auditorium. The square and auditorium were typically open to the public, and at some point, politicians began to prefer speaking here, starting with some independent members of parliament who could not afford the high rental fees of the official parliamentary halls. Speaking here made them feel more relatable. Gradually, it became a favored venue for opposition speeches, a way to challenge the parliamentary hall. Notable figures like Congressman Achilles and Congressman Aubrey had spoken here, even the opposition leader Congressman Kid had chosen this place to connect with the common people.

However, today was evidently different. The usually open square was cleared, with agents from the Department of Public Safety establishing no-go zones leading directly to the Grand Auditorium's entrance. A regiment of soldiers from the First Army, stationed near Valencia and fully under the command of the Special Forces, was deployed. Among them, the battalion responsible for protecting the Grand Auditorium was said to be the elite of the elite. Among the crowd were some plainclothes agents, their sharp gazes hinting at their true roles as secret agents of the Inspection Bureau, blending in with the ordinary citizens.

Citizens of Randia gathered outside the restricted area, speculating about which important figure would be arriving at the auditorium. Many had guessed it was likely a government official, possibly even a cabinet member.

"These parasites wasting taxpayers' money!" a man wearing a green armband exclaimed, prompting at least a hundred others to raise their arms and cheer in agreement. The neutral citizens pointed and whispered about them. Those wearing green armbands were members of the largest opposition Democratic Party, led by Congressman Kid. Their actions drew the ire of another group, identifiable by their yellow shoulder epaulettes and armbands, the ruling Liberal Party, whose leader was the currently popular Prime Minister Warren Heights.

Public Safety agents quickly intervened to separate the two groups, preventing a potential conflict. Along one side of the square, several black carriages arrived, stopping on the cleared path. From the carriages emerged a dozen individuals, most of whom were clearly well-trained bodyguards, though three stood out in their unusual attire—one dressed as a mage and two as warriors.

Finally, the middle carriage opened, and a tall, thin man emerged. He had a broad forehead, a straight nose, and piercing eyes that exuded authority without being overly intimidating.

"The Prime Minister has arrived," voices of excitement rippled through the crowd.

Warren Heights's reputation in Randia was unparalleled. He hailed from a wealthy family and was expected to become a businessman or a mage, yet he chose to participate in the revolution, leading the people to overthrow the Tienlun Dynasty and becoming Randia's first Minister of Defense and a core member of the Revolutionary Committee. Five years later, upon the old Prime Minister's death, he naturally ascended to the position of the second Prime Minister. Over the years, he had dedicated himself to governing Randia, developing maritime trade routes and establishing a modern army. Even the members of the Democratic Party with green armbands dared not openly criticize him, except for Congressman Kid, the rising political star known for his boldness. However, people believed there was no personal animosity between the new and old political figures; they simply had differing views on how to govern Randia.

Warren Heights waved to the surrounding crowd. "Hello, everyone! I am Warren Heights, your servant, here to serve you. Today, I intend to engage with you in the auditorium. However, the auditorium cannot accommodate everyone, so only those invited—about five hundred—may enter. But that’s alright, as they will surely convey what I wish to say to every citizen upon exiting."

Thunderous applause erupted in the square as Warren Heights straightened his tall frame and moved gracefully toward the auditorium's hall.

Wei Wuji did not have an invitation, but that was no obstacle for him. He knocked out a gentleman with an invitation, took what he needed, and easily blended in.

By the time he found a seat, the circular hall was already packed, with Warren Heights seated upright on the podium, beginning his speech. His deep and clear voice was amplified by the magical crystal stones in front of him, resonating throughout the hall.

"Our ancestors, Prime Minister Belzoni, Speaker Bajir, and I, the youngest member of the five-person group back then, fought with blood and life to overthrow the Tienlun Dynasty, paving the way for freedom and democracy. Over the years, we have followed this path, continuing to spread friendship and democracy. Some may ask me, what is democracy and freedom? I tell you, it is like what you are doing now, sitting in a place where only the rulers of the Tienlun Dynasty used to sit, listening to me speak. If anyone thinks I am wrong, they can point it out after I finish."

Applause erupted again, with a young person standing up and calling out Warren Heights's name. He smiled and gestured for the enthusiastic youth to sit down and continued his speech.

"Democracy and freedom guide us. To the east, we have opened the Far East trade route, engaging in fair trade with the greatest nation across the sea; to the west, we are developing wilderness areas, establishing increasing numbers of magical academies, using the power of magic to increase our food and goat supply, and not to mention alchemy and machinery. Anything that can bring wealth to the people will not be overlooked. We will become wealthier, and our nation will grow stronger. At that time, neighboring countries will look to us for guidance, and every Randian walking on this land will take pride in it."

Wei Wuji could not deny that Warren Heights's speech was powerful, tapping into what the people most desired, painting a dream of wealth and honor. This stood in stark contrast to the rigid social structure of the Far Eastern Huaguo, but it suited Wei Wuji's taste.

"Democracy? Freedom? Am I not more formidable?" Wei Wuji chuckled, deciding to listen a little longer before making his move.

"Today, before I entered the auditorium, I seemingly heard someone accusing me, calling me a parasite, claiming that previous speakers did not have such a grand occasion and that I was wasting taxpayers' money." Warren Heights surveyed the audience, where some green-armbanded Democratic Party members met his gaze fearlessly. While they dared not speak openly in front of him, they had no intention of retracting their words.

Warren Heights suddenly stood up. "But do you know why? Do you know that just last night, elements of the Communist faction infiltrated Valencia, killing two secret agents from the Inspection Bureau and kidnapping our chief designer of new weaponry, Mr. Hegel, and his family?"