Because they had arrived early, Melissa and Benson were able to pick a reasonably good spot, where they could see directly that a strange object had been placed atop the gray-white stone pillar in the center of the square—one end larger than the other, painted in deep blue, and connected to some kind of cable.
Below the object, a squad of soldiers in red jackets and white trousers stood guard. They carried gray-white metal packs on their backs, held complex, large-caliber rifles, and watched the surroundings with sharp vigilance.
As citizen after citizen poured in, the square grew increasingly packed, the buzz of the crowd swelling.
When nine o'clock struck, the strange object on the pillar suddenly emitted a crackling, hissing sound, which ultimately resolved into a deep, resonant voice: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am your Emperor, ruler of Loen, East Balam, and the Rostese Islands, George Augustus the Third."
…That thing could talk? Was it based on the principle of the telegraph? Melissa's eyes widened abruptly as her attention shifted from the content of the speech to the strange object itself.
…………
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am your Emperor, ruler of Loen, East Balam, and the Rostese Islands, George Augustus the Third."
In the Memorial Square of the West District, Audrey stood on the elevated platform area with her father, mother, and brother, gazing at the King in his ceremonial attire and listening to his address.
Having learned in advance what direction George III's focus would take today and what kind of atmosphere he intended to cultivate, Audrey had not worn her usual clothing—whether in color or style, typically girlish. Instead, like Countess Caitlin, she wore a simple, conservative dress in solid black, without a single piece of jewelry.
"…It is with both heaviness and pride that I tell you we have finally repulsed the first phase of the Fosacan offensive, thwarting their plan to destroy Loen within three months…
"…Yet so many outstanding young men have already perished at the front, died in this war. They should have had better futures. They should have grown old alongside their parents, matured beside their spouses, and watched their children grow up little by little in a loving environment, enjoying a beautiful childhood…
"…The Fosacans destroyed all of this…"
Audrey, who knew exactly why this war had been launched, was not stirred by the King's speech. She merely felt he must have some talent for the dramatic arts.
She heard faint sobs rippling through the surrounding crowd, felt sorrowful emotions surfacing drop by drop, converging, brewing.
This made her own eyes redden involuntarily.
The King's speech was deeply hollow, but the people's grief was entirely genuine. Audrey had, moreover, met many relatives of the fallen—had helped those poor souls who had lost a child, a husband, or a father in a single night.
This was the tremendous resonance of emotion. This was the ideal occasion for consuming the "Auditor" potion… Audrey suddenly realized, yet could not seize the opportunity, for she had not yet finished digesting the "Dreamwalker" potion, nor had she accumulated sufficient contribution with "Mr. World."
She took a slow breath, steadying the turbulence of her emotions, and shifted her gaze away from King George III, letting her thoughts roam freely: "Mr. World is very focused on today's speech—I wonder how he plans to use this…
"I hope nothing too unexpected comes of it…
"That thing called 'broadcasting'—is it based on the principles of radio waves? Mr. World mentioned that forces on the open sea are already applying this technology… Compared to the storm-plagued ocean, land is obviously more suited to similar products…"
Even as Audrey's thoughts raced in every direction, the mustachioed, stern and rigid George III had already finished the first section of his address and proclaimed with solemnity: "Let us observe a moment of silence for our heroes here. Ladies and gentlemen, recite these words silently after me: "In the name of Emperor George III, may the departed spirits find peace, and may they become eternal in the kingdom of their patron deity."
These words carried an ineffable majesty, compelling all who heard them — including Audrey — to involuntarily bow their heads and clasp their hands in silent prayer: "In the name of Emperor George III……"
…………
"In the name of George III……" On the opposite side of Memorial Square, Klein — clad in a black wool coat and wearing an unremarkable face — performed the prayer along with everyone around him, showing nothing out of the ordinary.
During the full three minutes of silence, he used a bird marionette perched on the roof of a nearby building to carefully observe every move George III made, searching for any sign that the king was about to quietly slip away, enter the mausoleum, and consume his potion.
In Klein's understanding, the "In the name of Emperor George III" portion was the core of the entire Black Emperor ritual. If the king were going to take the potion, it would inevitably happen at this moment, or within two to three minutes after the silence ended. Any further delay, and the effect would likely be far less potent.
"Hm? George III is also observing the silence — not a single unnecessary movement…" Klein suppressed his impatience and confusion, waiting patiently.
The moment of silence, which had brought tears to many eyes, gradually drew to a close. One by one, people opened their eyes, and at this point, George III still had not done anything unusual. He opened his mouth once more and resumed his speech: