"Who amongst you, gathered here today, is free?"
Silence. Then, some mutterings came out and about, some grumblings, some people arguing that they were not slaves.
"If you believe, that you are free, that you are not bound or enslaved to anyone, that you have no masters and no lords, and that all the choices you make are solely yours and yours alone, then, raise your hands."
To no one's surprise at all, a large number of hands went up.
Then, slowly, I nodded, before clapping my hands.
The rest of my father's thugs and hired muscle that had been building the podium all gathered round, completely encircling the crowd, amidst gazes of confusion and uncertainty.
"Kill everyone whose hands went up."
Utter. Silence.
Then, the sounds of several blades unsheathing echoed into the air like the cries of the Shinigami himself. Several men and women several men and women were immediately seized and shocked, frightened yells rang out, before –
"Stop."
All movement stopped.
"Sheathe your weapons, and move three feet backwards."
The instructions were followed, to the letter.
"I ask again," my voice coming out crisply "Who amongst you, gathered here today, is free?"
To no one's surprise, absolutely no hands went up.
"Now, I ask, who amongst you, wants to be free?" I walked forward, to the very edge of the podium, ignoring Kitami's wary looks.
"Who amongst you here, wants to experience wealth? Who amongst you, wants to stop sleeping in the ditches? Who amongst you, wants to stop whoring out your bodies for a paltry sum?"
Murmurs. Whispers. And so, I increased my voice.
"Who amongst you, wants to wear fancy garments? Who amongst you, wants to eat the best food the world has to offer? Who amongst you, wants to experience wealth and riches that would make the Daimyo himself look like a schoolboy with pocket change?"
The murmurs grew louder, the whispers did as well, gathering, coalescing, even as I could feel my voice getting slightly hoarse.
"My father might be a tyrant, but I am not my father. No, I am not here to rule over you, nor am I here to gloat or lie. I am here, because I am angry."
I turned my glare to the crowd.
"I am angry at all of you. I am angry at your wasted potential. I am angry, angry at the pitiful excuse you call living. I am angry, at seeing how so many people who could become much more, are here, suffering, dying and wasting away. I AM ANGRY!"
I panted.
"And you should be too."
Complete. Silence.
I shook my head. "For those of you here, who wish to become something more, who are angry with how your lives have been so far, with your poverty, with your struggles, with scraping day after day to get a meal – then, tomorrow morning, be here, ready, strong, and determined to make a difference. To change your lives."
I turned around.
"And to those who are not ready. Who are happy with their chains of oppression and desperately lick the heels of their oppressors – then you may continue as you always have, and perhaps the Shinigami may find such an empty soul unworthy of ever reaping."
And like that, I walked off the podium, even as Kitami trailed behind me silently, and the thugs lined up and marched in front of us.
I didn't bother looking back, because merely the sound of the uproar alone, was immensely satisfying.
Special Event Completed!
Freedom and Anger
Reputation with Kitami Hiro Greatly Increased!
Reputation with the Fourteen Gates Greatly Increased!
Reputation with the people of Waterlily Port Town Increased!
Fame Increased!
Infamy Increased!
For successfully delivering a speech, your Charisma has gone up by ten!
You have gained 400EXP!
"I don't ever say this often but… I'll say it. Kid, I'm impressed."
I ignored the urge to grin, especially considering the fact that doing so in front of the thousands or so people who had showed up would look very, very, wrong. Waterlily Town Port had a total population count of just a little under 2500 people, and though only about 100 people had been around for my speech yesterday, according to my Economic Observation, there were now one thousand seven hundred people present here, ready and eager to listen to what more I had to say.
"Thank you Kitami-san. To be honest, I'm a little impressed with myself as well."
Who knew that imitating and twisting Cersei Lannister's words and actions would work so well?
New Territory Attained!
Waterlily Port Town
The town connected to a major port that has been under Gato's control for over six years, and as such, has greatly suffered due to the incredibly high taxation rates, and the sheer malevolence of Gato's apathy.
Statistical Information:
Taxation Rate: Ludicrously High
Illiteracy Rate: 91.9%
Poverty Rate: 93.7%
Unemployment Rate: 82.5%
Birth Rate: 42.4%
Death Rate: 71.5%
Environmental Cleanliness: 11%
Populace Satisfaction: 4%
[Note: Low ratings of Environment Cleanliness equal higher frequency of diseases and illnesses, and potential spreads of viruses/epidemics.]
Infrastructural Information:
No. of Hospitals: 0
No. of Schools: 0
No. of Industries: 0
No. of Casinos: 0
No. of Geisha Houses: 0
No. of Brothels: 1
No. of Hotels: 0
No. of Hot Springs: 0
No. of Tourist Attractions: 0
Well, I definitely had my work cut out for me. I cursed Gato under my breath, at the realization of just how much damage this man could do to a place without even trying. Who knows just how much worse it would have been if he was actively trying to run this place to the ground?
Craning my neck and my knuckles, I turned my gaze back to the gathered masses, where my Job Dissemination skill immediately supplied me with the appropriate knowledge of just what exactly needed to be done.
First, these people were still poor and uneducated, which meant that as they were, they were still malleable. They were like clay, easy to be molded into the shape I wanted, so that once I did eventually give them the enlightenment they so desperately needed, what they knew and believed would be so indoctrinated in them, that they would never once consider how it could be wrong.
To that end, I needed to make a cult.
"This meeting shall now commence. Henceforth, when we gather, we shall remember the saying: All men are born equal –"
"All men are born equal –"
I smiled.
"But some men, are more equal than others."
_____________________________________
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