"Candidate number ten, compatibility with the role of leader—89%. Jammes Lyzgak.''
Jammes, just a few groups to my right, visibly stiffened as his name was called. Despite his poorly concealed nervousness, he bolted toward the stage. Yet, even from where I stood, I could sense the controlled, deliberate nature of his steps.
'So all those theater classes were for this moment, huh?' I chuckled inwardly, joining the crowd as they clapped while he took his place at the far right of the stage.
Once the clapping subsided, God called out the next name.
"Candidate number nine, compatibility with the role of leader—91%. Lisa Aberman."
As expected from the third-year student representative.
Unlike Jammes, who had been visibly shaken and unprepared, Lisa exuded natural confidence. She smiled widely, her steps graceful and arrogant as she ascended the stage. With her head held high, she stopped next to Jammes, blowing kisses toward her friend group.
The crowd applauded again, albeit briefly, before the process continued.
"Candidate number eight, compatibility with the role of leader—92%. Dorian Dye."
"Candidate number seven, compatibility with the role of leader—94%. Roxy Jane."
"Candidate number six, compatibility with the role of leader—94%. Maxime Judge."
I didn't know much about the three of them, and to be fair, their entrance wasn't anything special. The only one I had any real knowledge of was Maxime—and his story sent a flicker of anger through me.
A long time ago, a close acquaintance had told me that Maxime spent a year in prison as a juvenile offender. Apparently, he had nearly beaten three bullies to death after they sent his little brother to the hospital. He had only been thirteen at the time.
Justice truly fucking sucks. Those bastards should have been the ones to rot in prison.
Pushing aside my frustration and anger, I considered keeping Maxime in mind as a potential ally once this whole leader election was over.
On stage, Maxime took his place exactly one meter to Roxy's right. Without hesitation, he slipped off his long coat and draped it over her, covering most of her body. His gaze then swept across the crowd, sharp and unyielding, as if daring anyone to show her even the slightest disrespect.
It was only then that I noticed how revealing Roxy's attire was, despite her shy looks. Plenty of men had been sneaking glances, taking advantage of the stage's position to ogle her—but Maxime wasn't having any of it.
A real gentleman.
Roxy trembled slightly at his protective gesture, her cheeks flaring pink as she lowered her head.
Before I could analyze them any further, God's voice rang out again.
"Candidate number five, compatibility with the role of leader—95%. Kal Blasor."
My thoughts screeched to a halt.
Kal?
Did God make a mistake?
As murmurs spread through the crowd and people turned to stare at my group, Kal's gaze found mine instead. His eyes, a mix of surprise and puzzlement, held something else—something I couldn't quite read through the messy strands of his hair.
I exhaled sharply. "Go, crazy boy. If you got picked, we three might just come next."
Kal smirked. "I'll be waiting for you, old Aiden. Can't wait to be your maid once you get chosen as the leader."
He strutted off toward the stage, head tilted back in mocking arrogance, throwing smug glances at the crowd.
I blinked. What the fuck?
Laughter burst out of me as I watched him disappear into the sea of people.
Who the hell wants you as a maid, dumbass…
God, on his side, was annoyed by the student's ceaseless laughter. He too was having none of it and launched a gust of wind with his voice toward those causing a ruckus. The act—appearing exaggeratingly effortless from God's calm tone—cut short all foolish discussions that were wasting his time.
The silence was now eerily floating in the air, and God thus went with the recitation of the leader candidate's name.
"Candidate number four, compatibility with the role of leader—96%. Bryan Letton"
"Candidate number three, compatibility with the role of leader—98%. Clark Yugilson."
Although Bryan was quite an open book, being the founder of an anti-bullying website for the school, the number one student in math class, and specifically famous for his kindness and care for those of poor upbringing, Clark Yugilson was the opposite. Nobody knew anything about him.
Well, aside from the fact that he was the school director's son and had the second highest grades out of every student.
Despite being known by everyone, he remained quite a silent, mysterious person. Having shared the same biology class with him for three months in my first year, the memory of him only speaking when asked to answer a question was deeply ingrained in my brain.
And he always answered right.
In contrast with the somewhat popular Bryan, who had smiled brightly at the armada of students, Clark simply walked up to the stage in silence. His face was as expressionless as it could be.
But I had no time to figure out this strange man because God was about to announce the second-last leader candidate.
"Candidate number two, compatibility with the role of leader—99%. Aiden Glain."
An even bigger lulled hum of muffled talk and questions resounded as each stunned student turned to look at me.
So I really ended up being chosen, huh?
Arthur and Benjamin congratulated me, raising their hands for a high five.
Basking in the brief moment of praise and the uncertain respect the crowd bestowed upon me, I steeled my expression—eyes cold, face unreadable—before stepping onto the stage.
I had already anticipated this outcome. Having considered the criteria God used for his selection, it wasn't hard to guess that I'd be among the chosen.
But only I knew why this was the case. To the others, I was just a dark horse.
As I walked forward, the clusters of students instinctively parted, forming a clear path toward the stage. Now, standing among the ten brightest stars of our new 'area,' each eligible to ascend to the position of 'Zone Leader,' I knew one thing for certain—I couldn't afford to falter.
Kal shot me a grin as I passed him, easing a bit my tension. When placed directly next to Clark, I didn't even consider further analyzing the man. Instead, all my focus steered to the person who had more qualifications for the role of leader in our region than me.
Before God even spoke his name, I knew who it would be.
''Now for the last person: Candidate number one, compatibility with the role of leader—99%. Wilson Ygnir."
Unlike the previous candidates, who received a reasonable amount of praise despite some of us being relatively unknown before this predicament—myself included—the thunderous applause for Wilson served as a stark reminder of why he was the only one I truly needed to be wary of amongst every other candidate.
From where I stood, I could easily make out his wheat-blond hair, perfectly styled with effortless elegance. The strands were swept back into a smooth, controlled flow, accentuating his sharp gaze, which brimmed with aristocratic features.
His two sapphire irises shone a teal light that spurted out of his eyeballs and exuded a sense of calm and superiority as he kindly smiled at the crowd, yet I knew different. Those eyes were scanning through the swarm of students in a disciplined manner, efficiently analyzing every person present.
Such scary expertise.
Despite knowing the man very well, it was hard not to be impressed by his talents and skills in psychology and analysis. On this ground, he was superior to me.
But this was not going to stop me from winning this childish skirmish. I was now fully locked in. Although I didn't know why my emotions and thought processes kept interfering with one another, I chose to use both the rational, stable, and gentle side of my normal self, all the while making use of that 'other side' of me, which was overflowing with perception, control, and intellect.
I could only chalk it up to my instincts kicking in due to the pressure of the moment. That had to be it. After all, it made sense—when faced with a challenge, the mind sharpens, and survival instincts take over, right? There was no other explanation for why my usual rational, steady, and simple way of thinking was now seamlessly intertwining with something else—something colder, more insightful, and more calculating. It wasn't separate from me; it was just another part of my mind stepping up when I needed it most.
Yeah, this was just my instincts helping me. Nothing more.
Wilson's light steps sent ripples through my thoughts as he ascended the stairs with a confident stride.
Focus.
He nodded politely to each candidate as he made his way to my right—then, with a sly glint in his eye, he gave me a special bow. A gesture he hadn't offered to anyone else.
Cheeky. So that's how you're starting this duel?
Once Wilson was in place and silence settled over the crowd, God spoke one final time.
"Great, we're all set. Now, before I depart, I must ask the ten representative candidates to perform a speech—short or long—but you must convince your audience to join your faction."
He paused for a moment, his voice shifting in tone as he addressed the ten of us directly.
"As of now, each of you is eligible to create your own faction. However, only the elected leader's faction will be recognized as the 'Main Faction,' with official status and real perks. The other nine? They'll be renegades—factions without status, formed by those unwilling to join the main leader."
Then, his invisible, divine gaze swept back over the entire crowd, his voice carrying a heavier weight.
"Just under three months from now, the elected main faction among you will compete in an event against factions from other regions. The victorious 'Main Faction' will ascend to the rank of a kingdom, and its leader—crowned king—will rule over all of its combined territories. Consider this your introduction to the event system—though don't expect every future event to offer such opportunities. Major power shifts like this will be rare."
His words settled over us, heavy with meaning, before he continued.
"Of course, my departure doesn't mean I won't be in contact. From time to time, I will send messages through your system's chat box, and I will provide more private, valuable information to the high-ranking members of each region."
"I strongly advise you all to use these next few months wisely—train, strategize, strengthen your faction's structure, build alliances, and forge friendships beyond your borders."
His tone darkened slightly.
"Do not assume that the way the world works now will always favor you. One year from now, even the weakest among you might be able to tear down a building, but the advantages I've granted will not last forever. In six months, those early boosts will fade. After that, you will need to grow faster if you wish to survive—let alone remain relevant in this world. And only painstaking hard work will make that possible.
He briefly paused, as if he were letting those words settle in.
"But that is a challenge you shall face as time goes on. For now, prepare yourselves for what's coming next. I will say it once more: each of the ten leader candidates must give a speech. The one who earns the most votes will become the true leader of this region."
A sharp glint of amusement tinted his voice.
"Good luck. You'll need it."
Just like that, the self-proclaimed God who had upended our lives—taking our families and older friends hostage and forcing us into a challenge most of us didn't even grasp the gravity of—had disappeared.
Glancing to my left, I caught Lisa Aberman's eye. She gave me a small shrug and a falsely tired smile, making me chuckle under my breath. Bryan, noticing our brief exchange, tilted his head in question.
Sweeping my gaze to the right, I locked eyes with Wilson. Even this master of crowd manipulation seemed hesitant as he pondered, calculating the right moment to speak. Exactly what I wanted.
Right now, the silence was suffocating, thick with impatience. The crowd of students below us waited, expecting us to take control. The ten of us were supposed to lead this speech competition and organize the voting, but none had stepped forward.
Leaning in close to Wilson, I spoke just loud enough for only him to hear.
"Hey, Wilson. As the number one candidate, I think you should break the silence. You're the most well-known, and even if you make a blunder, no one will hold it against you—not that I think you will. The real competition hasn't even started yet. Right now, we just need to get things moving, and you're the most fitting person for that job."
I finished my suggestion with a small, knowing smile—one that wasn't meant just for Wilson but for every student watching us.
Wilson nodded approvingly. He seemed convinced.
With his chest puffed and eyes gleaming with confidence, he strode forward. The other eight candidates straightened up in surprise, but I simply watched as the show unfolded.
"Hey, everyone, I have a proposal," Wilson announced, his voice ringing clear. "Since we've been tasked with giving speeches, I suggest we go in order—from candidate ten to me. This way, everything stays organized, and we don't waste time in chaos. God just left us in charge, meaning we need to be mature and responsible."
His voice lifted slightly in his final sentence, a subtle display of charisma and authority that I wasn't sure I could match.
The murmuring students stilled, their attention locked on him.
He capitalized on it immediately.
"I'll also ask everyone to remain silent while each of us does our best to convince you. If we're putting in this much effort to sell ourselves, it's only fair that you give us your full attention."
Just like that, Wilson had seized control. The fact that he spoke so confidently, without hesitation, reinforced his credibility in the eyes of the students. To them, he looked like a man with no fear, no reluctance—just enthusiasm and conviction.
A round of applause erupted. The game had truly begun.
"Come on, Jammes! I'm sure you'll make a great opening speech!" Wilson pressed, forcing the flow of events.
Jammes froze. His face paled slightly, but he hid it well.
Not even sparing him a glance or a semblance of care, several of the other candidates spoke up in protest.
"Shouldn't we wait a little before—"
"We need time to prepare—"
"This is too sudden, can't we—"
Wilson's trap had sprung.
By resisting, they weren't just delaying the inevitable; they were exposing themselves as less prepared than Wilson. To the watching students, Wilson's direct, no-nonsense approach would seem more reliable—more leader-like—than hesitation.
But his setup wasn't perfect. It relied on me.
Wilson shot me a quick, knowing side glance. A silent demand for me to act.
Is that all you amounted to?
I could've stayed silent and let Wilson struggle against the rising complaints. But that would make things more difficult for me when my own turn came. Instead, I played along.
"Can you all stop bickering over something so trivial?" I said coldly, my voice sharp enough to cut through the chatter. "Why do you need time to prepare for a simple speech? If anything, you're making things harder for Jammes. He's the one who has to speak first—shouldn't you be asking for his opinion instead of arguing among yourselves?"
My tone was harsh and dismissive—exactly how I wanted it to sound.
To the crowd, my words framed me as someone strict, fearless, and unwilling to entertain nonsense. And more importantly, they added pressure on Jammes, pushing him closer to speaking without preparation.
If Jammes agreed, then the rest of us would have no choice but to follow.
After a brief pause, I added with an edge of mockery, "By the way, Wilson forgot to mention one important thing. We're also supposed to be efficient and quick-witted. Instead of overthinking, just speak from your heart rather than from a mechanical script."
Wilson, being the opportunist that he is, immediately backed me up.
"He's right," Wilson affirmed, reinforcing my stance.
And then, another voice broke the silence.
"He is indeed right."
It was Jammes.
Straightening his posture, he took a deep breath. "I'll do it. I'll go first. And I suggest you all do the same. I agree that we don't need unnecessary preparation."
The trap had worked.
...
All questions and protests stopped at Jammes' declaration; now each candidate half-understood Wilson's earlier statement. Unless they'd be willing to discredit and ruin their image even more, they had to comply with our plan.
Advancing in assured and slow steps, Jammes took position in the middle of the stage and stood like a statue, his hands behind his back, clutched together. ''Hello everyone, I presume not many of you know who I am. Therefore, I shall present myself once again. My name is Jammes Lizgak, an aspiring second-year student majoring in micro-organism science and a failure in abstract subjects such as philosophy and rhetorical theory.
Pausing for half a breath, he pursued with more intent this time. ''Once you get to know me, it becomes quite obvious from how I speak that I do not major in soliloquy. However, I strongly believe that straightforwardness and honesty are far more important than a thousand beautiful words. Don't get me wrong, I'm not selling dreams and gold with my honesty. Just like any of you, I have no idea what's going on right now. Even then, I've been chosen as one of the ten people who might represent you in the future, and that means choosing me could get you things far more important and rare in this new world than just gold and reveries.''
''Things such as a warm home, solace, comfort, and protection.''
He stopped shortly, perhaps checking if the crowd would react, then added.
''Thank you for listening to my half-assed speech, and may the best leader candidate win!''
This mid-length speech surely impressed the crowd as it caused a huge commotion. The students roared and applauded with all their might, a sight that Jammes was not about to forget in his whole life, seeing how shocked he was by the shift of ambiance. Even the other candidates joined the crowd in action and clapped their hands.
As the ambient praise slowly quieted, Lisa spoke up, her voice laced with sarcasm, "Maybe there were some truths in what Wilson said after all. Let's not be intimidated by this great discourse; we can't let Jammes have all the limelight!''
''You're the only one who said something about being intimidated; do not bring down others with you!" Kal joked with an exaggerated sneer, which got a good chuckle from each candidate on the stage.
Once all sound had subsided, it was Lisa's turn to speak.
...
To much of my discontent, none of the few following candidates had made speeches worth anything.
At least Jammes' one had been filled with honesty, but Lisa's was just plain arrogant as she flaunted her so numerous 'aptitudes as a leader,' which didn't get quite as good a result as Jammes's speech had.
Dorian's one was too vague and long for what he'd said. He nearly wasted ten minutes speaking of Justice and... cheesecake? I didn't know if that was an attempt at humor in his discourse, but all it did was confuse everyone.
Roxy's speech was decent, but her occasional blunders and stutters made her look fragile and inadequate for the role of leader. In a way, it was a far worse performance than even Dorian's mindless rumble of philosophical metaphors about cheesecakes and justice.
Finally, Maxime's discourse had been so short that I couldn't say much to discredit him. Just like his stern militaristic looks and clothes, he spoke for just twenty seconds about how he would only accept loyal, just, mature, and fierce warriors in his dominion.
Laughing inwardly, I wondered if these four were secretly competing for last place.
Again, a dark veil of hubris and malice was folding over my mind and heart, and I felt myself filled with thoughts I wasn't quite sure were mine. Shaking off the weird feeling, I steeled myself and anchored my feet to the ground. Focusing, I realized that Kal was already moving toward the center of the stage to begin his speech.
There was something odd about his unbothered attitude, like his purposeful, awkward way of walking, or even that brazen, wry half-smile he wore. Even the pendulum of his arms—
''Listen up, dear pea—friends, I don't give a fuck about being a leader; I'm just cheering up for Aiden. Don't bother joining me because I'm handsome; I'll be by Aiden's side, so you all better join him—especially since he's even better looking than me. He's even quite the smart lad, I'll tell you—
I stopped Kal before he could trail off more into unknown territories and let him reveal more than he should.
''Want me to dye your hair crimson so you look more handsome than I apparently do? You could have at least tried to sell yourself more instead of making it as if my only two qualities are my slowly above IQ and my modest looks!''
''No can do. Now that you stopped me, I can't speak the tale of that day when you saved that girl from—my bad, I'm trailing off again.''
Kal waved at the crowd as he walked back to his position, and I could see that although many had laughed at his earlier bold statements and even more at our short conversation, a lot were also very dissatisfied with his speech.
But of those who had laughed, all had their interest pointed toward me like sharp swords, and of those who were mad at Kal, their curiosity and interest had turned to me as well.
Thanks, Kal. I said mentally, giving him a sneaky side-eye. He understood my intent and replied with a knowing, pure-hearted smile, which read, 'You're welcome.'.
This little intervention on my part after Kal's brusque and obvious support of me, coupled with his honest humor, made the public turn their primary focus on me once more.
It was not Jammes who had the biggest advantage by speaking first, even with his great speech. No, it was those who spoke last.
Why? Because we could prepare the terrain by playing tricks and games to gather attention to ourselves before it was our turn to speak.
Only, it was just me and Wilson who'd been playing this game like a rival's ballet dance, but Wilson didn't even know that he was dancing in the palm of my hands this whole time.
I could tell all my future subordinates—colleagues, I corrected myself—were confused. Surprisingly, none had intervened in our little squabble, not that I would have let them do had they tried.
After the crowd settled down, Bryan advanced and began to speak.
Needless to say, after Kal's mind-blowingly audacious act, the few half-decently structured phrases and poetic rhymes composing his discourse didn't appear as honest and as good as they would have normally been.
After three futile minutes of wasted efforts, Bryan returned to his position in a hardly hidden defeated scowl.
Next up was Clark, and this was where things would get serious.
Down to the top three, my last two competitors were the only ones who could pose a threat.
''Fellows, fellas, please settle down and listen to me.'' Clark declared after taking a firm stance at the exact middle of the stage, more upfront than any had positioned themselves before.
''I truly believe that the difference between me and two guys ranked higher than me for the role of leader shouldn't be what you base your choice on. Our hearts always dictate before even the sharpest of minds. Without a non-corrupted leader, where do you think the limits of shrewdness and mind games will lie?''
Taking a loud breath as if to emphasize his candor, he glanced at the entire crowd before continuing.
''I have no logical arguments to rope you in on what might be my future empire; rather, I'll stick to what truly makes a difference between bad leaders and good ones. That is the human heart. Nothing in humanity has been stronger than that, and the motivation that each of us is feeling to grow stronger and save our loved ones is proof of that.''
''I know I have little to offer and much to promise with my pretty words, but I can assure you I will try my best, hardest, until my very last breath, to create a stable and healthy empire. Even if I end up dead last on the vote counting, I'll still join the winning candidate and help assist him in his tasks.''
Taking a pause again, he concluded his discourse by raising his voice a pitch higher.
''I have the mind and the heart to fight for progress, and I need brave and loyal companions by my side to accomplish my new dream: bringing back our loved ones who were unjustifiably taken away from us. If you have the will to join my cause, the courage to resist whatever perils may lie ahead of us, and the heart to never betray humanity even in the most unfair, dire challenges we shall face, then join me on my adventure toward a better world!''
Clark looked out of breath as his chest kept rising and falling, making his outburst of emotions seem all the more honest and pure to the crowd below.
Before he could ever recover, they roared in unkept admiration for his amazing performance. Whistles blew from everywhere, and the sounds of hand claps seemed louder than they had ever been. It was clear that Clark was a dark horse.
My fleeting gaze darted around my fellow candidates. Most were wearing stunned but genuinely impressed faces as they applauded him. Even Kal seemed surprised and disdainfully turned his head away from Clark.
As for Wilson...
Wilson Ygnir was taken aback; his faked fascination at Clark's speech faded quickly as our gaze met and locked into a manic stare.
We knew.
This four-layered speech of Clark was a threat to both of us.
Before I could even make three steps toward the center of the stage and begin my own discourse, however, I was intercepted by a hasty Wilson who gently placed his right hand on my shoulder.
''Wait, I'm sorry, Aiden, but could I go and make my speech before yours? I just finished preparing it in my head, and I fear I might forget some parts if I speak last.'' He said quietly, clearly not wanting to be heard.
Smart move, Wilson, but clumsy execution.
"How could you forget your speech when everyone knows of your great memory? You'll have more time to revise it in your head as I do mine too," I responded calmly, though my voice carried several levels higher than his, ensuring that the frontmost students in the crowd would hear me.
Now that I had spoken so publicly, Wilson was forced to match my energy unless he wanted to appear suspicious and untrustworthy.
"Oh yeah, of course, I know that! But you see, knowing you well, I'm sure you'll deliver an incredible speech that will completely throw me off focus! However, you mentioned earlier that yours isn't quite finished yet, so wouldn't it benefit you if I spoke first? That way, you'd have just a bit more time to refine it, right? Of course, if you're unwilling, it's totally fine! I realize I'm asking this out of nowhere..."
I cut him off. "No, no, I can understand that you feel threatened by Clark's speech! It's fine for you to go ahead before me—although it does contradict what you said previously."
You're smart, Wilson; that much is undeniable. But you're also naive.
Wilson's response was a calculated move, veiled in praise but laced with pressure. By implying that my speech would be incredible, he subtly manipulated the crowd into expecting me to deliver something as grand as Clark's—forcing me into an uphill battle. Worse, he had outright lied about my speech being unfinished, twisting his words just enough to sound reasonable. It was a clever maneuver, designed to even the playing field after his blatant reversal of speaking order.
Since he had already contradicted himself, he had no choice but to cushion the impact—to make it seem like a harmless request rather than a desperate bid to salvage his position. But I saw right through it.
You've found a match too high a level for your childish tricks this time, Wilson.
"Then, by all means, do proceed before me, Wilson. I'm sure your speech will be earth-shattering if you think my humble self will be able to deliver something on Clark's level, as you said.'' My voice remained steady and calm, despite the excitement that threatened to swallow me whole. But to Wilson, my words carried a glacial intent only he could perceive. It had been such a long time since I'd felt so alive, so thrilled, so amused.
Wilson must have noticed my madness-tinted stare for a split second because he stuttered in his reply.
''T—Thanks, Aiden... I'll remember it.''
Wilson then poised himself at the fateful place and began.
"Sorry, everyone, for this short interruption, but I was truly afraid of losing track of all my fleeting thoughts. This speaks volumes about how much I have to say about the circumstances of our world and my own desire to prove myself as your leader. But fear not, as I'll try to make it short.''
The faint humor and the honest apology—at least what seemed like an honest apology to the clueless students—fortified Wilson's stance and rebuilt his image in the eyes of everyone. I could tell with my good eyesight just how they all listened reverently, similarly to how they'd listened to God speak.
''First and foremost, I must express my gratitude for this opportunity to address you all. It is indeed a pivotal moment in our lives, one that demands our utmost attention and consideration.''
Wilson made sure to take short pauses between each main stanza of his speech.
''As we stand on the precipice of a new era, it is natural to feel a sense of uncertainty and apprehension. The disappearance of our loved ones, the upheaval of our world as we know it—these are challenges that none of us could have foreseen. But in the face of adversity, we must remain steadfast and resolute.''
''I stand before you today not as a mere candidate for leadership but as a visionary, a harbinger for change. My vision for our future is one of unity, strength, and prosperity. Together, we have the opportunity to rebuild our society from the ground up, to forge a new path forward guided by wisdom and determination.''
''But let me be clear: leadership is not a privilege to be taken lightly. It is a responsibility, a burden that weighs heavily on the shoulders of those who dare to carry it. And I assure you, my friends, that I am more than prepared to bear that burden.''
''You may wonder why you should place your trust in me and why you should choose me as your leader. Allow me to address those concerns directly. Yes, I may lack the polished credentials of some of my peers. But what I lack in pedigree, I more than make up for in passion, dedication, and sheer force of will.''
''I understand that actions speak louder than words, and I pledge to lead by example. I will not ask anything of you that I am not willing to do myself. Together, we will face the trials and tribulations that lie ahead with courage and determination.''
''However, let us not forget the importance of strategy and cunning in the pursuit of our goals. Contrary to what Clark mentioned, it is of utmost importance that we learn how to be shrewd and calculating, as well as be willing to make hard choices when necessary. And rest assured, my friends, that I possess the will and acumen to navigate the treacherous waters that lie ahead.''
''In conclusion, I humbly ask for your support, your trust, and your faith in me as we embark on this journey together. Together, we shall overcome adversity, defy the odds, and emerge victorious. Together, we will build a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come!''
''Thank you in advance, everyone. ''
Those last five words were spoken in a more pleading way, his tone warm yet almost fragile. His taking such a serious shift of ambiance at the end of his discourse shows his resolve, honesty, and maturity further.
The whole place shook from the sheer force of continuous applause, and the sound of hands hurtling at insane speed and strength into each other soon turned into an orchestra of earth-shattering power, as I'd predicted earlier.
Only I didn't clap, something I'd done out of respect for every other speech, even the worst ones.
In this eerie, loud concert of praise, I felt Kal's eyes boring into me, and he immediately stopped clapping when he saw that I was not.
Kal, you and I are really connected, aren't we?
After a little bit more than one minute of constant whistles, applause, and good words being thrown at Wilson, it was finally my time to speak.