Chapter 146: Chapter 134 Please Allow Me to Quibble a Few Words
Facing Andrey’s accusation, Fernand actually laughed.
Laughed loud, laughed wildly, as if he didn’t care about the audience watching the live broadcast.
The ogre almost laughed to tears, wiped the tears of laughter from the corner of his eyes, and said, “Andrey, your attitude is too ugly, too desperate to survive, you’ve lost your composure, you don’t deserve to be my enemy.”
“Yes, I approved the exploration of the Void Turbulence, and I should take the main responsibility both morally and logically, so I came here for the investigation. But if you think you can take me down in front of all the citizens of the city with just this, then you’re too naive.”
“An exploration operation involving the Crime Hunting Hall, the war zone, and even the prison, how could it possibly be a trivial matter that I could decide on my own? As the saying goes, big meetings discuss small matters, and small meetings discuss big ones. There were three pre-action meetings held by various leaders. Andrey, as a representative of the council, you haven’t forgotten this, have you?”
“It was after our collective vote that we fully implemented this action. The ‘422 Incident’ was a disaster, but it was also a man-made calamity due to our collective misjudgment. I’m not shirking my responsibility, but you, Andrey, bear no less responsibility than I do.”
Andrey nodded, “Indeed so, to put it bluntly, this was just a war launched by rulers for their own interests, it’s just a pity that this time we are the ones who lost. If we had found the correct Void Realm passage first, then you, Fernand, would not only be free from blame but also gain support from all parties, ensuring your re-election as mayor 100%.”
“At most, I could accuse you of pushing forward with this action for the sake of your political achievements. What’s more, you’ve apologized, and the citizens can’t really say anything more.”
Andrey glanced at the ogre’s stone pillar, which had hardly changed, meaning that his accusations hadn’t deepened the citizens’ resentment towards Fernand.
This was beyond his expectations; after all, although the 422 Incident caused tens of thousands of casualties, what does that have to do with the living?
It’s not them who died.
Maybe among the casualties were their friends or even loved ones, but… so what?
It’s not them who died.
If the attack caused financial loss, the Government Affairs Hall was willing to compensate. As for the casualties and building collapses caused by the attack, for the living, it was all gain and no loss — the positions of the dead would become vacant, the collapsed buildings meant new construction jobs, houses would lower their rents due to fewer tenants, and the streets would become less crowded.
Kaimon City was already a bit too crowded; now with the attackers coming in, killing some, scaring some away, those who remained naturally had more city resources. At this moment, God knows how many people were thankful for the attackers’ killing spree, which allowed them to reap considerable benefits.
And even Fernand, the main person responsible, didn’t attract much hatred. The resentment he earned from this event was even less than that from the Dragon’s Lair Apartments and the manipulation of public exams.
After all, those who truly hated him were already dead, and among the survivors, quite a few had been conned out of money by the Dragon’s Lair Apartments or had their positions taken during the public exams.
In the Kingdom of Blood Moon, the living do not sympathize with the dead.
To think that the 422 Incident could be used to take down Fernand is delusional, Andrey wasn’t that naive; he just needed the topic as a starting point.
“Indeed, if we are only talking about the cause of the event, every decision-maker is at fault; this is the responsibility of all the rulers.” Andrey said, “But the course of the event was your solo performance, my dear mayor.”
The ogre narrowed his eyes, watching his political rival coldly.
Andrey said, “Twenty minutes after the arrival of the Mages of the Foreign Domain, the Church already notified you. And your actions in the first three hours were to claim that nothing had happened, until multiple attacks occurred at the edges of the City, and only then did you inform the citizens not to go out, deploying the Crime Hunting Hall and summoning adventurers from the war zone…”
“The Mages of the Foreign Domain had not yet arrived, informing the citizens would only cause panic!” the ogre said rudely: “If the citizens clustered and fled in fear, it would be tantamount to giving the Mages of the Foreign Domain a perfect opportunity to launch their attack, the casualties would certainly be greater than now!”
“Yes, you are right,” said Andrey. “If the only fighting force around Kaimon City was really only the Crime Hunting Hall and the war zone, then your decision was correct.”
At this moment, everyone, including Fernand, looked shocked!
Manken even shouted, “Andrey, do you know what you’re talking about? Do you think you can survive by spilling it all out?”
“Even if I didn’t, I’m sure I would die.” Andrey articulated slowly: “I never had the idea of living at all costs, I only hope to have a clear conscience before I die.”
Fernand mocked, “You truly are from a high-class upbringing, Andrey, to have such extravagant and high-class thoughts. How funny, you lacked conscience before, but found enlightenment once in prison?”
Andrey shook his head, “Fernand, sometimes I wonder, do I really deserve to sit in your position? Do I truly have the capacity to control so many people’s Fate? Can I really watch so many lives die before my eyes and remain indifferent?”
He looked towards the camera as if conversing with the hundreds of thousands of citizens of Kaimon City.