The day has finally come. At the grand plaza of the Eighbury, three thousand people attended and congregated in a street wide enough to accommodate their numbers. Most of the roads leading to the Grand Plaza were blocked by the Protection Squadron.
To attend the speech, one must only present the pamphlets they were given when the followers of the United National Socialist Party went door to door. It serves as their entrance ticket.
Those who didn't have the pamphlet were either given new ones and were allowed to enter. However, it was not easy to get in. Ernest thought that this speech opens a lot of opportunities for those who want to take them down. Assassins lurking in the crowds with their knives were easily apprehended after a thorough frisking. As of now, there are three people who were caught having a weapon.
Now, the crowds are set, waving their pamphlets at Ernest who they thought will lead them to a better future. Ernest stood before them emanating a powerful aura, an aura that is so heavy that one would want to kneel before him.
Ernest waited for thirty minutes as the crowds were eating their promised bread. The bread he introduced to the bakery at Pine Street is called pandesal. A bread roll originated from the Philippines, a famous breakfast of the Filipinos every morning. Ernest decided to introduce that as it was cheap to create and the ingredients needed to make one were already present in this world.
After thirty minutes, Ernest stood up and so did his followers whose power is similar to a cabinet. Sophia, Alwin, Blackbelly, Wayne, and Guilhem stood with him proudly.
Since it's impossible for his voice to reach three thousand people, Ernest asked one of his revered followers, Guilhem, to build something similar to a speaker. Luckily, there's a rune that has the same functions as a speaker. It's called broadcasting rune. A jewel that transmits voice frequency to another jewel. They are installed at strategic locations of Eighbury so that all people can hear his speech.
Now that everything is all set, Ernest walked forward to the podium and began his speech.
"Everyone, It's a pleasure to meet you again on this wonderful day where we will create history. Living in this was a challenge, food scarcity, unemployment, exploitation, slavery, discrimination, and any other thing that you can think of. And those things are responsible for why our country is divided. Our enemy outside the borders carefully planned the destruction of our nation. To spark a civil war within its borders. It's sad to say that this is happening not only in Eighbury but in other countries. Our country has grown weak ever since that war and the glory and the harmonious relationship we've built were gradually deteriorating. For me, this is unforgivable. I can't stand here watching my country fall to ruins because the Empire says so. It's only a matter of time before our country falls to the hands of the Empire. But rest assured, I will not let that happen as I will regain the glory of the Kingdom of Crentis and make it the most powerful country to ever exist, possibly toppling the Empire!"
A deafening roar echoed in the city as three thousand attendees chanted in unison.
"They think that it's going according to their plan but it was not! We already realized it and we cannot accept any further humiliation, exploitation, and discrimination of the ideals our founding fathers established! We will not forgive them!"
"Oooooohhhh!!!"
"I've said that our country has grown weak, well that's entirely true. But don't let that make you feel down because what's making our country weak is those corrupt nobles who were willing to do the Empire's bidding to stay in power! Like this city's lord Enrico!"
As he declared that, the cheers of the thousand people turned into an infuriating roar. They knew the corrupt system that has been happening in the city ever since the end of the war. The country has grown weak, the city lord's become corrupt, and lastly, they do not care about their own constituents.
Ernest has masterfully stirred their hearts once more.
The cheering continued, people waving their pamphlets, and chorused "Ernest." repeatedly.
"Let me say this one last time! The Empire and those who served them shall fall! We only have one goal! The fall of the Empire!"
The people let out a thunderous roar again, Ernest was slowly getting carried away by their high spirit.
"I am you, You are me. We're a kind of collective organism with one goal. To set things straight, I am only interested in the Crentian people alone. I only belong to them alone. For these Crentian people, I give of myself..."
At this point, the majority of the citizens of Eighbury were wooed by his compelling message.
"...My people, my comrades, this is where we will start, the rise of our nation to the greatest…"
Suddenly, someone interrupted.
"Hoh you got some interesting gatherings here!"
Someone shouted from a distance. It was a knight on his horse galloping towards the stage through the middle. Ernest realized what was going on.
The Protection Squadron stood up and readied their M1 Garand on which the knights approaching didn't think of them as a threat.
"What are those wooden things? Trying to scare me with a piece of wood?" They laughed.
Mike, glances at Ernest, waiting for his orders. But Ernest simply shook his head, telling him not to engage.
"Who are you? Didn't you see that we are in the middle of an event here?" Ernest glared at the knight.
"What a scary look you have there. You must be Ernest Gonzales, the head of this party."
Ernest was not surprised, his name was already circulated among the masses. So it's not that impossible for an enemy to know his name.
With his sharp and piercing gaze, Ernest continued.
"It seems that you were the knights sent here by Lord Enrico to stop this assembly immediately right?"
"That's right." The knight confirmed as he gets out of his horse. He pulled out something from his bag, a piece of paper.
"A decree from the benevolent Lord Enrico. This illegal assembly must stop immediately, failure to comply will result in the knights resorting to violence. You have one hour to leave. If not then repent in the afterlife." threatened the knight.
Ernest was unfazed. "Let me ask you something, how loyal are you to Lord Enrico?"
"So loyal that I will give my life to him." The knight replied calmly.
"And Lord Enrico is a pro-empire right?"
"Yes." He immediately answered.
"I see…" His lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Did you hear that my people? He said that he is loyal to his lord who is a pro-empire."
"Yes!" Answered by many.
"What are you doing?" The knight asked but he was ignored by Ernest and by hundreds of people.
"And what do we call those people who served the Empire?"
"They are swine!!" Shouted the people.
"And what do we do to swine?" Ernest asked.
"We kill them!"
The Protection Squadron suddenly aimed their M1 Garand at the 300 knights. There are only 10 of them in front of him, the other 290 who seemed to be waiting for an order from the knight who seems to be the leader was also being aimed by a gun.
Seeing this as a hostile declaration, the knights draw their swords.
"What can your wooden stick do to our swords?" The knight let out a deriding laugh.
"Unfortunately you will be killed here." Ernest looked down at the knight, "But I'm gonna give you one last chance to save your life. First, you have to drop your weapons and second swear fealty to the party. Do that and your life is assured. If you don't then you'll die as a swine." Ernest proposed.
"...What? Did you just threaten me?" The knight's body shivered with induration, "How dare you...young man? I'm not going to swear anything to you and if there is then it's 'Fuck you and die!'"
"So you have decided." Ernest sighed in resignation, they would be a good addition to his protection squadron. But it doesn't mean everyone has to die, he glanced at the knights behind him who were shaking nervously.
Of course, being surrounded by hundreds of people and with unusual weapons is just simply nerve-wracking. Even if they are armed and trained, they are no match against the people who already give their life to the party.
"What's your name?"
"Edcel!" The knight answered.
"Edcel. This will be the end of your journey but it doesn't mean it's the same with your comrade behind you." Ernest glanced at the nine knights. "Your life will not be decided by one man. You have your own choice. But before I give you a choice, let me share a word with you."
Ernest paused for a second and continued, "You are serving the wrong guy, these people around here want to change, the people you swore to protect but what did that Lord Enrico order you to do? To kill the people you swore to protect. A swine would do that for his own interest. Are you really okay with killing these innocent people?"
"Don't be swayed by his words...or you'll face harsh sentences from the lord," Edcel said to his troops.
"Here you won't be sentenced, you will be liberated."
"Don't you listen to any word that is coming out from that man's mouth?"
"Edcel is already corrupted and therefore needs to be cleansed. And by cleansed I mean death. Choose, be liberated, or die as a swine." Ernest asked one last time.
The knights pondered for a moment and then decided. Six of them chose to be liberated while the three chose to die as swine along with Edcel.
"My brother and father were killed in the war. I will never kill my own people." Said, one knight.
"I've been attending his speech and he is right. The Empire is at fault and they must be eradicated." The other knight said.
"You...traitors!" Edcel hollered.
"No, they are not traitors," Ernest interjected. "They sided with the people and it's a valiant act. The four of you are nothing but swine." Ernest sighed.
[Special quest unlocked: There are those who don't accept your promised ideals. Their life becomes insignificant.]
[Quest: Kill those who opposed. [175/175.]
[Rewards: 175,000 tyrant points.]
Special quest huh? Ernest thought it was his first time receiving one.
"Kill them."
At his cold verdict, the protection squadron opened fire, the four knights who chose to be swine dropped dead as their bodies turned into a honeycomb. Blood painted the ground and the deafening roar of the gun terrified the nearest citizens, including the knights who submitted.
It goes outside as well. 171 knights who chose to be swine were killed by the hail of bullets crossing across the field.
Their armor and shields become insignificant at the power of firearms. The cavalry that galloped found their horses suddenly tripped as its body was pierced by hundreds of bullets.
On this day, a memorable event occurred which people will call it. The Purge.