Instead, I slowly adjusted the collar of my white tuxedo.
The movement was calm.
Elegant.
A habit from my previous life.
When standing before cameras, surrounded by opponents waiting for the smallest mistake, panic was death. The first rule of debate was simple.
Never let the crowd see that you are shaken.
My eyes narrowed slightly.
For a brief instant, a golden light flickered in my vision.
God Eye's activated.
[God Eye's Status Panel]
[Name: Erwin Rickman]
[Stats: Strength F, Agility E, Defense F, Intelligence B, Potential C]
[Talent: Merchant/Trading]
[(Upgrade Lv. 5 to see next category)]
[Additional Information: He is currently feeling afraid.]
I almost sighed.
As expected.
He was not angry.
He was terrified.
"Erwin Rickman," I spoke.
My voice was low, resonant, and dripping with raw authority. It was a tone that demanded absolute submission without ever needing to shout.
"You speak of hanging from the gallows." I took a slow, deliberate step down the wooden stairs. "But tell me, Erwin. What is the difference between hanging from a wooden rope today, and being slowly suffocated by starvation for the rest of your life under Leonard's boot?"
Erwin froze.
The crowd stirred.
I did not raise my voice.
I did not need to.
"Answer me."
Erwin's face twitched.
"That is different…"
"Is it?"
I did not stop there. I walked directly into the center of the anxious crowd, physically invading their space to shatter their defensive walls.
I stopped next to a young mother. I gently placed my hand on her shoulder. The baby resting in her arms looked plump and healthy, a direct result of the accelerated wheat I had provided just days ago.
"Do you all remember the taste of the bread you ate this morning?" I asked softly. I let my voice carry a warm, magnetic cadence that seeped straight into their terrified souls.
I looked around, meeting their nervous eyes one by one, holding their gazes until they looked away.
"That bread was not an act of fake charity designed to put you in eternal debt. That was the pure fruit of your own labor. This land is not cursed, my friends. It never was. The only thing Leonard ever cursed was your minds. He conditioned you to stay poor, to stay obedient, and to stay afraid!"
Erwin scoffed, a desperate, wet sound. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he pointed a trembling finger at me.
"But your magic has a limit!" Erwin shouted, his voice cracking. "Who knows how long we can actually rely on those spells before you run out of power?"
"You are absolutely right," I cut him off cleanly.
I took a slow step closer, letting my imposing height cast a shadow over him. I did not bother hiding the truth.
"My magic is limited. And that is exactly why I am pushing you to farm. That is why we spent hours building natural fertilizers and brewing pesticides by hand."
I swept my gaze across the anxious faces of the villagers.
"I am not just handing you a free fish," I projected my voice, letting it echo through the morning air. "I am handing you your independence. If you surrender right now and crawl back to beg at Leonard's feet, you are not just betraying me."
I paused, letting the heavy silence build.
"You are betraying the very stomachs of your children who finally know what it feels like to be full."
I stopped right in front of Erwin. The pristine white of my tuxedo contrasted violently with the dirt of the square. I projected an aura of absolute, crushing authority.
"I am a prince of a fallen kingdom," I lied with flawless, terrifying conviction. "I have watched grand empires crumble to dust because of cowardice, not because of enemy swords. If you want to kneel back in the mud of Balan, go ahead. The road is completely open. I will not stop a single one of you."
I turned my back to Erwin, facing the crowd completely.
"But for those of you who want to watch this village rise into an empire. For those who want to see Baron Leonard tremble at the mere mention of our name... stand behind me!"
The square fell dead silent.
The heavy, suffocating pessimism shattered. I could actually see the physical shift in their posture. Chins lifted. Shoulders squared. The fragile seeds of hope were rapidly blooming into absolute fanaticism.
A familiar blue panel flashed in the corner of my vision.
[Congratulations! You have gained 50 Happiness Points from restored faith.]
Oderick was the first to step forward. He nodded solemnly, taking his place behind me. Hana followed shortly after. She stared at my back, her dark eyes swirling with a complex mix of disbelief and deep admiration.
One by one, the fishermen and farmers closed the distance, rallying behind my white coat.
Erwin was left standing alone. He looked at the united front before him. The fight completely left his eyes. He slowly lowered his head, his shoulders sagging in defeat.
"Forgive me, Lord Fragha," Erwin muttered. His voice was barely above a whisper. "I just... I did not want to lose hope all over again."
I stepped forward and reached out, patting the man's shoulder warmly.
To the crowd, it looked like a gesture of profound forgiveness and benevolent leadership. To me, it was nothing more than a calculated, manipulative stroke to solidify my absolute control.
"Fear is a natural thing, Erwin," I said gently, offering a warm smile. "But under my leadership, fear is simply fuel for our inevitable victory."
I pulled my hand back and turned toward the river.
"This is almost too easy," I chuckled in my mind. "Playing with the minds of these villagers is significantly simpler than navigating the political vipers back on Earth."
Around midday, the sun beat down heavily on the coast.
Roberts and I made our way down the steep, jagged cliffside to the small wooden docks. The air was thick with the smell of salt and wet wood. We boarded a small, weathered rowboat.