NOVPUBSeemingly sensing the audience’s thoughts.
"Why does what you say sound so presidential? I know there’s been talk on Herram Broadcasting Company today about whether or not you’ll run for president next year..."
With an eyebrow raised and a hint of a smile, Leila cut Lanci off.
"Are you going to run for president?"
She asked with interest.
The sudden question hung in the air, making all the audience hold their breath.
In Lanci’s hands, the Cat boss, pretending to be an ordinary cat, was almost startled to jump up!
If Lanci really became the President of the Protoss Empire, it wouldn’t dare to face Xiu Bao in its lifetime!
It had gradually become numb to Lanci being a principal, a saint heir, a governor.
But becoming president, top dog in the empire, the Cat boss couldn’t handle that!
Faced with this question, somewhere between a joke and a serious inquiry.
Lanci hesitated for a second, a flicker of contemplation flashing in his emerald green eyes.
"Probably not, but I’m indeed tired of the Protoss being deceived by people."
He spoke, his voice firm, yet with an unconcealed undertone of helplessness.
"Why don’t you want to run?"
Leila asked once more.
"I just don’t feel like running for president. I love what I’m doing right now. I really do."
Lanci explained.
"So, if you were any more ambitious... there wouldn’t be a woman in the world who could keep up with you, right? You still want to spare some time for those around you, don’t you?"
Leila’s words drew laughter from the audience.
Lanci also revealing a small, knowing smile.
The laughter didn’t last long, quickly fading away like a gentle wave lapping at the shore, leaving no trace, just a soft echo.
With a gleeful smile, Lanci answered,
"I’m not thinking about further public office right now, but I wouldn’t completely rule it out. If I believed the nation was heading in the wrong direction, I might consider running."
Each of his responses was now causing a subtle stir among the audience.
Some nodded, others seemed fervent, looking back at Rocky McCarthy’s previous speeches and pondering the implications they held for their lives and their nation.
The heated interview continued.
...
Meanwhile.
In the commercial district to the south of Herram City.
Herram at half past eight in the evening was a spectacular, vibrant scene, its massive Magic Energy Crystal Screen Billboards and neon lights painting a moving picture, lighting up the entire city like day.
The latest fashion advertisements, movie previews of megastars, and all kinds of commercial logos were shuffled on these holographic screens, competing with the lights of the shopping malls. The bizarre lights dancing in the air created an illusion, making it difficult to distinguish reality from fantasy with illusion magic and projection barriers.
In these bustling Herram streets, Hyperion and Michela were harmoniously navigating the noisy intersections, with flows of people like different colored and shaped rivers swirling around them.
"We have another day off school tomorrow, I can take you to find that man you’re thinking about."
Michela suggested, holding her shopping bag.
"Hmm, okay."
Hyperion wanted to retort, but the more she denied, the deeper Michela’s misunderstanding would be.
In the capital city of Herram, a place in the south of the Empire with access to information, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find someone with the help of Michela’s family connections.
"Actually, I told him before, if we ever get separated, he should wait for me in the most conspicuous place, I’d find him quickly. I wonder if he’s been foolishly waiting somewhere obvious for me."
Hyperion said, lost in thought.
"Well, if he is considerate, we might come across him while we’re out shopping."
Michela answered.
If this man named Rocky truly cares for her sister, he should do everything in his power to fulfill his promise. That’s what a reliable man would do.
"No, no, no, he absolutely can’t have any strange ideas. Leading a stable life is the best!"
Hyperion repeatedly shook her head.
Michela simply didn’t understand. That guy’s thought process was certainly different from normal people’s.
"What? Is he the kind of man who will squander all the money you’ve saved up and then keep asking you for more?"
Michela once again began to harbour doubts.
She was very worried that her innocent sister would be deceived by a worthless man.
"Not at all...he has never asked me for money."
It was difficult for Hyperion to explain to Michela what kind of man Lanci was. Only when Michela met him would she understand.
Just as she was about to give examples of the things Lanci might do, she felt as though she could hear Lanci’s familiar voice.
"...Am I hallucinating? I think I heard his voice?"
Hyperion raised a hand to her head, looking confusedly around her.
She couldn’t see anything, but she constantly had this unusual feeling, like a deity transmitting sounds through the sky.
"My sister, you’re indeed thinking about him too much."
Michela sighed, indeed love can make one blind,
"Wait, I think I can hear the voice you’re talking about too."
Michela suddenly realized that there seemed to indeed be a male voice echoing around the business district, originating from the edge of the distant plaza.
"No way…"
Upon hearing this, Hyperion’s expression instantly turned tense.
Her heartbeat quickened with her footsteps, as she walked towards the plaza in the direction of the voice, with Michela following behind.
"There shouldn’t be a problem, I probably heard wrongly, or maybe it was…"
Hyperion kept mumbling to herself, as if praying to Lady Goddess. Lanci couldn’t have done something too bizarre in the Protoss Empire, and he should have properly understood what she had said before.
No matter what happened,
She had to stay calm and composed.
Until Hyperion turned a corner and arrived at the open central plaza of the shopping district.
All the screens in the surrounding sky were displaying the same image. At that moment, that voice seemed to be enveloping the Crystal Sea Coast.
Michela abruptly stopped, stupefied, as she watched her sister who seemed frozen in place.
Her usually elegant sister stood gaping at the giant outdoor screen, her pupils trembling, unable to utter a word for a long time.
Michela could only look again at the screen.
She saw a young man with green eyes and brown hair, dressed in a purple suit, talking to the national-level host Leola on the screen furthest away.
"You say, although you have no intention of running, you believe you can win."
The host asked curiously.
The young man didn’t rush to answer, but let his silence hang in the air for a few seconds. This seemed to show respect to her question, and also a chance to gather his thoughts.
He tilted his shoulder slightly, gave a small smile, looked straight at Leola, then turned to the audience, as if inviting everyone into his world of thoughts.
"Actually, I’m not too sure either, but I feel like I can win. Let me tell you, there have been very few failures in my life."
He began to speak, his voice full of confidence and calmness,
"If I had to run for president, I think I have a better chance of winning the public’s favor. I would say my chances of winning are extremely high." 𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
"Because I don’t know what the audience thinks, but I believe people are just like me, tired of seeing the Protoss Empire being manipulated."
And under the circle of giant screens in that plaza...
Hyperion: "Damn it!!!"
