Chapter 292 World Stage

As I stood on the stage, the bright lights shone down on me, illuminating my face and making me feel larger than life. The sea of faces below me seemed to stretch on forever, and their cheers and applause were deafening. They looked up at me with awe, admiration, and respect, and I felt a surge of pride and power.

I scanned the crowd, taking in the diverse array of people. Some were young, some were old, and some were in-between. They came from all walks of life, from every corner of the kingdom. But they all had one thing in common: their loyalty to me.

I knew that loyalty was not something that could be bought or demanded. It had to be earned, and I had worked hard to win the hearts and minds of my people. I had led them through tough times, and they had seen firsthand my courage, my wisdom, and my compassion. They knew that I was a different kind of king, one who truly cared for his subjects and would do anything to protect them.

As I spoke to them, my words rang out clear and true. I talked about the challenges that lay ahead, about the enemies that threatened us, and about the opportunities that awaited us. I spoke with conviction, passion, and sincerity, and the crowd hung on my every word.

But as I looked out at them, I saw one face that stood out from the rest. It was Chloe, a young woman who had been with me from the beginning. She had always been one of my most ardent supporters, always there by my side, always ready to fight for me.

But now, as she made her way towards me, I saw something in her eyes that I had never seen before: anger. It was a cold, hard anger, and it chilled me to the bone.

As she stood in front of me, her eyes boring into mine, I felt a knot form in my stomach. I knew that something was wrong, and that whatever it was, it could threaten everything that I had worked so hard to build.

But I didn't let my fear show. Instead, I smiled at her, my voice calm and steady.

"What's on your mind, Chloe?" I asked.

She hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

"I need to talk to you, alone," she said, her voice low and urgent.

I nodded, and motioned for her to follow me off the stage.

As we walked away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. I knew that whatever Chloe had to say, it was going to change everything.

After some time, the Intelligence variant arrived and a few brute force minions followed him. These minions had big boxes in their hands, which I had brought straight from the twin cities. The gold inside the boxes glimmered in the sun, reflecting the hope and joy of my people.

As I stood on the stage, I surveyed the crowd before me. The city was alive with excitement and anticipation. My people had been waiting for this moment for a long time, and now it was finally here.

I had collected a huge amount of gold from those cities, and now it was time to give it to my people. They had worked hard to build this city and had stood by my side through thick and thin. I had promised them that I would provide them with gold and everything they wanted to own, and I intended to keep that promise.

The people gathered before me were a mix of young and old, men and women, and children of all ages. They were dressed in their best clothes, adorned with colorful jewelry and accessories. The children played and laughed, chasing each other around the stage, while the adults chatted and smiled, waiting for their turn to receive their share of the gold.

I had been to several cities and conquered them, but none of those cities had houses like my city. In those cities, houses were available only for the rich, but here every person had a house. The houses were made of rock and wood and had proper roofs, which were seldom seen in any other city. The houses were a symbol of my people's hard work and determination, a testament to their strength and resilience.

The people were provided food in exchange for their services, and they also received clothes. The best thing was that my people didn't have to go to war, so they didn't have to worry about their kids dying. All my people were very happy living under my command. They were grateful for the peace and security that I had provided, and they knew that they could always count on me to protect them.

This happiness was what made them loyal to me. Everything in every world has a price, and I had bought their loyalty for some gold pieces and a little food with a house. This was the price of a normal man's loyalty, and if there was someone who wasn't a normal man, I also knew how to find out their price and seal their mouth.

As my minions distributed the gold pieces, the people cheered and clapped, expressing their gratitude and appreciation. They knew that they were blessed to have a leader like me, a leader who cared for their welfare and was always there to support them.

I was overwhelmed by their love and loyalty, and I knew that I would do anything to protect them and ensure their happiness. As the cheers and chants of "Lord William, Lord William, Lord William!" filled the air, I smiled, knowing that I had fulfilled my promise and that my people would always stand by my side.

I was enraptured by the sheer adulation the people were bestowing upon me. It was a feeling unlike any other I had ever experienced. I reveled in the moment, allowing the sweet sound of my name being cheered to wash over me like a warm embrace.

As I basked in the limelight, I couldn't help but notice Chloe's expression. Her eyes were fixed on me, but they weren't filled with the same admiration as the rest of the crowd. I could see a flicker of irritation in her gaze, as though she was unhappy with the attention I was receiving.

I paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to compose myself before raising my hand. As I did, the previously boisterous crowd fell silent, creating an atmosphere so still that I could hear birds chirping in the distance. The people seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for me to speak.

In that moment, I felt an immense sense of power, and my heart swelled with pride. I began to speak, my voice ringing out across the silent audience.

"So, I promised you gold, did I fulfill my promise? I told you that I would provide you with food, am I fulfilling my promise? I gave you a home, am I fulfilling my promise?"

As I asked these rhetorical questions, I already knew the answers. But I wanted to hear the people's response, to see if they truly appreciated all that I had done for them. And so, I waited.

The crowd erupted into a chorus of voices, assuring me that I had indeed fulfilled all of my promises. I could see their eyes glimmering with gratitude and admiration, and my heart swelled with pride.

"We are now one, my people," I declared, my voice echoing across the square. "Together, we will conquer this world and have everything we could ever desire. But until that day, you must stay by my side."

The crowd cheered in response, some of them chanting my name while others wept with joy. I looked down upon them, feeling a sense of awe and wonder at the devotion they showed me.

As I stepped down from the stage, I mounted my horse, eager to return home and rest after the day's excitement. But as I rode away, I couldn't help but wonder if the people's loyalty would endure in the face of the challenges to come. Only time would tell.