Gerard took a deep breath, his voice hesitant and awkward as he continued:
"Six days ago, the monster sealed in the back mountain was about to break free from the seal! It is expected that in thirteen minutes, the academy will face an attack!"
The entire venue fell silent.
A second later, the crowd erupted, with many people in a panic trying to flee the square, and the majority expressing disbelief.
"How is that possible?"
"Why would the monster break the seal? Wasn't Ira with Norm in the back mountain the whole time?"
"The monster is coming, why gather us together? Won't we die if we stay put?"
"Run? Where do you run to? Outside is full of zombies!"
Gerard sighed bitterly, but continued speaking under Clark's signal.
"The academy would never joke about something like this! As for why the seal was broken..."
"The reason is simple!"
His voice raised.
"We have a traitor among us!"
As he spoke, the oilcloth was unveiled. A sudden sound attracted everyone's attention involuntarily to that spot.
Several fire attribute awakened ones simultaneously activated their skills. With their full effort, flames lit up the square, instantly illuminating the previously dim space.
President Gerard, with a righteous expression, pointed his right hand towards that area, his voice passionate and loud, "Ira from the Institute of Technology, for personal gain, sought power and position!"
"Not only that, to eliminate dissidents, he secretly poisoned and killed awakened ones in our institute! He is not only sinister but also attacked and killed classmates like Norm and Edmund!"
"Fortunately in misfortune! Such a cunning and treacherous person was thwarted by Clark, our leader!"
"But due to Senior Norm's negligence, the seal was deceived away by him!"
"And after Ira saw his plan fail, he went insane, intending to kill all the students in the academy! Deliberately destroying the seal!"
On the empty ground, Ira, tied hand and foot, hung from the flagpole.
Clark's gaze remained calm as he watched the president's passionate performance in front of him. Half an hour ago, all the awakened ones had unanimously agreed to shift all blame onto Ira.
Dealing with a minority of high-level awakened ones could involve using force and threats of death. However, for the numerous ordinary players at the bottom, lies and propaganda are the most effective means. Of course, there are opposing voices, but when the new "fireworks" unfolded, everyone chose to remain silent.
The lies were clumsy, but Clark only needed a convincing narrative. Originally, he was contemplating how to deal with the dead awakened ones, as in the eyes of most in the academy, they were outsiders. Killing awakened ones from their own institute and implementing high-pressure military control policies would undoubtedly sow seeds of hostility.
Violently suppressing them would only provoke resistance and be detrimental to early control of the safe zone. As long as Clark appeared as the "hero," all problems would be solved.
"Liars! You're just a bunch of weak and useless liars!"
"A bunch of trash! Do you think if you listen to him, he'll spare you?"
"Don't talk about whether that waste can solve the monster; even if he does, he'll treat you all like dogs!"
Ira, bound to the flagpole, curses frantically. Even in death, he doesn't want to carry the burden of being cursed. Moreover, his death is becoming the wedding garment for Clark, and this is something he cannot accept.
"You idiots who aid the tyrant! Today he can frame me, and tomorrow it might be one of you bound to this pole!"
On the podium, the leadership standing behind Clark remains silent, showing no sympathy for Ira. After all, everyone just wants to survive. The monster was released by Ira, not Clark. Isn't it better to stay obedient and survive? Who knows what will happen in the future?
"Gerard, you old dog! Rot in hell!"
"Even in the afterlife, Norm and I won't let you off!"
"I'll watch as the monster eats you bit by bit! I'll wait for you to join me in the burial!"
"I'm telling you! No one can stop that monster!"
"No one!"
Under Ira's expanded mental influence, his curses echo throughout the entire square, causing many who are unwilling to believe his betrayal to become emotionally charged.
"I don't believe it! Ira is definitely not that kind of person!"
"I don't believe it either! Ira almost died trying to save us from the monster before!"
The students from the Institute of Technology are the most emotionally charged. Ira has always maintained a neutral attitude, and no one believes he would seek power.
Among the awakened ones guarding the crowd, some show a hint of reluctance on their faces. However, under the threat of the monster, they can only believe that Clark has a way to resolve the situation.
On the podium, Gerard is sweating profusely, trying to pacify the crowd with feeble and pale words.
Crying, wailing, cursing, screaming.
Clark remains expressionless, ignoring the almost rioting students below. He had arranged for awakened ones to separate and monitor the students to prevent any potential riots.
"Clark."
Arnold, with no major issues after two consecutive uses of flesh healing under Lynn's shared psychic power, opens the voice chat within the team with some confusion.
"Why not just kill Ira, saving him from spouting nonsense here?"
"If he dies, wouldn't all evidence die with him?"
"If we let him keep cursing like this, I think those students will believe him. After all, we are outsiders."
Lynn also looks at Clark, but she seems to have vaguely guessed Clark's purpose in doing this.
Clark looks thoughtful, glancing at the time before slowly speaking, "What's the point of letting Ira live and speak?"
"There are no perfect lies in this world, and I don't need to waste energy fabricating some."
"In the apocalypse, what I need is not gentle methods or convincing persuasion."
"The methods we implement will undoubtedly be high-pressure violence."
"After tonight, there will inevitably be a purge. I need everyone to fear me."
"The crowd is foolish, blind, selfish, and easily manipulated."
"I don't need their voices, and I don't need their approval. I only need them to unconditionally obey my commands!"
"I want Ira's blood, to show the high-level awakened ones. No matter how clumsy the lie is, as long as I will it."
"You will die."
"I will appear as a savior, just to give them a self-consoling excuse."
"In a situation where people cannot resist, even if I am a false messiah, they will force themselves to believe like clutching at a life-saving straw."
"Ira's betrayal is a release for their future emotions."
"They won't be able to resist me in the future, but they can vent their hatred on him."
"In the future, under high pressure and painful conditions, they can still find a comforting excuse for themselves."
"I, Clark, saved them, so I am not a tyrant."
Arnold was somewhat confused, his mind not fully grasping the situation.
Clark smiled gently. "This example is simple, like a good person who has done good deeds all their life but makes a small mistake before death. People will think of them as a hypocrite, guilty of heinous crimes."
"While a bad person who has done evil deeds all their life, but one day their conscience leads them to do something good, people will consider it a prodigal son turning over a new leaf, harboring good intentions."
"Human nature is sometimes absurd and laughable."
A mysterious gleam flashed in Dirk's eyes as he looked at Ira, bound to the flagpole. Moonlight slowly enveloped a layer of blood mist, with 6 minutes left until the monster broke the seal.
"Like the people behind me."
"Hasn't Ira risked his life for the academy?"
Even if the seal is broken, so what? Essentially, without Ira, they would have died long ago.
"But that doesn't stop them from standing with me, hating him, and slandering him."
Arnold opened his mouth but couldn't find words to say. After a while, he muttered to himself.
"Clark, I feel like we're the villains. But we're clearly here to save them..."
Clark chuckled lightly, patting his shoulder.
"Sometimes, necessary sacrifices and lies are unavoidable."
"After all, kindness and goodness alone cannot save the world."