I Really Didn't Mean To Be The Saviour Of The World

Chapter 833: Chapter 498: A Speech_1

The next day, Harrison Clark gathered Neville Brown, Nora Camp, Geoffrey Carnegie, and the current highest leaders of the Shadow Galaxy, including the elders from the Sage Institute, into the top-secret quantum network channel newly established by Freddy’s.

First, Harrison let Yvonne Wallace, Idrisi, and other researchers explain the progress of their research in detail.

Ultimately, several joint committee members from the Scientific Committee present at the meeting reached a conclusion: the opponent should not be treated as a real civilization, and all products of the Compound Eye Civilization should be treated as special rules in other characteristic planetary systems within the Orion Arm.

Conventional methods of dealing with other intelligent civilizations no longer make sense.

If the two parties were in peace, they might gradually increase their understanding through slow exchanges, and humans would have the opportunity to come into contact with a peculiar civilization that expands rapidly like bacteria, without history, emotion, and eventually leaving their planetary system and even their own galaxy group.

If the exhaustive statistical combinational biotechnology of the Compound Eye Civilization could be combined with human imagination and creativity, along with the immense computing power of the stars, then humans could…

Unfortunately, this is merely imaginary, as there is currently no possibility of peace between the two sides.

There is only one option: war.

All must wait until the war is over, until mankind is annihilated, or until mankind achieves final victory and enslaves the opponent in the Virgo Cluster.

Harrison expressed that although the idea just now is a bit dreamy, it is always necessary to have dreams.

Since mankind has been annihilated nine times, it would not be excessive to eternally enslave the opponents if there is a day of victory in the future.

“Alright, that’s the main focus of the Academy’s work going forward. Next topic.”

Subsequently, the main topics discussed focused on whether to announce the research conclusions and how much to announce.

With practically no disagreement, the leadership team quickly made a decision.

Of course, they would announce the news, with the sole purpose of completely eliminating the fear in the hearts of the people.

Even if it means forcibly boosting morale, self-anesthesia is acceptable, but they must establish strong confidence in the hearts of the more than 600 billion remaining military and civilian personnel in the Shadow Galaxy.

If this were a time of peace, the decisions of the authorities would be suspect for lowering the people’s intelligence.

But in exceptional times, exceptional measures must be taken.

Kindness alone cannot keep more people alive, but facing destruction, the concerted efforts of all people can provide a glimmer of hope and exhaust all the power in this timeline, laying the foundation for the next battle.

So, the decision-makers made this plan.

First, they would fully announce the current research conclusions, use scornful language to inform all those who are partially informed or uninformed that the enemy is just garbage that cheats and tricks its way through development.

Second, they would popularize the “battle songs” in full, listing all the inspirational songs in history and strongly recommending them in the name of the sages. Without a doubt, Carrie Thomas and Avril Green will have a heavy presence in this playlist.

Third, Harrison Clark himself would issue a public statement to the entire population.

The significance of this seemingly simple speech goes without saying.

According to the military command, the statement would be drafted by Neville Brown, then discussed in conjunction by multiple departments such as the Sage Institute, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Literature and Staff Department, and further supported by deep processing from the stars.

Freddy will compare it with the important speeches of great ancient people from past to present and finalize the draft.

This seemingly perfect decision was rejected by Harrison Clark.

There is no other reason, it is because in this meeting, he just gave the speech on the spot.

He waved his hand, “No need for such trouble, I will just share my heartfelt thoughts first. Needham Brown had previously accused me, he thought I was an extreme pessimist, and that I didn’t consider any of you or anyone else along this timeline. He said I put my hope only in the future, waiting for others to take my place on the battlefield, and to pick up the fruits of victory. What do you think?”

If this had been in the past, Needham Brown’s “rebellious” words might have been a little reasonable.

But things are different now; he has already proven much.

A core elder of the Sage Institute stepped forward to exculpate Needham Brown, who was still recovering.

“General Brown’s words were not meant that way, it was actually a script that we had drafted, and General Brown was just reading from it. He himself respects the Sage no less than anyone else. If you want to blame anyone, blame us.”

Harrison shook his head, “I don’t care if his words were sincere or not, that’s not important. I don’t mean to blame anyone.”

The crowd was at a loss.

“Needham Brown was right, really. That’s how I thought about it.”Harrison Clark’s words were truly startling.

Everyone was confused, and there was a bit of unrest in the crowd.

When it had almost settled down, Harrison laughed, “Don’t be shocked. You don’t understand because you’ve never experienced everything I’ve been through. You can try to imagine and put yourself in my shoes, but you can only know the facts of my journey through the timelines without understanding the reasons behind them.”

“No matter how historical records describe me or how the Sage Institute packages me, it doesn’t matter. I am not as glorified as they make me out to be. You know that I was an ordinary person, but you can’t comprehend the loneliness of struggling to survive in the 21st century with limited productivity.”

“A lot of things cannot be understood from historical records. Only when you truly experience the old times and taste life bit by bit can you discern their essence. In the 31st century, even without a job, there is food, clothing, and shelter, and big houses. That wasn’t possible in my time. My parents only gave me life and left me with no resources to improve my life. I had to struggle on my own.”

“I didn’t even have the energy to care about next year. Every day, I was figuring out how to survive tomorrow, and the months after that. I didn’t even have a house of my own in the city. I lived without a place to call home, working in an environment I didn’t like, dealing with detestable people, all for a meager income. I was so insignificant that a rich second generation just needed to lift a finger to crush me. I had to put all my effort into breathing.”

“So, at first, I was not even ordinary, but downright humble. When I realized the situation I was in and the immense responsibility I faced, I almost went insane. If I hadn’t constantly reminded myself that it’s okay to lose this time, I’ll make it next time, and the time after that… and countless times after, I would have collapsed long ago.”

Bang!

“But I didn’t! Because I have never had any unrealistic expectations!”

Harrison slapped the table again, “So what if I think like Needham Brown said? So what if I lose this time? So what if I keep placing my greatest hope in the future? Without the sacrifices of everyone in the past eight timelines, how could we have the present Morrowind Empire, or a vast territory spanning 5,000 light-years? How could we have fought our enemies for a hundred years?”

“You must know that in the first timeline, all of humanity only lasted a few seconds! We didn’t even see the face of the Compound-Eyed Observer, let alone figure out what happened. So, what’s wrong with working hard for a future you can’t see? Why is it that the past you can sacrifice for the present you, but the present you is not willing to sacrifice for the future you?”

“Did you in the past have a choice? No! They didn’t even know the meaning of their sacrifice! If someone really agrees with Needham’s words, their resolve will truly waver. Such a person should repent.”

“Moreover, do you in the present have a choice? No, you don’t! But despite the harsh reality, we have come this far step by step. We captured a Prism Ship, captured a living Compound-Eyed Observer, and forced them to use the Dome to temporarily cease hostilities.”

“The peace we have now is not a gift from anyone but the evidence of our progress! The Compound Eye Civilization has slowed down its aggression, not because it’s become kinder, but because it’s afraid! They’re afraid we’ll expand our achievements, afraid we’ll capture a second Prism Ship. They fear death, but they fear losing more! Do you understand?”

Harrison’s words were eventually taken out as they were and treated as the final version.

During the meeting, Harrison also vetoed another proposal.

It was Neville Brown’s proposal to clarify the rights and responsibilities of Harrison as the supreme leader.

Harrison refused.

He felt the others were doing a great job, and there was no need for him to covet the empty title. He could just be a spiritual leader.

Besides, commanders should mostly stay in the rear, focusing on the overall situation as much as possible.

With his personal strength, it would be a waste to be a mere commander and not to make the best use of everyone’s talents.

Just as the meeting was over, Freddy’s virtual image appeared before Harrison.

There had been a breakthrough in the “interrogation” of the Compound-Eyed Observers.

With his mind gradually stabilized, Freddy, Star, and Horatio formed a huge team to crack the case.

They referred to the exhaustive statistical knowledge of the Compound Eye Civilization and gradually deciphered the mental defenses of the Observers, penetrating their minds completely.

Although they didn’t obtain any historical materials or language texts, they dug out all the memory images from the minds of the seven Observers.

These pieces of information would benefit humanity’s future tactics and speed up researchers’ work on decoding the Prism Ship’s functions, such as what the remaining equipment was for, the function of the stored materials, and the manufacturing method of the warp engine.

Each piece was valuable information.

Harrison casually praised them, “Well done, keep it up.”

The team’s morale was instantly boosted.

Harrison looked at the flushed faces of everyone and felt at a loss for words.

Sigh.

I just made some nice comments. Do you have to be so excited?

It’s hard for people in high positions to be faced calmly.

Oh, right, how come the big head hasn’t recovered yet? I’m getting anxious.