"Uh..." Tyler had never stood in front of such an intimidating crowd before. He turned to his father behind him on stage, who cheered him on with both fists clenched.
"Tyler's vice president is just his dad?" Thomas muttered from the crowd.
"How are you so calm?!" Wilhelm cried, gripping a handful of his own hair.
"Good morning, Eucadia!"
"It's afternoon!" someone shouted, prompting a wave of laughter. Tyler smiled at the remark, though it made him sweat and feel embarrassed. He took a deep breath, cleared his throat.
"Good afternoon, Eucadia. Today, before me stand people of great ambition. People who wish to turn Eucadia into a utopia. Life lately... it's been repeating, hasn't it? Eat, work, sleep. Eat, work, sleep…"
Thomas nodded, completely agreeing.
"We all want to do more. Ambition… but I'm afraid I can't promote it."
The crowd stirred with murmurs, confused by the unexpected stance.
"What?" Thomas squinted.
"I'd like to redirect our attention to a prophecy—one that isn't preached enough today. A prophecy spoken since the dawn of humanity that we are beginning to forget. I am one of the four chosen by the gods, the Wearer of Wind, and I reiterate the words passed down to us."
The audience quieted. Even James Schwartz and his vice president listened backstage. Alexander, too, stood wide-eyed.
"Pursue one too many. Take one wrong step. Doomsday will arrive as hell rains from the sky. Watched by the angel of death. This belief has kept us safe since the beginning of time. It is what keeps travelers from venturing too far, from being devoured by the beast beyond the sea — Ocean."
"What the f—" Thomas looked to Alexander, who was more engaged than Thomas had ever seen him—except for the time beside the Great Lake Valentina.
"I'm not saying we shouldn't develop as one, I'm not saying we shouldn't chase better. What I'm proposing is a conservative approach to Eucadia. Not a system overhaul, but slow, consistent changes. Gradual improvement, satisfying as many as possible. Let us not forget the prophecy. That's all. Thank you."
He bowed.
There was no initial applause. But Thomas wouldn't let that stand. Even if he didn't agree with Tyler's message, Tyler was still his best friend—and he would support him unconditionally.
Thomas clapped hard and fast. Alexander joined. Their applause swelled and spread, growing into a proper ovation. Not nearly as thunderous as Schwartz's, but enough to satisfy Tyler.
Tyler stepped down, as James Schwartz returned to the front of the stage.
"We will begin the voting process," he announced. "Votes will be distributed now. Write down the name of the president of your choice, then place it in the box to my left." He gestured. "Thank you." A round of applause followed.
———
"Ugh…" The previously knocked-out guard groaned, his eyes fluttering open.
He found himself lying face-down, greeted by a creepily grinning young man squatting beside him.
"Huh?"
"You alright?" the young man tilted his head. He had lush black hair held up with a white headband, dressed casually in a white T-shirt and black cargo pants, a sheathed sword slung on his back.
"Who are you?"
"Ahhh, that doesn't matter," the young man said, lifting the guard's chin. "Who did this to you?"
"This area... is off-limits..." the guard mumbled, still groggy.
The young man's grin faded to exasperation. "Yo. Yooo." He slapped the guard—lightly at first, then harder.
"Wh-what?"
"Who. Did this. To you?"
"Uh… blonde kid… tall dude… someone with pink hair?"
"Yeah, good job buddy. Now get up." He yanked the guard to his feet.
"Ow…"
"Don't let anyone else through again." He strolled casually into the restricted area.
———
"How has no one seen us yet…" Wilhelm whispered, hugging himself anxiously.
"What's more important is—where the fuck is our town leader?" Thomas scanned the area as they approached the voting box.
"Probably backstage, in the resting rooms," Alexander said.
"Well, we can't go back there."
"Oh, we're fucked…" Wilhelm muttered again.
"We're fine, man. Shut up," Thomas replied, submitting his vote.
———
While waiting for the results, the three sat on a bench. Thomas was so bored he fell asleep. Wilhelm remained tense and alert. Alexander scanned the surroundings warily.
Wilhelm peeked at Alexander's fist, then his sword, then his hair.
That punch earlier—it knocked out a guard instantly. Yet Wilhelm could tell it had been pulled.
Thomas frowned in his sleep.
Surrounded by the two of them, Wilhelm's anxiety only worsened. He sighed.
"Alright!" came a sudden energetic voice from the stage, jolting the crowd to attention. It wasn't Schwartz speaking—it was Felix Damen.
Thomas sprang up. "Harh!"
"We'll now announce the results of the presidential election."
Thomas turned to the stage. James Schwartz and his vice president stood behind Felix, confident and composed.
"In third place, with 337 votes—Mark Reacher from Xelz City." Felix gestured to a sharply dressed man in the crowd, whose face was completely obscured by a mask and sunglasses.
The crowd applauded, but Mark didn't move a muscle.
"In second place, with 577 votes—we have Tyler Window from Saisei!"
Weaker applause followed despite the higher vote count.
Tyler stared in disbelief, clapping involuntarily. His father patted his shoulder.
"Fuck! So close!" Thomas exclaimed.
"Schwartz probably has this one," Alexander muttered.
"In first place, with a whopping 1,241 votes—he's standing right behind me—ladies and gentlemen, your new presidents…"
Applause erupted before Felix could finish.
"James Schwartz and his vice president, Caleb Rhys Hawthorne!"
Thunderous cheers filled the air. James stepped forward, pride radiating, as Felix backed off.
"Mr. President," Felix said, tipping his hat. Schwartz nodded.
"Fucking hell," Thomas muttered.
He turned his gaze from Schwartz to the man behind him. Their eyes locked.
"Yes, Eucadia—we will rise and show the gods what we're capable of!" Schwartz declared. "Thank you, everyone!"
Across the crowd, through tossed flags and falling confetti, Thomas Soon and Caleb Rhys Hawthorne stared each other down.
Thomas's eyes were wide. Hawthorne's held contempt.
"Thank you to all my supporters. I don't like wasting time, as I made clear in my speech," Schwartz continued. "I will begin the renewal—right now."
Tyler watched nervously as dozens of men in black emerged from backstage, surrounding the stage.
"First, we must restrict ownership of certain items."
The crowd grew quiet in confusion.
"We will search every household in all three towns. Prohibited items will be confiscated—by force if necessary. Please do not resist. This is for the good of our nation."
Veins bulged in Thomas's forehead as he clenched his fists. Hawthorne's cold gaze remained fixed—like he was simply staring at a nuisance.