"I am willing to submit to Lady Imperator!"
"I am also willing to submit to Lady Imperator."
Just as everyone was hesitating, Damian took the lead in stepping forward again, stating his loyalty in a firm voice.
And closely following him, the burly man who had asked the second question also joined the ranks without hesitation.
Seeing this scene, Cerydra nodded slightly.
However, this subtle action made an irrepressible pleasant surprise flash through Damian's eyes.
Because this meant Lady Imperator had accepted his loyalty!
Seeing this, he immediately turned to the still-hesitating crowd, his voice becoming impassioned:
"What are you all still hesitating for?! Joining Lady Imperator's ranks brings a hundred benefits and not a single harm!"
"Think about it. If you don't join, what will you face? Arasaka Heavy Industries' encirclement and suppression!"
At this point, his emotions grew increasingly agitated.
"They won't care about this country's laws anymore, because for these corporations, they are a part of this country!"
"The AMA won't care about us anymore! If you weren't fully aware of this, you wouldn't be standing here!"
After saying this, he took a deep breath, his burning gaze sweeping over the remaining people.
These words acted like a catalyst. When the others heard them, after only a moment of silence, they stepped forward one after another, expressing their willingness to join Cerydra's ranks.
At this point, only a small portion of the people were still hesitating.
Seeing this scene, Damian wanted to speak again:
"What are you still hesitating for? Are you afraid of being sacrificed as pawns?"
Those few people exchanged a glance, none daring to look in the direction of Damian or Cerydra.
Seeing this, Damian understood clearly in his heart.
Thus, he continued:
"You completely don't need to..."
"Damian." But before Damian could finish speaking, Cerydra's cold voice came down from the throne. "You seem to be talking a bit too much."
Damian shuddered and hurriedly bowed, saying:
"I am deeply sorry, Lady Imperator."
After saying that, he silently closed his mouth, stepped aside, and stopped talking.
As for the remaining few people, upon hearing this sudden reprimand, they became even more hesitant. Their eyes dodged, feeling as if they could neither advance nor retreat.
Time passed like this, minute by minute.
When the minute hand moved five ticks, Cerydra, sitting on the throne, spoke again.
"Since that is the case." She closed her eyes. "Then, to those who are unwilling to join, please return."
Those few people who were still hesitating were stunned, and then two of them hurriedly said:
"Lady Imperator! I'll join! I am willing to join!"
"My patience has been exhausted." Cerydra kept her eyes closed, her tone completely flat. "Moreover, I do not need such indecisive subordinates. Therefore, please return."
Seeing this scene, those two still wanted to struggle a bit more.
Clack—
The crisp sound of a piece being placed rang out.
Eight soldiers appeared around these people.
Holding round shields and longspears, they locked their icy gazes onto these few people.
"Please return." Cerydra's voice remained flat, as if the appearance of the soldiers had nothing to do with her. "There will not be a third time. Do not make me say it a fourth time."
As for those surrounded by soldiers, upon seeing this scene, their fear finally overwhelmed their wishful thinking. Under the soldiers' icy stares, they retreated from the hall in panic.
After this group of people walked out of the church hall, the soldiers closed the church doors.
At this time, Cerydra finally opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over those remaining:
"Unrelated personnel have left the premises. Next, tell me your plans."
"Lady Imperator." At this time, a young man wearing glasses stepped forward to speak. "Because your strength is extremely powerful, we will not hide anything. We will directly assemble our elite forces first to eliminate and replace the AMA branch in District 3."
Then, he pushed his glasses up and continued:
"Furthermore, I have already calculated it. When attacking the AMA, with our current strength and intelligence, we can completely annihilate the District 3 AMA branch in one fell swoop without troubling you to make an extra move. We are willing to use this battle as a manifestation to prove our value."
"And my only request is." He bowed slightly. "I hope that during this period, you can sit and guard our strongholds, to prevent Arasaka Heavy Industries from taking advantage of the situation."
After the young man finished speaking, he retreated respectfully.
Immediately after, Damian stepped up again and said:
"Regarding the strongholds, we plan to consolidate the dozens of strongholds we all have combined into ten major strongholds. This will make them easier to defend."
"Reasonable requests." After listening, Cerydra nodded in satisfaction. Then, with a wave of her hand, ten exquisite chessboards appeared beside Damian.
"These ten chessboards are all sub-entities of the main chessboard. Through these sub-chessboards, you can summon all chess pieces except for the Queen and King." Speaking of this, Cerydra paused. "Although the chess pieces on these sub-chessboards are weakened to a certain extent, they are sufficient to handle most situations."
Seeing this, Damian looked at the ten chessboards with an excited expression and said excitedly:
"Thank you, Lady Imperator!"
Afterwards, everyone gave detailed explanations regarding specific combat plans, details of stronghold consolidation, intelligence sharing mechanisms, and so on.
Not long after, Cerydra raised her hand slightly, signaling that they could freely discuss.
Instantly, the solemn hall turned into an intense strategic hub, with voices of various proposals, arguments, and revised plans rising one after another.
Just like this, nearly an hour passed before they finally stopped their discussion.
Cerydra, who had been sitting on the throne listening to their discussion the whole time, spoke upon seeing the discussion end:
"Since you have finished discussing the specific situation, then disperse from here."
And the people below, upon hearing this, respectfully excused themselves one after another, expressing their loyalty and gratitude, and then began to disperse.
Only after the last person besides Damian disappeared outside the main doors did Cerydra slowly stand up, grasping her short scepter, and turn to head towards her room.