Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Benevolence?
The sun was shining brightly, and the air was warm.
On the plaza in front of the Capitol Building, there was a bustling crowd. Jupiter, dressed in a stylish black suit and a black silk dress, looked both professional and stunning. She wore black glasses and was busy setting up cameras. Journalists from various media outlets, as well as reporters from different countries, had rushed here from Anchorage once again.
She coordinated with the police officers dispatched to maintain order and, seeing large crowds holding banners with messages like "Justice," "Divine Being," and "Welcome to Rule," she expressed satisfaction. She then glanced at H'el, who was sunbathing on the Capitol Building, smiled knowingly, and continued to maintain order on the square.
H'el's actions throughout the night had been reported on television and the internet. The behavior of over eight million criminals, their heinous acts, and their shocking actions had left people appalled. Before H'el had eliminated them, people had never realized how low the moral bottom line of humanity could go, how one human could manipulate another in such grotesque ways.
With the revelations on television and the internet, a large number of people holding banners of justice flooded in, passionately supporting H'el.
When everything was ready, H'el, who had been sunbathing lazily, opened his eyes and began to hover in the air, heading towards the podium where microphones were set up.
The passionate crowd below, as if they had seen a god from their faith, reached out their hands, stretching them as high as they could, as if their joints would break just to touch H'el's feet.
In just one night, H'el's reputation had done a complete 180-degree turn. From a terrifying alien, he had risen to become a just angel, a divine being of justice, and humanity's guardian, among other positive titles.
H'el arrived at the podium, causing a frenzy of cheers.
With a slight yawn, he started speaking.
"First, it took me seven hours to conquer this nation, just to show the world what I can achieve. Now, I ask that leaders of various countries voluntarily cooperate and transition power. I can't be bothered to engage in mass killings."
"Second, Dawn has already selected a group of humans to be promoted as mayors to manage cities on my behalf."
"I have transferred ten million US dollars to your accounts, which is your first month's salary to ensure your well-being. Furthermore, each mayor has a quota of a hundred deaths. Whether you have grudges or not, if you find anyone obstructing your governance or my orders in any way, whether you dislike them, or they were once your object of hatred and jealousy, regardless of the reason, as long as they hinder your management of the city, you can issue a death quota to Dawn and have them executed."
"Work hard, mayors. I look forward to you managing my cities better, and I request that you abide by my laws. Mayors can be replaced."
"I have no intention of forcing anyone. If the humans selected by Dawn are unwilling to be promoted and work for me, they are free to leave voluntarily."
"Furthermore, regardless of whether you are sincere or not, as long as you are willing to contribute to the creation of a grand empire for me, come under my banner."
"Thirdly, after Earth is unified, Dawn will identify the top one thousand subordinates who have made the greatest contributions and bestow upon them superpowers."
"This won't take long, at most a year from now."
"Even if it's a year from now, there will be a thousand superhumans."
"Work for me and work for yourselves, everyone."
A tremendous roar erupted as H'el's words echoed.
If having millions of dollars as mayors was enviable, and a hundred death quotas were terrifying, then the offer of superpowers was pure, unbridled madness and desire.
Having witnessed H'el emerge unscathed from a nuclear explosion and casually unleash attacks at a nuclear level, people couldn't help but covet such godlike abilities.
Even if they weren't as powerful as H'el, being able to fly, shoot lasers from their eyes, or possess immense strength would already be abilities that humans could only dream of.
Around the world, people watching television were breathing rapidly, their bodies covered in goosebumps, overcome with excitement.
H'el's momentum had become unstoppable, sweeping across the globe.
No one was thinking about defeating H'el or stopping him anymore. Instead, they were thinking about becoming his subordinates and contributing to the empire he was building.
After all, there were only a thousand slots, a rare opportunity for the 7 billion people on Earth.
But only the extremely intelligent ones understood that it wasn't a competition against the other 7 billion. It was about competing against the remnants of the old era who couldn't contend with H'el, the leaders who had to step down immediately at H'el's display of overwhelming power. They would regret it for the rest of their lives if they couldn't pledge allegiance to H'el.
Instead, the new mayors, with the money and a hundred death quotas at their disposal, would find their orders unquestionably obeyed, making them virtually unstoppable. They would be able to pass their policies without any hindrance, feeling an unstoppable surge of power.
The only ones competing for these positions would be those chosen by Dawn to become mayors or other subordinates.
They were all independent individuals, new members of H'el's camp, entangled by their shared interests. Under H'el's influence, they would fervently support him and abandon their pasts.
They were full of energy, passion, impulsiveness, and ideas. Inspired by H'el, they would tirelessly pursue their personal ambitions and the chase for superpowers.
H'el would make them the new power players in this emerging empire.
A thousand superhumans, that number was enormous, so much so that everyone felt they had a chance, as if it were within reach.
Seeing the crowd excitedly blushing and agitated in front of him, H'el smiled with great satisfaction.
In the midst of the crowd, there was a massive outburst of cheers. People shook banners that read "Justice Angel" and cheered passionately, treating him as if he were a deity who had created the heavens and earth anew.
Wave after wave of sound erupted into the sky, scorching and stirring hearts.
It took a while for the excitement to subside, and everyone's fervent gazes remained fixed on the smiling H'el.
"Now, please, my journalist friends, ask your questions."
Jupiter stood elegantly to the side, her posture poised as she held a microphone, her heart pounding slightly as she anticipated the proceedings.
The people around, faces flushed with excitement, fell into a hushed silence, all eyes turning towards the group of journalists.
Among the journalists, a young man dressed in a plaid shirt and slacks, with a thin and bookish appearance, stood up. He looked like a typical nerd.
"I know, I know, the leaders of all the major countries, the whole world has misunderstood you. You're not evil. On the contrary, you're injecting new life into the people of Earth, uniting the planet and ushering humanity into a new realm. You are a friend to humanity, a guardian angel for mankind. You are kind-hearted. Let us all warmly applaud and formally welcome the arrival of a true benevolent god!"
The young man was very excited, frothing at the mouth as he spoke, his face turning red with his passionate words. He finished by clapping his hands vigorously, leading the entire group of journalists to applaud as well, and the enthusiasm quickly spread to the surrounding crowd.
The entire Capitol building echoed with enthusiastic applause and cheers of approval.
H'el looked deeply at the young man, seeing his name badge: Kevin. His initially calm face, which had borne a smile, became tranquil again, and he responded calmly, "I am not kind-hearted."
"Eight million criminals have been executed, and in one night, you saved countless families. You are the Justice Angel, the Jesus descending upon us, a deity deserving of the people's sincere devotion, merciful and kind..."
Kevin was fervent, filled with wild zeal, like a fanatic who had seen a real god. He hadn't finished his sentence...
*Swoosh*
A tremendous pressure, like a roaring tsunami, bore down on everyone.
The air seemed to have weight, becoming thick and viscous, making it difficult for anyone to breathe. H'el's eyes turned crimson, and his heat vision was on the verge of activation as he gazed at Kevin, calmly stating, "I said, I am not kind-hearted."
It felt as though an invisible hand had clutched everyone's throats, and a sense of gloom descended upon them. The pressure was so intense that people dared not even breathe. The red glow in H'el's eyes caused the enthusiastic atmosphere to sink into the depths.
At this moment, they remembered H'el emerging unscathed from a nuclear explosion, forming a nuclear explosion with ease, and killing eight million humans. The silent trembling and fear resurfaced.
Under the scrutiny of H'el's gaze, Kevin felt as if H'el were a mountain charging straight at him, as if his very blood was solidifying. Kevin clenched his frozen heart, his eyes filled with determination. He bit his tongue fiercely, the pain and the taste of blood helping him break free from the crushing fear.
Kevin's face showed unwavering determination, and he appeared even more fervent than before. Staring at H'el with wide eyes, he passionately exclaimed, "No, you are kind-hearted!"
"Your actions have shown us."
"You have slaughtered eight million criminals, bringing a fresh start to this nation."
"You conquered this nation, reminding the nations of the Earth not to resist. You despise bloodshed, you abhor war, and you abhor killing, which is why you started here, to prevent widespread bloodshed on Earth."
"You have granted the privilege of a hundred death quotas to each city's mayor, allowing the new mayors to crush the old system's influence with the strongest backing."
"You have swiftly ruled the Earth with the utmost determination, maintaining order and protecting civilians. The faster you act, the fewer civilians die."
"You say you're not kind-hearted, but you have never harmed civilians of your own accord. You've repeatedly reminded and maintained order, all to protect civilians."
"You possess superhuman abilities beyond ordinary people, yet you're willing to share them with humanity."
"You are humanity's guardian, the Justice Angel sent by God to usher humanity into a new era. You are so benevolent and kind, there is no one greater and kinder in this world."
Kevin was practically out of his mind, stubbornly confronting H'el's fiery gaze. His face was turning purple from his fervent words, and his voice was hoarse as he roared passionately.
In the live broadcast, there was only Kevin's passionate voice, which seemed to cut through the heavy atmosphere. His impassioned shout pierced the heavens.
H'el remained expressionless, his gradually intensifying heat vision piercing through the tank-like armor of the atmosphere, aimed at the human who was revealing his true feelings.
Suddenly, he chuckled uncontrollably.
H'el lightly shook his head, chuckling with amusement, and his heat vision gradually receded from his eyes.
Sunlight bathed his face, giving it a golden sheen.
Kevin's heart, which had been lifted, dropped back to its place. He couldn't help but break into a smile, inwardly roaring with the thrill of success!
Seeing H'el's fiery gaze recede and his amused chuckles, Kevin couldn't contain his joy. The reporters behind him started clapping enthusiastically, and the applause quickly spread among the audience. Even those in the distance couldn't help but get excited, waving their flags and praising Kevin loudly.
Amidst the more passionate and fervent cheers and celebrations than ever before...
In the next moment...
With a slight shake of his head and a chuckle, H'el's eyes quickly turned crimson. Two beams of heat vision shot out, slicing Kevin, who had been smiling, diagonally in half. The heat vision extended to the reporters behind, cutting through them like wheat. Bodies flew in all directions, blood sprayed wildly, causing panic and chaos.
°°°
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