With Candice's assistance, Elashia finally managed to put on the moon-white imperial robe symbolizing Elasia Empire's highest authority, and without any rest, sat in the carriage arranged by Cecilia.
Sitting in the carriage heading to the Imperial Theater, Elashia felt unprecedented nervousness.
The reason was simple: she had been anxious all day but prepared almost nothing for the speech.
"It's over, it's over, why would the system give me such a difficult task..."
Complaining about the system in her heart, Elashia was on the verge of tears.
Steadying herself, Elashia forced herself to calm down.
Regardless, her image in the soldiers' eyes should still be quite good.
After all, after her coup, she had Candice distribute the military salaries that had been withheld for a year, and also canceled the policy that imperial guard families must be monitored.
"Calm down, calm down, I just need to properly explain the danger and sacredness of the mission."
Elashia summoned her courage and walked into the open-air Royal Theater.
[Task Completed]
[Task Reward: Striving Me (skill)]
[Striving Me: Your voice carries strong persuasive power. During speeches, you enter the [Striver] state, greatly enhancing your speech skills. As a leader, you won't be underestimated or discriminated against due to your appearance. This effect weakens as the relationship between subordinates and the host grows closer]
Elashia's nervous mood immediately relaxed.
Not bad, this skill indeed removed her worries!
Previously, Elashia's biggest concern was being underestimated by soldiers because of her girlish appearance.
Although this was a world without much discrimination, being commanded by a young girl would still make soldiers feel somewhat uneasy.
But now what was there to fear!
Elashia walked toward the center of the open-air theater.
The Elashia Royal Theater was indeed large, arranged somewhat like the stadiums from before Elashia's transmigration.
The spacious stage was surrounded by towering oval audience seats, a layout that reminded Elashia of the Roman Colosseum she had seen on television.
"It's so big."
Elashia sighed as she entered the inner area.
If only it could be demolished and the construction cost refunded.
Unfortunately, that wasn't possible.
Finally reaching the center of the theater, Elashia looked around.
All thirty thousand troops sat with proper posture, their eyes alert and fixed on her.
Cecilia sat in the audience, giving her a thumbs up, indicating she could begin.
One couldn't help but admire Cecilia's skill in commanding troops. That the full thirty thousand soldiers could remain completely silent in the theater was simply unimaginable.
But with thirty thousand people silently staring at her, Elashia was indeed somewhat nervous.
She knew she couldn't let the silence persist too long and must start speaking quickly.
Using an unfamiliar spell to amplify her voice, Elashia nervously began her speech to the soldiers.
"I'm... very pleased to meet you all, soldiers..."
Before she could finish her first sentence, the system's prompt appeared.
[Large crowd detected focusing on host, skill automatically activated]
Elashia instantly felt her previous nervousness vanish in an instant!
Countless words suddenly emerged from Elashia's brain, which had no preparation whatsoever!
"But, everyone, I must tell you that many of your lives will be lost within the next three months!"
Seeing the soldiers' expressions change dramatically upon hearing these words, yet remaining silent due to discipline, Elashia waved her hand.
"I permit you to discuss!"
As soon as Elashia finished speaking, the soldiers indeed began discussing quietly.
"What? What did Her Majesty say?"
"We... will die?"
"Is this expedition particularly dangerous?"
"The expedition order only mentioned going on campaign!"
Elashia continued speaking.
"For this expedition, we have two missions!"
Elashia raised one finger.
"First, to completely eliminate the bandits entrenched in northern Elasia Empire! To resolve the bandit problem that has plagued the Elasia Empire for a thousand years! And to simultaneously eradicate all the goblins currently rampaging in the north!"
The soldiers' discussions reached Elashia's ears again.
"Ah, is Her Majesty serious?"
"We're going to eliminate bandits, really?"
"Even when the Elasia Empire was at its strongest, they failed to eliminate the bandits!"
Without giving soldiers time to accept this difficult fact, Elashia continued:
"Moreover, I can tell you now, according to absolutely reliable intelligence, a beast tide of extremely powerful magical beasts will soon sweep through Elasia from the empire's northern border!"
"In three months, if you can complete the previous mission alive, then I will order you to use your flesh and blood to hold this disaster outside the city walls!"
"The power of this beast tide far exceeds your imagination. I fear that of your army of thirty thousand, fewer than a few thousand will return alive!"
Elashia's words almost directly ignited the audience.
"What? Isn't that sending us to our deaths?"
"Damn! I can't go!"
"It's over, it's over..."
Elashia changed her tone again.
"I know none of you want to go! I don't want to go either! But—we must go!"
From below came the soldiers' private murmurs.
"What, Her Majesty is going too?"
"Ah, Her Majesty is going too?"
"Wow, I can accompany Her Majesty! Hehe, then I must go."
Ignoring some strange comments, Elashia continued:
"Because if we don't go, the Elasia Empire will face destruction under the threat of magical beasts and bandits!"
"If Elasia is destroyed, not only will Elasia's people face death! The Iron Empire to the west will also face attacks from the beast tide! And aid to the Holy Kingdom in the east will be impossible to provide!"
The soldiers stopped their private discussions and quietly listened to Elashia's subsequent speech.
"Everyone, you are not fighting for me, Elashia, nor for the Elasia royal family!"
"You are fighting for everyone in the Elasia Empire, including yourselves! Moreover, you are fighting for humanity!"
Under the effect of [Striving Me], the sound of "fighting for humanity" resonated like a thunderous bell, echoing repeatedly in the open-air theater.
This phrase "fighting for humanity" was being heard for the first time by Elasia Empire's soldiers. Upon close observation, almost every soldier's face showed shock and unfamiliarity.
And this was one of Elashia's goals.
She wanted to gradually transform "for Elasia" into "for humanity" and finally into "for all living beings of the Abyss Marsh continent."
Gradually broadening the perspective of the human side.
Shifting people's subconscious conflicts from internal to external.
At this moment, the theater was completely silent, with tens of thousands of people maintaining silence.
Although it was their first time hearing this phrase, under the enhancement of Elashia's [Striving Me] skill, the soldiers were genuinely stirred by the slogan "fighting for humanity."
"Everyone! Today I permit you to leave the Elasia Imperial Guard!"
"Faced with this unprecedentedly powerful enemy and disaster, choosing to give up is not shameful! Against such a powerful enemy, I do not need soldiers without ideals!"
"What I must tell you is—whether you choose to be ordinary people protected by others, or heroes pioneering the future and hope, you are all my beloved subjects!"
"Whether to choose to join me in ending the stubborn ailment that has plagued Elasia since its founding a thousand years ago, or to lay down your weapons today—the power of choice is in your hands!"
"Because time is extremely urgent, I require you to make your decision within three days!"
"If you are afraid, then you need not participate in tomorrow's assembly. Soldiers who don't assemble tomorrow will be automatically considered withdrawn."
"But if you wish to join us in pioneering humanity's future, using the weapons in your hands and your lives to protect your own and others' happiness..."
"Then please, return to your units tomorrow morning, and submit one thing..."