Chapter 298 Why Support Ionia?
"I..." Silas could no longer speak.
That thin thread of faith explained everything. He failed to use his faith to transcend his personal hatred, and instead his personal hatred distorted his faith in Janna.
"Mr. Silas." Lux said, "What you need is to calm down and think."
"If you still have personal ideas that are different from the organization I believe President Levi will welcome your opinions."
There are also various differences in routes and ideological disputes within the Leaders Association.
Levi also allowed these different voices to exist because he knew that true leaders had no selfish motives. They did not raise opinions out of personal gain, nor to achieve any ulterior political purpose.
So no matter what opinions the leaders put forward, whether radical, conservative, moderate, or even some fantastic and unrealistic opinions, Levi can accept them.
And with Janna around, no matter how intense the conflict of ideas is, it will never evolve into a violent conflict.
All conflicts of ideas and disagreements can be resolved through democratic discussions within the Leaders organization.
"We are not objecting to the fact that you made critical comments, but to the errors in your comments and your impure motives that were overly mixed with personal hatred."
"Do you understand, Mr. Silas?"
"I... understand." Silas sat down dejectedly and fell into deep thought.
After his debate with Lux, the original mages finally realized that Silas's theory itself was problematic. He himself was not even sure that he was right, but he gave up thinking out of hatred.
And it was for exactly the same reason, out of selfish hatred, that they instinctively agreed with Silas's theory.
Now Silas was awakened by Lux's warning.
They woke up naturally.
"So...what should we do now?"
After waking up, I was confused.
The mages all looked at Lux and Sona thoughtfully.
The original plan that Silas had given them was to start a riot to kill Lux and all the Knights of the Crownguard family, creating a wave of terror that would be enough to intimidate enemies of all levels in Demacia.
But now, they have let go of this extreme revengeful thinking of killing an entire family indiscriminately.
And Lux transformed herself from an enemy into their savior and became their guide on the road to becoming a leader.
So, what should they do now?
"That depends on you." Lux said, "If you don't plan to join the Leader for the time being, and don't want to take on the responsibilities of the Leader, and just want to be a liberated free man, then I can let you leave the barracks now."
"You can stay in Zaun, or go somewhere else. It's all fine."
This was a good enough option for the mages. They had been imprisoned in the Forbidden Magic Tower for many years, and what they longed for most was freedom.
If it were a few days ago, before they were exposed to Janna's thoughts, they might have chosen this option without hesitation.
But now…
"What if we want to join the Leader now?" asked the mage who was interested in Janna.
They could all hear the hidden meaning in Lux's words: "What is the 'responsibility of a leader' that we have to bear?"
"Fight!" Lux straightened her thin body in heavy armor and said with a firm look: "Follow me to Ionia and fight Noxian imperialism!"
"This..." The mages were stunned.
This option...isn't it the same as what Demacia originally asked them to do?
Before the Wind Leader came, they had to go to Ionia as cannon fodder. After the Wind Leader came, they had to go to the Ionian battlefield. Then wouldn't the Wind Leader's visit be in vain?
No one was able to wrap their heads around it for a moment.
"No, this is different." Lux said righteously: "Demacia used coercion to force you to fight for the kingdom, but here in Windleader, you have a choice."
"What we need is not mindless cannon fodder, but international fighters for democracy with faith."
"Hmm..." The mages nodded. Yes, this is indeed different.
They can choose whether to go to the battlefield or not.
But the question is... since they have a choice, why would they choose this option which is obviously more disadvantageous?
"We are Demacians. We have never been to Ionia."
"Why would we travel thousands of miles to fight for these Ionians we don't even know?"
Lux only replied: "Because..."
…
Similar questions and conversations actually occur not only among these Demacia mages.
In these days, such conversations have taken place in many places and many homes in Zaun.
Just like right now, at Zeli's house.
"Mom." Zeli was tidying up her "unruly" green hair in front of the mirror, and she shouted anxiously behind her: "Have you adjusted my alchemical battery jacket?"
"It's almost time for me to report to the military camp."
As one of the few naturally awakened mages in Zaun, and now a firmly second-tier fighter among the Wind Leaders, Zeli responded to the call of the organization almost without hesitation and without hesitation, and took the initiative to sign up for the "Ionian International Column" that was about to go to the battlefield.
Zeli's fighting enthusiasm is extremely high.
But her parents were not so enthusiastic.
"Zeli." The mother reluctantly handed her daughter the alchemical battery jacket that she had carefully adjusted many times.
This is a piece of equipment she invented specifically for her daughter. It can help Zeli store the excess electrical energy and provide her with extra energy during battle, making her lightning magic even more powerful.
The jacket itself is a sign of the mother's recognition and support for Zeli's signing up for the war.
But when her daughter took the jacket, put it on carelessly, and was finally ready to leave the house and go to the battlefield, her mother couldn't help but grab her arm:
"Zeli, let's not go, okay?"
Zeli's mother seemed to have suddenly changed her mind: "Why don't you stay in Zaun and do research in the scientific equipment department or provide technical support to the construction team? Isn't that also contributing to the organization?"
"Why would you go all the way to Ionia to fight those Noxians?"
"Mom..." Zeli tried to break free from her mother's hand.
But her mother, an ordinary person, was surprisingly strong at this time. Zeli tried to break free, but couldn't.
"Ah..." Zeli could only mutter quietly: "Mom, haven't we talked about this?"
"I went to fight in Ionia, not for anything else, but because I am the Leader. For the ideals of the Leader, we should support Ionia."
"Mom, you've also heard of President Levi 's 'Theory of Continuous Progress', right?"
Levi mentioned this in his previous speech "We Should Make Zaun Disappear":
In a globalized order dominated by socialism, it is impossible for a single city-state or country to build a truly harmonious society on its own.
To truly realize the great ideal of Lord Gana, leaders must keep moving forward and keep fighting.
The Leader must succeed not only in Zaun, but also in Piltover, Ionia, Noxus, Demacia... …everywhere in Runeterra.
Only when the wind of change blows to every corner of the world can the leader achieve initial success in the path to his ideal...
Yes, even if the Wind Leader unified the Runelands, it can only be said to be a preliminary success compared to that distant ultimate goal.
If we don't leave Zaun, then the entire Janna-led cause won't even be considered a preliminary success. We can only say that it is a huge improvement compared to the past.
"That's why we have to leave Zaun and support Ionia."
"We are not only helping the Ionians defend themselves against the invasion of the Noxian Empire, but we are also helping ourselves and helping the goddess Janna spread the faith of the Winds of Change in Ionia."
"For the leaders, stagnation is a slow death. Only by using faith to unite Zaun, Ionia, more places and more people together, can we have hope for ultimate victory."
"And..." Zeli was about to say something else.
But her mother interrupted her: "I know, I know everything!"
"You are the leader, and you have your own beliefs. I also know what President Levi's theories are about."
She understands the truth.
But as a mother, she just wants to say:
"Theory is theory, but in reality, fighting is deadly! There are thousands of leaders in Zaan, why do you have to go?"
"Can't we just let other people's children go?"
