She waved her hand to display a set of shocking statistics:
"In the past century, Wizards who died exploring the Abyss: 2,847.
Researchers who died in experimental accidents: 1,923.
Scholars who died from various incurable diseases and erosion aftereffects: 4,651.
And this doesn’t include those permanently disabled due to Magic Overload or Spiritual Contamination."
Lianna’s expression showed a subtle shift, but Ron noticed her physiological response remained exceptionally stable.
"These deaths are the price of our ’Peace Policy.’"
Cassandra continued:
"Had we obtained the life recoding technology from ’Decrypted Civilization’ ten years earlier, those scholars who died of incurable diseases would still be alive now.
If we had mastered the Time Manipulation technique from ’Reaper Civilization’ five years earlier, those Abyss exploration accidents could have been reversed."
Her voice became more agitated:
"Master Lianna, please tell me, letting 2,847 Wizards slowly die in the Abyss, or sacrificing 200 warriors in quick conquest to acquire salvation technology, which is more moral?"
This comparison cast silence over the audience.
The power of numbers is cruel, as it transforms abstract moral debates into concrete comparisons of life.
But Ron keenly noticed that the Magic Power fluctuations of several "skeptics" in the front row showed subtle coordination.
Though they played different roles, their energy frequencies had a certain similar resonance.
"These people are likely arranged in advance..."
He warned himself, beginning to observe the design of the entire speech more carefully.
Cassandra seemed to sense the weakening skepticism and continued her argument:
"I know some people worry that conquest will change our essence, turning us into the aggressors we once despised.
This concern is reasonable, and I too have had similar troubles."
Her expression became complex and profound:
"But during the conquest of the Otherworld, I saw an even harsher truth—in this universe, there are no true ’innocents.’"
The projection changed again, showing several dim nodes marked as "vanished civilization."
These nodes no longer shone, only leaving dark remnants, like tombstones in the universe.
"The ’Harmony Alliance’ of the Fourth Quadrant, a civilization coalition centered on peace and cooperation."
Cassandra’s voice became like a eulogy:
"They established a perfect democratic system, with every decision undergoing countless discussions and votes.
They considered war barbaric, regarded force as a sign of ignorance."
The projection showed the last moments of this alliance:
Beautiful Crystal Cities collapsed instantly, surrounded by twisted tentacles, countless lives disappearing in despair.
"When the ’Walker’ invaded, they were still arguing whether to conduct armed resistance.
By the time the debate finished, the entire alliance had been completely eroded.
Hundreds of nations, trillions of lives, vanished in the historical river due to excessive ’kindness.’"
A middle-aged Wizard tremulously asked from the audience:
"But... but we can resolve conflicts through diplomacy, acquire knowledge through negotiation, why must we choose war?"
This time the questioner’s emotional response appeared more genuine, Ron could feel his genuine fear and confusion within.
Cassandra turned to him, a hint of understanding flashed in her eyes:
"Master Harvis, your thoughts are exactly right under ideal conditions.
Diplomacy and negotiation are indeed more civilized ways to acquire knowledge, and I too prefer this method."
She paused, then her tone became heavy:
"But the problem is, Master Harvis, when the other side doesn’t wish to have an equal dialogue with you, is your diplomacy still effective?"
The projection showed another scene of a civilization’s demise:
"The ’Scholar Republic’ of the Seventh Quadrant focused on accumulating and researching knowledge, their libraries housed wisdom crystals from ten million centuries.
When the ’Mechanical Federation’ launched an attack, they sent the best diplomats, carrying the most valuable knowledge as negotiation chips."
The image showed a group of richly robed scholars standing before the mechanical Legion, holding shimmering knowledge crystals.
"And what was the response of the Mechanical Federation?"
Cassandra’s voice took on a sarcastic tone:
"They killed all the diplomats, seized the knowledge crystals, then continued their attack.
Because in their logic, why trade for a half when you can conquer to obtain the whole?"
This example made the atmosphere below increasingly intense.
Master Harvis opened his mouth but ultimately didn’t say any words of rebuttal.
"This is the reality we face."
Cassandra continued:
"In this harsh universe, only sufficiently powerful civilizations have the right to discuss morality and diplomacy.
The goodness of the weak is often only a joke in the eyes of the strong."
At this moment, a young and angry voice came from below:
"So should we abandon our principles because of this?
Become the aggressors we once accused?
What meaning does such victory still hold?"
Ron turned toward the source of the voice and found the speaker was a young man who seemed to have just recently been promoted to Official Wizard.
Unlike the previous "skeptics," the emotional response of this young Wizard was entirely genuine.
His anger, confusion, and inner moral conflict were clearly reflected in the Magic Power fluctuations.
Cassandra looked at the young man, her eyes showing a certain gentle light: