Chapter 372: The Grace of King of Horizon is the Grace of the US
The words that slipped from John's mouth were more than controversial—they were explosive. "It's a good thing that King of Horizon died."
Everyone in the room froze in shock. The statement hung in the air like a stone dropped into still water, sending ripples of disbelief across the faces of those present. King of Horizon, the revered guardian of the US, the very symbol of hope and pride for the people, had fallen. His death had left a gaping wound in the hearts of the nation's citizens, and now, in the wake of that loss, John dared to say it was a "good thing."
The room seemed to stifle its collective breath. No one spoke at first. Hugh, who had always admired John, felt a deep frown settle on his face. His good opinion of the young man had begun to sour. King of Horizon was not just a person; he was an institution, a god-like figure whose death had plunged the US into mourning. To speak of it so callously, especially in front of a room full of influential people, was something no one could have anticipated.
For the people of the US, King of Horizon was an unassailable legend, a figure whose very name evoked a sense of awe. It was unforgivable to speak of his death in such a trivial way. Hugh's disappointment was palpable.
John, however, was unshaken. Sensing the tension in the room, he calmly explained, "It's a good thing that King of Horizon died. There's no malice in my words, nor am I trying to add insult to injury. A man like King of Horizon, who was unparalleled in dignity and strength, had to be someone extraordinary. The face under his dragon-head mask must have been just as noble, as magnificent as his deeds."
The room hung on his every word, but John was just getting started. "It's true—everyone is grieving. His death is tragic, and I feel that loss deeply as well. But the reason I say it's a good thing is because life moves forward. What has happened can't be undone. If we look at it from another angle, we can see that this is not the end. The US has never belonged to one person—it belongs to all of us. King of Horizon was just one of many. His death makes way for another hero to rise, someone as great as him or perhaps even greater."
John's words, delivered in a calm and composed manner, carried an undeniable weight. There was something in the way he spoke, something in the way he looked at each person in the room, that made them reconsider their initial outrage. His voice, steady and resolute, seemed to cut through the tension like a blade.
"The grace of King of Horizon is not bound to one man," John continued. "It lives within the people. Tens of thousands of individuals make up the spirit of the US. So, when one falls, another will surely rise in their place. That's the true legacy of King of Horizon."
As he spoke, it was as if the room itself shifted. The air seemed to grow heavier, filled with a strange sense of awe. For a moment, Hugh and the others could almost feel the spirit of King of Horizon among them, not in his death, but in the words that John had spoken. It was as if John was channeling something greater than himself, something beyond the immediate grief.
John paused for a moment, then stood up with a serene expression. "These are just my personal thoughts. If I've offended anyone with my words, I can do nothing about it. But I believe that King of Horizon's grace is a grace that belongs to the US as a whole. He would not hold it against me."
With that, he gave a brief nod to Hugh and turned to leave.