3 WHAT DO WE STAND FOR?

"I want to speak with them." The crowned prince exuded an aura of authority and bravery. His father, the king raised his brow in amusement but did not question him. Rather, he was interested in hearing what his little Titan had to say so he asked "You need me to interpret your signs?"

He began to use his fingers again, pointing, circling, marking, and even stamping various parts along his torso.

"No! Adviser Cain should do it, I wouldn't want the ministers to misunderstand my point. You've done enough already."

After signing, he bowed and faced the crowd again leaving his father stupefied.

'Little Titan' is only eight but he speaks like an emperor in his eighties. If I didn't know better, I would have thought he was a reincarnate of an ancient autocrat. No one dares to talk to the king in that manner well no one except this Titan who wasn't particularly speaking.'

King George was lost in his thoughts when he noticed someone's continual stare. He looked at little Titan and his next sign made him chuckle. He signed asking, "Do you need me to send for mother before you deliver my message?"

The king raises his hand signaling his adviser to make his way to the front of the podium. The adviser was caught off guard at first because from where he stood, he could not see the sign conversation between the duo so he had no idea what they signed about.

He went in front of the podium and bowed to the king then diverted his gaze to the prince and bowed. The king adjusted his attire, held on to his scepter then pinched the area between his brow before sitting upright. If anyone were to be in the adviser's shoes they'd be sweating profusely. Only God knew what the prince must have said to the king that warrants such a serious expression.

The adviser began to think of everything he had done for the entire week but after a lot of thought, he realized that he had not even seen the prince for a while now. Was he here on behalf of someone else? Sweat beads began to appear on his forehead before his thoughts got cut short by the King's words.

"The prince wants to address this court and he wants you to interpret what he would like to say," he said nonchalantly narrowing his gaze at the adviser.

The ministers murmured amongst themselves. This was the first time a minor would address the court and it didn't feel right even though he was the crown prince. They were discussing such an important matter yet he claimed he had something to say. What did he take them for? A bunch of pets who would listen to his gibberish? What exactly did he even have to say? Is he thinking this is a place for children or is he about to ask for candy?

Even the adviser was petrified. 'This life is not fair, I almost peed my pants. And in the end, this?' He thought to himself, feeling wronged.

The king raised his brow and glared at the adviser exclaiming his words "Carry on!"

Facing the king, adviser Cain was sure this time that he would mess his pants up. "Cough... Cough... Your royal highness, whenever you're ready."

From the top of the podium, little Titan began to use signs, and the adviser who was at the ground level interpreted his signs.

"The Leo clan is at the highest rank at the hierarchy of clans and it had remained like that for ages. Going against them would mean risking everything we have. Our resources, our manpower, our warriors, our security, properties, and even our lives.

They can extend their power so easily; just like how it is easy to drink liquor at an event."

King Zhelang furrowed his brow and felt uneasy, thinking that this wasn't what he expected. But then again what was he expecting. He wanted to stop Titan from making things worse but decided to remain calm and trust his child's words.

Listening to his unspoken words, the ministers nodded in acknowledgment. He is making sense after all. They thought.

He continued this time with a more serious expression.

"And we the Lynx clan. What are we?" He paused for a while before continuing with every word carrying power more than the former.

"Are we a bunch of weak..... Cough... Em... Are we a bunch of weaklings who can not extend our power because of the Leo clan? Tell me, what do they possess that we don't have? What? Warriors? We have hundreds of thousands of soldiers who are willing to defend this clan. If it's because their men are well built then what are our men for? Are they just lazy... Em... Lazy buffalo...who just sit at home and enjoy the comfort of their wives?"

'Oh my! You are only eight. How do you know all these.' Thought the adviser.

"Are we just going to sit in our houses and wait for the day that the Leo clan would steal our homes, enslaved our people, and rape our women and children? Are you going to wait until the day your children become slaves before you know you should have taken proactive measures to protect our people?

Are you all just going to fold your arms filling your pockets with golds and bellies with wine foolishly waiting for our inevitable doom? Maybe you can but I know our ancestors will be ashamed of what we've become."

He paused for a while again which caught his interpreter who was deeply immersed in the topic off guard; allowing his words to sink into their heads before speaking again.

"We might be fewer in number compared to the Leo clan, we may not have enough war tools or weapons, hell!!! We might even be weaker than they are but.... (He took another pause then continued), what we lack in numbers, we make up for in tactics; what we lack in weapons, we make up for in bravery and what we lack in strength, we make up for in speed. (At this point the blood of some of the ministers was already boiling with excitement.)

We can either take a step now or just wait till the day that our bodies would become food for ravens and our heads displayed on spikes around the city walls. I can only wonder then, how we will be welcomed by our ancestors."

Leaving the ministers in awe and visible astonishment, he turned and bowed to his father, the king was dumbstruck and Titan began to descend the stairs of the podium ignoring the petrified faces of everyone.

Everyone followed him with their eyes as he walked out of the courtroom without saying a word and not giving them any room for complaints.

After he left the room, all the ministers had their heads bowed. No one made the slightest sound even their breathing was restricted. The king had a proud smile on his face. He has never felt this much pride for his little Titan until today.

'My Titan would make a great ruler.' He thought.

Even the adviser felt honored to interpret his signs.

Noticing everyone's regretful face, he arose from his seat looking satisfied with the situation, and spoke. "I guess it's settled then. We would plan our attack starting tomorrow."

There was still no response from the ministers. No one had an inkling to counter what the crowned Prince said.