When Black Blade threw Pocolo's own words back at him exactly as he had said them, Pocolo felt a chill shoot straight from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his face instantly filled with a look of utter despair.
What was there left to talk about? Was there even any point in talking anymore? What, talk about how ridiculously funny his actions just now were, how he looked like a clown?
As the pillagers and Grayfist along with his subordinates all returned to their ranks, the once vast crowd behind Pocolo visibly shrank by nearly half.
Those mindless monsters could now be completely ignored. What remained were only a handful of players and monsters who had originally followed Tyrant HIM, plus a group of iron golems.
This scene was practically like going back to square one overnight.
However, something even more devastating for Pocolo happened, after Black Blade threw out those questions, before Pocolo could even think of a response, the few players and monsters who had been closely following behind him all this time actually stepped forward without the slightest hesitation.
They didn't even exchange a single glance with Pocolo before walking straight up to Black Blade.
One of the players bowed respectfully and said, "Boss Black Blade, from now on, all of our actions will be under your command! Please take care of us!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the other players, and even those few monsters, quickly echoed him.
"Please take care of us from now on!"
"Roar… roar roar… roar roar…"
In truth, these players hadn't suddenly learned Pocolo's fence-sitting, wind-following ways. The reason they acted so decisively was mainly because they wanted to distance themselves from Pocolo as quickly as possible.
This situation was just like real life, when someone you know socially dies of embarrassment in public, your first instinct is often to pretend you don't know them at all.
After all, this mess was caused by Pocolo himself. Letting him suffer the social death alone was enough, no one else wanted to get dragged into it.
Besides, although these people had been following Pocolo, they were never particularly loyal to him, nor did they place much hope in him.
They didn't have Pocolo's desire to stand in the spotlight. All they wanted was to win steadily and snag a reward.
So they didn't care at all about who held the power or who ultimately won.
They just needed to drift with the tide and go along with the situation.
What's more, the current situation was firmly in Black Blade's hands. There was no need to think hard, any idiot could tell who to choose between Black Blade and Pocolo, right?
As long as your brain worked normally, you'd definitely choose Black Blade.
So they didn't hesitate at all and happily "defected."
This group of players defecting was like stabbing Pocolo's already-dead heart a couple more times.
Still, this was only natural. Pocolo knew very well that this team had come together purely for profit, and now that a better option had appeared, there was no reason for them to choose him.
After his subordinates defected, only the iron golems remained.
Seeing that the iron golems showed no intention of defecting, Pocolo was overwhelmed with gratitude.
"I never would've thought… that in the end, the ones still standing with me would be them…"
Pocolo was immersed in deep emotion when, at that moment, the iron golem captain stepped forward with firm, heavy strides.
He walked straight up to Black Blade, but didn't rush to speak. Instead, he slowly looked around.
His gaze swept across every animal, every villager, every monster, and every player present, meeting their eyes one by one.
The iron golem captain's eyes were filled with sincerity. Even though he didn't know these diverse beings he was looking at, deep within his gaze was unmistakable remorse.
That sense of apology felt as though it could pierce the soul, allowing others to feel the most genuine emotional turmoil within him.
After carefully making sure that everyone present had felt his gaze, the iron golem captain finally raised his voice and spoke solemnly, "I'm sorry."
Just three simple words, yet they were like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples spreading outward.
He then continued, "I know that these lightly spoken three words are like a drop in the bucket when it comes to healing the deep wounds carved into your hearts by pain."
"But I believe that if my colleagues and I truly want to communicate with you, then the first words we must say are these three sincere words, 'I'm sorry.'"
After saying this, the iron golem captain seemed to set down a heavy weight from his heart and let out a long breath.
At that moment, he felt completely at ease, as if the enormous pressure he had carried for so long had finally been released.
Ever since the iron golem captain awakened to self-awareness, he had wanted to apologize to the beings who had once suffered harm at the hands of himself or his comrades. Now, at last, he had found the right opportunity.
"I believe you've already received the information and know that we've broken free from the Void…"
"After leaving the Void, the very first thing I thought about was making up for our past mistakes."
"I know that the lives already lost can never return, but I truly don't want to see more lives die at the hands of the Void."
"I also don't want to see more masterless souls like myself being used by the Void."
"So, at this very moment, our goals are the same as yours."
After finishing these words, the iron golem captain once again looked at Black Blade and asked firmly and sincerely, "Can you accept us?"
The iron golem captain's decision to first offer a solemn apology and explanation to all living beings, and only then ask Black Blade whether they could be accepted, was more than enough to prove his sincerity.
After hearing the iron golem captain's words, Black Blade did not answer him directly. Instead, he looked toward all the living beings.
Although Black Blade held the authority to command everyone, he knew that he did not have the right to forgive former enemies on behalf of all living beings.
So this was absolutely not something he could decide on his own.
At this moment, seeing Black Blade's gaze, the living beings were momentarily stunned, but they quickly understood what he meant.
After a brief silence, a villager's voice broke the calm.
"You are not our enemies. You're just pitiful victims used by the Void. I'm willing to accept you!"
As those words fell, more voices joined in.
"The hatred fabricated by the Void should have been cast aside long ago! I'm also willing to accept you!"
"Roar roar… roar roar roar…"
"Baa baa… baa baa baa… baa baa!"