I, who was eager to retire, became an Imperial General.

Chapter 284 [6K] Four Major Needs Provoke Reflection, A Theory of Belief Shakes the Soul

"The physiological needs in the first stage are very simple; they are the essential needs for human survival. When faced with hunger and unable to guarantee their own survival, humans cannot disregard so-called morality, or even any other rules and constraints of human society. This is an inevitable result caused by the instinct for survival."

Meeting Krauser's thoughtful gaze, John smiled slightly, then, recalling his memories, added with a touch of感慨:

"Just like when I was an orphan and had to wander in the slums after my mother died, I had to try to steal in order to survive. Even though I knew it was immoral and wrong, when I was starving and didn't know if I would live to see tomorrow, people can put aside all their bottom lines for survival."

"After physiological needs are met, the next stage of human beings’ safety needs will arrive. After their physiological needs are met, humans will begin to pursue safety and stability in their lives, such as workplace safety, occupational safety, life stability, and avoiding disasters."

"If the needs at this stage cannot be met, then various means will be tried to stabilize them."

"This corresponds to my experience of being taken to the laboratory by the Imperial Taboo Experiment Officer and undergoing experimental modification."

"!"

Upon hearing this, Krauser's pupils constricted slightly, as if he had recalled something, and his gaze toward John became somewhat complicated.

John didn't seem to care, and continued speaking as if nothing had happened:

"During that period, although my basic survival was guaranteed, I had to endure the pain of having countless pieces of flesh peeled off or my magic circuits modified every day. Therefore, under this torment, I wanted to escape from the prison that had given me a 'stable' life more than once."

"This is the second level of human needs that humans reach after satisfying their physiological needs, and that needs are called 'safety'."

“Until His Majesty William abolished the taboo experimentation and modification, I was sent to the Hope Beacon Orphanage. I only needed to do the corresponding sewing and washing work every day to meet my physiological needs and obtain an extremely stable and safe environment. After meeting the first two needs, I reached the next stage of needs out of the instinct of life, namely ‘belonging and love’.”

"During this period, I began to crave friendship and family affection, and with the arrival of adolescence, I began to fantasize about love. I hoped to be accepted by more people in society, so I started to try to communicate with more people and gradually broke free from my previous closed-off state."

"Afterwards, through conversations with Director Anora, the children of the same age at the orphanage, and the caregivers, I, whose values ​​were beginning to take shape at that time, felt the long-lost kinship and friendship at the Hope Lighthouse Orphanage, and for the first time, I developed an unprecedented sense of belonging to the Empire."

"It sounds strange, doesn't it? But it's also understandable. After all, my family was torn apart during my childhood due to the turbulent power struggles in the Kingdom of Brown. I almost died in the turbulent kingdom and completely lost my family."

"After experiencing a hellish period as an experimental subject, I eventually found peace with the help of His Majesty William and Princess Anora. Given this, it's only natural that I would choose to be loyal to the Empire and offer my loyalty to His Majesty William, isn't it?"

"..."

Klaus moved his lips slightly, but ultimately did not speak, only his gaze toward John became increasingly complicated.

Prior to this, due to the secrecy surrounding John's personal file, he had no idea that this legendary senior had such a tragic past before entering the Imperial First Military Academy.

In this light, the extraordinary intelligence and almost superhuman abilities that the other person displayed during his studies were probably not innate, as he imagined, but rather were forced to improve under such hellish training.

But after a brief moment of reflection on the legendary senior's tumultuous life, Krauser, who had remained silent for a while, couldn't help but ask:
“John, your analysis of human needs is very insightful and inspiring, but I don’t think it’s relevant to what we need to discuss, do I?”

"Don't be so impatient, Krauser. While the idea of ​​quick victory can greatly motivate you and achieve results in a short time, it also leads to more mistakes and makes it extremely easy to expose your weaknesses, which can then be exploited by others."

Seeing the slight impatience in the other person's eyes, John smiled and shook his head, then said something that made the other person think deeply:

"As an interrogator, your professional skills are up to par, but you still lack the most crucial quality: patience."

"Perhaps this is related to the environment in which you grew up. The flattery and pandering around you, the smooth path, and the support from your family business allowed you to achieve whatever you wanted, which in turn made you think that victory was within your grasp, and unconsciously turned it into a habit."

"But I want to tell you that neither ideological clashes, nor military battles, nor the factional struggles that the empire is currently experiencing, can be resolved as quickly as raising a glass to drink water."

"It's more like a tug-of-war, a game where both sides need to constantly develop strategies based on the current situation, probe each other, and only after seizing the weakness and opportunity, and after countless preparations, can they work together to achieve the final victory."

"It is a protracted war that is destined to be won without a quick victory, and will require both sides to engage in a continuous struggle to determine the winner!"

John paused slightly, then picked up his coffee cup, took a sip to moisten his slightly dry throat, tapped his fingers lightly on the table to make a noise, and drew the attention of Krauser, who was deep in thought, to himself.

Only then did he speak again with a beaming smile:

"Regarding the protracted war, by chance, I received guidance from a wise man and was fortunate enough to learn some of his ideas. Although I am far from being a master, I have gained some insights."

"However, considering that this part of the knowledge is not relevant to the topic we are discussing today, I will not go into too much detail. If you are interested in this, we can talk about the protracted war in detail when there is a suitable opportunity in the future."

"So, let's go back to the fourth stage of human needs."

"After satisfying my needs for 'love and belonging' in the previous stage, I naturally moved to the level of 'respect' needs at that time."

"At this point, as I grew older and developed my own values, I was no longer satisfied with just family and friends. Instead, I longed for social recognition and the respect of others."

"Therefore, under His Majesty William's arrangement, I participated in the training program for Commander-type Magic Soldiers and went to study at the Imperial First Military Academy."

"During this period, in order to gain the respect and appreciation of others, I began to work harder to learn everything I could. By showcasing my talents and taking the lead in academics and abilities, I successfully gained more praise and respect, and successfully made this respect, which I earned in the college through my own efforts and strength, continue to this day."

"It's like, even though I'm just a prisoner in your hands right now, you still respect me because of my status as the top student who graduated with a perfect score in the 59 class and as a newly promoted noble of the reformist faction, isn't that right?"

"...Senior John, your analysis truly impresses me."

As John combined John's life experiences to systematically divide human needs into four stages, Krauser subconsciously applied this theory to the people he knew and divided them into stages based on his own impressions.

After doing so, Krauser was surprised to find that John's theory was not just empty talk, but actually had a basis and effect.

Although the needs of the first two stages did not materialize because he mostly used nobles as his subjects, he started directly from the third stage.

But whether it's the need for belonging and love or the need for respect in the fourth stage, it almost perfectly dissects the lives of the experimental subjects in his mind.

Absolutely breathtaking!

Under the impact of this previously unheard-of demand theory, as if a completely new world had been opened up, Krauser's eyes became brighter than ever before, and his gaze toward John changed from initial disdain to seriousness and earnestness without him even realizing it.

They even unconsciously adopted a sense of awe and respect, and the person had long since put down their crossed legs and sat upright in the chair, their body unconsciously leaning forward, trying to shorten the distance so that the other person's words could be heard more clearly.

It was as if he was no longer the eldest son of the prestigious Valendner family, one of the thirteen heroic families, nor a second-level imperial interrogator who could strike fear into the hearts of countless people.

Instead, he returned to his time studying at the academy, as a student asking a professor of magic about magical techniques.

Their voices unconsciously became more devout:
"And then what? What is that stage you mentioned, which encompasses beliefs and is called 'personal value realization'?"

Seeing Krauser's eager expression, John's smile immediately grew even wider.

Because at this moment, combined with the expression on Krause's face and the change in his attitude after hearing the first four stages, it has been confirmed that he has demonstrated Maslow's hierarchy of needs for the first time in another world by combining the original body's memories.

It has successfully aroused the other party's curiosity and desire to explore.

Next, he only needs to put forward the requirements of the fifth stage and combine them with the belief in achieving the true revival of the empire.

He will then use the words of another great man from his previous life to launch a final psychological attack, at which point he will be able to successfully break down the opponent's defenses and make them reflect on their current path.

And in doing so, a seed of belief is planted in the other person.

After that, he only needs to wait quietly for it to grow slowly until it breaks through the soil.

This will allow you to gain a brand new ally!

Thinking of this, John immediately stopped hesitating and, under Krauser's expectant gaze, spoke in a deep voice:

"As the fifth stage, and also the most important one, the need for 'personal value realization' can be broadly divided into three needs: cognitive needs, aesthetic needs, and self-actualization needs." "Cognitive needs include the desire for knowledge, understanding, exploration, and curiosity. They are the desires of people to learn and develop, as well as the desire to explore new and unknown things, such as trying to acquire advanced knowledge, having lofty goals in their own industry, and the impulse to try more possibilities."

"This corresponds to my exploration of magic knowledge and command skills during my time at the academy, as well as my transformation into a magic soldier and entry into the Seventh Air Force. When I was promoted to major and led the 1st Magic Battalion to fight in Faoken, I applied all the knowledge I had learned to the battlefield and achieved results. I also tried to further improve myself in exploration and confrontation with the enemy."

"Aesthetic needs are expressed as people's pursuit of symmetry, order, harmony, and perfection. This corresponds to my current promotion to lieutenant general and the granting of the title of Imperial Viscount by His Majesty William. I am now considering how to better govern my fiefdom so that the citizens of the Empire within it can live and work in peace and achieve sustainable development."

"And as the final link, which also truly embodies the concept of belief, the need for 'self-actualization' can be described in my view as the human need to pursue the realization of one's own abilities and potential!"

"To realize one's abilities and potential?"

Hearing these rather broad words, a hint of doubt and disappointment flashed in Krauser's eyes.

Based on John's previous groundwork, he had assumed that the need for self-actualization might be something far more profound.

But the outcome still came down to the individual level.

It's like being in a restaurant, having savored several uniquely flavored pre-dinner desserts, your appetite fully stimulated, and subconsciously starting to have high expectations for the main course, only to be served a plate of Imperial Black Bread that's as hard as a brick.

The disappointment was self-evident.

However, remembering John's earlier warning, Krauser suppressed his dissatisfaction and instead focused intently on John, waiting for the other party to provide a deeper explanation of this seemingly mundane request.

"That's right, this is the need for self-actualization. Although it sounds broad, the belief I'm talking about is essentially about realizing personal value. It's also a need that only humans have."

Seeing Krauser suppressing his negative emotions and listening quietly, John knew the groundwork was laid and all that remained was the final defense and attack. He took a deep breath, quickly organized his thoughts in his mind, and then spoke loudly:

"Unlike the first four states, where even during periods of growth, one is still unable to abandon other needs for security, once one reaches the ultimate state of self-actualization, one will spontaneously form one's own beliefs and goals based on one's own path and environment."

"To achieve this goal, all other requirements can be reduced without limit, and this will never change, even if death comes!"

"For me, this goal is to repay the Empire's kindness to me, a war orphan from a foreign land; it is to enable more citizens of the Empire who have experienced similar things to me, or who are still suffering oppression, to obtain a better future; it is to help the Empire get rid of its current internal and external troubles and lead the Empire to unprecedented glory."

"This is my need to realize my personal value, as someone who came from a commoner background but has now reached the rank of lieutenant general with the help of the empire. It is also the belief I currently uphold!"

"!"

Looking at John, whose eyes revealed an unprecedented determination, Krauser's pupils instantly contracted to the extreme, and the hairs on his body stood on end without him even realizing it.

At that moment, he suddenly felt as if countless electric currents were flowing through his body.

But it was as if he had been touched by something called a ghost, and that eerie feeling made his heart start to race uncontrollably.

Intuition and experience told him that he should stop John immediately and make him stop talking about so-called self-worth.

But there was the heart pounding like a drum, and the seemingly endless desires of the nobles of all ranks whom he had encountered at countless banquets since adulthood.

And relying on their own intelligence, they discerned what kind of empty and dull existence was hidden beneath the surface of these desires.

Hearing the heavy breathing coming from his own ear, Krauser realized at that moment.

He couldn't stop John, much less stop John from continuing!
"Squeak!"

At the same time, John, who was sitting in the chair, suddenly stood up.

Despite his very thin frame, he appeared inexplicably enormous in Krauser's eyes.

In his deep, black eyes, as dark as the night sky, two flames seemed to ignite out of thin air, fueled by his emotions.

The moment you make eye contact with it, you are irresistibly drawn in, lingering there, unable to look away.

And in that hoarse yet resounding voice, the fervent emotion overflowed and was vividly expressed.

Until the words that were uttered pierced Krauser's heart like a sharp sword:
"Unlike the conservatives who hinder the progress of the empire or even infringe upon its interests for the sake of their own family or personal gain, the true goal of our struggle is not for ourselves or a few interest groups, but for the entire empire!"

"To be precise, it's for all the citizens of the empire!"

"Furthermore, I can foresee that, as time goes on and this belief continues to spread, people like me will never be an isolated case."

"Instead, they will spring up like mushrooms after rain, starting with me alone and growing into ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, or even tens of millions of people!"

"Although we are just individuals, without the support of any family or faction, this belief in fighting for the empire has invisibly connected us, who seem to be weak and alone, into a whole, making us larger than any family in the world!"

"Furthermore, unlike political parties that can only grow slowly or even shrink due to the limitations of combat, sacrifice, and lifespan, our scale will only continue to grow and expand as our beliefs continue to spread, as our infrastructure and education continue to improve, and as more and more people with aspirations dedicate themselves to this path of belief!"

"And this applies to myself, to those who have already joined this path of faith, and to new members who will join in the future."

"Our belief has always been the same."

"That is, to fight for the revival of the Norman Empire!"

"Oh!"

John slammed his hands on the interrogation table in front of him, his dark eyes fixed on Krauser.

Although his tone was extremely calm, it struck Krauser like a thunderclap from a clear sky, leaving him stunned for a long time.

"Fight against the oppression and trampling of citizens' lives by the privileged class, fight against the unjust promotion system that honors bloodlines, and fight against traitors who harm the rights of all citizens of the empire to protect the interests of their own group!"

"To eliminate these injustices, I will fight them relentlessly, and even death cannot stop me!"

"Because I know clearly that even if I, John Maslow, die, my companions who share the same goal, or rather the same belief, will still be able to achieve this ultimate goal that transcends the first four human needs."

"At that time, they will, like me, persevere on this path that leads the entire empire to greatness, continuously fighting against injustice and utterly fearless of the threat of death!"

"This struggle will not end until injustice and oppression are completely eradicated, until the empire enters its true dawn!"

"This is my ultimate goal of self-actualization, John Maslow's belief, and the reason why I believe we will surely prevail in the current factional struggles of the Empire!"

"Because, although we are extremely weak and have no foundation to support us, we are also extremely large, so large that we can almost cover the entire world!"

"Furthermore, unlike political parties that use blood ties and interests to draw lines, as long as we share the same beliefs, then regardless of skin color, race, social status, or bloodline, these people can become our brothers and sisters!"

"And together with us, for that shared belief, let us relentlessly fight against the oppression that will inevitably be erased from this world, and fight on until this goal is truly achieved!"

"despair!"

Seeing the shocked look on Krauser's face, John slowly walked up to him, patted him on the shoulder, and then asked a question in a calm tone that sent a shiver down Krauser's spine:

"So, Krauser Valendner, where does your conviction lie?"

……

(End of this chapter)