"Bringing you here was merely to make judgment more convenient."
Shirahoshi continued slowly, enunciating every word:
"Most of you do not deserve death."
She paused, her gaze falling upon the few Fish-Men still slumped where they were, who had neither joined the rebellion nor fled amid the chaos. She said evenly:
"Among everyone present just now, only five of you did not participate in the rebellion and did not take the opportunity to flee."
"They did what they should have done."
"As Queen of the Mermaid Kingdom, I will pass judgment on them."
Shirahoshi lightly waved her hand. Five streams of water surged up, lifting the five Fish-Men and suspending them in midair.
"Participating in a disruptive gathering is a minor offense." Shirahoshi's voice was calm and unhurried. "A fine of one hundred thousand Belly and fifteen days' detention."
"Do the five of you have any objections?"
"N-No! None!!!"
Like drowning men clutching at a lifeline, the five Fish-Men nodded frantically, agreeing faster than anyone else.
They had been terrified out of their minds just moments ago!
Now, they could survive. It was only a one-hundred-thousand-Belly fine and fifteen days of detention.
That was already an immense mercy!
Forget such a minor punishment—even ten times that would have been no problem!
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Thank you for your great mercy, Your Majesty!"
They wept bitterly, their voices filled with the relief of surviving a disaster.
Shirahoshi lightly waved her hand again. Water flowed over them, slowly lowering the five Fish-Men beneath the execution platform as she said calmly:
"Go to the Security Bureau and accept your punishment yourselves. Do not do anything foolish again."
"Yes, Your Majesty! We'll go right now! Right now!"
The five Fish-Men scrambled and crawled away. They knelt on the ground and bowed deeply to