"Your crimes..."
The Alliance Emperor sat on his throne, his blue eyes fixed on Richard, his lips moving.
"First, in Sha Lin Territory, you acted with impunity, formed a state of your own, and defied the Alliance.
"Second, members of the Judgment Tribunal were killed in your territory, yet you sheltered the murderer and disregarded the law.
"Third, since I ascended the throne, numerous members of the Rebel Party have secretly carried out all manner of sabotage, and you have maintained frequent contact with them, disregarding imperial authority.
"Any one of these is enough to brand you a traitor!"
Those accusations really hit the mark... Richard blinked as he listened. The Alliance Emperor had not fabricated charges at random; the situations he pointed out were all basically true.
But charges were merely an excuse. If someone wanted to pursue them, there would always be something to pursue. If they did not, they could be completely ignored.
And now that the Alliance Emperor had laid them out so clearly, it was undoubtedly the former.
So then... what was the other side intending to do next...
"Do you admit your crimes?" the Alliance Emperor asked from on high.
"And if I admit them, what punishment will I receive, Your Majesty?" Richard asked with interest.
"If you admit them and willingly submit to the law, you may be spared the death penalty," the Alliance Emperor said gravely.
"So..." Richard raised an eyebrow. "Conversely, if I refuse to admit them, death is certain? Then whom does Your Majesty intend to use to kill me? You should know that, with my current strength, I am not as easy to kill as you might imagine."
"Richard Austin, I know you are very powerful. But no matter how powerful you are, you are only one person. I