True Dragon

Tommy knew he had to use the most prestigious title. He raised his arm, pointed to the core of the silent yet formidable cavalry behind him, and said loudly:

"The one who has come here today to uphold justice for us is the Lord of Carnford, the son of Duke Schmidt, and also the brother-in-law of His Your Majesty of the Goldflower Kingdom —Lord Karl von Schmidt!"

This series of titles exploded like bombshells in the villagers' minds!

"Lord Carnford"? Some people had vaguely heard Tommy boast about him when he came back, but it seemed like a distant memory.

"The son of Duke Schmidt"? Duke? That was a nobleman beyond their comprehension!

And "His Your Majesty's brother-in-law"? Good heavens! The King! That's a god-like figure, existing only in legends and the name of taxes!

The King's brother-in-law? Wouldn't that mean he's also royalty, a member of the imperial family? How could such an important figure come to a poor, remote place like Jialan Village?

The immense shock temporarily quelled the commotion, and everyone stared blankly at the center of the cavalry formation.

At this moment, the cavalrymen parted slightly to the sides, and one rider slowly stepped out from the crowd.

The knight on horseback was not wearing the most ornate armor, but only a dark military uniform that allowed for easy movement, covered by a thick wolfskin cloak.

But he was tall and straight, his face young yet weathered, especially his deep eyes, calm yet seemingly able to see through people's hearts, naturally exuding the unique majesty of someone who had long held a high position and wielded the power of life and death.

He simply sat calmly on his horse, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire scene. The invisible pressure made everyone hold their breath, and even the crying children had their mouths tightly covered by adults.

Karl's gaze finally settled on John, who was pale and trembling slightly on the earthen platform. Then it swept over Hugo's wails on the ground and the corpses of the two servants, before finally returning to the terrified faces of the villagers.

His voice, though not loud, was cold and clear, reaching everyone's ears. "I am Karl von Schmidt."

He paused, then continued, "Now, in the name of His Your Majesty, bestowed upon me the title of Prince Consort and Guardian of the Northern Border, I hereby declare that John, the Jialan Village, has abused his power, oppressed his people, illegally detained them, and used torture. His crimes are irrefutable, and in accordance with the laws of the kingdom, he is sentenced to death, to be carried out immediately."

The death penalty! John was struck dumb, his body swayed violently, and he almost fell off the platform. But what made him turn ashen-faced and utterly desperate was not just the word "death penalty".

Having spent decades in the countryside, he knew all too well that powerful figures had many ways to crush a nobody like him, and a death sentence was not uncommon.

What devastated and baffled him was Karl's earlier statement—"In the name of the Prince Consort bestowed by His Your Majesty, the Guardian of the Northern Border!"

How could a mere village chief commit such a trivial crime possibly warrant the personal intervention of a figure as revered as "the Your Majesty's bestowed son -Prince Consort" to announce a verdict?

This is utterly absurd! It's illogical! Unless... unless the other side truly has direct authorization from the King? Or is this just them using the king's name as a pretext?

Just as John harbored a sliver of hope and skepticism, and the villagers exchanged bewildered glances, unable to believe it,...

Karl seemed to have anticipated this reaction. He expressionlessly reached into his robes and took out a parchment scroll wrapped in bright yellow silk and tied with a gold ribbon.

He untied the ribbon and, with a "whoosh," unfurled the scroll in front of everyone.

In the morning light, the scroll gleamed with a unique luster; the paper was thick and the edges were decorated with intricate gold patterns.

Most striking is the enormous, vividly red jade seal at the end of the scroll, its design exuding majesty and solemnity!

Even though most of the villagers present were illiterate and could not read at all, they could still intuitively feel the extraordinary material and exquisite craftsmanship represented by the scroll itself, as well as the supreme authority contained in the large red seal!

This kind of thing could never be counterfeited in the countryside! It symbolizes royal power!

Holding the Imperial Edict, Karl turned it face up to the crowd, his voice even more solemn. "This is Imperial Edict personally written and stamped with the Heirloom Seal of the Realm by His Majesty King Sigmund upon his ascension to the throne! It bears His Majesty 'Schmidt Karl for my achievements, my promotion in Nobility title, and my confirmation of the duties and authority of ' Guardian of the Northern Border '! Seeing this Imperial Edict is as if His Majesty is present in person!"

"As if His Majesty were here in person!" These five words were like a spell, freezing all those who still harbored doubts completely.

The gleaming Imperial Edict and the bright red jade seal stood out starkly against the backdrop of the simple, even dilapidated, village square, appearing so sacred and awe-inspiring.

Forging Royal Decree? That would be an absolute crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family! No one dares, and no one has the ability, to create such a thing! What this young Lord holds in his hand is a true symbol of royal power!

That dispelled even the last shred of doubt.

The villagers looked at Karl and the scroll of Imperial Edict, their expressions completely changing from fear and bewilderment to deep awe, and even... a hint of indescribable shock that the "laws of the king" could actually descend upon this place.

Karl's gaze swept across the entire area again, finally settling on the ragged, emaciated villagers, and he uttered his second earth-shattering statement:

"At the same time, I declare that, effective immediately, all tenant farmers, laborers, apprentices, and all those who were previously illegally controlled by John and his cronies in Jialan Village, and all any personal or debt contracts between you and John that were unjust or coerced, are hereby null and void!"

"You are no longer anyone's serfs or debt slaves! You are free! You can choose to stay in Jialan Village and cultivate the land you once cultivated, or you can choose to go wherever you want, including my territory, Carnford!"

Free? No longer a serf? Able to go anywhere?

These words shook the souls of every villager from the lowest rungs of society more directly than the death sentence or the Imperial Edict!

For generations, they have been bound to this land, suffocated by heavy taxes and personal dependence. "Freedom" is a distant dream for them.

And today, this dream has actually come true, as announced by a high-ranking official holding King Imperial Edict!

A profound silence fell over the square as everyone stared blankly at Karl, processing this earth-shattering information.

John was ashen-faced and completely collapsed. He knew he was finished. Not only his life, but also the very foundation upon which he had wielded his power—his control over these "properties"—had been utterly crushed by this young man with a single, casual remark, under the direct intervention of the royal authority.

He never dreamed that he, a mudfish in a pond, would one day attract the attention of True Dragon and be easily crushed to death by its claws.