Execution

John was utterly refuted by this righteous and awe-inspiring rebuke, leaving him speechless.

His last psychological defenses collapsed completely; his body went limp, and if he hadn't been tied up, he would have almost collapsed to the ground.

He knew that in front of this young Prince Consort who held the Royal Decree, commanded a powerful army, and had won the hearts of the people, his pitiful power and sophistry were meaningless.

He was finished, completely finished. Edward, Hugo, and the others were also pale, their eyes filled with utter despair.

Karl stopped looking at them, turned to all the villagers, and loudly proclaimed. "The will of the people is like fire, the evidence is as heavy as a mountain! John, Edward, Hugo, and their cronies are guilty of undeniable crimes, an injustice that cannot be tolerated by Heaven or the law!"

"In the name of the Guardian of the Northern Border, I hereby sentence the ringleaders John, Edward, and Hugo to death! Execute immediately! All other accomplices shall be severely punished according to the law, without leniency! All their illegal gains shall be thoroughly investigated; what is due shall be returned, and what is due shall be confiscated!"

"Long live the Emperor!!" "Justice, Your Honor!!" "Kill them!!" The square erupted in a deafening roar of cheers and shouts! Long-suppressed anger and hatred transformed into the most fervent support!

Many people were so moved that tears welled up in their eyes, and they knelt down to express their gratitude.

Karl didn't glance at John and the others kneeling on the ground, their faces ashen.

Public opinion is boiling, and the evidence is overwhelming. Any hesitation or procedural delay at this moment will weaken the impact of this "trial" and the "embodiment of justice" image he has just established.

What he needed was a clean, decisive, and unquestionable ending.

He turned his head slightly and gave a brief order to the cavalry captain standing to the side, "Execute."

The commands were clear and devoid of any emotional coloring.

Two designated Carnford cavalrymen stepped forward; they were the army's sharpshooters, their movements skillful and composed.

Without even dismounting, they drew their bows and arrows on horseback, the cold arrowheads gleaming with a deathly light in the morning light, aimed steadily at John and Edward's hearts.

Without lengthy pronouncements or giving the criminals a final chance to speak, the quickest execution is the most powerful deterrent for these villains whose numerous crimes have been publicly exposed and who have aroused public outrage.

"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"

The two arrows left the bow almost simultaneously, their sharp, piercing sound cutting through the air.

The arrow pierced precisely through the thin brocade robes worn by John and Edward, embedding itself deeply in their chests.

The force was so great that the two men were thrown backward, their bound hands unable to maintain their balance, and they collapsed to the ground.

John's eyes remained wide open, still holding the lingering fear, resentment, and disbelief of his last moments. He seemed unable to accept that after a lifetime of hard work, he would die so easily from the arrow of a young "outsider" nobleman.

Edward couldn't even let out a complete scream; he only made a hissing sound in his throat, his limbs twitched a few times, and then he fell silent again.

Fresh blood gushed from the wounds, soaking the cold ground beneath them; its dark red color was shocking.

A brief silence.

Immediately, the square erupted like a powder keg, bursting into deafening cheers and shouts that were a mixture of ecstasy, relief, vengeful joy, and the complete release of long-suppressed emotions!

"Dead! Really dead!"

"Heaven has eyes!!"

"Dad! Mom! Did you see that? The enemy has been brought to justice!!"

"Long live the Prince Consort!!"

The crowd erupted in cheers. Many embraced and wept, while others, their faces flushed with excitement, clenched their fists and unleashed years of pent-up resentment.

Those who were the first to stand up and accuse others knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing towards Karl's direction and the sky, sobbing uncontrollably.

The bloody executions did not cause discomfort; on the contrary, they became the most direct proof that justice had been served.

Karl's decisiveness and the cavalry's precision further reinforced his authoritative image as someone whose words carried weight and who acted as a divine representative.

Before the cheers had subsided, two more cavalrymen stepped forward and dragged Hugo, who was slumped on the ground, terrified and soaking wet from witnessing his comrade's instant death, to the spot where John and his men had been standing.

"No! No! Spare me! Prince Consort Highness! Spare me!" Hugo completely broke down, his face covered in snot and tears. He no longer cared about the dignity of a garrison captain and howled like a pig being slaughtered.

"I was forced! It was John and Edward who ordered me to do it! I was just following orders! Please! Spare my life! I'm willing to be your slave! I'll give you all my possessions! Please!!"

His cries were shrill and pathetic, sounding particularly jarring amidst the jubilant cheers. Some soft-hearted villagers might have felt a flicker of pity, but most saw only indifference and glee.

This former executioner, who once bullied the powerful and aided the wicked, now begs for mercy, which only evokes disgust and absurdity.

Karl remained expressionless, not even glancing in the eye. For a direct perpetrator like Hugo, his crimes were already clearly stated in the indictment, and his pleas for mercy would not change any of the facts.

Moreover, what is needed now is a symbolic act of completely eradicating the old order, not an display of unnecessary "mercy" that could lead to future troubles.

Another arrow.

Hugo's pleas for mercy abruptly ceased. The impact of the arrow caused him to stagger, then he collapsed to the ground, convulsing for a moment before falling still.

The cheers in the square reached a new climax, the sound almost lifting the morning mist.

However, as the vengeful frenzy reached its peak and the enemy's corpse grew cold, the passion that had permeated the square began to recede like the tide.

An unprecedented, empty sense of bewilderment quickly gripped the hearts of every villager.

The cheers gradually subsided, replaced by a buzz of discussion and countless pairs of expectant, dependent, yet bewildered eyes fixed on Karl.

The great revenge was achieved, but then what? John died, Edward died, Hugo died, and the world in Jialan Village seemed to have changed, but the land beneath their feet remained the same barren land, their dilapidated homes remained dilapidated, and their food for tomorrow remained uncertain.

Freedom? The Prince Consort has just declared them free, but what comes after "freedom"? Where should they go from here? Accustomed to being controlled and arranged for, they suddenly feel a great emptiness and unease after losing the mountain that once stood above them.

Everyone stared blankly at Karl, waiting for his guidance, as if he were the only source of light in the darkness.

Karl took in everyone's reactions; this was exactly the moment he needed—to destroy the old idols and establish new beliefs and goals.