Public Trial

Strasbourg has fallen.

The army of the Embers of the Burned Kingdom poured into the city, marching in orderly steps and quickly occupying important locations such as the armory and the Duke's Mansion, taking control of the entire city with ease.

Strasbourg truly lives up to its reputation as the largest city in the the North, with nearly 70,000 people living within its walls even during the wartime lockdown.

"Tempus Above"

"This place has truly fallen."

"Hopefully these monsters won't cause a tragedy."

"Those are the retinue of the evil dragon. Haven't you read the Embers of the Burned Book?"

"God, then who can save us?"

The city dwellers kept their doors and windows tightly shut, anxiously staying in their homes, envying those who had already left, and speculating about the dragon's promise.

The city seemed shrouded in gloom, with suppressed whispers echoing throughout.

Some players, eager for a bit of fun, also began "exploring" the city. They ransacked the streets, and one even fell headfirst into the sewers, only to be arrested by the accompanying warlord.

However, the well-trained Tiefling soon began knocking on doors, following orders.

"No, don't kill us!"

"Don't hurt them, I surrender!"

"As ordered by the Kingdom, please proceed to the Assembly Square."

There wasn't much bloodshed during this period, but it did frighten many city residents into fainting.

People were forced to leave their homes, filled with trepidation, praying that they could survive the dragon's tyranny.

"What exactly are they trying to do?"

"Are these demons going to eat people?"

"No way, are they going to send us to be a meal for that Red Dragon?"

Before they finished speaking, a deafening roar echoed throughout the city, and people looked up in terror at the same spot.

"Boom!"

A massive red dragon descended from the sky, crushing the towering city wall and causing countless stones to fall from it.

The magnificent city walls, which would make even Frost Giant look up in awe, seem like paper toys in front of the Red Dragon, and could collapse at any moment.

Keosius carefully climbed the tallest tower, opened his mouth and let out a long roar that momentarily drowned out all the noise inside the city.

Countless fearful gazes rose from below, directed at this colossal entity.

"Humanity, the the North has perished."

"In the name of the Embers of the Burned King, I hereby declare that the oppression of you by the Northern Nobles over the past thousand years has come to an end."

"Recognize the situation. The 100,000-strong allied army of the the North has been completely wiped out, and the Kingdom will bring you a new order. You will enter a new century without the extravagance and corruption of the Northern Nobles."

"Finally, the public trial is about to begin. Enjoy it all."

With a gust of wind, Keosius flapped his broad wings and soared into the sky, then disappeared as space distorted.

The tower beneath him, unable to withstand the weight, collapsed with a deafening roar, leaving behind only a dusty, ruined landscape.

"Public trial?"

What is that?

"My God, my God, how can there be such a giant dragon?"

People gasped in surprise.

The townspeople were still reeling from the shock of what had just happened, clutching their chests and gasping for breath, but their hearts were filled with doubt.

This dragon hardly resembles a brutal conqueror.

It's important to understand that this was an era where "warfare was as swift as a comb." Even when the Bosk Family's army passed through their own city, they couldn't avoid looting and coercion. They had long been accustomed to this.

However, the Tiefling army, which entered the city as "conquerors," did not do anything outrageous; on the contrary, they appeared to be very orderly.

So what exactly are they planning to do?

A sacrifice?

The people of Strasbourg had never heard of the term "public trial".

The Red Dragon's words left the citizens of Strasbourg, who had long been influenced by the Bosk Family's propaganda and viewed the Embers of the Burned Kingdom as a den of monsters, utterly bewildered.

But soon, they understood.

Urged on by Tiefling, people gathered uneasily in the major squares, creating a cacophony of noise.

What exactly are they trying to do?

"I hope I can survive."

"Keep your voice down, that Ogre is watching you!"

Surrounded by the Tiefling Guard, Mezhuolash walked up to the draped platform and said in a deep voice:

"The public trial is about to begin. Please remain silent for now. It is not your turn to speak."

His voice wasn't loud, but it could be heard throughout the entire venue through several black boxes.

"Bang!"

The guards surrounding the area Tiefling their guns into the air, creating a series of deafening booms.

The crowd fell silent instantly, and the square, which housed tens of thousands of people, became quiet.

"Very good."

Mezhuolash nodded slightly and gave a wink.

The Tiefling Guard on either side of the platform immediately understood and removed the huge curtain covering the platform.

Immediately, the crowd erupted in another uproar, their eyes widening as they burst into uncontrollable gasps of surprise.

"How is that possible!"

"I must not be seeing things, right?"

"That, that is—"

"Tempus above—that is Lord Horace!"

On the high platform were several tall wooden frames, and a middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes was firmly tied to one of them.

He was shirtless, head bowed, covered in blood, and looked extremely disheveled.

That was none other than Grand Duke Leo's eldest son, Marquis Horace Bosk! It's no wonder that everyone present was so shocked.

The incredibly distinguished figures who were previously unreachable to them were now bound to wooden frames like prisoners, showing no sign of the noble lion blood flowing through their veins.

Mezhuolash surveyed the crowd's reactions, a satisfied smile spreading across his face, and took out the documents he had prepared long ago from his pocket.

"Very good. I believe you can all recognize him as Horace Bosk, the eldest son of Leo Bosk and the former Marquis of the Bosque Duchy Boske."

"He was a heinous war criminal, one of the main initiators of the war, the main person in charge of the ' Great Conscription,' and the instigator of countless tragedies."

"And today, it is up to you all present to judge his crimes."

The crowd erupted in cheers again, their faces filled with disbelief, some even wondering if they were dreaming.

Trial?

How will Horace Bosk's charges be determined?

Having a group of commoners judge the actions of a former marquis was unimaginable in the past, and could even cause their worldview to collapse.

"That's Marquis Holleren!"

"Who dares to judge him?"

"Yes."

"What if he gets released later? Wouldn't the person who spoke be in trouble?"

A cacophony of discussions arose, but no one dared to give it a try.

People had long been accustomed to the aloofness of the Northern Nobles, and even when opportunities were presented to them, they dared not easily challenge them.

Among the prisoners below the stage, Viscount Luton looked at the Marquis on the high platform and scanned the murmuring crowd—he saw the sinister intentions behind the seemingly absurd move by the Embers of the Burned Kingdom.

They were going to completely destroy the Northern Nobles! Not only physically, but also spiritually and even culturally, eradicating the bloodline that had ruled the the North for a thousand years! Viscount Luton was deathly pale, his purplish lips trembling, and his whole body began to go limp.

"Them."

"How dare they do this! This is wiping out our very foundation!"