Subtle State of Mind

Following Roderick's orders, Yug led several soldiers in carrying out military law. Alwyn held the list of offenders, and as his emotionless voice rang out, sobbing soldiers were continuously dragged out by force, stripped of their armor, and lashed. The crack of whips striking flesh never ceased.

Rend and Adrian turned their heads at the same time and exchanged a smile. Those soldiers who had no idea of their own limits should have been properly disciplined long ago.

Mocking Alwyn was no different from scorning the Raven Guard Warband. Roderick's clean and decisive handling of the matter greatly pleased them. Knights who were neither high nor low in status, coupled with their noble identities from a neighboring nation, were always the most troublesome to deal with.

If he was going to kill someone, he would kill the ringleader. Roderick did not believe in killing a chicken to scare the monkeys. The chicken's mistake was not that grave, and it still had a chance to reform. Since the monkey had been so active, Brooks's head would be taken directly.

Let the other soldiers know: here, only the military law of the Raven Guard Knights and Roderick's orders mattered.

Ever since Antoine's true identity had been exposed and he returned from Stromgarde, he had remained extremely cautious within the Raven Guard Knights. He had never openly voiced opposition. This time, naturally, he said nothing from beginning to end, coldly watching Roderick kill someone to establish his authority.

Roderick had never been a mild-mannered knight who simply nodded along. Antoine had learned that lesson long ago.

Augustine, on the other hand, was the most conflicted among the officers. In a moment of impulse, he had once again openly opposed Roderick's actions.

Looking at the head hung high overhead, then at the crimson traces