The news of the arrest of Marquis Carger Delfilian and his entire family swept through the calm Capital of the Garveon Kingdom like a storm. No one had expected that one of the economic pillars of the Kingdom's western region would collapse so suddenly.
Moreover, the official announcement from the palace stating that they would all be executed without exception sent shivers down the spines of the other nobles. The punishment was deemed incredibly severe and merciless.
From taverns and markets to street alleys, the people's conversation centered on the incident. However, one mystery left everyone wondering: Who exactly was the intended target of the assassination?
In the official announcement, the Royal Palace only mentioned "a high-ranking noble" and "a Prince" without specifying the names of the two individuals. This secrecy triggered wild speculation among the capital's residents.
"Why dwell on that? Isn't it a good thing that a criminal from the nobility has been caught?" remarked a fruit merchant to a gossiping customer.
"You're right! But think about it... who possesses such immense influence that they could move His Majesty King Nalvon to personally arrest a Marquis of Carger's stature?" the customer replied in a curious tone. "Usually, high-ranking nobles are untouchable by the law, protected by political games. But this time, the King has acted, and the punishment is no laughing matter."
An old man sipping his drink chimed in. "Whoever he is, we can only witness his impact! With this precedent, perhaps more rotten nobles will be caught in the future. It seems this person is conducting a 'clean-up' of the kingdom."
At the same time, as if adding fuel to the fire, the Royal Palace released a list of other crimes that Marquis Carger Delfilian had kept hidden. Flyers were posted on city notice boards, revealing the family's dark side.
It turned out that the assassination attempt at the academy was merely the tip of the iceberg. Behind the wealth of the Delfilian territory lay repulsive sins: kidnapping, premeditated murder of business rivals to monopolize the market, and the silencing of oppressed civilians through threats and brutal killings that had never before been exposed to the public.
The public was outraged. Any sympathy that might have existed for Carger's children vanished instantly. The people's anger exploded, they demanded justice.
On the other hand, they also praised the Kingdom's performance. King Nalvon was hailed as a decisive leader who dared to cut the rotting flesh from the body of his own kingdom, eradicating crimes that had gone undetected for so long.
Before long, the day of execution arrived.
The capital square was packed with a sea of people. Thousands of citizens jostled, eager to witness the end of the Delfilian family's tyranny.
Amidst the crowd stood a young man in a black cloak, a hood covering part of his face. His silver hair was well concealed. It was Kazien Altavis. He came alone, standing silently among the commoners, staring at the execution stage with a cold gaze.
Trumpets sounded. The prison gates opened.
Marquis Carger, Desfine, Marina, Mossard, and Astelia were herded onto the execution platform. They cut a pitiful figure. Their luxurious garments had been replaced by shabby prisoner rags. Their hands and feet were shackled with heavy chains.
However, one thing caught everyone's attention.
All their mouths were gagged with thick black cloth tied tightly behind their heads. None of them could make a sound, let alone scream for mercy or shout their final words.
Everyone wondered about the gags. Yet, neither the soldiers nor the palace officials who knew the reason offered an answer.
But for King Nalvon, it was a necessary precaution. He took no risks. He anticipated that if left ungagged, Carger or Marina might scream the name "Kazien Altavis" in their final moments out of spite, destroying the secret agreement between King Nalvon and Kazien.
Kazien watched Marina, who was trembling violently on the stage. The girl's eyes darted wildly, seeking help, but no one cared. When Marina's eyes accidentally met the cold gaze beneath the black hood in the crowd, her body froze. She recognized those sapphire blue eyes.
Kazien merely stared back impassively, as if to say, "This is the consequence of your choice."
Clank!
An executioner pulled the lever.
Schwing! Zrash!
The massive blade fell, instantly beheading them all.
The cheers of the people roared, welcoming the justice that had been served. For Kazien, it was simply the end of a minor nuisance. He turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
Meanwhile, on the palace balcony overlooking the square, King Nalvon watched it all with a glass of wine in hand. He heard the cheers of the people chanting his name.
A satisfied smile was etched on the King's face.
Hahaha. I never expected that his behind-the-scenes actions would strengthen the Kingdom's image in everyone's eyes, King Nalvon thought, amused by the irony of the situation.
Initially, he had felt pressured by the ultimatum Kazien had given him, but the final outcome was incredibly beneficial to his position as King. His popularity skyrocketed, and he had successfully removed a corrupt noble family that had long been a thorn in his side. It even restored the people's trust in the Royal Family, specifically in their 17th King, Nalvon Erloch Da Garveon.
I don't know how I should thank him. The political landscape of this kingdom has begun to shift thanks to his assistance.
King Nalvon took a sip of his wine, his eyes fixed on the back of the hooded figure walking away from the square.
The presence of Kazien Altavis in the capital truly benefits this kingdom. He is a sharp double-edged sword, and as long as I hold the hilt correctly, he will be my greatest asset.
King Nalvon set down his glass and turned to enter the palace with a light step.
It seems I only need to act when necessary and support him in purging evil nobles whose crimes remain unexposed. In exchange, I will continue to conceal his identity from the public and let him do whatever he pleases, as long as it does not harm the Kingdom. Not a bad deal at all! This partnership... is very profitable.