Capítulo 23: Chapter 21: Unveiling of Corruption
The town's square was packed with people. They looked fearful and apprehensive as if expecting a piece of bad news.
I, Eura, and the slaves walked together toward the stage in the town's square.
The murmuring of the crowd grew louder as we approached the stage. I could feel the eyes of the townspeople on me and my group. Some of them averted their gaze while others ogled at Eura's revealing clothes.
I held my head high as I climbed up the stage, looking at the crowd with a confident demeanor. Eura followed me closely, her hips swaying sensually with each step she took.
I turned to face the crowd, and the murmurs died down to a hush. "Greetings, people of this town. I am Thomas Aquinas. The fourth child of the Supreme Queen of the Aquinas Royal Family, Celestia Domenica Aquinas. From this day forth, I am your new lord."
The crowd gasped in shock at my announcement. However, their fear and apprehension remained palpable. I could sense their unease and hesitation, and I knew that gaining their trust would not be an easy feat.
I opened the inventory menu and took out the decapitated head of the former lord. Her eyes were lifeless, and her expression twisted in agony as blood dripped from her severed neck. Eura stood beside me, her hand on my shoulder, silently supporting me.
I threw the decapitated head toward the crowd.
The crowd was utterly shocked. They did not speak a word, and they could only stare at the head on the ground. As I stared at the head, I could not help but wonder what was going through their minds. What were they thinking?
I could not read their thoughts, but I knew one thing for certain, I could read their expressions. Their expressions told me that they were afraid. Afraid of me. They were trembling in fear, not knowing if they wanted to get up and leave or stay.
"Have any of you wondered why, of all people, this bum, has the largest estate on this town? Why, of all people hardworking people, she is the richest man in these lands?"
"Have any of you ever questioned why, out of everyone, this bum is the wealthiest person in town? Why, out of all the diligent citizens, does this one particular woman possess the greatest estate around these parts?"
"Have any of you wondered why, of all people, this bum is safe from the cold and hunger? Why, of all people, is she never sick and always healthy? Why she has the best of wines and fancy clothes?"
"Why is it that the tax is so high on these lands that no merchant from the outside wants to visit here? Why coal, grain, and water are so scarce and expensive during winter time?"
"I'll tell you why. Because she stole from you, the hardworking people of this town! By hoarding supplies, she could control the prices during the winter. With the high taxes, she could afford to purchase the best of everything while you all struggled to make ends meet."
"So tell me. Was it worth it? Was it worth it living with cold and hunger during the winter? Was it worth losing a family to disease and hunger to feed this woman?! Was it worth it to see your children shiver every night while this woman's pockets overflowed with your hard-earned money? WAS IT!?" I shouted at the crowd, looking at their eyes one by one.
"No!" they all chanted.
I could see the anger boiling in their eyes, the frustration of being taken advantage of for so long.
I stepped forward, my eyes scanning the crowd with a gaze piercing and cold. "But that ends today," I said firmly. "I am not like the former lord. I am here to take care of my people, to ensure that everyone has enough to eat, a roof over their heads, and warmth during the cold winters."
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their faces alight with hope and excitement. They looked at me with admiration and gratitude as if I was their savior.
"Eura. The sack, hand it over." I muttered under my breath, turning to the girl behind me.
As the crowd settled down, I continued, "I know many of you have suffered under the former lord's reign. But I promise you. Things will be different now. We will work together to build a future where everyone can thrive, no matter their background or status."
Eura pulled a large sack to the stage. She smiled seductively at the crowd and handed it to me.
I opened the sack and revealed a tied-up person. He was the adviser of the former lord.
"This person was the right-hand man of the former lord, the one who had been responsible for the corruption and hoarding of goods and resources!"
I opened my inventory once more and took out an expandable baton.
As I walked towards the tied-up man, I whipped the baton through the air, revealing its metallic interior.
I raised my hand and swung the baton into his thigh. With a loud crack, his knees buckled, and he fell to his knees.
"Tell them what you and the former lord had been doing!" I commanded.
The man struggled to speak, blood trickling down his face as he gasped for breath. "I...I was just following orders," he managed to say between sobs.
I raised the pole again, ready to strike. "I am not asking for your excuse. I'm asking for what you have done for your lord," I said coldly.
"I was just following the lord's orders to hoard the food!" He screamed in agony as I brought down the baton again, a sickening crack resounding as his bones broke under the force of the strike.
"What else did she order you?" I asked, striking him again.
"She...had me sell the children from poor families to other cities." He cried.
"What else?" I asked
"That's all I know," he answered, his voice filled with fear.
"Do you expect me to believe you?" I asked, raising the baton again.
"No! Please!" He cried hysterically. "I know nothing else!"
I struck him across his bleeding face, a sickening crunch revealing that I had broken his nose.
"How about now?" I asked, my voice dripping with malice.
"The lord... she loans money to people with very high interest. When they can't pay, she has them killed or sold to another city, and their properties are taken over," He said, his voice weak with fear.
"T-that's right... my sister, she never returned after borrowing a few silvers from the lord *sniff* waaahhhhh" A girl from the crowd broke down.
I slowly nodded and brought down the baton on his shins. A crack like thunder echoed through the air. I raised the baton again, ready to strike the final blow.
"What else? I might consider letting you go and giving you enough gold to live somewhere else."
"She sends young boys to her chambers to serve her and... to... do other things for her," he admitted.
"What 'other things'?"
"She likes them... young, innocent, and pure," He said, his voice trembling as he said the words.
"What 'other things'?" I repeated.
"She has sexual relations with them...she likes to choke them while inside her."
"How many did she kill?"
"S-she probably killed over a hundred young boys already," he said, his voice a sob now.
"What a monster."
I turned around, facing the crowd, "Is this one person's life worth more than the hundred children you have lost?!"
"No!" The crowd shouted in unison, the cheers loud and proud.
"Is this one person's life worth more than the families you have lost to the harsh winters?"
"No!" the crowd shouted again.
"THE DEAD CANNOT BE BROUGHT BACK. THE FAMILIES WE'VE LOST WILL NEVER RETURN. BUT WE CAN APPEASE THEIR SOULS BY BRINGING JUSTICE TO THEIR DEATHS AND SENDING THE GUILTY TO THE NEXT LIFE!!" I yelled.
"Wha- you said you were going to spare me,"
I turned around to face him, "I lied."
The crowd roared with applause and cheers, screaming for the blood of a single person. No. A single monster.
The people were now whipped into a frenzy, blood lust and excitement in the air.
"Then I give this man to you! Remember his face. Remember the deaths he has caused with his actions. And remember his face, the face of the one who has killed your loved ones and broken your spirits. May his death give you the peace you seek and the justice you deserve!"
I signaled to Eura behind me. "Bring him to them."
"Yes, master," she replied, throwing the man into the crowd of townspeople.
"Cut him open!" Someone yelled from the crowd.
"Burn him!" Someone else screamed.
"Tear him limb from limb!" Another person threw.
The crowd went crazy, rushing towards the man. Some hacked at him with their axes, while some used their hands to tear off pieces of his skin and organs.
The screams were horrific, shrill, and loud as the man was ripped apart in the crowd, his blood and organs splattered everywhere. Men and women cheered, their faces red with the blood of the man.
I watched the man being torn apart by the crowd, his body finally crushed and torn to pieces.
The crowd chanted my official name in unison, their faces painted with a mix of rage and joy as they held up the man's remains. They tossed his bloodied body into a fire, cheering as it burned to ashes.
"And I have some good news for all of you!"
"From this day forth, taxes and tolls will be cut in half!"
"Those who join the army will receive regular food, water, lodging, and a handsome salary for each mission completed."
"And for the families who lost their loved ones... I give you homes, job opportunities, and my full assurance that I'll do whatever it takes to make your lives better!"
The crowd roared in jubilation at my words, and I basked in their admiration and joy.
"But beware!" My words thundered across the square, silencing them instantly.
"Betray me, and you shall face my wrath. The wrath that shall chase you to the ends of the world and bring you back alive... or in pieces!"
I let my words sink deep into their hearts before continuing.
"Go now. And remember this day as one of freedom." I spoke softly yet with profound conviction.
"Thank you, your highness!" A person from the crowd screamed out, his fists almost touching the sky.
The crowd cheered again and dispersed.
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