Ashen Dragon-Chapter 355 - 279: The Guillotine

Chapter 355: Chapter 279: The Guillotine

The noisy debates and whispers among the crowd continued, but under the centuries of accumulated prestige of the Boske Family, no one dared to step forward.

Mezulash scanned the crowd below, their faces a mix of fear and panic, his pure black eyes narrowing slightly.

“Everyone, this is a public trial of the kingdom. You can exercise your power to the fullest; do not harbor any feelings of fear.”

“Hehehe…”

Suddenly, laughter came from the high platform.

Hollen, who had remained silent, trembled as he lifted his head. His blood-streaked face displayed a wanton smile.

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“Evil Dragon Kin, your schemes will never succeed.”

“Stratholme Fortress will always be the territory of the Boske Family… The bloodline of the Lion will never submit!”

“I am Hollen Boske, first son of Duke Leo. Apart from my father, no one is qualified to judge me!”

Hollen spat blood-stained saliva, cursing Mezulash, showing a reckless defiance.

“You’re seeking death, right?”

Mezulash wiped the blood from his face, his expression not showing the slightest anger, but rather a profound calm.

“You want to die resisting your enemies, becoming a hero remembered by all, just like in those epic tales.”

“Unfortunately, I won’t allow you that satisfaction.”

Mezulash shook his head lightly, walking slowly to stand beside Hollen.

“Let me tell you this—you will be judged by the people, nailed to the pillar of historical shame, becoming a laughingstock in your family’s history, and the beginning of the Northern nobility’s complete downfall.”

The Tiefling’s words were deep, like the whispers of a devil, echoing in his ears.

Hollen struggled to lift his head, gritting his teeth as he glared at the Tiefling.

“You, you’re delusional!”

“The steadfast Scania people won’t believe your lies!”

At that moment, a mocking smirk appeared on Mezulash’s face.

“Is it really as you say?”

The Tiefling turned, drawing the longsword from his waist, raising it high in the sunlight.

“I promise you, in the name of the Duke of the Ashen Kingdom, that anyone who participates in the trial and provides valid accusations will bear no responsibility afterward!”

“Furthermore…”

His tone was impassioned as he abruptly paused.

“You will have the opportunity to receive a portion of this Hollen Boske, Marquis’ wealth, according to kingdom laws.”

The crowd immediately erupted again.

That wealth belonged to the Northern Marquis, the first son of Duke Leo!

The various estates and mines under Hollen’s command were uncountable. The gold coins stored within the Marquis’ mansion alone were unimaginable to the common people.

In the face of such immense wealth, even noble power became negligible.

In that crowded throng, many people were already eager, ready to take a chance.

“Despicable!”

“You, you’re inciting a rebellion!”

Tied to the wooden frame, Hollen let out a hoarse roar, but Mezulash did not even glance at him.

“Sir, sir!”

“I, I have crimes to accuse!”

A trembling male voice suddenly spoke up.

People turned their gaze towards it, seeing a simply dressed middle-aged man speaking.

His rough hands twisted together, his face drenched in sweat from extreme nervousness, even his lips were pale, but the deep hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.

“What’s your name?”

“Luren… Luren Pierce, a merchant from the east side of the city.”

“Please, speak.”

Mezulash’s face instantly showed joy, motioning for the man to speak.

“Hollen… No, Hollen Boske, he took all the money and food from my shop in the name of the ‘Great Levy’ leading soldiers.”

“His knights also took my wife and daughter, accusing them of disrespecting nobles!”

At first, Luren’s words were stammering, but as he continued, his tone grew increasingly impassioned and angry.

“I thought they were imprisoned, so I went to all lengths to gather money for their ransom…”

“In the end, I found their bodies at the army camp outside the city. They had been tortured to death.”

By the time he finished speaking, his voice was hoarse.

Luren’s eyes were filled with tears.

Finally, it seemed he wanted to fully release his long-suppressed emotions. He grabbed a handful of dirty snow and mud from the ground and hurled it at Hollen on the high platform.

“Splat!”

The dirty snow and mud covered Hollen’s face, leaving him in a wretched state, completely devoid of the noble demeanor of the Northern nobility.

“Lies!”

“This is slander!”

“This scum has taken the gold coins of the evil dragons!”

Hollen, his hair disheveled, cursed fiercely at Luren below, wishing he could kill him on the spot.

As a Marquis, he had never suffered such humiliation!

And in front of tens of thousands of people!

Hollen did not realize: the nightmare had only just begun.

The order in the Boske Duchy had always been superior to other northern countries, yet even so, many heinous acts occurred during the notorious ‘Great Levy.’

After all, soldiers of this era never cared about reasoning.

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After listening to Luren’s story, the crowd was moved, some even moved to tears, while many more had their anger ignited.

More importantly, with Luren setting an example, they had nothing left to fear and could speak their minds freely.

It was like a stone causing a thousand waves.

“I have crimes to accuse as well!”

“So do I!”

“His knights smashed my house!”

“They killed my mother!”

“They took our winter food, starving my son to death!”

At that moment, justice and evil, dragons and nobles were no longer important.

The people needed to vent.

They were fervent and angry, accusing the Northern nobility of their crimes in this public trial, telling the stories they had once dared not speak.

Trischka and Hollen were the two main figures responsible for the ‘Great Levy.’

To impress the Duke, they often took the lead, personally leading soldiers to collect food and military fees.

Now that Count Trischka was dead, Hollen Boske, Marquis, had become the sole outlet for people’s hatred.

The crowd was immersed in a fervor of rage. Mud, branches, and even stones were thrown onto the platform, striking Marquis Hollen.

“No…”

“You scum… Traitors…”

“Without the Boske Family… How could you have survived until now?”

But the crowd’s shouts drowned out his feeble retort; no one cared what he had to say.

At that moment, Hollen Boske was wretched beyond measure, tied to the wooden frame, his body covered in wounds and filth, his blood-streaked face contorted in a grimace, the so-called Lion’s bloodline unrecognizable.

In the eyes of the people, he was no different from those criminals.

Finally, Mezulash raised his voice and declared:

“Upon public trial by the people of Stratholme, Hollen Boske has committed a series of crimes including murder, embezzlement, and robbery.”

“As an agent of the evil Northern regime, Hollen Boske’s crimes are exceedingly severe, his attitude heinous, with multiple felonies, ultimately sentenced to…”

Mezulash’s tone purposely paused, wanting the crowd to feel more involved.

“Death! Death!”

The enraged crowd roared.

Until their voices merged into a tidal wave, only then did he utter the final two words:

“Death penalty.”

The Tiefling guards stepped forward, uncovering the cloth from the guillotine, then escorting Hollen toward it.

Hollen struggled continuously, roaring with rage, his face contorted.

“No, no…”

“You scum, you have no right to judge me!”

“Traitors! You are all traitors!”

But all this struggle and resistance were futile. Under the Tieflings’ strong actions, the Marquis was still escorted to the guillotine.

Even at the last moment, Hollen desperately lifted his head.

“I am Duke Leo’s first—”

“Click!”

Before he could finish, there was a crisp sound.

Followed by the sharp, blood-stained blade, blood splattering, and the crowd below erupting in joyous cheers.

Guided by the kingdom’s intent, the people of Stratholme personally shattered the Northern nobles’ lofty status.

“Drip, drip…”

The slanted, trapezoidal blade of the guillotine was raised again, crimson blood dripping from its edge, the sharp blade gleaming in the sunlight, blindingly bright.