Chapter 1377: Chapter 94: Reforging the Nation (21)
The forr governnt army colonel laughed arrogantly and derisively, as if he were seated in the most expensive theater seat enjoying a farce up close, rather than standing in the center of the Great Assembly Hall, on trial under the watchful eyes of many.
Anxiety and unease began to spread among the “freen,” who, despite remaining silent, unconsciously changed their posture frequently: undoing buttons, shifting positions, lowering the left leg and raising the right.
To the freen, Colonel Sanel’s laughter was unbearably grating.
However, the more arrogant and dismissive he was, the more anxious he made them feel.
Yet, Colonel Skur klen was unmoved, not even bothering to strike the gavel to stop Sanel’s antics.
He waited calmly and patiently for his old classmate to finish his show.
“I want to know.” Sanel, finally calming down, wiped his tears, his mouth still curved up: “What power has summoned here.”
He looked around at the freen gathered here, and courteously clarified: “Please note, gentlen, the ‘power’ I speak of refers to legitimate authority. Mind you, there are many illegitimate powers in the world…”
Pausing intentionally at this point, Sanel’s gaze fell onto his old classmate, mocking: “For example, the rebels attempting to secede.”
Afterwards, he turned to look at the people seated on the tiered seats, unleashing an undisguised threat: “Or, the illegal assembly convened by those rebels!”
The sharp gaze of the forr “ruler” swept across, making the freen in the Newly Reclaid Lands feel a chill in their hearts. Wherever Sanel’s gaze landed, the freen bowed their heads to avoid it.
At this mont, Skur klen spoke up.
“This is a special trial court, established under the rights granted to the freen by the Alliance Charter.” Colonel Skur’s voice was calm and steady, sounding like a professor giving a lecture:
“Freen have the power to jointly adjudicate all cris, as well as the right to use this power when necessary. This right and power can be traced back to the Ancient Republic, where those committing serious cris had to be judged by a public assembly. Hence, the drafters of the Alliance Charter granted freen the sa power and rights.”
After explaining the legal basis for the trial to the accused, and more importantly to the judges, Skur klen looked at his old classmate and offered his final advice:
“Today, the freen of the Newly Reclaid Lands have gathered here, each one is a judge of this trial. Sanel Caroy, mind your words, because your fate will no longer be decided by you, nor by — but by everyone in attendance.”
As Colonel Skur spoke eloquently, the restless emotions under the guise of calm among the freen dissipated invisibly.
Most freen were not unfamiliar with the citizen adjudication system. In fact, every freeman had participated more or less in local judicial decisions. In the Newly Reclaid Lands Province, where the “circuit court” only toured once a year, the freen were the main force handling local judicial affairs.
However, the assembly of freen from the entire province to jointly conduct a trial — such a thing was simply unheard of.
The subject of the trial was not just a soldier, but a senior officer — sothing unimaginable in the past of army rule over the Newly Reclaid Lands.
Realizing the symbolic significance that this trial would convey, so freen couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotions.
Yet Sanel Caroy scoffed at this.
“Co off it!” Sanel gestured at the judges in all directions, shouting sharply: “What ‘special court’? What ‘public assembly’? Aren’t all these so-called ‘free’ people just your puppets?
“Skur klen, do you really want to tell that my fate is decided not by you, not by Gaisa Adonis, not by Winters Montagne, nor by — but by these damn clowns?”
Sanel slapped the railing, leaning forward and backward: “What a joke! A grand joke!”
To the freen around, Colonel Sanel’s laughter at this mont was even more piercing than before.
Humiliated multiple tis directly, despite the lingering might of the army, many freen still found it hard to conceal their resentnt.
“Sanel Caroy.” Colonel Skur did not pay attention to Sanel’s questioning. He knocked the gavel, signaling the latter to be quiet, and calmly asked: “Do you need a defense attorney?”
“Defense attorney?” Sanel held his head high, continuing to laugh: “I don’t need a defense attorney! This isn’t a courtroom! You all have no right to judge !”
“Clerk, record —” Colonel Skur ordered expressionlessly: “The accused voluntarily waives the right to hire a defense attorney.”
“Say whatever you want, but also note my words!” Sanel retorted sharply: “I, Sanel Caroy, a colonel of the Republic of Palatu Army, say — none of you have the right to judge !”
The audience seating on the tiers stirred again, however, this ti their agitation was accompanied by more anger and disgust than fear.
If not for the solemn atmosphere of the Great Assembly Hall constraining their voices, many freen would have long since shouted out curses.
Colonel Skur knocked the gavel again, drawing everyone’s attention back to himself. No matter what Sanel said, it did not hinder the continued progress of the trial’s procedure.
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