Chapter 24

In the Minister's office just before noon.

I was alone with Deputy Minister Vinnie.

After Vinnie read through the names on the list in his hand,

"These are the main and accomplices of the current rebellion."

"They are all people around His Highness the Crown Prince."

All the names were familiar.

The Crown Prince's confidants, former educators, and knights. Anyone could see that this lineup was a rebellion by the Crown Prince's faction.

"What will you do?"

"..."

I sighed and rubbed my temples.

If it were just these people, it would be a matter of sentencing them according to the law.

The problem was— I glanced at Vinnie.

Vinnie looked away awkwardly.

It was a natural reaction.

The problem was one thing.

Whether the Crown Prince was involved or not.

According to the Imperial Law, if a royal family member commits a crime, the punishment is generally lighter, but there is one exception—rebellion.

If a royal family member is involved in a rebellion, regardless of whether they are the main or an accomplice, the punishment is the severest, beheading. And with a lineup so closely tied to the Crown Prince, it's impossible for him to claim he knew nothing.

Even in ordinary crimes, failing to report a known crime is a crime—though for petty theft, the punishment might be a light sentence or a fine of about 1 Reen.

However, this is a crime clearly defined by the Imperial Law.

If the Crown Prince "knew about the rebellion and did not report it to the Emperor," it is a capital offense just for that.

This is the problem.

The Crown Prince's rebellion—and the death penalty.

It would be a huge scandal that could shake the empire itself.

"Has His Majesty said anything?"

"Hmm, he said to repeat the original text. 'Those people should be punished accordingly.'"

"...That's his stance."

I sighed.

"What does that mean?"

"It seems His Majesty doesn't want to make a big fuss. As expected."

"Then?"

"Yes, only the people on that list will be punished. Fortunately, the rebellion is certain, so there's no need to take confessions."

"Indeed."

"That's why, everyone will be sentenced to death, and the execution will be carried out immediately."

"...Impressive."

Vinnie bowed deeply.

His eyes, looking up at me, were full of admiration.

Even with the death penalty, the timing of the execution can be divided into two patterns.

One is immediate execution, and the other is annual summary execution.

Those with more severe crimes or no room for leniency are executed immediately.

Conversely, if there is room for leniency or other unknown crimes, the execution may be delayed.

If delayed, there is a chance for a pardon.

For example, if someone's family is brutally murdered and they kill the perpetrator in revenge, the Imperial Law prescribes beheading.

However, given the circumstances, the execution can be delayed for up to three years.

If a pardon occurs during this period, the person will be set free.

Or consider this scenario.

A man sentenced to death has room for leniency and is given a three-year delay, but still does not receive a pardon.

His family bribes the prison guards to send a woman to impregnate him, thus continuing the bloodline.

In other words, even with the death penalty, the execution can be delayed.

I decided to execute everyone immediately.

His Majesty clearly does not want to involve the Crown Prince "at this point."

That's why I made this decision.

After making this decision, I stood up from the Minister's chair.

"Where are you going?"

"To see His Majesty. Just to be sure."

"Understood. I'll prepare everything."

"Thank you."

I left the Minister's office, the Ministry of Justice, and got into a carriage, heading straight for the palace.

When I requested an audience with His Majesty, I was led to his study, which is as large as a library.

There, His Majesty, who was reading some documents, looked up, smiled, and stood up.

"Oh, you're here, Noah."

"Yes."

I knelt on one knee and bowed, then stood up and faced His Majesty.

"What is it?"

"It's about the rebellion."

"I see. What is the sentence?"

"According to the Imperial Law, the main culprit will be beheaded, and the accomplices will be sentenced to death—"

I paused here to report the most important part of this case.

"—all of them will be executed immediately."

"Good, well done."

His Majesty folded his hands behind his back and walked around the study.

"Cruise."

"Yes."

Cruise, His Majesty's trusted eunuch, appeared as usual from nowhere.

"Noah has done well. His annual salary will be increased by 1000 Reens."

"Understood."

Cruise received His Majesty's order formally and left without expression.

As expected... It was right not to involve the Crown Prince.

This level of judgment doesn't warrant a salary increase.

But His Majesty's "message" is clear.

"Well done, Noah."

His Majesty approached me, patted my shoulder, and looked me straight in the eye.

"Good job."

His serious face confirmed my thoughts.

"I expect you to do well in the future. Do your best."

"Yes."

☆

After leaving the study, I got into the carriage outside the palace and returned to the Ministry of Justice.

Given the situation, the rebels needed to be executed immediately.

When I hurried back to the Ministry of Justice in the carriage, it was in chaos, even from the outside.

I jumped out of the carriage and asked a young gatekeeper who was panicking.

"Hey, what happened?"

"W-Well, Your Highness! There are intruders!"

"Intruders?"

"Yes, several of our guards have been killed, and the intruders are inside."

"...You, go to the Ministry of War and get my brother—"

Get reinforcements.

I stopped mid-sentence.

At this timing... it would be dangerous to make a big deal out of it.

"Gather everyone here. Don't let anyone out, and don't let anyone in, even if it's a prince."

"Yes, sir!"

"Go!"

As the gatekeeper ran off in a panic, I took out Leviathan from my bracelet and restored it to its original size.

I entered the Ministry of Justice building with the magic sword in hand.

Inside, the sounds of sword clashes, screams, and shouts could be heard.

Following the sounds, I saw a black shadow running towards me after stabbing a guard with a dagger.

Looking closely, I could see that the intruder was completely covered in a black outfit from head to toe.

"Kyyyyyyyyyaaaaa!"

The intruder let out a strange cry, accelerated, and lunged at me with the dagger.

"Too easy."

I deflected the attack with Leviathan and cut the tendons in the intruder's limbs with a counterattack.

As the intruder fell to the ground, I used the ring linked to the magic sword to generate a gag in the intruder's mouth to prevent suicide.

More intruders came.

This time, three of them, all dressed the same, with blood splattered on their black outfits.

The three attacked simultaneously.

One from the front, one from each side.

A well-coordinated team.

I deflected their dagger attacks with Leviathan and guided their strikes to each other, A to B, B to C, C to A, like a triangle.

Then, I cut their tendons and gagged them as before.

The commotion gradually subsided, and the sounds of battle stopped.

"Your Highness!"

Vinnie hurried over from around the corner of the corridor.

"Are you alright, Your Highness—what! You took them all down. What incredible skill!"

"Really?"

"Yes, over twenty guards are dead or injured, and—"

"And?"

"The rebels. They were all killed."

"..."

Given the severity of the situation, the rebels were being held at the Ministry of Justice, not in a regular prison.

"All of them?"

"All of them."

Vinnie nodded, looking me straight in the eye.

I understood his unspoken message.

In other words, these four were the Crown Prince's men.

The Crown Prince, to avoid implicating himself, had come to silence them.

"What do you think?"

"..."

I remained silent, used Leviathan to cut my side, making the wound deep enough to make blood gush out.

"Your Highness!?"

"These four did this. What is the maximum punishment for a prince who severely injures a prince?"

"—!"

Vinnie gasped, understanding the situation.

"Death, and immediate execution."

"Then do it."

"Yes, sir!"

Vinnie responded, called the guards who could still move, and had them execute the four on the spot.

After confirming that all four were dead, Vinnie returned.

"The execution is complete."

"Good."

"Your Highness... impressive."

"...This matter is now over."

Phew...

Truly, one wrong step and the country would have been shaken, Crown Prince.