Chapter 508 (1/2)
Chapter 508: The Game
Translator: TransN Editor: TransN
“Your… Your Majesty, I… I don’t understand.” Marquis Wyke wiped the sweats from his forehead. “What… What do you mean by ‘out of the game’?”
“Those who are out will either be hanged, banished from the kingdom, or sentenced to heavy labor in the mines. Or, perhaps, all of their assets will be confiscated.” The prince explained airily. “The rules of the game conform to the royal laws. It’s fair enough.”
“No, I’ve served the royal family faithfully since the reign of your father. You can’t…”
“But now I’m the king. I can do whatever I want.” Roland interrupted him and continued. “Don’t panic. Those who have answered all of the ten questions correctly will get promoted or rewarded. It’d be boring if there were only punishments and no rewards, right?”
“I… can’t accept this,” said Sir Pilaw, shaking his head. “Those punishments you’ve mentioned should only be ordered by the court. We can’t take such serious things so lightly. Your Majesty, I’m sorry I feel uneasy. Please allow me to take my leave.”
He turned around and tried to exit the room, only to find that the door had been closed and that there were two expressionless soldiers now standing by the door. They blocked his exit and would not budge.
“I’m not asking for your opinion, Sir Pilaw,” said Roland, “and, if you insist on quitting the game, I’m afraid I’ll have to add one more punishment,” he made a gesture as if shooting a gun and added, “that is, to shoot you.”
The frightened nobles opened their eyes wide and spontaneously stepped back a few paces, while the soldiers around them lifted up their guns and calmly looked at them.
“So, now, time for the game.” Roland stood up and clapped his hands. “The first question, did you get involved in the matter of forcing refugees to invade the Western Region? Let’s start with you, Mr. Prime Minister.”
“…” After a moment of silence, Marquis Wyke said, “I did follow Timothy’s order to recruit refugees from the Eastern Region and the Southern Territory, but I did not take part in the other matter you stated.”
He felt Nightingale lightly pinch his right shoulder.
“I’m sorry. I told you that you’d only have one chance to answer each question honestly.” Roland waved his hand. “Take him down to the jail beneath this hall.”
“Your Majesty, what I said is true…”
“No, you and I both know that you’re still lying, even now.” Roland promptly rejected the Prime Minister’s appeal. He watched him get dragged out into the hallway and then slowly said to everyone, “If you’re smart, you’ll understand that lying won’t do you any good, because, I can tell whether or not you’re telling me the truth.”
The nobles all stood with mouths agape, and no one dared to speak.
“If nobody volunteers to answer the question, I’ll just call out names.” Roland looked at the Minister of Justice and said, “What about you? Sir Pilaw.”
…
It had turned out just the way he had wanted. This was a trial.
He had to cut the Gordian knot by efficiently dealing with the nobles here in this manner. As he also had to handle the situation with the area to the south of Fallen Dragon Ridge, he could not afford to waste too much time here. The post-war city management would be transferred to the personnel trained by the City Hall, and the resistance they would meet was from the local nobles and Black Street gangs.