"You didn't do it, you said?" Venantius said, then he looked at Birger.
Birger only nodded his head before speaking loudly.
"Imperial Knights Bonard and Jon, step forward."
Then two Imperial Knights step forward. They are the two guides Imperial Knights in Alex's group.
"Can you please narrate what happened before Reh commits the murder crime? And you are in the presence of His Imperial Majesty, so be sure that all the words you spoke are all tried and don't even have a little bit of lying." Nepotia said at the two.
The two visibly tremble when they hear Nepotia. Of all the people, the High Imperial Knights know what would happen to them when they lied to Venantius.
"Yes... Imperial Advisor..." Jon replied. Then he looked at Bonard.
Bonard looked at Alex before speaking. Alex only nodded his head when he saw Bonard looking at him.
"B-before the crime happened, Sir Alex said a joke about Reh's mother. It's only a joke to lift the mood and relax us a bit, but Sir Reh took it seriously and grabbed Sir Alex's collar and said some things to him." Bonard.
"He said some things like?" Nepotia.
"Sir Reh said that 'don't dare to speak my mother in your disgusting mouth if I hear you said it again, I will kill you that's, what Sir Reh said while grabbing Sir Alex at the collar," Bonard said, then he slightly bows his head.
"W-what nonsense are you talking about?! I-I don't say such words! You just made it up!" Reh rebuked Bonard's statement.
Birger was about to strike Reh again, but Nepotia signaled him to stop.
After he asks that, Jon raises his hand, and the same goes for Alex, Nate, and Logan.
After he asked that, Jon raises his hand, and the same goes for Alex, Nate, and Logan.
"So, we have four witnesses who heard what he said, Reh. Do you have anything to say now?" Nepotia.
"I-its natural that they would go and side on him! He's also one of them! He's also working with Alex! Can't you see that?! They are lying in the broad light, and yet none of you notice that!" Reh said, then he took a glance at Alex only to see the grin on Alex's face.
He wanted to jump on Alex and punched him in the face. But he knows that he had no power or strength to do that now.
The entires throne hall became silent after what Reh said, but it was not taken long when the Nobles began to trash Reh again.
"What?! Where do you even get the balls to deny all the accusations even if there are a lot of witnesses?!"
The entire throne hall became silent after what Reh said, but it was not taken long when the Nobles began to trash Reh again.
"What?! Where do you even get the balls to deny all the accusations even if there are a lot of witnesses?!"
"Yes, that's right! You have no shame, you damn criminal!"
"You still have the guts to tell your innocent in front of His Imperial Majesty. What an unbelievable creature."
Reh looked at Dion with a glint of hope. If anyone who can help him now is none other than Dion. But that glint of hope was destroyed when he heard the next words Dion spoke.
"All the witnesses said are all true. All that Alex and Imperial Knight Bonard said was all true. My group and I, as well as Captain Birger, were at the scene at the moment when he cut Harvey's throat. If anyone was talking nonsense here, it's him." Dion said while pointing at Reh.
Only then did Reh realize that even before this verdict thing got started, he had no chance to succeed in defending himself or prove his innocence as the person who was supposed to back him and support him was supporting his enemy.
"Why are you testifying about what Alex said? You know better than anyone that they are lying! I was only defending myself from Harvey! He turned into a monster and tried to kill me!" Reh.
"What the fuck are you talking about? Harvey turned into a monster? You're crazy... What Dion and I saw when we took a look at Harvey's body was his pitiful appearance after you killed him!" Patrick.
At this time, the door of the throne hall burst open, and a large number of Imperial Knights came in. They immediately kneeled and bowed their heads.
"Your Imperial Majesty, we're very sorry for abrupting your verdict, but this is very important." The Imperial Knight on the front said.
"You may speak..." Nepotia was the one who answered.
"HA! As per your order, we immediately search the things that belong to Sir Reh, and we found something under his cushion. A drug called Hulu. It causes intoxication and hallucinations upon taking..."
Gasp!
"He's taking a drug?!"
"Then, he's an addict!"
"Monster, you say?! You're just hallucinating, you bastard!"
Various words were spoken upon hearing what the Imperial Knight said.
With this event, Reh's innocence further diminished.
"I think this is enough justification... I will now decide what verdict will be imposed on you." The entire hall fell silent when Venantius spoke.
"Reh Levi... I'm sure you remember what I told you after you committed your first crime. I said that I would not be lenient the second time.
The crime you do this is severe.
Not only do you hinder the growth of the Heroes, but you also murder one of the future saviors of Humanity. I assumed that you intentionally hindered the growth of the Heroes so that they couldn't win against the Demons, and that makes you cooperate with them! And cooperation with the Demons is the greatest crime in my Empire!
Reh Levi, you will be beheaded, and your head will be placed on the stake and displayed outside of the walls of Maxim! At the same time, your body would be burned!"
All the crowds cheered upon hearing the verdict given by Venantius.
All of Reh's classmates also feel relieved at the decision of Venantius.
"Argh!"
Reh, we're pinned down by Birger after Venantius says his verdicts.
Amidst the loud noisy crowd, one voice resounded throughout the hall that made all the Nobles fall silent.
"Your Imperial Majesty..."
Venantius looked at the person in the front row who spoke.
It was a man in his mid 20's. A handsome man wearing a blue prince attire.
"Do you have anything to say, Prince Paul?"
He's the fourth Prince of Lalan Kingdom, Prince Paul Lalan.
Then, why did the Emperor, in a much higher position, take the time to ask him? It's quite simple. He's a younger brother of the Empress, Venantius's mother.
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty, and forgive me for my rudeness." Prince Paul said, then he bowed his head. Though they are uncle and nephew, they are still in the public, so it's only a natural gesture and reaction.
"I don't want to question your verdict on this criminal, Your Imperial Majesty, but I think it is still too lenient."
Venantius frowned upon hearing the words of his uncle.
"Could you please explain why you think that the verdict of the His Imperial Majesty was too lenient?" Nepotia.
"Well... Yes, beheading him, putting his head on the stake, and displaying it outside Maxim, then burning his body is a great punishment, but don't you think that it's too comfortable death for him? For the crime and problems he makes?
Yes, we beheaded him, but that's all. He didn't even feel the agony and suffering of the man he murdered."
The Nobles nodded their heads in agreement at the statement Paul made.
Venantius pondered a moment. Then he realized that his uncle had a point. "Then... Do you have something in mind that much better than my verdict?"
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty, I do have...
Why don't you throw and exile him to Carnage Forest?"
Again, the hall turned dead silent. The Nobles have a terrified and shocked expressions.
Dion and others were all confused as to why they do have that kind of expression on their faces. Even the face of Nepotia and Venantius turned serious when they heard it.
"We all knew what was in Carnage Forest. It is the home of Hard and Expert rank monsters. Only a few people could stand and fight against Hard and Expert rank monsters. That's why various Kingdoms don't even think about conquering it. The same goes for Adventurers. They didn't even step a foot outside the perimeter of Carnage Forest.
Then, what would help if a person of the Slave Class was exiled in the Carnage Forest?
I'm sure the monsters would savor every inch and part of his body. Ripping it apart one by one, he could hear the sound of a monster chewing his own body part."
The female Nobles have disgusting expressions on their faces on they hear Paul's last words.
"I think... You are right. Although we were not going to see and hear how he would suffer and cry in agony, we could be sure and imagine that he would not be going to survive, and he would experience the greatest suffering a human could ever experience.
That's it!
I, Venantius Melodus Alexius Zagon, Emperor of Zagon, was changing my previous verdict! From now on, Reh Levi, a murderer, will be going to be exiled to the Carnage Forest!
And any objection or opposition is not going to tolerate!
My verdict is final. Tomorrow, we will parade him throughout the Maxim to let my people know he is a despicable murderer who was working with the Demons!"
"W-waitt!!! Please!!! They are lying!! I only defended myself!!!"
"Shut up!!!"
Reh was forcibly dragged by Birger out of the hall.
But before he could forcibly drag it out, he looked at his classmates. All of them had happy expressions as if to say that the trash was finally getting out.
Alex had a mix of a smug, grin and a happy expression on his face.
'It was all his ploy!' Reh thought.
Plume had a complicated expression.
Then he looked at Dion. Who had now an expression that he finally achieved justice.
'Now... I finally understand... In the beginning, I don't have an ally. I was all alone from the beginning. I was a fool to believe and trust that he always got my back.
Yeah, even when we were on Earth. He always says that he would make sure Alex would receive punishment because of all the things he does to me but not even once did I see Alex get punished!
Now... I understand now. Power is everything..."
Reh lastly thought before he was forcibly dragged out.