Jeanette's mood grew heavy.
The essence of those tainted weapons lay in the instrumental use of forbidden powers, which can be more directly explained as a rampant abuse and expansion of such powers.
Moreover, these weapons, contaminated by a miasma of corruption, posed a significant threat to the broader community.
They were absolutely forbidden, capable of drawing the attention of the Enforcers!
Therefore, it was imperative that the Executioner never laid eyes upon this batch of weapons.
Yet, before this, attempting an assassination in her presence was utterly foolish.
It perfectly eliminated any chance of preserving a way out for herself.
Jeanette, being already an exiled individual, need not worry about repercussions, but the children from the slums...
Several of them sensed her unease and the fear of losing a friend in her expression, and they asked in hushed tones:
"What should we do now, Sister Jeanette...?"
"..."
What could Jeanette possibly say?
She had no confidence in safeguarding these children.
Outsiders already held an instinctive wariness and aversion towards those from exile, especially towards someone of the Executioner's stature.
And now, they had brazenly attempted murder right before her eyes!
At that moment, Chu Yan knocked on the wooden railing, mimicking a door knock.
He approached Jeanette and took a seat before her, inquiring:
"Jeanette, you appear to have encountered a significant dilemma."
"At a time like this, there's no need for you to feign ignorance. By the way, how came you to be here? Dura mentioned you were attacked by Womack."
Chu Yan thought to himself, "As expected," for the assailant was someone Jeanette knew.
Earlier, he had noticed her particular care for the children of the slums, but he had refrained from asking.
When their acquaintance was still fresh, he felt it inappropriate to pry into her past.
Although his reluctance stemmed from a certain laziness, he was also concerned that it might yield negative consequences.
When a considerate person seeks to know more about another, it is seen as "You're truly thoughtful, my dear."
Conversely, when someone who is less favored attempts to bridge the gap, it can be perceived as "How utterly repulsive."
With his fingers lightly tapping on the marble table, he stated:
"Regarding Womack's attempt on my life, I can exercise leniency and appeal to the Executioner for his mercy."
While he articulated this, he remained unpleased internally; nevertheless, Womack's actions inadvertently presented him with an opportunity to strengthen his bond with Jeanette.
If he were to impose severe punishment now, it might jeopardize their friendship.
He reassured himself that this was merely a matter of exercising diplomacy before resorting to force.
To begin with a heavy-handed punishment would instill fear in everyone, making it difficult for him to effectively carry out his duties.
By first displaying mercy, should such an incident arise again, even if he resorted to execution, others would merely view it as the assailant's fault, believing it had provoked the once lenient lord to wrath, thus absolving him of blame.
This approach would be advantageous, not only when dealing with potential fools within the slums but also in navigating future conflicts with the nobility of the Dead Sea.
From this point onwards, he could proceed without further concern.
The children's eyes lit up with hope, as if they themselves were the ones receiving leniency, they exclaimed with excitement:
"Are you serious, Lord Brother!"
Jeanette, typically carefree and joyous, faced everything with confidence and composure; now, her expression was stern and unfamiliar.
"What do you intend to do, young lord?"
With a serious and sincere demeanor, Chu Yan replied:
"It's not about what I wish to do; rather, to focus solely on Womack, believing that punishing him would resolve everything, is rather foolish.
The knife injures, but the true culpability lies with the hand wielding it; Womack is merely the dull blade in this instance."
He was surprisingly undisturbed by the assassination attempt, perhaps due to its... trivial nature?
Yet, such a malicious act against a lord could not be overlooked.
He could surmise that the instigators were indeed the nobility; the circles of the Dead Sea were too small to conceal such matters.
"Are you intending to use this as a means to retaliate against the nobility?"
Jeanette regarded him with newfound respect, surprised that, even after narrowly escaping death, Chu Yan's first instinct was not vengeful anger but a calculated contemplation of the motivations behind the act.
"Indeed, but I wish to understand something; why did you provide those dangerous weapons to the children?"
"Because... I want to offer the children of the slums an alternative path."
Jeanette gazed at the sky, her thoughts drifting back to a distant past.
"Do you know where I hail from, young lord?"
"I cannot possibly know, but I would like to hear more."
"I was raised in another place of exile, which also housed a prison for the forbidden. As a child, I observed the captives there, and upon growing up, I became one of them... albeit in a foreign land of exile."
This continent contains several places of exile for the forbidden: the Dead Sea borders, the Thunderous Desert, and the Valley of the Dead.
Jeanette was born in a town in the Thunderous Desert, where she witnessed the encircling gloom of her homeland and the bleakness of the future.
Although circumstances were somewhat different, the issues mirrored those in the slums of Jiggle City.
The term "birth," symbolizing the inception of life, can find utterly contrasting interpretations here.
If one were to be born into the family of a Dead Sea noble, a life of comfort and abundance would accompany them, and merely living one more day would be counted as a stroke of fortune.
However, should one be born merely a kilometer away in the slums, they might as well contemplate returning to the womb to start anew; each day alive would feel like a blessing.
Yet, as living beings, they inevitably harbor a flicker of hope concerning their existence—perhaps they might experience something good, encounter fortune, or live through favorable events?
It is not a matter of aspiring to a lavish life; it is simply that in the slums, leading a stable and peaceful life is a luxury.
Marked by the stigma of the denizens of the Dead Sea, integrating into stable society becomes exceedingly arduous.
What can alter one's fate are various talents—be it magical abilities or weapon skills—but alas, such endowments are inherently dictated by destiny.
—It seems that only fate can truly change one's fortunes.
Even children of noble families might turn out to be inept, so what hope is there for the common folk?
The tainted weapons, then, were the means through which Jeanette sought to provide a new opportunity for the children of the slums.
This was the most affordable method to gain power, allowing even ordinary children the ability to confront monsters!
With such capabilities, they need not spend their entire lives serving the Dead Sea nobility in menial tasks; at the very least, hunting a few monsters would secure them a decent meal.
Life is inherently challenging, yet it can be delightfully rewarding.
To enjoy a good meal occasionally and look forward to the next is a small but precious joy.
The future of the slums, you say...
Chu Yan had previously pondered the irrational layout of Jiggle City but had not anticipated that Jeanette had considered it so deeply.
Her excursions during her free time had likely centered around this very issue; it appeared that the contraband she dealt in was primarily these tainted weapons.
A profound weight settled upon him, as if the heaviness of fate bore down on his heart, yet Jeanette's words seemed to waft a hint of sunlight through the clouds.
He asked, "Will these tainted weapons not harm the users?"
Jeanette countered, "When one is hungry, do they concern themselves with the flavor of their food?"
Without the harm brought on by the tainted weapons, the people of the slums would still be unable to secure their livelihoods.
While these weapons may inflict damage, they also present the prospect of change.
Moreover, the threat posed by these tainted weapons was certainly less than that of a monster attack.
Chu Yan nodded, stretching lazily as he prepared to depart, saying:
"Very well, I believe I understand the situation well enough. I will divert the Executioner's bloodlust. Jeanette, can you utilize your network to uncover the identity of the instigator?"
The seductive woman in the cropped jacket rose, a faint smile gracing her lips as she shook hands with Chu Yan, saying:
"Leave it to me. Dura, lead me to the places Womack frequents."
Chu Yan made his way back toward the location of the Executioner and her entourage, exclaiming wearily:
"This midterm assessment isn't even over yet, and I have to begin the next phase of work so soon. Can't I have a few more days to rest?"
The efficiency of cooperation between superiors and subordinates, as well as the lord's reserve of personal forces.
These two aspects were among the criteria for this family trial's scoring; if Jeanette successfully handled this matter, he could secure a significant advantage in one go!
"A small goal: first, let us take down that pig, Baron Pidge! Aren't all nobles just as wicked?"