The cries of Jennika and Vic grew fainter, eventually fading into silence.
It remains unclear whether Kino truly intended to mock these two, executing them under the pretense of misunderstanding, or if, in jest, he merely took their lives for their misinterpretation, killing them amidst laughter.
The earlier scene left Percy utterly stunned, standing there like a fool, speechless.
Percy had heard of Kino Van Helsing before—known as a weak, incompetent noble who had risen on the coattails of his family's reputation. His subordinates showed him no respect, and even a dog in Shirin Town dared to urinate on his leg.
But now, seeing him in person, he was nothing like the rumors at all…
Soon, Paladin returned, wiping the blood from his hands, his attire immaculate. He spoke in a low voice, "I've beheaded them both, their bodies have been chopped and turned into pig feed, and their heads placed in the cemetery for the dead."
Kino, engrossed in examining the city's defense plans, didn't even look up, replying indifferently, "Good work. Go train the soldiers now."
"Yes," Paladin responded.
Afterward, Percy was left standing alone, too afraid to move or speak, waiting for Kino to acknowledge him.
However, Kino remained deeply focused on the plans, repeatedly reaching for a ruler and charcoal pencil, brushing past Percy without a glance, whether intentional or not.
An hour later, Percy, fatigued and unable to straighten his back, began to feel his chest tighten. Unable to resist, he coughed softly, "Cough..."
At the sound, Kino looked up, tapping his forehead, "My apologies, I forgot you were still here. Sit, there's no one else around, make yourself comfortable, as if you were at home."
Relieved, Percy slumped into the chair, but out of politeness, he still straightened his back and held his stomach in, addressing Kino with exaggerated flattery, "Administrator, your judgment was truly satisfying! That deceitful pair who stole money meant to save lives deserved nothing less than beheading!"
Kino smiled and asked, "Do you think I did well?"
"Of course!" Percy replied earnestly.
Kino's expression grew somewhat melancholic as he rubbed his chin, "But according to the law, I clearly overstepped. They were commoners from Goland, entitled to the most basic right to life, not slaves whose lives can be taken at will. I executed them without investigation through the court, with unclear charges and lacking evidence. This goes against the integrity expected of an administrator."
Percy felt like crying without tears, thinking: What should I do now? Am I supposed to scold him? Would I dare?
Clearing his throat, Percy bowed his head, saying, "Don't worry, this isn't a problem. Two insignificant commoners were killed, and the inspector won't care about such trifles."
Kino, intrigued, glanced at him, "So, you're suggesting that the inspector disrespects the law?"
Percy panicked immediately, "I-I didn't say that!"
"Then I disrespected the law?" Kino asked.
"My lord, that was not my intention!" Percy stammered.
"In this matter, someone must be wrong. Who do you think is at fault? Me, or the inspector?"
Percy was completely baffled, his nerves fraying, unable to think clearly. He shrank into himself, unable to speak.
Kino asked, "Is this how you sit at home too?"
Percy froze, "What?...?"
"Is this your posture at home too?" Kino gestured to Percy's stiff, upright form.
Percy quickly shook his head, "No."
Kino fixed his gaze on him, "I told you to relax, treat it as if you're at home. Why are you still sitting like that?"
After a brief pause, Percy, subconsciously following Kino's lead, released his stomach and relaxed into the chair.
Kino clapped his hands and smiled, "Isn't that much more comfortable?"
"Yes... yes..." Percy nodded submissively.
Kino stood and poured Percy a drink from the decanter, "Here, try this."
Percy took the cup with both hands and took a sip. Suddenly, a fiery sensation spread rapidly through his mouth and down his throat, scorching all the way to his stomach. The heat caused him to break into a cold sweat, clutching his throat as he coughed uncontrollably, "Cough! Cough... Ugh..."
Kino watched him, curious, "Is it not to your liking?"
"My lord... Ugh! This..." Percy coughed so violently his eyes watered, yet he dared not speak his true thoughts. He forced a pained smile, giving a thumbs up, "It's... good."
Kino, holding the decanter, offered it to him again, "Would you like another glass?"
"Oh no, no, no, I... I'm not thirsty... Cough... My lord, what kind of drink is this? I can sense a very strong aroma. I've never tasted anything like it." Percy quickly changed the subject.
Kino leaned back lazily in his chair, smiling, "I'm sure you've heard about me and the visitors from beyond."
Percy seized the opportunity to flatter, "Of course, the carrier pigeons have spread news of your great deeds throughout the streets! Throughout the kingdom, who doesn't know that Lord Kino Van Helsing is the slayer of the alien invaders?"
"This is the drink I obtained from them, not of this world," Kino swirled the decanter before his nose, smiling as he asked, "What do you think of it?"
Despite nearly choking to death at first, Percy had to admit that once the burning sensation faded, it lingered in his mouth with a surprising aftertaste, somewhat pleasing.
Percy, honest for once, shared his thoughts, "At first, I found it overwhelming. But after drinking our fruit brew, this alien drink gave me a surprising, unfamiliar pleasure."
"Yes, you enjoy the thrill of the unknown," Kino's eyes darkened with a mysterious glint. He spoke softly, "You always visit unfamiliar women, spending the night with them."
Percy shuddered, his gaze drifting, "My lord, I never forced them, it was mutual. This doesn't break the law, does it?"
"Of course not, you're the civil administrator. What's wrong with sleeping with a few women? But I do worry about your safety. You never take attendants when you visit them." Kino's smile faded as he fixed his gaze on Percy, as if signaling the end of the game. "No wonder, during the Shirin Town defense, only Pro's reinforcements failed to arrive on time. You probably didn't know about the bandit invasion until noon the next day, right?"
Percy felt a thunderclap in his mind, the realization crashing down on him. His cup fell, and he collapsed to his knees, his voice trembling, "My lord, I was wrong!"
"What did you do wrong?"
"I... I shouldn't have slept with those women..."
"Everyone has such needs, how could that be your fault?"
"I shouldn't have gone without an attendant..."
"Matters of privacy, I understand that you wouldn't want too many people to know."
Percy's pupils trembled as he knelt, pressing his forehead to the ground, his voice shaking, "My lord, please, tell me where I went wrong."
Kino smiled mischievously, "Do you mean to say I'm being unreasonable, looking for faults in you?"
Percy stiffened, then relaxed, his head bowed, his voice catching, "I understand now..."
Kino's voice softened, "What exactly do you understand?"
Wiping his tears, Percy lifted his head, his voice filled with pleading, "My lord, I voluntarily resign from my position as Pro's civil administrator... I only hope you'll not pursue this matter further..."