Chapter 1380: Chapter 96: Remaking the Nation (23)

The trial of the Provincial Army officer, Skur Meklen, shifted from his previous calm and restraint to a sharp and incisive rhetoric:

“So, Major Felter, please tell me, and the jury citizens present here—why would an active officer of the Provincial Army appear in Palatu, and in the Newly Reclaimed Land, and be present at this trial?”

Alder Felter lifted his withered head, met with countless instinctual glances of suspicion, dislike, and rejection, feeling a wave of desolation simply because he was an “outsider.”

“I’m sorry.” Major Felter lowered his head again, “I have nothing to say.”

“Watch your tongue, Major Felter.” Skur Meklen issued a friendly warning, “The one questioning you now is not some ‘Military Disciplinary Committee’ convened just yesterday, but the ‘Freemen’s Special Tribunal’ established under the authority granted by the Alliance Charter. Choose your answers carefully, because every jury member in this hall will decide your fate.”

“I’ll ask you again.” Colonel Skool emphasized, “Why are you here?”

“I’m sorry.” Major Felter responded mechanically, “I have nothing to say.”

The freemen of the Newly Reclaimed Land clearly disliked Major Felter’s response, and a buzzing of discontent immediately arose in the main council hall.

Of course, the freemen were even more displeased with Major Felter’s identity as a “Provincial Guy.”

Colonel Skool tapped with his gavel, suppressing the surrounding noise.

He scrutinized Major Felter, with a tone already carrying a hint of threat: “Knowing the consequences, you still answer ‘I have nothing to say’?”

Alder Felter seemed provoked, raising his head indignantly to meet the cold eyes of the Palatu alumnus on the judge’s bench.

The colonel’s cold eyes. He turned his gaze towards those xenophobic, conservative, greedy ‘freemen’ seating high in the jury.

“Yes!” When he spoke again, the anger in Felter’s eyes had been replaced by contempt and scorn, and he answered resolutely: “Noth——ing——to——say!”

Although Alder Felter repeated the same words three times, it did not hinder him from conveying the change in his emotions.

Thus, the freemen of the Newly Reclaimed Land grew even more resentful towards this oblivious Provincial Guy on the trial stand.

Many were already secretly prepared, just waiting for the cue to let out that yell still echoing around the dome.

In contrast, Colonel Skool’s lips curled slightly, showing a bit of admiration in his eyes.

“You are very loyal, Alder Felter, and I respect that.”

Skur Meklen sincerely praised Alder Felter, leaving the latter momentarily stunned.

However, in the next moment, the colonel pivoted abruptly, probing the major: “So is it the ‘department’ that instructed you to respond this way?”

“I.” Major Felter was caught off guard, subconsciously licking his lips, “I have nothing to say.”

“Perhaps I did not make myself clear, so I’ll give you another chance to answer.”

Colonel Skool leaned back slightly, glancing towards the freemen seated on both sides. Although nominally addressing the defendant, his body language indicated he was speaking to the jurors.

The colonel loudly questioned, “Did the Provincial Army Command Department, the actual supreme command of the Provincial Army, issue you formal orders upon capture, to not disclose, mention, or reveal any information possibly implicating the Command Department, under penalty of severe punishment?”

Colonel Skool retracted his gaze, refocusing on the major.

Major Felter felt as though the colonel’s gaze was like a meat slicer, nearly stripping him down to the bone.

“So, you can only respond…” Colonel Skool enunciated each word deliberately, “I have nothing to say?”

Major Felter was somewhat flustered, not because the other knew the gag order, but because the other repeated the wording of the gag order verbatim.

He forcibly suppressed his unease and suspicion, striving to maintain a calm facade, “I’m sorry, I have nothing to say.”

“Since you have nothing to say, then I’ll have to be the one to tell you.” Colonel Skool donned a monocle, opening another dossier and publicly reading:

“Alder Felter, Major in the Army, a graduate of the Eighth Class of the Alliance Army Officer Academy.

“Before being dispatched to the Republic of Palatu, your original position was in the Mountain Front Territory Republic, which is the United Provinces Republic,

“In the Army Command Department, which is the actual command structure of the Provincial Army,

“In the Second Department, which is the Logistics and Training Department,

“In the Second Division, which is the Training Division,

“In the Second Section, which is the Cavalry Section,

“As the Second Section Head, which is equivalent to a Deputy Director, ha.”

At this point, Colonel Skool paused, peering through his monocle at the junior on trial, “Weren’t you in the infantry section? How did you end up in cavalry training?”

The observation seats erupted in laughter. Although few freemen present understood the mouthful of titles, mocking the Provincial Guy was always a safe bet.

Major Felter’s cheeks flushed red and hot; he longed to rush up the steps and roar into the ears of these ignorant onlookers, “Do you even know how fierce the competition for infantry-related positions is in the Provinces? Do you realize that being selected to work in the Command Department is exceptional in itself?”

But in the end, he swallowed his pride, refraining from any explanations, “I’m sorry, I have nothing to say!”

“Your transfer order came on April 3rd, which was a day after the April 1st coup.” Colonel Skool continued mercilessly, “The one who signed your transfer was Jansen Cornelius, the coup initiator.”

Here, Colonel Skool paused again, contemplating briefly, then asked earnestly, “Wasn’t Jansen the Head of the Military Academy? How is it his signature on your transfer?”

The laughter grew louder, and Major Felter found the noise unbearably clamorous.

Since the “April 1st Revolution,” until Congressman Richard Mayerhaus publicly acknowledged that the “revolution was an illegal coup,” the real affairs of the Provincial Army were chaired by Colonel Cornelius.

Alder Felter felt compelled to retort to the colonel seated at the judge’s bench, “Since the order was issued on April 3rd, who else could sign it but Colonel Jansen Cornelius?”

“I have nothing to say!” Felter responded stiffly.

Colonel Skool flipped a page, glanced at it, and then placed the dossier on the table, “You presumably arrived at Kingsfort around mid-April; your task should have been to oversee the handover of munitions, offer military advice, and assist Kingsfort in training recruits to rebuild the Fifth and Sixth Legions. Am I wrong?”

Alder Felter remained silent because the Colonel had made no mistakes.

Simultaneously, the major acutely realized that even though the tone was still certain, the other party unconsciously used words like ‘presumably’ and ‘should have.’

Major Felter quickly calmed down.

Information prior to arriving at Palatu could be precise to the date; information post-arrival at Palatu was less specific?

This perhaps suggested that the rebel’s information source was not at Kingsfort but at Guidao City—Major Felter mused.

But for now, getting through today’s “interrogation” was more important than catching the mole by the Inner Sea.

“I’m sorry.” Major Felter braced himself, inhaling deeply, “I have nothing to say.”

On the judge’s bench, Skur Meklen first noted the change in the defendant’s demeanor, as compared to the deflated and listless state upon entering the main council hall, this junior brother now exuded a newfound, unnamed resolve.

The colonel realized that something he mentioned had piqued the other’s interest.

Following a quick review, Colonel Skool understood—he might have inadvertently leaked a secret.

Skur Meklen nonchalantly picked up a quill, dipped it in red ink, and circled “Alder Felter” on the defendant list with a thick, red mark.

“It’s my duty to remind you, Alder Felter,” Colonel Skool replaced the list in the folder, speaking expressionlessly, “You can choose not to answer questions, but doing so means you also intentionally waive your right to defend yourself; similarly, you can choose not to recognize the authority of the Freemen’s Special Tribunal, but that also signifies leaving you alive becomes a dearer price to pay than ending your life.”

Listening to the colonel’s dispassionate statement, Major Felter shivered, aware that the colonel harbored deadly intent.

In response to the major’s final reminder, Major Felter did not again reply with “I have nothing to say,” but also did not utter anything else, opting for silence instead.

“Major Alder Felter, how you respond to the court’s subsequent questions will determine your ultimate fate.” Colonel Skur Meklen clasped his fingers calmly, continuing, “Given that your task was merely to handle ordnance handover, provide consultation, and train recruits…”

“Then why?” Skur Meklen’s eyes flashed coldly, “Was your capture location—Maple Fort?”