Chapter 1384: Chapter 97: Reforging the Nation (24)_4

…

Most observant members of the Free People have already realized that Colonel Skul, who values logic and reason, has been made a fool by Colonel Red Rose’s manipulative tactics.

As Richard of Blackwater Town said, this is a trial, a trial to construct the legitimacy basis of the new regime.

Those sitting in the judge’s seat want a complete victory in terms of morality and law, not merely to physically eliminate the accused.

If it were only for the latter, there would be no need for such a painstaking effort—a single executioner could handle it beautifully.

Targeting the enemy’s core demands, Nagy Modachi standing in the trial launched a counterattack.

His method of counterattack was to tell a lie, one that everyone knows is false, yet cannot be refuted legally.

Using this lie as a tool, he dragged the judges, who must remain spotless, altogether into the cesspit.

If he accomplished this, then even if Nagy Modachi were sent to the gallows just after stepping out of the Grand Council Hall, he would still have won.

…

“Any resolution passed by the Grand Council must be published in the Gazette and made public. You claim the Kingsfort’s false council issued a request, so why is there no record in the recent Gazette?”

“The Gazette is sent quarterly; its absence in the last issue does not mean it won’t be in the next.” Colonel Nagy responded fluently, “Moreover, after the New Reclamation Expeditionary Army suppressed the New Reclamation Legion Headquarters, Kingsfort stopped sending the Gazette to the Newly Reclaimed Land, didn’t they? How do you know what’s in the latest Gazette?”

“You claim that the Kingsfort false council issued a request.” Colonel Skul gently wiped the sweat from his forehead, shifting to details: “When was the request made?”

Colonel Nagy smiled slightly: “I am getting old, and I cannot remember the specific time.”

“Can’t remember the specific time?” Colonel Skul narrowed his eyes at once, seizing upon the fleeting flaw, he asked solemnly, “Then there must be a specific time, you simply can’t remember it.”

Colonel Nagy became cautious: “I said, I can’t recall.”

“You should at least know the approximate time,” Colonel Skul pressed him step by step.

This time, Colonel Nagy did not answer immediately, pondering for a long while, he gave an utterly unverifiable answer, “After March, before April.”

Colonel Skul compared this time with his memory, moments later, he sighed, “What a clever timing: the gazette is issued quarterly, but December, January, and February are one issue, March, April, and May are another; you assumed I have only last quarter’s Gazette, so you said after March; April 1st, Guidao City coup, April 3rd, Alder Felter and others received dispatch orders, so you said before April.”

Colonel Nagy responded nonchalantly, “If what I said is false, just find the second quarter’s Gazette to easily prove it.”

“Stop pretending, Nagy Modachi.” Colonel Skul’s gaze pierced directly into Colonel Nagy’s eyes, “After the second Kingsfort coup, the Gazette was completely suspended, the second quarter’s Gazette does not exist.”

“So.” Colonel Nagy laughed heartily as he unbuttoned his coat, stretched his arms, exposing his chest to everyone present, “You might as well come here with a sword directly, it would be much simpler than this trial farce.”

“Skur Meklen.” Colonel Nagy turned to an old colleague, speaking calmly, “You placed us on the trial bench, it is a gamble. The last time you and I were on opposite sides, I lost. But this time…”

Colonel Nagy was confident of victory, “You have lost!”

Colonel Skul remained expressionless.

The Grand Council Hall was deathly silent, Free People dared not even breathe for fear of angering Colonel Skul and becoming sacrifices.

After a moment of silence, Skur Meklen started applauding.

“From childhood school, you could always win against me,” Colonel Skul, removing his mask of a judge, commented nostalgically on the past, and then suddenly changed his tone: “But this time, you have lost twice consecutively.”

Colonel Nagy was slightly taken aback, the Free People under the dome were equally shocked, even many low-ranking officers couldn’t figure it out.

“I indeed can’t find the Gazette mentioned by Nagy Modachi,” Colonel Skul said loud enough for the Free People to hear: “But I have more conclusive evidence.”

Then, he picked up the gavel and knocked it forcefully, ordering the soldiers: “Bring in the witness!”

Soon, the soldiers escorted the witness into the Grand Council Hall.

At this moment, everyone discovered that the witnesses mentioned by Colonel Skul were not one or two people, but two entire groups of captives, one long and one short.

The shorter group was composed of strong young men, though scrutinized by thousands of pairs of eyes, they showed no fear, only chained, their movements slightly clumsy.

The longer group included men, women, and children, none were chained, only bound by ropes, many were frightened to tears upon entry.

“Silence!” Colonel Skul issued a warning with intimidating authority, scaring back the witnesses’ tears.

At this point, a shout erupted from the tiered seats, as if someone recognized the identity of the “witnesses”.

Then, exclamations rang out one after another, followed by murmured whispers. Clearly, the appearance of the witnesses greatly provoked the Free People of the Newly Reclaimed Land, making them urgently need more information.

“Silence!!!” Colonel Skul warned again.