Chapter 617 Fool's Gold
"There you have it," Ashton's voice echoed through the hushed courtroom, his tone void of emotion. "The traitorous Priest is dead."
Ashton's eyes swept across the stunned faces of the courtiers and the assembled crowd. The once wild chants for the Priest's execution had turned into an eerie silence. The weight of their decision hung heavily in the air as if time had momentarily frozen.
The people who had called for the Priest's death now stood in disbelief, their words snatched away by the reality of the situation.
They had been driven by anger and thirst for vengeance, but they had not expected Ashton to carry out the execution before their eyes, unfazed by their demands.
Even the courtiers, who had witnessed countless trials, were taken aback by the grim resolution with which Ashton had acted. The courtroom had seen its share of emotions, but this moment was unparalleled.
Ashton's gaze returned to the lifeless body of the Priest, still lying where he had fallen. It was not a moment of pride or satisfaction for Ashton but a solemn act of 'pleasing' the crowd.
He did exactly what the people wanted, but when they should have been cheering, everyone was quiet and scared.
A murmur started to ripple through the crowd as people slowly began to process the gravity of what had transpired. Some were bewildered, others frightened, while others questioned the limits of power displayed by Ashton.
"What's wrong, people?" Ashton yelled. "Isn't this what you wanted while chanting remarks such as, 'Off with his head'?"
Ashton took a step back, allowing the reality to sink in. The crowd's silence starkly contrasted with the vibrant energy that had filled the courtroom just moments ago.
The magnitude of the consequences was dawning on them as they realised that their demands had led to the death of a man. But that wasn't enough. Ashton wanted to make them realise what they had to sacrifice for a few moments of peace and pleasure.
His voice breaking through the quiet, Ashton addressed the crowd again, his tone steady but tinged with emotion.
"This was never an act of vengeance or personal vendetta from me," he explained. "I did what I did solely because you, the people, demanded so. However, allow me to tell you something."
Ashton's voice echoed through the courtroom, cutting through the thick tension in the air. His words were filled with anger, frustration, and a sense of urgency and truth.
"Do you think this Priest and his collaborators were the only cultists here? NO!" Ashton's voice rose with conviction. "There are countless more of them, lurking in the shadows, plotting against us, and who knows, some of them might even be present in this very court, pretending to be loyal subjects!"
He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in. The silence that followed was heavy with realisation and apprehension. The courtiers exchanged wary glances, unsure who among them could harbour such dark secrets.
"If only we had been allowed to interrogate him," Ashton continued, his tone filled with regret, "we might have been able to uncover the identities of many more cultists hidden throughout the galaxy!
But because of your selfish desire for swift justice, we'll never know the full extent of this insidious network!"
Ashton's words struck a nerve, and some courtiers looked visibly uncomfortable. They had demanded immediate retribution, and in doing so, they might have jeopardised the empire's safety and allowed the cultists to escape scrutiny.
"So remember this," Ashton's voice grew stern, "when the cult strikes the empire again, and they will, it was your desire for vengeance and your impatience that paved the way for their resurgence!"
He let the weight of his words linger in the room before he turned away from the crowd. His gaze fell on the lifeless body of the Priest, a tragic reminder of what had transpired.
Ashton took a deep breath, trying to steady himself amidst his wild emotions. He had not wanted to resort to such harsh words, but the gravity of the situation demanded it.
The empire's safety was at stake, and the people needed to understand the consequences of their actions.
The Emperor, standing nearby, acknowledged Ashton's words with a solemn nod. He recognised the truth in what the Reaper had spoken, and the burden of his own decision weighed heavily on his shoulders.
Without saying another word, Ashton summoned the skeletons once again, and they carried the Priest's corpse back inside [Valhalla]; no one objected to him as the empire had received what they wanted and no longer had any use for the Priest's corpse.
The courtiers watched silently, their earlier desire for vengeance replaced by a sense of sobriety.
With the grim task completed, Ashton turned to the Emperor and bowed respectfully. The ruler acknowledged him with a nod but not saying a word otherwise.
Ashton's companions joined him as they made their way out of the courtroom. Anna walked by his side. Like everyone else, she, too, was confused about why Ashton did what he did. But she knew waiting for Ashton to reveal his reason was better.
Flintmace and Vulcan followed closely, their presence a reassuring show of support. The mercenaries, too, made their exit, their steps echoing through the halls.
There was a sense of closure among them, knowing that their dangerous mission had come to an end.
Ashton's lips curled into a smile as they left the court behind. His plan succeeded as he easily made a fool out of the empire. With his newly acquired [Memory Reading] ability, Ashton could extract crucial information from the dead Priest's mind.
If [Mind Reading] were to fail, he could always resurrect the Priest as, unlike the Deacon, the Priest's body hadn't disintegrated into dust. With the help of his [Association] ability, Ashton could easily turn the Priest into his summon.
But Ashton was against it, as the Priest was relatively weak, and he wouldn't want to raise a weak summon just to obtain some information from him.
'First, let's get to the Tower and then think about what I'd do...'
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