Chapter 58
In the light curtain, Nago was still hosting very professionally in his golden lion socks: "...Currently, Valcas Uhl has the most votes. It seems the audience wants this elven criminal to find redemption."
"Let me briefly introduce Mr. Uhl's life story. He was born in 1542 at the Emerald Dragon Orphanage. You may not be very familiar with the Emerald Dragon Orphanage, but it is currently the only dual-first class orphanage in Caimon City, and the predecessor of the 'Emerald Garden' orphanage."
"In the past three hundred years, Emerald Dragon was an orphanage exclusively for elves and never accepted infants of other races. But in 1600, under the promotion of the 'Racial Equality in Childcare Act', Emerald Dragon and many other orphanages merged to become the multi-racial Emerald Garden orphanage, which has nurtured many outstanding talents to date. Its sorcerer training rate is as high as 21%. If not for his crimes, Mr. Uhl would surely have been a famous alumnus that Emerald Garden boasts about."
Although Ashe didn't know what a "dual-first class orphanage" was, he felt it was probably more important than academic background here.
In Blood Moon's society where all childcare was socialized and private parenting was illegal, orphanages were probably equivalent to a child's family.
The more powerful the orphanage, the better the child's background.
If Ashe guessed correctly, orphanages probably had 'selection rights' over infants.
Although many factors influenced a child's growth, in this magician's world full of miracles, it was not impossible to use some methods to screen for infants with better potential, aptitude and temperament, and nurture them in an excellent environment.
Starting from birth, children from outstanding orphanages were like rolling snowballs, far ahead of others.
If Ashe lived here as an ordinary person, he would probably feel despair over this insurmountable gap.
After Nago introduced Valcas' illustrious background, Ashe saw Valcas' votes increase by another ten thousand.
At this point, Ashe was starting to sense why Valcas was more favored by the audience.
"After completing basic education at the orphanage, Mr. Uhl studied at Atson Secondary School and Caimon Comprehensive University successively, obtaining white silver degrees in eleven disciplines including swordsmanship, painting, music and earth manipulation over thirty years. He was appointed by Caimon University as a research professor in the Biology Department, and served as an academic advisor for the Forest Biotechnology Company."
"In 1645, Mr. Uhl was nominated as a councilor for Caimon City, but lost by 3 votes to another candidate. This makes one wonder - if Mr. Uhl had been elected councilor back then, would he have kept himself in line and been strict with himself? Or would he have committed even more serious crimes?"
"Overall, Mr. Uhl was once a citizen with superior background, good education, and made many contributions to society. But it's a pity he went astray and was blinded by desire, committing unforgivable crimes..."
"There is only 1 minute left before the voting ends. Audiences who haven't voted, please hurry."
"Each vote earns redemption points, which can be exchanged for consumer brands participating in the 'Redemption Program'. The latest brand to join the program is Aiche Jewelry - every 30 points can be exchanged for a coupon!"
"During the new year transition, redemption points can even be used for the Blood Moon lottery!"
"Please don't be stingy with your redemption votes - keeping them won't make babies. If you don't use something when the time comes, it loses meaning!"
"Each of your votes represents your contribution towards redeeming sinners and adding light to the Blood Moon!"
"Only 30 seconds left... Ah!"
With Nago's sudden cry, a hideous and brutal Executioner emerged from the ground. It was seven meters tall, with three heads and eight arms, each holding a different weapon. Its three faces wore expressions of compassion, anger and calmness. Its body was wrapped in azure armor made of Purgatorial Flame, like a deity descending, the incarnation of divine punishment!
When the Titan Executioner opened its six eyes simultaneously, it actually made a metallic sound!
Its three mouths opened at the same time, letting out a long breath that stirred the air currents!
The Purgatorial Flame on its body spread like a storm, igniting blue flames on the eight steel wires. The flickering flames turned into a blue flaming path leading to the platform!
An aura of despair, destruction and crushing pressure washed over them. All the death row inmates shivered and hid at the edges, as if afraid of attracting the Titan Executioner's attention.
Ashe looked at Valcas and reflexively took a step back.
"Scram, don't get in my way." Valcas said coldly.
Every cell in Ashe's body urged him to make a run for it. After all, Valcas and the Titan Executioner were so powerful, it made no difference whether he was here or not.
But when he lowered his head, he noticed Valcas' hand gripping his sword hilt was trembling.
After a few seconds, Valcas looked at the shivering Ashe beside him and sneered, "Not to that extent right? Your legs have gone soft and you can't even run away?"
Ashe was also holding a sword. His hands shook, making the longsword tremble, and his teeth chattered as he spoke, "W-when I was in school, I noticed some classmates had no one to play with. They went to the toilet alone during breaks, stood at the side during P.E., and had no one to pair up with for field trips and outings... So I made it a point to play with them, chat with them, play ball together, be in the teacher's group together..."
"Hypocrisy." Valcas scoffed. "You only did it to satisfy your condescending sense of pity, to gain spectators' approval by commiserating them, to obtain psychological fulfillment through patronizing them, or even to satisfy your own pathetic lust for power by controlling them - no different from a slave owner. The only difference is slave owners shackle their slaves with violence, while you shackle them with ‘friendship’."
"Yes, I know I'm just a pretentious fraud. I actually dislike some of their traits too, but interacted with them to satisfy those dark desires. That's why I rarely kept in contact with them after growing up..." Ashe said, "But at a gathering, a classmate told me he was very grateful that I was willing to spend time with him back then. If not for me, he might have remained a loner... Now he has a girlfriend and plans to get married, and wants to invite me to be his best man..."
Valcas raised his brows slightly, a trace of confusion on his face. "Marriage, best man?"
"In short..." Ashe's body stopped shaking as much. He looked towards the imposing Titan Executioner in the distance. "Just pretend I'm doing this to satisfy my hypocrisy. Let me stay here for a while. When it comes over, I'll leave."
"Boring, irrational, meaningless. I don't understand why you want to do this, when just yesterday we were still fighting to the death..." Valcas said coldly, "Or could it be you want to build up a benevolent image before the audience, to pave the way for your next Blood Moon Tribunal?"
"I didn't know there was such an operation, thanks for the heads up. In that case, I definitely have to stay till the very last second before running. Don't stop me later, and don't mind me. A petty hypocrite like me will surely run faster than anyone when danger comes."
Valcas was silent for a moment, calmly watching the oppressive Titan Executioner.
"Do as you wish."
Ashe tried to force out a smile, but a heavy footstep made his scalp tingle.
Boom!
Boom!
The Titan Executioner walked over step by step. The intense vibrations traveled along the steel wires onto the platform, making it difficult for the death row inmates to even stand.
As it walked, it lifted its weapons. Four-winged spirits appeared on each weapon. Space collapsed wherever it passed, time distorted! The entire world seemed to revolve around it!
"The Titan Executioner is different from other executioners."
Nago's voice came clearly from the light curtain amidst this terrifying pressure.
"It doesn't use whips like the Flagellator to awaken the criminal's conscience, or blood like the Blade to cleanse the criminal's sins, or endless nightmares like the Soul Drinker to make the criminal experience the suffering...
"It only uses the most powerful miracles to instantly redeem the criminal. Regardless of gender or strength, it does its utmost to respect every life."
"With solemn death, it forges the immortality of the Blood Moon."
Boom!
Another deafening footstep. Suddenly, dozens of crimson chains shot out from the ground and pulled Ashe down, forcing him to kneel!
"What is this!?" Ashe struggled violently, but couldn't break free at all. The chains seemed fused to his joints - any attempt to stand would viciously wrench his joints and nerves, forcing him to remain kneeling.
Why was only Valcas being attacked while he was fine?
"The first miracle, Earth's Judgment!" Nago announced. "The earth responds to the footsteps of justice!"
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Valcas swung his longsword, severing the crimson chains. He seemed to want to help Ashe, but at this moment long wails sounded from the night sky!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Valcas suddenly danced an agile and graceful elven sword dance on the spot, as if battling invisible enemies. Looking closely, Ashe saw invisible wind blades sweeping in from all directions. Any pause in Valcas' movements would mean being shredded to pieces!
"The second miracle, Heaven's Judgment!" said Nago. "Any stubborn fool unwilling to kneel and repent will receive the heavens' admonishment!"
"With earth and heaven sealed off, next is the third miracle - the Judgment of the Masses!"
"The Titan Executioner will impartially bestow death upon every recipient of redemption!"
Ashe raised his head and saw the Titan Executioner had already covered most of the distance, just two to three steps from the platform!
Kneeling and looking up now, he felt its sheer massive size and horror even more intensely!
That oppressive aura of a colossal being overwhelmed him, almost freezing his thoughts!
The last shreds of rationality screamed wildly in his mind: Run!
Yes, run...?
Ashe looked at the crimson chains binding him, then blinked blankly.
Whoops.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l