Chapter 498 Public Trial

In Luan City, the square in front of the church district is crowded with people.

Two days have passed since that unprecedented battle, but the whole city is still shrouded in a strange fiery atmosphere. For the citizens of Luan City, this is the first time they use their own hands Fighting for the right to survive the next day, for those people and volunteers from all over the southern border, this is the first time that they have gathered together regardless of their origins, status, and not because of the lord's whip and sword. And act for a great goal - and today is the day when all their actions bear fruit.

People gathered in the square, and everyone had a high-spirited and eager look on their face. Their eyes fell on the front of the square, because a high platform had been set up there, and on the high platform were tied the old things. Priests who are aloof and domineering.

The judge becomes the judged - putting aside all justice and morality, this fact itself is enough to stimulate the excitement of many people.

This is a trial, but it is different from the countless heresy trials that have been held in Luan City. Its process and form may be very novel and difficult to understand for the locals - the person responsible for convicting It is not a high-level priest, but a three-person tribunal composed of a white knight, a Cecil judge, and an arbitration consultant. In addition to this three-person tribunal, there are many jurors. People were sitting next to the high platform:

Some of those people were wearing the robes of priests. Some people recognized them as priests from the chapel in Luan City. These priests had been punished together with the common people in the square of the heresy trial. , and they also played the role of allies when they attacked the cathedral, so although they were priests, they still received a lot of friendly looks; the other part were ordinary civilians who put on clean and decent clothes. They were Luan City A selection of highly respected people, many of whom knew their faces; and the last group were Clerks from Cecil.

These people are called "jurors". They are witnesses and supervisors of this trial, and they are also representatives of all walks of life who have experienced this event.

This wonderful and complex form of trial has never been seen by Luan people, but it undoubtedly exudes an atmosphere of fairness and reliability - the judge cannot make arbitrary decisions, and all laws will be heard in court. Interpretation, and people from all walks of life serve as witnesses to supervise the entire process of the trial. For the Luan people who have only known the "heresy trial" all their lives, this new "rule" from Cecil even made them feel... A hint of shock.

For those priests who were tied to the high platform and awaiting trial, the feeling may not be so pleasant.

These priests who have survived to this day look at the square below with almost fear, looking at the untouchables who could only crawl in the dirt in the past. They feel that there is even a hint of fear in the eyes of those people. With the actual heat, he will burn himself alive on this high platform.

They were not used by the angry crowd two days agoStoned to death, but not killed on the spot by the white knights and volunteer mercenaries, they finally realized that they survived not because of luck, but because they had "another purpose."

The Cecil people let them live to this day just to let them die today.

"Silence - the public trial begins now."

The "judge" next to the high platform spoke. This is a middle-aged political officer from the Cecil area. He was once a He is a well-known scholar in the Kande area, but now he has to judge the spokespersons of the Holy Light Church in the South in the name of Grand Duke Gawain and the people of the South. This fact makes him tense up and try to put all the tension and emotional fluctuations away. All hidden under the solemn face.

After introducing the parties, tribunal members, and jurors in accordance with Cecil’s Law, the judge looked at the white knight leader sitting next to him—because this was a trial involving When it came to the church trial, Wright came to the court in person as a representative of the Protestant Church. Noting the judge's signal, the tall "Patriarch" wearing a white knight's armor slowly stood up.

There was a slight commotion in the square immediately - many people had seen this white knight in the "War of Dawn" two days ago. He was nearly two meters tall and mighty. The majestic white knight armor and the holy light all over his body made Wright deeply impressed in the hearts of the citizens of Luan.

Wright waved to the square, and then looked at the priests in the center of the high platform. He noticed the fear and nervousness in the latter's eyes, but his expression did not change.

He put his hand on his chest and solemnly swore: "I am the Patriarch Wright of the Holy Light Protestant Church. I hereby swear in the name of the Holy Light that I will ensure the fairness and truth of this trial. Make sure it complies with Cecil's sacred law, and the people will supervise all my words and deeds here."

This "public trial" that will be recorded in history has begun.

Many people initially thought that this trial would be a "punishment show" of tit for tat, eye for eye. They thought that the Luan priests would soon be tied to the stake and then beaten. Burn them all, as they had done to so many innocent people, but in reality the trial strictly adhered to Cecil's law.

Cecil’s judge and other members of the tribunal clearly pointed out the crimes of those Luan priests - embezzling people’s property, killing innocent lives, deceiving the people, desecrating the Holy Light..., Then civilians familiar or unfamiliar to everyone were brought to the stage one after another by Cecil soldiers. They went to testify against the priests and confirm the charges. The trial court also presented the accounts, files and priesthoods found in the cathedral on the spot. Letters exchanged between the believers, especially the "Heresy Clearance Order" from the Northern Church, to confirm the authenticity of all crimes...

People are paying attention to this trial with a strange emotion. I couldn't wait to see those Luan priests burned to death immediately - this was a simple and straightforward revenge mentality, butAs the trial entered the "testimony in court" phase, they felt a more vivid and powerful emotion than simple revenge.

They want to see those Luan priests convicted and nailed to the pillar of shame forever after all their crimes are confirmed.

They want to hear the judge declare that those who have been randomly burned to death are innocent, and they want to hear that those relatives and friends who have been whipped, had their hands and feet cut off, and were branded with sins are innocent.

They not only want to vent, not only want revenge, they want justice.

This is the hardest thing for civilians to get in this world.

A woman with sloping legs was helped to a high platform by soldiers. This woman's legs were broken by the Holy See knights. She let people look at her deformed legs and accused those brutal Holy See knights of just She did this because she accidentally stepped on the priest's robe.

An old woman brought her son to the stage. Her son could not speak - because the priest ordered the young man's tongue to be cut out on the charge of "discussing something in the original scripture of the Holy Light" "Holy Words"...

This trial is destined to last all day.

On the edge of the square, on the high wall of the church district, Gawain and Amber watched the trial proceeding.

"What sentence will those priests be sentenced to in the end?" Amber looked down curiously, "I feel that the charges and evidence are extremely complicated..."

Gowen replied casually: "All hanged, there will be no pardon."

"...All hanged?" Amber looked at Gawain in surprise, "So it was decided from the beginning?"

Amber looked thoughtful: "...you let them live to this day just for this trial, right?"

"Yes, just for this trial," Gao Wen nodded slightly, "And not only must there be a trial, but its process must also be strict and fair - even if every crime of those priests is enough for them to die once, they must die after the trial is over."

Amber quickly figured out Gawain's intention: "Is it to establish 'order'?"

"That's true," Gawain exhaled slightly, "just let those priests be Beating the people and white knights to death, or setting them on fire during the trial may be the simplest and most outrageous way to deal with it, but if you do that, it will be no different from the 'Heresy Trial'. This great The battle will also turn into a confused atrocity. In any case, we must pass on some of Cecil's ideas to everyone in the process of rebuilding order in Luan City, and let them know that we are different from the Holy Light Church. The heresy trial must be completely abandoned."

A voice came from behind Gawain and Amber: "So those religions.Even if soldiers and priests die, they must die after a fair trial - this is the rule you made, isn't it? "

Hubo turned her head and glanced at the visitor, raised her hand and said hello: "Hey, Priest. "

Gawain looked at the tall and thin middle-aged priest wearing a white robe, and nodded slightly: "Seven? Priest Terry, right? Thank you very much for your participation in this operation. the help provided. ”

The person who appeared in front of Gawain and Amber was none other than the leader of the chapel district, Severn Terry.

He did not appear next to the high platform of the public trial, but came to I arrived here just to meet Gawain.

"The Holy Light guides us," the tall and thin priest drew the symbol of the Holy Seal on his chest and looked at it. Gawain's eyes were rather curious, "You are... different from what I imagined. "

Gawain smiled and looked at the priest who had received Wright's praise: "What's different? ”

Seven Terry answered calmly: “After listening to Miss Amber’s description, I thought you should be a gloomier, colder, and more arbitrary ruler, and for the sake of the greatest Interests, you will not speak of the word 'justice' at all, but now it seems... Although you are tough, you still have your own moral principles. "

Gawain thought for a while, then turned to look at Amber: "...What on earth did you tell me? ”

Amber found an opportunity to run away when Severin Terry was halfway through speaking. However, considering that it was very likely that Gawain would carry his collar from the city wall the moment he ran away. After being thrown up and down, she still had the courage to stop running away. At this time, she immediately shouted: "I'm not talking nonsense - it's all what you always taught me!" I think there is something wrong with the priest's understanding and imagination..."

"Just follow Rebecca's example. Your intelligence has not improved much, but your head is getting stronger day by day," Gawain said without hesitation. He made a polite comment, and then looked at Severn Terry, "No matter what you understand from Amber's words, I hope you can understand one thing: I am here to make this land and its people better." I am working hard for a better tomorrow. On this basis, I have no ill will towards Holy Light. "

"Wright told me the same thing. I believe in his judgment and my own vision at the moment," Severin Terry lowered his head in front of Gawain, "Thank you for arranging this. A trial - you showed me your 'righteousness', which is not inconsistent with the Holy Light. "

Gawain accepted the cleric's evaluation calmly, then turned around and looked at the spiers and towers in the church district: "We will leave soon, and this city... will still be It is a city of holy light. Wright and I have already discussed that we should use this city as a training and research facility for the Holy Light Protestant Church, because it has the most Holy Light classics and the best magic environment. It is a ready-made holy city. Since Wright will be in Cecil City most of the time, he wants you to manage the church here for him. Of course, the way the city is run will change a lotThe church will no longer be the highest authority in the city. I will send people to establish a government office here to be responsible for the operation and construction of the city. Your responsibility will be limited to church affairs and corresponding facilities. "

Seven Terry nodded: "As long as we can continue to spread the Holy Light, I have no objection. "

"Very good," Gawain breathed a sigh of relief, "I will gradually move the White Knight's training facilities here. I hope you and your colleagues can actively cooperate. As for the cathedral..."

Gawain paused after speaking. He looked at the spire of the cathedral in the distance shining brightly in the sun. After a moment, he slowly said: "Get up. Let’s give it a new name... It’s called Holy Light Academy, which is used to popularize new doctrines and knowledge about Holy Light to all the people. In the future, all institutions that study and impart knowledge of the Holy Light should be called Holy Light Colleges, and should be distinguished from churches that spread teachings and provide community and neighborhood services. "

Seven Terry's eyes changed slightly, and he subconsciously repeated the words used by Gawain: "...Academy..."

Gawain smiled, quietly He looked at the priest in front of him and said: "Yes, since it is a place where knowledge is spread, of course it should be called an academy. ”

Seven Terry met Gawain’s eyes, and in those eyes, he seemed to see the deep meaning behind all this-

Desacralization.

p>

The Holy Light is a kind of knowledge, and the belief in the Holy Light is a kind of culture. The church will become a simple service facility, and as for the belief in the God of the Holy Light...

After a few seconds, Severn Terry's expression became calm. He seemed to have finally put down some baggage and seemed to have done something about his life. With this important decision, he lowered his head again: "According to your arrangement. ”

The tall and thin priest left. For a while, only Gawain and Amber were left on the city wall. Under the city wall, the public trial of priest Lu An was still going on.< /p>

Gawain did not pursue the issue of Amber "slandering" him behind his back. However, the half-elf lady herself was obviously a little worried. After stopping several times, Amber finally couldn't help but speak: "By the way...that priest said you have your own moral principles! "

Listening to the half-elf lady's obviously clueless words, Gawain couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth. He glanced at the other party: "This is nonsense - who doesn't have moral principles? "

Amber scratched her head - unfortunately she was not Rebecca, no matter how hard she scratched her head, she couldn't find any sparks of wisdom, so she could only speak her mind frankly: "You once told me However, the so-called "aristocratic spirit" is hypocritical and outdated, the code of chivalry has not kept up with the times, and the "doctrinal virtues" promoted by each church are also full of the stench of money and power... These things have been rejected by you If you abandon it, then what does justice in your mind look like? ”

Gawain looked at Amber, seeing the pair of amber eyes glowing with an inexplicable brilliance in the sunlight.I found that this guy who was still annoyed, noisy and timid actually changed a little after this trip to Luan. Although I couldn’t tell what the change was, it seemed that this wild and untamable half-elf finally started to take it seriously. She took her work seriously and began to think about his career seriously.

This is a good thing.

"Look over there, those people in the square, have you seen them?"

Hubo nodded: "Yes."

"Everyone Having enough food and clothing is the greatest justice."

...

This is an endless and vast city, which stands in a distant and unreachable place. It is here now and there it was in the past. , will always exist in the future.

The magnificent holy light is the bricks and cornerstone of this city, the sky above it and the ground on which it is rooted. Every brick, every wall, every tower and door is condensed. Brilliance, filled with endless holiness.

As Saint Dumont said:

I saw a huge city, endlessly wide, with light coming out from between the bricks and stones of the city, and the whole city As if cast by light.

In the center of this light-forged city, in a grand square whose size is difficult to judge with the naked eye, countless light streams rush from the distant sky and converge into a huge, constantly changing form. above the crystal.

This bright and sacred crystal operates quietly, governing this light-forged city for thousands of years, and embodying the truths it contains—tranquility and light. , peace, shelter—continuously spreading out, and those streams of light that come together from everywhere are both the source of His power and the channel through which He releases his influence.

However, today, the eternal order in this light-forged city has slightly changed. Among the light flows coming from all directions, some have quietly changed their color and flow direction. They have become It is even clearer, and seems to be uncontrollably crossing the crystal in the center of the square, flowing freely in the sky into the distance...

The crystal is still running for thousands of years, and a piece of music is as sweet as wind chimes. The ringing sound surrounds it. The ringing sound is ethereal and holy, but it is like the most chaotic noise without any tune or pattern. In this chaotic and holy ringing sound, the crystal just changes its shape once again, as if it does not care about the sky at all. Those light flows that changed the direction of the flow did not care about these trivial "losses"...