Chapter 151.1: ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????????? (8)

Chapter 151.1: The Suffering of Governing (8)

Will you execute them?

Partutti asked in an excited voice. Even if he had met his first love again, it wouldnt have been to this extent.

Johan shook his head.

We need to punish them appropriately and then release them.

If he was going to spill blood, he would have done so already. Isnt that why he didnt come straight here and went around in circles instead? Now that hes here, there was no reason to freshly see blood spill.

It would be refreshing to execute the council members recklessly, but Johan would have to deal with the chaos that followed. It was better to show mercy and gain their hearts.

Yes. . .

Dont worry. Ill guarantee your position in the council. You worked so hard that you deserve a reward.

Thank you!

Partutti properly expressed his gratitude with etiquette. Johan was planning to raise the authority of some loyal individuals in the city within the council and have them sit in administrative positions, not just Partutti.

He may have gained the support of the city people, but that was just support. Delicate work was required to turn that into power. Johan was someone who knew very well how to act in times like these.

The council members still thought of Johan as just an excellent knight since he was still young, but that was a misunderstanding.

Bring that fellow over there whos passed out too!

Cough, cough. . . Huh, what, whats going on? What is it??

Despite being bitten by the sea dragon, Ariku was somehow still alive. On top of that, he looked very healthy.

Of course, that didnt mean he could escape this situation. Ariku was dragged away with both his arms grabbed. He didnt understand this situation until his hands and feet were tied up.

The captured people were scared out of their wits, but Johan did not hang or torture them. After making them walk around the plaza with their hands tied, he let them go with a fine.

Of course, they had to endure jeers and showers of filth from the citizens while that was happening. They almost ruined the hunt and released the monster into the city, so it was only natural.

We were wrong! We will never do that again!

Please give us a chance to serve the city!

Accompanying the boo jeers were globs of mud flying through the air. The metallic clangs were quite cheerful.

Johan watched on with satisfaction. It was always enjoyable to see hated people suffer a terrible fate.

Ow! Ow!

.

Indeed, you have worked very hard. If not for the contributions of those here, how could we have defeated the evil dragon?

No, the hunt was entirely Your Excellencys achievement.

There was sincerity in Sir Padovesis ceremonial words. In effect, Johan had made the greatest contribution.

To be honest, even without the knights here, Johan could have caught the dragon.

Is that so? Then Ill take it as my achievement.

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

Sir Padovesi and Sir Gyrto were at a loss for words. Johan moved on without waiting for a reply.

Since I caught the dragon with the help of you knights, Ill keep my promise.

The knights faces brightened. Right now they were Johans hostages, caught by the city folk.

Under normal circumstances they would have had to pay a ransom to get free, but they were not wealthy knights. So Johans promise to free them if they caught the dragon was very welcome.

By the way, where are you knights from?

Pardon?

You did not come from your own fiefs, I presume. Do you have fiefs?

Ah. No, we dont.

Sir Padovesi shook his head. If they had fiefs, they wouldnt have worried about the ransom. They were knights who served in the court without fiefs.

We came from Viscount Ginolens court.

Since it was already known they were knights serving under the Emperor, there was no need to hide it. Viscount Ginolen was the steward and advisor who ruled the Emperors fiefdom in the south of the peninsula on his behalf.

However, the Emperor had spent most of his life in the Empire and considered himself a man of the Empire. He had barely even been to the peninsula fiefdom.

Where there is no lion, the fox becomes king. Viscount Ginolen was similar. In the area he had quite some authority as a senior nobleman. The knights had no qualms about saying they came from Viscount Ginolen.

I see. What kind of man is the Viscount?