Revenge of the Iron-Blooded Sword Hound Chapter 357

Revenge of the Iron-Blooded Sword Hound Chapter 357

[Translator – Clara]

[Proofreader – Lucky]

Chapter 357: Crime and Punishment (2)

In the grand courtroom of Central Venetior, where those who have committed serious crimes face judgment.

Vikir, the night hound, stood silently with his characteristic impassive expression.

Contrary to everyone else’s concerns, Vikir felt quite serene. ‘I’ve completed everything I needed to do at the Academy.’

With many of his duties relieved, his shoulders felt lighter. Everything was proceeding as expected, and now only the final showdown remained.NEew stories at novelhall.com

Thus, Vikir ascended the trial platform with a light heart, even feeling a slight anticipation.

Meanwhile, numerous eyes observed Vikir’s composed demeanor. Among them were representatives of the seven great clans of the Lok empire: Baskerville: the Iron Blooded Swordsmen Clan, Morg: the Mage Clan, Quovadis: Religious clan, Bourgeois: The Industrialists, Reviadon: Poison Clans, Donquixote: Solar Spear Clan, and Usher: Divine Archery clan.

The Clan representatives sat separately as jurors, while other members of their respective families filled the spectator seats.

With the Emperor absent from the trial, a representative of the Imperial Clan, clad in the distinctive attire of a nun, mechanically presided over the trial.

“Hugo Le Baskerville, juror representing the Baskerville Clan.”

Hugo, representing the Baskerville Clan, sat in a wheelchair, facing the judge’s seat. The representative addressed him.

“You have accused Vikir van Baskerville of theft of the artifact ‘Crimson Whistle,’ a crime punishable by theft, and attempted murder of the second son, Seth Le Baskerville, and attract on the patriarch, Hugo himself, using toxins. Do you confirm these charges?”

Hugo remained silent, his back turned, unable to respond due to the effects of the poison, which rendered him unable to move, let alone speak. Instead, his eldest son, Osiris, stood beside him, nodding in assent.

The representative concluded the final interrogation for the Baskerville faction with extreme dryness.

Then, she moved on.

“The Baskerville Clan’s claim is as follows: Despite the seriousness of the charges, as a descendant of the Baskerville lineage, the defendant is entitled to noble treatment. Therefore, they demand a verdict that takes this into account.”

There was no objection.

The representative shifted her gaze away from Baskerville and onto Morg, who stood beside them.

The Morg Clan’s juror, Respane Morg, stood atop the judge’s platform with a stern and unyielding expression.

The representative continued in the same dispassionate tone, reading from the documents.

“The Morg Clan’s claim is as follows: Despite the seriousness of the charges, as a descendant of noble blood, the defendant is entitled to noble treatment. Therefore, they demand a verdict that takes this into account.”

Respane Morg had reached the same conclusion as Baskerville. No matter how grave the crimes, noble lineage demanded elevated treatment.

Respane spoke in a calm voice. “The precedent for this can be found in the ’47 Incident’ from 35 years ago.”

During the ’47 Incident’, the situation was much more serious, to the extent that it could have led to the Empire’s downfall.

“There were two heroes who suppressed the ’47 Incident back then. One, now deceased, ‘Winston,’ and the other, unable to attend this gathering, ‘Orca.’ It was through their sacrifices that the dangerous situation was brought under control.”

Respane’s words silenced everyone in the courtroom.

“But what was the outcome of that incident? Despite strong pleas from the heroes who suppressed the incident, Winston and Orca, the instigator of the incident, Duke Sade, ultimately did not receive the death penalty. Wasn’t it because of ‘deference to the nobility’?”

Therefore, Vikir, too, being born of noble lineage, should not be subjected to the death penalty.

Respane concluded her statement.

Following her, the jurors from Quovadis, Nabokov I, and Bourgeois Clan, Damian, expressed similar opinions.

While his gaze was directed at the Imperial Clan’s representative, his voice was aimed elsewhere.

“Withdrawing is not fleeing, and waiting idly when danger threatens hope is not prudent behavior. A wise person knows to sow today for tomorrow and does not risk everything in a single day’s adventure.”

It was a tale left behind by a valiant knight of the Donquixote lineage from long ago.

After hearing his words, Monte, Madeline, and Hopps exchanged significant glances.

Finally, the verdict was reached.

The representative of the Imperial Clan, her nun’s robes flowing, solemnly read the verdict. “The defendant, Vikir Van Baskerville, is a devout follower of the Rune faith, the son of the Baskerville Clan, as well as a missionary for Quovadis, a prospective son-in-law of Morg, and regarded well by the patriarch of Bourgeois.”

Being a descendant of the Baskerville Clan, having good relations with Quovadis on religious grounds, having marriages with Morg, and being respected the patriarch by Bourgeois, all implied heavy responsibilities.

“However, the defendant committed unforgivable felonies of murder on multiple occasions. Moreover, the victims he murdered were all individuals who played significant roles in the security and development of the empire. Therefore...!”

The final verdict was announced.

“In consideration of the defendant’s noble lineage, the death penalty is rejected.”

A sigh of relief came from the Baskerville, Morg, Quovadis, and Bourgeois sides.

“However, considering the defendant’s grave and heinous crimes, a simple life sentence is deemed meaningless.”

This time, there were sighs of relief from the Donquixote, Usher, and Reviadon sides.

Eventually, Vikir’s fate was officially sealed.

“...Therefore, the defendant, Vikir Van Baskerville, is sentenced to ‘3,021 consecutive life imprisonments without parole.’ Furthermore, the place of imprisonment shall be limited to a ‘special penitentiary’ aimed at the eternal societal isolation of major criminals, rather than a ‘regular prison.'”

Consecutive life imprisonments. And not just once but over three thousand times. Even if one were to live and die once, they would remain in prison for another twenty-one times, unable to leave until the end of the sentence. This ruling reflected the uncompromising stance of the judiciary to never allow Vikir to return to society.

...However, before the severity of the sentence, Vikir focused on something else.

“Not a ‘regular prison’ but a ‘special penitentiary.’ There was only one meaning behind this.

‘Nouvellebag.’

It was a prison located on the farthest outskirts of the empire.

Once incarcerated, not even their souls would be free after death, trapped in this terrifying prison.

Vikir would be confined to this cruel and dreadful prison, which he believed was worse than death penalty.

And that too, for over 3,021 consecutive life sentences!

A sense of despair spread among the spectators from Baskerville, Morg, Quovadis, and Bourgeois.

On the other hand, there was a sense of victory among the spectators from Donquixote, Usher, and Reviadon.

A whirlwind of emotions, where the highs and lows of many individuals intertwined, swept through the courtroom.

In the midst of it all, Vikir silently sharpened the blade in his heart.

‘...Now, it’s the final showdown.’

The endgame.

With only a few chess pieces left on the board, the battle became incredibly intense.

It was the beginning of the true final act.

[Translator – Clara]

[Proofreader – Lucky]