NOVPUBChapter 698: Chapter 39 Church_3 Chapter 698: Chapter 39 Church_3 Where exactly does the legitimacy of the regime he wants to establish come from? Divine right? Might? The will of the people? This was the question that Winters agonized over.
But Winters was not here today to hold a meeting with the prisoners.
“Among the enemies I have captured, those who have committed heinous crimes such as murder and rape during the levy process.” Winters pointed outside the labor camp to the gallows, his voice chilling every captive: “they have all paid with their lives.”
“Among the enemies I have captured, those who have committed lesser crimes such as wounding during the levy process.” Winters declared unequivocally: “Continue to serve your sentence.”
“The rest of you! The rest of you mediocre evildoers! I am giving you the chance to regain your freedom, I will give you the chance to return to your families.”
With a grand gesture, Winters had Samukin bring out a brazier with six branding irons inside it.
“But opportunity, is granted only once!” Winters pointed to the brazier, his demeanor cold and commanding: “Those who want it, step forward.”
...
The captives looked at each other, but no one dared to move.
Samukin strode over to a skinny prisoner in the front row: “You! Do you want to go home?”
“Me?” The prisoner panicked and swallowed, hesitatingly mumbling: “I do.”
Samukin dragged the prisoner back to the side of the brazier and took out a branding iron. The head of the branding iron was shaped like a holy emblem and was already glowing red.
“Tear open his shirt.” Samukin coldly commanded his subordinates.
Two burly guards immediately grabbed the prisoner, while a third guard ripped open the latter’s shirt.
Samukin applied the branding iron without any expression.
The branding iron ruthlessly pressed into the prisoner’s left chest, and those close by could hear a sizzling sound like fat hitting a hot pan. The prisoner’s screams were unbearable to hear, and the onlookers from Wolf Town unconsciously looked away.
Samukin was not trying to kill the prisoner, so he only touched the branding iron for about a second before taking it away. A holy emblem brand remained on the prisoner’s left chest.
The guards dragged the prisoner aside, treating him with a burn paste made of turpentine, egg yolk, and rose oil.
“Opportunity is granted only once.” Samukin issued the most genuine threat on behalf of his Centurion to the prisoners: “Dare to take up arms in rebellion again, and a sword plunged through the emblem awaits you! Those unwilling, return to serve your sentence! Next one!”
The prisoners were shaken, but still, no one dared to be the first.
From the back came a man—prisoner Ivan stepped out of the line, tremblingly standing by the brazier.
He didn’t need anyone to hold him, instead, he first swore an oath to the holy emblem iron, then exposed his chest on his own, closing his eyes waiting for Samukin to proceed.
Samukin nodded without saying anything, touching the iron for only about half a second before releasing it.
“Follow his example!” Samukin pointed to another prisoner in the front row, ordering: “You, the next one!”
With Samukin around, Winters didn’t need to do everything himself. He dismounted from the carriage, saw Caman who had taken off his ceremonial robes and put on ordinary clothes, approaching him.
“What is this?” Caman asked, frowning.
“A reminder for the prisoners, so they don’t stand against me again. We can’t just release them directly, right?” Winters answered honestly, adding with a smile: “I even selected a symbol that is more acceptable to everyone.”
Not far away, the prisoners took oaths, were branded, and were then taken aside for treatment. One scream after another rang out, and the air filled with the sickening scent of cooked meat.
A symbol that is more acceptable? Caman was perplexed, then he saw the holy emblem brand on the prisoners.
He was first angry, then helpless, and finally, he sighed deeply.
“You’re not making them slaves anymore, that’s a good deed no matter how you look at it.” Caman rationalized to himself as he watched the prisoners on the ground: “This emblem, it fits well here.”
“I thought you were going to fight with me.” Winters said with slight regret.
Caman snorted disdainfully.
“Do you want to know how I became the Protector of the Seven Towns?” Winters asked suddenly.
“I don’t want to know.”
“It doesn’t matter, I’m willing to tell you.” Winters said nonchalantly: “I ambushed the levy team and took the prisoners back to the villages for the common folk to identify. Who committed murder, arson, ravaged women? Who thieved, injured? It was a foolish method to sort out the prisoners, but having done it enough, I became the Protector of the Seven Towns. That’s why the seven towns south of the St. George River are willing to support me, while the eight towns to the north are ambivalent towards me. That’s how it is.”
Caman sighed deeply once more. He looked Winters in the eyes as if trying to see deep into his heart, but Winters met his gaze unflinchingly.
“Mr. Montaigne, I respect you, and I know you’re a good man.” Caman told Winters earnestly and solemnly: “But I have taken an oath of secrecy, and I won’t tell you any secrets of the Divine Arts. Even without the oath, I don’t want to tell you. And don’t try to investigate, because it’s not a realm you can touch. I hope you understand.”
“Why the rush?” Winters asked with a smile: “I haven’t asked you anything, have I? Not a single question, right?”
“Stop pretending.” Caman became agitated: “You might as well just ask me directly, and let me plainly refuse you. Did you not come back to Wolf Town to pry secrets of the Divine Arts from me? I’m telling you, it’s impossible! You can forget about getting anything about the Divine Arts from me!”
“I am indeed very curious about the principles of the Divine Arts. But my return to Wolf Town this time is truly to pick up the potter Shaun and his brothers!” Winters protested his innocence.
