CHAPTER 80: CHAPTER 71: EXECUTION

Fair trial?

The knights looked at each other, committing such a grave crime, what is the most just trial could be? A hanging that leaves a complete corpse? Or stripping of titles and degrading to slavery?

A few confidants of Count Philip, associating themselves with their possible fate, were pale-faced and trembling, sweat beads rolled down their temples.

They didn’t know if the Crown Prince was harmed.

To them, it didn’t matter.

Because whether young Baldwin was dead or not, they were still guilty of dereliction of duty and potential involvement in the Crown Prince’s murder, enough to send them to the gallows.

On the contrary, Count Philip, being a vassal of the German Emperor, as long as young Baldwin wasn’t dead, the worst would be stripping him of rank and expulsion from Jerusalem.

Losa picked up the list, slowly speaking: "Rodel of Aachen, step forward, tonight you should have been patrolling the Midsummer Corridor, but you left only a soldier there..."

"Mimir of Florence, tonight you should have been on duty at Goffrey’s Tower..."

"Charol of Artois..."

He announced one charge after another, then said: "Step forward voluntarily, if you still retain a trace of knightly honor, don’t let my soldiers drag you out of the crowd, that would cause disgrace, I assure you, my Guard Axe Soldier is surely not a match for you on foot."

Six knights named turned ashen-faced, like mourning for deceased parents.

Someone attempted to dispute.

Someone begged bitterly, recounting their past achievements.

Someone looked around, hoping colleagues would speak for them.

But no one intended to resist.

Losa was merciless, waved: "Take them away, say whatever, leave it for interrogation in prison."

Count Philip walked despairingly down the road, disarmed, hands shackled with heavy chains.

Passing by Losa, he pleaded in a low voice: "Grand Master, I’m willing to swear on the sacred Cross, I wasn’t involved in the conspiracy against the Crown Prince. If you still consider yourself an upright knight, please clear my name, I assure you, I will never trouble you again."

Losa shook his head: "A vow is sacred, but a vow of someone who does not see it as sacred is worthless."

Losa pointed at the Cross Badge on Count Philip’s chest: "In your vow to join the Royal Knight Order, there’s a clause to obey justice and possess benevolence, but you, narrow-minded, disregarding the precarious situation of the Holy Land, dragged the Royal Knight Order into a crisis of division, violated this clause."

Count Philip opened his mouth, somewhat dissatisfied: "Who would be willing to hand over his power to others? Baron Losa, if it were you, what would you do?"

Losa ignored him, waved his hand signaling Laine to escort him away.

Count Philip’s connection to the assassination was unlikely, but among those who incited his conflict with Losa, there were definitely people from the assassin’s side.

The remaining knights watched as their companions were taken away, feeling in silence, not even presenting their respects to Losa.

Fear gripped many over the newly arrived Grand Master.

Having just arrived, enlisting Count Philip, beloved by many, such a method was frightening, making them unwilling to submit but not dare to resist.

Losa scanned the unfamiliar faces: "Gentlemen, you see the Grand Master, have you all forgotten how to salute?"

Knights and their attendants then reluctantly saluted Losa.

Losa could see the fear on their faces, he solemnly said: "Tonight, quite a few of you were also off duty, and not during a rest period, I am willing to forgive you this time, but only this time."

Immediately one had cold sweat behind his back: "Th...Thank you for your mercy."

Losa nodded slightly, then left without looking back.

Leaving behind whispered conversations.

The Varangian Guard in heavy armor, escorting the "prisoners" onto the prison cart, mounted the traveling horses allocated by Losa, and sped towards the Royal Palace.

Through the "mounted infantry" way, significantly reducing their marching pressure.

Imprisoning the prisoners altogether and ordering strict guards afterward.

Losa headed straight to the Royal Palace.

Guided by the King’s personal attendant, Losa entered the quiet chamber.

Incense still burned inside.

But he keenly sensed the faint decay in the air, seemingly every time he saw Baldwin IV, his condition worsened.

"Lord, I have incarcerated all those guilty of dereliction."

Under the candlelight, Baldwin IV’s expression remained calm, as if he was not at all thunderstruck by the fact that the Crown Prince nearly got assassinated.

"How do you plan to deal with them?"

Losa said flatly, "Other than stripping Count Philip of his rank and expelling him from the Royal Knight Order, the rest will all be sentenced to hang."

This is the harshness of political struggles.

Given the chance, Losa would not show mercy to the other side, in order not to give Count Philip the chance to rise again.

This incident not only disciplined the army but also purged another faction within the knight order, greatly accelerating his control over the Royal Knight Order.

Baldwin IV nodded noncommittally and then asked, "Who do you think is the mastermind behind this?"

"It depends on who benefits the most after the Crown Prince’s death."

Baldwin IV was a bit puzzled, "Do you mean Count Raymond?"

Count Raymond is the Regent King. If both the King and Crown Prince were to die, as the most powerful and prestigious person in the Holy Land, he is the most likely to ascend to the throne.

"I know him; he wouldn’t do such a thing. Compared to an empty royal title, he’s already the King of Northern Jerusalem; he wouldn’t bother to make this extra move."

Losa nodded, "I also don’t think it’s Count Raymond, or even a Crusader noble."

"Saladin wouldn’t do this either. I’ve made a peace treaty with him, and he is a generous and benevolent king, no less than the most upright Western knight."

Baldwin IV’s tone softened, "In fact, I have some speculation."

Losa probed, "Anjou?"

Baldwin IV nodded but said, "No, it’s the Fire Worshipers. It could only be the Fire Worshipers. People might know Saladin wouldn’t do this, but his nephew, the Governor of Syria, Safudin, is a ruthless character who once sent men to massacre the Wooden Castle of the Kokb Lord who defamed Saladin."

At this, the two exchanged smiles.

This is politics; even though they all know it couldn’t have been done by someone from the Ayyubid Kingdom with a deep-seated grudge against the Old Man of the Mountain, they still needed to maintain a unified front.

As for the mention of "Anjou," it was because if the Crown Prince were killed, Baldwin IV’s successor would likely be appointed by Richard the Lionheart, head of the Anjou Family.

And Richard the Lionheart might, a year later, lead Albion’s Crusaders to the East.

According to established rules, the King of Jerusalem will be the Commander-in-Chief of the Crusaders, but this king obviously wouldn’t want to be under someone else’s command.

Who exactly from the Anjou Family it might be, and whether or not it was masterminded by Richard the Lionheart, is unknown.

...

The next morning.

At Bishop’s Square in Jerusalem.

Hans raised the Imperial Banner bestowed by His Majesty the King; he had been appointed by Losa as the Standard Bearer of the Royal Knight Order, an honorary position, and not due to nepotism by Losa.

The property belonging to the Royal Knight Order, a small fortress, had the wooden planks on the second floor pushed out, and soldiers and attendants stripped of their cloaks and outer garments were pushed forward.

They stood trembling on the unstable wooden planks, their bodies shaking uncontrollably.

With the ringing of a bell.

The Inspector began solemnly reading out their sins to the crowd.

This included, but was not limited to, the six knights Losa captured last night, their attendants, and the servants who accepted bribes, providing conveniences to the assassins.

"Heavenly Father above, I beg you to forgive my sins..."

Some nervously muttered their confessions and prayers.

Some stepped tremblingly, continually begging and pleading that it was an unintentional mistake.

Some bid farewell to their weeping wives and children in the crowd.

Some even loudly called out for help to Count Philip, who had been announced stripped of his title and released among the crowd.

Every kind of departure in a death moment appeared.

Once Laine and others placed white bags over their heads, they immediately pulled back the planks.

Hanging from ropes, some of the convicts kicked frantically, but most of them had their necks broken instantly, hanging quietly like silent, useless sacks in mid-air.

The knights and soldiers watching felt a chill down their spines as they secretly glanced at the distant platform where Losa stood, observing coldly, filled with fear.

This cruel and cold-blooded monster was vastly different from the kind Baron Goffrey of bygone days.

```