Chapter 1376: Chapter 93: Reforging Homeland (20)_2

But this time it was Gaisa Adonis’s turn to play the contrarian.

Colonel Gaisa’s objections were threefold:

First, time was pressing; the earlier the assembly was held, the better, and there wasn’t enough time to modify the seating.

Second, the Free People Assembly would only occur once; making big changes for a single meeting only to change it back afterward would be a waste of public funds.

Third, Colonel Gaisa was also not very concerned about the knee health of the “free people.”

Colonel Gaisa’s exact words were:

“Let them stand for a while, what’s wrong with that? We fought the battles, they get all the benefits, what more do they want? Huh?!”

And so, the seating arrangement for the entire New Reclamation Free People Assembly was set.

While Richard from Blackwater Town was internally criticizing the arrogance and rudeness of the “New Legion,” Gerard Mitchell was craning his neck, searching around the officers’ seating area.

Soon, he spotted the figure of his youngest son—in the first row.

“There!” Gerard happily embraced the chubby elder beside him, proudly pointing at Pierre’s back: “Look! My son!”

Nandor rubbed his eyes, carefully observing the silhouette pointed out by the old Dusack, then turned to scrutinize old Dusack himself.

Aside from the same brown curly hair, Nandor couldn’t connect the handsome young officer sitting in the first row of the officers’ section with the tall, burly, grinning old Dusack beside him.

But looking at the proud expression on old Dusack’s face, it was obviously not mistaken.

“First row, that’s amazing. Your wife must be even more amazing…” Nandor exclaimed admiringly, continuing with envy: “Unfortunately, I don’t have such an accomplished son.”

A freeman from Niutigu Valley rubbed his hands together and asked tentatively: “But I do have several daughters, my friend. Don’t look down on my appearance, my daughters are all quite…”

It would have been better not to mention it, but speaking about his youngest son’s marriage, Gerard still felt a bit of regret. He sighed, “Pierre is already married.”

“Ah!” Nandor was even more disappointed than Gerard, clapping his hands, unable to hide his disappointment: “Your son got married too early!”

Old Dusack scratched his beard and said nothing.

“However, to my knowledge, His Excellency Montagne still has many unmarried talents under his command?” Nandor quickly found a new target, affectionately grabbing old Dusack’s hand and pleading pitifully: “My friend, you’ve got to have your son put in a good word for me. You, as a father, know how much daughters make a father worry…”

“Alright.” Richard interrupted Nandor suddenly: “The show is about to begin.”

Facing these two fellow “free people” beside him, who were close to the “New Legion,” Richard of Blackwater Town was both angry and jealous, and his tone became unconsciously heavier.

“Enough, enough, we’ll talk later.” Nandor wasn’t upset, smiling and making a gesture of silence.

But in the next second, Nandor looked towards the officers’ seating area and couldn’t help but speak again, asking in surprise: “Hey? How come the first row is full?”

Gerard followed the sound and found the first row of seats in the officers’ seating area was indeed full, with several familiar young men—Tamas, Bart Xialing, Samujin.

But Winters Montagne was not among them.

Searching elsewhere in the Grand Assembly Hall, Gerard spotted His Excellency Montagne speaking with another dignitary outside the speaking area.

Moments later, the conversation ended, and His Excellency Montagne shook hands with the other dignitary and headed toward the seating area.

However, instead of heading towards the officers’ section, he went toward the Iron Peak County freemen’s section.

The chubby Nandor couldn’t help but cheer, and the Iron Peak County section erupted in enthusiastic applause, while Richard of Blackwater Town half-reluctantly joined in.

Even sections from other counties offered applause.

Hearing the applause, the young Blood Wolf was quite moved.

He bowed to the Iron Peak County freemen and then smilingly took a seat in the first row of the Iron Peak County section.

Other senior officers—Gaisa Adonis, Magash Colvin likewise each took seats in their “territory” sections.

The freemen of White Mountain County and Riverside County followed the example of the Iron Peak County people and clapped.

However, compared to the enthusiastic applause from the small number of Iron Peak County freemen, the applause from White Mountain County and Riverside County was somewhat weaker.

Colonel Skur Meklen of Thunder Group County was the only one left standing. After the applause subsided, Colonel Skur walked towards the center of the speaking area.

The Grand Assembly Hall fell silent instantly, and the attendees held their breath, waiting for the “New Legion” to speak its first words.

“Freemen of the New Reclamation.” Colonel Skur’s voice was not loud, but aided by the dome’s acoustics, his calm voice reached the ears of the audience clearly: “We have summoned you here because there is a sacred duty you need to fulfill; you have come from miles away because there is a sacred right you need to exercise.”

As Colonel Skur spoke, tables and chairs were brought in through the side door of the speaking area.

The barren speaking area was arranged into a new setup—a one-person-high platform erected at the easternmost end facing the main door, with a high chair and a table on it.

Below the platform, directly opposite, was also arranged a chair, surrounded by a barrier.

Two angled scribe desks with matching stools were placed on the left and right sides of the platform, and the clerks immediately took their seats.

“By the rights vested in me by the Alliance Charter,” Colonel Skur took out a finely bound booklet from his bosom, raised it over his head, and an unusual flush appeared on his cheeks: “I demand to convene a special tribunal!”

With that said, Colonel Skur strode up to the platform, seated himself on the high chair, and struck the gavel forcefully:

“Bring the accused to the court!”

“Bring the accused to the court!” The honor guard shouted in unison.

The main door of the Grand Assembly Hall opened once more.

The freemen in the hall first heard the clanking of chains and the marching of boots, then saw a staggering figure in an officer’s uniform.

Although the uniform was worn, it was unmistakably a Senas Alliance staff officer’s uniform.

The military police brought the accused to the area surrounded by the barrier, then attached the chains to the barrier, indicating the accused could sit down.

But the accused only stood, straightening his back, squinting his eyes, disdainfully scanning the faces on the tiered seats around, finally resting his gaze on Skur Meklen on the high platform ahead.

Some freemen recognized the identity of the accused and gasped in shock.

“Accused, you are charged as a traitor, murderer, and an unforgivable public enemy of the entire New Reclamation.” Skur coldly announced, looking down at the prisoner below: “The freemen of the entire New Reclamation are assembled here, deeply aware of the calamity this land has suffered, and have decided to settle the blood debts.”

“Are you clear on the charges?” Skur Meklen asked, articulating each word: “Sanel Caroy?”

Beneath the platform, the former New Reclamation Expeditionary Army commander, the executor of the Maple Fort massacre, someone who had once taken command of all the Red Rose Field Corps and yet was utterly defeated at the Battle of River Valley Village, Sanel Caroy the Colonel…

Laughed aloud.