Chapter 1377: Chapter 94: Reforging the Nation (21)

The former government army colonel laughed arrogantly and derisively, as if he were seated in the most expensive theater seat enjoying a farce up close, rather than standing in the center of the Great Assembly Hall, on trial under the watchful eyes of many.

Anxiety and unease began to spread among the “freemen,” who, despite remaining silent, unconsciously changed their posture frequently: undoing buttons, shifting positions, lowering the left leg and raising the right.

To the freemen, Colonel Sanel’s laughter was unbearably grating.

However, the more arrogant and dismissive he was, the more anxious he made them feel.

Yet, Colonel Skur Meklen was unmoved, not even bothering to strike the gavel to stop Sanel’s antics.

He waited calmly and patiently for his old classmate to finish his show.

“I want to know.” Sanel, finally calming down, wiped his tears, his mouth still curved up: “What power has summoned me here.”

He looked around at the freemen gathered here, and courteously clarified: “Please note, gentlemen, the ‘power’ I speak of refers to legitimate authority. Mind you, there are many illegitimate powers in the world…”

Pausing intentionally at this point, Sanel’s gaze fell onto his old classmate, mocking: “For example, the rebels attempting to secede.”

Afterwards, he turned to look at the people seated on the tiered seats, unleashing an undisguised threat: “Or, the illegal assembly convened by those rebels!”

The sharp gaze of the former “ruler” swept across, making the freemen in the Newly Reclaimed Lands feel a chill in their hearts. Wherever Sanel’s gaze landed, the freemen bowed their heads to avoid it.

At this moment, Skur Meklen spoke up.

“This is a special trial court, established under the rights granted to the freemen by the Alliance Charter.” Colonel Skur’s voice was calm and steady, sounding like a professor giving a lecture:

“Freemen have the power to jointly adjudicate all crimes, as well as the right to use this power when necessary. This right and power can be traced back to the Ancient Republic, where those committing serious crimes had to be judged by a public assembly. Hence, the drafters of the Alliance Charter granted freemen the same power and rights.”

After explaining the legal basis for the trial to the accused, and more importantly to the judges, Skur Meklen looked at his old classmate and offered his final advice:

“Today, the freemen of the Newly Reclaimed Lands have gathered here, each one is a judge of this trial. Sanel Caroy, mind your words, because your fate will no longer be decided by you, nor by me — but by everyone in attendance.”

As Colonel Skur spoke eloquently, the restless emotions under the guise of calm among the freemen dissipated invisibly.

Most freemen were not unfamiliar with the citizen adjudication system. In fact, every freeman had participated more or less in local judicial decisions. In the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province, where the “circuit court” only toured once a year, the freemen were the main force handling local judicial affairs.

However, the assembly of freemen from the entire province to jointly conduct a trial — such a thing was simply unheard of.

The subject of the trial was not just a soldier, but a senior officer — something unimaginable in the past of army rule over the Newly Reclaimed Lands.

Realizing the symbolic significance that this trial would convey, some freemen couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotions.

Yet Sanel Caroy scoffed at this.

“Come off it!” Sanel gestured at the judges in all directions, shouting sharply: “What ‘special court’? What ‘public assembly’? Aren’t all these so-called ‘free’ people just your puppets?

“Skur Meklen, do you really want to tell me that my fate is decided not by you, not by Gaisa Adonis, not by Winters Montagne, nor by me — but by these damn clowns?”

Sanel slapped the railing, leaning forward and backward: “What a joke! A grand joke!”

To the freemen around, Colonel Sanel’s laughter at this moment was even more piercing than before.

Humiliated multiple times directly, despite the lingering might of the army, many freemen still found it hard to conceal their resentment.

“Sanel Caroy.” Colonel Skur did not pay attention to Sanel’s questioning. He knocked the gavel, signaling the latter to be quiet, and calmly asked: “Do you need a defense attorney?”

“Defense attorney?” Sanel held his head high, continuing to laugh: “I don’t need a defense attorney! This isn’t a courtroom! You all have no right to judge me!”

“Clerk, record —” Colonel Skur ordered expressionlessly: “The accused voluntarily waives the right to hire a defense attorney.”

“Say whatever you want, but also note my words!” Sanel retorted sharply: “I, Sanel Caroy, a colonel of the Republic of Palatu Army, say — none of you have the right to judge me!”

The audience seating on the tiers stirred again, however, this time their agitation was accompanied by more anger and disgust than fear.

If not for the solemn atmosphere of the Great Assembly Hall constraining their voices, many freemen would have long since shouted out curses.

Colonel Skur knocked the gavel again, drawing everyone’s attention back to himself. No matter what Sanel said, it did not hinder the continued progress of the trial’s procedure.