Chapter 1393: Chapter 101: Reforging the Nation (28)

“What crime have you committed?”

Upon hearing Colonel Skul’s interrogation, Kai Morland was momentarily taken aback, and the assembled freemen were equally perplexed.

What crime had Kai Morland committed?

It was both an obvious and difficult question to answer.

Inside the grand assembly hall, even the least perceptive could see the signs— the “new masters” of the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province were clearly preparing to establish their own faction, even at the cost of opposing both the Red and Blue Roses.

The reason for their elaborate efforts, convening a province-wide meeting of freemen and holding a public trial for their fellow alumni from the “government office” and “military office,” was nothing more than to cloak their actions in the guise of legality and forcibly bind all freemen of the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province to their cause.

Thus, as a prominent member of the puppet government who had relentlessly opposed the New Reclamation Legion, Kai Morland had to be “guilty.”

But the specific crime he committed could not be made public.

After all, in any nation, society, or culture, loyalty is considered a noble trait.

Searching through the statutes, precedents, and customs of the Republic of Palatu, one would not find “causing trouble for the New Reclamation Legion” listed as a crime.

In other words, if they wanted Kai Morland dead, a rope would suffice.

But if Colonel Skul aimed to execute Kai Morland through proper channels, a rope would be of no help.

The freemen present privately felt a chill for Kai Morland—though the “new masters” of the Newly Reclaimed Lands had so far conducted themselves with decorum, how could the decorum between a lion and a flock of sheep ever be truly trusted by the sheep?

Some freemen thought even further ahead.

In the Iron Peak County Seating Area, Richard of Blackwater Town sighed.

He looked away from the trial bench and briefly exchanged glances with the two fellow townsmen beside him, speaking in a voice filled with regret and admiration, “Kai Morland… Sir, he’s risking his life to strip the New Reclamation Legion of its cloak.”

Nandor Krellov scratched the back of his head, looking bewildered. Gerard Mitchell furrowed his brow, crossing his arms tightly, silent.

Similarly, Colonel Gaisa Adonis held his arms and had furrowed brows.

From the moment Kai Morland showed up, a fierce battle erupted in Colonel Gaisa’s mind, between “trusting his colleagues’ wisdom” and “immediately ending this farce,” leaving neither side dominant.

Thus, when Colonel Skul questioned Kai Morland, “What crime have you committed?” Colonel Gaisa instinctively thought Colonel Skul was giving the obvious troublemaker on the trial bench an out, and the urge to “immediately end this farce” became stronger than ever.

“You really don’t understand this bastard Kai Morland at all, McClennan,” Gaisa thought bitterly.

He gritted his teeth, ready to order action.

Just as Gaisa’s elbow was already lifted, he caught sight of a glance from Winters Montagne from the other side of the venue.

The Blood of the Wolf gently shook his head.

The thought of “trusting his colleagues’ wisdom” once again gained the upper hand in Gaisa Adonis’s mind.

“You don’t understand Kai Morland at all,” Gaisa thought indignantly, re-crossing his arms, “Not at all.”

Sure enough, faced with Colonel Skul’s inquiry, Kai Morland neither remained silent nor argued deceitfully; instead, he gathered his thoughts, scanning the room, and answered in a thunderous voice:

“On April 16th, Year 59, Grof Magnus secretly convened supporters to plot a coup, intending to annihilate the Blue Blood Faction, and I was involved.

“On April 23rd, Grof Magnus’s plans leaked, leading to mutual bloodshed between the Blue Blood and Red Blood factions at the Kingsfort Blood Night, and I was there.

“On April 26th, the remaining council members unanimously passed a new charter, forming the New Republic, and I was part of it.

“In May…”

Without a script or an assistant, Kai Morland stood alone at the trial bench, detailing everything he participated in during the establishment and operation of the “Second Republic.”

From the initial coup to the new government’s formation, from accepting support from the Federated Provinces to deciding to eliminate the New Reclamation Legion, he laid everything bare, whether public or secret.

His candid demeanor evoked respect among the listeners present.

He continued until the news of the devastating defeat at the Battle of River Valley Village reached Kingsfort, prompting voices for peace negotiations within the Second Republic, and Grof Magnus immediately launched a second coup, brutally purging those who called for peace and opposed involving the Federated Provinces. Only then did Kai Morland stop.

The Kingsfort parliament began voicing for peace talks, Grof Magnus launched a second coup, purging those against involving the United Provincials, and only then did Kai Morland stop.

He didn’t recount the experiences that followed, nor did the freemen present need him to—they were long familiar with the stories from the popular “Escape from the Tiger’s Den”.

Kai Morland’s statement held great significance for the freemen of the Newly Reclaimed Lands.

Because since the disastrous news of the Expeditionary Force’s defeat by the Herders had reached the Newly Reclaimed Lands, someone finally recounted in meticulous detail what happened to the Republic of Palatu after the Great Wilderness War.

Prior to this, they were all trapped in a state of “clear yet confused understanding.”