Berserk: The Prophet

Chapter 321 Judgment

Green returned to the inn alone. There weren't many goods left, and he had made a small profit of nearly five thousand copper coins. Although the profit of two gold coins wasn't much, it was better than nothing. He had gradually built his identity himself, so that starting out wouldn't easily attract attention and arouse suspicion.

As expected, the alleged assassin was captured after Miss Diana's funeral.

"...Have you heard? It's said that General Yuris's capture by the enemy was also related to this man."

"I've heard that the young master of the Dioka family died under suspicious circumstances. I heard that he once infiltrated the White Dragon Knights in his younger years and had extraordinary abilities, causing chaos on the Midland border."

Early in the morning, many citizens gathered in the square, having heard that Najuda's assassins would be beheaded and displayed to the public today.

"...It turns out he was such a dangerous person; Minister Hoss has finally caught him."

"Yes, even General Yuris was almost assassinated that night, but thankfully Lord Baka appeared in time."

"Huh? Who's Baka?"

"An obscure minor nobleman, I heard that his nephew was killed by that assassin."

As Green heard those familiar names, he was surprised to learn that Baka was doing so well in Wyndam, even controlling the royal city's intelligence network.

"Alas, it's a pity. I heard that Lord Baka is also seriously injured."

Wearing the mask he had bought the day before, Green joined Jacob and the others in watching from the square. They had heard that today was the day the Juda spy and his accomplices would be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the crowd. The old ladies and aunties around the square started throwing rotten eggs and vegetable leaves at the prison van. A group of soldiers were slowly escorting the prison van with several prisoners inside.

The leader was thin but exuded an invisible indomitable spirit. He was shirtless, with familiar arrow wounds and countless new whip marks. Several pieces of his skin had been peeled off, and his face bore horrific burn marks.

Green knew this all too well; it was Cardi, who looked like he'd been tortured again.

Seeing his current miserable state, Green felt relieved, without hatred or any other thoughts, because this man's life was about to come to an end.

The tall, burly executioner grabbed him by the hair and dragged him out of the prison cart, then tied him to a wooden post piled with firewood.

"...It must be the legendary assassin, Juda, with unparalleled skills, right?"

"Oh dear, they look really pitiful."

"Tch, you're not pitying him, are you? If you ask me, this is the retribution he deserves. The tax rate in Midland has increased so much that I can barely afford bread anymore."

The people around were still gossiping, and the other three prisoners in the prison van were also dragged out. Green looked closely and realized, "Good heavens, aren't these the three rogue mercenaries?"

"We've been framed! We're not with that assassin at all!!" The tall, burly mercenary had completely lost his swagger from bullying men and women in the city. Knowing he was about to be hanged, he was so scared that he wet his pants.

“Yes, please believe us! It’s all that damned Judas assassin spouting nonsense!!” one of the skinny henchmen shouted hysterically.

Unfortunately, the three of them didn't have a good reputation in Wyndham anyway, and now that they've fallen on hard times, the general public just felt a sense of relief and felt they had nothing to do but beat a drowning dog.

"Bah! You three always prey on the villagers! Regardless of whether you're related to Qiu Da's spy or not, you all deserve to die!!"

"Die!! Die!!"

The surrounding citizens threw rotten eggs and dog poop at the three people, showing how despicable their behavior was!

It's unbelievable that even while Kadi is in jail, he can still relentlessly retaliate against the person who reported him. Now he doesn't even need anyone else to help him get revenge.

...Truly, he was scheming against others even in his dying moments.

Green felt a chill run down his spine. Cardi probably hadn't betrayed him, otherwise he might be on the guillotine today.

...a terrifying man.

Soon, Minister Hoth, who was personally in charge of the execution, was about to announce their crimes.

Minister Hoss, dressed in a red robe trimmed with silver, slowly ascended the platform, his face filled with unbearable grief. The deceased Lady Diana was none other than his poor, beloved daughter!

With a sorrowful expression, he surveyed the boiling crowd below, raised the verdict, and said in a deep voice: "These four men colluded with foreign enemies, intending to overthrow Midland! The assassin Kadi of Judas had been infiltrating our army for many years, leading to the capture of General Yuris and the collapse of the border defenses; these three villains, acting as accomplices to evil, aided and abetted the wicked, committing arson, murder, looting, and all sorts of atrocities! Their crimes are numerous and countless! Today, I, representing the royal court, in the name of justice, will carry out this punishment!"

"Therefore, today, these three villains shall be hanged! I...I will dismember this despicable and hateful assassin, Juda, into blood eagles and then burn them at the stake, so that his soul may forever burn in the flames of hell! Never to be released!!"

"Execute immediately!!"

"No...no!! Ahh...ho!" The moment they heard the verdict, the three rogue mercenaries turned ashen-faced. The executioner tightened the noose around their necks, then yanked the rope sharply, causing the wooden plank to slip and their faces to turn a deep liver color. After struggling for a few moments, they could no longer utter a word.

...That's a pretty ugly way to die, Green thought to himself.

...Blood Eagle?

Green didn't know the meaning behind this bizarre punishment, but he soon found out, and it became an unforgettable memory.

"...Blood Eagle? Isn't that a form of torture invented by heretics? Has Minister Hoss resorted to vigilante justice?"

"Alas... He has already endured the Blood Eagle and now he has to endure the burning at the stake. At this point, neither the god worshipped by the heretics nor the great sage of the Dharma King's Hall can be his guide."

"...Minister Hoss's move was truly ruthless."

"There's nothing I can do. After all, she's his most beloved daughter. If I were a father, I'd want to tear my enemy apart and devour him!"

The executioner untied the thin, broken Kadi from the stake, sharpening his knife as if he were slaughtering a pig or a dog, and then sprayed strong liquor on the blade.

Kadi knelt on the stone platform. Upon hearing the words "Blood Eagle," he even threw his head back and laughed, but something seemed to be missing from his mouth, and he could only utter a series of strange cries.

...What's missing? Could it be...?

Kadi seemed to have fallen into some kind of madness, laughing uncontrollably with his head thrown back. To actually kill him with... the kind of punishment their country used for capital offenders. How ridiculous, how utterly ridiculous.

...How tragic.

Green's pupils also contracted slightly. Did Cardi not even have a tongue?