Chapter 1009: Accusations Confirmed, Legal Judgment

Lady Lina had no sooner entered than she began to use tears and a "victim" persona to solicit sympathy, claiming she had been coerced by Aldridge and Sike and was ignorant of many things.

After hearing Lady Lina's tearful plea, the Xintila interrogator pulled up records of her secret asset transfers, as well as records of backroom deals where she manipulated the prices of daily necessities, leading to the bankruptcy of countless civilians.

"Lady Lina, 'ignorance' cannot explain the massive deposits under your personal name, nor the clearly unfair contracts you directed your subordinates to force borrowers to sign. Your 'innocence' requires evidence to support it, not tears."

Faced with ironclad proof, Lady Lina began to scream and curse hysterically, eventually confessing to most of the charges.

When it was Grand Duke Aldridge's turn, he did not deny the assassination conspiracy.

Aldridge had guessed that in front of these Xintila, who were professionals at purging corruption, any denial would be futile.

Pake's betrayal had merely accelerated this process.

The interrogation lasted for several hours.

Every noble brought in eventually crumbled before the evidence and logic of the Xintila interrogator.

From assassination conspiracies to economic crimes, from abuse of power to the brutalization of civilians, everything was recorded one by one.

When the last noble pressed a trembling thumbprint onto the confession record, the Xintila interrogator organized the files, stood up, and spoke.

"All charges have been confirmed. What awaits you will be the formal judgment of the Xiuluo Holy Law."

Having said this, he did not spare these people another glance and left the Interrogation Room with his deputy.

Keerwa, Huguang City, Governor's Office.

Sheng Wolun sat behind his desk, with several light screens floating before him, listing the interrogation records, summaries of the chain of evidence, and the final crime determination reports submitted by the Xintila interrogator.

There were also other nobles involved in smuggling, murder, forcing good women into prostitution, human parts...

Sheng Wolun frowned as he browsed through this systematic corruption and evil.

"Parasites... the cancer of civilization..."

After reviewing the final report, Sheng Wolun leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

A few seconds later, Sheng Wolun opened his eyes and connected the communication with Lieutenant Eisenhart and Sergeant Makusi of the Xintila Squad.

"Lieutenant Eisenhart, Sergeant Makusi.

I have finished reviewing the case files. The evidence is conclusive, the confessions are full, and the crimes... are unforgivable.

In accordance with the ultimate punitive clauses of the 'Xiuluo Basic Law' and Article 7 of the Supplementary Rules of the 'Provisional Regulations on the Governance of Newly Recovered Areas'—'For individuals who have committed grave crimes such as treason, crimes against humanity, and severe corruption, their final punishment shall be based on the principles of upholding the interests of the Emperor, purifying the foundations of society, and warning those who come after, maximizing the use of their residual value to serve the great cause of Human Civilization.'"

Sheng Wolun paused and continued.

"The verdict is as follows:

The principal offenders Aldridge, Sike, Lina, Basuoluomiu, and three others, seven in total, have committed extremely grave crimes; their hands are stained with blood, and their consciousnesses are filled with greed and evil. They have no value for rehabilitation, and the strength of their mental will does not meet the standards for conversion into 'Service Servitors'.

Sentenced to death, to be carried out immediately.

All illegal gains and associated assets under their personal names are to be confiscated by the Imperium."

"The accomplices Count Koneier, Baron Fulajimier, and ten others, twelve in total, although participants in grave crimes, have relatively lighter circumstances. After evaluation, their physical functions and basic neural reflexes still retain some utility value. Sentenced to 'Labor Servitor' conversion.

Strip them of most of their autonomous consciousness and memory, retain basic movement and the ability to obey commands, transform their bodies into servitors serving for eternity, and dispatch them to frontier mining worlds or dangerous environment renovation projects, using their remains to atone for their sins through the construction of the Imperium, until they are completely destroyed."

"The remaining individuals involved in lesser crimes, or those who can provide key evidence to assist in solving the case, shall be sentenced to long-term hard labor, asset forfeiture, and permanent deprivation of political rights, depending on the circumstances."

The order was issued; all punishments were based on legal statutes and a cruel consideration of "maximizing value."

"Lieutenant Eisenhart, you are responsible for supervising the execution of the death sentences to ensure the process complies with the law. Sergeant Makusi, the Xintila Squad will coordinate with the Tech-Priests to immediately begin the assessment and preparation work for 'Servitor conversion' for those who qualify."

"Understood! Lord Governor!"

That same morning, Huguang City Central Plaza.

A large number of Wentuiliya soldiers maintained order on the perimeter.

In the center of the plaza, a platform several meters high had been temporarily erected, and behind the platform stood several pitch-black metal pillars.

On one side of the platform, some Tech-Priests wearing red robes, their bodies connected to mechanical arms and conduits, were testing some massive devices equipped with drills, saw blades, and injectors.

Countless residents of Huguang City gathered around the plaza.

Sheng Wolun, wearing his dark gray governor's uniform, appeared on the platform, looked at the citizens of Huguang City below, and spoke.

"Citizens of Huguang City!

Just last night, in accordance with the Xiuluo Holy Law, we purged the most corrupt batch of tumors entrenched on this planet.

The old noble group led by Aldridge, Hasi-ke, and Lina!"

Sheng Wolun raised his hand, pointing to the black metal pillars behind him and the mechanical devices beside them.

"Now, I will publicly read their main crimes here and announce the final verdict granted to them by the Xiuluo Holy Law!"

Then, Sheng Wolun began to list the crimes of the main criminals one by one.

How Aldridge embezzled public assets and colluded with foreign enemies; how Sike enslaved thousands of miners to their deaths and destroyed the environment; how Lady Lina used financial means to drain the people's lifeblood; how Basuoluomiu treated human life like grass... Every crime was accompanied by a brief explanation of the evidence.

As each shocking crime was made public, the crowd in the plaza gradually began to stir from their initial silence.

Especially when images of the white bones beneath Sike's mines and cases of Lady Lina forcing borrowers to ruin their families were displayed, the public's anger reached its peak.

"Kill them!"

"These animals! Demons!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live Governor Sheng Wolun!"

Sheng Wolun waited quietly for the public's emotions to calm slightly, then raised his voice and shouted.

"Silence!"

The plaza became quiet again.

"The above crimes are supported by conclusive evidence, and the criminals themselves have confessed! In accordance with the 'Xiuluo Basic Law' and relevant decrees of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, the final verdict is now as follows!"

Sheng Wolun first read out the names of the seven principal offenders, including Aldridge.

"... The seven individuals mentioned above are guilty of heinous crimes and have no value for rehabilitation; sentenced to death! Execute immediately!"

As soon as the words fell, the Wentuiliya execution squad, which had been waiting on the side, dragged the ashen-faced Aldridge and the others to the black metal pillars and secured them with energy shackles.

Subsequently, under the gaze of countless eyes, the execution officer gave the order, and several blinding high-energy arcs erupted from the tops of the metal pillars, piercing through the bodies of Aldridge and the others!

A moment later, seven charred bodies emitting blue smoke were scorched onto the execution pillars.

The entire plaza was deathly silent.