Chapter 336: The Trial

"Damned bastards, I wondered why there was a beast tide attacking the city out of nowhere. Turns out it was these sons of bitches who provoked it."

"Damn mongrels, give back my brother's life!"

"I actually got dragged into this mess because of these idiots."

...With a single sentence in the common tongue from Muria, anyone with half a brain could connect the dots, especially when looking at the two giant eggs wrapped in flames beside him.

Someone had stolen the eggs of this terrifying pair of birds and brought them into the city, which is why they were surrounded by monsters, forced to defend against the beast tide.

It was because of these despicable thieves that the entire city's human population had to bear the wrath of soul-intent level beasts, with countless lives lost to the monsters' fangs and claws.

"Here are your children, returned to you." Muria, manipulating an invisible hand formed of condensed wind, lifted the two eggs up to the eagerly awaiting Phoenix descendants.

"Exalted Golden Dragon, how do you plan to deal with these despicable human thieves?" The couple each extended a claw to grasp an egg, then glared angrily at the seven humans bound next to Muria.

Hearing the couple's question, Muria didn't answer directly but looked towards the city walls at the angry soldiers and adventurers kneeling amidst corpses.

Seeing those prostrating under his might, Muria tapped his head, recalling his Dragon's Majesty, allowing everyone to regain their ability to move.

"Everyone, cease your fighting." But no sooner had they regained their mobility than some monsters and humans prepared to clash once again.

Muria, feeling helpless, had to intervene once more to suppress the fight; these folks had become blinded by rage, and only force could quell them.

"The war is over. Stop this meaningless slaughter and retreat," Muria, holding the Final Staff, gestured forward, and all the monsters remaining on the city walls were lifted by a gust of wind and thrown off the walls.

Then, turning his gaze to the humans who had lost companions, brothers, officers, or subordinates, he repeated the Phoenix descendants' question to the survivors on the city walls in the common tongue.

"Defenders of the city, the couple has asked me how to deal with these seven who stole their offspring. Do you think such punishment is fair?"

The humans, already pushed to the brink of fury, exchanged glances and then, various vicious punishments were suggested.

"Hang them and let them die by hanging."

"Hanging is too good for them; use the Iron Maiden."

"No, summon a vampire, turn them into blood slaves, hang them on a cross, sprinkle holy water on them, and let them disintegrate in the holy light."

"Summon a demon and let it deal with them."

...Various forms of punishment were proposed by the enraged survivors, from common executions to tortures so cruel that even Muria found them gruesome, reflecting their anger towards the seven thieves.

Truthfully, stealing monsters' younglings or eggs is something most adventurers have done; there's not much to it. That these seven thieves managed to steal eggs from soul-intent level beasts was an impressive feat.

But to then lead the rightful owners to the city, putting every human in it in mortal danger, was unforgivable.

"Why should we, who had nothing to do with it, be dragged into your mess?"

"What do you think of these punishments?" After hearing the increasingly cruel suggestions from below, Muria turned to face the vibrant Phoenix descendants.

"Humans remain a cruel race; it sickens us." Even if they didn't understand all the names of the tortures or their specifics, just understanding a part was enough to shock the couple.

They couldn't comprehend how humans could do such things to their own kind. In the end, it was differences in race that led to different values.

"So, I'll leave these thieves to be executed by humans themselves. What do you think?"

"Agreed." After glancing at the many vengeful faces on the city walls, the couple quickly agreed, knowing that if the thieves fell into their claws, they would face a simple death, lacking the variety of human cruelty. In a way, this was a mercy for the thieves.

"I, Muria, shall act as the judge." With a wave of his hand, Muria stripped the seven powerful thieves of their strength and tossed them into the midst of the enraged survivors on the city walls.

"The victims among you will serve as the executioners."

...Terrifying screams echoed over the city walls. Amidst the hatred of those who had lost loved ones, the thieves were quickly rendered unrecognizable.

The responsibility for the casualties caused by the monster attack fell entirely on these seven thieves.

"Are you satisfied now?" When the seven thieves were left as nothing but bones, Muria's gaze turned to the Phoenix descendants. "The culprits are dead, and the rest are innocent humans. It's time for you to take your children and leave, along with these monsters."

Without bargaining, the Phoenix descendants led all the monsters in retreat. Though they initially intended to level the city, the appearance of a Golden Dragon made that impossible.

"How do you find my judgement? O, powerful humans." As he watched the beast tide recede, Muria's gaze shifted towards a certain part of the city.

"We thank you for your aid, Exalted Muria." A black-haired youth with ten faint black rings of soul intent swirling behind him ascended into Muria's view, bowing slightly.

"This was a fair trial, and you have meted out just punishment to the guilty." The black-haired man added, noticing Muria's silence, "The bards will eagerly spread the tale of what happened here to cities far and wide."

Hearing such flattery, Auston, standing beside Muria, tilted his head and rolled his eyes in disdain.

"I did what I had to do." The black-haired, golden-eyed youth standing between the horns of a fearsome red dragon smiled modestly, seemingly indifferent to his act of saving a city.

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