Punishment 4

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

Hansel's applause seemed to praise Paul, but the expression on his face made Paul uncomfortable. 

"What's wrong? Do you have an issue with what I said?"

"Lord Grayman," Hansel said, looking at Paul with a sincere expression. 

"I know there are always some people in this world with a strong sense of morality…"

Paul narrowed his eyes and looked at Hansel with irritation, speaking harshly, "Are you mocking me?"

Hansel fixed his gaze on Paul's eyes: "If you think I am insulting you, you can send someone to behead me; you have that power."

Paul shot him a glare and didn't say anything more. 

Hansel continued, "I know that satisfying one's sense of morality can be a pleasant thing. Sometimes I give alms to beggars on the street, and every time I do this, I feel my soul is elevated."

He changed his tone, "However, when I give to a beggar, it benefits just the two of us and doesn't harm anyone else." 

Paul caught on to the implication, "What do you mean? Are you saying being soft-hearted could harm others?"

"Yes, Lord Grayman!" 

Hansel dropped the pretense and got straight to the point: "If you were just one person, forgiving your enemies would be fine; it's a generous and commendable act. But—"

Hansel stood up from the sofa and walked slowly to the window behind Paul, fully opening the previously half-drawn curtains.

By now, night had fully descended, and the starlit sky covered the city. Every household had lit their lamps, and from Paul's office window, he could see the magnificent glow of lights along the central street of Alden Town.

"But you are not alone, Earl Paul Grayman. Look at this town; you are its master. This means there is a large group of people loyal to you, serving you; in other words, you are now a leader." 

TLN: Damn, I didn't even think of that... He makes a good point.

"Consider Sir Ford, Cecil, Schroder, Victor, Bryce, and even Philip the steward, among many others. Many of them have loyally served your family for generations, and their fates are tied to yours."

"Don't you think of these loyal subjects, my lord? You may disregard your own safety, but can you bear to put them in danger? If you insist—I'm saying if, since you've always shown too much mercy—on not rooting out potential enemies, isn't that a form of selfishness—trading the safety of your subordinates for your illusory moral superiority?" 

"You…" Paul became agitated, trying to respond but unable to articulate anything. After awkwardly remaining silent for half a minute, he finally said, "It's absurd. A group of sinner's families—imagine that; they're mostly old, weak, women, and children. What kind of threat do you think they pose? Are the bigwigs of Alden Town going to be intimidated by them?" 

"Oh... you can't think like that, Lord Grayman. They may not succeed in rebelling openly in broad daylight, but what about hiding in the shadows to carry out assassinations? The appearances of old, weak, and children may be more deceptive, and who knows what those children will do when they grow up? After all, assassins play a crucial role in changing the course of history; many renowned figures have fallen to their blades. You, your subordinates, and even your families would all be at risk."

"Yes, your moral standing is high, but you can't expect your enemies to share the same moral code as you. Our prevailing values are as such—avenging one's close kin is seen as a praiseworthy act." 

Paul slumped back into his chair, feeling deeply stimulated by Hansel's reasoning, which appealed to his sense of duty. Yes, he could disregard himself, but he could not ignore those who were loyal to him.

Should he truly root out every potential danger and crush it in the cradle? 

He pondered for a moment before saying, "Hansel, you can call me selfish, but the course of history should move forward, not spin in circles. Someone has to take the first step towards the future, regardless of their motivations, whether they are genuine or for vanity; they still chose to move forward." 

Hansel replied thoughtfully, "Lord Grayman, the road of history is filled with thorns, and those who go first often get bloodied." 

"Yes, I know; it's not pleasant at all," Paul said helplessly, shrugging his shoulders. "But I'm prepared."

His conversation with Hansel left him feeling even more fatigued, prompting him to end the discussion.

"Hansel, there's still more than a year until the final judgment. During this time, I'll carefully consider things and try to ensure the outcome takes all aspects into account. Right now… I'm feeling a bit tired." 

Hansel sighed gently, walked slowly to stand directly in front of Paul, and slightly bowed.

"Since I've known you, I've witnessed many things I previously could never have imagined. Perhaps your persistence is indeed correct. No matter what choice you ultimately make, I trust your wisdom, Lord Grayman."

"Thank you, Hansel."

...

In the days since Paul returned to the lord's mansion, news of unusual occurrences in Alden Town began to spread far and wide. Many residents had witnessed the events that transpired in the city: large-scale martial law, the comings and goings of militia, the cannon fire from the lord's mansion, and the standoff with the troops outside the city. It was impossible to keep it a secret. On the other hand, the incident where Paul was ambushed in Babol Village was still relatively unknown due to its remote location.

As the rumors spread, they became increasingly exaggerated. In places far from Alden, some rumors even claimed that the current Earl Grayman was not the original Earl Grayman. Instead, the one sitting in the lord's position was merely a puppet resembling Paul Grayman.

Two groups of people were particularly concerned about this news. First were the vassal lords of Emden, as understanding who currently held power was crucial for them.

Then there were the other lords of the Customs Union. They sent envoys, and some even personally traveled to Alden Town to confirm whether the one sitting in the lord's position was still Paul Grayman.

Many only now realized that Paul Grayman had attained a prominent status in the Northwest Bay.

(End of the Chapter)

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