Three Philosophical Questions for Travelers

Violet gave him a hard look, and said, "Knight Brown, I have a few questions for you now, and I hope you can answer them truthfully."

"Success, what you say is what you say."

Violet cleared her throat and said, "Master Brown, let me ask you, did you buy four female slaves three years ago?"

The knight emphasized: "It's four bed slaves."

Violet looked indifferent, "Have you bought it yet?"

"I bought it, including you." He smiled lewdly.

Violet obviously didn't want to get entangled in this kind of thing.She continued to ask: "Then do you still remember Alina?"

"Alina? I only remember the flower name." He looked at Violet, with the corners of his mouth tilted up, "I remember your name is Violet, do you still have that name now? Huh?"

Haiwen couldn't help but said: "Please don't say irrelevant words, knight!"

The knight nodded, but his eyes were still full of contempt.Violet looked ahead and said, "Her flower name is Tulip."

"Oh, I remember, she..." The wretched knight almost uttered vulgar words, but Haven stared back at him again, "She is a very beautiful girl, I like her quite a lot, but then you also You know, I don't have enough money to support so many girls. I'm still in debt! The debt collectors don't care if you're a knight or not, they don't give a shit! I can't help it, so I sold the girls. He laughed a few times, "They are all beauties from the south, what a pity."

Great Charles took this opportunity to shout: "This proves nothing! The knight said, he sold her! Sell it, do you understand?"

Violet asked the knight: "Have you ever had sex with Alina?"

The knight smiled awkwardly and said, "This is personal privacy, girl!"

"I asked you if you had sex with her!" Violet yelled at him in a rough voice, "Don't tell me nonsense, have you ever fucked her!?"

Violet has almost lost her mind, or rather she has put all her eggs in one basket.Haven felt the situation was spiraling out of control, but he couldn't stop the witnesses from giving their testimony.

Not only Brown Knight was startled by Violet's roar, but other people in the court were also stunned.Haiwen saw a child crying out of fright, and a young woman retracted into her father's arms.There were also many people whispering and pointing at Violet's back.

"Of course..." the knight murmured, "I've fucked her many times, so she..."

"She is pregnant with your child," said Violet.

"I know." Knight Brown shrugged. "But I don't want a slave's child. I'm a knight. No matter how poor I am, I'm still a knight. I can't marry a bed slave as my wife, it will make people laugh." Then he muttered something under his breath, but no one heard him.

The crowd was whispering, and Charles the Great looked dignified.Violet nodded at the man and said, "So you sold her when you found out she was pregnant, right?"

The knight nodded silently.

At this time, Violet looked at Brother Charles and said, "What else do you have to say?"

Big Charles opened his mouth like a dehydrated goldfish, and Little Charles touched his brother with the handcuffs and said something sadly, but Haven didn't hear clearly.Then Tang Deen rang the small bell, indicating that he wanted to speak.After Haiwen agreed, the old man said loudly: "In this case, the suspect has committed the serious crime of murdering a pregnant woman! Moreover, he murdered the blood of a barbaric knight. Such a serious crime cannot be tolerated by God! The elders seat It was unanimously agreed that he should be sentenced to death!" After he threw out the four "death punishment", the jury began to shout: "Death punishment!" Then the people outside also shouted: "Death punishment!"

It appears the lawsuit is over.Haiwen thought to himself, although the process is different from what I expected, at least the result is the same—the murderer has legally received the punishment he deserves, and the next step is for me to sentence him.This all satisfies the code of the Gulflands, so that everyone can be satisfied.

But someone is not satisfied.

Big Charles raised the code again, and shouted in a hoarse voice: "Conviction depends on the prosecution! Now, as the defendant's brother, I apply for a ransom for him to buy the crime!"

Violet's eyes widened in shock, the smiling cat laughed, and Tang De'en jumped up and shouted: "He killed a pregnant woman, one dead body and two lives! This crime cannot be redeemed with money!"

Violet also shouted: "Life is priceless, no amount of money you pay can buy this sin."

Hai Wen then said: "Big Charles, you should give up. Killing people pays for their lives, it's only right and proper."

Even little Charles was shaking his head at him.

However, Charles continued to shout: "I just want to pay for my brother's life! This is the power given to me by the law. As long as I can reconcile with the victim in court, then I can unilaterally withdraw the prosecution. It will not be established!"

Haven shouted: "The slave girl is dead! No one will reconcile with you! You think a few gold can-"

When he said this, an abrupt voice interrupted him:

"No! I'm happy to reconcile!"

The down-and-out knight came up with a smile on his face, "Haha! Why do you need to kill people when you can solve it with money? Are you right? Talk with money, talk with money!"

Haven's verdict, six

Haven's verdict, six

Violet's expression at this moment is even worse than that of the big Charles before.She raised her head abruptly, looked at Haiwen and said, "My lord! Is this legal? Is this possible? Is this allowed in the law?"

In the code... Hai Wen quickly recalled these things in his mind-the code said that if the relatives and friends of the murderer can reach an agreement with the victim's family, the problem can be solved through money... It is said that this is to let The families of the victims get more compensation...

No, it's too magical!Wouldn't it be over if the rich killed people without breaking the law?

But this kind of thing is indeed possible, even common.Only poor people kill and pay for their lives, and rich people kill people, as long as they give enough money, they can get away with it.

His brief silence was enough to make Violet despair.She was biting her thumb, and her eyes were straight. At this time, Charles had already started bargaining with the knight, and Violet immediately shouted: "I don't accept this settlement! I am the plaintiff!"

Big Charles said to her: "You sue my brother for murder, but the real murder victim is this knight! The law clearly stipulates that if the victim can reach a consensus settlement with the perpetrator, then the crime will no longer exist! In this case , the murder is not established, so your 'plaintiff's opinion' is meaningless at all!"

Violet yelled at the knight again: "I forbid you to do this! He killed your child and your woman. Can you reconcile with them with money?"

"Why not? Children and women are things with clearly marked prices in the market, why can't you settle with money?" The man laughed, and then said viciously to Violet, "Bitch! It only cost you fifty dollars to invite me to testify Gold coins! Now I will return fifty gold coins to you, don’t worry about me anymore!” He said, throwing a handful of gold coins at Violet, and the fifty coins sprinkled on her body, like fifty sharp arrows——Violet His blood and soul were pierced by the arrow, and he was firmly nailed to the ground.

At this moment, knights and wealthy merchants are bargaining in the courtroom and chat happily; the plaintiff and the judge stand under the dome like statues.

Haiwen asked Tang Deen, saying: "Master Tang Deen, this kind of thing..."

"There is a precedent for this matter." Tang De'en said in a low voice, "Everyone in the bay area does this. Oh, my lord, you are the judge, you decide."

I want to give these people the death penalty.Haiwen thought to himself, but I can't do this, the code does not allow me to do this.He looked at the elders' seat and at Tang De'en. Those people were the guardians of the code of law. They would never allow Haiwen's power to override the code of law.So I……

"Jury!" Haiwen suddenly remembered this matter, "Who is your representative?"

There was a burst of discussion among the jury of [-] people, and after a while, a man wearing glasses walked out of it. "My lord, they elected me as a representative."

"Does the jury approve of this kind of settlement?" I need a power to check and balance the elders' bench, Haiwen thought to himself.

"We..." The man wiped his glasses, then put on Zheng Zheng, "Of course we agree."

what?

He seemed to see Haiwen's doubts, so he said: "This is an old rule, and everyone is willing to do this. Besides, all the dead are dead, so what's the point of bringing another person to be buried with you? It's better to lose money! After losing money, both families are happy."

Haiwen asked subconsciously: "What if your relatives are killed?"

"My relatives?" the man exclaimed, and then said strangely, "Then I'll ask for more money! He must go bankrupt." After saying this, he laughed loudly, and the jury went down. Several people in the row laughed together with him, and the atmosphere was very happy.

crazy.Hai Wen looked at those laughing people, and they were all fucking crazy.The values ​​of the whole society have been distorted to a terrible direction - no, it may also be that I am crazy, I have been crazy since the moment I died, and I have no self-knowledge.

At this moment, his eyes met Violet's.

Violet was begging him silently.Haven could read the despair in her eyes.

At this time, Charles had already negotiated the price with the knight. "Six hundred gold coins!" Big Charles gestured with his hand, "Master Knight, is this all right?"

"Well, it's not bad." The knight smiled with satisfaction, "Oh, it's a pity, I don't know if the child is a boy or a girl. If it's a boy, you have to pay more!" He laughed himself after saying this , "Hahaha, forget it! Six hundred is six hundred, this trip is already worth it."

"Thank you, thank you!" Big Charles gave him a chest salute.

Haiwen said again to Tang Deen: "Master Tang Deen, do you think all this can be regarded as justice?"

"You are the judge." Tang Deen said.

"I'm not asking for your opinion, I just want to ask your opinion."

Tang De'en's expression also became very distorted, as if a fly was stuck in his throat, "I see... I think, I think... This matter is indeed in accordance with the law, and it does not violate any article of the code. But ..."

But this law code is basically a cannibal book. If even intentional murder can be settled by losing money, then what justice is there in society?

Tang Deen said at this time: "Judge... Lord Earl, you are the highest authority in Bear Mountain, and you will make the final judgment. I... I made a stupid mistake, and I am getting more and more confused as I get older." His voice Filled with remorse, he walked out of the elders' seat after speaking.This behavior meant that Tang De'en left the seat without authorization and would lose the right to judge the elders' seat.

The ultimate responsibility rests on my shoulders, Hai Wen thought.Codex justice is narrow justice, but what I want is real justice.Today I have to choose between the powerful and the people. Do I choose the justice of the powerful or the justice of the people?

At this moment, Charles bowed to Haven and said: "My lord, I have already negotiated with the knight. At this moment, the murder charge is no longer convicted. Now the defendant has three charges left, and we will continue to discuss these three charges." Bar."

However, Haiwen shook his head at him and said, "Big Charles, it doesn't matter what you say."

"Yes, it doesn't matter what I say, it's the code that has the final say." He pinched the code, "It's stipulated in the code, I can do this."

"The code stipulates that you can use compensation to reconcile with the victim, which is true. But the code also stipulates that the final judgment rests with the lord of the place—that is, me."

Big Charles was stunned for a second and then roared loudly: "Ambside!" He pointed at Haven and shouted, "You want to kill my brother so much! I was born and died for you, and I helped you take down Bear Mountain City! Now I You just want to save my brother's life, but you push me every step of the way!"

"I didn't say that he must be sentenced to death, but he must be punished as he should. Great Charles, I will reward you for your merits, but his crimes have nothing to do with you! As the Earl of Bear Mountain, I must fulfill the justice Responsibility. I will use my final judgment!"

"You're cheating!" Big Charles gritted his teeth and said.

The code gives you the power to buy your life, and it also gives me the ability to cheat, Haiwen thought to himself.

At this moment, a man wearing a black top hat stood up from the elders' seat, and he said to Haiwen: "Lord Haiwen, you may not have this right."

"What did you say?" Haven asked him.

"This is the earl's power, and you are only the guardian of Bear Mountain." The man said, "This is different, Haven Ambleside."

Haven's verdict, VII

Haven's verdict, VII

Haven looked at the bold man.

It was a man in a black dress, with a thin figure, a slender face, and calm and wise eyes.Different from the rustic nouveau riche next to him, this man is well-dressed and has an elegant temperament.

"who are you?"

"I'm Theon Sarris." The man gave a salute.

Theon Sarris, the current head of the Sarris family.Haiwen remembered the name. The economy of Bear Mountain was controlled by two families, one of which was the Sarris family.This family almost took over the lucrative industries such as casinos, brothels, and taverns in Xiongshan, and also extended usury loans, and used their own human and material resources to do smuggling business, which can be said to be the cancer of Xiongshan.However, he is too powerful, and he is the biggest creditor of Xiongshan, so the old earl has been unable to do anything about him.If he is arrested, then half of the shops in Bear Mountain will be closed, and no one will provide gold to Bear Mountain in the future.

Different from the usury businessman that Hai Wen envisioned, this man is personable, with refined aristocratic temperament.The real rich don't flaunt their wealth, Haiwen thought to himself, only the nouveau riche flaunt themselves in the market, wearing gold and silver.

"You said before that I don't have the right to judge?" Haven asked him.

"No offense, my lord." He took off his hat. "You are the guardian of Bear Mountain. Although this is very similar to the earl, it is not the same after all. The earl is the master of a place, and the guardian is just a servant of the king. Therefore, your power , You cannot be above the law, if you act recklessly, the consequences are tantamount to flouting the law."

After saying this, he glanced at the seat next to him, and another fat man stood up from where his eyes pointed.The man was the size of four saris, and he swayed in his fat and laughed. "My lord, I greet you!" He said to Hai Wen.

Unlike Sarris, this man was covered in gold and silver, as if he was afraid that others would not know that he was rich.Haven had already guessed who he was, so he said, "Ruven R. Sternier, what do you want to say?"

The two major families in Bear Mountain, apart from the Sarris family, are the Stenier family.The Stirnier family controls two major farms and the slave trade. If Sarris' gold is concentrated in the city, then the Stirnier family's wealth is spread widely in the countryside.

At this moment, the man pretended to be surprised, and then said with a smile on his face: "Oh! My lord, you actually know my humble name, I am really flattered." He put his hands on his heart, "I am Stenny Er, my lord, what I want to say is the same as brother Theon, although you... oh, I don't mean to offend! I just..."

"Speak directly." Hai Wen said coldly.

"Oh, I just think that your final decision-making power is not in line with the law. Our court in Xiongshan is supposed to speak the law, and this code clearly stipulates that only the hereditary lords of a certain place have the final decision-making power. And you Although it is no different from the earl, you are only the guardian of Bear Mountain after all, so... I am afraid that you do not have this kind of power over the legal code." After saying this, he coughed dryly, and then the entire elders' bench stood up. Standing up, they said in unison: "The elders agree that you do not have such power!"

This was the first time he confronted the old forces of Xiongshan. The elders included wealthy businessmen from various fields, a viscount representative and two knights.All the old forces are against him, it is impossible for him to arrest everyone here at once, this time he will either compromise or fight to the end.If he fights to the end, the conflict between him and the nobles will intensify again. He will stand against the old nobles in the entire Bear Mountain, and his future rule will be difficult.

So, what am I supposed to do?Do I want the justice of the code, or the justice of my morality?

I belong to the people's lord, and power should also belong to the people. He suddenly thought that I should not be blackmailed by these powerful classes.I must, must use the power of the people.

This time he cast his eyes on the crowd outside

He puffed up his chest and said to the gate of the court: "People of Bear Mountain! The elders have expressed their opinions, and now it's time for you to express your views." Then he said loudly: "Brother Charles has now reached a settlement with the families of the victims. , According to the law, the prosecution for murdering a pregnant woman will be withdrawn, which will mean that the mother and child died in vain. However, it is stipulated in the code!" He paused for a moment, allowing time for people's emotions to ferment, at this moment the court Up and down are scary, "The code stipulates this, and the elders also agree with this behavior. As the guardian of Bear Mountain, I cannot use the power of final judgment to reverse this situation. But you are the people of Bear Mountain, and you still have power in your hands. That is the power of the people, the supreme power! The people outside, the people inside, and the jury of a hundred people! All those who have justice in their hearts, please listen to me! I want to know what you think ——Do you agree with the settlement of six hundred gold coins?"

As he expected, this time the courtroom was full of excitement, and people chanted various slogans such as "disagree", "reject reconciliation", and "death penalty".

At this time, a young man dressed as a bachelor stood up in the jury, and he shouted loudly: "If all sins can be redeemed, the poor will lose the protection of the law!"

Then more jury members stood up from their seats. Haiwen saw a bearded blacksmith raising a hammer and screaming, and a short tailor waving a homemade sea god flag, shouting : "Long live justice!"

At this time, the jury representative wearing glasses stood up, waved his arms, and shouted: "No, the jury supports the settlement! Support—" At this point, he was immediately pushed to the ground by the person next to him.Then several other people who supported the reconciliation shrank into a corner, not daring to speak.

Many civilians in the jury clapped their hands and stomped their feet, shouting, "Justice!" order, but the voice was easily drowned out by the shouts of the crowd.

The faces of the people at the elders' table turned ashen for a moment, Sarris in black glared at Haiwen, and said, "How can Lord Xiongshan incite the mob? This is illegal!"

"It's legal, very legal!" Haiwen said loudly, "The code should be the law of the people, the first article of the code, the law is produced by the people! The people have the same power as you, since you can interpret the law, for your own If the class speaks out, they can too! This is the will of the entire Bear Mountain City, and this is the will of the people!"

At this moment people shout loudly: "The will of the people!"

The people at the elder's table sat down one after another, Haiwen also breathed a sigh of relief, the balance of victory had tilted, Violet and him looked at each other with complicated eyes.But in any case, sins are punished severely.

But at this moment, Great Charles said loudly: "Okay, Lord Haven! If you want to see the will of the people, then I will show you what the will of the people is!"

Haiwen's heart rose again——Charles, what else does he want to do?