The joy of Laura and Pionel at the first loophole had barely begun when the shadows loomed once more. Lisson placed his finger on a red item in the indictment—an item that would make the throne of any ruler tremble: "The extermination of civilians in the border villages."
Lisson leaned against the table and lowered his voice to a whisper, even though the room was completely secured.
Lisson: "Now, we come to the hardest part... the blood of the commoners. Killing civilians in cold blood violates the 'Atherian Peace Constitution.' The law there is as clear as day: anyone who orders a mass genocide of innocents is sentenced to death, and the King does not even have the right to pardon them."
Pionel (Exhaling sharply, clenching his fist): "Those villages were hotbeds of rebellion! They were feeding the Liberation Army and hiding Kayan's spies in their basements. Was I supposed to wait until they stabbed me in the back?"
Laura (With concern): "Lisson, Ragus possesses strong evidence of those villages burning. The civilians there were unarmed. How will we get out of this mess?"
Lisson gave a cryptic smile and flipped through several pages in his massive volume until he reached "Article Seven" of the Martial Law code.
Lisson: "My Lady, law is not morality; law is 'interpretation.' Look at Article Seven... it states that in cases of 'Covert Rioting,' if a military commander eliminates individuals suspected of conspiring with rebels and cannot distinguish them because the rebels are mingled with civilians, the death penalty is automatically annulled."
Pionel (With intense interest): "Annulled? And what is the alternative?"
Lisson: "The alternative is 'Financial Compensation.' The accused pays sums to the families of the victims if it is later proven they were innocent. Since you are the Prince, the Royal Treasury will be the one to pay. Thus, you walk free, and the case shifts from 'Genocide' to an 'Error of Judgment on the Battlefield'."
Laura (In admiration): "You are a devil, Lisson! But how will we prove that Pionel had 'doubt' regarding their involvement?"
Lisson (Looking sternly at Pionel): "This is where your role comes in, Your Highness. Tomorrow, before the Judge, I want you to speak with absolute confidence. Do not deny the killing; instead, say: 'I received intelligence reports stating that these villagers were planning to open breaches for Kayan's army.' Say that the rebels were wearing civilian clothes, making distinction impossible in that critical moment."
Pionel: "Very easy. I will say that I sacrificed a small village to save the capital from a surprise infiltration. I will frame myself as the leader who made the difficult decision my father was too afraid to take."
Lisson: "Exactly! We will say you didn't kill them because you are a 'criminal,' but because you did not have the luxury of time to investigate. If the prosecution cannot prove you were 100% certain of their innocence, Article Seven will protect you. Silver will scream, and the rabble will weep, but Nichiren will be forced to follow the text: no execution... only fines."
Laura (Laughing with ecstasy): "Ragus wants to see you on the gallows, and we will show him how his own treasury will pay the price for you to emerge as a hero who secured the borders from 'rioting.' Lisson, you aren't just defending Pionel; you are rebuilding the Empire."
Lisson: "Remember, Your Highness, composure is the key. You must appear as the pained leader who made a harsh decision to protect his homeland, not the butcher who enjoys blood. Let 'manufactured remorse' show in your voice, and I will handle the rest."
Pionel: "I promise you, Lisson... tomorrow I will give Judge Nichiren the greatest theatrical performance of his life. I will make the nobles applaud me, thinking I saved their necks from those 'traitorous villagers'."