On the high platform, City Lord Adams held a wine glass, a wide smile on his face.
He turned and said something to the person beside him, and that person began to laugh along with him.
They laughed very easily, very naturally.
Elvia stood behind Lin Gui.
She looked at the people tied to the wooden stakes, at the commoners numbly throwing firewood, and at the laughing nobles on the platform.
Her face remained expressionless.
She had seen this kind of scene many times in the Carter Royal Capital.
She had witnessed fire trials for rebels more than once.
Sometimes she stood on the high platform; other times she watched from afar.
She had never felt anything was wrong with it.
Those rebels truly deserved to die.
They threatened the rule of the royal family.
They threatened her safety.
But today... she looked at Lin Gui's back.
Lin Gui stood there, motionless.
He did not walk forward, nor did he throw any firewood.
He did not retreat, either.
He simply stood there, watching.
Elvia began to worry.
She was afraid Lin Gui would be unable to hold back.
She was afraid he would charge forward, afraid he would take action, afraid he would expose himself.
She leaned closer to him and whispered,
"Lin Gui..."
Lin Gui did not respond.
He stood there, watching those tied to the stakes.
There was no expression on his face.
In those black eyes, there was no anger, no sadness, and no hatred.
There was nothing at all.
Like a pool of stagnant water.
Looking at his profile, Elvia felt an inexplicable sensation rising in her heart.
For some reason, she suddenly felt a bit unsettled.
Torches were thrown into the firewood piles.
With a "whoosh," the flames leaped up.
Orange-red light illuminated the entire square.
Heat rushed toward them, accompanied by the "crackle and pop" of burning wood.
And the smell of scorched flesh.
Those tied to the wooden stakes began to scream in agony.
But their vocal cords had been destroyed, so they could produce no sound.
They could only gape, struggle, and stare with wide eyes.
Flames licked at their clothes; skin began to blister, turn black, and crack.
Some writhed in the fire like scorched worms.
Others soon fell still, their heads hanging low as their hair burned.
Some continued to struggle until the flames completely engulfed them.
On the high platform, the nobles laughed even harder.
Someone raised their glass and toasted in the direction of the flames.
Someone covered their nose with a handkerchief, frowning in distaste, yet their eyes remained fixed on the fire.
Someone turned to speak with the person next to them, the smile never leaving their face.
Below the platform, the commoners kept their heads down. Some were trembling, some were weeping, and some were expressionless.
No one spoke.
No one looked up.
No one looked at the people being burned to death.
The fire burned for a long time.
It burned until those struggling, writhing, and roaring bodies moved no more.
It burned until the wood piles were reduced to ash, and the flames slowly dwindled and died out.
Hundreds of charred corpses were untied from the stakes.
Some had already burned to charcoal and crumbled at a touch.
Others still retained a human shape, curled up with twisted limbs.
The Defense Force dragged them away like bags of trash.
They left black marks across the ground.
The corpses were piled onto carts and hauled away.
The smell of burning lingered in the square, refusing to dissipate for a long time.
On the high platform, City Lord Adams stood up.
He straightened his collar and walked to the front of the stage.
That fat face still bore the same smile from before.
He cleared his throat, and his voice boomed, carrying across the entire square.
"Citizens of Whitecliff City..."
"Today, we have executed a group of rebels who attempted to subvert the city-state and destroy our beautiful lives."
"They colluded with the remnants of Spark, seeking to drag our Whitecliff City into war and chaos."
"Their crimes are unforgivable."
His gaze swept over the weary commoners in their tattered clothes below.
"I, as your City Lord..."
"Guarantee you."
"Anyone who attempts to destroy the stability and unity of Whitecliff City..."
"Regardless of who they are or what power stands behind them..."
"Shall receive the most severe punishment."
His voice suddenly became impassioned.
"What we must protect is the hard-won prosperity of our Whitecliff City!"
"It is the home of every single one of us!"
"It is the future of our children and grandchildren!"
Below the platform, no one responded.
Those poorly dressed commoners just kept their heads bowed.
No one applauded, no one cheered.
And no one spoke.
The City Lord's smile stiffened for a moment.
But he recovered quickly and continued,
"Here, I must specifically mention..."
His gaze fell into the crowd.
It landed on Lin Gui.
Those eyes carried a hint of coldness and irritation.
His voice did not stop, but his tone shifted.
"The transport team Mage Lord behind the 7-Copper Post Office..."
"I have heard a bit about his story."
"To grow from the impoverished bottom into a powerful Legendary mage..."
"That experience is indeed worthy of sympathy and admiration."
He paused.
"However..."
His voice rose several decibels.
"I hope that the transport team lord..."
"Will not waste that power, powerful enough to cross the wilderness, on..."
"Mailing letters for pariahs who do nothing but waste the city-state's food."
His smile remained, but his eyes were cold.
"It would be better to use that ability in a more suitable place."
"For instance..."
"To provide services..."
"To the nobles who work tirelessly day and night for the sake of the people."
He turned his head to look at Lin Gui.
The smile on his face deepened.
"Of course..."
"We will not use your services for free."
"The compensation will be absolutely generous."
"It will be something those seven copper coins paid by the pariahs..."
"Simply cannot compare to."
Several nearby nobles nodded in agreement.
Their gazes also fell upon Lin Gui.
Some squinted, some smiled, and some remained expressionless.
But in all those gazes, there was one thing in common... ill intent.
A powerful Legendary mage who associated with commoners and refugees.
Who stayed with the parasites of the city-state.
This in itself was an insult.
He should not be there.
He should be with them.
He should be providing services for the nobility.
That was where he belonged.
Lin Gui stood in the crowd, surrounded by people with bowed heads.
They stole glances at him, their eyes filled with expectation, helplessness, and sighs.
They knew.
The City Lord's words were very clear.
The meaning of the nobles was also very clear.
The 7-Copper Post Office...
Likely, it would not open for them tomorrow.
That was what they thought.
The nobles thought so, too.
And the refugees who had mailed letters thought so as well.
With bowed heads and sighs, they slowly dispersed into the lingering smell of burning.
No one believed that 7-Copper Post Office would continue to operate.
However, barely a few minutes after the trial ended.
Main street, Whitecliff City.
A new wooden sign stood at the entrance of the 7-Copper Post Office, with words written on it.
【Send two, get one free! The more you send, the more you get!】
【Find friends and family to bundle orders—buy for three, one goes for free!】
【Rare opportunity, send your letters now!】
【All customers sending letters will receive one free cup of chilled ale.】
The handwriting was crooked, clearly done by hand.
But every character was written huge, as if desperate for everyone on the street to see them.
And everyone who saw those slogans was dumbfounded.
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