Quadruple split.

Chapter 376 The Night is Young (III)

"Good start..."

Grand Duke Simon frowned slightly, and after pondering for a while, he asked, "Are there other ways besides 'sanction' and 'wait and see'?"

He looked at Motan with some confusion. After all, in Simon's mind, neither the "sanction" that imposed heavy punishments according to the Imperial Code nor the "wait and see" that was akin to acquittal was not a good start. The former was almost equivalent to Marshall's The family is destroyed, and the latter will lead to the death of the fire claw leader. Of course, the premise is that what Dabus said about Futaba and Grand Duke Xiluo said is true...

And regardless of whether the previous 'threat' from Fire Claw is true or not, Simon, who puts the empire first, dare not bet, no matter how small the possibility is!
If the Fire Claw Leader really set off a war and made public the crimes of the Marshall family's slave hunting and trading, and the young and vigorous Patriarch of Crystal Wolf got involved, the worst case scenario would even lead to the collapse of the empire. It is conservatively estimated that It will hurt your spirits.

【So what is he planning? 】

Simon unabashedly looked at the calm young poet in front of him, knowing that the other party was by no means a "zealous citizen of the Violet Empire", not to mention his feat of catching Sack Frith without anyone noticing it. Judging from the elusive temperament of the person, the words with deep meaning, and the thoroughness of the situation, Grand Duke Simon did not believe that this guy had no other intentions. In fact, this dark elf who was only forty years old but had a lot of experience in the world The Grand Duke has already seen some clues from the little details not long ago, coupled with the fact that Baroka, who is also not as innocent as he appears on the surface, has expressed his position so quickly, he already has some guesses in his heart, but it is not convenient to put them on the table That's all.

"No, there is no other way."

Mo Tan chuckled and shook his head, and said slowly: "The so-called good start is based on the premise that the trial result is 'sanction', otherwise the empire will definitely set off a big uproar in which the conservative cup must be G, and when the time comes It’s not that easy to end it, of course, this is just my personal guess, even if you don’t believe a single word, His Excellency the Duke, it’s your freedom.”

So what are cups?
Simon didn't ask this question, which he vaguely felt was a little tasteless, but asked bluntly: "The behavior of the Marshall family... If it is judged according to the imperial code, it is enough to exterminate the family, even if it is one of the nine major families, it is useless. "

Although Grand Duke Simon was still expressionless when he said these words, Mo Tan still keenly captured the pain and struggle faintly revealed in his words. This is also expected, after all, this Grand Duke Simon He is still young (compared to his race), no matter how indifferent and rigid his character is, he still cannot see it like those old ghosts who have lived for nearly a thousand years (Xia Lian in Misha County suddenly hit a sneeze), and Buffy Marshall is one of his few friends. Although the two families do not have a deep connection due to the distance, it does not affect their personal friendship, so they often go to each other in their own names. As a guest in the territory of the Marshall family, there is no puppy love situation... So Simon, who has no heirs, naturally loves Buffy's children, so even if he is very clear about the serious crimes of the Marshall family, it is normal to exterminate the family several times, but he Still can't bear it.

Therefore, this Grand Duke who is loyal to the empire and the code of law has been vacillating before. Apart from the fact that the collapse of the Marshall family, one of the nine major families, may lead to the instability of the empire, he is also struggling with his personal emotions. , so the reason that 'the nine pillars of the empire cannot be missing' has been amplified subconsciously.

That is to say, if Mo Tan didn't come today, even if the current Archduke Simon hasn't made up his mind, he will probably choose to vote for "wait and see" in the end, and use righteousness as an excuse to make himself feel at ease, and then Be vigilant and monitor the Marshall family at all times, so as not to let the crimes they have brewed before recur.

But the problem is... Mo Tan is here.

"Hehe, although what you said, Mr. Duke, is very, very reasonable, but..."

Mo Tan smiled, and asked leisurely: "You just said personally that the empire has never had the nine major families being tried openly in hundreds of years, that is to say, if the next trial is indeed based on As the ending, 'sanction' is also the first time in history, Mr. Duke, do you know how special the three words 'first time' are?"

Simon didn't understand the 'deep meaning' of the former, so he just narrowed his eyes and said softly: "Tell me about your understanding."

"My understanding is more complicated, but in the current matter, the meaning of the first time is nothing more than the word 'standard'." Mo Tan did not pretend to be a joke, but explained with a smile: "To be precise, it is to formulate standards. A standard that can be seen by civilians, nobles, and lords, so that everyone knows what kind of crime even a grand duke cannot commit. This will not only let us stupid people feel the justice of the empire , full of confidence in the future life, and can also ring the bell for those high-ranking children, let them know that even the great lords will be punished if they play too much, let alone myself, who is far inferior in power and status .”

Simon nodded slightly, but he could think of these things even if the other party didn't tell him, so he just waited silently for the unfathomable Mr. Anthony Dubs in front of him to continue talking.

"Of course, more importantly..."

Mo Tan did not disappoint the former, and continued with a smile after a short pause: "Because punishing a grand duke is out of reach for most people, and those who are qualified to think about it don't have the guts to do it. In addition, there is no clear statement in the Imperial Code, so even if the final result is 'sanction', we don't necessarily have to completely destroy the Marshall family."

Simon shook his head, his face was a little ugly, but he still said in a deep voice: "But this level of crime..."

"Hasn't there been crimes of this magnitude before? You just told me yourself."

Mo Tan chuckled, spread his hands and said, "What's the result? Apart from distributing a large amount of benefits to other families, the party involved has no loss at all, and there is not even a crime, so do you think the 'degree of crime' Do we still need to talk?"

Grand Duke Simon's eyes flickered, as if he had realized something.

Mo Tan casually took out two valuable goblets that came from nowhere, put them on the small table between the two with a smile, and then took out a small jar of wine-scented 'Gong'. Huo Lie filled the two cups: "Given by Grand Duke Baroka, it's too wasteful for someone like me who doesn't understand wine to drink."

Then he picked up the glass, drank the strong liquor that could be ignited with a little fire, and exclaimed with emotion: "Okay, it's quite strong!"

[Then why don't you drink alcohol directly? 】

Hearing Mo Tan's evaluation of Gong Huolie, the corner of the mouth of Archduke Simon, who still knows wine, twitched slightly. He took a sip from the glass and shook his head: "It seems that you really don't understand wine."

Because of Gong Huolie's special nature, he was not worried that the other party would poison the wine, and he drank it with confidence.

Mo Tan just smiled, then turned the topic back on track, shrugged and said: "In short, since there is already an unwritten rule of exchanging benefits for 'observation' votes, the so-called fairness is just a display. The imperial law code you care about is important, but it only exists for ordinary people after all. As for the princes... Hehe, although it is true that the corresponding laws must be followed after the 'sanction', as the creators and implementers of the laws themselves Or, it can be done to make it less transparent.”

"Not so transparent..."

"Yes, less transparent."

Mo Tan snapped his fingers in an ungentlemanlike way, and the corner of his mouth curled up in a sly arc: "Whether it's this world or this empire, unfair things and the so-called privileged class will never disappear, instead of following the past The "hidden rules" of the "hidden rules" make all high-ranking people feel confident and lawless. It is better to properly use the privileges in your hands. Although this will not be so fair in the judgment of disasters, it is better than the previous extremes. "

As soon as these words came out, the Grand Duke Simon, who valued the rules the most among the nine Dukes in front of Mo Tan, nodded. Although the latter was rigid, he was by no means a pedantic person. It seems deviant and contemptuous of the law, but it can make the law and rules closer to reality.

In fact, he himself had such thoughts when he first learned about those trials that ended without a disease in history. The friends who discussed with me at that time will become the "judgmentees" whose hands are stained with countless blood.

"You should see what I mean."

Mo Tan raised his glass to Grand Duke Simon, and said with a smile: "Strict and extreme sanctions seem to be just on the surface, but in fact they show the privileges of the highest class to the fullest. Those crimes that were ignored on the grounds of 'observation' in the past are perfect. Interpreted this point, turned the supposedly fair trial into a joke, became a stage for the exchange of interests between the major families, and turned into a dirty tacit understanding that everyone knew, so absolute justice became absurd The big talk, the silent tacit understanding waters the germs of crime, the reason is just because no one can afford the high price of being 'sanctioned', well, in layman's terms, everyone doesn't want to have their whole family killed."

Simon sighed, picked up the goblet and took a big gulp of Gong Huo Lie, with a bit of bitterness on the corner of his mouth: "Because no one can guarantee that his descendants will not make heinous mistakes, even if I am confident that I will never People who will flout the law cannot guarantee that a future Grand Duke Simon will not be unanimously found guilty by everyone in the Hall of the Purple Nine."

Mo Tan laughed: "This is also one of the reasons for your hesitation, right?"

"Yes."

Grand Duke Simon nodded unabashedly, and said frankly, "I'm not so enlightened yet."

For this sake, the two of them can be considered to have completely opened up the conversation.

"No one has such a high awareness." Mo Tan blinked, and said leisurely: "But now we have an opportunity, an opportunity to change absolute justice into relative justice, and change unscrupulousness into scruples."

A gleam of understanding flashed in the blood-red eyes of Grand Duke Simon: "Is it what you said before, making the 'sanctions' less transparent?"

Mo Tan nodded lightly: "That's right, only a few people know about the heinous crimes of the Marshall family. Except for the grand dukes and close people around them, almost no one knows about the 'feat' of the Marshall family's slave hunting. We can definitely not tell the whole truth after confirming the 'sanction', just say two or three percent of things to deal with the public is enough, in this way, the punishment will not be too strong, but also give everyone an explanation, not only let Lords, these privileged classes have fully enjoyed their privileges. From a long-term point of view, with this beginning, the future grand dukes of the empire will have to think carefully if they want to do things, at least they will not hold 'Anyway, they are exchanging interests. 'It's all over' mentality."

"So what are you trying to say?"

"I would say this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Mo Tan shrugged his shoulders and said with a warm and calm smile: "As the biggest victim, the Fire Claw Leader has a very firm stand; the person in charge of the Crystal Wolf happens to be an immature girl with a strong sense of justice; before Grand Duke Baroka He also expressed his position; the two votes in the hands of the royal family have always been one side, and the other side does not help each other; if you add the Simon family... Heh, for hundreds of years, when has there ever been a judgment on the highest level of the empire? This kind of scene? If you miss this time, you don’t know when the next time will be, and if this happens again, it can only mean that someone has committed a crime no less than that of the Marshall family. It’s something we don’t want to see.”

Grand Duke Simon was silent for a long time before he slowly said: "If I choose 'sanction', what do you think will happen in the end?"

Mo Tan smiled, shook his head and said: "I know what you want to ask, my dear Duke, but what I said before has solved your two knots, one is loyalty to the empire, and the other is loyalty to the system." Worrying, as for the last one... I'm sorry, even if we only confess one-tenth of the truth to the outside world, the current patriarch of the Marshall family, your best friend in youth—the Grand Duke of Buffy Marshall must die!"

Simon's already pale complexion suddenly lost three points of blood, but he just nodded with difficulty, and said in a deep voice: "I understand that Buffy, who is in charge, has too much blood on his hands. , had to die, but..."

"But the death of Buffy Marshall does not mean the demise of the Marshall family."

Mo Tan didn't wait for the other party to finish speaking, and interrupted: "It's impossible for them to have a few innocent people in such a big family. If I were Buffy, dirtying my own hands would be enough. Wives and children won’t let them hear things, let alone get involved.”

"I understand."

"Hehe, so even though the incident is such a big mess, it's not impossible even if only Buffy dies in the end."

"Then, Mr. Dubs, one last question..."

"Want to hear about it~"

Three hundred and seventieth chapters: the end

(End of this chapter)