“Hold on!”
Seeing that he was about to be taken away, Langdon panicked and shouted, “You have no right to arrest me without a thorough investigation or a judge’s ruling! This is outright brutality! You’re abusing your power!”
Austin scoffed. “When I tried to play fair, you pulled every dirty trick in the book. But now that I’m playing rough, you suddenly want to talk about the law? Do you really think that’s going to happen?”
“Mr. Langdon, if you have anything to say, you can tell me in prison. We’ll have plenty of time to chat.” Axel strode forward with a wicked grin, clamping a firm hand on Langdon’s shoulder.
“Wait! I still have something to say.” Langdon swallowed hard.
Realizing he had no way out, he finally dropped the tough act and tried a softer approach. “Austin, we’re family. Do we really have to take it this far? Look, I screwed up. But can’t you cut me some slack, just this once?”
In the past, his silver tongue had helped him turn situations around and distort the truth. But now, with all the evidence stacked against him, there was no room for denial.
Once he was thrown into prison, getting out would be nearly impossible. Left with no choice, he had to swallow his pride and beg for mercy.
“Cut you some slack?” Austin scoffed. “If I let you go today, does that mean I should let every criminal go too? What’s the point of having laws in West Lucozia if they’re not enforced?”
“How can you compare me to them? I’m your uncle, a member of the Rhys family,” Langdon said earnestly.” We share the same blood. How can you lump me in with outsiders?”
“I once respected you as an elder and gave you the chance to admit your mistakes, but you didn’t cherish it. Now you want to play the family card?” Austin’s voice turned. ” It’s too late for that.”
“I messed up, I really did. Just give me one more chance. I swear I’ll change and live honestly from now on,” Langdon pleaded desperately.
“You’re not sorry for what you did. You just regret getting caught.” Austin’s expression remained cold. “A man like you, who is corrupt, ruthless, and treats human lives like nothing, deserves no mercy.”
“Austin-”
Langdon tried to speak again, but Austin cut him off. “Axel, what are you waiting for? Take him away.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Axel no longer hesitated. He restrained Langdon and dragged him out.
“Austin! Austin!”
Langdon turned pale with fear as he screamed and begged for mercy. But Austin simply watched with an indifferent gaze.
As Langdon was dragged toward the door, his fear turned to rage. He dropped all pretense and roared, “Austin! You ungrateful bastard! You’re a disgrace to the family. I hope you rot in hell!”
His furious screams echoed through the reception hall even after he was dragged away.
Austin’s expression remained cold. As his icy gaze swept over the room, the royal advisors lowered their heads, visibly shaken.
When they first walked in, they had thought of Austin as nothing more than an inexperienced young man. They acted respectful, but deep down, they looked down on him.
However, after witnessing that day’s events, they realized just how wrong they had been. The young man in his early 20s had a sharp mind, a calculating nature, and a ruthless efficiency in dealing with his enemies.
He had given them evidence, reason, and a chance to repent. If they had admitted their mistakes sincerely, they might have been spared.
But if they were too stubborn to repent, the consequences were severe. At best, their assets would be confiscated, or at worst, they would be executed.
Langdon, who had just been thrown into Grimhold Keep, was the perfect example. If even a blood relative could be thrown into prison without hesitation, what hope did the rest of them have?
“Do any of you… have anything to say?” Austin asked coldly, breaking the silence.
At that moment, several older royal advisors exchanged glances. Loud thuds echoed in the room as they dropped to their knees.
“We admit our wrongdoings. We are willing to turn ourselves in and beg for leniency, Your Highness.”
Seeing their elders take the lead, the other advisors didn’t dare to resist anymore and quickly dropped to their knees to confess. They knew that confessing could mean a lighter punishment.
They understood that trying to lie their way out would only enrage Austin and worsen their punishment. The only way to survive was to admit guilt and hope for mercy.
“Hmph! At least some of you know how to read the situation,” Austin said coldly. “I’ll give you a chance. Go to Axel and confess your crimes. That way, I won’t have to waste my time and energy digging up evidence.”
“Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy!”
The royal advisors bowed as they breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as Austin didn’t investigate thoroughly or uncover their darkest secrets, they still had a chance to turn things around. By allowing them to confess on their own, Austin had already shown them considerable leniency.
At worst, they would step down and retire to the countryside, keeping what assets they had. That was far better than being imprisoned or executed.
“Get out.”
Austin waved them off impatiently, sending the crowd out the door.
Politics had its rules. Embezzling some money wasn’t unforgivable as long as it didn’t involve murder or treason. Those could be dealt with more lightly.
But Langdon had brought this upon himself. He had committed countless crimes, flaunted his power, and acted as if he was untouchable. If someone like him wasn’t punished, what was the point of the laws in West Lucozia?
It didn’t matter if he was a distant relative of the Rhys family. Even direct descendants who defied public outrage had to be dealt with accordingly.
