Chapter 333: Chapter 285: The Chosen One, Absolute Loyalty
It was but a moment.
The three Executioners had already pushed open the doors at the bottom of their respective dreamscapes, entering the deeper layers of the Dream Realm—the public dreamscape of the Kingdom of Hightens.
Each manifested as a dignified figure cloaked in black robes and wearing a golden mask.
Each mask was engraved with a number on its forehead: 1, 2, and 3.
The public dreamscape of the Kingdom was not like the chaotic and perilous dreamscapes of the overseas colonies.
It was under the constraints of the Sovereign Orb and the law, forming a network of colorful, three-dimensional corridors.
The corridors were lined with thousands of doors of all sizes, each made of different materials, with varying patterns, decorations, and shapes.
They represented different regions of the Kingdom, different Species, and different individuals.
Any place that had applied for a "Gateway Opening Permit" or an "Overseas Expansion Order," and was under the protection of the Royal Iron Law, would have such a door.
The three walked side by side and quickly arrived before an arched door that nearly reached the ceiling.
The door appeared to be made of Obsidian, its edges inlaid with gold and silver, and carved with exotic scenery filled with the flair of Banta’an.
From time to time, whiffs of salty sea air drifted from the crack in the door.
This was the dream gateway leading to the overseas colonies of Hightens; all Hightens colonial outposts under the Royal Iron Law fell within its jurisdiction.
Number One pushed open the door, reminding his teammates, "What the gentlemen from the Privy Council think is their own business. Our sole mission is to uncover the truth. We’ll go through the list one by one, infiltrate their dreams, dig out their most genuine memories, and we must not overlook any clue.
"The colonial officials are appointed directly by the Governor. Compared to the nobles back home, their lives are a notch less valuable. If we encounter violent resistance to the law, we are allowed to execute them on the spot! Quick battle, quick decision. Move out."
"Understood."
The three stepped through the door and, in an instant, vanished into light.
Having already found their selected targets, they submerged themselves into their respective dreams.
An Executioner’s core professional ability at the Third Order is the "Crucifix Execution Stand," accompanied by a series of auxiliary skills named after torture tools:
"Guillotine Blade," "Blazing Crucifix Sword," "Cliffside Guillotine," "Force Field Iron Maiden"...
And among them, the most inexplicable and fantastic execution skill is Dream Execution.
It allows them to enter the Dream Realm and execute criminals who have violated the law. Even if a Third Order Executioner is miles away from a criminal, it does not hinder their ability to kill effortlessly.
The harm an Executioner dealt to a criminal in the Dream Realm would also appear simultaneously in the real world.
If a criminal is killed in the Dream Realm, they will die tragically in the real world in the same way.
Therefore, although their physical bodies are thousands of kilometers away in Ganquan Palace, the jurisdiction of the Star Chamber Court extends across the entire Kingdom of Hightens.
This instills dread in numerous upper-class lords, who fear they might suddenly lose their heads while sleeping one day.
The colonies have always been high-risk areas, with numerous instances of officials unearthing serious crimes and carrying out on-the-spot executions.
「At the same time.」
Inside the Warden’s office of the Royal Port Prison.
The Warden, Akman Cyril—who was actually O’Neill Darren, a Second Order jailer from the Lancaster Party—had just issued his first decree since taking office.
"After joint verification by the Port Authority, the Tax Office, and the Maritime Court, Lawrence has not only committed a large amount of tax evasion and avoidance but is also suspected of using his sister’s illegitimate child from an extramarital affair to impersonate the rightful heir of the Newman Family, with the intent of usurping the Earl’s family fortune—a particularly huge amount. With irrefutable evidence, he is to be imprisoned immediately and hanged after three days."
He had barely finished signing his name.
A wave of mental dizziness overcame him, plunging him into a murky state between sleep and wakefulness.
The office, too, gradually became dreamlike and hazily unreal.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK...
A series of knocks on the door sounded. O’Neill, caught in this abnormal state, invited without hesitation,
"Please come in."
No sooner had he spoken than it was tantamount to inviting a thief through his door.
His consciousness and the entire room were completely submerged in the Dream Realm, welcoming an unwelcome guest clad in a black robe and a golden mask.
On its forehead was the number three.
This Executioner from the Star Chamber Court strolled into O’Neill’s subconscious and glanced at the documents on the table.
The moment his gaze fell upon them, the few lines of text began to expand on their own, illustrating the entire incident thoroughly for him.
This was the terrifying aspect of subconscious interrogation in dreams.
Without rigorous training, it was impossible to control the spread of information in one’s subconscious, allowing the dream-invading Executioner to easily read all the memories inside one’s mind.
Even through the Sovereign Orb, one could delve into the deep subconscious to view the target’s past dark History, determining if their heart was loyal or treacherous.
Tsk, tsk, the family affairs of Great Nobles are really melodramatic. In my experience, when it comes to enticing officials with the division of family assets, few can resist the temptation. Especially since the Governor is dead, yet the entire leadership of Royal Port still unanimously maintains the rights of the Newman orphan girl; that is indeed quite an achievement. Jefferson died somewhat foolishly, but his choice of people was quite excellent. The Sea Hunter is like this, and so are these officials. Not bad, not bad.
Upon seeing this case within a case, Executioner Number Three couldn’t help but feel a little more favorable toward the subjects of his current mission.