Free Web NovelChapter 1328: Chapter 1327: Aken’s Death
Aken stood in front of the camera, his expression calm and composed, yet there was a sense of numbness as he recounted the entirety of his criminal acts.
He began with how his curiosity and thirst for excitement led him to pick up leftover items after others had robbed stores.
Then he described how he started to actively smash windows and rob stores.
His account was not long; he explained the origins of each stolen item, matching them with all the stolen goods.
The judge, a retired judge in his sixties from the Federation, was presiding.
He didn’t have to be there, but his burning passion for justice and his work remained undiminished. So, when volunteers were being recruited, he left his family to join the group heading to Nagariel.
Having adjudicated numerous cases in his lifetime, he looked at Aken sternly, "So, all of the items were obtained by theft and robbery, with no involvement from your father?"
Aken glanced at the middle-aged man beside him, nodding forcefully, "Yes, sir."
The judge asked, "Do you understand what this means?"
Aken nodded again, and the judge then turned his attention to the middle-aged man, who maintained a calm demeanor while avoiding the judge’s gaze.
The judge removed his glasses and wiped them with a small deerskin cloth for approximately sixteen to twenty seconds. He then put them back on and asked one last time, "Is there anything else you wish to amend in your statements?"
"Nothing, sir..."
The judge picked up the gavel and tapped it.
Quick trials differ from formal ones in their informality; otherwise, everyone would be constantly standing and sitting, which would be physically taxing even for the judge.
"According to the Nagariel New Federation Code, with evidence provided by the police and prosecutors, along with the suspect’s testament, sufficient evidence is confirmed, and the facts are clear, ... Province ... City, Aken, committed theft, robbery, and assault..."
Pausing for a moment, he continued, "... Following the trial, Aken, you will be sentenced to death. Do you wish to appeal?"
The lawyer explained to Aken what an appeal meant and what consequences it might bring.
Predictably, if they appealed, the local police station would gather evidence anew, potentially resulting in both the father and son being condemned to death.
As long as they found evidence that Aken’s father participated in any theft or robbery, even once, it would be enough for both to face death.
Aken declared in court that he would not appeal, respecting the law and the judge’s ruling.
As for Aken’s father, he was sentenced to one year in prison for indulgence and concealment.
Considering he had a family to support, the one-year imprisonment was converted to thirty lashes. He would receive three lashes a month until they were all administered.
With this, the trial was concluded. The lawyer left somewhat regretfully, and Aken was taken away.
He was about to face execution.
Currently, social security in Nagariel is a significant issue. The judicial team from the Federation deemed it necessary to use severe punishments to immediately deliver a heavy blow to the chaotic society!
To make people realize that the law is sacred and inviolable.
The consequences of disregarding the law are often extremely grave!
Therefore, the death and severe punishments resulting from this large-scale quick trial will not undergo review or be sent for higher judicial department approval; they will be directly executed locally.
Aken was placed elsewhere, where the space was larger, and everyone had their own bed.
It was also brighter, much better than the police station.
However, the atmosphere among the people there was largely despondent; they either laid in bed or slumped in a corner.
The arrival of Aken was met with indifference, as there were even younger individuals than him.
One fourteen-year-old boy had stabbed foreigners during a robbery and was immediately sentenced to death by the court.
When he first arrived, that boy seemed fearless, but as the day drew nearer, he became less lively.
The officer looked at him without removing his handcuffs and shackles, "You have three more days. If there is anything you wish to eat, let us know, and we’ll try to accommodate it."
The officer seemed to have more to say but ultimately shook his head and left.
During these three days, Aken drifted in a daze, only eating and sleeping, losing track of day and night.
Often, after finishing a meal, he would lie on the bed and immediately fall asleep.
It was as if sleeping had become his means of escaping death, though evidently, this was not possible.
Countless times, he awoke to find a lavish meal laid before him.
He intuitively realized it might be his last meal.
Presented with abundant food, yet he had no appetite. Looking at the chunks of meat, Aken suddenly felt nauseous and wanted to vomit.
He drank some water and ate nothing.
Ten minutes later, he and others were escorted to an open ground where many reporters were present. He squinted, the sunlight too harsh on his eyes.
Someone was reading something aloud, but he couldn’t hear because of the ringing in his ears.
He couldn’t discern anything clearly; it was as if the world had changed.
In the crowd, he unexpectedly spotted his father, mother, and sister.
Instinctively, he wanted to reach out, but his handcuffs and shackles were linked, and his movement nearly caused him to fall.
He realized that everything was indeed different now.
The person who was always talking kept rambling on, and Aken was getting a bit annoyed; today was just too hot.
He kind of wanted to go home, but he knew he couldn’t go back.
He looked at his younger sister, who seemed unaware of what was happening. When his gaze fell on her, the little girl waved her doll and greeted him.
He grinned slightly.
The worry and sadness on his mother’s face made him feel uncomfortable, so he tried not to look at her.
As for his father, he simply watched him silently.
The noisy wind had stopped, Aken’s tinnitus seemed to have eased, and the person who couldn’t stop talking finally put down the indictment.
Some footsteps approached from behind, and everyone at the scene stood up.
His mother suddenly collapsed to the ground, and at the same moment, his expression froze.
The gunshot drowned out all other sounds in the world; Aken saw that familiar forehead on the ground not far from him.
The gentlemen, ladies, and reporters from the civilized countries, after exclaiming with excitement, began to discuss everything enthusiastically!
If Saint Sage Master Akumali were still alive, he would already have an understanding.
For humans, for the world, weakness is the original sin!
An unforgivable sin!
Aken died; the sixteen-year-old boy died at the peak of his life. Was he innocent?
No, he was not innocent at all; he committed a crime by looting and robbing a store.
But did he deserve to pay such a heavy price?
No, these charges shouldn’t have led to his death so easily.
What really caused his death was people’s definition of civilization, those self-proclaimed civilized people.
They needed the death of some to prove an unskippable step in the process of social evolution!
Everyone is innocent, yet everyone is a murderer; at least in the "Death of Aken," they all played disgraceful roles.
Aken’s death could spark worldwide debate, possibly, but in the end, no one will remember him.
All who died in this "Great Trial" will contribute to the peace and stability of the Nagariel New Federation.
As more people were sentenced to death, the trend of crime in society came to an abrupt halt.
Almost no one could be seen committing crimes as blatantly as before.
There were also significantly fewer people on the streets.
Meanwhile, the first Nagariel census was also underway, with new laws and the arrangement of population information proceeding in tandem.
In fact, both the Federation and Gafura have something similar, like the social security number assigned at birth.
No one has ever felt that having a social security number is a symbol of losing freedom, and no one protests against it because people know that only with this can they be assured within the Federation.
Gafura is the same way.
Now Nagariel is the same way too.
Assigning everyone a "number," so when someone commits a crime, it’s easy to catch them by their number.
Many businesses have suffered losses during this time, but compared to stabilizing more people’s work and life, their contributions... seem worthwhile.
Who made them not hire security companies and not be partners with the United Development Company?
The unrest in Nagariel, sparked by Akumal’s death, was completely suppressed a month later.
This once again demonstrated the Federation’s execution capabilities to the world, and at the same time initiated a heated debate on legal system reforms in various countries.
Is it better to be ruled by law or by people? Everyone was discussing this, including Gafura and even Peng Jieao.
"...Considering that the Nagariel New Federation is the most loyal ally of the Bail Federal, to help the Nagariel New Federation achieve fundamental industrial development, we will relocate some basic industrial projects from the Federation to the Nagariel New Federation..."
The news broadcast on television seemed great for the people of Nagariel, as societal stability resumed after the unrest, along with more investors from the Federation.
People quickly forgot everything that happened earlier; everywhere there were factories hiring, and everywhere there were job opportunities...
"It sounds as if we preemptively exposed and cleaned up some unstable factors for the safety of our industry."
"This is no massacre; only Gafura would do such a thing!"
Lynch turned off the TV and looked at the others in the boardroom, "So that means we can also move some industries there."
Indeed, who would oppose cheap labor?
After this regulation ended, Lynch brought up the next matter.
"I’ve noticed that the Ministry of Defense has been in contact with us more frequently lately, and some people have privately told me that war is imminent. Does anyone have any insider information?"
