Chapter 209: The Iron Fist of Justice
Seeing the chaotic refugees being arranged in an orderly manner, Jifan couldn't help but be impressed.
"The efficiency of the territory is getting higher and higher..."
"I still remember when we first arrived, it feels like it was just yesterday..."
Tom, after letting out a satisfied belch, interrupted Jifan's memories. The latter gave a silly smile and said:
"As long as we're eating better and better, that's enough."
With a bright smile on his face, Jifan slowly withdrew his gaze and walked towards the next shelter, speaking in a firm tone:
"So, in order for us to live better in the future, and for our loved ones to live better as well."
"We must work hard to eliminate these pests that endanger the territory!"
Tom nodded without hesitation, treasuring everything they had now, and replied in full agreement:
"That's right, we need to catch them and root them out!"
Watching their back-and-forth, Little Jixiang showed a faint smile and couldn't help but ask curiously:
"What kind of pests are they? And how do they harm the territory?"
Upon arriving at the heavily guarded shelter's entrance, Jifan first had his sister and the other children stand properly, then spoke to them earnestly:
"Pests are the people, things, and events that want to destroy our current good life."
"Like the person you're all about to see!"
Under the gaze of hundreds of confused eyes, Jifan signaled the prepared soldiers to start their work.
The shelter's door slowly opened, and out walked a burly, fierce-looking man.
The children, including Little Jixiang, instinctively stepped back, seemingly a bit frightened.
But Jifan calmly took a step forward and, standing before the man who was half a head taller than him, asked him calmly:
"Have you ever killed an innocent person? Just answer yes or no!"
The fierce-looking man shook his head, his face showing a hint of fear as he replied nervously:
"No!"
The clay golem standing behind Jifan made no reaction. Jifan smiled, nodded, and patted the man on the shoulder, saying:
"You should have memorized the laws of Bay Territory by now. I hope you can officially join the territory soon."
The burly man, somewhat flattered, nodded repeatedly and walked out under the confused gazes of the children.
A waiting staff member outside the door would assess the man's skills, learning progress, and personal preferences to assign him to a suitable position.
As long as he behaved honestly and didn't break the laws of Bay Territory within three months, he could officially become a part of it.
The children watching this scene mostly just blinked in confusion.
However, the impression was already forming in their minds that someone who looks "bad" isn't necessarily a bad person.
At that moment, a second person walked out in front of Jifan.
This was a thin, quiet young man, probably no more than 20 years old, who appeared quite frail.
Jifan calmly asked him the same question:
"Have you ever killed an innocent person? Just answer yes or no!"
Faced with the same question, the young man showed a bit of unease. After a moment of hesitation, he shook his head and replied:
"No!"
"You're lying!"
The clay golem, which had previously remained motionless, reached out and grabbed him, its loud voice quickly spreading.
The startled young man tried to break free from the clay golem's grasp.
But his efforts were in vain, and he hurriedly began to argue:
"I really haven't killed an innocent person!"
However, before he could finish speaking, the stone golem holding him continued in its muffled voice:
"You're lying!"
With his hands slightly spread, Jifan turned to the somewhat enlightened children and said:
"Did you all see? This kind of scum, who kills innocents but denies it and tries to argue, is one of the pests!"
The children, who had already experienced many hardships and had even hovered on the brink of life and death, nodded thoughtfully.
Then they watched as this pest was thrown into a cage. Jifan continued to explain to the children in detail:
"He will be sent to the investigation department, where they will ask him in detail who the innocent person he killed was, where it happened, what the victim looked like, and why."
"After thorough questioning, his actions will be confirmed multiple times."
"Only after being confirmed multiple times, will he be sentenced according to the laws of Bay Territory."
"And finally, he will be executed!"
Seeing the children's realization, Jifan understood why the lord had gone to such lengths to arrange this for them.
The world is just that cruel!
No matter how well they are protected, there could always be slip-ups.
Only by making them understand, see, and witness with their own eyes can they grasp the true significance of this.
Jifan had initially thought that screening and sentencing these scum and pests among the refugees would make him uncomfortable.
But when he rooted out each deserving pest and scum.
Seeing them face an indisputable trial and be rightfully executed under everyone's gaze, he felt an overwhelming sense of honor and duty.
When he questioned the lord about it, Matthew thought for a moment before telling him earnestly:
"Don't let personal feelings cloud your judgment. Even if we can't achieve absolute fairness, we can at least strive for openness and justice!"
"By making their crimes known to the world without hiding anything, we have every right to eliminate these scum!"
"This is justice; it's the iron fist that will make Bay Territory strong and prosperous!"
"Anyone who dares defy it will be crushed!"
Thinking of this, Jifan kept his smile and spoke to the children, who might not fully understand now but surely would in the future:
"Justice requires each of us to understand it. It's not meaningless violence; it's the vanguard of order!"
"Remember, justice must never be late, nor can it ever be absent!"
Seeing the children's confused expressions, Jifan felt even more content and continued his work.
Unexpectedly, the refugees who witnessed this scene didn't cause any unrest. Instead, they felt a strange emotion welling up in their hearts.
Having wandered through hell for so long, they had seen nothing but filth and darkness.
Now, seeing the righteous and dignified iron fist of justice, they felt a strange sense of peace.
Even those who had been tainted by filth willingly accepted all of this!
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Three more chapters coming, to be released later today.