That evening before the dinner bell, two hours before dusk on a stage in front of the country's gathered population.

David really did not want to do this. He really hoped to not need to kill again. He really hoped for the best in people. He could only sigh in disappointment and hope the future is better. This one day alone, seventeen mistakes were recorded. Simple human error could explain fourteen of them. Three were deliberate. The first is the team of three caught digging an unauthorized room at an empty lot for a worker's house. Deliberate sabotage and simple to judge.

The second major mistake could have been accidental, but not likely, this resulted in the death of another worker. A rope snapped when a worker loaded over double the recommended load onto a platform for lowering the five-pound bricks into a crossroad of the sewer. When the half-ton of bricks crashed on top of the worker, not only had it cost a life but also valuable resources. If not for the life, David would have let it slide with a fine for the damages.

The final major mistake was deliberate as the first but was a lot more subtle. Someone had the bright idea to try to map the completed tunnels. Thinking that no one would be in them, to his surprise they ran into the crew of Wardens and dragonkin setting up the enchanted crystal network that had multiple purposes. First, providing light by converting toxic air to mana. Then using that mana to record like a three-hundred-sixty view security camera. Azanii executed that individual on the spot, giving the sanitation runes on the bricks their first job.

David waited as the near fifteen thousand of his people gathered in front of the platform he had set up for the event. David really did not want to do this but he had to. And the rest of the council being there did not make it any easier.

After another ten minutes to allow the last stragglers to show up David moved his Dreadnaught armor to the center of the stage where five were being held in stockades. He was so glad there were silence runes on them or he was sure they would be shouting. His mere presence on stage also caused the audience to go quiet.

“ Thank you all for coming today. As you all are aware, I myself and my fellow national councilors...” David gestures toward Silve and Gark. “ ... are trying to lead you all to a better tomorrow. Some of you might not know us, but some of you did know Mary. She was part of the Wardens and was excommunicated for breaking her oath. When she tried to use her charisma-based skills for her own means resulting in several injuries. It was the National Council that decided she had to be stopped.

Today, a day of new work and accomplishment, we are yet again met with individuals and even groups who threaten our nation. The first I will speak of is accused of a lesser crime, laziness. Yet, due to this man’s actions, tens of thousands of credits were wasted when his actions caused the life of a fellow worker to end. All evidence points to this man being the culprit. It was his job to load the bricks and check the lines. It was his job to announce a load being lowered. It was his job and he failed. I ask him now, what he has to say for himself?”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

David turned and gestured to the man on the far end. One of the dragonkin moved to him and touched a gem and his mute was gone.

“ ... so sorry. Petter did not deserve to die. I should have been the one directing the loads and not him, but... I am so sorry.”

David closed his eyes as the man lowered his head in shame. David really did not want to do this, but knew if he did not things would continuously grow worse in the future.

“ Markus Jackson, having received your statement, I find you guilty of [Involontary Manslaughter]. You will be granted a one-hour leave of sentencing to speak to the loved ones of the deceased and your own before you will be executed privately. As you show remorse your ashes will enter the heart of the mountain in secret, but your name will be stricken from the records. Wardens, please oversee the period of grace.”

David turns back to the crowd and a somber look was upon them all.

“ I do not do this with glee or pride. The laws the council decided on were not made to be ignored. They were made with the security of the nation and the safety of its citizenry in mind. As the first case involved the citizenry this next case involves the security of the nation. The remaining four in stockades are to be judged without leave to speak. The first two are workers hired days ago from the crews we employed.

Overall, they had minor offenses on their records provided by the Universal System. You must remember that when the Change occurred, all debts were settled. Everyone had a clean slate, but apparently, these two were convinced otherwise.

The holder of the supposed debt, this criminal mastermind, sought to add designs to a national project that were not approved. If allowed this would mean the man would have gained access to something that would have allowed smugglers and other criminal elements a hidden means of travel without restraint.

Could it be slavers to steal your children or drugs to poison your family with? Maybe an assassin to kill your lover or a thief to steal your family's heirloom. Well, I will say this. We will never know because the mastermind and those that he had bought I find guilty of [TREASON]. To be immediately executed and then burned without hope of joining our descendants in the heart of the mountain. May The Blind One have mercy on your souls.”

David moved to the dwarf holding an executioner’s ax and took it before moving to the first worker. Whom he could see him trying to say anything to spare his neck. David closed his eyes and let his suit make the motion of the axe dropping onto the neck and hands of the trapped individual. A moment later a head began to roll away. With three more heads joining it, David moved to the back of the stage, where a seat was prepared for him. He was prepared to wait as long as needed for the two groups to meet with the last man. Even if it took over an hour. He could allow small mercies to the remorseful.