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"Black Flame Serpent! Before you face the goddess's summon, I’ll give you one more chance! Speak! Where have you hidden our nation's treasure—the King's Cup?!"

Aya, tied to the stake, seemed extremely weak in spirit, as if she had spent the previous night in a long and restless state of mind. The girl, with her hands tied behind her back, slowly raised her head to look at the respected king above her, then helplessly lowered it—

"I... don't know... I'm not... the Black Flame Serpent..."

"Hmph! So loyal to your organization! Fine! Since you're so devoted, then I won’t hinder this terrorist organization's self-sacrifice! There's no need for further trial, light the fire, burn this heinous thief to death!!!"

This declaration shocked not only Edward and the many royal knights below but also the nobles among the onlookers, who showed displeasure, not to mention the commoners who came from the slums. A trial that skips even the basic procedural steps, where is the slightest fairness in this!!!

But in the kingdom, no one can defy the king's orders. Any slight disturbance in the crowd was immediately suppressed by the spear-wielding soldiers, and the presence of the 30 royal knights there had absolute deterrent power over ordinary people. The masked executioners at the corners of the stake, upon the king's command to ignite the fire, immediately lifted their torches to light the oil and approached the pile of wood at Aya's feet.

Who could bear to see a young girl in her prime being burned alive? No one could bear it.

But who would dare to stand out in such a situation?

Maybe... only the girl's relatives...

"No! Don't burn my sister alive! She really doesn't know anything! No, please no!!! I... I beg you, spare my sister! Wuu... Sister!!!"

A petite figure desperately made her way through the crowd, ignoring the spears of the soldiers, and rushed towards the platform. Perhaps because she was just a little girl, the soldiers didn't immediately pierce her heart with their spears. However, for her to break through the wall of well-trained soldiers was almost impossible.

In two or three attempts, Nia was easily subdued by the soldiers. The girl was lifted onto the platform and pressed to the ground with her hands tied behind her back by two soldiers. Someone in the crowd immediately recognized this girl as the "Black Flame Serpent member" from yesterday and loudly demanded to see her arm!

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The old king naturally recognized Nia. He glanced coldly at the frightened girl and waved his hand. A masked giant immediately grabbed the girl's sleeve and tore it off! Just like yesterday, a dark snake was again exposed under the clear sky.

Aya, who was almost fainting, was startled by her sister's crying. At first, she thought it was a hallucination before death. But when she turned her head and saw Nia being pressed to the ground by two giants, her faintness immediately turned to horror!

"Nia?! How... How did you get here?! Your Majesty, Your Majesty!!! My sister has nothing to do with the Black Flame Serpent! She’s so young... only 12 years old! Your Majesty... merciful Your Majesty! Please show mercy! Your Majesty... Your Majesty—!!!"

Tears once again rolled down the cheeks of the sister as she pleaded desperately. Her bound hands struggled continuously. Even though the hemp rope had rubbed her skin raw and was soaked in blood, her hands still struggled, non-stop...

"Your Majesty... merciful Your Majesty... I beg you..."

The sister's cries gradually became choked, drops of fresh blood falling onto the pile of wood under her feet. Even the hardest of hearts might be moved by her current agony...

But, after last night's terror, the old king had already convinced himself that the Black Flame Serpent was such a powerful organization! Each of its members was almost a born actor!!!

"Humph, stop acting! Yesterday, you stole our national treasure with your acting. Today, you want to steal back your lives with more acting?! This little girl's shoulder tattoo has already undoubtedly proven her identity! There's no need for any more trials, bind this little viper with her sister, and burn them both at the stake!!!"

The black serpent, eroding the vision of every onlooker. Before Edward's eradication of bandits, almost every month, people were killed by the Black Flame Serpent, and properties were taken. Even the passing merchants had decreased by more than seventy percent! It wasn’t just an economic blow to the royal city, but also a blow to the people's hearts! Everyone present deeply hated the Black Flame Serpent, itching to get rid of it!

For a moment, the slightly agitated crowd gradually quieted down. Yes, they couldn't bear it. They indeed couldn't bear to watch the young sisters being burned alive like this. But once they saw the black snake tattoo on Nia's arm, all their reluctance was negated! They quieted down... no longer angry, no longer agitated. They just quietly watched the sisters slowly meet their end, unsure whether to hate or grieve for them...

"Sister! Sister!!!"

"Nia! No, not Nia! Your Majesty! Everything was done by me, I am the Black Flame Serpent member! Spare my sister, please!"

The old king's cold eyes showed not a trace of pity. He waved his hand, uttering a word that spelled their fate—

"Ignite!"

The four masked giants holding torches stepped closer to the stake. They inserted their torches into the wood pile under the sisters' feet. In no time, the black smoke, laughing like a demon, began to rise slowly...

"Respected goddess, please forgive these two deeply sinful souls." The old king looked up at the sky, covering his left chest with a sincere expression...

The flames grew larger, and thick black smoke began to billow. The scorching heat began to burn the sisters' skin! The miserable sisters, facing death in their last moments, desperately cried out—

"Sister! Your Majesty, spare me... cough cough... Sister! Cough cough cough... I... I am the Black Flame Serpent! Sister... cough cough... Her arm... cough... has no tattoo..."

"No! Your Majesty! Respected and merciful... cough... Your Majesty full of all tolerance and love...!!! Cough cough... My sister... is innocent... cough... It's me... It's me, ah...!!!"

Their cries were met with silence from the crowd. Only the crackling of the wood under their feet could be heard...

But, is this really the end of everything?

"Thump thump thump thump..."

A series of hurried footsteps came from behind the crowd...

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