Chapter 921: When the Bells Toll (Part )

Eleven fifteen.

The prison van arrived at the square. The Goltish executioners came to the van, opened the cage, and von Palen walked down with his feet chained.

In the prison car behind, the executioners dragged the prisoners down one by one and pushed them onto the execution platform.

After the twelve prisoners, including von Palen, had arrived at the corresponding gallows, the Emperor of Yan State and Wolfgang and his entourage in the convoy entered the square one after another and stepped onto the newly built platform above the execution platform.

When everyone arrived at their respective seats, the time had come to 11:40. The original verbal abuse in the venue had gradually disappeared, because everyone knew that the next moment would be the execution.

As the sound gradually faded away, a group of officials led by Wolfgang walked out, came to the front of the platform, and faced everyone in the square.

As for the Emperor of Yan State, he has not appeared since he stepped onto the platform. The stepped platform was covered with a roof. He and his guards were at the back, and the hanging curtains just concealed their figures.

So when Wolfgang appeared with a document in his hand, people's eyes began to turn to him.

At this moment, the guards responsible for maintaining order in the venue shouted in unison: "Silence!"

In a moment, all the chaotic sounds disappeared. Wolfgang looked at the people below the stage with a pale face, and with trembling hands he held the documents in front of him.

After a quick glance, he put down the manuscript, took a deep breath, then looked up and said loudly to everyone:

"Sinner Hadler..."

However, as soon as he opened his mouth, his tongue seemed to be tied up. Not only was his pronunciation unclear, but his voice was even broken.

Sweat dripped down his cheeks, and Wolfgang spoke again:

"The sinner Hadler X. von Paalen, as the former emperor of the Federal Empire..."

"He should have..."

Wolfgang's palms were wet with sweat and he spoke haltingly.

"He should have led the country to stability, peace and happiness, but he wantonly launched a war, which led to the deaths of millions of people in this unjust war!"

"But starting a war is not his greatest crime."

"For a long time, he has been advocating the theory of survival of the fittest and the argument of gaining living space through war. This is all wrong! And his advocacy has directly and indirectly affected countless citizens and led our entire nation onto a wrong path!"

When he said this, Wolfgang's face became serious and his words were no longer stumbling.

In the audience, some people had already echoed this, but von Palen standing in front of the gallows still had an expressionless look on his face, as if he didn't care at all.

“I have to warn all of you that this is a completely wrong ideology!”

"All those who have entertained such thoughts should look at the situation we face today. As a defeated country, if the people who defeated us had the same thoughts as this criminal, how can we still be here?"

"The fact that we are able to stand here today has proven that the ideologies advocated by Hadler X. von Paalen are completely wrong!"

"This is the best proof. At the same time, it is also evidence that he committed war crimes!"

At this point, von Palen, who was standing on the gallows, finally relaxed his expression, lowered his eyes slightly, and cast his gaze towards the people in the audience.

What I saw were angry faces.

On the platform, Wolfang also lowered his head slightly to look at von Palen in front of the gallows. Then, he took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and shouted:

"Today, what he did has brought irreparable trauma to our country."

"As the former emperor of the Federal Empire, he and his accomplices must bear responsibility."

"They will be hanged!"

As the words fell, the executioners stepped forward in silence and began to remove von Palen's shackles. Among the other prisoners, several of them had already struggled hard, but they could only twist their bodies and could not make any sound.

All the prisoners, except von Palen, were gagged.

The reason why von Palen was not gagged was not to give him respect, but because he had not said a word since signing the surrender document three days ago.

He did not seek suicide, nor did he do anything extreme. He was very calm during the three days in the cell.

As the executioners led the prisoner to the gallows, Wolfgang shouted with a trembling voice:

“Everyone should be alerted by this.”

After saying the last sentence, he closed his mouth and, like the other officials around him, all looked at the gallows below with pale faces.

The prisoners had been sent to the gallows one by one, and the rope hanging high up had been lowered. Unlike the other people who were struggling, von Palen cooperated with the executioners and took the initiative to put his head into the rope loop.

Finally, as it approached twelve o'clock, all the prisoners were put in noose around their necks, waiting for the moment of execution.

At this point, the shouting of the people in the audience could no longer be suppressed.

Some people were cursing, some were still accusing, some seemed to be sobbing, and some even lowered their heads as if they were afraid to watch what was to come.

Amid the noise, on the gallows next to von Palen's, Baumann, with his face covered in blood, somehow managed to spit out the gag in his mouth.

His face was grim, his mouth was full of blood, and he roared like crazy at the audience:

"You bastards, what qualifications do you have to insult the emperor!"

"Have you all forgotten who saved you?"

"You pathetic creatures! Shameless traitors! You betrayed the Emperor, you betrayed him!!!"

There was less than a minute left until the execution, and because the executioners did not step forward to stop him, Bormann, who had been cursing, turned and looked at von Paalen.

"Your Majesty! They are all traitors! You are innocent! You are our hero!"

"Without you, we wouldn't be where we are today!"

"I will always support you! No matter when and where! Your Majesty!"

Bormann shouted anxiously, but von Palen turned a deaf ear to him and continued to look at the crowd with an expressionless face.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" This made Bormann more anxious, and he shouted again and again.

He really wanted to hear von Palen's voice at this moment, and have him say a word of approval.

But von Palen pursed his lips and remained silent.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, do you hear me? I will always support you!" Baumann shouted hoarsely. He had already lowered his demands in his heart. He would even if the man in front of him didn't speak, but just turned around and looked at him.

But not only did von Palen not move, he didn't even move his eyes.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Bormann called out again and again.

"Boom!"

Then Baumann stopped talking, turned his head in despair, and looked at the bright red Wester Light Bell Tower.

The West Holy Bell of Light rang, announcing the moment of execution, and this bell instantly destroyed Bowerman's will, causing his faith to collapse, leaving only the ultimate despair.

He cried bitterly, and amid his cries, the dull bells continued to echo in the huge Square Saint-Marie.