Aimless Ascension

Gale was mostly silent during the prosecution. He didn't like to attend this kind of event, and he would've remained absent if they didn't need his statement. Well, they could've gone on without him, too. Nothing would change the verdict.

However, being a new denizen of Wayshire, he tried to be civic for a change.

The way of prosecution here was a bit different. The captain of the enforcer acted as both the judge and executioner, though there should be some formal courts in better towns and cities.

Anyway, Gale only opened his mouth when he was asked in the witness box, though it was hardly recognised as a witness box. He just had to stand on the podium occupied by the judge, enforcers, and all the convicted.

Gale could detect boring hatred in the eyes of some convicts. Mostly from the young ones, while the old few already gave up and made peace with it. Such was the life of bandits.

The judge asked him questions one after another and told him to recite the event to the best of his memory. Gale abided as soon as his turn was over, and the judge called up Shi Jun, who was with Gale when the incident took place.

After that came some other witnesses who were wronged by the bandits previously. Among them were a bunch of farmers, business owners, and parents of some poor daughters.

Gale sighed, watching the crowd. His task was done. He could depart now, but he remained until the time of judgement. He couldn't see the judge being corrupted, still, it was better to be sure.

Nobody came to testify for the bandits. However, he was a bit surprised to learn the boy that tried to take Vale and the driver as hostages was the son of the bandit leader. Man, banditry was hardly an occupation that you would want your offspring to follow. It was one of the few occupations where nepotism was undesirable.

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​ Anyway, from whom the bandits got the news of Gale's wealth still remained a mystery, although he had his guesses.

Eventually, the time of judgement came, and it was as Gale had assumed. Execution for the bandit boss and his right and left hands, and the younger ones—who weren't nearly as infamous or notorious—were prosecuted with imprisonment and lifelong slavery.

They would probably be sent to some terrible mine where they would have to work with everything they have. Gale still remembered the nightmarish mine he had to work in at the beginning of his life in this world.

Those were pretty terrible times. He had seen many deaths in that time, a few of them ending their own life out of frustration. That was the worst part of his life.

Gale didn't remain for the execution, although it was open to the public. Sun Ziang remained as it was his duty of being an enforcer.

Gale barely stepped in a few times when a voice called after him.

"Young master!" The group of witnesses came forward to surround him.

"Young Master, may heaven praise you for your conduct," a crying father told him, bowing in absolute gratitude.

"You master, for you my poor daughter can finally rest in peace," another one joined, sobbing, cupping Gale's palms. "She has been avenged."

All the others followed too, tearing up and bowing to deliver their gratitude.

Gale cupped his fist and bowed in return. He found Shi Jun was in a similar situation, though the master crafter sent all the folks in his direction.

'I guess this is why I preferred adventuring work even with its awful baggage.'

The wronged people finally have a closer, even though it came from the joined hand of a foreigner and the justice system.

***

It was afternoon when Gale came to Wang's Inn. He felt bad leaving Vale at Stormhold alone, but someone needed to be there to keep watch. Still, he could return flying. It would take an hour, much faster than a carriage.

Despite being a tiring task, it was still achievable and desirable. It just didn't feel right, leaving his boy alone at home, although he told his neighbour, the Shens, to look after him.

Honestly, he still had some tasks left to be done in the town, and some he promised later on the visit, which wouldn't let him return today.

"Senior, you're here."

Gale found Wang Li and Xiaolin waiting for him in the inn's hall with a handful of customers. Well, as much as the shock Gale gave them during their visit to the guild, they were bound to be waiting.

It wasn't every day that you learned that the odd foreigner that had been acting like a common uncle to your son was a master artisan and could create fate locks—the most demanding and expensive item in the world.

Gale had promised Wang Li a fate lock of better quality than they found in the guild. As for Xiaolin, he had a better plan for her.

"Took you long enough," Wang Li said jokingly. "For a moment, I wondered whether you're merely boosting your capability in the guild."

"Whether it's a boost or not, you'll learn soon enough," Gale said.

Wang Li snorted. "You still seemed to forget you owe me three cups of hot chocolate for forgetting–"

"I thought you'd already forgotten that." Gale cut her off immediately before she could finish. "Anyway, I'm here to fulfil all my promises."

Wang turned to all the customers and called for a servant to work in her stead. "Let's go to grandma's," she said. "She needed to learn what she was spending her big monies on, after all."

"Sure, but before that," —Gale turned to Xiaolin— "Linlin, I have bought the pure crystal for you."

"Really?" Xiaolin's spirit was elevated. "How much did it cost?"

"A paltry sum to me, you should know," Gale told her with a meaningful look. "Anyway, there's still a condition for me to let you have it, though."

Both of the women looked at him, questionable, while Wang Li didn't forget to nudge her shoulder on Xiaolins, though.

"It's nothing serious," Gale said, looking flustered for a change. "I haven't done this before. How do I say this?"

"Just got on it already. You're making the poor girl blush too much."

Gale sighed. "I would like to have you as my disciple."

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