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Chapter 119: The Officialdom is Like a Battlefield
The black warship of the Tribunal slowly landed at the Kalon II starport, and the entire hive welcomed this group of powerful figures who held the power of life and death with the highest level of imperial etiquette.
Three judges disembarked from the spaceship under the escort of the black-clad guards, while in the center of the group stood a figure whose aura overwhelmed everyone else.
The man had an oily face and a bloated figure. He wore a long robe embroidered with gold by an internal affairs officer, and his fingers were adorned with large gemstone rings. Behind him were four fully armed adjudicators from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
He was Valerius, the Secretary of the General Affairs Department of the Sector and the Chief Prosecutor of the Tithes of the Sector.
With the hypocritical smile typical of imperial bureaucrats on his face, he scornfully scrutinized everyone present before slowly walking with the three judges toward the group that Ronin was welcoming.
Led by Luo Ning, the group headed straight for the Governor's Mansion. They had two things to do there today:
The court conducted a comprehensive review of the Second Caron Liberation Campaign and held Governor Jet accountable for his defection.
The Internal Affairs Department conducted a complete liquidation of planetary assets and tithes, and verified the compliance of the new managers.
Jet's desertion not only resulted in the planet changing hands, but also put countless eyes on this lucrative lithium mine.
An empire may turn a blind eye to the fall of a planet, but it will never tolerate corruption, usurpation, or embezzlement of assets.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs' trip was ostensibly for verification, but in reality, it was aimed at Luo Ning.
Fortunately, Luo Ning was prepared.
Upon entering the city, he immediately sealed off all the national treasury, armory, and mining ledgers of the city, and ordered the entire army to be self-sufficient in supplies, without touching a single piece of the planet's public property.
He knows the rules of the empire all too well.
When things are peaceful, everyone is happy; but when someone frames someone, even the slightest flaw can be used to accuse someone of treason.
Even so, Valerius's questioning never stopped. His tone was calm but his words were sharp and cunning. His gaze remained fixed on Ronin, as if he wanted to find a single flaw in this rising star of the sector.
From verifying the number of enemy troops killed, to military discipline when troops enter the city, and then to the requisition of wartime supplies, the problems escalate step by step, culminating in a seemingly casual remark that gets straight to the heart of the matter:
"Governor Luo Ning, during the liberation campaign, did you receive any gifts of any kind from local nobles?"
This is the most deadly trap.
To admit it would be a serious crime of bribery; to deny it would be considered deceiving the empire if it were later exposed.
Luo Ning remained calm and composed, answering without making a sound:
"Inspector, Viscount Walker, the second nobleman of Caron, gifted me a number of gold lithium ingots and slaves. I took not a single penny and kept not a single person. All the items were sealed in the basement of the Governor's Mansion, and there is verifiable evidence."
Valerius narrowed his eyes, about to continue his attack, but Dani spoke up as the judge, her tone cold and businesslike:
"Bribing imperial officials is a serious crime. Lord Ronin, words alone are insufficient; do you have any concrete evidence?"
To outsiders, it sounded like a harsh interrogation, but Luo Ning understood at a glance that it was giving him a way to prove his innocence.
"Reporting to the judge, the Governor's Office has deployed server skulls throughout its entire territory, recording the entire process 24 hours a day. All records are complete and verifiable."
Luo Ning changed the subject, his tone steady yet each word sharp, "Furthermore, I have verified that Viscount Walker's private army's organization and armament specifications far exceed the limits of imperial law; moreover, within two days of entering the city, I have been assassinated and poisoned in succession. All clues point to the Walker family, and I urge the court to intervene and investigate."
"Retrieve all records and summon Viscount Walker to the manor," Dani ordered immediately, and her adjutant quickly left.
A moment later, Graham Walker walked in slowly, looking calm and composed, without the slightest sign of panic.
The image of the servo skull was projected onto the wall, showing clear and complete scenes of gift-giving, the slave boy uprising being subdued by Ronin.
"Viscount Walker, courtroom questioning: is the footage authentic?" Dani asked coldly.
Graham bowed slightly, his smile gentle but insincere, adopting the demeanor of a strictly aristocratic man:
"Your Honor, everything you say is true. Lord Ronin is a hero revered by all for restoring the planet for the Empire. As a local hereditary nobleman, it is in accordance with the etiquette of the star sector's nobility to express my gratitude with my private property, which is perfectly appropriate."
He spoke frankly, turning to look at Luo Ning, his smile revealing a sense of confidence.
A family's foundation, built over five hundred years, cannot be shaken by a few accusations.
"The bribes you offered, after being tallied by the court, were no small sum," Dani continued to press.
"The Walker family has controlled the planet's lithium mines for five hundred years, so it's not surprising that they have accumulated some wealth." Graham said calmly, taking the opportunity to flatter him. "I deeply admire Lord Ronin's integrity in the face of wealth and honor. I imagine that worldly possessions are of no interest to you."
"Lord Ronin, do you have anything to add?" Dani looked at him, maintaining the absolute neutrality of an inquisitor.
Luo Ning shrugged lightly, his tone frank: "This humble official has no interest in wealth or material possessions; I only wish to fulfill my duties and guard the borders for the empire."
As soon as he finished speaking, Graham suddenly chuckled lightly, his words seemingly casual yet delivering the most fatal blow:
"I admire your dedication to the public good, sir. However, to mobilize 200,000 troops, plus Lemanrus and petrified lizard heavy firepower, for a small area like Vatos VII, is this force in accordance with the sector's military regulations? Sir, are you perhaps using your military power for personal gain?"
Without shouting or arguing, they simply used the phrase "imperial regulations" to try and nail Ronin to the spot on suspicion of treason.
Luo Ning remained completely calm, his tone composed yet brimming with confidence:
"The expansion of the army throughout Vatos VII was authorized by Commander-in-Chief Mason in his own handwriting, and the documents can be verified. However, Your Excellency has yet to explain the excessive number of private soldiers and the assassination attempt against me."
"Assassination?" Graham scoffed, casually deflecting the blame. "Slaves are untamed, or perhaps they're dissatisfied with your new policies and have rebelled. What does that have to do with me?"
The two engaged in a sharp exchange, their words always revolving around imperial laws, yet without a trace of vulgarity or hostility.
"Enough," Dani interrupted coldly, turning to Graham. "Your private army is exceeding its limits, your armament is unlawful, and you've violated the Imperial Military Code. What explanation do you have for this?"
Before Graham could speak, Valerius, who had been observing coldly, finally spoke up.
His tone was calm, without a trace of anger, yet it carried the supreme administrative authority of the Ministry of the Interior, each word imposing:
"Inquisitor Dani, the Inquisition is responsible for heresy, treason, and alienation; this is the ironclad law of the Empire."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his tone carrying an undeniable, authoritative pressure.
"Kalon II is the core lithium mining area of the sector. The Walker family has been mining it for five hundred years, maintaining a tithe supply, which is a great service to the Empire. Some administrative flaws and oversights in local management fall within the scope of internal disciplinary action by the Ministry of the Interior, and do not require the Court of Justice to overstep its authority."
There were no warnings, no reprimands.
With just three sentences—the boundaries of authority, imperial law, and hereditary merit—Graham was effortlessly protected, and Daenerys's next steps in the interrogation were effectively blocked.