novelSusiti Chapter 191 A New Order Under the Butcher's Knife
Chapter 191 A New Order Under the Butcher's Knife
Constantine's hand was still pointing at the corpse swaying in the wind.
The entire Larissa Square was completely silent.
Thousands of farmers, newly appointed officials, and military officers invited to observe the trial were all stunned into silence by the Crown Prince's steely voice and undisguised murderous intent.
This is more than just a trial.
This was a bloody ceremony to establish authority and set rules!
Constantine withdrew his arm, his gaze sweeping over the pale-faced old nobles below the stage.
Their fear was almost palpable in their eyes.
He turned away, no longer looking at anyone, and walked straight off the judge's bench.
Alexandros Dimitriopoulos followed closely behind, clearing a path for him.
Royal guards formed a black wall, separating the crowd.
No one dared to approach, and no one even dared to breathe loudly.
All eyes were fixed on the young crown prince's retreating figure.
That figure wasn't particularly imposing, yet at that moment, it weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.
Only when Constantine's figure disappeared at the end of the street did the frozen air in the square begin to move again.
"vomit……"
An old landowner who had financial dealings with Gunaris could no longer hold on and began to vomit violently, leaning against the wall.
The others were in no better shape; they were all pale and their legs were weak.
"Quick! Let's go!"
"Leave here! Leave Greece!"
"He's insane! That prince is a madman!"
Fear, like a plague, spread wildly among these once respectable people.
They finally realized that times had truly changed.
That era, where one could manipulate the law at will through personal connections, money, and power, was hanged along with the body of Gunaris.
That afternoon, a silent escape unfolded in Thessaly.
Those former landowners and stewards who had once shared drinks with Gunaris abandoned their possessions and rushed towards the port and border like madmen, carrying their valuables.
They would rather go to Constantinople and become the Ottomans' dogs than stay in Greece and face the young crown prince's sword.
However, the Royal Intelligence Service's net had already been cast.
When Constantine returned to his temporary residence, Alexandros handed him a list.
"Your Highness, this is a list of all the former landowners connected to Gunaris. Seventeen of them have been apprehended, and the other five are fleeing towards the border. Our men have already caught up with them."
"Not a single one can escape."
Constantine's voice was calm.
"All their property was confiscated and transferred directly to the National Education Fund without going through Parliament."
"Yes, Your Highness," Alexandros nodded.
"Let those children know who is taking their money for school."
Constantine added.
A hint of awe flashed in Alexandros's eyes.
Your Highness's methods are not only ruthless, but also psychologically damaging.
He not only wants to take these people's money, but also wants them to be forever burdened with infamy.
In Athens, the impact of this trial also created a massive upheaval.
All the newly promoted civilian officials received an expedited copy of the Daily Telegraph.
The front page of the newspaper featured a black-and-white photograph of Gunnaris swaying on the gallows, along with the full text of Constantine's menacing speech.
Every word was like a needle, piercing their hearts.
Some of them have also faced temptations and wavered.
But now, looking at the photo of that former role model, now a hanged ghost, all the inappropriate thoughts have vanished.
Fear is the best wake-up call.
They finally realized that their official positions were given to them by the Crown Prince.
Whether or not the head on his neck can be saved depends entirely on the Crown Prince's decision.
Faced with this bloody reality, the entire Greek bureaucratic system was cleansed at an unprecedented speed.
……
That same evening after the trial concluded.
Constantine summoned Stavross to his study for a private audience.
The limping tough man, still wearing his tattered farmer's clothes, stood there with his head down, like a child who had done something wrong.
He didn't say a word, but simply took out a resignation letter from his pocket and handed it over with both hands.
"Your Highness, I misjudged people and almost caused a disaster. I am no longer qualified to lead the union."
Constantine did not accept the letter.
He simply stood up, walked over to Stavros, and personally poured him a glass of hot water.
"Stavros, do you think you did something wrong?"
Stavros raised his head, his bloodshot eyes filled with pain and self-reproach.
"I...I treated him like a brother, I vouched for him with my reputation...and then..."
"As it turns out, you discovered a parasite that had infiltrated our team."
Constantine interrupted him and shoved the water glass into his hand.
"If it weren't for you, this termite would have hidden even deeper and eroded even more of our foundations."
"You were the first to discover the problem when everyone was blinded by that glamorous exterior. And you didn't choose to cover it up, you didn't hesitate because of personal feelings, but chose to expose it."
Constantin reached out and patted Stavross on the shoulder heavily.
The solid force made the veteran's body tremble slightly.
"Stavros, you are not a sinner. You are a hero."
"It was you who, with your integrity, upheld the bottom line for all of us."
Stavros's eyes instantly reddened.
This man, who hadn't shed a single tear before the gallows, now couldn't hold back the warm liquid streaming down his weathered face.
He thought he was being punished, that the crown prince was questioning his abilities.
He never expected that what awaited him would be the deepest understanding and the highest praise.
"Your Highness..."
He choked up, unable to speak.
"The labor union cannot do without you. The new policies of this country cannot do without you either."
Constantine's voice carried an unquestionable trust.
"The fall of Gunaris proves precisely why we need a 'gatekeeper' like you. A gatekeeper who cannot tolerate injustice, who can distinguish right from wrong, and who will always stand with the people!"
"From today onwards, you will be in charge of the union's oversight department. I am giving you the power to oversee all new policy officials, including myself."
Stavros looked up abruptly, unable to believe his ears.
"Your Highness...this..."
"Take it."
Constantine took the resignation letter and tore it to shreds in front of him.
"Go back, Stavros. Stand tall; behind you are all the workers of Greece, and their crown prince."
Stavros looked at the pile of shredded paper on the ground, then at the Crown Prince's clear and determined eyes, and nodded heavily.
When he left, his lame leg seemed to have been infused with new strength compared to when he arrived.
After Stavros left, Constantine immediately issued a series of orders.
A comprehensive review of all land reform officials was quickly launched.
Several officials with a history of corruption were ruthlessly dismissed and investigated.
Meanwhile, a group of upright young people who withstood the pressure and upheld their principles during this incident were promoted ahead of schedule, quickly filling the power vacuum left by Gunaris and others.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Constantine pushed Parliament to quickly pass two entirely new regulations.
Officials' Asset Declaration Act.
Public oversight and whistleblowing law.
The power of the "Royal Oversight Commission" was greatly amplified; it was no longer merely an investigative body, but a Damocles' sword hanging over the heads of all officials.
From now on, any changes in an official's assets will be made public.
Any ordinary farmer can now use the newly established channels to report any injustices he witnesses directly to the royal family.
The institutional safeguards have been thoroughly tightened.
Only after doing all this did Constantine feel a little tired.
He climbed to the top of the Acropolis in Athens all by himself.
A night breeze blows, and the city of Athens at the foot of the mountain is dotted with lights, like stars.
He looked down at this ancient yet vibrant city and felt a sense of peace he had never felt before.
Externally, the economic war waged by Turkish businessmen was completely crushed, and the tentacles of the Ottoman Empire were severed.
Internally, faith, land, and education—the three cornerstones—have been re-established.
The newly formed bureaucratic team, which nearly went astray, also underwent a brutal but necessary purification process.
Although the national treasury is still pitifully tight, the people, institutions, and spirit of this country have been completely transformed.
Greece, this dilapidated ship, has finally been fitted with a sturdy keel and a reliable engine.
Constantine knew that it was now finally qualified to face the even more violent storm that was about to come.
Just then, Alexandros's figure appeared behind him like a ghost.
"Your Highness, something has happened on the Thessalian border."