The courtyard remained frozen in a tense silence for several long moments.
Hajin stood before the trembling clerks, waiting for the townspeople to answer his question, but the residents only stared back at him with wide, terrified eyes. They were just as afraid of him as they were of the men bleeding out on the ground.
"I understand your fear," he said, breaking the silence while meeting their fearful gazes, "a new ruler can easily be just as terrible as the rest."
He slowly raised his arms, purposely showing the terrified crowd his empty hands, "but by the end of today, I promise that view will change," he stated, "even if it is only a little."
He gestured toward the sobbing clerks who were currently groveling at his boots, "so speak your mind," he urged, his voice softening, "these people have made you suffer for years. What punishment do they deserve?"
