Arcanum: Chaos Path

Chapter 447 Audrey Chooses Justice

Rowling chose Audrey partly because they were friends and he wanted to give this righteous lady from the Tarot Club a chance, and partly because he was genuinely curious.

I'm curious to see just how far Audrey's sense of justice can go.

Audrey looked up in shock. Her lips moved a few times, but she couldn't say anything. Audrey's mind was in turmoil. At this moment, her mind was filled with images of her parents' and brother's faces, the emaciated workers in the factory, and those shocking documents.

Audrey's heart was torn in two at that moment. One half was saying, "Audrey, you can't let your parents down," while the other half was saying, "That's justice, Audrey. You can't turn a blind eye to those sufferings, or at least you shouldn't stop it."

Audrey was in pain because of this.

She did not doubt whether Lucifer and the others could do such a thing. As a member of the Tarot Club, she knew Lucifer's magic and also knew that Mr. Fool and the Goddess of Night were allies.

After a long silence, Audrey finally asked, "Will they die?"

His voice was dry and lacked its usual lightness.

“I am not a bloodthirsty person. If they have not committed any crimes punishable by death, at most their property will be confiscated and they will be sent to labor reform. If they are like you, who have never committed any crimes and are just born into nobility, in addition to the confiscation of their property, they will most likely be released without charge after ideological education. We may even reserve some property for people like you, but not much, at most enough for you to live as ordinary people.”

Rowling answered frankly that he had already made a decision on how to deal with the old nobles. Killing them all was definitely not an option, since not all nobles were guilty. The wealth they enjoyed might be sinful, but it did not warrant death.

After all, a person's background should never be a sin.

Of course, Roland wouldn't go easy on those nobles who deserved to die anyway.

"...Is it like this in my house too?" Audrey asked after a few seconds of silence.

“Yes, we treat everyone equally in this regard; only in this way can there be a complete transformation.” Rowling nodded, making no attempt to hide anything.

If Audrey were an ordinary minor noblewoman who actively participated in the reforms and made significant contributions, Rowling could have granted her family a pardon. This wouldn't have been a benefit for Audrey alone, but rather a reward for a warrior.

However, the Hall family was too large, and there was no room for leniency for a noble family of this caliber; at the very least, their property would certainly be confiscated.

"It sounds like I've lost out. I betrayed the nobility, but I got nothing in return," Audrey said, giving a bitter smile with a hint of self-mockery.

"You can gain the right to participate in politics. Although it sounds cruel, I will not allow the old nobles to have the possibility of becoming the center of power again, at least for three generations. But those who actively participate in the reforms, even nobles, will receive a special pardon in this regard. This is the reward that those who betray their class deserve," Roland said with a smile.

The difference between people is greater than the difference between people and dogs. Reformers who betray their class and aristocrats who indulge in extravagance, even if they are born in the same place, should not be treated equally.

Audrey paused for a moment, lowered her eyes, then gave a slight smile and said, "Sounds pretty good..."

After saying that, Audrey remained silent for a long time before looking up at Rowling and saying, "Could you give me some time to think about it?"

“Of course, you can consider it before tomorrow’s operation begins,” Roland nodded and said.

"...It seems you've made your decision."

At the Hall residence, Rowling glanced at Count and Countess Hall, who were unconscious on the sofa, before his gaze fell on Audrey, who was sitting quietly opposite them.

Audrey didn't answer immediately. She simply gazed silently at her parents' faces, her eyes filled with pain and sorrow. She almost murmured:
"...I'm in so much pain. I don't want to betray my parents, I don't want to betray my friends, but...but I know so clearly that our lives are built on the deaths and suffering of so many more people. If we don't change this, so many more people will die...Why, why does it have to be this way? Why is this world so cruel..."

“Because the world is sick,” Rowling said softly.

Audrey's body stiffened. She suddenly composed herself, looked up at Rowling, and asked, "Will you be able to heal it?"

“We are healing it,” Rowling said firmly.

Audrey paused for a second after hearing this, then continued, "They won't die except for those who deserve it, right?"

"of course."

"Innocent people can at least live as ordinary people, right?"

"Yes, and ordinary people in the new era will live much better than ordinary people now. As long as they are willing to work, they will receive the rewards they deserve, they will not starve or freeze, they will have enough rest time, and they will have everything that ordinary people should have."

Audrey suddenly started crying, like a helpless young girl. Between sobs, she said, "I'm sorry, forgive me, I'm sorry, forgive me, Dad, Mom, I'm sorry... It's okay if you don't forgive me."

As she finished speaking, Audrey stopped crying and wiped her tears with her sleeve, something she would never have done in the past, as it would not have been in the interests of the nobility.

Of course, Audrey did it anyway, because from that day forward, she was no longer a noblewoman!

After wiping away her tears, Audrey took out a stack of densely written words. The handwriting was fresh, with many corrections, showing that the writer was conflicted and had once written down some names before crossing them out.

But this is only the initial trace. As you follow those words further down, you can clearly see that the tangled emotions in those words gradually decrease, as if the person who wrote these names has finally made up their mind and gradually become more determined.

Justice Audrey handed the stack of papers to Rolin, saying, "This is the list of nobles in Rune. Everyone I know is on this list. I know many of them and can take you there..."

She ultimately chose justice.

Just like when choosing their own code name at that tarot gathering that year, they resolutely chose "Justice".

Back then, she was naive and didn't know what justice meant. Now, she understands the weight of justice, but it is precisely because she understands that Audrey, after painful struggle, still made the same choice.

She couldn't turn a blind eye to those sufferings.

“…You made the right choice, Miss Justice.” Rowling gave Justice Audrey a deep look, finally revealing a less formulaic smile, and took the list from her.

(End of this chapter)