The incident at the market a few days ago was enough to make the crown prince angry, because three knights dared to interfere in his affairs. Especially Albert who had caused the guards he sent to be injured.
Because Albert had said that he would come when the crown prince called him, so Darco called Albert to come to the palace. And it turned out that not only that man, but his two colleagues also came along with him.
They went to the Hall where the Throne was. At the Emperor's seat, the crown prince was waiting for them and he looked really unhappy with what had happened.
"I only called Albert to come here, but why did you two come here too?" Darco asked.
Harvey, as the leader, immediately walked one step ahead of the two members and spoke to Darco. "Albert is one of my members, so I came here anyway to see what the situation would be."
He reasoned that he had responsibility for whatever Albert did. So he came with him.
As for Leonard, he came because he thought Albert was a comrade in arms. So whatever was going to be done, he would be there for him.
Hearing all these reasons, Darco could only sigh harshly and then started talking about the guard who was badly injured by Albert.
"You dare to go against my orders? I was the one who ordered them to ask for more taxes from the merchants because. They have been instrumental in protecting the merchants from thieves and anyone who dares to disrupt their merchandise," Darco said angrily.
"What I'm doing is the right thing to do. They are the ones threatening and making the merchants live in discomfort. The kingdom has already demanded a sizable tribute," Albert said.
"You think this is just happening now? I ordered them to ask for more taxes from the merchants. They should have gotten used to it, but they are so spoiled that they keep begging saying that they don't have enough gold coins."
"So you're used to doing this?" asked Harvey with a very serious look on his face. He didn't expect that the people around him had always been burdened with high taxes.
And Darco confirmed it. He said that this was a token of their gratitude. It wasn't something that should be exaggerated.
"And if they do run out of gold pieces, they can get more the next day. They're not just selling for one day are they? They'll get gold pieces every day. They are just too spoiled because they don't want to give thank you money," he explained.
Darco's explanation surprised Leonard, as he thought that the crown prince was underestimating what the merchants were doing.
'He thinks all the things sold in the market will go in and get a lot of gold pieces?' the man thought in surprise.
Not only him, but Harvey and Albert were also thinking the same thing.
"Since you have seriously injured the guards I sent, I will punish you with 100 beats. That is the lightest punishment I can give you," he said, which made the three knights surprised.
They knew that the punishment was usually given to someone who had caused a big problem, a problem that affected a lot of people's lives. But Albert got it because he defended the merchants in the market.
"That can't be done! That punishment is usually done to criminals who make a big mess. But you did it to someone who did a favor to your own people?" asked Leonard who couldn't help but protest about this.
Moreover, the punishment would be received by his friend, of course Leonard did not accept because this was not fair to Albert.
"I rule here! Not you or anyone else. You just need to follow what I say, because you have sworn to follow whatever I say!"
Looking at their silence, Darco smiled slyly as he was sure they would not dare to fight him again after this.
"You can beg for my forgiveness. I'll definitely commute the sentence," he said arrogantly.
Of course the three of them were not happy with the idea, but Darco seemed to be patronizing the three of them.
'Come on you guys should sue me and beg. You three are just dogs to me,' thought the friendly boxer as he smiled wickedly at them.
Seeing the increasingly tense situation, Harvey finally opened his mouth again.
"Then I'll take responsibility for what happened. You can let Albert go, and I'll take the punishment!" he said firmly.
"What?" Albert immediately turned to him and stared in disbelief. "You don't have to do that! I'm the one making a mess and I'm the one who has to take the punishment."
"I'm the leader here, I have to take responsibility for what my men have done."
Seeing that Harvey volunteered to replace Albert, of course this made Darco even happier. Because from the beginning he wanted to make Harvey the one who got the punishment.
He thought that Harvey was too arrogant, saying that he would be responsible for what his members did. That's why Darco deliberately gave the punishment so that Harvey knew his position.
"Good then! Since you are replacing him and you are their leader, I will increase it to 150 beats. You should be able to take good care of your men!" said the empire's successor, who immediately summoned guards to take Harvey to the palace grounds.
"Wait! You can't do that, Your Highness! Why are you adding to the punishment?!" asked Albert who did not accept the decision.
"I make the decisions here! If you don't accept it, I'll punish you the same way!"
At that moment, Harvey immediately called out to Albert and Leonard to keep quiet.
"I'll be fine. You guys go back to the mansion first now!" he ordered.
"But..." The two men wanted to protest again but they knew they shouldn't open their mouths again.
Without saying anything, Leonard and Albert walked out of the room, following the direction the guards took Harvey.
On the ground, they took off Harvey's clothes, leaving only his pants.
His hands were held down by two guards and his body was made to bend over the table.
"ONE!"
THUD!
A sizable piece of wood was smashed hard into his back. Harvey gasped in shock, but he tried to hold himself up.
"TWO!"
THUD!
Seeing their leader receiving this punishment, Leonard and Albert could do nothing. They could only watch while holding back their anger at this.