Large scale criminal investigation.
With the Emperor’s direct order, all the cities in the old Korean peninsula and North American continent were turned upside down. Soldiers arrested everyone who had committed crimes, nobles, and even soldiers were not spared. The nobles and foreign countries raised complaints but they couldn’t defy the Khalodian Emperor’s direct order.
There were many crimes such as fraud and illegal gambling to robbery and murder. They were all sentenced to years of hard labor. All of the criminals were sent to new pioneering lands or excavation sites to work. However, they weren’t treated too badly, aside from their freedom being taken away. This might seem like weak punishment, but it wasn’t. The more serious the crime, the longer the sentence. Some were sentenced to hard labor forever. There were some who went mad or committed suicide after the sentence, but there were also some who accepted their fate.
Crime rates began to decrease and it came to an end with Emperor Joonbum’s intervention.
“Turn yourself in.”
The Emperor declared and shockingly, many criminals began to turn themselves in. Some family members turned in their own families when they found out that their family had committed crimes.
-They’re crazy!
-How can they sell out their own family?
It was something no Earth survivor could understand, but it was natural for those who came through the Gate. The Emperor was their savior. He was the one who saved all their people from oppression, hunger, and danger.
“It’s almost been taken care of. People are glad that the crime rates have gone down, but…”
Duvall paused for a second during his report before continuing.
“There were complaints from the HQ of the United Countries.”
“Hah. I wondered why they were quiet.”
Jinpok spat. Joonbum just scoffed. Duvall sighed and continued, “It’s due to the punishments. They are claiming that each country is responsible for punishing their own countrymen and that we have no right to punish them ourselves.”
“Assholes!” Jinpok growled. He was obviously not at all happy about their reaction. Duvall continued.
“They… have a point, sir.”
“Yes, but we’re at war. During war, crimes are dealt with differently. We cannot have them harming our people in times of war. Don’t you think so?”
Doral asked and Duvall nodded.
“Yes, I explained it to them as such, but they are insisting, sir. They want to take custody of those criminals.”
“Bah.”
Jinpok scoffed. Joonbum also smirked.
“They want to send them back home.”
Joonbum added, “We will not give them the criminals.”
Duvall nodded. Once the Emperor had decided on something, there was no turning back. No one dared to oppose the Emperor anymore.
“And there are a number of survivors being persuaded into the United Countries.”
“Are there?”
Duvall spoke with concern, but Joonbum didn’t seem to mind.
“If these survivors fall into the hands of the United Countries, it will be bad for our Empire in the future, Your Majesty.”
“Hah, don’t worry.”
Jinpok commented from the side as he smoked a cigar.
“Duvall, you really think so?”
“Huh? Uh, yes, Your Majesty,” Duvall answered.
Joonbum then got up and turned to Jinpok. He frowned and answered.
“Well, let them go. It will help them for now, but it will be more harm than good. The survivors are going there because they are promised a fortune. Do you think they will follow orders just for the fortune? They were from an era where they were free from hierarchical society. They won’t get used to nobles and kings and so those nobles or kings won’t be able to tolerate these ‘commoners’. It won’t be easy.”
And that was enough for Duvall to understand.
End of Chapter
