Tyranny of Steel
chapter-713

It had been some time since Wolfgang was first taken into custody after he had assaulted an Imperial Prince. During this time, while Wolfgang awaited his trial, he was kept within one of many of Germany's labor camps, where the nation housed its hardened criminals. German Justice was harsh, as it was designed with a single purpose in mind. To punish criminals, and to deter future crimes via intimidation.

No prisoner was exempt from the backbreaking labor they would be forced to endure day in and day out, and it was because of this that especially pampered noblemen like Wolfgang typically died from attrition long before their sentence was compete. Luckily Wolfgang had survived his treatment, though he had lost much of his youthful vigor.

Though he was fed three meals a day, in sufficient quantity to keep him in proper physical shape for the labor he must perform. He struggled to meet the demands that were given to him by the guards of the Labor Camp. Because of this, he was punished further. If he had to explain his life at this very moment, it was a single word. Hell...

Thus, it was a surprise when he was called off from his normal routine and brought in chains to a secure location. He honestly believed he was about to be executed. However, when he saw the stoic face of the Kaiser standing before him, he could not help but fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness. He was willing to do anything to get himself out of his current predicament.

"My Kaiser, please forgive my transgressions. I was blind, but now I can see. My sins are grave, but I beg of you, as a fellow father and husband, to release me and I will give to you whatever you desire... Please, just spare my worthless life!"

Berengar did not have the slightest emotion on his handsome face. Instead, he calmly reached into his jacket and pulled out a packet of hemp cigarettes. He placed one of such devices in his mouth before lighting it aflame with his pocket lighter.

After doing so, he inhaled the smoke heavily before exhaling it into the surrounding air. It was only after he had done this gesture that he flick the lit cigarette onto the face of the bounded prisoner and chuckled at his comments.

"You strike my son, and now you wish to bargain with me? What kind of moron are you? Did you honestly expect that I would be lenient with you after abusing my child? Tsk tsk tsk... Do you remember years ago when you attacked me in my uncle's house? I swore I would get my vengeance on you then and there, but for the sake of politics, I was forced to leave you be. After all, the punishment you received by your brother and your people was greater than anything I could think of at the time.

In the years since, I have forgotten my grudge against you. After all, you are nothing more than an insignificant worm who causes trouble for whoever you are closest to. However, the moment you struck my son, I suddenly remembered that I had never personally punished you for your past transgressions against me. Thus, not only will your eventual execution fulfill my personal desire for vengeance, but it will also act as a means to avenge my young son.

It is truly a pity. If you were born with a brain like your younger brother, I could have had more use for you. Instead, you are a mindless fool who acts on nothing but emotion. I must say the world will be better off without you. Do not worry, your wife and children will be well taken care of. After all, somebody has to care for them, and clearly you have failed in that regard. Let us pray that your children don't inherit your stupidity..."

It took a few moments for Berengar's comments to register in the dullard's brain, but when they did, he immediately rose to his feet, infuriated by the Emperor's words. He may not be the brightest man in the world, but he somehow considered himself a good father. Thus, he could not help but lash out at the Kaiser.

"You bastard! You dare condemn me as a father? Who are you to judge me? I have done everything I can to make sure my kids are well looked after. Even after my cunt of a brother stole everything that rightfully belonged to me, I made sure that my family had a roof over their heads and food to eat! If you ask me, that little brat of yours deserved more than a slap to the face for what he said to me! He needs to be taught some manners, and clearly you're not the one to do it!"

Berengar scowled when he heard this statement. The man was utterly unrepentant for his sins. All of that pleading for forgiveness a few moments prior was clearly nothing but an act. Naturally, the Kaiser would not tolerate this insult and responded to Wolfgang's aggression by grabbing hold of his head and head butting him in the soft points of his face three times before repeatedly kneeing him in the groin.

Wolfgang instantly dropped to his knees in agony as vomited his breakfast all over the floor. His nose was broken from the impact of the Kaiser's forehead, and he had spat out several teeth into a mixture of vomit and blood. Despite the prisoner's condition, Berengar did not end his cruelty. He quickly stepped on the man's head and forced it into the vomit in an act of total humiliation.

"You dare speak to me, your Kaiser, with such hatred? Who gave you permission to rise? You fucking imbecile. You still don't get it, do you? How stupid can you be? I am the man who decides whether you live or die! Do you honestly believe that you provided for your children after your own cowardice stripped you of your inheritance? Foolish bastard, you have my aunt and uncle to thank for that! All you did was grovel before a mightier and wealthier nobleman, and manipulate his love for his daughter to mooch off of him!

Even then, you somehow managed to get your pathetic ass kicked out of their home. Your wife had to come crawling to her sister, to beg me, her husband, to be benevolent so that I might consider taking you and your family into my home. Where you proceeded to slap my son, because he called you out for what you are. A pitiful, indulgent, selfish, and stupid coward! You deserve your fate. I should have removed you from this world years ago, after you left your lands to burn under the Bavarian onslaught. I could have spared your family much pain.

Your own brother sees you as a fucking disgrace, unworthy of his immediate attention. It's a shame a woman as fine as Ava was married to your incompetent ass. She deserves much better. However, that no longer matters, as you will be dead soon.

Here's what's going to happen in the upcoming weeks. You will be found guilty of high treason by a jury of your peers, and you will be executed by a firing squad. Until then, you can enjoy what little time you have left in this labor camp. You can take solace in the fact that, for once in your life, you are contributing to society."

After saying this, Berengar spat on the man who lie underneath his boot, where he removed his foot and give an order to the guards.

"Make sure this idiot eats that mess there! Because he's not getting another portion to replace it!"

The labor camp guards forced Wolfgang's face further into the pile of vomit and issued their demands while raising their clubs to prepare for his refusal.

"You heard the kaiser, clean up your mess!"

Wolfgang glared in hatred towards the sinister grin on Berengar's face. In the next second, he felt his back struck by a club, and the vomit shoveled into his mouth by the other guards. They continued this process until Wolfgang had devoured all the vomit and his dislodged teeth from the snow on the ground.

He wanted to throw up once more, but choked it down in fear that he would be forced to endure the same treatment. After Wolfgang had done as he was ordered, Berengar gave one more order to the guards before departing.

"Alright, I've seen enough. Get this fool back to work!"

After saying that, Berengar departed from the labor camp with his Imperial Guard in tow. He did not look back on the fate of Wolfgang, because, in all honesty, he did not care. His fate had been decided, all that was left for Wolfgang was to suffer through a few more weeks of torment until he found a bullet lodged in his skull. Berengar's only regret was that he had not executed the man earlier.