Chapter 42: Judgement II
Old Russo smiled grimly, spread his hands, faced the audience, and said loudly: “Look at me – a decrepit old man! Could I possibly hope to gain anything from so many deaths? I have reached the end of my life. No matter how much wealth and power I have, they are useless to me. The only thing that attracts me is a healthy body and a sharp mind – but that’s the domain of the Supreme God. Our Father God treats everyone equally. He grants us the same length of life, and I know full well that I’m about to squander this precious, irreplaceable treasure.”
His words were true and sincere, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.
“In these waning years of my life, what good would it do me to commit such murders? Could I possibly derive any pleasure from the deaths of those poor people? Any normal person with empathy would find that impossible. Of course, you can certainly accuse me of being a born demon who delights in the misery of others, but I know that I’m also a son and a father. I’m just an ordinary person with a bit more wealth and status than you.”
“I’ve been accused of a crime deserving of hell. I can’t deny that I have caused these tragedies, but was it out of my own will? A dying old man, one who no longer possesses youth or health, even if I could gain something from it, it would only be left to my children – but my children! I’m not afraid of your ridicule, history is full of such incompetent parents. I haven’t been very successful in my family. My children covet my property, they can’t wait for me to return to eternal peace so they can enjoy the riches I’ve earned with my blood and tears – would I commit such an evil act for them? Or am I foolish enough to think after the death of the Holy Father, I can wear the glorious and holy crown?”
Old Russo clearly knew exactly what people wanted to hear. His social skills, acquired from following his father in various social circles, allowed him to immediately grasp people’s thoughts and cleverly lead them into his own linguistic trap.
For a moment, everyone was captured by his reasoning. They couldn’t help but think, ‘Yes, such an old man who is about to die, committing such a great crime ‘for his own selfish gain’ doesn’t seem to benefit him either. So why did he do it? Could there be some hidden secret behind it?’
Julius’s face changed. He realized what old Russo was about to say. This old madman, this old hyena, realized that he couldn’t escape judgment and actually wanted to drag the Pope who was the actual victim into the water!
The purpose of this trial was to let the people of Florence know the evil deeds committed by Old Russo and his cohorts, and to give Florence a legitimate reason to reclaim its territory. The Pope must be an unquestionable victim and a clean and impartial arbiter. Once dirty water was thrown on him, this trial would turn into a huge, earth-shattering conspiracy – the deaths of over 7,000 people have become a tool for Old Russo to attack Rafael.
Old Russo knew his defeat was a foregone conclusion, so he wanted to muddy the waters, to ensure that even if Rafael won, he would win in a inglorious, disgusting manner that would make everyone despise him.