But there was still the matter of the New Year. Marcus clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"If you're all so worried about whether the boy is dead or alive." He announced cheerfully. "I'll cut him into pieces after the countdown, and you can examine the remains yourselves!"
A round of appreciative chuckles rippled through the crowd.
"But before that." Marcus continued. "We have something more important. It's not long until midnight. So I'd like to ask..."
"...does anyone have any New Year's resolutions? Dreams? Aspirations they'd like to share?"
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
"I want to buy a mansion in the capital!"
"A fleet of luxury carriages for me!"
"I'm going to acquire three more companies before spring!"
"I want to propose to my beloved—she's been waiting long enough!"
Others offered darker wishes, their voices dripping with malice.
"I want to blow up a school full of children!"
"I'm going to enslave an entire village and keep them in my basement!"
