Ah...well, in human society being spared by the leader of your government is a good thing - it's considered either a pardon (which is what it sounds like: forgiveness for your crimes and a waiving of further punishment, either because of outside circumstances or because you've proven that you've reformed) or exoneration (which is overturning a conviction entirely, because it's been proven somehow that you weren't guilty of whatever crime you were being punished for). Humans are very idealistic like that; they like to believe, as a whole, that others are inherently good, and those that aren't inherently good can become good through reformation and repentance. Some can, some can't. But either way, being spared by a human leader in response to your crimes is considered a positive thing.
...that said, what he had in store was better, yes.
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...that said, what he had in store was better, yes.