Read the following sentences from the passage. Then answer the question. (45 POINTS) Cesare Borgia was considered cruel, but his cruelty had settled the Romagna, united it,
and brought it peace and confidence. If this is considered a benefit, it will be seen that
he was really much more merciful than the Florentine people, who, to avoid the name of
cruelty, allowed Pistoia to be destroyed.
In these sentences, the author most clearly uses which type of figure of speech?

A. euphemism
B. hyperbole
C. paradox
D. verbal irony