The Sham Trial and Leon's Arrival
“They reported me?”
In the city hall office, Bares furrowed his brow as he listened to the report from his seat.
“Yes. It seems to have been led by the retainers under former Mayor William. The targets are Mayor Brooke and Your Excellency Bares.”
“...So those bastards were after the Sealing Stone.”
Bares recalled the stolen Sealing Stone. Late one evening, Judge Harpen had come running in, gasping for breath. He'd wailed that his mansion had been raided and the Sealing Stone stolen. It was a pathetically humiliating situation, but if he openly showed it, it could be turned to their advantage.
“It's about time we cleaned house.”
The faces of his vassals naturally came to mind. He'd known they were William's loyalists but had kept them on to handle the city's various duties. After all, they hadn't uttered a word even after William's death. But if they were pulling stunts like this, there was no need to keep them alive.
“Any evidence? What did they bring forward?”
“I've compiled the evidence submitted to the court. You should review them all.”
“Hm.”
He picked up the stack of documents from his subordinate and scanned the contents with a clearly displeased expression. After a short while, Bares let out a sneer-laced voice.
“Pathetic. They think this level of nonsense can take me down?”
The evidence prepared by the old retainers was plausible. But none of it was fatally damaging. The wildcard might be Camon's workshop inside the Sealing Stone.
“Have we got someone on Henry?”
“Yes. We've arranged for immediate disposal if anything suspicious arises.”
Henry was out of town on business. As the man closest to William, he'd been placed under surveillance. If he veered off toward the capital, it would mean he was hiding something. And if he tried any funny business, he'd meet his end in a “bandit raid.”
“What about the Black Dragon? He could be in their employ.”
“We've hired some adventurers to watch him, but no unusual activity. They say he rarely shows up at the guild anyway.”
“All talk, no action. Typical of those adventurer scum.”
Bares scoffed at the underwhelming news. The Black Dragon's bluster had been right on par for an uncouth adventurer. Tapping his fingers on the desk, he leaned back in his chair and spoke.
“Libentia's taking too long. Have we narrowed the search properly?”
“As you ordered, we've deployed disguised agents starting from the slums. But it's such a closed-off area, it might take a bit more time.”
“No matter. She can't pass the city gates. Finding a loach trapped in a dam is just a matter of time.”
Not long ago, Bares had detected anomalies in the city. It was the power caught by a spirit-detection magic tool smuggled in via the black market. In other words, Libentia had started moving. She might even be scheming with Henry and the old retainers.
“Those rats have noses like bloodhounds.”
The scrap of combat uniform the adventurer Black Dragon had mentioned. It belonged to a shadowy operative from the Holy Nation who had infiltrated Edlen. More precisely, a faction under a specific bishop. They were all elite assassins, so their power signatures were strong.
“Pin down exactly who they clashed with. High chance it's someone from the spirit user's lineage.”
“Understood. We'll increase the search personnel. And the trial? We have plenty of time to order dismissal from the court.”
“No.”
Bares stopped tapping the desk, a amusing idea sparking in his mind. With the outcome predetermined, it was the perfect stage to crush all hope.
“Let the trial proceed as is. We'll grind William's soul into the dirt too. That'll make Libentia come charging out grinding her teeth. I'd love to see that face.”
“Yes, sir. I'll order preparations for the trial.”
The subordinate bowed and exited the office. Bares turned his gaze to the window and smirked.
“Just wait a little longer. I'll have even the Pope kneeling at my feet.”
Shruk—
With that scene fading, the surroundings shifted. Before they knew it, they were in Edlen's central square.
“A trial out of nowhere?”
“Heard it's about Mayor Brooke and Bares' crimes.”
“Crimes my ass. Whatever happens, it'll fizzle out.”
The gathered crowd buzzed, eyeing the courtroom set up at the front.
“Still, it's been ages since a trial like this. Gotta be something to it, right?”
“The judge is totally in Bares' pocket. No way in Edlen.”
“The mayor's under Bares anyway. Same trash.”
The citizens, squeezed dry by taxes left and right, harbored sharp barbs in their words. The topic naturally shifted to the former mayor.
“Wasn't it way better under Mayor William?”
“Ssh! You wanna get labeled a Holy Nation sympathizer?”
“Nah, but they found a temple in the underground sewers, right? Some say William built it.”
“Could be someone else. Maybe this trial's connected?”
“Nah, no way.”
Speculation from old memories snowballed. Meanwhile, Hanbit, hidden near the courtroom, checked his quest window.
[Main Quest #14: Trial]
A trial has been scheduled per Bares' decision.
Sufficient meetings with the old retainers have been held.
It's time for everyone to play their roles as planned.
Objective: Observe the trial proceedings.
Reward: None
*Current Progress: 88%
The quest focused on the trial. It was set to unfold exactly as meticulously planned from start to finish—the result of the old retainers racking their brains.
“Hey, they're coming out.”
“Whoa, the actual mayor?”
“Bares is there too?”
At that moment, the key figures appeared at the courtroom. Old retainers on the left, Bares and Brooke on the right.
“Silence.”
The judge's voice boomed across the square from the bench. Even as it gave off an air of perfect impartiality, everyone knew it was a sham. Just look at the name floating over his head.
[Judge Harpen]
The owner of the mansion that had housed the Sealing Stone. With a lord-vassal level bond, he'd surely already coordinated with Bares.
After scanning the surroundings briefly, the judge continued in a solemn tone.
“We shall commence the trial of Brooke Norton and Bares Roberga. Charges include destruction, fabrication, concealment of evidence, false accusation, perjury, and subornation related to the past William Norton incident.”
***
“We have obtained testimony from a castle guard that records of Lord William's outing were altered. The order came from the defendant Bares, with evidence listed in item 8.”
William's retainers methodically laid out prepared evidence, pinpointing past misdeeds one by one. But Bares didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow.
“I know that guard well. The issue is his history of hallucinatory mental disorders.”
“That's absurd! There's no such diagnosis...”
“You should be more careful with your evidence gathering. Not only is its reliability lacking, but the bias screams preconceived results.”
Bares countered by exploiting elements hard to verify on the spot. The judge, listening, nodded as if he'd been waiting.
“Hm, the defendant's argument holds merit. Moving on.”
-Rigged game, total bullshit. lol
- Tri?al
- Fai?r
- Can't we get AI in here?
-???: Have you gone mad, human?
Thus, the trial's atmosphere flowed predictably. No matter the new evidence or witnesses, Bares' excuses neutralized them all. The judge nodded like a puppet, always siding with one side.
“Told ya it'd go like this.”
“But Bares does have a point...”
“The Royal Knights investigated back then. How do you fake evidence past them?”
The watching citizens voiced their varied opinions. The Royal Knights mention dug deeper especially.
“Speaking of that, I heard a rumor from the capital.”
“Rumor?”
“The knight leading William's investigation is called the Incompetent Sword.”
“Incompetent Sword? What the hell?”
A whisper circulating in the capital's dark corners. Discussing such a noble position as Royal Knight meant hushed voices.
“Obvious, right? The type with no skill who bulldozes with their own delusions. Heard he even chased off a subordinate digging for evidence. Got pissed his superior was challenged or something.”
“That's not fabrication, just incompetence. How'd he even make Royal Knight?”
“Dunno. Good family probably.”
Just tavern gossip, its truth unclear. To commoners, it was mere drinking fodder.
“So when's it end?”
“Gotta prep the shop soon.”
The crowd grew weary of the dragging trial. Simple reason: they all knew the judge would rule for Bares, regardless of right or wrong.
“I will now deliver the verdict.”
After about two hours, the judge spoke. Surveying the audience, he intoned gravely.
“Having verified the 47 pieces of evidence from William's side, all lack accuracy and reliability. As both sides know, the prior judgment was made under the Royal Knights' supervision through fair process and verification. Thus, William's espionage conviction stands clear.”
The judge turned his gaze to the old retainers as he ruled. Then, with a slightly flushed tone, he continued.
“I know you served William loyally. But false accusations like this gravely undermine the city's order and the court's dignity. Should the defendants pursue charges, heavy penalties await. Moreover, the sins committed in gathering that false evidence must be brought to light.”
Judge Harpen infused his words with recalled anger over his ransacked mansion. The retainers merely listened silently. That reaction irked him further.
“No remorse at all. The defendants' side, prosecute them swiftly. The trial is hereby...”
Kuboom—!
Then, a massive noise echoed from the gate road. The sound of the blocked barricade collapsing. All eyes in the square snapped there.
“Fortunately, the trial hasn't concluded yet.”
A calm woman's voice rang clearly over the packed crowd. Startled people parted, creating a path to the courtroom.
“Thank you for the citizens' consideration.”
With the voice resounding again, a figure emerged along the cleared path. Black hair, blue eyes. Platinum armor suited her beautiful face, marking her as a Royal Knight.
“R-Royal Knight?”
“That insignia—Vice-Captain?”
“Vice-Captain? No way, that's Leon?”
The name of the kingdom's youngest-ever Vice-Captain was well-known even to citizens.
-Holy shit.
-Leon real ㄷㄷ
-Insane, she actually came. lmao
-Edlen about to skyrocket.
-Story-breakers already sobbing.
-Quiet and go cry outside.
[LeonBroth donated 200,000 won.]
[Please leave a 4K video.]
The chat exploded at Vice-Captain Leon's appearance. Beyond hidden skills, had there ever been hotter reactions?
“What...!”
“Eek!”
Bares and Brooke couldn't hide their shock at Leon's face.
“I ask your understanding for this intervention on a grave matter.”
Leon, now atop the courtroom platform, addressed everyone. She then produced a translucent crystal orb from thin air and held it up.
“I will now perform procedures by royal decree. Citizens, please verify this first.”
With that, she infused mana into the orb.
Shruk—
Eyes gathered on the light from the orb. Moments later, the image of a temple sharpened into view.