By Zephyria Bang, bang, bang—!
“This isn’t going to solve anything. Come out.”
Hugo was standing in front of the door to the VIP room, one block away from the building where the courtroom was located. The door, made of a material durable enough to withstand a fire, had all the leather padding deadened from how much it had been hit.
The surface was even dented in the shape of someone’s fist, as if there had already been several crises. Hugo, barely suppressing his rising anger, slammed on the door one more time with the force of almost breaking it down, raising his voice.
“Come out, this isn’t what we agreed on! Come out and fix what you’ve done somehow!”
An angry voice swept fiercely through the middle of the hallway. It was a chilling cold wave that made the battalion commanders standing behind him take a step back. However, despite Hugo’s urging, the inside of the VIP room remained silent. The doorman, alternating between looking at the Legion Commander and the door with anxious eyes, let out an awkward laugh and stopped Hugo.
“Legion Commander, you can’t do this. You know that a request to replace the judge due to health issues is the sole authority of the presiding judge. Please calm down first―.”
“I don’t know if a hidden judge who not only notified us on the day of, but also before permission was granted, is qualified to exercise that authority.”
Hugo, muttering through gritted teeth, turned around with a blue light in his eyes. The doorman who faced him inhaled and hardened his expression. However, this place was densely packed with facilities related to the so-called ‘upper echelons’ rather than the legions under the Council’s umbrella. In the end, the doormen hired by the upper echelons, not affiliated with the legion, were not the kind of people who could help resolve this situation.
Hugo, as if even the time he spent talking to him was a waste, suppressed his anger and appealed to the firmly closed door again.
“Do you know what the situation is like inside the hall right now? That half-baked chief judge you appointed is abusing his authority and tearing the courtroom apart. From replacing the jury to letting spectators and observers in without separate screening, there is no consideration or respect for the person being tried―.”
“Hugo, I know you’re frustrated, but… what’s going to change by doing this to someone who’s already handed over their authority? It’s better to go to the chief judge who’s conducting the trial, even if they’re half-baked, and argue with them, ugh―.”
As 4th Battalion Commander Andreas shook his head and advised, 2nd Battalion Commander Loren punched him in the side as if telling him to be quiet. Despite his tall height and physique, he staggered, rubbing his side and glaring at Loren with painful eyes.
However, Hugo himself didn’t seem to have any intention of moving a step from in front of this door. The person he was pressuring to come out was originally the chief judge of the judicial panel in charge of Leonardo’s trial.
He was a person invited by the oversight body to check the Council’s unilateral decisions, and he was more indispensable than anyone else gathered here today to give Leonardo freedom.
But the situation that he had come to after finishing all the talks had flowed in a completely different direction than expected. The judge said that he couldn’t lead the trial due to personal reasons, and suddenly put someone else in the position of chief judge.
The problem was that the person acting as the chief judge had been friendly to the Council members from before, and was closer to a conservative who hated Bermuda natives or fallen war heroes, existences that shook the world.
There was no way such a person would look favorably on the existence of Leonardo Blaine. The intention was clear just from the fact that he had suddenly replaced half of the jury that had been selected for reasons such as privacy or conflicts of interest.
Furthermore, the biggest problem was the indiscriminate acceptance of spectators. The atmosphere in the hall had become quite noisy by letting ordinary citizens into this closed trial, which was only supposed to receive members of the subjugation squad as spectators.
Among them were also bereaved families of deceased members, so it was uncertain what impact their clouded judgment, soaked in sorrow, would have on Leonardo’s trial.
All of this seemed to have been decided on the day of, but Hugo sensed that the reality was that it had been planned several days before the trial. Furthermore, the personal reason of deteriorating health must be false. There must be another reason why the man, who had been perfectly present at the Council just two days ago, had suddenly disappeared.
“Ha….”
He had been urging for several minutes already, but the judge was still silent. Just as Hugo swept his hair back in frustration, the shouts of the crowd that sent chills down his spine leaked out from the building next door.
Waaaaaaah—
Hugo and the battalion commanders, startled, turned their heads to the window. Deputy Commander Shorendo checked the time and asked in a worried tone.
“Commander, it’s already time for him to enter. Shouldn’t we go as Frederick-sunbae said?”
“……”
“If more than half of the battalion commander-level personnel with voting rights are here, and even the commander, the situation will turn even more unfavorable.”
Hugo, narrowing his brow, also checked his wristwatch. He had told Leonardo that he would be there if he came into the courtroom, and he was worried about how confused and scared Leonardo would be, left alone in an unfamiliar situation.
But even if he obediently returned to attend the trial in this situation, the atmosphere would not flow as he wanted. Perhaps he would only feel powerless, overwhelmed by the majority who would never conduct this trial fairly.
“No, someone has to hold out here.”
Fortunately, Abraham Lancaster, the Council’s nemesis, was still holding out without approving the replacement of the chief judge. Furthermore, his subordinates who had come here with him were at least in a favorable position for Leonardo.
Hugo, calmly organizing the situation, looked back at his subordinates with a determined face.
“Gentlemen, I have a favor to ask.”
Loren, who had been crossing her arms, stood at attention, sensing the situation. She was a close friend, but she was better than anyone at boosting her superior’s morale when needed.
“Give us your orders.”
The rest also lined up in a parade rest position, matching her actions. Hugo made eye contact with them and said firmly.
“The trial being conducted there right now is no different from a poorly written play. They’ll set the conclusion in advance and just exchange meaningless discussions, and when the time comes, they’ll issue a verdict after a vote. But we, as just and fair commanders of the Council, have a duty to correct what is wrong.”
The necks and shoulders of the listening battalion commanders tensed up.
“Half of the jury and one of the judges on the judicial panel are still on our side. The verdict won’t be easy to come by. I have no intention of just taking it.”
“……”
“So, you guys go back to the courtroom right now and stall for time until the verdict somehow. Do your best in your respective roles until I arrive on the scene. Use any means necessary.”
Shorendo asked with a puzzled look, as if he meant to stay behind.
“Then what about you, Commander?”
Hugo turned his eyes to the tattered door.
“I’m going to negotiate with the chief judge.”
There was no specific plan or solution. It was probably the most abstract and reckless order among the Legion Commander’s orders.
But it was also the simplest and most interesting of the orders he had given. Shorendo revealed his neat teeth with a refreshing smile.
“Is this that? A special operation with an extremely low probability of success?”
“Shorendo―.”
6th Battalion Commander Dellua gave him a look at his seemingly delighted voice. It meant that this was not the time to say that.
But Hugo, who knew Shorendo well, who had a strong competitive spirit and a spirit of challenge, deliberately patted him on the shoulder as if entrusting him with an important mission.
“Yes. I’m counting on you, Deputy Commander. Lead the battalion commanders in my place. I’ll take responsibility for what happens next.”
Shorendo, smiling and flicking the edge of his hand raised to his eyebrow, nimbly jumped out of the window as if he had started a fun game. Loren looked at that side with an unreliable expression, shook her head, and gestured to Hugo.
“Good luck.”
Soon, she also ran to the opposite hallway with the remaining battalion commanders. Hugo stared at the backs of his departing subordinates and put the watch he was wearing on his wrist into his inner pocket.
The two doormen standing on either side just stared blankly, wondering what he was going to do.
Then, Hugo, who had rotated his wrist a few times, clenched his fist in his large hand.
“Step back.”
Wham―!!
“Esteemed Judge. If there are so many spectators who are not related to the Subjugation Squad, it will not only be difficult to proceed, but the person being tried will inevitably be psychologically intimidated! Please remove all the remaining spectators right now. And the seat of the person being tried should also be placed next to our defense team―.”
Jeers were heard from various places in the widely spread seats. It wasn’t a loud noise, but it was just the right size to grate on the nerves. When Leonardo’s lawyer turned to the spectator seats with an angry face, the judge in the chief seat raised his gavel.
Bang, bang―
“Be quiet. I have already removed the majority who were rioting, and I will do so without fail to anyone who interferes with the trial during the proceedings in the future. However, since a lot of time has already been delayed, let’s proceed as is for now….”
Click―
In one corner of the hall where the commotion had barely subsided, a soundproof door in a place where light didn’t reach well was carefully opened.
Shorendo, who had secretly poked his head through the gap, quickly entered inside after briefly scanning the internal atmosphere.
The doorman who was guarding the door tried to stop him, but stopped for a moment when he saw the white uniform and epaulettes. Shorendo expressed the nuance that he had been to the bathroom because he was in a hurry with a friendly smile.
“Also, the person being tried is an S-Class Mage, and in the case of high-risk mages, there is a rule that a seat must be prepared in the center where everyone attending the trial can see. Accordingly, the change of seat arrangement is not allowed, and next, we will start with the statement from the Council’s Accusator, the legal officer.”
Hiding his presence in the judge’s voice echoing in the hall, Shorendo lowered his body and went around the back of the seats to the place where the Council’s senior commanders were gathered.
The other battalion commanders who had followed the commander had not arrived yet, so the area nearby was sparsely empty.
“Shorendo?”
“Shh, Angel-sunbae. How’s it going?”
Shorendo lowered his voice and asked, looking ahead. Leonardo, fortunately or unfortunately, was sitting quietly in the central chair. The distance was far, so he couldn’t see his expression, but his sitting posture was quite dignified, so he didn’t seem to be anxious.
Maria also lowered her voice and complained as if to say, “Don’t even mention it.”
“The audience was shouting and it was a mess. Until a little while ago, dozens of people were dragged out, you know?”
“Ah… really? Too bad, they should have done a little more.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I received special instructions from the Commander.”
Meterion, who heard their whispering voices, turned around slightly, sitting with his arms crossed in the front row. Shorendo quickly closed his mouth and gave him a bright smile with a “what’s wrong?” expression.
Meterion frowned and scanned him up and down before looking forward again. The two people who were staring at his green back of the head lowered their upper bodies again and made eye contact.
“What instructions?”
“They say to postpone the verdict as much as possible. Until the Commander comes here.”
“……Is that even allowed? More than that, how are we supposed to postpone the verdict?”
“Hmm….”
Shorendo scratched his neck and slowly rolled his eyes around. Shouting about the injustice here was one way, but if he did, he might end up like the spectators who were causing a ruckus, handcuffed and escorted out without even getting to vote.
He needed a clever plan to disrupt the trial in a way that wouldn’t identify him.
Then, the lights hanging from the ceiling caught his eye. Instantly, the corners of Shorendo’s lips curled up.
Didn’t the Commander say not to worry about the means or the methods?
“I’ve got it. A way.”
“What? What is it?”
When Maria asked, Shorendo subtly raised his right hand and brought his thumb and middle finger together as if he were about to snap them. Then, in a tone that didn’t suit the serious situation, he muttered.
“This is perfect. I wanted to try it anyway.”
Snap—