By Zephyria The judge urged the next turn as if he would not tolerate even a moment of disturbance.
Shorendo, who received the right to speak, rose from his seat powerlessly. Since two of his seniors and subordinates had been kicked out, he couldn’t have been in a good mood either.
“Council Group 2. Legion Commander Hugo Agrizendro and 29 others belonging to the Council Central Branch.”
Shorendo recited the name of his superior who was not present, with an unwilling expression. He announced the result after a brief silence.
“3 abstentions, 27 votes in favor, 0 votes against out of a total of 30. Final verdict, release.”
Some of the audience booed from the gallery. It was as if they were saying that the clean 0 votes against were a fix. The sound quickly stopped as they received glares, but Leonardo deliberately did not raise his head.
“Councilors’ seats, please announce.”
“Yes, Council Group 1. Representative Councilor August Hormann and 49 others.”
He felt nauseous, as if he was about to vomit all the sandwiches he had eaten earlier. Nevertheless, the situation surrounding Leonardo progressed quickly regardless of his condition.
The representative councilor stared intently at the verdict and opened his mouth with an inscrutable expression.
“2 abstentions, 24 votes in favor, 24 votes against out of 50 councilors. Final verdict impossible.”
A complex sigh of the crowd erupted. Along with that, the battalion commanders turned their heads with surprised faces.
“What?”
“It’s half and half?”
The sound of the members whispering was also clearly heard. It was an unexpected result even within the councilors’ seats, and the gazes they exchanged with each other were not very friendly.
Leonardo also raised his pale face and looked up at where the councilors were sitting.
‘Final verdict impossible?’
His eyelids, which had glimpsed a small possibility, trembled finely.
“Council Group 1, does this mean you are reserving the final verdict? Do you need additional deliberation?”
At the judge’s question, the representative councilor turned around and exchanged glances with a few people. Then, judging that it was meaningless, he looked forward again and shook his head.
“It is judged that there is little possibility of reaching a conclusion even if additional deliberation is conducted. Therefore, this group will not make a verdict and will transfer the final judgment to the court.”
It was a group that everyone had expected to have an overwhelming vote against release. But with the situation like this, it became impossible to see even an inch ahead.
Shorendo, who had been scanning the atmosphere of the councilors’ seats, leaned his upper body towards the person next to him, who had changed in the meantime, and whispered.
“Looks like the seniors’ performance worked.”
“It’s so good to feel that justice is still alive.”
“But if the councilors’ votes are evenly split, isn’t there a chance of winning on our side by adding up the total number of votes? That’s why the Commander told the commanders to go unanimously.”
13th Battalion Commander Jane shook her head with a gloomy face.
“No…. They’ve already transferred the final judgment to the court to prevent that from happening. If this happens, the total number of votes for and against is useless.”
If the verdict of the 1st group was made by adding up the votes for and against of all the groups, the result would be release due to the overwhelming number of votes in favor from the senior commanders. In short, it meant that the councilors had transferred their decision-making authority to the court to prevent that from happening.
Shorendo, who knew what kind of person the current presiding judge was, sighed and tore at his hair. It was even more maddening because a glimmer of hope had appeared.
“Commander, are you going to end it like this….”
“The court has completed its final agreement.”
In the meantime, the three people in the judge’s seat also seemed to have reached a conclusion. All eyes in the hall were focused on them.
Leonardo scoffed at himself for still chasing after a glimmer of possibility, even though he already guessed the ending.
The time he had endured and fought until now flashed by like a lingering image. He didn’t believe in God, but this time he wanted to desperately beg for Him to be on his side.
“This court hereby announces the judgment as follows, according to the verdicts of each Council group and the agreement of the court.”
Leonardo clenched his fist and lowered his head again. The audience held its breath, and the eyes of many people were focused on one person.
“It has been confirmed that the positions of the two associate judges among the three judges of this court were contradictory, with each being for release and invalidation of release.”
Another sigh erupted at the tight situation until the end. It was a natural result. One was a person who had been pre-emptively recruited by the councilors’ side, and the other by the legion commander’s side. But that ultimately meant that everything depended on the decision of the presiding judge.
After a while, the judge’s solemn voice echoed.
“After deliberating on the opinions of both sides and the charges of the aforementioned person under deliberation, this court has determined whether his achievements can offset his past illegal activities and unlawful acts.”
“…….”
“The achievements of the person under deliberation in the Elder Millie Peninsula are clearly worthy of high praise, but this court does not believe that this provides grounds for exempting him from legal responsibility regarding the guilty items such as obstruction of official duties, loss of land and damage to property, performance of requests for profit as an illegal Mage, and threatening the safety of citizens. Accordingly, this court has determined that the person under deliberation is responsible for the charges, and ultimately invalidates the release of Leonardo Blaine―.”
Bang―!!
At that moment, a roar suddenly erupted from one side of the quiet courtroom. At the same time, the door behind the judge’s seat was opened roughly.
Then, someone’s voice echoed through the hall.
“That judgment is invalid.”
The people who were listening turned their heads.
The startled judge also stopped speaking, and all three judges turned around at once.
There, a ray of sunlight was pouring down from the glass ceiling of the dome structure like a ray of light. And beyond that, an uninvited guest, gasping for breath, was just beginning to appear.
The light shone brilliantly on the steps of the man who had suddenly intruded, like a halo.
“…Commander?”
Shorendo stood up and tried to call his superior, but Leonardo was faster.
The moment he felt the familiar Magic Power engraved in his bones, Leonardo raised his head abruptly.
“Agrizendro―!”
A criminal who unhesitatingly called out the legion commander’s last name. It was enough to attract the attention of everyone at once. Shorendo, who couldn’t finish his words, and the public watched Leonardo in silence.
Leonardo questioned the man who was late, very late, about his desperate heart.
“Why are you here now? You promised to release me―!”
A desperate voice, quite different from before, echoed loudly in the courtroom. Hugo, who had strode in, replied quietly to him, his veins bulging on his forehead.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Leonardo.”
The atmosphere became rapidly chaotic, but the judge in the presiding seat did not dare to pick up the gavel. This was because the ‘presiding judge’ who had been dragged in by Hugo’s hand was complaining of dizziness and was being pushed in front of him.
Hugo pushed the half-baked man sitting in the presiding seat aside, stood in the center of the judge’s seat, and unfolded the official document he had brought in front of the crowd.
“Around 15:39 today, Marshal Lancaster did not allow the change of the presiding judge for case number 999-RT-0024. Therefore, the final judgment authority for this trial is vested in Judge Heimbert. The previous judgment is invalid.”
Hugo unfolded the new judgment he had brought with him on the judge’s seat, and dragged the original presiding judge to stand next to him.
“Please read it quickly. Make a judgment with the authority of the presiding judge and end this trial quickly.”
“Ah, no, now! What are you trying to do?”
The ousted judge protested belatedly, but Hugo looked down at him with fierce eyes.
“You have lost fairness in this trial and have shown a biased attitude towards a specific side, and have been removed from your duties due to the loss of political neutrality. Therefore, you have also lost the right to exercise deliberation and judgment, so step back before I drag you out.”
“Wh, what? What kind of situation is this―! This is a clear contempt of court!”
The judge raised an objection as if he was wronged, but Andreas, who was leaning against the door behind Hugo, shook his handcuffs and threw a word.
“Judge―. If you make a fuss in the courtroom, you will be considered to be obstructing the proceedings and will be removed?”
“You blocked the rights of the voters, so it’s the same as already interfering.”
Dellua, who appeared next, leaned against the opposite door frame and sneered. The judge’s face turned red as if it would burst.
Hugo called Flynn, who was near the defense team, with a wink. It meant to quickly clean up the judge who was bursting with resentment. Flynn, who immediately understood, came up to the back of the judge’s seat with the members of the 1st Battalion. Soon, he dragged the judge, who had lost his authority, out from behind.
The embarrassed councilors stood up from their seats, feeling frustrated by the sudden situation, and shouted towards the judge’s seat.
“Legion Commander Agrizendro, what are you doing in the courtroom?”
“Using force in a sacred place!”
“I have only processed it according to the regulations in accordance with the duty of fairness. The presiding judge has not yet completed the final sentence, so the judgment is reserved. Please finish it quickly.”
Hugo, who answered calmly, ordered the presiding judge next to him. But the judge standing in that place saw the cold-blooded witch sitting in the councilors’ seats and trembled at his fingertips.
When he couldn’t open his mouth easily, Hugo sighed and gently pushed the judge’s shoulder to the side.
“The presiding judge is unable to speak for health reasons, so I will read the judgment on behalf of the agent. This judgment is to inform you that it is the final decision based on all the trial processes leading to the sentence, the verdicts of each Council group, and the opinions of the two associate judges.”
As the sharp blue eyes looked around the audience, the commotion hidden in the crowd quickly subsided. The councilors, not knowing what to do in the fast-paced situation, could not stop his remarks.
“Case number 999-RT-0024. The final judgment is made as follows regarding the charges and release of the person under deliberation, Leonardo Blaine.”
The moment of judgment when a pleasant bass voice was sentencing. Leonardo blankly looked up at the man in the judge’s seat. He believed and believed again that he would cut off all the shackles and injustices that were binding his body, and stared at him with upright eyes.
“The person under deliberation concealed his whereabouts for the past 2 years and 6 months and did not respond to the Council’s call, and continued to engage in profitable activities as an unregistered illegal Mage. In addition, he is charged with damaging public places, threatening the safety of citizens, and obstructing the performance of official duties by threatening investigators during the investigation.”
Up to this point, there was nothing different from the previous judgment. But around this time, Hugo met the golden eyes that were facing him.
“However, it was recognized that he was in a difficult situation to appear in public places due to physical and mental injuries sustained while working as a soldier belonging to the Imperial Army in the past. In addition, as a result of confirming the flow of funds secured through profitable activities, it was confirmed that the majority were used for benevolent purposes for the stability of national interests and the people’s livelihood, such as donation organizations or facilities protecting the socially disadvantaged.”
The audience looked at the person next to them and whispered at the content they were hearing for the first time.
“Donation organization?”
“What?”
The councilors were also embarrassed. Since it was a matter that even the defense attorney had not mentioned, there was no way they would know.
“In the frost territory, he supported the official duties of the legion commander and investigators to resolve the demon beast trafficking case, and also contributed in part to the process of arresting the impersonator involved in the case.
Despite the agency’s failure to control the citizens during his escort to the Zodiac for formal Mage registration, he rescued citizens in danger, demonstrating the spirit of a dedicated soldier, before exercising his legitimate right to preserve his personal safety.
During the subsequent investigation, there was friction with the investigators who overlooked the principle of presumption of innocence. However, he did not directly infringe upon the authority of the investigators by inflicting injury, insult, or abusive language.”
Hugo paused to catch his breath. Then, he slowed down a bit and began to read the most important part.
“The subject of deliberation was assigned to the Eldermilli Peninsula subjugation force on the condition of release, formed a harmonious community with the Council members, and achieved remarkable feats in every battle. He generously shared his knowledge and experience, presented the correct direction and reasonable opinions for the subjugation, and greatly assisted the commanders in establishing strategies.
Furthermore, he threw himself to protect a member in a life-threatening situation, and even when senior commanders were in a state of unknown life or death, he fought against the strongest enemy at the forefront to defend the Council and the Empire.
“He was not unworthy of the title of war hero, he was the hope, salvation, and light of the people, and his steadfast figure, plunging into enemy lines, was an example and object of respect for all who defended the Empire.”
Leonardo Blaine’s lips parted slightly, no longer hearing it as a verdict. Just like the day Agrizendro called him a hero in front of everyone, he was bestowing upon him his lost glory.
“Therefore, as a result of comprehensively reviewing all these matters, this court acknowledges the subject’s dedication to the public interest and recognizes the complete fulfillment of the release condition of a successful subjugation. Accordingly, the court finds all charges against the aforementioned subject to be innocent and issues a final verdict of release, ordering that he shall not be extradited again for the same matter.”
“Hey, Commander! Why are you arbitrarily making such important decisions―!”
“This Council acknowledges the failures of the national institution, including the lost time and honor of Leonardo Blaine, the failure to control external factors during the escort process, the coercive investigation methods, and the inadequate management of outdated Magic Stone handcuffs. Accordingly, it is ordered that a total of 50 million Bell, combined with rehabilitation and social reintegration support funds, be paid to Leonardo Blaine without delay as compensation.”
“That’s absurd―!”
“Drag him out immediately!”
The council members, who had been stunned by the verdict ordering the payment of a large sum of compensation in addition to the release, rose up in protest. Not only that, but the citizens in the audience and jury, who resented the criminal, were also stirring, ready to rush into the center.
However, the members sitting in the observers’ seats did not remain still either. They blocked the reactionaries with their bodies until the trial was safely concluded. Not only the battalion commanders, but also Andreas and Dellua, who had been standing outside the courtroom, entered the chamber.
Even Meterion, who had been watching with his arms crossed, released thick smoke in all directions, obscuring the vision of the rioters.
While the surroundings were completely covered in white, Hugo entrusted everything to his subordinates and recited the final closing statement.
“The name of the subject under deliberation, Leonardo Blaine, will no longer remain as a criminal riddled with charges, but as the glorious hero of the Empire. His courage and noble spirit will be passed down through history as an example for the peace and prosperity of the Empire.”
“……”
“Furthermore, as an Imperial citizen of the proud Laina Rogia, he is hereby declared to have the right not to be oppressed or discriminated against by anyone from this moment forward.”
Hugo, who had closed the unfolded verdict, murmured with a gentle smile.
“From now on, anywhere in this land, may he live freely, achieving what he desires, in the place he desires.”
Leonardo’s trembling eyelids widened. Bee— A buzzing sound intensified in his ears.
Hugo grabbed the arm of the presiding judge and forced him to hold the gavel. Covering it with his hand, he raised the gavel with the judge and brought the climax to a close.
“With this, all verdicts regarding Leonardo Blaine are concluded.”
Bang—
Bang—
Bang—!
The sound of the verdict echoed inside the chaotic courtroom. From that point on, the turbulent chamber seethed with even more intense heat.
Leonardo Blaine, whose hands were bound by Magic Stone handcuffs, sat obliquely in the central chair of the courtroom, quietly gazing at the judge’s seat with reddened eyes.
The uproar filling the chamber was close at hand, but somehow he neither heard nor saw it. His Gold Eyes contained only one man who had kept his promise for him.
Appearing with a ray of light in the suffocating curtain,
A man like a refreshing sky, smiling brightly at him.