In short, the pressure fell squarely on the judges.
But the old gentleman didn't stop—he kept speaking.
"But I can say this with certainty: the foundation of the municipal council isn't its officials—it's the citizens!"
"The root of everything lies with the people of New Eridu."
He paused, sweeping his gaze across the courtroom before letting it rest on the spectators.
The politicians.
The very ones sitting within this current municipal administration.
"I've lived a long life. I know which choices are right. I know which actions are right. I know which path is right."
"Many people know it—without exception. And that includes all of you."
"But you know and still refuse to walk it, because that path is simply too damn difficult."
"Yet someone always manages to walk it. Maybe in the next administration we'll see it. Or maybe… we'll see it now."
Another strike—logic and emotion at their peak.
The old gentleman finally turned his eyes to the three judges. The moment his gaze fell, they stiffened instinctively.
They were genuinely afraid. What if he unleashed his words on them as well? That would be…
Fortunately, his tone toward them was far gentler than it had been toward the municipal council. That alone allowed the judges to breathe easier.
"Let the municipal council continue its course."
"Its future lies in your hands, judges."
"This is the soul of the municipal council. Don't destroy it. Protect it. Embrace it..."
"One day, you will be proud of this."
"I promise."
The old gentleman pulled his gaze back and slowly sat down again. He had originally intended to leave immediately, but while Municipal Affairs was under fire, the dignity of the Law Court still needed to be upheld.
His words echoed in the courtroom.
Silence lingered.
Until—
The judge's gavel struck.
The sharp crack rang out like the resonance of those words, spreading through everyone's hearts.
The result was already beyond doubt.
Everyone present had realized it by now. After everything that had been said, the municipal council's chance to argue back had been completely cut off. Any forced rebuttal would only make them look like clowns.
All their tactics had been crushed.
Worse still, rifts had already begun forming within their own ranks.
Time passed...
Before long, the sun had risen high.
Its warm light pressed back the deep cold of lingering snow.
Outside the Law Court, a sea of people surged. Online, countless more were following the trial with bated breath.
They waited—for the final verdict.
At noon, as the sun reached its peak, the great doors of the Law Court slowly swung open under the gaze of the crowd.
The Co-Chair stepped out.
He stood at the threshold. Once a soldier, his body might have been bowed by the weight of years, yet in this moment, his heart stirred with the same resolve he'd once felt fighting alongside his comrades.
As he appeared, the noise outside died away instantly. Every eye fixed on him.
The world fell silent.
Some knew who he was, others did not—but none of that mattered. In that moment, he was the sole focus of all.
Under countless eyes, the Co-Chair lifted the petition in his hand, raised it high, and opened it!
On the pristine white document, the Joint Association's charges were written. And on the blank space at the end, two large red characters stood out boldly.
The crowd erupted. Countless flashes burst forth, freezing the Co-Chair in that instant.
He stood tall, as he always had.
Because those two characters proclaimed to all—
Victory!
Citizens' Joint Association!
Victory!!!
...
"The first municipal council ever convicted guilty... The news came out fast. I wonder what it looks like outside now."
Shin reclined lazily in the bath, steam filling the vast bathroom. Across from her floated a virtual screen, replaying today's historic event.
After the old gentleman's speech, the outcome had been obvious. Once the hearing ended, she and Zane had gone straight back.
So she still didn't know what the situation outside was like. She knew they had won, but curiosity lingered.
Exhaling softly, she tucked her wings deeper into the warm water. The cozy heat made her shiver slightly.
Shin leaned back against the edge, her delicate figure faint in the mist. With a splash, she stretched one long, pale leg, stirring the water.
Ripples shimmered, breaking a patch of soft white reflection.
Her eyes grew dim, lids heavy with exhaustion. Two days of court trials had left her with little rest.
She almost felt like falling asleep right there.
But only a few seconds after closing her eyes, Shin opened them again, shaking her head helplessly to force herself awake.
She stood, stepping out of the water. A cool draft brushed her skin, finally clearing her head. Reaching for a towel, she dried herself off, wings dripping as always.
"Ugh, that guy's still waiting for me to tell him about the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe... I can't leave him hanging... but I really am so tired..."
A strange thought suddenly crossed her mind. Her hand froze mid-motion, then she shook her head quickly, pushing the thought away.
She was just too tired—what nonsense was she even thinking?
Then again... Zane really hadn't come to her room before, had he?
After a moment, Shin finally got her troublesome wings dry. She slipped into casual clothes and headed for the study.
Her long pale-pink hair spilled down her back, leaving a faint fragrance in the air as she walked.
It lingered long after she passed.
...
Night fell. The full moon rose into the sky.
"We'll head to Hollow Zero tomorrow."
"As Shin suggested, we could mobilize the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe to help. This officer status should be put to use."
Zane walked along Sixth Street, Panta trailing beside him. He had just picked up Panta from the video store and was heading back to Tanuki House.
He mulled over what Shin had said.
The Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe was a special case. Strictly speaking, they weren't bound by rigid restrictions. In theory, they could even end up crowning someone as their sovereign....
Of course, that was only hypothetical
In other words, with enough charisma to win their hearts, the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe could become one's personal armed force.
Convincing a portion of them was easy enough—Shin herself could do it. For Zane, in a way, Soldier 11's squad already worked like that...
But the entire Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe?
Zane couldn't help but recall Shin's words:
"No one can do it—not me, not you, not even Old General Mu. There's only one thing that can make every single Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe soldier follow willingly."
"The soul of the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe."
"No single person can accomplish that. But someone can carry the weight of the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe for a time."