The day of fate had dawned.
Raymond's trial was a public one, held in the square at the center of the city.
It was a ploy to show everyone how Raymond would be sentenced.
Yuri's group arrived early and secured seats in the plaza.
"There are a lot of people."
"Yeah. Is Genard not coming?"
"Feels like he will."
Apparently, Raymond was well-respected, as more people had gathered than expected.
Soon, workers swarmed in and set up the courtroom facilities. Behind the judge's seat, they even erected a guillotine to behead the criminal.
Jared clicked his tongue.
"What the hell is that for?"
"They probably want to intimidate him."
Unless an immediate execution was declared, it would be useless today, but it was clearly brought just to crush his spirit.
Yuri's group took seats at the very back of the spectators' section.
Euzeth's knights surrounded the area, guarding the courtroom.
"Presiding over today's trial is Euzeth's First Judge, Lord Dicker. In honor of the court's authority, please all rise."
What Jared had feared didn't happen. Instead, the opposite did.
Yuri suddenly stood and applauded the judge.
The rest of the spectators were swept up in the mood and began clapping as well.
Dicker raised an eyebrow. He looked bewildered at the unexpected welcome.
He struck the gavel to calm the commotion.
"Everyone, silence…"
It was a beginning that seemed to welcome a respected judge.
Yuri muttered,
"There was once a famous judge named Bao Zheng in the East. Today reminds me of him."
"You know a lot of strange stuff, don't you?"
"You'll end up like me if you live long enough."
"Haa…"
Of course, Dicker was a far cry from handing down fair rulings. In truth, he was none other than Genard's lapdog, more obedient to power than anyone.
Judging by the murmurs from the crowd, the citizens seemed to be aware of that.
"That bastard's in charge? Then we already know how this'll go."
"What a shame…"
"Lord Raymond has to make it through this…"
Soon, Raymond was dragged in, bound with ropes. Even though no verdict had been reached yet, he was already wearing a prisoner's uniform.
Yuri's eyes gleamed with anger at the sight. But what came out of his mouth didn't match his expression.
"Let's not get agitated and watch calmly. Let's see whether Briol's rule of law is still alive."
"Yes…"
Soon after, the prosecutor and defense attorney entered.
The trial proceeded in a flash, as if following a predetermined script.
Raymond was accused of tax evasion, bribery, obstruction of official duty, embezzlement of illegal funds, and financial fraud. Crimes never mentioned before just kept piling on.
Raymond showed no expression.
"Jared. Look at that calm face. If it were you, you'd be tearing up, shouting how unfair it is."
"What are you talking about? I would not."
"That kind of composure is what makes a man fit to lead a group."
"…Are you planning to ask Sir Raymond to do something?"
"Still don't get it? Dense kid."
At that, Laurent offered a subtle hint.
"The Allied Army Veterans' Association…"
"What, seriously?"
They might have thought their whispering in the back row went unnoticed, but those standing up front could see everything.
Dicker struck the gavel.
"Silence!"
The three of them shrank like scolded schoolchildren and sat up straight.
"Now, defense attorney. Come and make your case."
The man assigned to defend Raymond stood up. Scratching the back of his head, he scanned the documents briefly before just shrugged.
"I'm sorry. I cannot provide a defense."
The courtroom buzzed loudly. Even those who couldn't find seats and were standing around watching got angry.
But as Euzeth's knights glared menacingly, everyone fell silent.
"The charges are too clear. Even I, his defense, cannot bring myself to defend him. Who would have imagined that Raymond, once renowned as an honest knight, would fall this low? I hope the court will issue a firm judgment with the hammer of justice so such a thing never happens again. As a lawyer of Euzeth and a citizen, that is my earnest wish."
The mood grew tenser.
Though no one dared to openly express their rage due to the intimidating knights, a burning fury welled up in the hearts of the watching citizens.
"Oh dear…"
Someone clutched their chest.
Yuri turned toward the voice, which sounded familiar. It was the fruit vendor he had chatted with the day before. She was shaking her head nonstop.
The defense attorney continued.
"I believe that all the citizens of Euzeth gathered here feel the same as I do. With one heart, we wish for justice to be upheld in Euzeth."
The more he spoke, the more the atmosphere deteriorated.
Yuri saw Dicker's brows furrow.
That lawyer seemed to be seasoning things too heavily in an attempt to please Genard.
"Now then, citizens of Euzeth…"
Dicker banged the gavel, cutting him off.
"That's enough."
The defense attorney immediately closed his mouth and bowed.
"Yes, sir."
Dicker straightened his back and swept a pompous gaze across the spectators.
"There's no need to proceed with the trial any further. Before issuing the sentence…"
Dicker gestured somewhere with his eyes.
"We will now hear from the lord of Euzeth and master of justice himself—Lord Genard Jetherie—who has honored us with his presence."
So Genard had been watching the trial.
But what shocked Yuri wasn't that.
"Master of justice? Who the hell gave him that title?"
"I, uh… don't know either…"
"Never heard it in my life."
Then, a spectator seated in front turned slightly and whispered,
"He made it up himself. Just recently."
"He's out of his damn mind."
"Right? Ah, shh. Be careful."
Apparently, Genard had given himself the nickname "Master of Justice."
Yuri already knew Genard was shameless, but this was something else. The man had no trace of embarrassment left. So what on earth filled that massive head of his?
While Yuri's bewilderment deepened, Genard stepped forward. His body was still obese from overindulgence.
Stroking the fat under his chin, he gave a satisfied smile.
"I'm thrilled to see so many citizens interested in this trial. It means everyone thirsts for justice."
Yuri crossed his arms and observed, curious how far he would go.
Had they just secretly locked Raymond away, it might have been understandable, but treating the public like utter fools like this made it confusing—maybe Raymond really had committed a crime?
"Let us, the lord and his people, feel the presence of Euzeth's justice together. With one heart, we shall deliver judgment upon the criminal Raymond. When I count to three, we will all shout 'Guilty!' together. Isn't that splendid?"
Raymond's defense attorney chimed in enthusiastically,
"Marvelous!"
A man who had sold his soul for success.
Raymond simply closed his eyes.
"Before that, I'll ask one last question."
Genard, who called himself the "Master of Justice," loved grandstanding. And so he staged this kind of over-the-top performance.
"Not just the defense, but everyone gathered here—I ask you all."
He opened his fur coat, exposing his bloated body as he spoke.
"If anyone here believes Raymond is innocent, come forth and speak. If even one of you does. This is your last chance!"
Who could step forward when the lord himself, flanked by knights, was making veiled threats?
Genard grinned with certainty.
"This silence proves that justice is alive in Euzeth. Now, I'll count to three. Together, we shall proclaim Raymond's guilt!"
He gave the signal.
The knights standing around began counting in forceful voices.
"One!"
Genard's shoulders twitched.
"Two!"
Genard pointed his finger at Raymond.
"Th—…"
Just as the shout of "three" was about to echo through the square—
"You bastard, son of a bitch!"
With a thunderous roar, a banana peel flew through the air.
It landed with a slap, like a hat, right on top of Genard's neatly combed hair.
"..."
A deathly silence fell.
The knights who had been about to shout "three" were holding their breath, but faced with an unbelievable sight, they couldn't hold it in.
"Pfft…"
"Khff…"
"Khkrrgh…"
The knights struggled desperately to suppress their laughter.
So did the citizens.
Genard absentmindedly touched his head. When he confirmed it was a well-ripened banana peel, his face flushed red and purple.
"Wh-Wha-Who… Who the hell…"
So shocked he stuttered.
Yuri sprang to his feet.
"It was me, you damned bastard."
Yuri stepped forward.
Genard didn't recognize him at first because of his hair color, but as the distance closed, he recognized Yuri's features.
"Uh…"
Genard was just as shocked as when he was hit with the banana peel and stumbled backward.
The knights, who had been standing back, rushed in all at once to surround Yuri. But then Laurent and Jared, who had been watching, stepped up beside him.
Genard stood frozen, unable to say a word.
"Oh? He's not telling them to back off?"
"How did you…"
"He's still not telling them to back off?"
"M-Mo…"
Before Genard could even speak, Yuri kicked away the two knights standing in front of him.
Two bodies flew through the air and collapsed beside Genard.
The knights all drew their swords at once. Laurent and Jared also raised their blades. The courtroom rang with the sharp sound of metal.
Startled, the spectators scrambled to flee their seats.
Yuri took a calm step forward and looked at Genard.
"You even drew swords. That makes this a clear case of treason, doesn't it?"
Genard hastily shouted,
"E-Everyone, sheathe your swords!"
The knights glanced around, flustered.
The leader among them, glancing back and forth between Genard and Yuri's group, spoke.
"Duke, please step back. It's dangerous. We must deal with these intruders first…"
"This man is a prince!"
"…What?"
Yuri removed the artifact hanging around his neck.
His hair and eyes instantly turned pitch-black, like obsidian.
It was like a magical transformation.
The vague softness in his features became strikingly intense.
Staring into Yuri's jet-black eyes, the lead knight finally understood and dropped his sword.
The rest of the knights followed, dropping their weapons.
It was a scene as if they were all surrendering.
Yuri grinned and waved at Raymond.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness."
"You've got nothing to be sorry for. This bastard should be the one apologizing."
Yuri turned to face Genard.
Genard looked like he was trying to organize his thoughts. After a brief silence, he finally spoke.
"Your Highness, even if you are a prince, this is under my jurisdiction. The governance of Euzeth is a right and duty entrusted to me by His Majesty."
"You should be governing properly then. Trying to throw an innocent knight in jail as you please? Are you the king now? You bastard?"
"Please, Your Highness. You watched the trial. You should know how it went."
Genard once again put on his usual sly grin. It seemed he had finished his calculations.
He pointed to the judge, the prosecutor, and then the defense attorney.
"All of Euzeth's legal officials have concluded that Raymond is guilty."
"That's because they're all your subordinates, you bastard."
"If you keep insulting me like that…"
"Sorry, bastard."
The watching citizens felt a sense of exhilaration.
The man who had oppressed them with his status was now being humiliated by someone of even higher status.
"Do you have any evidence?"
"What, you think I'm like you? Of course I do, that's why I came, you bastard."
Yuri poked Genard's cheek fat.
Genard trembled with fury.
"I-If, if you really have such evidence…"
"Genard."
Yuri stepped closer. He had to lean down to whisper in Genard's ear due to his taller height.
"You're going to be the one accused of treason if you keep this up."
Briol was different from other nations in one particular way.
The king was absurdly powerful, so the nobles never even dreamed of rebellion.
And now the Third Prince was showing signs of being just as formidable—enough to drive the nobles insane.
"Your Highness,"
But Genard continued to resist.
"If you have evidence, please raise a formal objection. Otherwise, this is abuse of power!"
Yuri just laughed.
"Fine. I'll give you the evidence."
Yuri gestured. Then, from among the people who had been watching the trial, a man began to walk forward.
He wore an excessive amount of expensive jewelry, though oddly, it seemed to suit him. It was now hard to tell whether he was a nouveau riche or just had an eccentric fashion sense.
He bowed politely.
"I am Guillermo, vice-president of the Rein Company. This is the official seal certifying my position."
Guillermo winked at Yuri and held up a document.
"The consolation funds seized by the Duke from the Allied Army Veterans' Association were, from beginning to end, the personal assets of the prince. Therefore, the funds were royal gifts."
Genard, for a moment, couldn't grasp the meaning of the words and stood there with a vacant look.
Guillermo patiently explained again.
"In other words, Your Grace, you have forcibly seized the private property of the royal family of Briol."
[T/L: Read more chapters on Ko-fi page "RevengerScans" : https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]