Bang bang bang–!
"This won't be resolved by doing this. Come out."
Hugo stood in front of the VIP room door, located a block away from the building housing the courtroom. The door, made of a material durable enough to withstand even a fire, had its leather overlay completely subdued from how much it had been pounded.
Moreover, there had already been several crises, as evidenced by the surface being dented in the shape of someone's fist. Hugo, barely containing his rising anger, struck the door once more as if about to break it down, raising his voice:
"Come out, this isn't what we agreed on! Come out and somehow clean up the mess you've made!"
His voice, filled with fury, swept fiercely through the middle of the corridor. It was a chilling wave that made the battalion commanders standing behind him take a step back. However, despite Hugo's urging, the interior of the VIP room remained silent. The doorkeeper, who had been nervously glancing between the Commander and the door, let out an awkward laugh and tried to restrain Hugo.
"Commander, you can't do this. You know, don't you? Requesting a change in the trial panel due to health issues is the presiding judge's inherent right. Please calm down first."
"I'm not sure if a judge who notified us on the day of and hid away before permission was even granted has the right to enjoy that inherent authority."
The doorkeeper's expression hardened as he inhaled sharply at the words spoken through gritted teeth and the piercing blue gaze that turned towards him. This area was densely populated with facilities related to the so-called 'upper echelons' rather than the subordinate corps, even within the Council. Therefore, the doorkeepers employed by the upper echelons rather than belonging to the corps were not figures likely to help resolve this situation.
Hugo, as if even the time spent talking with him was a waste, once again suppressed his anger and appealed to the firmly closed door:
"Do you know what the situation is like inside? That half-baked presiding judge you appointed is butchering the courtroom with abuse of authority. From replacing the jury to letting in observers and witnesses without separate screening, there's not a shred of consideration or courtesy for the subject of deliberation."
"Hugo, I understand you're frustrated... but what's going to change by doing this to someone who's already handed over their authority? Wouldn't it be better to go confront the presiding judge who's at least conducting the trial, even if it's half-baked—oof."
As Andreas, the 4th Battalion Commander, clicked his tongue and offered advice, Loren, the 2nd Battalion Commander, punched him in the side as if telling him to stay quiet. Staggering despite his tall stature and build, he glared at Loren with pained eyes while rubbing his side.
However, Hugo himself seemed to have no intention of moving even a step from here. The person he was pressuring so intensely to come out was originally the presiding judge assigned to Leonardo's trial.
This was a figure Hugo had pulled strings to invite from a check and balance institution to prevent the Council's unilateral decision, and was absolutely necessary to grant Leonardo his freedom, more than anyone else gathered here today.
However, the situation they encountered after finishing all the discussions was completely different from what was expected. The judge said he couldn't lead the trial due to personal circumstances and suddenly put someone else in the presiding judge's seat.
The problem was that this person acting as the presiding judge had been friendly to Council members before and was closer to a conservative inclination that disliked world-shaking existences like those from Bermuda or fallen war heroes.
Such a person was unlikely to view the existence of Leonardo Blaine favorably. His intentions were transparent just by looking at how he had suddenly replaced half of the originally selected jury, nitpicking reasons like privacy or conflicts of interest.
Moreover, the biggest problem was the indiscriminate acceptance of observers. This closed trial, which was originally planned to only allow members of the subjugation team as observers, had become much noisier as general citizens were let in.
Some of the deceased members' bereaved families were mixed in among them, and it was uncertain how their judgment, clouded by grief, would affect Leonardo's trial.
Though all of this seemed to have been decided on the day, Hugo sensed that it had actually been planned for days before the trial began. Furthermore, the personal circumstances of deteriorating health were undoubtedly a lie. There must have been another reason for the judge, who had attended the Council normally just two days ago, to suddenly go into hiding.
"Hah..."
He had been urging like this for several minutes already, but the judge remained stubbornly silent. As Hugo ran his hand through his hair in frustration, the crowd's shouts that chilled his spine leaked from the neighboring building.
Waaaaaah–
Hugo and the battalion commanders, startled, turned their heads towards the window. Shorendo, the Deputy Commander, checked the time and asked in a concerned tone:
"Commander, it's already past the time he should have entered. Wouldn't it be better to go in first, as Senior Frederick suggested?"
"..."
"If more than half of the battalion commanders with voting rights, and even you, Commander, are here, the situation might turn even more unfavorable."
Hugo, furrowing his brow, checked his wristwatch. He had told Leonardo he would be there when he entered the courtroom, and he worried about how confused and scared Leonardo must be, left alone in an unfamiliar situation.
But even if he meekly returned and attended the trial in this situation, things were unlikely to go as desired. He might even end up feeling powerless, overwhelmed by the majority of the courtroom that would never conduct this trial fairly.
"No, someone needs to hold out here."
The one fortunate thing was that Abraham Langaster, the Commander-in-Chief of the Council, was still resisting and had not approved the change of the presiding judge. Additionally, at least the subordinates who had followed him here were in a favorable position towards Leonardo.
Hugo, having calmly assessed the situation, turned to his subordinates with a determined look.
"Gentlemen, I have one request."
Loren, who had been standing with her arms crossed, perceptively stood at attention with her hands behind her back. Though a close friend, she was the one who best upheld her superior's dignity when needed.
"Please give your orders."
The rest followed her lead and lined up at attention. Hugo met their eyes and spoke resolutely:
"The trial proceeding there now is no different from a poorly staged play. They'll just exchange meaningless debates with the conclusion already decided, and when the time comes, they'll hastily make a judgment after voting. But we, as commanders of the just and fair Council, have a duty to correct what's wrong."
The necks and shoulders of the listening battalion commanders tensed up. Hugo continued:
"We still have half the jury and one judge belonging to the trial panel on our side. The verdict won't come easily. And we have no intention of taking this lying down."
"..."
"So I want you to return to the courtroom right now and somehow stall for time until the verdict. Do your best in your respective roles until I arrive on the scene. Use any means necessary."
Implying that he himself would stay behind, Shorendo asked with a puzzled expression:
"Then what about you, Commander?"
Hugo turned his eyes to the tattered door.
"I'll negotiate with the presiding judge and then come."
There was no specific plan or method. It was probably the most abstract and unprepared order the Commander had ever given.
But it was also the simplest and most interesting order he had ever given. Shorendo revealed his even teeth in a wide grin and said:
"Is this one of those? A special operation with an extremely low success rate?"
"Shorendo–"
Delua, the 6th Battalion Commander, gave him a look at his seemingly joyful voice. It meant that this wasn't the time for such comments.
But Hugo, knowing well that Shorendo had a strong competitive spirit and unwavering determination, deliberately patted his shoulder as if entrusting him with an important mission.
"Yes. I'm counting on you, Deputy Commander. Lead the battalion commanders in my stead. I'll take responsibility for the aftermath."
"Yes, leave it to me."
Shorendo grinned and flicked a salute at his eyebrow, then nimbly jumped out the window as if starting an interesting game. Loren watched him with a distrustful expression, then shook her head and nodded to Hugo.
"I wish you luck."
Soon, she too ran down the opposite corridor with the rest of the battalion commanders. Hugo watched the retreating figures of his subordinates and took off the watch on his wrist, putting it in his inner pocket.
The two doorkeepers standing on either side just stared blankly, wondering what he was going to do.
At that moment, Hugo, who had rotated his wrist a couple of times, clenched his large hand into a fist.
"Step back."
Kwang–!!
***
"Honorable presiding judge. With so many observers who are not related to the peninsula subjugation, not only is it difficult to proceed, but the subject of deliberation will inevitably feel psychologically intimidated! Please remove all remaining observers even now. And the subject of deliberation's seat should be placed next to us, the defense team—"
Jeers could be heard from various seats spread across the room. Though not loud, it was just enough to grate on the nerves. As Leonardo's defense lawyer turned to look at the observer seats with an angry face, the judge sitting in the presiding seat raised his gavel.
Thump, thump–
"Be quiet, everyone. We have already removed many who were causing a disturbance, and anyone who disrupts the trial during future proceedings will be removed without fail. However, as much time has already been wasted, let us proceed as is for now..."
Click–
In a corner of the courtroom where the commotion had just been quelled, a soundproof door in a poorly lit area opened carefully.
Shorendo, who had poked his head through the gap unnoticed by people, briefly scanned the interior atmosphere before swiftly entering.
The doorkeeper guarding the door tried to stop him but just stared silently upon seeing his white uniform and epaulettes. Shorendo flashed a friendly smile and expressed with his whole body the nuance that he had urgently gone to the bathroom.
"Also, as the subject of deliberation is an S-class mage, there is a rule that high-risk mages must be seated in the center where everyone attending the trial can see them. Therefore, the request to change seating arrangements is denied, and we will now begin with the statement from the Council's Accusator, the legal affairs officer."
As the judge's voice echoed through the room, Shorendo, hiding his presence, lowered his body and went around the back of the seats towards where the Council's senior commanders were gathered.
The other battalion commanders who had followed the Commander seemed not to have arrived yet, as that area was sparsely empty.
"Come out and explain the case overview first."
As the judge's voice ceased, the legal affairs officer stood up to indict the subject of deliberation. At the same time, Shorendo barely managed to take a seat next to Maria Angel, the 9th Battalion Commander.
"Shorendo?"
"Shh, Senior Angel. How's it going?"
Shorendo asked in a lowered voice while looking ahead. Leonardo, fortunately or unfortunately, was sitting quietly in the central chair. Though his expression couldn't be seen due to the distance, his seated posture was quite composed, so he didn't seem to be anxious.
Maria also lowered her voice and complained as if telling him not to even ask:
"The spectators were shouting and it was chaos. Until just a moment ago, dozens were dragged out, I tell you?"
"Ah... is that so? What a shame, they should have done a bit more."
"What are you saying?"
"I received special instructions from the Commander."
Meterion, who had heard their whispering voices, turned around briefly from where he was sitting with his arms crossed in the front row. Shorendo quickly closed his mouth with a "hup" and smiled brightly as if asking why he was looking.
Meterion frowned and looked him up and down before turning back to face forward. The two people staring at his green back of the head leaned their upper bodies forward again and met eyes.
"What instructions?"
"To delay the verdict as much as possible. Until the Commander gets here."
"...Is that allowed? More importantly, how are we supposed to delay the verdict?"
"Hmm..."
Shorendo scratched his neck and slowly rolled his eyes, looking around. Shouting about unfairness here would be one way, but then they might be handcuffed and removed without even getting to vote, like the disruptive spectators.
Rather than that, he needed an ingenious plan to interfere with the trial while cleverly hiding so he couldn't be identified.
At that moment, the lights hanging from the ceiling emitting light entered his field of vision. Instantly, the corners of Shorendo's mouth curled up.
Didn't the Commander say to use any means necessary?
"I've got an idea. A way."
"What? What is it?"
When Maria asked, Shorendo slightly raised his right hand and put his thumb and middle finger together as if about to snap them. Then, in a playful tone that didn't match the serious situation, he muttered:
"Great. I've been wanting to try this."
Snap–