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[Translator - Night]
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Chapter 197: The Turncoat (2)
The Imperial Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the Empire—beyond reproach.
A sharp blade wielded by the Emperor, using the law as a weapon.
Naturally, ordinary legal disputes are never handled there.
Even this case marked the first trial held there in eight years.
“How strange. A trial being held there, of all places.”
“I heard it's the Executive Director of NewTech who got caught.”
“Hm? Wasn’t he just a petty embezzler?”
“Would someone like that be brought to such a fearsome place? He must’ve done something truly horrific.”
That’s why news of Neil Brion’s trial being held at the Supreme Court drew everyone’s attention.
Of course, that didn’t mean anyone could attend.
Only those aware of the existence of the Black Fingers were allowed.
That was the minimum qualification required for spectatorship.
‘So I was wondering how many would show up…’
Oscar looked around the massive courtroom.
It could accommodate over 500 people—an enormous space for a court—and it was packed.
In fact, due to the lack of seats, some of those in lower standing had tactfully given up their spots and chosen to stand.
‘I never expected so many people in the Empire to know about the Black Fingers.’
Oscar’s eyes glimmered as he scanned the surroundings.
Even just from the people gathered here, the lineup was impressive.
‘And of course, they’re sitting divided by faction.’
He couldn’t help but laugh at how that childish behavior hadn’t changed despite the years.
The spectator seats in the courtroom were divided into three sections.
The central section was occupied by those affiliated with the Imperial Family:
The mages of the Magic Department led by the 8th-level Chief Court Mage, Andre Bright.
The 7th-level knight and elite leader of the Public Security Bureau, Walker Blackion, and his subordinates.
Along with them sat individuals who appeared to be royal blood or powerful figures from various departments.
‘Even nobles who don’t officially side with any faction seem to be seated in the middle.’
Naturally, those seated to the left and right of the center were clearly grouped.
Oscar looked first to the left.
‘The sword clans.’
The five families that had produced high-level knights for centuries.
These sword clans, ruled by masters of the blade, were each as powerful as an entire magic tower.
And from what Oscar could sense, they weren’t to be underestimated.
‘There are four 7th-level knights just among those seated over there… And that aura—must be the grumpy old man from the Heavenly Sword Clan. His level's deeper than it was twenty years ago. Almost at the edge of the 8th level.’
The Heavenly Sword Clan, Toft Clan, Dragon Sword Clan, Maktu Clan, and Silverrain Clan.
Oscar hadn’t seen members of the sword clans since he awakened in his new body.
And if the left side was filled with sword clans, the right side was no surprise.
‘Mages.’
Kudel Redmane, the 8th-level Red Tower Master, sat slouched in his chair.
Though the other Tower Masters weren’t present, several 7th-level mages had come from each of the towers.
Also seated with them were members of renowned magical families that had produced excellent mages for generations.
‘Proud, Russell, Bellode… A lot of familiar faces.’
Twenty years was a surprisingly long time.
It was enough for promising talents of the past to become key figures or even heads of their families.
Oscar recognized several familiar faces, but his expression wasn’t bright.
‘…Which also means that despite so many people knowing about the Black Fingers, they’ve failed to root them out.’
A clear sign of just how deeply and secretly the organization had embedded itself into society.
As Oscar kept scanning the crowd, Walker asked:
“Surprising. I didn’t know you were so interested in other people.”
“Well, it’s the first time I’ve seen so many big names from the Empire gathered in one place.”
“Fair enough.”
Nodding in understanding, Walker turned his gaze forward and added:
“It’s fine now since you’re sitting next to me, but try not to stare like that outside. You might pick a fight without meaning to.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
But almost as soon as those words left his mouth, Oscar felt a scorching gaze piercing through him.
Its source: an old man sitting in the front row of the left-hand gallery.
A white-bearded elder with an aura of kindness, like an immortal sage.
Unlike the other sword clan knights, his waist was noticeably unarmed.
“…Strange.”
The old man murmured as he stared at Oscar, then suddenly stood up and began walking toward him.
With every step he took, Oscar’s eyebrows twitched.
He could feel the massive pressure of the man's overwhelming mana bearing down on his shoulders.
“Hoho, that’s quite enough, elder.”
Andre Bright stood and released his own mana, softening the oppressive force.
The old man turned and stared directly at him.
“A fledgling of the Imperial magic court, is it?”
“This fledgling is now over eighty and humbly serves as the head court mage.”
An indirect request to back off, given their respective statuses.
The old man chuckled at the idea.
“How amusing. But why should this old man cease his actions? Have I committed a crime?”
“Not at all. But what may be mere amusement to you could be quite the burden for that child.”
“Hmm…”
After a moment’s thought, the old man seemed to accept the reasoning and withdrew his aura.
Then he looked at Oscar and said:
“I’ve taken a step back and withdrawn my energy, so now explain—who is this child?”
Though it was hard to see how threatening someone and then stopping qualified as “taking a step back,” Andre nodded.
“This is Oscar Crucian, a 6th-level mage from the White Tower.”
“…Oscar?”
“Yes. He’s considered one of the Empire’s most promising rising stars.”
“Hmph.”
Despite the courteous explanation, the old man’s expression remained stiff.
“The White Tower, huh… Perhaps that’s why. His mana feels very similar to what that brat used to have.”
“That brat?”
“Oscar Sage. That arrogant pup who thought the world of himself.”
A collective gasp rippled through the room.
While sword clans and mages rarely got along, Oscar Sage was a hero to all humanity—regardless of faction.
It was shocking to hear him spoken of so lightly in such a formal setting.
‘Geez, the guy’s over a hundred and still has a rotten attitude.’
Oscar grumbled inwardly, but didn’t dare show it.
That’s when someone entirely unexpected came to his defense.
“He was arrogant, true. No sense of hierarchy at all.”
Kudel Redmane.
The eccentric Red Tower Master, still clad in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts bearing a palm tree print—even in front of the imperial court.
He looked at the elder—his senior by a generation—through his sunglasses and added:
"Should a washed-up senior who achieved less than that guy in the war really be making such judgments?"
"Hmph."
At such a blatantly provocative remark, the old man gave a sardonic smile, as if he found it amusing.
And why wouldn't he?
He had surpassed the age of one hundred more than a decade ago, yet he still held onto the title of Heavenly Sword—the previous Swordmaster of the Heavenly Sword Clan.
Even though the Red Tower Lord standing before him was said to be over seventy, to him, the man still looked like a young upstart.
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[Translator - Night]
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"How amusing. It feels like just yesterday that a ten-year-old brat couldn't even lift his head in front of me."
"And what exactly were you doing all the way until that brat grew up enough to talk back with his head held high?"
"How dare you!"
"How dare you speak so recklessly in his presence!"
Those words sparked outrage among the knights of the Heavenly Sword Clan.
They rose to their feet in fury, glaring fiercely at the Red Tower Lord.
"Sit down while I’m still asking nicely."
"Interrupting a conversation between elders—have the knights of the Heavenly Sword Clan not even learned basic manners?"
Not to be outdone, the mages of the Red Tower also stood up, magic swirling around them.
As tension flooded the courtroom, Kudel merely shrugged.
"So? Will you humor this junior with a good bout right here and now?"
"……Hmph."
Cheon Mujin snorted quietly.
Fighting a much younger junior would only tarnish his reputation—that much was obvious.
And the other man clearly knew it, which is why he was being so insolent.
"The day will come when that arrogant mouth of yours leads you to ruin, even if I don’t personally take care of it."
"‘Senior’—actually, no. What ‘senior’? We walk different paths, don’t we? Watch your mouth. I don’t appreciate being insulted by knights instead of rival mages."
"Rival? As far as I know, you never even reached Oscar's level in your entire life."
"Says who? The gap between me and that guy was negligible."
"Then I suppose that acorn was the size of a mountain."
"……."
The two glared at each other, neither seeming willing to back down.
The standoff only ended when a royal attendant entered the courtroom.
"Everyone, return to your seats and show proper respect to His Majesty the Emperor!"
Most of the courtroom frowned at this.
In recent years, the Crown Prince had handled all state affairs on behalf of the ailing Emperor.
‘The Emperor? At this point?’
‘I heard he doesn’t have much time left.’
‘Is he trying to show he hasn’t chosen a successor yet?’
Yet, contrary to all expectations, the Emperor who strode in with confident steps looked far from someone battling illness.
This made everyone’s minds race.
‘Is he trying to prove in front of everyone that he’s still fine? But why?’
‘Could it be… he overcame his illness?’
‘If that’s true, then maybe the one to inherit the throne won’t be the Crown Prince after all…’
Sitting in his designated seat behind the Chief Justice, the Emperor spoke.
"Raise your heads."
He looked around at the courtroom, reading their thoughts as if they were laid bare.
"My illness has been completely cured, so stop scheming so hard."
"!"
At this bombshell announcement, the audience instinctively bowed their heads—
not so much to show respect as to hide their shocked expressions.
Amused by the ridiculous sight, the Emperor turned to the Chief Justice and ordered:
"Begin the trial."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Bring forth the accused!"
At the Chief Justice’s booming command, two royal guards brought forth the shackled Neil Brion.
They forced him to kneel before everyone, and the judge’s solemn voice echoed out.
"As you all know, this is not a court to determine guilt or innocence."
Such concepts only applied in a normal courtroom.
There were no prosecutors or defense attorneys here.
This assembly served one purpose only:
To decide the punishment of someone already labeled a ‘criminal.’
The Chief Justice looked down at the man and spoke.
"Neil Brion, the accused, acted as a key member of the illegal secret society ‘Black Finger,’ which threatens the very existence of the Empire. He has committed high treason by defying the Imperial family and seeking to overthrow the foundation of our great Empire. Using his position as executive director of Newtech Inc., he spearheaded the development, production, and distribution of a forbidden drug that transforms innocent citizens into demons...."
The Chief Justice listed the charges against him with fluent precision, like water flowing from a stream.
Though the trial was clearly scripted, the judge’s ability to recite everything without even a stumble was honestly impressive.
"……Thus, this Chief Justice requests His Majesty’s approval to use the Crown of Truth, as the accused’s knowledge is deemed essential to the Empire."
"Granted."
At the Emperor’s command, a mage came forth holding a cushion as if it were a sacred relic.
Atop the cushion rested a single circlet—
Though unassuming in appearance, it was an artifact of immeasurable value to the Empire.
The Chief Justice spoke again.
"Accused, do you have any last words?"
Neil Brion remained silent.
As the Chief Justice nodded toward the mage to place the crown on his head—
"Heh… Hehehe."
A burst of manic laughter echoed through the courtroom.
"Kuhuh, hahaha, hahahahaha!"
The laughter belonged to none other than Neil Brion.
The Chief Justice frowned deeply.
"Do you find this situation amusing?"
"Of course. Isn’t it hilarious beyond belief?"
As he finished laughing and raised his head, a look of ecstatic joy covered his face.
"Seeing all of you gathered here today has confirmed it for me."
His eyes shimmered with uncontrollable delight, and his body trembled as he spoke:
"The Empire has already lost—even before the battle has begun. You will never defeat them."
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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