Chapter 46: The Courtroom Trial (Part Two)

The vast majority present had never witnessed a court trial; the three judges themselves had never presided over one. The entire proceeding was chaotic, devolving into what seemed merely a quarrel between Kevin and Chief Hobru. In terms of argument, who could possibly rival a bard? Especially when Kevin was among the finest of his kind.

Yet the judges were, after all, distinguished figures, and soon regained their composure, demanding a return to order.

Kevin cleared his throat and brought the discussion back. "Your Honors, I request to summon a witness. Once he appears, everything will become clear."

"Summon the witness!" the three judges agreed in succession.

A moment later, Sergeant Borus walked slowly to the witness stand, and the chief’s face turned utterly astonished. For a moment, he could not fathom how his own subordinate had become the opposing side's witness.

"Your Honors!" the chief interjected, "They have shamefully bribed my soldier! He is a duplicitous fellow, unworthy of trust!"

This time, Kevin merely stood quietly, awaiting the judges’ decision. To dismiss a witness before he even speaks was excessive; if the judges allowed it, there would be no need for a trial at all.

As expected, the elven judge banged the table. "Party, be mindful—this is not your turn to speak!"

Chief Hobru clenched his teeth, glancing instinctively at the city lord, who signaled him to restrain himself. These people had little experience with courts and little respect for judges.

"Your name and occupation," asked the judge from the Kingdom of Lane.

Sergeant Borus replied, "I am Sergeant Borus of the city’s defense, Thirteenth Battalion."

"What do you wish to prove?" the judge asked.

"I wish to recount some facts," Borus began. "A year ago, I was dispatched into Loubolle's territory. My task was—"

"Objection!" Chief Hobru interrupted again. "His testimony has nothing to do with the current incident!"

"Objection!" Kevin slammed the table. "The opposing side repeatedly interrupts the witness. I suggest the judges hold him in contempt of court!"

Bang! The judge from Lane declared, "Objection sustained."

A hush fell over the court. Kevin stared at Hobru, Hobru at the witness, both filled with hostility. The witness looked left and right, bewildered, while everyone else remained silent. The three judges waited patiently.

The silence endured; the hostile gazes grew confused. Even the soldiers exchanged surprised glances, and many among the outer crowd showed admiration. Was this the legendary power of silence?

"What are you doing?" the shaman judge finally broke the calm.

Still, no one answered.

"Testimony, please?" the shaman judge prompted again.

The witness blinked. "Didn’t the judge just say the objection was sustained? So I stopped talking." With these words, everyone understood. Both sides had objected simultaneously, and the judge’s "objection sustained" left it unclear whose objection was upheld. Each interpreted it their own way, resulting in an extended awkward pause.

"Then I’ll continue," the witness ventured, seeing no opposition, and resumed, "I was dispatched into Loubolle’s territory. My task was to recruit thugs or unemployed men, give them gold coins, have them pose as Loubolle mercenaries, and then provoke conflict."

At once, murmurs rose among the crowd.

"Several days ago, I led a squad in the Venomous Forest and encountered Kevin’s escort team. My squad had suffered casualties earlier and suspected Kevin’s group. We approached for negotiations, but conflict erupted and blood was shed. We were defeated; only I managed to escape." The witness calmly continued.

The shaman judge shook his head. "We are here to adjudicate the matter of Laolu intruding into the defense office; this is irrelevant."

"Your Honors," Kevin stepped forward, "please hear the witness out. I now question the conduct of the chief himself, suspecting him of undermining peace between the two states. His actions render him unfit for his position."

Another wave of discussion swept the crowd. For ordinary citizens, the trial’s revelations were overwhelming. Yesterday, Kevin had found Sergeant Borus and immediately recognized him as the leader who attacked him in the Venomous Forest. He explained the stakes, spoke of the chief’s character, and asked Borus if he could hope to survive once the truth came out.

Threats and inducements, coupled with vivid possibilities—a man who silences others naturally fears being silenced himself. At this point, Borus had no way out. After a long night of negotiation, he finally agreed to testify.

Laolu’s intrusion into the defense office was undeniable and truly happened; there was no way to refute it. No amount of sophistry could justify breaking in at midnight. Kevin resorted to a mutually destructive strategy: if you expose my actions, I’ll expose yours, and we’ll both go down together.

Borus continued, "This matter has stirred tremendous unrest in Loubolle. Several major mercenary groups have been investigated one by one. In truth, I have already returned home. I am a soldier, acting under orders. All commands came from my superior—Chief Hobru!"

"My testimony is complete." Borus bowed slightly.

The judge from Lane turned, "Colonel Hobru, do you have anything to say regarding the witness’s accusations?"

"I also request to summon a witness!" Hobru had regained his composure. He beckoned a military officer with a glance. "Come! Prove it!"

The officer caught the signal. "Your Honors, I can attest that Sergeant Borus’s words are pure nonsense."

Kevin sneered. "And what is the truth?"

"The truth is, our chief never issued such orders!" the officer declared righteously.

"Ha," Kevin retorted, "may I ask your position?"

"I am a captain, commander of the sixth squad," he replied.

"Tell me, must every order from a colonel be reviewed by you, a captain?" Kevin countered.

The officer was instantly speechless.

"If not, how can you possibly prove your chief never issued such orders?" Kevin pressed.

The elven judge struck his gavel. "Testimony invalid—step down!"

"Wait, I have another witness!" Chief Hobru hurriedly summoned another.

"Ahem, I am commander of the Thirteenth Battalion," the new witness said, "Borus’s immediate superior. I attest that Sergeant Borus never received such orders."

Kevin asked, "Then what has he been doing recently?"

"Staying in the squad, undergoing normal training," the witness replied tersely, wary of revealing any weakness.

"And where do you train?"

"That’s a military secret; I cannot disclose it." The new witness was tight-lipped.

"In that case, I request to summon some mercenaries to ask precisely where the Thirteenth Battalion trains!" Kevin turned to the judges. Here, mercenaries and regular troops were perpetually at odds, and everyone knew each other’s business; so-called military secrets could be revealed with a simple question.

"Summon a mercenary," ordered the beastfolk judge.

Two mercenaries were brought forward. Having been listening in the back, they immediately replied, "Ha! They train right on their parade ground, ha ha ha!"

Bang! The judge from Lane frowned. "No joking in court!"

The mercenaries were uneducated and ignorant of court decorum, thinking it all a game, and were promptly dismissed.

"Our military secrets—what do these mercenaries know?" the city lord interjected. "They aren’t even qualified to testify."

Kevin remained silent for a moment. It was clear the other side intended to say nothing further; everything would be claimed as a military secret, revealing no loopholes, and stubbornly insisting Sergeant Borus had lied. After all, this was their turf; they could summon a host of witnesses at will.

"Very well, I now question the witness’s identity," Kevin strode forward, "I suspect your abilities are insufficient to serve as commander of the Thirteenth Battalion."

"And what do you propose?" The new witness produced his credentials. "Here is my proof!"

"Forgery is easy," Kevin scoffed. "My criterion is simple: I will perform a series of actions. If you can replicate them perfectly, I’ll accept you as the true commander. Do you dare?"

The new witness looked around. "Fine!" Kevin was only a bard, while he was a commander, solid in the basics and unafraid. Even if he failed, he could claim Kevin’s actions were meaningless, lacking probative value.

"My actions are difficult, but if you truly possess a commander’s skill, you’ll manage! If not, you’re merely an impostor!" Kevin pressed on.

"Hmph." The other merely snorted, refusing to answer.

Kevin bent over, scratching his head and ears. The other, after a moment’s hesitation, followed suit, bending and scratching.

Kevin hopped left, then right; the other mimicked. Kevin rolled on the ground; the other rolled as well. Kevin puffed out his belly, using it as a pivot, limbs splayed as he spun in circles; the other, refusing to be outdone, spun on his belly.

The entire court was silent, dumbfounded as the two men rolled about.

Suddenly, Kevin sprang to his feet and leapt backwards several times. The other reacted quickly, jumping backwards in turn. Kevin deftly swung his hand in reverse; the other copied him—

Smack! Chief Hobru received a slap.

The whole court: "……"

Unbeknownst to all, the new witness had jumped backward right in front of Chief Hobru. Kevin’s reverse slap was promptly delivered to his immediate superior. Chief Hobru, caught off guard, had been focused on Kevin, wondering what trick he was playing, only to be struck unexpectedly.

"Your Honors," Kevin returned to the defendant’s seat, "I question the intelligence of the new witness; he is unfit to testify."

The three judges: "……"

The new witness stood frozen, dumbstruck, his mind repeating one idea: I hit the chief, I hit the chief, I hit the chief…

"You, get out!" Chief Hobru yanked the new witness away.

Kevin sneered, "Colonel Hobru, with so many soldiers under your command, must they all take the stand one by one as proof?"

Hobru’s face turned ashen, and he said nothing.

"Colonel Hobru," Kevin’s tone softened, "you have directly undermined peace between two nations, attempting to provoke conflict. If this charge is substantiated, it is far graver than any midnight intrusion. I suggest we sit down and negotiate—what do you think?"

Kevin’s words clearly signaled hope for an out-of-court settlement. Otherwise, neither side would fare well, and there was no need for it.

Hobru understood, but he was no longer master of the situation; he had to look to the city lord. The city lord merely gave a cold smile. "Since the court is convened, let it rule; otherwise, would it not be a farce?"

Hobru’s face turned pale; the city lord evidently cared nothing for his fate. What mattered to him was prestige—why go to such lengths for a court, after all? With so many eyes watching, what would people think? As for a defense chief, he was but a mere soldier, insignificant.

Kevin stepped forward. "May I ask, city lord, what is your role in this court?"

The city lord paused. "I am the city lord."

"In court, one is either a judge, plaintiff, defendant, lawyer, observer, or juror. What position is city lord? I’ve never heard of it." Kevin’s tone was forceful, showing little regard for the city lord.

"Boy, do you know who you’re speaking to?" The city lord’s guards stepped forward. Even in chaotic places like Laibozi’er, mercenaries might dislike the regular army, but the city lord commanded respect and fear. He was the pinnacle of personal power, not to be provoked. Kevin’s direct challenge left the court in stunned silence.

"In court, the judge reigns supreme! Since you convened this court and named it as such, then uphold basic respect! You wear no wig, nor black robe, nor sit in the judge’s chair. Here, you are merely an observer. Without a judge’s summons, you have no right to speak!" Kevin pressed on, unwavering.

The city lord: "……"

Even the resident ambassador took notice; to confront the city lord so directly was bold indeed. Truly, youth knows no fear.

"Your Honors," Kevin turned, "though this is the city’s first court, its solemnity is unquestionable. If anyone repeatedly shows contempt and speaks out of turn, believing themselves above reproach due to rank—how should the court respond?"

Bang! The shaman judge struck the table. "Then kill him!"

Everyone: "……"

The city lord’s face darkened, but the shaman judge was unafraid. Beastfolk spoke bluntly and cared little for human city lords.

The court was quiet; the city lord stood awkwardly, his face burning, but unable to lose his temper.

Kevin ignored him, turning instead to Colonel Hobru. "Given your ability, you did not send men into Loubolle of your own accord. You must have acted on someone’s orders, and likely sent more than just Sergeant Borus. Tell us—who gave the command?"

Colonel Hobru instinctively glanced at the city lord, but said nothing.

"Why are you looking at the city lord?" Kevin asked.

The hall was silent, all eyes fixed on Colonel Hobru’s face, the city lord’s gaze especially sharp, murderous. Colonel Hobru stood for a moment, then finally closed his eyes. "It was my idea alone."

Kevin was taken aback. He had expected a prolonged evasion, not such an easy admission. Nor did Kevin truly wish to convict Hobru; if he were found guilty, Laolu could hardly refute the charges and would be convicted as well.

The main conflict for out-of-court settlement still lay with the city lord; Kevin had tried to shift the blame onto him, but unexpectedly…