I had to leave Flash Gordon next to Free Chains, putting me in a bad mood. Duchess had to be removed from my shoulders as well.

Sitting on the stand after taking an oath, to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help me, god. Even though it mentions god, it doesn't feel "binding." Maybe a side effect from Iberes being "dead."

I wonder how the High Priest of Law feels about that. I'd ask her if the situation was different.

I have the time to think of useless things because the man supposed to be asking me questions is using this time to pace ominously. Or at least that's the vibe I think he's going for. The sound of his shoes hitting the courtroom floor is almost hypnotizing.

He finally stops to turn and asks his first question.

"Ellis Vincere. That is your name, correct?"

"Yes."

"Vicere. Vincere... Like the late Alexander Vincere, better known as the Silver Conqueror?"

"Those are the same last names. You are spot on."

"What is your relationship with that man?"

Free Chains interjects, "Relevance?"

The lawyer responds with, "I find it relevant, no? The great judge Grayson, High Priestess of Law, Keeper of Order, and Arbiter of Balance, wouldn't oversee this trial if it was just a simple civil suit against one of the families. This is a case between the great families." He stressed the word "great." I don't like that.

The judge makes her verdict. "Overruled. Answer the question."

"I am his grandson."

"What about the rest of the Vinceres? Where are they? Have they met the same fate as your late grandfather?"

Free Chains interjects, "Relevance and badgering the witness!"

"Sustained, change your line of questioning."

"Apologies, my dear judge. Ehem. Ellis. Is it true that you are the one who signed the witness testimony placing my clients at the crimes' location?"

"I don't see how this matters as they confessed to the crime. But yes, at the enforcer station where I gave a statement to the enforcers."

"Who saw you sign the statement? Beyond any tamed beast."

"Only a [Lawspeaker]."

"The man sitting over there? Your lawyer for this case?"

"Yup."

"Judge Grayson, I would like to combat the validity of this evidence as the credibility of both the plaintiff's lawyer and the plaintiff Ellis Vincere. AND to say that Free Chains abused his power to force a false confession from my clients!"

Free Chains interjects, "There is a lack of foundation! High Priestess of Law, Keeper of Order, Arbiter of Balance, please see that his man is abusing the stand to badger my client!"

"Hmm, I want to see where you are going with this. Go ahead, challenge Ellis Vincere's credibility." The judge's words make me squint. What reason is she allowing this?"

"The first evidence I have is Ellis Vincere's medical records. More specifically, the notes left by his psychiatrist. Someone with mental illness cannot be a reliable witness or party. Are these records yours?"

I stopped seeing my shrink after my eighteenth birthday. The papers in front of me have my name plastered all over them.

Free Chain interjects, "Privilege. You are asking him to testify about something protected by a legal privilege. His doctor-patient confidentiality."

"Sustained. Unless the acquisition of those records was handled through the proper channels, they are inadmissible. Pulling some notes out of nowhere will get you nowhere."

"Alright, how about this? The tamed beasts that Ellis owns could be seen as dangerous and pose a threat to society. Discrediting his character and making him irresponsible."

Once again, my knight in furry armor interjects, "Relevance? He's a tamer with no beast-to-civilian-related attacks under his belt. Most tamers can't say the same.

Flash Gordon broke Arlug's nose a few months back, but that was more me than him. A medium for my wrath.

Without waiting for the judge's verdict, the lawyer continues. He asked, "Are you fit to be a member of society? We have signed testimonies suggesting that you lack social skills and have difficulty relating to others. The records may not be admissible in this court, but are you mentally well? Do you feel the need to injure and lie? You practice a self-damaging martial arts, no?"

I'd be hurt and angered if I was actually crazy. And what does this lawyer mean by "lack of social skills," Flash Gordon is right there!

"Badgering! Please, Arbiter!" exclaims Free Chains.

"I am warning you, lawyer Kessler, respect this court, or you can leave it."

"I understand, judge. However, I believe it is crucial to establish the defendant's mental state as it is pertinent to the case. I will refrain from making further statements that may be perceived as disrespectful."

~

I sit down next to Free Chains and wait quietly. After a few more back and forths, the judge finally reached a consensus. Ever since Kendall admitted the murder, it was a straightforward case. We won. More like the Carters won. What was that series of questions? A swan song? I'd rather believe there is some underlying scheme rather than incompetence. Trying to get noncase-related information or trying to get me mad? Did the lawyer manage to reach whatever objective they set out for or did Free Chains fight back hard enough that the judge had to intersect?

The gavel hits the judged stand as she declares, "I have heard enough. Kendall Ken and Kyle Ken, you will be giving the Carters' compensation for pain and emotional suffering, lost wages since the father was the only breadwinner, and reimbursement for funeral or burial expenses totaling 100 million credits. Because of the lack of remorse and for future deterrence, I will personally see that the good enforcers of the capital don't "lose" this case. Yes, an investigation will be opened."

The room gets colder after the last sentence. With the court's transcripts, any investigation will lead to a guilty verdict. They confessed thanks to Free Chains, after all. All the enforcers have to do is turn them into the court system.

The three siblings, red, blue, and yellow masks (who were just moral support), reached for their sword hilts. Their lawyer stops them with an outstretched hand before they can do anything stupid. He says, "Honorable judge, please reconsider! One measly death, and you'll subject the Ken family to the same rules as the peasants? What about the secret-"

Rachel Carter, a grieving wife, mother of three, and quite recently, a multi-millionaire, snaps out of her stunned silence. She never expected to win. If anything, this case was a final desperation to stick it to her husband's murderer. She cries out with rage, drowning out the Kens' lawyer.

"Measly?! My husband's life was measly?! You're begging to be treated differently? No! Begging to be treated like the nobility you pretend to be?!"

"Miss Carter, please restrain yourself. We won!" Free Chain tries to calm the widow down, but it does nothing.

"You killed my husband! You killed the father of my children! And you show no humanity, nothing!? You feel nothing for ripping my family apart!?"

I can tell from behind their masks they find her anger and grief amusing. I don't think they see her as human.

Judge Grayson lets the mother say her piece before addressing Free Chains. "Advise your client to refrain from having outbursts in my court, or else she will be escorted out of here forcefully."

Nathan Carter, the son in the wheelchair, tugs on his mother's clothing and speaks for the first time since I've seen him. "Mom, please. Not now. Not here."

Free Chains looks at the mother and replies, "We would like to call for a recess."

Judge Grayson nods her head in agreement. "Very well. The court is in recess for 30 minutes. When we return, we will continue."

The judge bangs her gavel once, and only our side decides to leave the courtroom. Free Chains leans to speak to the family and whispers reassurances and instructions.

"We got the verdict that we sought. The Ken family has not submitted your family as witnesses for the following cases. If you want, you can sit through the rest of the court case or go home."

"There were two attempts of my life today. Will I be safe going home right now? Will I ever be safe again?"

"... I will spend these thirty minutes contacting the people who will facilitate your safety. I'll even spend some favors and ensure that you can contact me any time."

"I'm sorry. I should be happy that we won, but I'm overwhelmed. I don't know what I should be feeling. Thank you, Free Chains, and thank you, Ellis."

I nod as my reply since I wasn't paying my full attention. I was too busy thinking. Things aren't adding up.

One. The assassination attempt was late if anything. The Ken family had ample time to kill the family, and the attack was hinging on random chance. Unless the man was supposed to kill them after the trial and jumped the gun, having an assassin in that position wasn't the play.

Two. Why have the second assassin, the enforcer? I saw firsthand that the enforcers that arrested the Ken brothers did their due diligence and could be seen as overly aggressive. Only after the higher-ups got involved did the Ken family manage to abuse their standing. So does the Ken family have influence over the lower rungs of the enforcers or not? Maybe this was a one-off.

Three. The fact that the trial commenced without pause should have been a red flag. What fucking courthouse casually continues with its cases after an assassination attempt? It was a literal bombing, and no one batted an I. Is this how the capital rolls?

I leave Flash Gordon with Free Chains and decide to talk to the enforcers standing outside this "break room." There are two of them, and they are wearing helmets that cover their face.

"Hey."

"..."

"You two aren't going to kill an innocent civilian family when I leave, right?"

One of the enforcers might step forward, trying to tower over me with an imposing presence. Imposing if they were taller than me, maybe. His deep, gravelly voice responds, "We don't kill civilians."

The other enforcer remains silent, watching the exchange with a sharp gaze that seems to transcend the helmet. His body language hasn't changed since I spotted him, conveying a sense of readiness.

I give a simple thumbs up and look for the bathroom.

It wasn't hard. Using the urinal in any "public" building has its risks, so when I was mid-process, pants unbuckled, draining the lizard, the last thing I need is someone walking in and making conversation. I blame my luck.

I didn't look over when I heard the door open, and I didn't flinch when a set of footprints headed straight toward me.

[Ehem.]

Duchess' mental nudge makes me look over. The honorable High Priestess of Law, Keeper of Order, Arbiter of Balance Grayson stands three feet from me in the men's bathroom. I make eye contact and stay silent until I finish.

I buckle my pants and go to wash my hands.

"Mister Vincere, may I have a word with you."

"I hope I'm hallucinating."

"Unfortunately, no. I need to ask you a question."

"Isn't this breaking a few laws?"

"This bathroom, on a technicality, is unisex."

"Not what I mean, judge."

"Do you know why I proceed over your case? How trivial a wrongful death lawsuit and an assault case is compared to any impactful breaking of the laws the Ken family has participated in."

"No, I don't know why. Beyond what that lawyer implied, I have speculations that aren't respectful in any capacity."

"The children of the First Party created the great families. We have a society, a group only open to the privileged. As a direct descendant, you can join the group and become part of its inner circle. We "Firstborns" have the country's best access to exclusive resources, power, and knowledge."

"..." She interrupted my silence before leaving the bathroom.

"You can give me an answer after the trial."

I watch her walk away and start contemplating... Duchess, what do you think?

[Thisss one wishes thisss one waited outside with Rob.]