‎ "Wait," Shen commanded and left the tent.

Everyone was looking at everyone with their Law Vision, and they could talk at a distance, but some things had to be resolved in person. Once outside, he checked Luthdel. He was tied by a simple rope, kneeling on the ground, looking devoid of the will to fight. His unhelmet face was bloodied, but his injuries had already healed. He was healthy enough.

Satisfied, Shen looked at what the Recognition Interface displayed above Luthdel's head.

‎ ‎

| Luthdel Elafir (C) — Lieutenant

| Race: High Elf

| Clearances: Leadership 2

| Active Clearance Proposals: Second-in-Command Specialist [Pending Captain-level Approval], Berserker [Pending Captain-level Approval]

| Dropped Clearance Proposals: Overall Tactical Analysis [UNFITTING PERSONALITY]

| Commendations: 5

| Demerits: 2

| NOTICE: Planning to attack First Sergeant Marzia Martino, unknown depth of planned injuries. Recommended immediate action.

‎ ‎

Shen ignored almost everything and focused on the yellow-colored notice at the end. Although positioned at the bottom, it was closest to Luthdel's head and, thus, more likely to be seen, especially considering its color. That explained why he had been captured.

The way everyone had arrived also told Shen many things.

First, Luthdel had accomplished the mission Shen had given him—to a point. He had found out Martino was somehow related to his brother's death. How much Luthdel had learned would determine what Shen would do. Shen still hoped not to be wrong about the guy, that Luthdel wouldn't attack Martino if he knew the whole truth.

Second, Rayna had also succeeded in her primary mission: protecting Martino. Luthdel had only planned an attack, so Marzia Martino was still alive.

Third, and almost more importantly than everything else, the drow in Samir were all outcasts.

Drow culture was brutal but also straightforward and uniform. Rayna displayed emotions now and then, which was a failure on her part. Only at B-rank were they allowed the personal freedom to feel. The two C-ranks, looking upset at Shen, were not trying to control their feelings or hide them. That was a first.

They were the first outcasts Shen found, and he was more curious about them than anything he had seen to date. What exactly did they disagree with regarding drow culture? How had they cut their ties with the Triarchy? How were they doing? Had their views changed after they found their freedom? Shen wanted to know everything.

Alas, they were unlikely to tell him for one simple reason. "I am drow," he said.

"You are drow," Rayna agreed.

That set him and the outcasts worlds apart. Theoretically, he was supposed to capture them and return them to Shar'Talon for re-indoctrination. He wouldn't do that, of course, not even if they were outside the military, but they didn't know it and would never believe him anyway. Even if they thought he might be genuine, there was no reason to risk it. It was much safer just not to interact with him beyond the strictly necessary.

As for why he was sure all drow in Samir were outcasts, it was statistically impossible for the drow from Shar'Talon to be around, yet the only two drow whom Shen had found to date to be these two C-ranks. After cleaning six mobile fortresses, he hadn't even heard about any other drow. There was no drow from Shar'Talon around except Rayna and maybe Darla.

Speaking of which, the fourth thing he learned with the circumstances was that Liya and the Triarchy had lied to him.

Shen had been told all drow C-ranks and weaker would come to Samir. Liya had confirmed it. When he asked Liya about it, she guaranteed the drow had contacted Martino, and they were working together. Alas, they weren't around.

That led him to the fifth point: Martino had also lied to him.

Shen hadn't exchanged many messages with her, but she had said the drow were helping her and humanity. Considering how she had been almost raped, but now these drow were helping her and were upset about Luthdel, a high elf, planning shit, she hadn't been in contact with any drow before now. At least not these ones, who, as far as he could tell, were the only ones in Samir.

Finally, sixth, Rayna probably knew all about it. She had been surprised by seeing Darla, likely another drow from Shar'Talon. He would have to talk to Rayna when he had the time.

Shen glanced over the surrounding people, but his eyes couldn't locate Martino among the masses. Over a million people were there, and his Law Vision could only pierce so much flesh before everything became a mess. His passive Law senses could've located Martino if he had ever felt her before, but that wasn't the case. His aura could also find her, but considering the tension in the Brigade Commanders' faces, that might spark the wrong—

One of the fugitives tried to sneak out. A D-rank. Shen used Gentle Breeze to behead him, then slice his vital organs.

Anyway, if he deployed his aura, it might spark the wrong reaction from the Commanders, even if it wasn't technically an attack.

‎ ‎

| Maryon (C) — First Lieutenant

| Commander of the 173rd Mana Brigade

‎ ‎

| Nucio (C) — First Lieutenant

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

| Commander of the 175th Mana Brigade

‎ ‎

The two drow Commanders were males. They wore a similar outfit, black and silver plate armor. One carried a massive sword on his back, similar in size to Luthdel's—which was missing—and the other's gauntlet was covered with spikes. Both had three mastered Laws each.

Shen waited for them to say something, but they seemed happy with staring him down. So, he nodded and offered, "Thanks for capturing my helper before he did something even stupider. I'll bring the full force of the law upon him."

Strictly speaking, planning an attack was not a grave offense. Everyone was a Guardian, and their very minds had been modified for extra aggressiveness. Shen, too, often wondered how amazing it was to destroy the entire Alliance. Sure, actual planning, as the system had detected, meant Luthdel had made notes, told someone, purchased tools, or made moves toward accomplishing his goals. Yet, it was still not attempted murder.

They were an Exemplary Brigade, so he would be punished as if it were a severe offense, but it wouldn't be that bad for the high elf. Shen grabbed Luthdel with his Gentle—

Another Law cut his Gentle Breeze off.

Shen's high willpower didn't matter if he invested only a little of it when using his Laws, which he usually did. So, it was simple to cut him off. Yet, it was also a direct attack.

He looked back at Maryon. He had long, black, curly hair in multiple braids that met together into a thicker one. His eyes displayed mockery. And yet, he still kept his silence.

Shen could do a whole lot of things here. To be honest, the pettiness made him dissatisfied, to say the least. Yet, he didn't attack. That's not what the most exemplary of soldiers was supposed to do.

He stated, "Luthdel is part of my Brigade, which has been deployed. He did wrong and will be tried. Further interference with the 7th Exemplary Brigade's internal affairs will be considered a direct challenge to its undergoing mission and, thus, treason."

A female voice said from the crowd, "Not if we were given the same mission and deem you to be unable to keep your subordinates under control, thus interfering with our unit's effectiveness."

Shen smiled sourly as he recognized the voice as belonging to Martino. He didn't have to be a genius to conclude she was a Justicar. That was the most likely answer to why she was interfering with the Exemplary Brigade. Even if she were pissed with Luthdel, it would be in her best interests to side with Shen here instead of her impromptu saviors—who had been in Samir yet did nothing to save her before now.

"Is that what this is about?" Shen asked the two Commanders. "You want to waste my time with a Tribunal of Peers?"

The fastest way to resolve such an impasse would be to ask a B-rank, but only if said B-rank was in both parties' chain of command or accepted by both as a neutral party. That wouldn't work here because the Exemplary Brigade hadn't been attached to any Corps. That left the Tribunal of Peers, where Brigade Commanders decided things among themselves. There were all sorts of rules to determine who was right or wrong, but even the slightest offense might take up to two weeks to solve if one of the parties wasn't interested in reaching an agreement.

Shen couldn't waste that time; he was in a competition.

"A Tribunal sounds good," Maryon said with a voice that could only be described as a slimy douchebag's.

‎ ‎

| You've been invited by First Lieutenant Maryon (C) to solve your differences in a Tribunal of Peers

‎ ‎

Shen smiled. "I refuse. I have taken note of Lieutenant Luthdel's health. From now on, his well-being is your responsibility until one of our Brigades is no longer deployed, and there is no longer a conflict of interest."

Frankly, although that would leave Shen a little weaker, it also solved his most significant issue. Luthdel had come mainly so Shen could babysit the guy. Now, he had just pushed the hot potato into someone else's hands.

Then, his smile turned into a smirk. He said, "Also, I can appoint someone of my race to witness everything happening to him, and I choose Marzia Martino."

If the little ploy worked, Martino and Luthdel would be forced to interact and solve their issues. Or they wouldn't solve anything—which would mean Shen had his answer about ending his friendship with Luthdel. Yet, even if it didn't work, it would force them to deliver Luthdel to him.

"You can't pick her," Maryon replied. "You just said you're drow."

"So are you," Shen countered without worry. "And I'm also human."

Shen wasn't stupid enough to engage a drow lawyer in the minutiae of any set of rules. They knew how to find and exploit loopholes and push the boundaries beyond what anyone else could. Even your average drow was better at that than a trained commoner lawyer.

Yet, things were straightforward enough in the military, especially in this case. He had been deployed as a drow, but he could ask for someone of his "secondary" race to watch over Luthdel because those two people belonged to his deployment race.

‎ ‎

| Invitation rescinded

‎ ‎

Shen snorted and grabbed Luthdel again. No one cut his Law off this time. He deposited the high elf in the tent.

He then turned to Nucio, beside whom Rayna stood.

Nucio was Martino's Brigade Commander. That explained why Rayna was there but not why another Brigade had captured Luthdel. The latter, and their coming together, was a show of force.

Shen said, "Is Lieutenant Rayna also kept captive?"

"Yes," Nucio replied. His voice was hoarse, and he spoke quickly and harshly. "I don't like spies, child. She's lucky she's drow. Mentally slaved as you all, but still drow. She'll live."

Shen looked silently for a few seconds, unsure if he had heard right. Then, still looking at Nucio, he slightly tilted his head to where he had heard Martino's voice previously. "Are you sure you'll let him say that, Justicar Martino?"

Justicars couldn't be identified, and Shen had no reason to oust her like this. It officially marked her as having failed her assignment, and he had nothing against her despite her previous little play. But if he had to exchange her well-being for the fight that was about to happen, he would. Revealing the truth forced her to say anything as a last act of justice—at least if she had these people's best interests at heart.

The two drow frowned, and Martino said nothing. Shen then understood that she wanted these Commanders to be held in a Tribunal of Peers or get killed. She had been willing to sacrifice her special identity for that.

Shen frowned. That was a far cry from the manipulative and scheming Martino he had met on Earth. Then, he sighed. It was good to see she had evolved. To a point. The only thing worse than being a cog in the machine was being a burrowed knife used by someone much weaker than him.

He would give her the benefit of the doubt because it seemed she had gone through a lot in Samir.

Shen said, "Now I know how at least you became an outcast, Commander Nucio. Too direct and straightforward to be controlled with half-truths. Sadly, you said the wrong thing. You accused Lieutenant Rayna of being a spy from a competing unit deployed on a similar mission. Such action is forbidden and usually a severe offense, but this isn't a usual situation. She belongs to an Exemplary Brigade. For us, that is not merely severe; that's treason.

"As she's my direct subordinate and was acting under my orders to find Sergeant Martino, you're accusing me of treason, too. I declare that to be a lie. I also declare you to be willingly and knowingly trying to hinder my mission's progress. You went as far as declaring me a traitor to accomplish that, and slander that may cause death is treason in itself.

"That can only be solved in one way. You have ten seconds to admit your wrongdoings as an honest mistake and surrender yourself before I declare you a traitor for trying to get me killed. I was directly deployed by the Acting General, so unless you can appeal to him, the system will determine who's telling the truth. We both know who the system will pick. You're ten seconds away from execution."

Shen took a step back and took his spear from his ring. "7th Exemplary Brigade, prepare for battle!" he yelled. "First Lieutenant Nucio, submit or die!"

He was slightly pushing the envelope there, but not enough to cross any lines. He could've just forgiven the guy for his ignorance, but those drow intentions were obvious. The moment they made a mistake, Shen had to use it against them. That would serve as a warning to any other asshole who also wanted to delay him.

Shen also refused to believe a C-rank Brigade Commander would be too stupid to realize how serious things were. Only an actual traitor or someone willing to die for an agenda would—

Nucio swung a spiked fist at Rayna while Maryon grabbed the sword on his back and ran at Shen.

Shen smiled and released his aura.

The past days had been pretty dull. It was past time for some fun.