Chapter 38

  The Trial

  Part 1

  “Ah. Looks like the tournament is finally over. We have a winner who will play the role of prosecutor. The court recognizes Raguel, Angel of Vengeance and Justice, as the lead prosecutor in this case.”-Chronos

  “Where is the one who is to be judged?”-Raguel

  “Over there, at the Defendant's table, along with his Defense Counsel.”-Chronos.

  “And which is which?”-Raguel.

  “I am Jade, appointed by the court to defend the rights of the Defendant, Lord Raguel. This man beside me is the former king of Sydonia, Artorious Sydonia III. He is the one to be put on trial, once all the evidence, and witnesses for, and against him have been properly vetted.”-Jade

  “I see. Here is a list of the witnesses I wish to call during the trial.” Raguel summons a rather long list of names and hands it over to Jade.

  “Iluna, Alura, please go over this list and let me know how we should approach these people.”-Jade.

  “You have assistants? I am to fight one on three?”-Raguel

  “Hardly, Lord Raguel. This is not a fight but a journey to try and find the truth.”-Jade

  “I see. And what evidence do you...Oh.”-Raguel

  “Yes. I have a lot to search through, and I'd be more than happy to present a copy of whatever you need for your side of the case...”-Jade

  Suddenly a beam of light passes over all the system logs. “No need. I have gleamed all I can from your rather extensive arsenal, and I must say it does not bode well for the Defense.” says Raguel.

  Raguel marches over to the prosecution section of the court and awaits the start of the trial.

  “Okay. I wish this was all on a computer in easily searchable format. I know we're in a place separated from normal Space-time, but it's not a good thing to keep a god waiting.”-Jade.

  And so, the study of the almost literal mountain of documents began, with Alura and Iluna focused on the system logs and Jade focused on the written testimony presented by Raguel, along with the list of witnesses, so that the two women would be spared dealing with “His Majesty” as much as possible.

  “Frankly, Your Highness, the evidence I'm seeing is pretty damning. All the testimony I've read so far shows that you are not just a member of the Black Serpents, who happily opened the way for not one, but two Abyss gods who were intent on consuming the whole world, and The System with it. All the testimony states you're a high ranking member. Now, before you say it's all a lie to try and defend your actions, I was at the very city where the summon took place and saw it with my own eyes, not to mention fought said Abyss gods and their armies. The case is all truly 'open and shut' as they say. So how, exactly, were you planning to protest your innocence?”-Jade

  “They're lying! THEY'RE ALL LYING!!” Artorious Sydonia decries at the top of his lungs. “I was forced to join at sword-point! Or rather, my family was held hostage at sword-point. I'm only a 'high rank' member because I'm a king!” Artorious then turns away in shame. “In truth, I'm just a lowly grunt.”

  “Now that is interesting. If we can convince the court that you were forced to join under duress, preferably had no knowledge of their true goals, and ideally had no way to resist, we might be able to, at the very least, plead for leniency. It's not much, but it's the best shot we have.”-Jade

  “YOU ARE TOTALLY USELESS!!! Is there no one competent enough to show my magnificence to the world and defeat all the lies against me?! Looks like I'll have to defend myself! GET OUT OF MY...”-King Sydonia

  “Your Honor, the Defendant wishes to address the court.”-Jade

  “Very well. Speak, Defendant!”-Chronos.

  “Is there really nobody else? This incompetent's going to get me convicted! If that's the case, I'd rather defend myself!”-King Sydonia

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  “Sure. You can do that, I suppose. But then you'd have a brainless fool as your defense attorney.”-Chronos

  “Thank you, Lord Chronos... HEY!! Are you calling this great and mighty me a brainless fool?”- King Sydonia

  “What else would you call a petulant man baby who screams and shouts at a god after begging said god for an appeal against The System, rants and raves against his defense attorney for doing their job and wading through countless documents and affidavits to try and find some way to defend you, and does his best to alienate everyone during the proceedings? Not to mention pretty much literally spits on the guy who is the closest thing to an objective party who is trying to defend him?! Does your country have some kind of stat penalty on intelligence (INT) or something?”-Chronos

  “Should I answer that?”-Jade

  “No. Better you don't.”-Chronos

  “Hmph! If this were back in Sydonia, I'd be out of the courtroom a free man already!”-King Sydonia

  “Perhaps that has more to do with you being their king and less to do with their abilities. You'd better get it into your hollow head, Your Majesty, and I must say I use the term very, very loosely, that this is my court and we do things my way. OR ELSE!” Chronos taps the staff of his scythe on the ground, and the room shakes with the force of a magnitude 6 earthquake, making the arrogant and petulant King Sydonia cower under the table, trembling in fear. “Now. Does the defense counsel have any questions?”

  “As a matter of fact, I do, Your Honor.”-Jade

  “Very well. What are they?”-Chronos.

  “I noticed in these witness lists that several of them are dead. How are they going to testify when called?”-Jade

  “Oh. That is an excellent question. I will pluck them out of the timeline before they die, they will be asked their questions, give their testimony, and then they will be returned to the timeline, no wiser.”-Chronos.

  “Thank you, Your Honor. That's all for the moment. We are still fine-tuning our defense strategy.”-Jade

  “Hah! As if that's all. You are all trying to railroad me!!”-Artorious

  “Mr. Artorious Sydonia! You impugn the dignity of this court! If we were trying to railroad you, you wouldn't even have a defense attorney and would have to sort through your own mess yourself! We wouldn't even provide you a list of witnesses set to testify against you!”-Chronos

  “HAH! All empty showmanship and theater to make yourselves look legit...” (Poof)

  Artorious disappears for a brief moment, coming back shaking and haggard.

  “Now. Was the two thousand years you went through enough to finally get you to take this seriously and cooperate in your own defense?”-Chronos

  “Y-y-yes, Your Honor.”-Artorious.

  “Good. This court will not tolerate any more of that nonsense from you. Is there anything else?”-Chronos

  “Not at this time, Your Honor.”-Jade

  “N-n-no, Sire.”-Artorious

  “Very well. Proceed with preparing your defense, but be warned, the court's patience is very, very thin right now.”-Chronos

  Jade turns to the now very, very well cowed former king, “Now. Are there any witnesses to your claims?”

  Despite being repeatedly forced into temporal loops lasting thousands of years, as punishment for disrespecting the court of Chronos, the former king still has enough stubborn, useless pride to glare at his defense attorney before proclaiming “YES! BUT YOU KILLED THEM, BITCH!!”

  Rubbing his temple to deal with the growing migraine this deposed king is giving him, Jade just asks him to name them.

  In a fervent rage, Artorious Sydonia hastily scribbles some names on a piece of parchment and shoves them unto Jade, as if he's trying to push away some smelly refuse.

  “Your Honor, here's a list of witnesses for the defense. I would vet them but currently lack the ability...”-Jade

  Chronos takes the offered parchment, scans it for a moment, and then, with a snap of his fingers, hands Jade back some sworn affidavits. “As requested, Defense Counsel.”

  “Thanks, Your Honor. We will try to keep this brief.”-Jade

  “See that you do.”-Chronos

  Jade takes the documents back to the pouting and glaring former king to have him verify their contents.

  Just barely skimming through them, the former king goes “Yes.”, “That's right.”, “That looks legitimate.”, “I guess this will do.” and so on.

  “Just so you're aware, it's your existence on the line, not mine. Are you sure?'”

  “Just shut it, Bitch! If it wasn't for being forced to deal with you by 'The Court', I'd have run you through a thousand times! As if a (snort) woman can be better than a man at anything...”-Artorious.

  “Okay then. Just remember your words and deeds in the case things go badly because you just couldn't be bothered to cooperate.”-Jade.

  “Why you...” but before he could go any further, the former king sees Chronos's empty eye sockets staring back at him and he shuts up, sits down, and just fumes quietly.

  “Here is our list of witnesses and their affidavits, Lord Raguel. Please let us in the Defense know when you are ready.”-Jade.

  “With pleasure... What title should I use?”-Raguel,

  “Sir, or Jade, will suffice.”-Jade.

  “Very good.” And Raguel quickly scans through the witnesses and testimony. “A weak defense, but valid. The prosecution is ready to begin.”

  “Before we start the proceedings, is there anything else you'd like to add, Your Majesty?”-Jade

  “GO [CENSORED] YOURSELVES!!”-Artorious