[Brass Tower, Top Floor Council Hall]
"Are you ready?" Tendo stood at the entrance of the council hall and gave Vivian one last question.
Vivian took a deep breath, then nodded firmly, her eyes filled with determination.
"Alright, let's go."
With that, Tendo pushed open the heavy doors.
Thud!
Amid the dull clang of metal, the circular hall slowly came into view as the doors opened. It was a luxurious hall combining classical and modern styles. Sunlight streamed through the carved skylight, casting kaleidoscopic patterns of light on the gear-patterned floor. Twelve giant high-backed chairs, cast from special brass, were arranged around the hall like the markings on a clock face. Seated in them were the twelve Brass Nobles who held the "Quantum Core Authority" of Steam City. They looked down at Tendo and Vivian, who were entering the hall, with expressions that were either curious, calm, or lazy.
Among these masked Brass Nobles, three were from the Gear Church and two were from the Star Envoy Association. This was because the title of 'Brass Noble' wasn't based on bloodline but on whether they held important 'authority.' Thus, even if they weren't citizens of Steam City, they could still become a revered 'Brass Noble' as long as they gained authority.
Click
When Vivian stood at the center of the "judgment stand," Tendo flipped the latch on the edge of the platform and retreated into the shadows. The next second, a spotlight from the dome shone down, perfectly illuminating Vivian's slender figure.
The Speaker of the council, hidden in the shadows, gently tapped the armrest of his "Brass Scepter" and spoke in a commanding tone, "Vivian Howard, do you know your crime?"
Vivian took a deep breath, then raised her head to look directly into the solemn eyes hidden in the shadow of the high-backed chair.
"With all due respect, Speaker, I am... innocent."
At her words, the hall fell into a brief silence, the air seemingly frozen. A moment later, a man wearing the robes of a Gear Church Bishop, seated next to the Speaker, spoke.
"Vivian, at this point, are you still trying to quibble?"
"Quibble?" Vivian looked at the man, her eyes filled with mockery.
An ominous feeling instantly arose in Bishop Cleve's heart.
Vivian turned back to the Speaker, or rather, to the live broadcast camera next to him, and said calmly, "You claim I stole the Church's holy object, but I never stole anything. Because this thing..."
"Shut up!"
Before Vivian could finish, Saintess Euphemia, who was next to Bishop Cleve, immediately interrupted, a hint of unease in her voice. Clearly, Vivian's sudden defiance had thrown the 'Saintess' into a panic. In a flash, Euphemia's eyes turned menacing. Countless invisible threads surged toward Vivian from all directions, attempting to force the 'puppet' back into line.
But just as the threads were about to touch Vivian, a gentle voice came from beside her.
"Saintess Euphemia, you seem... a little agitated."
The threads stopped in mid-air, then receded like a tide. Everyone else thought she was wary of Tendo's identity as a squad captain, but only Euphemia knew what she was truly afraid of.
Bishop Cleve looked at the out-of-control Vivian below, his eyes icy. The Golden Knight Fischer, seated not far away, gave Vivian a brief look before his expression returned to normal, making it clear he was remaining neutral.
Seeing the situation getting out of hand, the Speaker struck the floor heavily with his scepter.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Silence."
Once the hall was quiet again, the Speaker said, "Vivian Howard, since you claim you're innocent, do you have any evidence?"
"Yes."
"Witness or physical evidence?"
"Both."
"..."
After a brief silence, the hall once again erupted into a clamor. The Brass Nobles whispered among themselves, seemingly debating whether to end the meeting or cut the live broadcast. The situation was a clear deviation from the 'script' they had received, making them uneasy.
But before they could reach a conclusion, the Speaker struck his scepter again, interrupting their private conversations. He looked around at his colleagues and gave a solemn reminder.
"Everyone, don't forget that this trial is being watched not only by you but also by countless citizens of Steam City, as well as... some people who are not from Steam City."
"If we lose face in front of our 'guests'..."
The Speaker didn't need to finish his sentence for everyone to understand what he meant. There was only one person in Steam City right now who the Speaker would refer to as a guest: the Fiendblade from the Sun family, along with her Calamity-level protector who was always by her side.
Although the Fiendblade had stayed away from the hall to avoid suspicion, everything they were doing was undoubtedly being watched by her through the live broadcast. If they made a mockery of themselves, that mockery could very well spread to the seven floating cities. To the proud Brass Nobles, this was an unacceptable prospect.
They care more about their own reputation than the fairness of the trial itself?
A mocking smile appeared on Tendo's face as he watched the twelve Brass Nobles above from the shadows. Long-term comfort and arrogance had made these people forget the savagery and brutality of the early Star Source era. Without the drive and ambition of the dark ages, the 'stench of decay' they emitted was palpable to Tendo, even from a distance.
And entrusting such a group of people with powerful 'authority' was a terrible waste. After all, shouldn't good things be in the hands of people who are more suitable for them?
"Alright, the trial will continue."
With a preliminary consensus reached, the Speaker resumed the trial. This time, he seemed to have genuinely become a fair judge, granting Vivian the rights she deserved.
"Present your evidence, Vivian Howard."
Vivian was silent for a moment before speaking a name that shocked Bishop Cleve and Saintess Euphemia.
"Jack Bailey, the owner of the Rusty Nail Bar in the Lower District."
Bishop Cleve and Saintess Euphemia's pupils constricted. They never expected Vivian's evidence would be him!