Chapter 52: Trial
Hearing Ultear's words, the expressions on the council members' faces turned awkward. They'd already considered her objection, but who had the nerve to openly oppose her? Besides, Ultear's teleportation magic allowed her to vanish before anyone could respond.
Still, fewer council members meant easier decision-making. With only five present, and four of them harboring grievances against Fairy Tail, the voting advantage was clear.
"BOOM!"
A violent tremor shook the entire Magic Council ERA building. Everyone inside felt the ground lurch beneath their feet. No matter how many earthquakes someone experiences, you never truly get used to them.
Crack… crack… crack! Fissures spider-webbed across the Council's stone walls.
"Kyaa!"
"Earthquake! It's an earthquake!"
"Get away from the buildings!"
The council members stumbled, struggling to keep their footing. Though uninjured, their faces darkened with fury and humiliation.
"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! They're attacking us before the trial even begins!"
"This demands severe punishment!"
"Someone this dangerous must be locked away immediately!"
Dino Maxim stood casually at the Magic Council's grand entrance, watching people scatter in panic. A smirk played across his lips. "Look at that—quite the welcoming committee. So many people came out to greet me."
Doranbolt's expression changed drastically when he spotted Dino. "It's him! Why is the Magic Council bringing him in?"
His colleague Lahar noticed the shift in his friend's demeanor. "Who is he? You know this guy?"
"Fairy Tail's super S-Class mage, Dino Maxim. They call him the 'Walking Calamity.' If I'm not mistaken, he just caused that earthquake."
"What?! He dared attack the Magic Council?! That bastard needs to be taught a lesson!" Lahar started marching toward Dino.
Doranbolt immediately grabbed his friend's arm, then activated his teleportation magic. They vanished and reappeared outside the Council building. Lahar stared at him in confusion. "Doranbolt, what the hell are you doing?"
"Saving your life. Your Custody Enforcement Unit might not know this, but in the Intelligence Division, Dino Maxim is classified as an extreme threat."
"Does he really dare attack people inside the Magic Council?"
"From everything I know? Absolutely."
"Then shouldn't we stop him?"
"The problem is… when he goes wild, nobody can stop him."
Soon, Dino stood in the trial chamber.
He lounged on the defendant's platform, completely relaxed, as though he were a spectator rather than the accused.
Pointing at the council members seated above, he counted aloud. "Five people? One, two, three, four, five… When did the Magic Council get so small? All new faces too. They really shuffled the deck, huh?"
"I was hoping to see some old friends. What a disappointment."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Michelo slammed his gavel. "Silence! Dino Maxim, the Guild Master of Phantom Lord, Jose Porla, has filed charges against you for assaulting his guild members and destroying his guildhall. What do you have to say in your defense?"
Normally, Michelo would never preside over such a high-profile case. As the third seat of the Council, he only got this opportunity because both the first and second seats were conveniently absent.
Dino spread his hands with a shrug. "Nothing to say, really. You guys showed up pretty fast. If I'd been a bit slower, maybe the guild would still be standing. I'm guessing your evidence is pretty solid."
"Then you plead guilty!"
"Sure, guilty as charged."
"Your crimes don't end there! In the town of Hargeon, you destroyed half the town, triggered a tsunami that obliterated half the port, and caused massive property damage to residents and businesses."
"At Oshibana Station, you jumped onto the tracks, damaging nearly fifty kilometers of railway and wrecking a train!"
"In the city of Clover, you caused an earthquake that disturbed residents. Several people were injured by falling debris from their homes."
Dino scratched his cheek. "Wow… the Magic Council's investigation is thorough. You even tracked down someone who got bonked by a roof tile."
"Do you admit to these charges?"
"No point denying it. Yeah, I did all that."
"Very well! Based on these charges, you are sentenced to thirty years imprisonment. All in favor?"
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
"I abstain," Siegrain said with an enigmatic smile.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Michelo's voice rang out. "Five members voting—four in agreement! The defendant is found guilty! Restrain him with magic-sealing handcuffs and transport him to the prison immediately!"
Dino obediently held out his wrists as several guards clamped the heavy cuffs around them. As they led him away, he flashed a grin at the council members on their high seats.
Soon, Dino found himself locked in a cell, surrounded by guards maintaining 24-hour surveillance.
He stretched out on the stone bench. "Prison! Last time I was here was… what, five years ago? Gotta say, I missed this place. No worrying about the weather, three meals a day, and round-the-clock security. Where else can you find such perfect training conditions? You guys are too kind."
"Might as well get started. This is the perfect chance to develop my Devil Fruit awakening further."
Devil Fruit awakening was inherently dangerous. The jailer beasts in Impel Down were horrific examples of animal-type awakenings gone wrong—mindless monsters trapped between human and beast.
I'd rather die than end up like that, Dino thought. Gotta take this slow and steady.
Meanwhile, back in the Council chambers, several members gathered together, looking smug.
"The 'Walking Calamity' Dino Maxim—no matter how powerful he is, we've still got him locked up. I really don't understand what the Chairman and Second Seat were so afraid of."
"The Magic Council represents justice. We cannot allow someone who operates outside the law to run free."
"We should publicize this achievement."
"Let all the guild masters know what happens when you defy the Council."
"BOOM!"
Another tremor rattled the building.
A council guard burst through the doors, face pale. "C-Council members! The trial hall… the entire building… it's collapsing!"