Chapter 145: The Authority of a Knight Sshhh, sshhh.
Winter had arrived, and heavy snow was beginning to pile up.
"In all my years, I never thought I'd see the day..."
Chiron looked out the window and let out a hollow laugh.
A shadow war had erupted within the Imperial Palace. The catalyst was the attempted bombing targeting Reutern II. Julius claimed it was a false flag operation orchestrated by the Reutern family, while Reutern insisted it was Julius's doing.
The gap between them never closed. Suspicion turned into conviction, and conviction flared into hatred.
Ultimately, blood was shed between the henchmen of Julius and Reutern. It was unclear exactly how many died, though rumors of rampant assassinations and poisonings were rife. However, the scent of blood did not leak outside the palace walls. To the world, only the results were made public.
The House of Nobles Ethics Committee was convened.
Julius Valentin von Arensburg was permanently expelled from the House of Nobles.
For the first time in a century, a member of the royal bloodline was stripped of his status in the House of Nobles. This extraordinary news was kept strictly confidential under the Imperial Family's iron-fisted control. No media outlet in the Empire dared to put the event into print.
"...Max. I'm glad you're here."
Chiron let out a sigh of relief. The investigation into Julius's charges of 'embezzlement and trafficking of Gigantes weaponry' was now entirely the responsibility of the Sentinel Knights.
It was unavoidable. A mere police officer could hardly investigate someone of royal blood, and leaving it to the Novus Knights was out of the question.
"What do you intend to do regarding Julius's sentencing and disposition?"
Chiron asked Maximilian. He answered calmly.
"Members of the House of Nobles originally possess immunity and privilege against prosecution, but since he has been expelled, he is now nothing more than an ordinary citizen of the Empire."
Therefore.
When Maximilian paused for a moment, Chiron had no trouble predicting what came next.
"According to principle: treason. The death penalty."
"...Will that be alright? No matter how much power he's lost, he is still a man of royal blood."
"The Knights of the Empire must be able to take the head of any traitor, even if they are royalty. Such must be the authority of the Knights."
As expected, there were no exceptions for Maximilian. Julius, too, would vanish like dew on the execution grounds without exception.
"But isn't the schedule a bit tight? There must be quite a lot of paperwork to process."
"The Knight Court will be over in an instant anyway."
I took charge of Julius's individual Knight's Trial, while Hannah Usar handled the criminal trial of the small fry beneath him. By now, Hannah should have entered the courtroom as the prosecutor.
"I hear Hannah is also standing trial."
"Yes. She should take as much responsibility as her share in this case warrants."
A Knight is a guardian of the Empire. Therefore, they can perform functions nearly identical to those of a prosecutor... however.
A mischievous smile played on Chiron's lips.
"A commoner passing judgment on nobles. I'm not sure how well that will go."
Since the Empire had long prioritized status over profession, she would likely have a difficult time.
* * *
In the parking lot of the Sentinel Headquarters, Hannah Usar packed a mountain of investigative materials into her trunk to present to the court.
"Let's go."
"Yes, ma'am."
She climbed into the car with one administrative officer and two clerks, but as they tried to start it—
Clunk! Vrooooom.
"...Ugh, this piece of scrap, seriously."
Hannah got out of the back seat and pounded on the hood.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Only then did the engine finally turn over.
"Whew."
Scratching the back of her neck, she got back into the car.
Rattle, rattle! Rattle, rattle!
The car engine made a noise like a wooden cart as it moved forward.
"This is... not easy."
The bonus she received for the success of the Volska operation had been shared with the staff who suffered alongside her. Her annual salary as a Knight was being poured into loan repayments, rent, family living expenses, and, above all, building an information network.
"Knight Hannah, it might be overstepping for us to say this, but your expenses are far too high. You should at least leave some for your own living costs..."
The administrative officer offered worried advice. Expenses that couldn't be documented—money slipped in cash to informants—already exceeded half of her annual salary.
"No. It's absolutely necessary. There are too many terrorists and heinous criminals harming the Empire these days."
Hannah Usar prided herself on being a fairly quick learner. The biggest reason she had almost been killed during the Volska incident was, more than anything, a lack of information. If she didn't have her own eyes and ears, she would eventually be pushed into a death trap as someone else's pawn again.
"They say an Imperial Knight is an institution or an organization unto themselves. So, we need to have that kind of scale as well."
In the meantime, the clunky used car arrived at the Imperial Central Court.
"Let's head in."
Hannah entered the courtroom with the officers and sat at the prosecutor's desk. Lined up on the opposite side were six noble entrepreneurs who had helped Julius with money laundering. Every single one of them had a sour expression.
"Please be seated."
Soon, six judges entered, and the presiding judge at the head declared:
"We will now open the trial for the defendants in Imperial Central Court Case No. 1039-Hyeonghap-402."
Hannah stood up immediately.
"I am Hannah Usar, the Sentinel Knight in charge of the investigation of this case. This is the list of evidence previously disclosed."
She submitted evidence to the judge showing that Julius had laundered money through the defendants' companies and that the defendants, acting as intermediaries, had embezzled massive commissions.
"...Therefore, in accordance with Article 114 and Article 237 of the Imperial Penal Code regarding the violation of the Act on Regulation of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds, I request the total forfeiture of the defendants' criminal proceeds and a sentence of five years in prison."
The evidence was clear, but because the opponents were nobles, this was the maximum sentence possible.
The moment Hannah finished her sentencing request—
"I object."
The defense attorney stood up with a relaxed smile.
"Honorable Judge, and Knight."
The expression he wore while looking at her as he said 'Knight' was quite irritating.
"I am not questioning the credibility of the evidence submitted by the Knight. It is true that the illicit funds passed through my clients' companies or families, but I wish to clearly address the 'intent' behind it."
The attorney emphasized the defendants' 'innocent intent.' His argument was that the defendants had merely processed the payments thinking they were normal trade funds and had no idea the money was criminal proceeds related to Gigantes weapon trafficking.
"To put it simply, the defendants are also mere victims."
A flood of cleverly forged circumstantial evidence and contracts were produced to support the claim.
"I object! Those contracts are just appearing out of nowhere now? Your Honor, those contracts were not presented during the pre-trial discovery process, so they have no evidentiary value!"
Hannah shouted urgently, but the flow of the trial was grossly unfair.
"Objection overruled. To ensure the defendant's right to defense, we will admit the evidence."
The presiding judge lightly dismissed Hannah's legitimate objection.
"...Portions of the fund tracking report submitted by the Knight's side are likely to be illegally collected evidence, and since subjective judgment has intervened excessively, we will exclude their evidentiary value."
Furthermore, he neutralized Hannah's arguments and evidence.
"Your Honor! The result proves that the defendants intentionally laundered the funds. Since when did Imperial law use a criminal's flimsy intent as an excuse—"
"Now, now, Knight Hannah. This is not a matter where guilt has been established yet. Please maintain the principle of the presumption of innocence and mind your conduct in court."
The trial continued amidst a faint sense of disregard and mistreatment toward the young Knight of commoner origin. In reality, it felt like a speech contest for the defense attorney.
And so, after all arguments were concluded.
"...The sentencing date will be next Monday."
The judge cleared his throat and struck his gavel. The first trial, the result of which she perhaps already knew, came to an end.
*
The Imperial Knight Court.
The place was currently so solemn and hushed that it was difficult even to breathe. Because both the plaintiff and the defendant were figures of such immense power that words could hardly describe them, almost all judges had refused the presiding seat, unable to bear the pressure. Only a Chief Justice nearing retirement had been pushed onto the podium.
"Duke Julius von Arensburg... Ahem. My apologies."
The Chief Justice's voice trembled with tension.
"We will now open the Knight's Trial for the defendant."
A place to judge a high-ranking royal of the Empire. Julius sat in the defendant's chair, looking as if he had resigned himself to everything, while Maximilian Ebenholtz stood alone at the plaintiff's desk.
"Does the plaintiff have anything to say?"
"Yes. Based on the evidence previously submitted."
Maximilian's words were brief. He had already provided all evidence related to the Gigantes weapon trafficking to the court, and the judge had also completed hundreds of reviews. In the first place, Maximilian didn't even need to attend, but he had come in person as a courtesy to Julius.
"I request the death penalty."
As if the inevitable had finally arrived, the Chief Justice closed his eyes tightly.
In the Knight Court, verdicts are mostly handed down according to the intent of the Knight in charge. This is because it is a special place where only those who have caused great harm to the Empire are referred. However, this trial carried a weight that was exceptionally heavy even within that somber history.
The moment this gavel was struck, a precedent would be set where a royal's head would roll for the first time in a hundred years.
"..."
The Chief Justice lifted his heavy eyelids and looked cautiously toward the other side. There was a man staring back at him silently.
Maximilian Ebenholtz.
His chilling golden eyes were cold and straight. A gaze that seemed to demand and pressure a choice without a single trace of agitation.
Gulp.
Swallowing hard, the Chief Justice struck the gavel with a trembling hand.
"...Regarding the defendant, Julius von Arensburg."
His cracked voice fell heavily into the empty courtroom.
"I sentence him to death."
*
One week later.
The day of the final sentencing for the criminal trial prosecuted by Hannah Usar.
"Ahem. Hrmm."
The judge who entered the courtroom cleared his throat a few times and immediately picked up the prepared verdict as if there were no need to stall.
"I will now begin the sentencing for Imperial Central Court Case No. 1039-Hyeonghap-402."
The tone in which he read was somehow disgusting. Hannah gritted her teeth and glared at him fiercely.
"Between the evidence of fund flow presented by the plaintiff and the defendants' intent in their actions of trade brokerage... it is judged that the submitted evidence alone cannot clearly prove the defendants' intentionality."
Hearing only this much, it was clear which side the judge had been bribed by and how he had pre-determined the 'intent' of the verdict.
"As the evidence that the defendants intentionally participated in money laundering is significantly insufficient, I find all defendants not guilty."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The moment the gavel echoed through the courtroom along with his deliberately grave, low voice—
Hannah looked toward the defendants' seats. A noble defendant was acting haughtily, letting out a sigh of relief. The attorney was smiling victoriously, looking at Hannah as if mocking her.
A place where, if one had money and power, even crimes could be washed away behind the vague word 'intent.' This was the reality of the rotten Imperial courts.
*
That evening, at a high-end restaurant in the capital.
"Bwahaha! Seriously, I should have taken a picture of that country mouse's expression."
"I mean, no matter if she's a Sentinel, she's still a commoner with no roots! A commoner! Where does she get the nerve to try and rope in nobles?"
"Where did they say that girl was from? Some backwater? Ikanso? Where on earth is that place even located?"
"Even her surname is vulgar. What kind of name is Usar? It sounds like the name of livestock. Hahaha!"
While the nobles who had been acquitted in court were gathered together celebrating their victory and mocking the young Knight—
"But what will you do if that country mouse appeals?"
"Oh, it'll be dismissed, of course. I have connections not just in the courts, but in the Sentinels as well..."
Step. Step.
Someone approached their table.
Step. Step.
The seats were already full, but the person walked up without hesitation, pulled a chair from the next table, and sat down naturally among them.
"Wait, what the—"
Startled by the sudden intruder, the nobles looked toward him.
"A pleasure to meet you."
Perfectly styled blonde hair. Golden eyes curving as if in a smile. At the sudden appearance of the man, the nobles' laughter cut off abruptly.
"..."
"..."
The nobles looked at him with bewildered faces. He introduced himself with a small smile.
"I am Maximilian Ebenholtz."
Maximilian, Ebenholtz. The combination of those two names felt dangerously ominous. Their complexions turned stiff in an instant.
Just then, a quick-witted waiter brought a new glass.
"Please, continue your meal. You can listen to me while you eat."
He pointed to the food on the table with an elegant gesture.
"First of all, my sincere congratulations on your acquittal in court today."
Glug, glug. The waiter poured red wine into Maximilian's glass. A part of his face reflected in the glass was distorted.
"However, the procedures of the Empire..."
These were nobles whose eyes and ears were closed. Dayflies who were running wild, relying only on their shallow status and money, unaware of what kind of bloody wind was currently blowing inside the Imperial Palace.
"...cannot be fully explained by a single trial in a general court."
A faint smile appeared on Maximilian's lips.
"So, to explain it to you all..."
The red light of the wine sparkled, reflected in his pupils.
"After this trial is over, I intend to formally refer all of you to the Knight Court."
In an instant, all of their expressions froze cold.
A tribunal where neither the defense attorney's sophistry nor the mercy of a bribed judge would work—where only the will of a Knight named Maximilian became the verdict itself.
"Helping a criminal who embezzled Gigantes weaponry with money laundering is clear treason and can be considered an act of sedition that shakes the very foundation of the Empire."
Maximilian's voice weighed down on the interior of the restaurant. Of course, if he had applied external pressure beforehand, there would have been no need for this. But that wouldn't serve as an example. It wouldn't teach these pigs that before being a commoner, she was a Knight—it wouldn't teach them the authority of the Sentinels.
"If you still hold the foolish conviction of your innocence despite that..."
Maximilian tilted his gaze and scanned the faces of every single person gathered there.
"...I can only think that you hold the Knights of the Sentinel in contempt."
"N-No... I mean, that's not..."
The nobles stammered, their faces turning pale.
Vrrr—
Just then, Maximilian's terminal vibrated briefly. He glanced at the screen and curled his lips upward.
"I've just been informed that Knight Hannah Usar has refused to accept the court's acquittal and has filed an appeal."
Maximilian slowly rose from his seat.
"I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a disappointment, but..."
He looked down indifferently at the terrified nobles and said:
"From now on, the choice is entirely yours."
Leaving behind a dangerous smile, he walked away. The nobles in the restaurant watched his retreating back with eyes like cattle awaiting slaughter.
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