Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery was summoned to the front of the courtroom, facing Ishtar and her imposing Nephilim entourage. The tension in the room heightened as Ishtar began to present her case. She vehemently denied any involvement in the Golden City dispute and instead portrayed herself as a victim. According to Ishtar, she had been captured and tortured by the Lord of Terra faction in an effort to incriminate the Croft faction. She further detailed her losses, claiming that several magus under her employment, including one of her grand magus guardians, Rhyze the Void Warden, had died as a result of these actions.

While Ishtar’s claims of torture seemed exaggerated, Emery knew that his mind-probing techniques could indeed be construed as a form of torture. Moreover, although the death of the magus was not directly related to Ishtar’s capture, Emery had indeed detained her under the pretext of the Golden City disputes. His previous fabrications and the actions taken now resurfaced to hurt him.

As Ishtar laid out her accusations, Emery let out a deep sigh, realizing that the situation was slipping beyond his control. Knowing there was nothing he could do to alter the course of the proceedings, Emery braced himself for the inevitable sentence.

The room buzzed with murmurs, the audience eagerly awaiting the judge’s decision.

Just like before, the female judge had meticulously gathered evidence. Following the resolution of the pirate matter, she began by exonerating Ishtar and the Nephilim from any involvement in the Golden City dispute. This announcement brought a satisfied smile to Ishtar’s face, while simultaneously heightening Emery’s concern and that of his allies.

Emery was called to the stand and faced direct questioning from the judge. Her authoritative presence filled the room as she addressed him, “Emery Ambrose, we have evidence and multiple witnesses to the claim. Do you have any defense to present?”

As the supreme judge looked at him, Emery noticed the rune marking on her forehead gleaming with a faint light, subtly exerting its influence on him. Despite his strong mental defenses, Emery found himself unable to resist the compelling force emanating from the supreme figure. He felt an overwhelming influence to confess the truth.

“It’s true… I confess to all those things,” Emery admitted, his voice steady yet resigned. “However, I hope my reasoning could ease my punishment.”

Emery spoke with clarity, detailing the Terra land eviction orchestrated by the combined efforts of the Nephilim and the Croft factions. He reveals Ishtar’s aggressive attack on the Nephilim outpost, which had forced him to fight back in self-defense.

 Despite his articulate explanation, Emery couldn’t help but notice the judge’s indifferent demeanor. It was as if she had already been fully briefed on these matters. Meanwhile, Ishtar’s smile only grew wider, relishing the moment.

“I have heard enough,” declared the judge, her voice firm and unwavering. “Emery Ambrose, while I acknowledge your many good merits, the law must be upheld, and you must be held accountable for your actions. Therefore, we sentence you to a fine to reimburse the Nephilim for their losses, amounting to 2 billion spirit stones.”

The pronouncement stunned Emery. The amount was staggering, a sum that would take his faction ten years of dedicated effort to repay. Ishtar, however, was far from satisfied. She quickly voiced her dissatisfaction, her tone sharp and demanding. But a single, piercing glance from the supreme judge silenced her. The supreme judge was not yet finished. She turned her attention to the Karat patriarch, Hassa Karat. With a stern expression, she addressed him, “The Karat faction is found guilty of deliberately concealing knowledge and benefiting from Terra’s Lord’s actions. For this, the Karat faction will face punishment as well.”

Her next words caused an audible gasp to ripple through the courtroom. “Two billion spirit stones… to reimburse the Terra faction.”

The crowd erupted in shock. The judge’s sentence effectively transferred the burden of Emery’s fine to the Karat faction, absolving the Terra faction of its financial penalty. Lord Hassa Karat, displaying a calm acceptance, nodded and agreed to the punishment without hesitation. “We accept the punishment!”

This decision infuriated Ishtar. Her face turned red with rage, and she struggled to maintain her composure in front of the supreme judge. Taking a deep breath, she managed to ask the reasoning behind such a decision.

The judge remained composed and responded with measured calm, “Your losses are reimbursed, and those who benefited paid the price. Is this not fair?”

The supreme judge concluded the trial with a stern warning directed at Ishtar. Her authoritative voice resonated through the courtroom as she addressed the Nephilim leader, emphasizing the responsibilities that came with their position as one of the top human factions. “The Nephilim must be a role model,” she declared. “Intimidation and infighting may be common, but breaking a pact is intolerable.”

The judge specifically referenced the Nephilim duel pact concerning Earth, which protected all Earth magus. “You have blatantly violated this pact,” she continued, her eyes boring into Ishtar. Ishtar, who had maintained a façade of confidence and defiance throughout the trial, began to show signs of genuine fear. The judge’s next words seemed to cut through her bravado. “This sentence is known and has been accepted by the Nephilim leader,”

The underlying message was clear: Ishtar would face repercussions from her own faction upon her return. The realization of this impending punishment caused Ishtar to tremble visibly, her earlier composure shattered.

With this final pronouncement, the judge brought the trial to an end. The courtroom buzzed with a mix of relief, shock, and anticipation. The spectators began to disperse, still digesting the dramatic and unexpected outcomes of the trial.

Before leaving, Emery felt compelled to approach the supreme judge. With deep gratitude, he thanked her for her fairness and mercy. To his surprise, the female judge responded not aloud but directly to his mind, her voice resonating within his thoughts.

She smiled gently and said, “I wish you good luck”

End of the arc