Chapter 90: Supreme Court

A few minutes later, the carriage stopped near a large circular building surrounded by a two-meter-tall compound gate. Several police officers in red uniforms, armed with rifles, stood guard at the gate. They diligently inspected everyone entering and exiting the Court.

"Carriage can't enter inside the building, Sir," Toby said as the carriage neared the compound gate.

"Stop the carriage on the roadside," Raven ordered and soon added.

"Toby, can you stay outside for a moment? I need to discuss something personal with my friends."

"Yes, sir." The young boy nodded his head and quietly walked out of the carriage.

"Jacob, I want you to take Toby with you and look for information about who manages this building. I want to know who will be staying here during the night, during the holiday, how much security force the Empire deployed to protect this place during normal days, and so on. The more information about this place, the better." Raven said solemnly.

"What are you scheming, My Lord? And what is the reason for your visit to the capital city?" Selene gave him a suspicious look.

'From how he handles money, he is not a person who will recklessly spend on staying at a luxurious resort for nothing. He is after something for sure.'

"Sometimes, your curiosity might kill you, Selene," Raven said with a chuckle and soon shook his head.

"Don't worry. I promise that you won't be put in any dangerous situation." Saying so, he opened the door and walked out.

"I can't even guess what he is thinking," Selene muttered as she saw Raven asking Toby questions after walking out of the carriage.

"Don't try to find what he is planning, Selene. I have a vague feeling this matter is not something we should poke our nose into." Jacob said solemnly and added.

"Stay close to him and simply observe what he is doing. And if he ends up in a dangerous situation, prioritize your safety first."

"Aren't we supposed to protect him?" Selene could not help but be taken aback by her leader's words.

"Do you think we are even in a position to oppose the police officers standing at the court entrance?" He asked while pointing his finger at the police officers in red uniforms.

"They are all Expert Rank Walkers. And that bald guy with a two-star badge is the leader of the whole group."

Selene glanced at the old man in the red uniform and noted his resemblance to a military officer, with a sharp brown hook-shaped mustache and icy blue eyes.

"His strength should be even above the Expert realm, huh?" A grave look appeared on her face.

"Don't worry. Although Mr. Holmes is planning something, he is not some stupid noble kid. And don't forget he also has a Wizard backing him." Jacob patted her shoulder and walked out.

Selene also walked out of the carriage and moved towards the compound entrance.

"They are even checking spatial rings?" As Raven and others queued in line, they noticed all the people who walked into the Court were inspected thoroughly. Even nobles and Wizards weren't excluded from this treatment.

Soon, it was their turn.

"Please provide your identity certificate. Also, tell me the reason for your visit." A slim male officer with short red hair spoke.

Raven first showed his ID and then answered.

"I came to watch the hearing of Convict Shirley for kidnapping the Royal Princess case."

"What?" The officer sharpened his gaze toward him.

"I came to watch-"

"I heard you loud enough, lad." The officer took a deep breath and added casually.

"You are the first one to show interest in that case. Well, it will be a boring and one-sided case, so good luck watching it."

Raven couldn’t help but show a surprised look.

‘It seems no one is even interested in that case.’

After going through a small checkup, the group entered the compound gate and started walking toward the main building.

With its grand dome and intricate carvings, the circular building stood tall like a stadium and covered almost 500 meters in diameter. Tall Corinthian columns flanked the grand entrance, supporting an intricately designed pediment engraved with scenes.

The compound was well-maintained, with lush gardens and fountains lining the pathways. Police officers in red uniforms patrolled the grounds, rifles slung across their shoulders. The Empire's twin-serpent flag fluttered atop the dome, giving a sense of dominance.

Raven also saw many people with black coats walking here and there and conversing with many people.

"Selene, let's go inside and check it out." He glanced at Selene and walked inside the Supreme Court's main building.

Meanwhile, Jacob went in a different direction to gather information while dragging Toby.

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After entering the Court, Raven and Selene passed a series of grand hallways and saw many lawyers, police officers, nobles, and walkers.

In the Empire, the court hierarchy was divided into four types, from lowest to highest. The first one was the Police Courts, where small cases like thievery, robbery, scam, property, and affair cases would be handled. The second was the County Courts. It was where most criminal, civil, probate, estate, license, and family law cases would be handled. The third was the High Court, where criminal, civil, administrative, and even cases involving Walkers would be handled. And finally, the fourth, which oversees all the courts, was the Supreme Court. It was where Constitutional Cases, Appeals of National Importance, inter-governmental disputes, Economic and Commercial Cases, Human rights and international law, election disputes, Emergency cases, death penalty and lifetime imprisonment cases, and even crimes involving royalty would be handled.

'We can't even make any appeal once the chief judge passes the judgment on my aunt.' What made Raven more annoyed was the authority held by the Supreme Court.

'From what I've heard, even the Emperor can't interfere once the Supreme Court's Chief Judge made his final judgment.'

[This one seems more like a puppet Empire than a real one. If the Emperor can't even have the power to decide the fate of his people, then isn't he just a mere pawn? People's rule? How many advocates in this Court are mortals?] Zera's question surprised him.

Raven glanced at the surroundings and soon noticed all the police, advocates, and people roaming inside the Court were Walkers!

'None…'

[Where is the people rule here? Aren’t the walkers and Wizards ruling this Empire just like the Emperor? The wizards used a crafty method to restrict the Emperor's influence. Moreover, most of the Advocates and Judges are also Wizards.]

'Does that mean this Supreme Court is already under the control of Wizards Alliance?' While discussing things inside his mind, Raven and Selene walked past multiple chambers and soon arrived at the large, spacious chamber.

'It's the main hearing room, huh?'

As Raven entered, his sharp gaze swept over the room. It was an expansive, circular chamber illuminated by chandeliers hanging from the domed ceiling, their crystals reflecting the light to create a dazzling effect. The walls were lined with dark oak paneling, and intricate carvings of legal symbols and the scales of justice adorned every surface.

At the heart of the chamber was a raised platform where the seven judges' seats were arranged in a semi-circle. Each judge was seated in their respective seats and was in the middle of conducting a case. The Chief Judge was sitting at the center, slightly higher than the others. His seat was more elaborate, with gilded accents and a large symbol of the scales of justice engraved above it.

To the right of the judges' platform were rows of desks and chairs designated for advocates. Each desk was equipped with parchment, quills, and ink, signifying readiness for detailed arguments and rebuttals. Many men in black-robed uniforms sat quietly on the seats and listened to an advocate defending the defendant. On the opposite side stood the defendant's cage—a reinforced iron-bar structure. Inside the cage, the defendant stood with a grim look.

'He is going through the final trial, huh?'

Beyond the central area were rows of wooden benches arranged in a semi-circle for the public audience. The benches were divided into sections, with the front rows reserved for esteemed guests. These seats were upholstered with red velvet cushions and adorned with golden accents, reserved for individuals of significant Status, such as the Emperor, Duke, Prime Minister, etc. A small podium was placed beside these seats for official announcements or remarks from dignitaries attending the trial.

The remaining benches, more modest in design, were allocated to the general public.

Surprisingly, many seats appeared vacant, even though a fierce argument between two advocates was happening at the center of the room.

Raven and Selene moved towards the right side and sat on one of those seats allocated for the general public.

After observing the case for a while, Raven vaguely understood what the case was about.

"Smuggling case, huh?" His gaze was fixed on a lean old man with white hair and a wrinkled face.

"But doesn't smuggling cases come under the county court's jurisdiction?" Selene asked.

"He is not a normal smuggler but a Wizard. And from the looks of it, they caught him smuggling magical herbs and a few potions from the main continent. According to the Wizards Act of 845, importing products from the main continent is punishable by death or lifetime imprisonment." Raven said solemnly.

"Isn't it too much for just a smuggling case?" Selene was shocked.

"That's how the Wizards Alliance wants to monopolize the goods from Main Continent."

[Hmm, this is a complicated situation. If there is a law to prevent people from importing goods from the Main Continent, they will use it to restrict knowledge, too. Your plan to give the potion recipe to Judith may be challenging. In the worst-case scenario, they will use this law to arrest the members of Wizard Union.] Zera said in his mind.

'Haa, I want to use the influence of the Wizard Union and save my aunt while exposing my identity. But that isn't the permanent solution. The Wizard Alliance's influence is too big.' A grim look appeared on his face.

For the next two hours, he remained seated in the same place and watched the hearings of a few more cases. What shocked him was that even a member of the Arch-Duke family was caught in a capital offense crime.

'He was charged with attempt to murder of crown prince and treason.' His monocle's ability made Raven realize that the higher-ups made the convict a scapegoat. His pleas were ignored entirely while multiple crimes were one-sidedly pushed onto him without even hearing his defense.

'Surprisingly, two Dukes, three princes, and even an Archduke are attending this hearing.'

"Let's go." As the case was postponed to 23rd September, Raven and Selene quietly stood up from their seats and walked out of the grand hall.

"So, you aren't attending Sword Princess's kidnapping case, My Lord?"

"That case will also be one-sided. And from what I have heard, they will bring the defendant only on the final day of the hearing-" As he spoke, Raven saw a long black-haired woman in her mid-thirties standing a few meters away from them and was pleading towards a black-robed advocate. Even though the woman appeared familiar to him, Raven couldn't figure out when he had met her. Her oval face looked weary, and her deep-bluish eyes showed firm resolve.

"Didn't I already give you all my savings, Sir Beckham? I'm even giving you an extra 1000 gold coins as payment. Please show some mercy and save my sister!" She pleaded while bowing her head.

Meanwhile, the advocate, over 50 years old with grey hair, shook his head and spoke firmly.

"It's not about money, Madam Jeanne. The Royal Family is pressuring me a lot these days. If I don't withdraw from your sister's case, I fear something bad might happen to my family." The man named Beckham said apologetically.

'Royal Family?!'

Raven touched the monocle hurriedly and looked at her Status.

…

[Name: Jeanne

Age: 45

Nationality: Zenith Empire

Title: 24th Concubine

Class: Official Walker (Rank-1), Fifth Circle.

Health: Normal

Current Status: worried

Attributes:

Strength: 1.9

Agility: 1.8

Vitality: 1.9

Luck: 1.5

Spirit: 1.5

Skills:

Shadow Walk, Stealth.

Additional Skills:

Affinities:

Darkness- Low]

…

[Oh? Is she your biological mother?] Zera asked.

'…' Raven froze for a moment and soon shook his head.

'I only have two family members. One is my sister, and the other is my aunt. She may have given birth to me, but I know nothing of her. The same goes for her. In her mind, I'm nothing more than a dead child.' His lips trembled as he spoke coldly in his mind.

Alas, the longing for mother's love remained in a corner of his heart.

'Haa, I should leave from here first.'

He calmed down his mind and quietly walked past Jeanne.

After walking for a while, Raven and Selene left the main building, regrouped with Jacob and Toby at the entrance gate, and quietly left the Supreme Court's compound gate.

…