“Guardsman Oliver, is it true that after meeting these three men you lost your coin purse?” Baron Niles asked. He sat back in his chair with confidence as the crowd's concern grew. Murmurs of doubt could be heard as everyone deliberated. Their eyes locked with the guardsman who stood at the central podium. Xander looked down at the ground in shame. He knew the blame couldn’t solely be placed on him, but that given example was initially his idea.

“It is, but that doesn’t-” Oliver tried to say. He was about to explain that he wasn’t sure when his money was taken. It could be blamed on the three men, but it also could have been that some other thief took it. Regardless, Oliver wasn’t given the chance to elaborate on the given question.

“And, is it also true that they led a swarm of insects and small animals through the city?” Niles asked the guard. He turned to check the status of the crowd. More people had arrived since the case first started. Now, rumors were starting to spread even faster than before. Robyn held her head in her hands. It was true. She led a swarm through the city. The others were only involved because she needed help, but now they were all being held accountable.

“Yes, but-” Oliver tried to say again. He was once again cut off. It was a simple explanation. Robyn didn’t know how to properly use her skill. That happened often in a low-level city. Many residents were novice adventurers, so accidents were far from rare. This all goes without mentioning that Robyn didn’t actually cause any damages. Sure, she scared quite a few people, but that was the extent of the event.

“No further questions. I now call upon Blacksmith Linn as a witness,” Niles said. He immediately dismissed the guard once he got what he wanted. The baron was good at grabbing key bits of information to shine the team of four in a negative light. Soon, it’d be impossible for them to redeem themselves. Everything that happened next was just icing on the cake.

“No way she’d rat us out. Not like she has anything.” Rex said with confidence. The crowd behind him may have been saying awful remarks, but he trusted the blacksmith. There was no way his teacher would betray him. She shouldn’t have had anything negative to say. Baron Niles would have to significantly stretch the truth to misrepresent Rex.

Linn and Oliver traded places. Oliver looked defeated as he stepped down. He wasn’t friends with the people on trial, but he didn’t dislike them either. Having his words twisted felt awful. These were innocent lives that the baron was toying with. Then, of course, there was the crowd. Boos and yelling shouldn’t have been directed to the four that saved this city. If not for them, everyone here would be dead or close to it. The sin that came a week ago couldn't care less if he wiped out the city looking for Rose, and he was strong enough to do so without much effort.

Compared to the defeated Oliver, Linn walked with confidence. She swore her oath and stared down the accusatory noble. She wouldn’t let anything happen to her student and his party. On her honor as a blacksmith, she'd do everything she could to clear their name.

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“Blacksmith Linn, is it true that young Rex created a [Blessed Blade]?” Niles asked. It was a seemingly innocent question, but Rex quickly understood where it was leading to. He pinched the bridge of his nose. This wasn’t going to go well.

“Correct,” Linn replied with a smile. She fondly remembered that moment. The weapon she made alongside Rex was exemplary. It still hung on her shop’s wall to attract customers. Of course, she’d never sell it. After all, it wasn’t rightfully hers. Rex was the one that made it, and his materials were used during the forging process. The sword was only in her shop until Rex could finally wield it. He didn’t know the exact level he needed, but it couldn’t have been far.

“Is it also true that Rex refused to use his holy weapon to fight Pride?” Niles continued his series of questions. The path was now obvious, and the question did raise a good point. Why didn’t Rex use the [Blessed Blade]? From a non-adventurer's mindset, the difference was a matter of personal choice. So, why would Rex use an iron stick rather than an impressive sword?

“Yeah, but-” Linn tried to answer. She wanted to say that Rex couldn’t use the sword even if he wanted to. The man was still stuck on maxing out his stick proficiency for some reason, but he wanted to forge new weapons. The sword was just a happy accident that Rex couldn’t enjoy until he was stronger.

“Then, we can assume he was deliberately going easy on the sin. Either that, or he is unholy himself. No further questions. I now call upon Huntsman Damian.” Niles quickly said. He left no time for anyone to argue. He just let the silence between the witness exchange do the talking. It warmed his cruel heart to hear the disbelief in the crowd behind him. Someone who refused to use a holy weapon? That was preposterous. Some of the more seasoned adventurers were able to see through the ruse, but their voices were drowned out by the ignorant masses.

Damian took his place while Linn stepped away. She silently apologized to her student before reentering the crowd. She did her best to explain to the others, but few would listen. They were too focused on Damian. He was just as popular as Rose, if not more because he was a local. There was little doubt that he could have killed Envy had he returned from his expedition a day earlier. Everyone waited with bated breath.

“Huntsman Damian, is it true that Nicholas has a skill to summon a monster?” Niles asked. It was no secret what he was after. The phrasing of his question alone was nefarious. Anyone who heard that Nicholas’s familiar was a slime would lose their animosity towards him immediately. Such a low-leveled creature couldn’t do anything. Everyone knew that. It was why Niles had to use some creative liberties with his question.

“He can, but it’s just a-” Damian tried to say but was cut off.

“Such a person could easily summon his familiar and destroy our city. His party clearly has no problem doing so. We cannot allow these villains to continue occupying our glorious city! With that, I rest my case. The defense may offer their counter-argument.” Niles said. His web of lies was so impressive that even Nicholas felt a bit envious. The baron made excellent work in bringing forth all of the negative evidence possible. Public opinion was on his side, and the ball was now in the team's court…