Allegation

Over the next few days, word spread through the guild about the murder committed by a guild member and that the guild authorities had been able to track down exactly who had done it. The general consensus was that the ability to find out who was responsible in such a short time gave the populace a sense of security, to the point that Tom received a notification about the guild's state of mind.

Guild Morale Boost

Due to the speed with which you handled the murder of Jared Hawthorn, your guild's perception of you has risen! You have helped them feel safer within the walls of their new home, showing them that you are the right man for the job! Continue to strive to do right by your people, and you will flourish!

"That'll help you out quite a bit. Morale is the heartbeat of a guild." Maria said.

"You mean it's what shows how happy people are within the guild?" Tom asked.

"Yes, but there's a lot more to it than that. There are rankings of guild morale: Elated, Happy, Satisfied, Neutral, Dissatisfied, Unhappy, and Volatile. As long as the people stay at Neutral or above, there are no consequences. When they are above Neutral, there are actually bonuses for the people of the guild. Once it drops below Neutral though, there are negative effects that can include decreased productivity all the way to rioting or revolting." Maria explained.

"So many little things to keep track of. Why does this have to be so complicated?" Tom asked.

"It's not any different from the way the world works without the System. It just puts it into quantifiable numbers so you can track progress and make changes," Maria replied. And it looks like you've done a good job keeping morale up; your guild is currently at Elated. Not many guilds get their morale that high."

"I'm sure most of that has to do with being just happy to find people and trying to stay safe. The integration wasn't that long ago." Tom said.

"I doubt it. It's been long enough that if conditions weren't good, they would have been dying off. You've managed to create something unique here—or relatively unique. Most guilds are still struggling to create something stable by this point. You've managed to not only keep them safe but make them comfortable," Maria countered.

Thinking about all the situations they had been in, all of the places they had visited, and the people they had seen there, Tom realized she was right. No one else had the amenities they were enjoying. Food, running water, beds, laundry, medical care, and even electricity. Tom had to believe someone else had managed to do something similar, but it definitely wasn't the norm. Top it all off with people willing and able to protect them and their loved ones from monsters and attacks against the guild.

"It sometimes gets away from me that there are so many things we take advantage of because of how comfortably we used to live. Well, relatively speaking, anyway." Tom thought about all the daily comforts that he'd had as he remembered his life before.

That's not unheard of. You live here with all the things you've acquired, and that keeps you from seeing the life that others live," Maria said.

"Well, I have to get to court. Derek and Brian have set up a room we can use to begin the proceedings against Camila, and they need me there," Tom said as he began to move down the halls.

"Why? Are you the judge?" Maria asked.

"No,"

"One of the litigators?"

"No,"

"Then why would you need to be there?"

"Look, the system that was set forth is one where there is a position called Guildleader, that's me, that presides over everything. Even the judge. But I should only need to use that power if there is a case where justice isn't being carried out. If I'm not there, then I will miss parts of the trial crucial to the case and will have to waste time reading over the notes. So, it’s easier that I be present." Tom explained.

"So, you get some fancy title, and then you're just going to quit adventuring?" Maria asked.

"I'm doing no such thing. This is something that needs to be done for cohesion in the guild. We don't have any enemies beating down our gates at the moment, and everything that can be done to prepare for the invasion is being done. So, looking after the people and processes here is something that needs doing." Tom replied.

"Sounds boring,"

"I don't disagree, but it has to be done,"

"Fine. Go have fun with your little court date,"

"I will,"

Tom continued until he reached a large conference room. As he entered, he was shocked to find that the room had been transformed into a courtroom, complete with a wooden raised dias to serve as the judge's bench, tables for both the defense and prosecutors and even a jury box. There was no room for a gallery for the guild to sit in, but he felt that was unnecessary.

"Best not to have this become too public. The recreation is amazing, but we could have done with just some tables and chairs," Tom thought to himself as he looked around the room.

"Tom!" Derek called to him. "Your place will be here."

Derek directed him to a second seat on the raised dias next to the judge. On the other side was a third seat, but it was set at ground level. Tom assumed this was to be the witness' place.

Taking his seat in the place Derek had shown him, Tom asked something that had been on his mind, "Where does jury selection take place if there's no gallery?"

"That's being handled by the judge and attorneys in a different location. We figured that wouldn't be something you needed to participate in. They should be here shortly," Derek replied.

Stolen story; please report.

As he finished saying this, a group of people walked into the room. They moved to the jury box and sat down, a few waving to Tom as they noticed him. They were followed by the attorneys, who took their seats at the tables.

"All rise! The honorable Judge Tim presiding," Derek called out.

"Is that really necessary?" Tom asked.

"The people wanted it. They see it on TV. Makes them feel like they are part of the action," Derek said.

A man wearing a long black robe entered carrying a file filled with papers. He moved quickly to take his place at the bench and looked out over the people gathered.

"Be seated. Bring in the accused," Tim called.

Derk moved to the door and opened it, gesturing outside for someone to enter. Two guards escorted Camila inside. Her hands were handcuffed in front of her, and instead of an orange jumpsuit, as Tom had expected, she was wearing normal clothing.

"No prison garb?" Tom muttered to Derek as he retook his position near the bench.

"We thought that was too tacky," Derek smiled.

"Really? That's where you draw the line?"

"If we could focus on the matter at hand," Tim said, turning to look at Tom and Derek.

"Sorry, your honor," Tom apologized.

"The accused is charged with the murder of a fellow guildmate. How does the defendant plea?" Tim asked.

"Not guilty by reason of mental insanity or defect, your honor," the defense attorney replied.

----------------------------------------

"That was a bold defense strategy," Tom said as he and Derek were eating lunch in the cafeteria during the first break of the trial.

"That's their choice to make. Not really a lot of other choices for a not-guilty plea. We have evidence that shows she did it." Derek replied.

"This isn't anything like Law & Order. There was supposed to be arraignment first, then they prepare their evidence and go to trial. She didn't even get a chance at bail." James said.

"Why would there be an arraignment? She doesn't have anywhere to go, and, in all honesty, this is more of a show for the people that they will get a fair trial because we already know she's guilty." Derek said.

"This isn't how the American justice system works," James put on a dramatic face and stared at them. "What about her rights?"

"Dude, seriously, you watched way too many dramas on TV. Chill out. That she gets a trial at all is justice for her. We could have just taken her out back and finished it." Tom added.

"You monster!" James exclaimed in horror.

"Really? Coming from the guy who shot the cult leader in the head while he was unconscious instead of helping us figure out what to do with him?" Derek asked.

"That was completely different. He was a dick." James argued.

"They both killed people," Tom countered.

"But one was a psychopath, and the other is a woman in love," James said.

"No, one was a man who believed he could control people, and the other killed someone because her love was unrequited," Derek said.

"Look, it's time to get back in there. We gotta head back. We'll see you after." Tom said as he got up and bussed his tray.

Back in the courtroom, everyone was settling down, and the judge was about to begin when James burst into the room.

"Your honor, this is a grave miscarriage of justice, and I demand to be heard," James said firmly.

The judge looked over at Derek, who nodded once and walked toward James.

"Hey, what are you....stop...this is my moment..." James said as Derek dragged him out of the room by his arm.

"Wait, what are you...no, no, Derek, OW!" James screamed as a thudding sound came through the door.

Derek walked back in and closed the door softly.

"I'm sorry, your honor. We shouldn't be bothered again." Derek said, dusting his hands off and returning to his spot.

The door burst open again. James stepped in, holding onto the wall, blood running down from a wound on his head.

"You cannot quiet the American people. We will be heard." James said as he steadied himself.

Derek gritted his teeth and once again marched to the back of the room, this time shoving James out the door. This time mumbling could be heard from the hall.

"No, I will not!" James said loudly.

Another thudding sound, then one more followed that. Derek walked back into the room and again closed the door, retaking his position.

"Anyway, where did we..." the judge began before the door was flung open again, and James crawled into the room, bleeding from his nose as well.

"Your majesty, I am obsolete. This is a grand misquoting of the American cheese," James slurred as he struggled to his feet.

"Oh, for crying out loud," Derek said in anger as he marched to James again.

"You cannot quiet the birds inside my head!" James tried to yell at Derek. "The Russians have a right to be hard!"

Derek poked his head inside and smiled at everyone in the room, "This will only take a minute, your honor."

Chuckles came from both the attorneys and the jury as Derek left the room. After about fifteen minutes of waiting, Derek reappeared to the clapping of the jury.

"I'm sorry about that, everyone, but we can continue without further interruptions."