Our party hoped things would go smoothly, but it wasn't meant to be.
"If that's the case, gentlemen, our next meeting will be before a judge. The paperwork has already been filed. It's just waiting for me to formally deliver a copy of our complaint to... you, the people who represent the body of the FIB."
This time, the trio is legally obligated to take the folder Free Chains slides across the table. The lawyer reads it over as we allow a moment of silence to read our claims.
I've been through this with the Ken family. We send the court a 'pleading' of how we were wronged, why the other party is at fault, etc. Then, give a copy to the defendant so they know there are litigations taken against them so they can prepare a pleading of their own to defend themselves.
In this instance, it's the FIB.
The court gives the other party a timeframe to respond with their initial defense, which can take months.
Then, both parties ask each other for information about the facts and issues of the case, working with the court to keep everything professional. This is called "discovery." Evidence such as signed interviews and copious documents are handed to the court, and irrelevant evidence is thrown out.
This typically should be the largest and most important part of this civil suit. Most of the action happens behind closed doors between lawyers and a judge.
When we sued the Ken family, it was relatively simple since there wasn't much to be said. The original judge for the case was someone the Kens knew... I think. If the Arbiter of Balance had not stepped in at the last second, there could've been a chance that the case was thrown out due to bribes, corruption, or something silly.
A chance, since the judge had to be careful in front of a [Lawspeaker] since the case could've pivoted into one about judicial corruption.
The vice head - or should I say, vice director - of the FIB smacks the table and exclaims, "This is outrageous! Four days to prepare our defense before discovery? This has power overreach written all over it!"
If I were the FIB, I'd have the legal department start our legal defense right after information about someone disappearing came to light. I'm sure they did something similar. The 'short' time frame shouldn't be an issue to create an 'adequate' defense, so something else might be in play.
Free Chains says nothing and looks at the opposing party's lawyer. He looks up from the documents and locks eyes with the feline man.
"Do you know what will happen if this gets to the trial stage?"
"Unimaginable consequences. I do."
This short exchange is confusing enough to contain the vice-directors 'outrage.' The vice-director looks to the lawyer, and the lawyer simply points at a section of the document and whispers something to him.
I don't know if it's my imagination, but a bead of sweat forms on his forehead. The VD whispers back but fails to control his volume.
"Really?!"
"I expect some of our claims to be thrown out during discovery, but the fact that not all will be deemed irrelevant to the case should be threat enough. Are you willing to continue pretending to be ignorant, or should we continue our conversation?"
Free Chains put about 12% of the corruption he uncovered in our initial pleading, explaining how that could be responsible for the transgression taken against me. During discovery, roughly half of the technically unnecessary explanation will probably be deemed irrelevant, but it will be enough to open a special investigation as he planned.
We aren't afraid they'll cover up things after knowing we outed them since we can hand the other 78% to the investigators. The other 10% is backup if they start making a 'comeback.' I assume.
And we aren't afraid of the investigation being bought or incompetent since a 'third-party' [Lawspeaker] can't be impartial... or else they could risk divine retribution, or so Free Chains claim.
The FIB has until four days till discovery takes place to either settle, which then can do at any point in time, or Free Chains will submit evidence to the court that might ruin the FIB. It will definitely cause some 'reorganization,' meaning they'll lose their jobs and benefits and possibly see jail time.
This will also open a class action lawsuit where affected families of the FIB's illegal actions can join together. With somebody with the reputation of successfully suing one of the clan families leading the charge, me, they can be assured that they will get justice.
Now, the four-day timeframe can be seen as immoral.
"The binder you've ignored is the expected compensation my client expects for the actions taken against him."
"This is basically blackmail!"
This isn't incorrect. We have no obligation to discuss with the other party before discovery starts, meaning either they settle with what we briefly outlined in the copy of the claims we handed them or they suffer.
The lawyer flips open the binder and skims through it before taking a portion out and handing it to the vice head of the containment branch, who hasn't done much. But the fact that he has to do something turns his neutral expression into more of a frown.
I don't think it's because he has to do his job but because of the implication that he has to look over a section of the compensation.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
We ask for eight fractures. Five are for nurturing talents. The first one has its strongest creature inside at level 100. The second has it at 200. Up to the fifth one with a cap of 500. The other three have other uses.
One is generally light on the creature side of things, but crystals of varying energy types can be found. Basically, we can launder Flash Gordon's crystals through this fracture. The crystals found in the fracture are common, low-ranked, and hard to find, but that doesn't matter.
We only need to claim that we found a vein or something. Once it's ours, proving that we didn't will be nearly impossible.
The next one is basically a safe room. It has a high capacity, ample food, and water, and is not restrictive on who can go in. Since at some point, if your level is too high for the fracture, you start to destabilize the space.
The last one is the fracture I toiled in, to research and develop during my time in the hazard branch. [Venomous Void]. Where I found the species I named… and where I came from right before I was jumped.
The other seven fractures are also called out by name, as Free Chains meticulously found the apparent best fractures that wouldn't be 'pushing it' with the help of Charlie and a few others within my guild.
But that holds little relevance at the moment.
We also ask for 3.2 billion credits in compensation and a few other things that boil down to forcing them from seeking legal action on a few... things. Including the self-defense and *ehem* how I stole a few fractures.
Of course, it was worded with non-confessionary language, and everything has been within legal bounds. It's just that Free Chains might get a slap on the wrist for using his powers so much.
"This is practically blackmail..." the vice-head of the containment branch grumbles under his breath. He says it loud enough for everyone to hear, but we elected to not hear anything.
Of course, they wanted some stipulations for this less than usual 'transaction.’
The main one is the destruction of any 'evidence' that we may or may not have and that we cannot share any notions of what was uttered here.
Free Chains convinced them that the disposal of evidence can be assured, but complete silence is impossible. Keeping the settlement amount private is a given, and only “incriminatory” statements will be withheld from the public.
They countered with not wanting us to be able to make statements wholesale, but that was shot down.
"We can agree to your specifications on how statements will be handled, but in return, we want something that might benefit both parties. Us more so, but the suit should be buried after the settlement."
They don't want our (at this point) unproved claims to be used as evidence in a future suit. That's fine, but it's ultimately up to Free Chains. I worry about their first 'demand' of getting rid of the evidence we collected (I did nothing). Free Chains accepted destroying the evidence we had and simply transitioned the talks to other things.
"Hmm? Burying a legal document in our system is no joking matter. However, it wouldn't be my prerogative to intercept or prevent such attempts... As long as it is after the settlement period."
"I see that we are in agreement.”
“The settlement should be settled in a week at most. Officially, you have a month as outlined in the settlement agreement in the binder."
"Our insurance may not have the funds ready in a week... But that shouldn't be an issue. Our two parties should distance themselves in the future."
There were three things I wanted from this. Financial compensation, fractures, and revenge. You can say my revenge might as well be completed because we've ruined their image (something I don't think they care too much about) and got a massive payday from them (they haven't given it yet).
But I want personal satisfaction from the man who tried to fuck me over. The captain of subsidiaries threw a fracture at me, and the people or person behind the cryptic order to fuck with me.
I find the excuse of him disappearing in fracture bullshit, especially since I've seen a portion of the stuff the FIB tried to hide away. I mean, it's poetic if it's true.
I'm walking around free, and he is toiling away in a fracture. I'm living and breathing, and it's being questioned if he's even alive.
If I see him or get word of his continued existence, things will change, but for now, I am content.
They leave after signing the documents, and we sit in silence for a minute before Charlie stands up.
"I guess I wasn't needed. Those FIB chumps didn't attempt to haggle on the settlement amount, so my silver tongue couldn't be deployed." Charlie fakes a sigh of disappointment before going for the closed door. "If they are incompetent, I assume they will try to delay payments or even weasel themselves out of paying one way or another."
"Will that be an issue?" I ask.
"No. Not really. If I only had one other thing I'm good at besides making money, it's forming contracts. I mean, you're aware of the big one. You and my family should be the only ones aware... and a few priests."
Free Chains stays silent as Charlie talks, professionally pretending he isn't hearing this discussion. I don't recall if he was informed about my friend's deal with the Goddess of wealth.
Everyone in the council knows he has some ties to Mertita since they know of his family, but I digress.
"So what happens if they don't pay?"
"The transaction will happen anyway. You aren't allowed to renegade deals signed in the Gold Lady's presence... For their sake, I hope they have enough funds since I wouldn't condemn my worst enemy to that fate..."
"What fate?"
"Owing Merita money... I shudder at the thought. If they don't have the funds, Mertita will finish the transaction using her credits, then put the perpetrators in debt."
"I'm curious. Would the FIB be aware that Merita is involved?"
"Any large payment goes through her or her 'angels,' and contracts, suits, and other such 'exchanges' of money have a small prayer to her to ensure a safe transaction. It's more for the sake of tradition or embellishment, but because of my *ehem* class *ehem,* it becomes... binding. I have to be present at the signing and..."
He looks at Free Chains with a shocked expression before giving him a knowing look. Charlie leaves the room without another word.
"Was this meeting bait?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about. Regardless, the FIB won't have time to be an issue to you anymore."
"Sucks about losing the evidence. Being a [Lawspeaker] and everything, you can't really say one thing and then do the exact opposite."
"Yes. It is a shame. In hindsight, I should've "anonymously" sent all the evidence preemptively in a sealed enchanted envelope with the [Lawspeaker]'s mark that will open at a specific date one week from today. And I should've sent multiple copies to the correct people to handle this situation, including the person in charge of internal investigations."
"...you sly dog."
"I'm a Silvestrus. As feline as one can be."