Chapter 77: The Tribunal
The Tribunal Hall shattered the silence with its formidable presence.
It spiraled upward in concentric tiers of gleaming white stone and dark iron, each level bustling with nobles adorned in vibrant house colors, guild officials clad in somber grey, and clergy in simple robes that seemed to dissolve into the shadows. From the elevated platforms, they gazed down, their faces partially illuminated by floating orbs hovering near the ceiling, casting sprawling shadows over the vast open floor.
At the chamber's far end, behind a sweeping curved window offering a sweeping view of the capital, sat the ruling council. Seven figures in intricate robes, their expressions stern and unwavering, embodied the authority of imperial law. Sunlight poured through the glass behind them, illuminating their figures as if they were carved into a stained-glass mural, commanding attention and reverence.
Dominic stood on the weathered, exposed floor beneath the towering chamber, the rough stone uneven beneath his feet. Theresa was positioned to his right, her eyes sharp and watchful, while Florence stood to his left, her posture tense yet controlled. Lysandra remained behind them, her stance still and alert, her gaze flickering with subtle intensity. Wobbly sat quietly on the cluttered table nearby, its faint, steady glow casting a muted light across the room.
The atmosphere of the room felt oppressive, almost hostile.
He could sense it in the way the nobles leaned eagerly forward, their hushed whispers rising like tendrils of smoke curling through the heavy air. They weren't here to hear the truth—this was a spectacle. They thrived on his discomfort, eager to see him falter.
"Lord Dominic Kane," the lead magistrate announced, his voice smooth and authoritative, cutting through the silence with effortless command. "You stand before this Tribunal to answer questions concerning the tenth-floor expedition of the Caldmore dungeon. We require details regarding the legitimacy of the raid, the origins of the mana core, and the conduct of your guild under Frank Castle's leadership."
Dominic nodded respectfully. "I understand."
"Then we shall begin."
What unfolded was no trial but an interrogation cloaked in elegance.
Harwick's attorney was the first to speak—a slender man with a serpent's grin and a voice like molten stone. He didn't levy accusations; he offered suggestions. His questions hovered in the air like smoke, each one laced with a subtle poison that seeped into the room.
"Lord Kane, your ascension has been remarkable. Rising from F-rank to C-rank in just months. How do you explain this rapid climb?"
"Dangerous dungeon raids, intense training, and the allies I've gathered along the way."
"Allies, indeed." The serpent turned, his gaze settling on Theresa. "And who might this companion be? The woman beside you, that's no crest card she carries, no registration with any academy, no magical signature recorded. Where did she come from?"
Dominic's jaw tightened as he deliberately avoided Theresa's gaze, his eyes fixed menacingly on the serpent.
"She rescued me when I was dying on the third floor of the Caldmore dungeon, and since then, she's been my confidante, my mentor, and one of the few reasons I'm still standing today. Her origins are her own secret, but here's what you need to know: she's more knowledgeable than anyone in this room, and she's risked more for this empire than most of you sitting in judgment," Dominic declared.
A murmur ran through the room. The serpent's smile wavered momentarily, flickering like a candle in the wind.
"A touching defense," he sneered. "But it doesn't answer the real questions. How did she get into the capital? And how is she staying here legally?"
Theresa spoke before Dominic could respond. Her voice was calm, deliberate, and projected clearly enough to fill the room.
"It is not illegal to exist without a crest card," she stated. "Nor is it illegal to be employed by Lord Kane. The law does not mandate that every foreigner must register with the council. It only requires that individuals cause no harm and adhere to the law. I have done neither."
The serpent's eyes glinted menacingly. "True. But you could be a spy, a terrorist, or an agent working for a foreign power." He paused, allowing his words to resonate in the tense atmosphere of the room. "A foreigner should be required to go through official channels and receive proper acknowledgment before being granted citizenship in our empire."
Theresa's expression remained unaltered. "Citizenship is not a prerequisite for residence. The empire welcomes immigrants, provided they contribute meaningfully and obey the laws. You are aware of this as well as I am."
The serpent inclined his head slightly, as if acknowledging the point. "You're correct, of course. Citizenship grants full rights — the right to own property, hold public office, or marry into noble houses. Without it, one remains… diminished. But that's not the core issue, is it?" He turned his gaze back to the assembly. "The real concern is that Lord Kane has surrounded himself with unregistered foreigners of remarkable power, with no accountability or oversight whatsoever."
He let the words hover in the tense silence that followed.
"How are we to know they aren't here to undermine the empire? They could be anyone. They could be working for anyone," he said, his tone measured yet laced with suspicion. Turning back to glance at Dominic, he added, "And you, Lord Kane, have brought them into the very heart of the capital—into the royal palace, into this chamber, where no secrets should be safe."
The room immediately erupted in whispers, a ripple of suspicion spreading among the nobles who leaned forward eagerly, their eyes glittering with distrust. Harwick's thin smile reappeared, edged with satisfaction, as if savoring the chaos.
Dominic's fists clenched at his sides, muscles taut. Through the bond, he could feel Florence's anger mounting—hot, sharp, like a blade. Theresa's emotional reaction was calmer, more controlled, but equally intense.
The questions continued, pouring forth not just from the counsel but from the magistrates themselves. They inquired about the mana core, the dungeon, Frank, the guild, and even Dominic's family history—all aimed at dredging up past scandals and tossing mud at his name.
"He was a traitor too, was he not?" the lead magistrate's sharp voice cut through the murmur.
"He was falsely accused and murdered," Dominic replied with cold certainty, eyes sharp. "By the very people who are trying to condemn me today."
The room stirred anew. The serpent's smile grew wider, more sly.
Then, suddenly, the line of questioning shifted, veering into unfamiliar territory, leaving an ominous silence in its wake.
They didn't merely target Dominic; their assault extended to everyone nearby.
Dominic could feel the hostility in the air. The nobles perched on their high platforms no longer masked their disdain. Some leaned forward with eager anticipation, while others muttered prayers or harsh condemnations. Harwick sat near the front, his face composed, almost tranquil. Aldric stood silently beside him. Characters from the Church filled the room, observing with cold, calculating satisfaction.
Harwick's counsel carried on.
"Lord Kane, you purchased a house in Caldmore and then leased a manor upon your arrival in the capital. That's a substantial expense, especially considering you were once an E-rank adventurer with little to your name. Where did you get the funds?"
"From my earnings as an adventurer—through the Caldmore Tournament, dungeon expeditions, and other legitimate work."
"Ah, yes. The tenth-floor expedition," the serpent's smile deepened. "The very expedition whose legitimacy is under scrutiny. You used the spoils from that raid to rent a manor even before the core was sold. Some might see that as a display of confidence—or perhaps blatant disregard for the law."
"The core was legitimate. The raid was legitimate. I had no reason to doubt either."
"Confidence," the serpent echoed, gesturing to the room. "Two months ago, you had nothing. Now, you rent a mansion in the capital, surround yourself with unregistered foreigners of extraordinary power, and consign a mana core of immense value, all before any tribunal has ruled on the legality of your actions."
Whispers rippled through the room.
"Some might call that suspicious," the serpent said softly. "Others might call it something even worse."
Dominic stayed silent, his hands firmly at his sides. Through their bond, he sensed Theresa and Florence struggling to maintain composure.
"Where is the rest of your expedition, Lord Kane?" the serpent demanded, its voice smooth but probing. "Records indicate the Floor Ten raid should have involved more adventurers. Where are the names that should have been filed with the guild?"
Dominic's face remained impassive. "There was no 'rest' of the expedition. The Floor Ten raid was a small party, just me, Theresa Moon, and Florence Mark. That was the entire team from start to finish."
The serpent's smile flickered, sharp and calculating. "So you claim. Yet rumors swirl that the original records included additional adventurers, those who were later erased. Adventurers who might have a claim to the core team, or who could testify to what truly happened."
"Those rumors are false," Dominic said steadily, his voice steady but resonant. "You're mixing up two separate events. The raid where I was abandoned, left for dead, with my own team falsely reporting my death, that was a different mission, on a different floor, the third. It was Theresa Moon who found me, bleeding from a wraith's venom, and saved my life."
The acknowledgment from the magistrate hung in the air, but the moment of relief was brief. The serpent's counsel had already turned, his composure recovered, his smile returning like a blade sliding back into its sheath.
"And the man who had abandoned you to die—Reyes—was he not found dead just after the tournament ended?"
The words struck Dominic like a punch to the gut. He hadn't known. The room's atmosphere shifted; the nobles watched intently. The serpent's smile grew sharper, clearly reading the shock on Dominic's face.
"Lord Kane? Did you not know?" the serpent prompted.
"I didn't know he was dead," Dominic admitted, his voice trembling.
"Interesting," the serpent mused, spreading his hands. "During the tournament, you confronted Reyes, using harsh, perhaps brutal, methods. You forced a confession. A day after, he was found dead."
"I didn't kill him, if that's what you are insinuating," Dominic insisted. "The injuries I inflicted weren't fatal. He walked away alive, and he even confessed in front of everyone in the arena."
"So, you admit to hurting him?" the serpent pressed.
"I fought him. He confessed, and he walked away."
"Yet, just days later, he's found dead. Curious, isn't it? The very man who could have been a key witness dies soon after fighting you."
The whispers grew louder, tense and anxious. Harwick's thin smile didn't reach his eyes; Aldric's gaze was arctic cold.
"I had no reason to kill him," Dominic argued. "He was more useful alive. He even named—"
Before he could finish, the magistrate's gavel struck with authority.
"Lord Kane, refrain from making accusations without evidence. The council is aware of the circumstances surrounding Reyes's death. What's important is that a man is dead, and the events leading to his death began with you."
Dominic's chest burned with frustration. He opened his mouth to speak, but the magistrate was already moving on.
"The council will focus on the legitimacy of the tenth-floor expedition."
The serpent nodded slowly. "The council is wise. But there remains the matter of a witness, a guild worker from Caldmore who saw the manipulation, the abuse of power by Frank Castle. Her courage in speaking is commendable, and she has agreed to testify before this Tribunal."
He turned toward the chamber's back.
"We now call Tobin Varn, of the Caldmore Adventurer's Guild."