As soon as the presiding official finished reviewing the evidence, Liselotte began her explanation.
“This is the production probability by grade of magic tools created using lower-grade byproducts. Among them, the probability of producing a Grade 2 or higher magic tool using Grade 5 or lower byproducts is…”
Liselotte slightly turned her head toward the defendant’s seat and smiled brightly as she declared in a clear voice,
“0.000002%.”
Miro didn’t look surprised in the slightest.
He appeared calm, as if hearing something he already knew.
‘I understand his unruffled attitude. It’s a number so low it’s hard to believe.’
It seemed he was maintaining a conservative stance, wary of reacting poorly and suffering backlash.
Miro immediately countered.
“If we follow the plaintiff’s argument, it can be seen that magic tool production is sufficiently possible even with those byproducts.”
“It is not sufficient. No matter how much one is the Master of the Magic Tower, with such a probability it is impossible to produce the contracted number of higher-grade magic tools. The related magical theory has also been submitted as evidence.”
Just in case, she had brought evidence to counter every possible objection.
She had even obtained the results of actual experiments conducted for this trial from Virki, but had decided to leave them out, fearing they might irritate the presiding official.
Meanwhile, Miro seemed to have chosen a strategy of outright refuting her evidence.
The ensuing arguments focused on tearing down the opposing side.
“The plaintiff was aware that magic tool production was possible, and is therefore attempting to terminate the existing contract by any means necessary. This should be viewed as a malicious intent to seek a contract with a House that guarantees greater profits afterward.”
“The defendant’s side is distorting the plaintiff’s intent based on nothing more than speculation, without any evidence.”
If Virki had heard it, he would have wailed in grief.
At least it was fortunate that he wasn’t present.
Miro smiled faintly and tipped his head toward her.
“There is a flaw in the plaintiff’s argument. The defendant is the only party on the continent currently authorized to officially sell magic tools. In other words, the plaintiff’s claim is no different from asserting an intention to unilaterally inflict damage on the defendant by terminating a legitimate contract.”
The presiding official, who had been listening to Miro’s argument only half-heartedly, subtly adjusted his posture.
“That is true. According to the plaintiff’s argument, the plaintiff is still capable of producing the higher-grade magic tools that must be supplied under the contract and could simply have delivered them.”
The brief favor he had shown toward the magical theory evidence had long since vanished.
Judging that there was no need to further irritate the unpredictable presiding official, Liselotte lightly raised her hand and declared in a bright voice,
“I request the examination of the head of the Dekan Merchant Guild as a reference witness. Based in the West, they recently entered into a magic tool supply contract with the defendant.”
One of the merchant guild heads seated in the gallery opened his eyes wide and sprang to his feet.
Naturally, the others’ gazes turned toward him.
The presiding official’s eyes were cold.
However, perhaps because there were more eyes watching than before, he didn’t refuse.
“Hm… well, yes. I will accept it.”
As if he had been waiting for this moment, the Dekan Merchant Guild Head hurriedly took a seat at the witness stand.
Wearing garments made of thin fabric and adorned head to toe with gold, he exuded wealth from his very appearance.
The jingling sound that followed him with every step made the presiding official show a very faint hint of displeasure.
Unlike the West, where displaying wealth was considered a virtue, the Central region regarded blatant ostentation as vulgar.
That difference was plainly visible on the presiding official’s face.
“Begin the examination with the plaintiff’s representative.”
The Dekan Merchant Guild Head, who had already been forcing himself to suppress his anger, glared fiercely upward, his eyes bulging.
‘They say people from the West are hot-blooded. Seems it is true.’
Liselotte rose from her seat and signaled to him from in front of the witness stand.
“Witness. Please state your name.”
Understanding Liselotte’s cue, he spoke while forcibly holding back his anger.
“I am Dekan, who operates the Dekan Merchant Guild in the West.”
“The witness recently purchased magic tools through Count Inhora in the East. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
Miro let out a small sigh, as if he wanted to object.
Unlike testimony from a formal witness, a reference witness’ examination wasn’t definitively adopted as evidence. Nor was there punishment for perjury, so he seemed content to merely observe.
Liselotte asked again in a courteous tone.
“How were the magic tools purchased from House Inhora?”
“The appearance was perfectly fine. The certificates were genuine, and as befitting high-grade magic tools, the test results showed excellent performance. However, a problem arose.”
“What problem?”
“The buyers lodged complaints, saying that the mana was depleted far too quickly to be considered brand-new high-grade magic tools. Our merchant guild believes that House Gloria submitted used magic tools while passing them off as new in the bidding process.”
At the word “used,” the gallery stirred in an instant.
“No wonder my sister told me not to buy magic tools after returning from a recent tea time.”
Only then did the presiding official, who had been listening rather casually, twitch at the corners of his mouth.
He cleared his throat and, putting on an air of severity, asked again,
“You purchased them from House Inhora. On what basis are you certain that House Gloria deceived you?”
“Because the Ducal House holds the exclusive rights to magic tools bearing the Magic Tower’s certification.”
As if she had been waiting for this, Liselotte lifted one of the documents she had been holding.
“And so I submit as evidence the magic tool quality certification issued by the Magic Tower.”
The presiding official’s expression stiffened. Even as he accepted the evidence, he looked thoroughly displeased.
From the moment the words “Magic Tower” were mentioned, his attitude had been consistently uncooperative.
“Is there any reason the Eastern responsible House would need to sell magic tools secondhand?”
Liselotte exclaimed brightly,
“I believe the reason is a lack of funds.”
The murmuring courtroom fell into a chilling silence.
Not a single spectator dared to respond lightly.
The East was synonymous with wealth.
The claim was so hard to believe that everyone seemed frozen in place.
The presiding official was no exception.
Unable to stand by any longer, Miro calmly raised his hand, feigning composure.
“Presiding Official. That is an accusation without evidence.”
Liselotte handed over all the additional documents she had been holding to the presiding official.
“I submit as additional evidence the compensation amount recently demanded by House Gloria from House Keilos, the estimated restoration costs resulting from the magic stone mine explosion, and financial statements from two former aides who served House Gloria.”
The presiding official frowned as he received the evidence.
“Since these are estimates, they do not constitute definitive proof.”
They weren’t proof, but they could serve as reference.
In particular, the presiding official was someone who adhered strictly to principles while also being favorable toward the nobility.
Simply planting the anxiety that House Gloria might fall was enough to unsettle his mind.
Staring intently at the documents, he turned to the merchant guild head and asked.
“Witness. Did you demand an explanation from House Inhora?”
Perhaps having held it in for too long, Dekan beat his chest repeatedly and voiced his grievance.
“House Inhora only replied that there was no issue as long as it followed the original contract.”
Was that not an all-too-familiar claim?
It was the very excuse House Gloria always spat out whenever a problem arose.
The merchant guild heads seated in the gallery could no longer contain their anger and shouted.
“Exactly, even after the association issued a statement warning everyone! Why would you do business with a place like that!”
“This makes even my merchant guild look bad! How am I supposed to hold my head up in the West from now on!”
Even in the courtroom descending into chaos, Miro maintained his composed demeanor.
Only his tightly clenched hand betrayed the fact that he was desperately putting on an act.
The presiding official, who had been openly favorable toward the East until now, pretended not to notice and firmly shut his mouth.
He lifted the gavel and brought it down hard, bang bang bang.
“Order in the court!”
Yet even the nobles were busy urgently passing messages to the attendants who had come with them.
“Go tell my father immediately. It seems we may have been defrauded.”
As no one paid attention to the courtroom any longer, the presiding official shouted, his hand gripping the gavel trembling.
“It seems further arguments will be impossible today. We will set the next hearing!”
Turning swiftly, Liselotte spotted Eren sitting firmly like a rock amid the chaotic gallery.
She smiled brightly at him.
It was a smile that meant things were going well.
