Chapter 150 - 145: Acquitted
After his speech, the entire courtroom fell utterly silent.
The eyes of the nobles on the jury shone with an unprecedented brilliance.
They looked at one another, their eyes reflecting shock, elation, and a profound sense of liberation.
’So that’s how it is!’
’How could this potion possibly be a forbidden drug?’
’This is clearly a "divine blessing"! A sacred object to help us fulfill our duties as nobles!’
Using the Church’s own Holy Scripture, Velin Klein had given them a reason they could not refuse—one that even filled them with a sense of honor!
Brian’s face was ashen, and his entire body trembled.
’No... How did it come to this...’
He wanted to argue, but found that Velin had completely dismantled all his points with a higher-level theological interpretation.
"You... this is sophistry! A distortion of the Holy Scripture!" he could only repeat weakly.
"Whether I am misinterpreting it, I trust the devout believers present can judge for themselves."
After speaking, Velin bowed deeply once more to the judge and the jury, then returned to Count Leman’s side.
The presiding judge glanced at the ashen-faced Brian, then at the jury, and banged his gavel.
"The jury will now retire to deliberate."
’Deliberate?’
There was no need to deliberate at all.
In less than five minutes, the twelve jurors were back in their seats.
The leader, Earl Delamond—the one Brian had once considered his most die-hard fanatic—stood up.
He announced in a booming voice: "By unanimous verdict of the jury, Count Leman Klein is found not guilty!"
Not guilty!
Brian’s body went limp, and he nearly collapsed to the floor.
’I’ve lost.’
’Utterly defeated.’
Not only had he failed to bring down Leman, he had personally cloaked that damned Magic Potion in a guise of "doctrinal compliance."
The sullen face of the Chief Judge already loomed in his mind.
’It’s over...’
’It’s all over...’
With trembling hands, he tried to gather the case files on the table, but he couldn’t seem to grasp the papers.
From outside the courtroom, the cheers and compliments of the nobles could be faintly heard.
Every word was like a vicious slap across his face.
No!
’I can’t lose like this!’
Brian suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes glinting with madness.
He thought of the Judicial Court’s instruments of torture, of Ferrier’s shattered bones.
’If the secular court can’t punish you, then I’ll use the way of the divine!’
"Wait!" he shrieked. "The trial isn’t over yet!"
The presiding judge, who was preparing to leave his seat, frowned. "Judge Brian, the case has been concluded."
"No! It’s not over!" Brian’s voice grew shriller. "Velin Klein’s words just now were a clear distortion of the Holy Scripture! That is heresy! According to church law, I have the right to put him on religious trial right here and now!"
The courtroom fell silent in an instant. All eyes turned to the Judge, who had clearly lost his composure after his defeat.
Count Leman’s brows furrowed slightly.
Velin, however, remained calm. He stepped forward and looked directly at Brian.
"Judge, might I ask which word I misquoted from the Book of Creation in the Holy Scripture?"
Brian was speechless.
The scripture was quoted verbatim, not a single word was wrong.
"You... you use flowery words to package evil! How can the sacred act of procreation tolerate mortal interference!" he roared.
"Then, did God create Priests to watch the sick die?"
"For what reason did God grant herbs their healing properties? For what reason did God bestow Divine Arts? If healing the sick and saving lives is ’interfering with divine will,’ then shouldn’t all Priests be sent to the stake?"
"You... you..."
Brian was rendered speechless by the questions.
He looked around. The nobles on the jury were looking at him as if he were a clown.
Even some of the lower-ranking clergy had eyes full of doubt.
’They’ve all been bewitched by this heretic!’
"Heretic!"
Brian had completely lost his mind.
He violently flipped the plaintiff’s table, sending scrolls and an inkwell crashing to the floor.
He spread his arms and began to chant Divine Words!
"In the name of Eternal Glory, I will purify you, you heretic who defiles the Holy Words!"
A golden light surged around him, and a sacred yet tyrannical aura instantly filled the air.
That was the precursor to [Divine Judgment]!
He intended to use force inside the courtroom!
The courtroom erupted in gasps, and the terrified nobles stumbled back.
However, just as the Magic was about to take form...
"Stop!"
A commanding voice came from behind the judge’s bench, stunning the entire hall.
Everyone turned to look, only to see an old man in purple robes and an archbishop’s miter entering from a side door, his expression grim.
The Archbishop of the Haiti Parish, Edmond!
Brian’s Magic was forcibly interrupted. The Holy Light dissipated in an instant, and he staggered backward, looking at the highest leader of the Church in disbelief.
"Your Eminence... you..."
Archbishop Edmond ignored him. He first gave a slight, apologetic nod to the presiding judge and the jury before turning to Brian.
His voice was ice-cold.
"Brian, do you have any idea what you are doing?"
"Using Divine Art in a royal courtroom? Are you trying to provoke a war between the Church and the Kingdom? Do you want the entire Church to be sacrificed for your foolish fanaticism?"
Brian looked as if he’d been struck by lightning, his face pale as paper.
"But he... he desecrated the doctrine..."
"Desecrated?"
The Archbishop let out a cold laugh.
"I was just outside the door and heard all of Baron Velin’s arguments. His understanding of the Holy Scripture is far more profound than that of a fool like you who only knows how to wield the club of the law!"
"You are the one who has distorted the doctrine and sullied the divine glory!"
This sentence completely shattered Brian’s spirit.
His knees gave way, and he fell to the ground, clutching his head and letting out a beast-like wail.
"No... impossible... I am a servant of God... I did nothing wrong..."
The Archbishop looked at his completely broken subordinate with not a trace of pity in his eyes.
He turned to the presiding judge and said gravely, "Your Honor, the Church deeply apologizes for Brian’s outburst. He will be dismissed from his post immediately and will face an internal review by the Judicial Court."
Then, he turned to Count Leman and Velin, a friendly smile on his face.
"Your knowledge and piety are admirable, gentlemen. The Church is willing to be friends with the Klein Clan."
Count Leman rose and returned the courtesy, his response flawless.
"The Archbishop’s wisdom is admirable. The Klein Clan will always be God’s most loyal followers."
Brian was hauled up by two Church guards. His eyes were vacant, and he kept muttering, "I did nothing wrong... I did nothing wrong..."
「Half an hour later, in the square outside the courthouse.」
Count Leman’s carriage was completely surrounded by a crowd of nobles.
"Count Leman, that nephew of yours is a true genius!"
"Baron Velin, I wonder when you might be free to visit my estate? We simply must discuss theology!"
"When will the Klein Clan’s ’divine blessing’ be back in stock? I’m willing to pay triple the price!"
Count Leman, beaming with pleasure, entertained the crowd, his gaze occasionally falling on Velin beside him, filled with pride and approval.
In a corner of the courthouse, a few Church personnel were hastily carrying away a stretcher.
Lying on the stretcher was Brian, mentally broken and drooling at the corner of his mouth.
No one paid any attention to him.
All glory belongs to the victor.
The carriage slowly drove away, the crowd in the square gradually dispersed, and the autumn wind swirled fallen leaves across the stone steps.
What was truly just and what was truly evil, no one cared anymore.