Chapter 161. Verbal Abuse

"So you've said everything you wanted to say!?"

Duke Yurei's neck bulged with veins.

His eyes blazed with fury.

"So you passed summary judgment on the spot because of that?"

Ferda took his eyes off Duke Yurei and answered calmly.

"I did not kill him."

"Isn't that different from what you just said?"

"I said he committed a crime worthy of death. I never said that I killed him."

"From now on, please answer more clearly, Regent Ferda."

It was obvious that Ferda had deliberately chosen his words to provoke them, so Akard gave him a warning.

Without letting emotion cloud his judgment, he asked,

"What was this crime worthy of death?"

"Prince Yurei insulted the Great Flame, the Aspect of Strength, Grand Duchess Valdrova."

At those words, the murmurs of condemnation that had been echoing through the chamber suddenly disappeared.

Most of the people gathered here were figures of authority themselves, so they understood exactly what that meant.

To insult a dragon was to challenge authority itself.

Just as a commoner would never be forgiven for challenging a noble, dragons were no different.

No—if anything, they were even more ruthless.

They showed no mercy and made examples of offenders.

Even Silverwind, who had been known as a gentle dragon friendly toward humans, had never shown mercy to those who insulted dragons.

That was why such people now existed only in history books.

Realizing the gravity of the matter, Akard asked in a slightly trembling voice,

"If he truly insulted a dragon, is there anyone who can prove it?"

"There is."

There were two principal witnesses.

Luri, the Dragon Spawn.

And Malcolm, who had happened to overhear everything.

Luri could not be brought forward.

She had already overturned the Imperial Capital once as a warning.

If she had to step in again, they would have to be prepared for the Golden Council itself to be destroyed.

That was the duty of a Dragon Spawn reborn through a blood bond.

Had she merely been Valdrova's Attendant, she would have acted without hesitation.

But now that a human settlement had been established and things were progressing peacefully, instilling fear would only create chaos.

And Luri must not do that.

The only one she needed to protect was Valdrova.

This matter had to be resolved by Ferda himself.

Which left only one name he could call.

"I call Sir Malcolm of Peach Hill as my witness."

"Is he present?"

"Yes."

"Then bring him forward."

Ferda glanced behind him.

No matter what he wore, he still looked like a country bumpkin.

No matter what he did, everything about him seemed awkward.

Ferda beckoned the man over with a tilt of his chin.

"Witness, please introduce yourself."

"I-I'm Malcolm of Peach Hill! I-I serve Lady Valdrova's territory—n-no, Regent Ferda's territory! B-before that, I served as an Imperial Knight!"

"An Imperial Knight... you say?"

The question came from Oldin Rooster.

He too had once served as an Imperial Knight.

"Y-Yes, sir!"

"And just how did someone like you become an Imperial Knight?"

"Oh, that? I passed the examination!"

"I'm asking how someone like you managed that."

"I passed the re-examination."

"The... re-examination?"

Oldin Rooster's eyes widened.

"Surely... you don't mean the one where you're sent to retrieve the Imperial flag planted atop the northern Ice Storm Mountains?"

"Yes, that's the one."

Malcolm scratched his head and grinned innocently.

Those who didn't understand looked confused.

Those who did were utterly stunned.

Among them was Ulvera Consilus.

"That fool actually made it all the way up there...?"

"How impressive is that?"

"Your Excellency, do you know of Sir Gaius?"

As someone who had once dreamed of becoming a knight, Ferda knew him well.

Gaius had been one of the pillars of the Arken Empire, and his achievements were so unbelievable that they had become legend.

"Among the Imperial Knights, there is a legend that Sir Gaius climbed the world's highest peak, the Ice Storm Mountains, and planted the Empire's flag there."

"I see. But what does that have to do with anything?"

"The Imperial Knights give failed candidates one last chance. Using only the equipment provided during the examination, they must climb the mountain and retrieve that flag."

The summit lay hidden above the clouds, while endless ice storms raged below.

To high-ranking mages, the Ice Storm Mountains were nothing special.

But for those who relied solely on physical strength and had to climb honestly from the base to the summit, it was hell itself.

Most either froze to death or were devoured by monsters before they even reached the halfway point.

"They call it a second chance, but in truth it's little more than telling those without the qualifications of a knight to give up."

"...And that idiot actually retrieved it?"

"It would seem so."

What had Malcolm been like when Ferda first carried him away?

Nothing but dead weight.

He had accomplished a task designed to make people give up.

That alone deserved recognition.

Though their pride would never allow them to admit it.

Even now, just look at him.

That awkward smile of his seemed more accustomed to fists than praise.

"At any rate... since you were once an Imperial Knight, I trust you understand the value of honor."

"Y-Yes! Of course!"

"Then answer carefully. This matter could create serious conflict between the Empire and other kingdoms. At worst, the responsibility may fall not only upon you, Sir Malcolm, but also upon Regent Ferda."

Akard's words pressed heavily upon Malcolm's shoulders.

It was an obvious attempt to frighten him into changing his testimony.

Ferda wasn't worried.

He had once asked Malcolm a similar question himself.

And Malcolm's answer then had been—

"Yes. I heard it clearly."

Even frightened, Malcolm answered without hesitation.

Most people became afraid because they overthought things.

But the man Akard was dealing with now was different.

He doesn't think enough to become afraid.

Watching Malcolm answer so confidently, Akard questioned him again.

"Did he specifically refer to Her Grace, Grand Duchess Valdrova?"

"Yes. I didn't know who she was back then, but it happened while Her Grace Valdrova and the Regent were dancing."

"Could he have been looking somewhere else?"

"No. That man was looking directly at them with both eyes."

"...Can you swear that before Alte?"

"Not only before Alte—I can swear on my mother's name as well. If you wish, right here I can—"

Malcolm began making an oddly solemn gesture.

Akard hurriedly stopped him.

Only then did Akard realize he was dealing with someone impossible to reason with.

He gave up trying to corner Malcolm.

"That's enough. You may step down."

"Yes, sir!"

After giving what he believed to be a knightly salute, Malcolm withdrew.

Watching him leave, Ferda couldn't help recalling the blood, sweat, tears—and even hair—that Vernel Marquis and the researchers had sacrificed trying to make Malcolm presentable.

Apparently prepared for this possibility, Akard continued.

"Sir Malcolm's testimony certainly carries some weight, but to prove this matter we require someone more objective."

The reasoning was simple.

As one of Ferda's own knights, Malcolm would naturally be willing to sacrifice himself for his lord.

It wasn't entirely unreasonable.

History was full of such precedents.

"He obviously instructed his own knight to say exactly that!"

Duke Yurei shouted angrily.

"Even before last winter, Regent Ferda had already begun building villages. To establish those settlements, he needed commoners to work there. So he gradually lured away the people living under nobles all across the continent!"

Hiding shamelessness beneath righteous indignation, he painted Ferda as a scoundrel.

Ferda remained silent.

"I can't let that pass!"

This time, it was Count Consilus who stood up in protest.

"The people who came to Regent Ferda's territory were refugees fleeing nobles who abandoned them during the poor harvests! You all kept your mouths shut through the harsh winter, and only now that spring has come do you dare speak like this? Have you no shame!?"

"Count Consilus, obtain permission before speaking. Consider this a warning."

Still seething with anger, Consilus sat back down.

Akard gestured for the proceedings to continue.

"I request that Crown Prince Alexander, who is familiar with the situation in the Far East, be called as a witness."

Only yesterday, Alexander had been disciplined and placed under house arrest.

His political authority had been restricted, but he was still permitted to attend as an observer.

He had been seated beside Olivia Arken.

Once Akard granted permission, Alexander immediately rose and took the witness stand, as though he had been waiting for this moment.

"I am Crown Prince Alexander. My punishment was handed down only yesterday, so I sincerely apologize for standing before you again so soon..."

Despite his words, the corners of his mouth curled upward in delight.

He produced stacks of information he had gathered to frame Ferda.

"At present, a settlement has been established within the territory of Grand Duchess Valdrova. It is called Hestia. Hestia was the name of the ancient guardian of fire..."

Alexander began rambling through irrelevant history.

Watching with his chin resting on his hand, Erdes Roton raised hers and received permission to speak.

"No one's interested in that. Get to the point."

Though rude, many secretly agreed.

"A-anyway... the reason Regent Ferda gathered those people..."

Alexander hesitated, as though wondering whether he should really say it.

Ferda already knew exactly what was about to come out of those filthy lips.

"I have heard that Black Magic was involved."

"Black Magic!?"

The entire chamber erupted.

The Empire recognized the Alte Religion as its state religion, and it maintained a policy of zero tolerance toward Black Magic.

Even nobles were no exception.

Anyone merely suspected of involvement with Black Magic had to donate enormous sums to the church or receive a sacred mark of repentance through holy power.

Naturally, Ferda could do neither.

He actually used Black Magic—and had no intention of giving it up.

"The accusation of using Black Magic carries enormous consequences. Can you produce your informant as a witness?"

"I'm afraid I cannot. If their identity is revealed after today's session, they may suffer retaliation. I sincerely request that they remain anonymous."

Akard tilted his head and quietly consulted the other senior council members.

Anonymous?

Even if the identity remained hidden, who besides Erdes could have provided that information?

Though... something feels off.

If Erdes had truly exposed Ferda's Black Magic, she would have said it herself.

At the very least, she wouldn't have used that pathetic Alexander as her mouthpiece.

After the council members finished discussing the request, Akard announced his decision.

"We will accept the testimony anonymously for now. Continue."

"Thank you."

Alexander's kite had caught the wind.

"Regent Ferda's violent temperament has already been documented in numerous reports."

He tapped a thick stack of documents as he continued exposing Ferda's past.

"Before the engagement ceremony, Regent Ferda gathered the nobles of the Far East for his first address. At that time, he wasn't even Regent yet—merely the Grand Duchess Valdrova fiancé with no authority whatsoever. Yet he mocked Baron Teshalos Wolcher for calling himself a mage and executed him on the spot!"

That information had undoubtedly come from one of the Far Eastern officials.

Unlike Prince Yurei, Baron Teshalos Wolcher had not been executed for insulting a dragon.

"I object to that information! Mr. Chairman, please grant me permission to speak!"

Consilus leapt to his feet.

Akard nodded.

"Baron Teshalos Wolcher's summary execution was certainly difficult for noble society to accept. However, there were circumstances. He was plotting an unprecedented catastrophe by attempting to fuse monsters with Black Magic! Had it not been for Regent Ferda, no one would ever have uncovered it!"

Alexander immediately countered.

"Even if such a conspiracy existed, isn't the order of events wrong? If he truly served demons, the investigation should have been completed first, and only then should he have been executed!"

"At that time, Regent Ferda was inexperienced in communicating with others. Furthermore, he could not trust the lords of the Far East. Had he revealed everything then, it would only have given Baron Teshalos Wolcher an opportunity to escape."

Consilus's explanation struck Ferda as somewhat odd, but he chose not to dwell on it.

The verbal battle intensified.

At last, Alexander decided to play his trump card.

"It saddens me greatly that Count Consilus, who has devoted himself to the Far East longer than anyone, would hold such an opinion. However, there is someone who can prove beyond doubt that Regent Ferda is an extremely dangerous man. Mr. Chairman, I request permission to call him as a witness."

"And who would that be?"

"William Miller."

Ferda didn't know who Miller was.

But he knew William.

"Permission granted."

Alexander's face brightened as though victory were already his.

At his signal, a man waiting outside entered the chamber.

Ferda, Duke Yurei, and even Consilus all recognized him immediately.

"That man... isn't he the captain of Hestia Village's Public Security Force?"

"That's right."

"Then why is he appearing as the Crown Prince's witness...?"

Not knowing the full story, the first emotion to rise within Consilus was betrayal.