In fact, under modern labor laws, it was impossible to pay wages with goods instead of money.
But the imperial legal code contained no such provision whatsoever.
So this kind of logic would apply here, would it not?
Well, self-help actions that were almost never recognized in the modern judicial system were commonplace here.
“Defendant, why is there no answer?”
“That is…….”
Viscount Gransum’s expression grew extremely dark.
He even hung his head as if he had no face left.
It seemed he could not bring himself to speak.
I immediately looked toward the victim, Landen, and asked.
“Looking at the ledger, it shows you received goods exceeding the wage amount separately.”
“Yes, I did receive some. But it wasn’t that much.”
“It says the equivalent of 10 goldens here.”
“Since they had to sell it cheap anyway, the actual value is lower than that.”
“How much was it then?”
“Probably around 4 silons.”
Ten goldens converted to silver coins came to 50 silons.
No matter how much of a discount sale it was, a discount rate exceeding 90 percent?
This was truly nonsensical.
I immediately scanned the gallery and spoke.
“Is there anyone here who, like Mr. Landen, received wages from Viscount Gransum in the form of goods?”
Several people raised their hands right away.
I had them come up to the witness stand.
“You all received the same amount, correct?”
“The items each of us took were different, but the selling price when combined was the same.”
“So when you took them to other stores to sell, how much did they give you?”
“I got 3 goldens.”
“I received 2 goldens and 3 silons.”
Purchase prices varied by shop, so the sales amounts naturally differed.
But averaging them out, it seemed to be a little under 3 goldens.
I stared at Landen again and continued.
“Everyone else received about this much, so why did you get so little?”
“It’s because I received inferior goods.”
His attitude remained shameless even though half the lie had already been exposed.
He clearly believed his actions were justified.
There had been absolutely no change in his psychological state.
It’s all obviously going to come out, yet he’s sticking to this till the end?
Confirming the facts was not particularly difficult.
I immediately called Prosecutor Ernest Calhoun.
“Could you come over here for a moment?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Bring the shop owner who bought the victim’s goods right away. You’ll need to bring the purchase ledger as well.”
“With all due respect, but to do that a search and seizure warrant will be necessary.”
“I’ll write one right now, so take it.”
“Yes!”
The newly appointed prosecutor’s enthusiasm and efficiency were tremendous.
It did not take long before he brought the witness firmly in tow.
I obtained the shop owner’s testimony and evidence that he had paid 3 goldens.
“Will you still claim it is a lie even now?”
“But Your Honor, the master only gave the goods and did not pay the wages in currency, correct?”
The general store employees’ monthly wage was 7 silons.
Two months of arrears totaled 1 golden and 4 silons.
The value of the goods Viscount Gransum provided was far greater than that.
The amount Landen had pocketed was exactly two months’ wages.
But why did he do it? He ended up receiving more money, so there was no reason to go this far.
No matter how much I thought about it, I could not understand the man’s attitude.
Moreover, even after the lie was exposed, he held his head high.
He insisted to the end that it was not embezzlement.
He must have seen the self-help provision in the imperial legal code.
They say an ignorant person with conviction is frightening.
I stared at Landen with a chilling gaze before sweeping my eyes across the courtroom.
Thanks to me uncovering the true circumstances of the case, the atmosphere in the gallery had completely changed.
“Ugh! Look at that brazen stare. I really cannot stand it.”
“His way of thinking is completely different from ordinary people.”
“I cannot understand it. Does he think everything revolves around his own logic?”
“It is so frustrating.”
Every reaction was one of scolding the perpetrator.
Yet Landen demanded this.
“I am more upright than anyone. Please acknowledge that it was self-help!”
It seemed no matter what was said, this man was beyond redemption.
So what was there to do?
I might as well just deliver the verdict.
“The defendant attempted to pay wages with goods despite his difficult financial situation. Since he did his utmost for the employees, I find him not guilty. On the other hand, the victim who laid hands on the safe shall be charged with occupational embezzlement and sentenced to three years in prison. Additionally, his assets will be seized to return the diverted funds to their rightful owner.”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Hector Punisher slammed down as if it would shatter the wooden block.
I had struck it lightly, yet the sound echoed through the building with tremendous force.
As a result, even after the verdict was announced, the courtroom remained utterly silent.
Soon the gallery began to buzz.
“Wow! That’s what I’m talking about.”
“At first I thought it was just another wage arrears case. But when Your Honor investigated, new facts came to light?”
“It is fascinating. Does that mean the prosecutor filed the charges incorrectly?”
“He is a rookie. He cannot help but be clumsy.”
“Ah, that is true.”
At the people’s murmurs, Prosecutor Ernest Calhoun’s face flushed red.
There was not a single false word among them.
He seemed ashamed that he had appeared so incompetent.
It is not his fault.
Landen had maintained a perfectly upright attitude throughout his statement.
Moreover, Viscount Gransum had hidden the fact that he paid wages in goods out of pride.
Anyone’s judgment could have become clouded in that situation.
I was about to leave the courtroom when I casually called out to Prosecutor Calhoun.
“Let us talk for a moment.”
“Yes? Yes, Your Honor.”
An awkward atmosphere lingered as we walked down the empty corridor.
It was practically our first conversation, so it could not be helped.
“Looking at the trial documents, you conducted a rather thorough investigation. You even marked the key parts of the ledger with bookmarks.”
“You flatter me, Your Grace.”
Even at the praise, Prosecutor Calhoun’s expression remained dark.
He must have thought I was speaking empty words.
I meant to encourage my discouraged junior, but it was certainly not fabricated.
“It is the truth. You did everything else well. Your witness examinations looked skilled as well.”
“Thank you.”
“Discovering the essence of a case is a difficult task.”
“But Your Honor saw through it in a single glance.”
“I was only watching from afar, so it was visible to me. When something is right in front of you, your field of vision inevitably narrows. So keep moving forward steadily. The light will appear someday.”
Prosecutor Ernest Calhoun looked as if he had realized something.
He clenched both fists tightly and answered with vigor.
“I will become a splendid jurist like you, Your Honor.”
“Uh… yes. Do that.”
“Thank you!”
Prosecutor Ernest Calhoun bowed at a perfect 90 degrees, turned, and ran off.
I watched his retreating figure for a moment with a slightly dazed expression.
I had no intention of pouring in that much enthusiasm.
I had only told him not to feel down.
Yet it seemed I had overdone it.
“Well, whatever. Passion is a good thing.”
I smiled contentedly and turned toward my office.
With that, another troublesome trial had been resolved.
But at that very moment.
“W-wait! Your Honor!”
“Hey! You must not do this!”
A sudden commotion erupted nearby.
Someone burst through the courtroom door and threw himself at my feet.
Flustered court knights rushed over to restrain him, but his strength was so great they could not pull him away.
This man is…?
It was Landen, who had just been found guilty of embezzlement.
He was clearly an ordinary person, yet his desperation was that intense.
It was astonishing that knights capable of using aura were struggling so much.
“What is the matter that you are acting like this?”
“Your Honor! No matter how guilty I am, three years for stealing just a few gold coins is too harsh!”
“Why do you think so?”
“Should it not be judged as simple theft rather than occupational embezzlement?”
Landen seemed to have a fairly sharp mind.
Some commoners were educated talents, but not all.
He was probably one of the exceptional ones among them.
That must be why Viscount Gransum had hired him.
He appeared to have studied a bit of law somewhere, but it was of no use against me.
“Mr. Landen, you were an employee at the general store and also managed the safe, correct?”
“Yes.”
“You were in a position of trust with another person’s property. Taking money from it calls for severe punishment. This is called a status offense. Do you understand?”
Since he was capable of scheming, he should have understood perfectly.
But Landen was persistent beyond measure.
“Even so, could you not reduce it a little? I heard the judge has strong discretion over sentencing.”
“I was originally planning to sentence you to about ten years. I lowered it considerably because the amount was small.”
“Could I say just one more thing?”
“No matter what you say, I will not change it. So just go back… wait, is a detained person allowed to wander around like this?”
I stopped mid-sentence and looked at the court knights.
They seemed flustered and began answering in a hurry.
“He resisted so violently that we were afraid he might get hurt. That is why we ended up coming this far.”
“What is the regulation in such cases?”
“We use force.”
“Follow the rules.”
“Yes!”
The court knights seized Landen with rough hands and began dragging him away.
He kept shouting something, but I did not even glance at him.
Three years is getting off easy. Come back after you straighten yourself out there.
Imperial prisons were not meant for rehabilitation, but one never knew.
There might be a positive outcome.
“What a tiring single trial.”
An inexperienced rookie prosecutor and an embezzler who refused to admit guilt to the end.
Not a single part of it had been easy.
I walked with heavy steps when I suddenly realized something.
“Ah, right. There are no more trials today?”
Recalling that fact made energy surge through me all at once.
I shed my judicial robes, gathered the trial documents, and hurried out in front of the courthouse.
Just then, Uncle Brandon arrived with the carriage.
“My goodness! You came out earlier than scheduled.”
“Yes, I suppose my steps quickened because I felt good.”
“Shall we depart right away?”
“Please do.”
I quickly climbed into the passenger seat.
But at that moment.
A shadow appeared in the distance and closed the gap in an instant.
The person who suddenly popped up in front of me was Cordell McNeil.
Just where had my escort knight been and what had he been doing all this time?
“Why are you coming from that direction? Are you not performing your duty properly?”
“Come on, you were in the courthouse. There was no need to stick right beside you. Everything that happens here becomes public knowledge anyway.”
It sounded as if he were advertising himself as the surveillance officer.
I shook my head and leaned back against the cushion.
Dealing with this slippery fellow any longer would only irritate me.
But then Cordell suddenly asked an odd question.
“Your Grace.”
“What?”
“My back hurts. Would a hot compress be better, or a cold one?”
What on earth was he talking about all of a sudden?
There was no way a man who had not fought any battles would be injured.
Still, feeling the slightest concern, I tilted my head and asked.
“How did you get hurt?”
“I slipped a little during a dance battle. There were so many beautiful ladies. I could not miss a chance like that at a party.”
For a moment I was at a loss for words.
While I had been working hard in the courtroom, my escort knight had been enjoying a party?
“I have some excellent medicine for the back. Would you like to try it?”
“Oh! Really?”
“Of course.”
Cordell McNeil approached with a bright face.
I quietly slipped my hand into my pocket and said.
“It seems what Sir McNeil needs is a good club compress.”
These two are like a comedy duo 🤣🤣🤣