Chapter 63: A Fair Judgment

Just catching him in the act of swapping the works in the dead of night was enough to settle it.

A true craftsman wouldn’t resort to such dirty tricks.

But questions still lingered.

Asen’s hand movements were clearly far superior.

Not a single hesitation, and a relaxed attitude to boot.

Anyone would think the second son, Asen Bandro, was the rightful successor.

So why on earth had he pulled this stunt?

I stared at him with puzzled eyes.

Then an unexpected answer came.

Not from Asen’s mouth, but from somewhere entirely different.

“That guy never learned the firing process. Father passed away too suddenly.”

A small lantern flickered on, illuminating the interior of the brick factory.

The face of the newcomer was quite familiar.

It was none other than the plaintiff in this case—the eldest son, Jansen Bandro.

He must have known Asen would come here.

His expression was far too calm.

“But he still needs to demonstrate the firing process.”

“He probably planned to slap on some clay coating. If it’s too thin, it peels off during firing anyway.”

Even so, there were more oddities.

Chief among them was Asen’s exceptional skill with clay.

That was the biggest issue.

“Your clay-handling looked impressive to me.”

At my question, a bitter shadow crossed Jansen’s face.

Soon, the hidden truth came to light.

“You saw correctly. The one who inherited Father’s talent was my younger brother.”

“Then why doesn’t he know the full process?”

“Because he hated working in a place like this.”

The full story went like this.

Originally, the Ryuker Brick Factory didn’t produce the variety it did now.

It just made the coarse, yellowish-brown bricks common in Delriat.

But recently, drastic changes had occurred.

Massive investments from the governor’s office had exploded demand for bricks.

And orders for higher-quality products had poured in.

“That’s how these works came about.”

“Exactly. Only Father could create such unique patterns. That’s why the factory grew so rapidly.”

“And that’s what caught Asen Bandro’s eye?”

“He probably still has no intention of running the factory himself.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”

“Ask him directly.”

As Jansen shrugged and stepped back, I turned my gaze to Asen.

He kept his head bowed low, wearing a grave expression.

Even with his malicious intent, he at least knew shame.

“Were you really planning to sell off the brick factory?”

“You need to answer clearly. Unless you want decades in a hellish prison cell.”

“Ahem! No, that’s not it.”

“I heard you never learned the firing process. Then how were you going to run the factory?”

“Naturally…”

Asen glanced at Jansen.

In that instant, I caught his scheme.

Leave the work to his brother and live comfortably off the profits?

If Jansen couldn’t stand it anymore and declared independence?

Then Asen could offer up the factory, leaving the eldest with no choice but to buy it tearfully.

It was the family’s legacy, equivalent to their father’s keepsake—he wouldn’t want to hand it to outsiders.

A truly despicable plot.

“No need for further verification.”

The answer was clear now.

I released Asen and turned away.

Of course, he’d pay dearly for tonight’s actions.

He had tried to deceive the Supreme Court’s judicial bench.

Then Jansen approached and spoke up.

“Your Excellency.”

“Yes?”

“Could you please go easy on my foolish younger brother just this once?”

“Pardon?”

This was the guy who tried to swallow the factory whole by swapping works.

Even as brothers, disowning him would be normal.

In high-status families, such things were commonplace.

Even if they were low-ranking nobles of a vassal state, it wouldn’t be much different.

Yet he asked for leniency?

“May I ask why?”

“He’s the one who inherited Father’s talent. If he learns properly, he’ll likely surpass me by far.”

“Hmm.”

Honestly, Jansen’s skills felt a bit clumsy.

But that could be polished with practice.

It was a technique showcased amid Delriat’s rapid growth—he’d only been learning for a year.

I was about to shake my head firmly.

But his next words grabbed me by the ankle.

“Father wouldn’t have wanted brothers fighting like this over something so trivial.”

Ah, damn it.

Hearing it put that way really softened my heart.

But one question remained unresolved.

“You were the one who filed the lawsuit in the first place.”

“If I’d stayed quiet, my brother would have made his move anyway.”

“Strike first to seize the advantageous position before he could prepare?”

“I consulted a lawyer, and that’s what he advised. Plus, I hoped it would knock some sense into him.”

“The lawsuit was a form of discipline.”

“Yes, though it didn’t work.”

“Then was the lobbying also the lawyer’s idea?”

“He said it’s standard practice.”

I nodded gravely.

“Understood for now. I’ll actively consider your opinion, Jansen.”

“Thank you. As expected, Your Excellency is a wise ruler!”

“No need for flattery.”

I shot a brief glare at the hesitating Asen, then finally left the brick factory.

I’d come out because I couldn’t sleep, only to gain unexpected insight.

Good and evil were now clearly distinguished.

But Jansen Bandro’s request only complicated my thoughts further.

The next day.

The trial regarding the inheritance of the Ryuker Brick Factory reconvened.

It’s a bit frustrating, but the reliable eldest and the talented second.

Who was more suitable depended on the perspective.

Besides, no one truly knew the late Ryuker’s wishes.

His attention might have shifted to the second son who joined later.

In any case, I’d already reached a conclusion.

“I will pronounce the verdict. Through the court’s ex officio verification, no true craftsman was found.”

“That can’t be!”

“No way!”

Sighs erupted from all sides.

Ryuker Bandro’s bricks were popular among nobles.

The outcome of this trial would determine whether they could continue purchasing them.

Only with a true craftsman in charge could normal production resume.

Yet neither was selected?

The strong reaction is understandable.

It would mean the factory shutting down unconditionally.

But I had no intention of making such a bizarre decision.

“However, there was one person capable of managing the factory and producing finished works.”

“Ooh!”

The spectators looked at the plaintiff and defendant with eyes full of anticipation.

I fixed my gaze on one side and continued.

“The shares are decided at 6 to 4. Jansen, lead the factory well, and Asen, focus on mastering the techniques.”

The winner of this civil suit was the eldest son, Jansen.

Still, I hadn’t made the share difference too wide.

If it was too small, that talent-rich brat wouldn’t stick around the factory.

He needed a decent cut to motivate him properly.

Murmurs suddenly rose from the crowd.

“Wow! A brilliant judgment. How could someone who can’t even produce a finished piece manage the whole operation?”

“Ryuker favored the second son quite a bit in his later years…”

“If he were alive, the outcome might have been different. But right now, His Excellency’s ruling is a hundred times correct.”

The overall atmosphere deemed it a fair result.

However, the defendant’s side seemed unwilling to accept it.

“Objection!”

“I’m in the middle of pronouncing the verdict—what is this rudeness?”

“Still, I have something to say. Isn’t that what lawyers are for?”

Honestly, he had a point.

Protecting the client’s interests to the end was his duty.

I nodded readily.

It was in the spirit of hearing a final argument.

“Very well. I’ll give you time. But keep it brief.”

“It took Asen only six months to reach that level. He just needs to learn the kiln-handling and firing timing know-how.”

“And?”

“Give him a few months, and he’ll be able to produce wave-patterned bricks as fine as Ryuker’s.”

The lawyer’s shout stirred the gallery.

It sounded tempting.

In a few months, the factory could normalize.

Then the nobles’ hobby could resume quickly.

Ridiculous.

But such low-level logic could be shattered in one blow.

I regarded the defendant’s side with a bored expression.

“That know-how you mentioned.”

“Yes.”

“Who’s going to teach it?”

“Naturally…”

The lawyer glanced at the plaintiff’s side.

Only one person had learned Ryuker’s techniques from start to finish.

There was no way to learn the kiln temperature, removal timing, or subsequent know-how now.

Not without Jansen Bandro.

“With bad blood this deep from legal disputes, do you think he’d just hand over the techniques? We’d be lucky if it doesn’t come to knives.”

In truth, fratricidal conflicts over power and money were commonplace.

What wouldn’t people do for those?

This was a barbaric dark fantasy world, after all.

Of course, from what I’d seen, Jansen didn’t seem the type.

Not because he trusted his brother, but to honor their father’s will.

Hadn’t he asked me to cover for Asen’s mistake yesterday?

“If there’s nothing more, this trial is concluded.”

“Whew!”

Relieved sighs came from the plaintiff’s side.

Though shares were only 60%, they retained management rights.

But the trial wasn’t over yet.

I glared at the plaintiff’s side and said,

“You there, the lawyer—what was your name?”

“Yes, Your Honor. Kenny Palmer.”

“Step forward to the center for a moment.”

“Yes.”

Kenny Palmer approached hesitantly, looking bewildered.

All eyes focused on him; it seemed quite burdensome.

But he couldn’t refuse.

This was an order from the territory’s governor and highest judge.

Who’d want the consequences of defiance?

“Do you know why I called you?”

“N-No.”

“Why the sarcasm?”

“It’s your attitude. Who told you to act arrogant in court?”

This lawyer had maintained a haughty expression throughout the trial.

As if they were guaranteed victory and the other side’s words weren’t worth hearing.

That was the impression.

Not just me—others felt the same.

Disgruntled voices rose here and there.

“Yeah. Watching him made me uncomfortable.”

“I’d never entrust a case to him.”

“There’s a rumor he egged Jansen into suing in the first place.”

“Really? Must’ve smelled money.”

As criticism poured in from many, Palmer’s face turned beet red.

He could have brazenly held his head high, but he had some shame left.

Still, he offered excuses to the end.

“It’s a trial strategy—to deliberately act as if we’re favored…”

“Pfft!”

A hollow laugh escaped.

The law of conservation of idiocy really exists, doesn’t it?

Wherever people gather, there’s always one weirdo.

Didn’t Korea have them too?

The strategy of shaming sexual assault victims into dropping cases.

I couldn’t allow such nonsense in my courtroom.

“I won’t tell you to change your behavior. But maintain decorum. Don’t disgrace the honor of the legal profession.”

“…Yes.”

“I have more to pronounce, so return to your seat.”

Palmer slouched away, shoulders drooping.

I looked alternately at the plaintiff and defendant.

The inheritance trial for the Ryuker Brick Factory was finally drawing to a close.

“For attempting to mock the court by swapping works, Asen Bandro is sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Surprise flashed across Jansen’s face.

He hadn’t expected this outcome.

I never said I’d go easy. Aggravating factors demand a heavy hammer.

Isn’t that obvious?