Chapter 100: Victory in the Debate

“Huh!”

“What!”

Surprised voices erupted from here and there.

They had gathered to criticize from the start, but they hadn’t expected such harsh words.

But I didn’t respond at all.

I just shrugged my shoulders as if to say, go on.

The speaking turn was with Marquis Malone anyway.

‘No point in getting worked up; I’d just be playing into his hands. No gain at all.’

Getting excited would make my head rigid and lead to mistakes.

As I responded leisurely, it was Wesley Malone who got flustered instead.

He probably hadn’t expected such a calm reaction.

Clapping requires two hands.

He must have wanted me to say something.

“Ahem! Ahem! The ruling by His Grace the Duke of Carius stems from ruthless selfishness.”

After a big fake cough, Marquis Malone began unfolding his argument.

In truth, there wasn’t much to summarize.

It wasn’t much different from what former official lawyers had said so far.

Of course, using somewhat aggressive expressions, but the delivery was good.

“Your Grace has great wealth, so you have no need for former colleague courtesy. But it’s different for those who couldn’t reach high positions.”

Without much to their name, they have to compete with veteran lawyers, so couldn’t we just give them a break.

Roughly that meaning.

It was an understandable claim.

In fact, there were judges who weren’t on the wealthy side.

‘To rise without backing, studying is the best after all.’

Just look at Judge Colrund Emir.

A mere viscount from a single-generation nobility.

He earned his title by standing out, but that was it.

Couldn’t pass it to his children, couldn’t join the uppermost noble society.

When retirement came, opening a law practice to make a living would be the best.

To such people, former official privilege was like rain in a drought.

But I had a weapon to counter Marquis Malone’s first logic.

“Can I speak now?”

“Yes.”

As I raised my hand for speaking rights, Judge Josef Padiya politely extended his right hand.

I scanned the audience and opened my mouth.

“The minimum salary for judges now is 200 goldens. But do you all know how much middle-class freemen earn?”

” “

Of course not.

They had no interest in how those below them lived.

They were people who didn’t even deal with non-nobles to begin with.

“You can guess roughly. Ah, Marquis Wesley Malone is standing right there. Would you answer?”

“I……. It’s not my turn to speak.”

What a remarkable person.

Trying to wriggle out with such nonsense.

It was character that made one shake their head, but I didn’t mind much.

That would only diminish himself.

“No one knows? How about that handsome fellow over there?”

I deliberately picked one with a compliment.

Then a flustered answer burst out.

“A-about 100 goldens?”

“Thank you for the answer. Any other opinions? The correct answer hasn’t come out yet.”

With one answering, various opinions soon erupted.

“100 goldens is too low. They earn less than judges, so maybe 150 goldens?”

“Not that much……. I think 80 goldens.”

Each amount was different, but still far from the truth.

They all seemed to think it was dozens of gold coins.

I firmly shook my head and revealed the truth.

“All wrong. Middle-class freemen usually earn about 5 goldens a month.”

“That little?”

“Yes, and that’s generous. Based on those trading with our Carius Duchy.”

“Huh!”

A long sigh erupted momentarily.

It wasn’t because middle-class freemen’s wages were lower than thought.

They were just surprised their thoughts were so far from reality.

I mixed in Marquis Malone’s logic there.

“Former official lawyers have nothing? People with an annual salary of 2,400 goldens?”

Of course, after taxes, the amount would drop sharply.

But I deliberately didn’t mention that.

It needed to seem even a bit larger to shatter the opponent’s logic.

“I’ll ask again. Marquis Wesley Malone. Are judges so poor they need former official privilege?”

” “

Just five years of work could touch ten thousand gold coins.

Even for single-generation nobles with little power, money wasn’t lacking.

Having lost words, Marquis Malone stood silently.

For now, that old man’s first claim was completely broken.

But the debate wouldn’t end like this.

“I will speak.”

“Yes. It’s Marquis Malone’s turn, so you may begin.”

“Former colleague courtesy is a long-standing custom. Even His Majesty the Emperor has tacitly acknowledged it. Does it make sense to change it arbitrarily?”

Oh! Unbelievable.

Someone besides me pulling the emperor card.

It was a sight I couldn’t help but be surprised by.

‘Quite high-level?’

Similar to the method I’d used on the assembly’s old pigs.

Few had the guts to ask the emperor unnecessary questions directly.

But I could counter without doing that.

Just eliminate the reason for former official privilege’s existence.

As it became my turn, Judge Josef Padiya nodded.

“I’ll ask Marquis Malone one question. I hear your grandson is facing trial.”

“What does that have to do with this debate!”

Having hit a sore spot, an intense reaction burst out.

He shouted in anger, but looking back, he seemed a bit embarrassed.

Marquis Wesley Malone reddened his face and lowered his voice.

“Don’t bring up unrelated matters.”

“It’s not unrelated at all. From what I hear, the issue is whether it’s mutual assault or not.”

“So what?”

“If the other side hires a former official lawyer and an unfavorable ruling comes for your grandson, you’ll accept it?”

“Well…….”

Of course, he’d use his influence to crush the other side.

But he couldn’t say that here.

Hadn’t he been saying former official privilege was necessary so far?

That would negate everything, so he could only gape.

“Ah, right. I think your grandson claims he was assaulted.”

“For a kids’ squabble, he was quite badly hurt.”

“In such a situation, if a former official lawyer appears…….”

It would just conclude as mutual assault.

Bilber Malone’s statement that he was only beaten would be denied.

The people’s murmuring grew louder.

Because Marquis Wesley Malone couldn’t refute at all.

‘A bit cheap, but this is the most effective.’

In truth, I felt a slight pang of conscience.

Touching family was a bit much.

Still, I didn’t reveal the details of Bilber Malone’s case.

The lawyers in the back were legal folks, so they knew through connections.

“Marquis Wesley Malone? Your speaking turn has come.”

Judge Josef Padiya urged, but Marquis Malone just hung his head silently.

Then he suddenly stood and left the conference hall.

Leaving this last word.

“Debate my ass.”

It was the highest praise.

The rumor that I’d won a one-against-hundreds fight spread throughout the city.

By crushing the lawyers in the debate, former official privilege was set to disappear completely.

At least as long as I held the Chief Justice seat.

“Waaah. His Grace the Duke of Carius won again.”

“He skinned the assembly pigs before, now he shut up the hyena-like lawyers.”

“You’re the best. Your Grace.”

“Ahh. Please take me. By the way, this is a man speaking.”

Steward Miller Xavier reading the report like a machine.

I clutched my throbbing head and said.

“The last one seems like something you didn’t need to collect.”

“I merely wrote down what I heard on the streets as is.”

Steward Xavier was extremely capable and flexible talent.

For such a person to have written all those weird reactions?

This was definitely to tease me.

Sure enough, a smile hung on Steward Miller Xavier’s lips.

“Just kidding. I only wrote this one, and filtered the rest.”

“Whew! Good. Anyway, citizen reactions aside, how about the other side?”

“I couldn’t collect stories from high nobles. But friends like me seemed to like it a lot.”

“In what sense?”

“They seem moved that Your Grace looks after even middle-class freemen.”

In truth, it wasn’t a big deal.

Just a rough survey of those trading with the Carius Duchy.

But it seemed reflected very positively.

Well, it made sense.

What ruler would care that much?

Usually, they grasp the big picture and let the rest run itself.

But suddenly, Cordell McNeil, who had been listening silently, interjected.

“May I say something? Your Grace.”

“If it’s related to this report.”

“Of course. Steward Xavier said he couldn’t collect high nobles’ stories, right?”

“Yes.”

“But I can.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve practically lived at the beauty salon.”

“?”

I stared at him while nodding silently.

Not catching the vibe yet, Cordell just tilted his head.

“Sir McNeil.”

“Yes? Did something go wrong?”

“Yes. I haven’t been to the beauty salon in days.”

“What?”

“That’s the right reaction?”

“It seems right?”

“Yes, now you’ll get it. Escort knight my ass, slacking off like crazy!”

Whoosh!

I swung the communication rod over Cordell McNeil’s head.

Of course, no intent to actually hit.

Just briefly pissed at the slippery escort sneaking off to play.

Soon stopping the hammering, I slumped into the chair.

No point in tussling with this guy anyway.

“So what’s the collected content?”

“Ah, yep. I’ll tell you right away.”

The content Cordell McNeil gathered had a quite different feel.

While most citizens were enthusiastic, the high levels reacted as just doing his job.

Instead, noble young ladies’ reactions were scorching.

“They all said they want to date His Grace the Duke of Carius. How about meeting some women this time?”

“…….”

Honestly, I wasn’t entirely without marriage thoughts.

I’d insisted on singledom to prepare for return.

If I suddenly disappeared alone someday, what about the remaining family?

It would be hugely chaotic.

But now my thoughts were slowly changing.

‘No hope at all; just live here. What can I do?’

The system given to me was utterly unhelpful.

It didn’t tell me what to do to return, of course.

I decided to accept Cordell’s opinion for once.

If just meeting lightly, no reason to refuse.

As I was about to nod cheerfully, Cordell McNeil opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“But you see.”

“What is it?”

“Rumors are spreading that Death’s Kiss is流行 around the capital lately.”

” “

You crazy bastard!

Why say that now?