The flow of the investigation picked up speed.
As a result of the prosecutors raiding slave traders day and night.
They were able to find Allen, who had nearly been sold to the southern part of the continent.
His appearance had just become shabby, but there was nothing wrong with the victim’s body.
“But why did he make such a confession?”
“He intended to buy time until the slave trader could completely erase Allen’s traces.”
“Huh! Then what about that severed hand?”
“It belonged to the son of a resisting slave. He picked it up while going for the deal.”
He was truly a guy with a seriously twisted mind.
Additionally, thanks to Allen’s testimony, they secured more evidence.
The fact that this wasn’t the first time Norman had sold people.
He would build friendships by hanging out with commoner kids, then take them to slave traders and sell them.
In return, he pocketed a considerable amount of gold coins.
When I asked how on earth that was possible, the answer was astounding.
“He happily followed me when I gave him a few candies.”
If an adult had done it, they would have been suspicious.
Human trafficking was a very common crime in this world.
But no one would have imagined that a handsome son of a noble family would do such a thing.
“You’ve worked hard. Wrap up the investigation and prepare for the trial.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Thank you so much for your help.”
Prosecutor Anderson Cantrell bowed his head with a face full of determination.
Then, with a bright smile, he saw me off.
How could he not be happy when I’d neatly resolved a case that had been giving him headaches.
Anyway, this case seemed like it would end like that.
But when the trial began, an incredibly absurd claim was waiting for me.
“We will now begin the trial regarding Norman Hewitt’s human trafficking case. Salute to the judge.”
Click!
At first, it wasn’t much different from usual.
All the evidence and witnesses had come out, and even the slave trader who colluded in the crime had been caught.
Since everyone admitted to the crime, it proceeded to a summary trial procedure.
This reduced the deliberation process, allowing for a much quicker trial.
However, it was the moment they entered the final argument stage.
“Your Honor!”
I looked over to give him a chance to speak, and Attorney Sean Malone suddenly stood up from his seat.
Ah, that startled me.
I was a bit surprised by the shouting, but I didn’t show it.
I just stared at him indifferently and said only what needed to be said.
“You have plenty of opportunities for final arguments. No need to shout like that.”
“I got carried away by my emotions. I’m sorry.”
“Speak.”
“Yes!”
Attorney Sean Malone stepped forward to the center of the courtroom.
I wondered if that was necessary, but I didn’t stop him.
As long as it didn’t greatly hinder the trial proceedings, I intended to let him do as he pleased.
However, the final argument that followed was somewhat disconcerting.
“The defendant is just a seven-year-old child. It’s a bit early to hold him accountable for his actions. How could such a little kid possibly know what constitutes a crime? Did any of you know all the laws at seven years old?”
Article 9 of Korea’s Criminal Act dealt with criminal minors.
‘The act of a person under fourteen years of age shall not be punished.’
The infamous juvenile delinquents fell under this.
Additionally, Attorney Sean Malone argued about the concept of ‘ignorance of the law.’
There was such a provision in Article 16 of Korea’s Criminal Act.
‘An act committed under the mistaken belief that it does not constitute a crime shall not be punished.’
Of course, the imperial code had no such content at all.
What surprised me was the fact that Attorney Sean Malone brought up ignorance of the law itself.
There was no basis in the code, so just thinking of it was impressive.
I chewed him out before about studying properly. Turns out he’s a capable guy after all?
The facts of the crime had already been fully revealed.
Claiming innocence here would only add to the offense.
So he had no choice but to pivot toward gaining sympathy and pleading for leniency.
It was an extremely natural approach, but most lawyers in this world couldn’t even do that much.
Ripples of agreement arose from the gallery at Attorney Sean Malone’s shout.
“Yeah. What would a kid know to commit that?”
“Look at that innocent face. He probably just took the money they gave him. He must have been tricked by the slave trader.”
“My kid is ten and still can’t count numbers. How about a seven-year-old like that?”
“That man has a point.”
With the atmosphere turning like this, Sean Malone went into consolidation mode.
He returned to his seat and pulled out a stack of dozens of papers.
“These are petitions written by people who know the client well. They detail how this child usually behaves.”
To be honest, it was extremely unsettling.
I remembered seeing something like this in a documentary before, roughly along these lines.
When orphaned kids committed offenses, teachers didn’t show up in court.
But for kids from good families, they wrote favorable petitions.
Only the powerful ones survive in school, and the powerless kids get chased out.
How is this any different?
If Norman Hewitt wasn’t the eldest son of an earldom?
If he didn’t have a strong maternal family, this scene would never have happened.
To begin with, a luxurious lawyer like that wouldn’t have taken the case.
Around the time such thoughts occurred, Sean Malone’s final words followed.
“The client has amicably settled with the victims and conveyed sincere apologies to all. Please show mercy to this budding sprout.”
Clap! Clap! Clap clap clap!
The applause started with one or two at first.
Soon the sound grew louder, filling the entire courtroom.
Everyone seemed moved by Attorney Sean Malone’s speech.
I guess I’ll have to explain a bit longer?
I’d already made up my mind.
If I released a guy like that into society, there would definitely be huge problems.
He’s not just an ordinary person; he’s someone who will inherit the Hewitt earldom in the future.
A person wielding immense power is a psychopath who sells friends into slavery?
What could be more terrifying than that?
Of course, psychopaths can also live alongside normal people.
If trained from a young age, that is.
But in my view, Norman Hewitt was already a fully formed monster.
It’s human trafficking now, but later it could become serial murder.
There was no reason to scatter the seeds of such evil into society.
The problem was that many sympathized with Sean Malone’s speech.
To break that, a proper explanation was needed.
Having organized my thoughts, I slightly raised my right hand.
Then the noisy courtroom instantly fell silent.
“Before sentencing, I would like to respond. Defense counsel.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Your argument on the concept of ignorance of the law was very impressive.”
“Thank you.”
“But that doesn’t apply to matters that should clearly be punished under social norms and ethics. Committing a morally wrong act and claiming you didn’t know it was in the law won’t be accepted.”
“However…….”
“Didn’t the defendant argue about the corroboration of confession rule during the investigation? A person with such intelligence didn’t know the law? No way.”
Sean Malone mumbled as if trying to say something, then gave up.
No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn’t refute it.
There was no need to bring up criminal minors anyway.
Such a provision didn’t exist in the first place.
“I will now sentence. The defendant disguised a slave’s severed hand as part of the victim’s body and even made a false statement that he killed him. The nature of the crime is very poor, and it even caused confusion in the investigation, so this is not something to overlook easily.”
By the time I said this, the atmosphere in the gallery had reversed sharply.
Unlike the lawyer’s claims, they seemed to finally realize how wicked Norman Hewitt was.
“He even lied like that?”
“He’s not just a simple child; he’s a demon itself.”
“Ugh! Scary. A kid like that inheriting the Hewitt earldom? That would have been a disaster.”
The sympathetic opinion vanished in an instant.
Regardless of the gallery’s reaction, I continued the sentencing steadily.
“The defendant Norman Hewitt, who committed human trafficking involving twenty people, is sentenced to 25 years in prison.”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The first trial result for Skyler Sierre, who committed similar crimes, was 20 years.
The additional 5 years for Norman was due to the offense of obstructing the investigation.
Considering equity, it was a sufficient level.
If he serves the full term, he’ll be thirty-two when released.
Too young, you say?
If it were a modern correctional facility, that might be a thought.
But this was a harsh dark fantasy world.
The prisons here weren’t cozy like Korea’s, nor did they sweetly protect human rights.
The probability of Norman Hewitt getting out unscathed was less than 10%.
“Th-this! This is ridiculous!”
As I stood to leave the courtroom, a tearing scream rang out.
Norman Hewitt, glaring at me fiercely.
His expression and eyes were full of venom.
I ignored his outburst with indifferent eyes.
What are you going to do by glaring like that?
However, it was right at that moment.
Was it because he was a child that the court knights let their guard down?
Norman Hewitt broke free from his seat and charged at me like an arrow.
In his hand, he gripped a blue-bladed dagger.
Thud thud thud!
“Uh, what? Danger! Your Honor!”
“Stop him!”
The startled court knights leaped forward, but it was too late.
Norman Hewitt had already reached right in front of the bench.
“Huh!”
“Gasp!”
The associate judges, Colrund and Josef, couldn’t hide their surprise.
Judges who had spent their lives buried in law books—how much would they know about fighting?
Naturally, in a situation like this, they were utterly useless.
But my case was very different.
“What is this.”
Swish. Clang!
I drew the communication rod and swung it lightly, catching the blade on the hammer head.
The dagger’s trajectory changed in an instant.
When I pressed down firmly, the weapon dropped from Norman Hewitt’s hand with a thud.
No matter how much of a psychopath with some intelligence, his body was still that of a child.
On the other hand, I was a monster among monsters who had made a name in the north.
Click!
“We’re sorry, Your Honor.”
The court knights who rushed over hurriedly restrained Norman Hewitt.
I showed my hand to indicate I was fine and returned to the bench.
I couldn’t just overlook an act like this.
“I will sentence again. An additional 25 years for attempting to murder the judge is added to Norman Hewitt.”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In terms of procedure, it was utterly nonsensical.
But the Chief Justice of the Enpher Empire could transcend all that.
Moreover, it was a verdict everyone would acknowledge as highly justified.
“Uwaaaaah!”
Leaving the thrashing Norman Hewitt behind, I exited the courtroom.
However, as soon as I stepped into the hallway, I had to face someone who had been waiting.
That person was none other than the defendant’s father, Count Eddie Hewitt.
“Sniff! Th-thank you. Your Grace, Duke Carius.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Well, this is something.
I sentenced his son to 50 years, and I’m hearing thanks.
And with tears streaming down his face, no less.
It was truly a sight to behold twice in a lifetime.
From the outside it might seem strange, but imagine living with a psychopath
Yeah. Maybe the parents were actually threatened as well. That kid is scary….