Chapter 9: Direct Reinvestigation

I boarded the carriage faster than anyone else.

“Please head to the Erseth Mine. As quickly as possible, I request.”

“Huh? Y-yes, understood.”

The coachman seemed flustered, but he soon gathered himself.

My expression must have been quite fierce.

“Your Honor!”

“Please take us with you!”

Just as the carriage was about to depart, someone’s voice suddenly rang out.

They were the associate judges of my tribunal, Viscount Kolund Emir and Judge Joseph Padiya.

“Get in quickly. There’s no time.”

“Yes!”

I couldn’t understand why Kolund had followed.

It made sense with his straightforward and duty-bound personality.

But Joseph was unexpected.

I had thought he’d just loaf around the court, pleased with himself.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Joseph smiled awkwardly.

“Since Your Honor is going in person, how could I remain behind alone?”

Flattery burst out immediately after.

As expected, it was best not to listen to this guy.

Clippity-clop! Clippity-clop!

The carriage moved rapidly without a moment’s rest.

Even so, it was a distance that would take more than half a day.

On the way, I recalled the faces of the people left in the courtroom.

A smile naturally formed on its own.

Their reaction was even more intense than when I shouted about the Emperor, wasn’t it?

When Baron Parbiant’s lie had been exposed.

The spectators were enveloped in shock.

It was because they had witnessed the unprecedented sight of the crime of imperial authority defamation being applied.

In Korea, courts often collected evidence and conducted investigations on their own authority.

But it seemed rare here.

I casually asked Viscount Kolund Emir.

“Is this really such a surprising matter?”

Though fragments of Abel’s memories surfaced now and then, the minor details didn’t come to mind.

While Kolund hesitated, Joseph answered in his stead.

“To my knowledge, a judge has never gone to the site even once.”

“Why not?”

“Is there any need to? The Enpher Empire’s prosecutorial intelligence is the strongest on the continent.”

“Even so, that doesn’t mean it’s always just. Isnudp’t that right?”

“Heh heh! Of course.”

I thought he’d hesitate at least once.

But Joseph agreed immediately with a sly smile.

It would be hard to evaluate someone in the same profession, yet still.

Ah! Come to think of it, this guy is from the opposing faction, isn’t he?

Judge Padiya was from the Sierre noble faction, while Prosecutor Avery was from the Giovanni noble faction.

We were on our way to take down a figure from the rival faction—how thrilling for him.

Unlike before, this time he seemed likely to properly demonstrate his abilities.

Fine. Let’s see how well you do.

Considerable time passed, and the carriage arrived at the Erseth Mine.

Yet the scale of the buildings seemed larger than expected.

“The palisade is remarkably high.”

“The lower part is like a standard fortress, so that must be why. They probably built a foundation with low stone walls and erected logs on top.”

“At this level, it wouldn’t be wrong to call it a fortress.”

“It’s because of the monster threats. The surroundings are all forest, after all.”

If entry was difficult, escape would be equally challenging.

The picture I had in mind became somewhat clearer.

Viscount Kolund Emir’s expression also turned serious.

He seemed to have naturally realized something.

Soon, we reached the mine’s entrance.

“Who are you, and where are you from?”

A shout came from atop the palisade.

Since it was clearly a noble’s carriage, they were being cautious for now.

When the master’s authority was high, the servants’ shoulders straightened as well.

The coachman answered loudly in a confident voice.

“This is the procession of His Grace Duke Carius. Open the gate!”

“Wh-what? J-just a moment, please!”

The person who had peeked out descended, and commotion arose behind the palisade.

They seemed quite startled by the sudden appearance of a duke.

Yet no matter how long we waited, the palisade gate showed no sign of opening.

“Isn’t this making us wait too long?”

Joseph cracked his knuckles, his eyes gleaming.

He seemed eager to thoroughly inspect every nook and cranny of the Erseth Mine.

“Indeed. If they were upright, there’d be no reason to keep us standing like this. They must be waiting for the owner.”

The mine owner, Viscount Erseth, was probably frantically following behind.

Even setting aside his duties at the Imperial Palace.

He’d desperately want to avoid having his shameful secrets exposed.

If unnecessary controversy arose, he could lose his position.

“This won’t do.”

Unable to wait any longer, I leaped down from the carriage.

Viscount Kolund Emir immediately spoke to me.

“What do you plan to do?”

“They’re obstructing official duties, so we’ll have to force our way through.”

“Huh?”

Joseph was equally flustered.

He must have wondered how on earth we’d open that thick gate.

Well, it did look sturdy enough to rival a decent castle gate, so it was understandable.

Regardless, I walked to the front of the palisade and shouted loudly.

“If you don’t open it in three counts, I will enforce entry. One!”

They had clearly heard my voice, yet there was no reaction from inside.

They seemed intent on just holding out.

Then I’d have to respond accordingly.

“Two.”

I counted while drawing the iron gavel.

If I activated the beast’s heart, a mere log gate like this could be shattered in one blow.

Soon, I uttered the final number.

“Three.”

Tss tss tss!

But just as crimson energy was about to surge along the gavel.

Suddenly, the palisade gate opened.

Creak! Rattle rattle!

“P-please enter, Your Grace Duke Carius.”

A man with an awkward expression bowed his head into view.

Judging by his knowledge of noble etiquette, he seemed to be the one managing the Erseth Mine.

“Aw, what a buzzkill. I could’ve made a cooler entrance.”

“Pardon?”

As I muttered to myself, the man looked bewildered.

Just then, Joseph slipped in smoothly.

With an uncharacteristically solemn face, no less.

“We have come to investigate the Erseth Mine. If you do not cooperate sincerely, you may face punishment, so think carefully.”

“Prosecutors have already visited, though?”

“This is a matter conducted under the court’s own authority!”

When Joseph bellowed loudly, the manager reluctantly cleared the way.

Then he turned, rolling his eyes busily.

“This way, please.”

It felt off, but at least we could proceed with the investigation.

Still, feeling uneasy, I gathered the judges.

“Please keep a close watch on the soldiers. Don’t let them pull any stunts.”

“Understood.”

Joseph smiled brightly and fastened the collar of his judicial robe.

For the first time, the guy felt reliable.

The determination to destroy everything showed in his eyes.

Yet on the other hand, I was also worried.

We came in such a hurry that we couldn’t bring any knights.

Of course, I thought nothing would happen.

No matter how reckless they were, would they dare touch a member of the imperial family and the highest judge?

Kolund and Joseph, who came along, were no small figures either.

I entered the inner building with the manager.

As a place where iron ore dust always flew about, the office was shabby.

In truth, there was nothing much to examine.

They’ve probably erased all the evidence already.

Flipping through the ledgers casually, the dates when the workers supposedly fled appeared.

It matched what the prosecutor had investigated.

It stated that wages had been withheld starting from then.

So I stood up from my seat right away.

“Are you finished already?”

“No. We’re just starting. We need to verify the site.”

“Pardon?”

“Where’s the tunnel? I’d like to see it.”

“Uh… it’s that way, but it’s best not to go. It’s an extremely dangerous place.”

“It’s fine.”

Heading where the manager pointed, a hole bored into the cliff appeared.

People with glowing stones strapped to their heads were constantly coming and going.

Carrying large chunks, no less.

I called over the workers passing by.

To ask a few questions.

“When did the tunnel collapse…”

Rustle.

But then a group swarmed in, surrounding us.

I couldn’t even ask properly and ended up trapped in a wall of people.

Moreover, with a few light gestures, the workers scattered immediately.

It was a truly absurd situation.

To obstruct the investigation like this.

As expected, they couldn’t silence the workers completely.

They probably never imagined a judge would come in person.

A few questions would reveal the date and location of the tunnel collapse.

Then exposing the Erseth Mine side’s lies would be child’s play.

If things went well, we might even find the bodies.

But if these guys went all out?

“It’s almost better this way. I can personally deliver the hammer of justice.”

I smiled chillingly and looked at the soldiers surrounding us.

The manager then said with a rotten smile.

“Indeed. Wouldn’t it be good to go easy? Looks like the tunnel needs to collapse once more today.”

He seemed intent on burying me.

In the depths of the mine, no one would ever find me.

They could just claim the tunnel collapsed during the investigation and be done with it.

Insisting they had tried to stop it to the end.

“Thanks. For revealing your true colors in advance.”

I smiled back and drew the iron gavel.

As the short hammer was revealed, sneers formed on the soldiers’ lips.

The sight of someone in ornate judicial robes holding a toy-like weapon must have looked hilarious.

Shiiing. Clack!

The soldiers drew their swords as well.

As a remote outpost, they felt quite elite.

Even without being knights, they were well-equipped with armor and weapons.

“Heh heh heh! Coming to this dangerous place without escorts—quite the bold noble with guts hanging out.”

“Whether you’re a judge or whatever, in this mine, Viscount Erseth’s word is law.”

“Just get buried quietly.”

The soldiers spat vicious words and closed in.

Other judges with heads full of nothing but ink might tremble, but I was utterly calm.

I was confident I could beat them all single-handedly.

“You’ve got talent for soup. Do you know what this is?”

I said, extending the gavel forward.

The manager snickered mockingly.

“Isn’t it a gavel? Pointlessly made of iron, so the sound is just sharp.”

His attitude screamed why bring something like that.

A wry smile formed on its own.

Hearing such disgusting words repeatedly made flames surge inside.

For a berserker, anger was the driving force of battle.

I gripped the handle tightly.

Beast’s Heart activated.

My vision wavered, and crimson energy surged from the gavel.

Before I knew it, my form had shot forward like a bullet.

Because I had leaped the moment the skill activated.

The distance closed in an instant.

Crack!

The hammer enveloped in red energy plunged into the manager’s mouth.

Blood droplets burst out, and white fragments embroidered the air.

I stared into his distorted eyes and murmured lowly.

“What is this?”

“Th-the gavel.”

“Wrong. This is an etiquette injector.”

“Perfect for scum like you.”

Soon, a red flash gleamed once more.

Kwa-jik!