She looked terrible, she hadn't changed her gears much the entire hour or two they walked back and had this trial. Her hair was tangled, armor dented, bruises already fading under the slow tick of her regeneration. But her voice came out clear and loud, bravery in her eyes met everyone in the jury before speaking.

"I don't think I was hypnotized." She said, with both arms crossed with confidence. "Because I played the Early Access as an All-Time top 50. I've been in this world longer than most of you, and I know what's possible and what isn't. No magic user at this level could pull off a hypnotism at the level of which I saw."

Well… That, I can agree somewhat, hypnotism shouldn't be here right now, considering that everyone's only around level 50 at best right now.

She took a breath, jaw tightening, and her Russian accent broke through clear as day when she got serious.

"And why would I put a target on my own back? I am not a dumb bastard. Why would I stage a massacre just to dig my own grave? That's insanity."

"And screw you bastards' politics. Omnitetris, Destiny? Whatever you bastards stood for right now, I don't care. I'm not here to fight meaningless wars. Because I care about this guild, I care about every single one of you and just wanted to lead you to level up and have fun, even the ones spitting on my name."

I could see some in the jury shift uncomfortably, perhaps from her abnormal and excessive use of the word bastard, but that's her characterization.

"Is that it, Olga?"

…

She didn't answer for a second, before looking at one of the guy from the seven. The guy that testified first and said shit about my mom.

"You, Isaac." She said, "I remember you trying to stab me with your arrow in reverse grip when I'm closing in, that's very much like your fighting style, if it's hypnotisation, then it sure felt real… I'm finished."

Olga looked at Pearl, and he nodded at her

Then it was Hailie's turn.

The poor girl looked like a rabbit cornered by hounds. She clutched her healing staff as though it could shield her, knuckles white, eyes flickering from Pearl to Olga to the seven glaring survivors, not daring to look down at the 50 juries yawning and muttering.

I stood up and walked toward her instinctively, "Hey, you don't need to…"

But she raised her hand with an open palm, stopping me, her lips trembled, but she forced the words out, trying to overcome her fear.

"I believe what I saw. And… I think Olga's a good person."

Her voice cracked, but she pushed on.

"Oh… Um, and I don't think anyone's lying, I think everyone's telling the truth because... Everyone's been so kind to me for the short time we've talked and walked together. I think maybe… maybe we all saw different things."

He looked at ErikDop.

"I don't want to believe he attacked me, because… I think he's a nice guy, I like the way he smiled."

A silence fell, not respectful silence, an awkward and shocked one. People were shock from how innocent and clueless she was.

Some of the jury squirmed, a few chuckled nervously, I overheard someone whispered "weird" while another muttered "sweet kid"

The survivors had mixed reactions, most didn't even say anything or even look at Hailie straight in the eyes. Olga was chuckling to herself, a bit too audible, while Pearl simply stared, expression unreadable.

And I swear to god, I saw that Erik guy blushed and turned away. Don't he fucking dare try anything with my precious healer girl.

And me? My chest ached, was it pride, or jealousy? Or just… Endearment, because I knew only Hailie could say something like that in front of a room ready to split each other's throats, and mean every damn word of it.

I didn't know if I should be concerned about how oblivious she was to the evil of mankind, or should I shield that innocent to preserve the nature of a person; compassionate and kindness.

Pearl finally rose again, breaking the tension like a hammer to glass.

"That concludes the statements. If no one has anything to add, we will now take a thirty-minute recess."

I was confused,

"Why? Couldn't we just settle everything now and get it over with?"

Olga nodded, "I need to get to my niece's playdate in 2 hours, Pearl. Of course, that's plenty of time, but I want to be early."

Pearl shook his head,

"It is high noon, and the results of the Titan of Ashen Bark raid are about to be released. We'll have a loot-splitting session first" He spoke, "After that, every member of this jury will cast their vote on the two parties involved. Guilty or not guilty separately on two different votes."

"Two?" One of the people in the dungeon assault spoke, "Us, Olga, then Hailie, that's three."

His gaze flicked toward Hailie.

"Three were present and directly involved in the incident, yes but Hailie isn't an official guild member. For now, her involvement falls outside our jurisdiction. Especially when her statement didn't prove useful on the note of her inability to address how she's still alive after alledgedly being attacked by ErikDop, she had no involvement in the tragedy, according to all the testimonies. In fact, as CJS mentioned, she was invited and almost died, and as a guild, we should instead apologize to her. Any objections?"

Pearl waited, while I scanned my eyes acrosss the tavern, but no one spoke.

"Then it's only between Olga and the seven, Hailie herself will stay out of this, but, as I mentioned, since she's not a member and can't be held accountable, she also will not get a vote in the matter."

… No one else said anything.

During all that, I just had my eyes widened and brows raised… This guy sure know how to do logic, withheld democracy and lead a bunch of people, I see.

And just like that, the session fractured. People spilled toward the tavern counters, toward the exits, toward shaded corners to whisper about politics and blood.

The trial wasn't over, not even close. As Olga and the seven were instructed not to approach any of the members of the jury, and vice versa, in order to make sure that there's no string-pulling or coercement going on.

After around 15 minutes, half-way through recess, it happened as Pearl suggested.

A flicker in the corner of my eye, the telltale shimmer of gold text burned across the air.

The announcement came through.

Everyone in the game saw it, and everyone in the tavern froze.

[TITAN OF ASHEN BARK'S RAID: TOP CONTRIBUTION]

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