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Join the ServerWe split into five groups and began searching for clues in this dense forest.
On the Adel Continent, due to their extremely long lifespans, elves were the embodiment of wisdom and erudition. They were also the only race besides the Pope who could communicate with the gods. As such, they were the best source of information.
I found an aged elf. By all rights, elves should not age, but his skin was wrinkled and he carried himself like an old man.
“The structure of the Alliance Tribunal? Why are you asking about that?” The aged elf glanced at me warily.
“Because… my dream is to become a member of the Alliance Tribunal! I want to be like those great people, using law to uphold justice!” I straightened my back and said with righteous indignation.
“Oh… a young lady with ambition. Well, the structure of the Alliance Tribunal is not that complicated…”
After listening to the old elf’s account, I learned that the Alliance Tribunal was similar to a real-world court, and the trial process was almost identical.
After all, the Adel Continent was not a land of ignorant feudalism or theocracy. The populace and the Alliance were rational and scientific. The Tribunal was not some brainless villain from a historical drama who’d convict someone with a single slap. Instead, it was like a real court, emphasizing law, evidence, and public satisfaction.
In short, the Alliance Tribunal was very much like a modern court in our world, though with a few differences.
“Then what about the judgment process? How do you convict a suspect? What if the suspect is innocent? What standard is used for the trial?” I asked further.
“In a word, a so-called ‘trial’ is a process where both sides exhaust themselves trying to persuade the judge. The judge trusts evidence most, but sometimes evidence can be forged or distorted. So both sides hold seemingly strong evidence but can’t convince the judge or the public. In that case, the jury and the judge negotiate a preliminary result.”
The old elf tapped his pipe. “The jury and the judge negotiate a preliminary result.”
“What if the preliminary result is wrong?” I pressed.
“If either the plaintiff or the defendant is dissatisfied with the result, they can apply for a second trial. The second trial is similar to the first, but the case will be reorganized, considering more factors, and a new judgment made. If the second trial result matches the first, the case is closed, and no third trial is allowed.”
“What if it’s different?”
“If the results differ, it depends on whether both parties are satisfied. If both are satisfied, that’s that. If one party is dissatisfied, they can apply for a final trial, commonly known as the three-trial final adjudication system.”
“…”
This game really had nerve, bringing in the real-world three-trial final adjudication system. To save Aksiya, we might actually have to go through a legal process—though the law of the Adel Continent.
“The final trial is the final judgment. Regardless of the outcome, neither party can appeal again.” The old elf took a contented puff from his long pipe.
“What if a Saint-level person is the defendant and the Alliance is the plaintiff? Is the process the same?”
“Hmm?” A cold glint flashed in the old elf’s eyes. He suddenly became languid, set down his pipe, put on black-rimmed reading glasses, and leaned back against a tree, as if losing interest in talking. “Young lady, you should go. I can pretend I heard nothing.”
“What if a Saint-level person is wrongfully accused, and the accuser is the very Alliance that founded the court? Can they still clear their name?” I asked again.
“Young lady, you adventurers must be careful. Don’t believe everything you hear. Do you understand what I mean? If you repeat something baseless, then you become partly responsible, right?” The elder squinted, a dangerous glimmer in his eyes.
It seemed this elder knew something about the matter. Since we’d gone this far, I might as well speak openly and see if there was any chance of a turnaround.
So I pressed on.
“Now the whole city is buzzing about this. It’s hard to imagine there’s no mastermind behind it. Before Aksiya’s trial has even started, the whole city is condemning her, as if the verdict is already decided… Doesn’t that feel… like a setup?”
“A setup? Impossible! The judgment must follow the basic law, the Alliance’s three-trial final adjudication system. If Aksiya is innocent, the Alliance would never wrong a good person.”
“But…”
“Young people! Curiosity is fine, but you…”
“Do you understand? Some things are beyond your comprehension, so don’t think about them! Young people should focus on improving their knowledge.”
“So the Alliance is absolutely just? Does the Alliance also bow to evidence and reality?” Despite the old elf’s impatience, I had to persist.
“Of course. But can adventurers produce evidence that even the Alliance must accept? If not, isn’t that just stirring up trouble? You adventurers, when you cause trouble, you flee faster than anyone! Never caring about the consequences!”
By now, a crowd of onlookers had gathered around us. The old elf’s words made the adventurers around me feel a bit ashamed. Indeed.
Still, at least I had clarified the operational mechanism of the Alliance Tribunal. The three-trial final adjudication system—even if the Alliance wanted to accuse a Saint-level, it had to follow the basic law.
“Don’t worry, little one. Accusing a Saint-level, especially someone like Aksiya, the Alliance would never dare to decide privately. During the trial, there will certainly be a live broadcast across the continent, and the Alliance will give a satisfactory explanation to all citizens. This is no longer an era where the strong can do as they please. The continent’s citizens are the foundation of normal operations, the Alliance’s parents. So instead of worrying about the Alliance’s fairness, you should think about what evidence can prove Aksiya’s innocence…”
The old elf smiled kindly, as if to reassure me. But how could I be reassured?
If the Alliance had no problem, how could Aksiya fall from a hero to a butcher overnight?
“Anyway, you can’t defeat five Saint-levels, can you?” The old elf said meaningfully, then closed his eyes and said no more.
Indeed, we couldn’t defeat five Saint-levels. A direct confrontation with the Alliance was impossible. Even if we broke her out of prison, we couldn’t escape the Alliance’s pursuit.
I had thought that once the Alliance convicted Aksiya, there would be no chance to turn things around, leaving only the option of opposing the Alliance head-on and breaking her out. But I hadn’t expected a three-trial final adjudication system.
This must be the sliver of hope left by this SSS-rank quest. Of course, an SSS-rank quest would never be as simple as a lawsuit. This was just an entry clue for a major arc!
“The End of the Starlight Path?”
Perhaps the final winner is still uncertain!
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