6 Arc 1, Chapter 6: The Court Finds The Defendant

Her head bowed down to the table and fingers locked together, her ears had folded down onto her head.

Jotou furrowed her brows as she glanced over to Fumeko, who was having the same reaction, Fumeko glancing back to Jotou; they both shrugged to each other in response.

Jotou faced the redhead who had her head still lowered, "Why would you want to join our, 'party' which has literally two people who are would-be convicts…?"

She still kept her head down, "I can be your legal adviser for anything! I have all the documents for my qualifications, I can also keep track of any treasure and adventurers always end up in trouble legally and you could have the one party with a lawyer so you never get into trouble again! On top of that, I'm also an expert level magic caster!"

It was clear that all her poised demeanour was an act and she was not an actual noble. Even her tone of voice changed from a low, cultured one to what appeared to be her normal tone; a dulcet one that was a bit breathy.

Jotou and Fumeko stared at each other again, the blonde shrugging her shoulders and the brunette raising her eyebrows as high as they could. Jotou turned back, "Me and my friend, would like to discuss this in private if we could?"

Hotaru hoisted her head up, keeping her nose high and eyes closed. Her tail wagged faster behind her, "That is completely what I expected. So please, take your time," she got up, turned around and exited.

Jotou paced behind, shutting and locking the door, "Well… that escalated quickly…"

"Not at all what I expected to happen…" Fumeko stated.

"We are taking her, right?"

"Oh definitely."

Jotou walked back over to the table, "Still, I'm trying to figure out why she would join us. There's like, fifty other parties who could accept that pitch."

"I think I have something…" Fumeko cooked in her head, "Remember when someone called her an abomination just now?"

"Yeah?"

"I think that's the reason. I've seen people like her where I'm from—part-human. In Kria too, but much less and I've never really talked to any of them. There seems to be a racial bias? Makes no sense why though, she seems fine to me."

Jotou opened the folder, "I know of people like that from my world; they're normally fiction, I guess they're real here… I didn't know there was discrimination towards them- Wait…" Jotou flipped through the papers, "This is all empty…" the blank papers…

"So, what's the final verdict?"

"She's being hated for no real reason, we're also kinda making a bad reputation and could use her help; and she's a lawyer who can do magic. Seems like a good choice to help us," Jotou stated to which Fumeko nodded.

"That's a yes then," Jotou went over to open the door and as she did, Hotaru was pressed up against it. She immediately stood up straight, looking away into the hallway. She stood just a bit shorter than Jotou, but her ears beat the blonde's height.

"Have you come to a decision?" she asked without looking. Jotou looked back to Fumeko in somehow both doubt and reassurance…

_

Her heels clacked to the front desk where the commissioner and Moren were still at it. Jotou and Fumeko stood back as Hotaru walked further.

"Ah, finally… Take those two into custody for questioning," the commissioner ordered.

"Actually, you cannot arrest them commissioner for you have nothing to arrest them with," Hotaru folded her arms.

The commissioner sighed, "Anastasia Princely is under suspicion of the velato-"

"On what grounds do you have for this statement? By my understanding, Anastasia Princely is deceased and no longer in the records of the city.

And did you not orally confess to my clients, Ms Jotou Howllett and Ms Fumeko Namora that you, do not have any evidence and have mere hearsay.

As far as I know, velatos described under the Velatos Case, are clouded in black shadow, have ruby red eyes and attacks anyone in the near vicinity without reason. Your suspicions for Ms Howllett are merely for odd behaviour.

These are all pretences you used to arrest my client falsely. However, I do understand the confusion that may be perceived between the difference of Anastasia Princely and Jotou Howllett," as Hotaru stated, the Krialin approached slowly with handcuffs.

"But!" she raised a finger, as the two Krialin stopped and sighed, "You have it on record with hard evidence that both of my clients standing here, have defeated a velatos, correct?"

"Yes…" Wellers' shoulders were slumped before Hotaru even spoke.

"And as such, by the decree of the Mayor of Kria, Varon Gestryle, anyone who defeats a velatos is offered a boon and my clients have the right to request that boon from any government official.

Hence, if she wishes, Jotou Howllett can be excused of your non-existent evidence and be accepted into the Adventurers Guild with no need to search the guild for any reason.

The guild accepts anyone from any nation as their member and therefore, even if Anastasia is deceased, the current person, Ms Jotou Howllett can be accepted even if she is not a citizen of Kria.

What do you say Ms Howllett, do you request this as your boon?" Hotaru turned to her.

Jotou stood speechless, "…Yes." The commissioner sighed even more and Moren gave off a hearty laugh.

The redhead turned back around, "Your authority is overruled commissioner. Of course, you can still take this up in court as it's not actually official and I'm just talking, but you can try your luck and see who wins.

Do you want your already failing reputation in this city to fall even lower and your department lose even more funding?" her fangs glistened.

Jotou stared, "You're amazing…" 'Wait, did I say that out loud!?'

Hotaru's eyes widened as she looked back to Jotou, "Don't throw me off my game, it's not over yet!" she hushed back blushing—her ears flickered and tail wagged.

"Yes, yes, Jotou Howllett is free from Krialin custody and is allowed to join the Adventures Guild of Kria with no investigation necessary," he officiated. "Still, Ms Namora will be under arrest, so take her in."

"Now, now," Hotaru's voice once again halted the Krialin in their steps before they could arrest Fumeko. "It is true that my client Ms Namora has evidence to be arrested for, but she also gets a boon as she defeated the velatos with Ms Howllett-"

"I want a-!" Jotou immediately closed Fumeko's mouth with her hand before she said something without thinking. Fumeko's words were muffled. Hotaru looked back, nodding to Jotou as Jotou nodded back to her.

Fumeko mumbled louder!

"As I was saying, these crimes don't carry heavy sentences hence, the boon can be simply to wipe her slate clean and again, even if she is not a citizen, she can join the guild," she finished.

While Hotaru verbalized, Jotou took away her hand from Fumeko's mouth. The blonde's face slowly cringed as she looked at her wet palm.

She leered back to Fumeko who had her arms crossed, with her tongue out. Jotou wiped Fumeko's saliva on a nearby desk.

Hotaru turned to Fumeko, "Do those sound like agreeable terms?"

Fumeko glared over, "Fine… Could've asked for a pile of platinum pieces, but no," the brunette muttered to herself.

Hotaru stood tall, putting her hands out in victory, keeping the Krialin's handcuffs away from the two. The commissioner, without another word, "Everybody back to your business," he dismissed.

_

"Nice work girlie," Moren crossed his arms, nodding at her victory.

"Hang on, I didn't do this for free. I am now a part of their party, meaning I'm part of the Adventurers Guild by association of party instead of individual; I am now an adventurer," Hotaru declared.

Moren fell silent, staring before he let out a chuckle, "You're always persistent."

"Only in this matter," she relaxed her voice.

"How can I deny the lawyer who let my newest recruits free from custody of the Krialin and made everyone in the room speechless? Welcome to guild Ms Kinoshita," Moren invited…