Marshal Javi frowned and gave Ian a complex look, even he did not expect such frankness, especially when his intent attack failed. Ian went straight to the point, without any detours. Treon and the First Elder of the Two Towers Clan, Heger, had angry and desperate expressions on their faces. The representatives of the two accusing clans couldn't contain their happiness. The Silver Shield members stared at Ian with dark expressions.
"So, do you admit your crimes?" Roared the First Elder of the Great Rock, drowning out everyone else's voices; after all, he was the second strongest among the Golden Bodies and the one who had lived the longest. Those who didn't fear his strength respected his experience.
"What crimes have I committed? As far as I know, the only ones harming the Heli race were the four major clans with their incompetence." Ian categorically replied as he stood up from his chair, adding more energy to his words.
"What?!" The intent power of the four major clans was immediately sent to bombard Ian's soul. Without exception, even the Two Towers Clan participated. How could they continue governing the race if a mere stage 1 Base Body didn't respect them in public?
"Apologize, and maybe your death will be quick!" Shouted a guest from the Dark Castle Clan.
"This is an outrage!"
"You don't even respect your elders!"
...
Amidst the barrage of curses and intentions, Ian staggered, took two steps back, and clenched his fists as tightly as he could, staining his palm with blood. But he managed to stay on his feet and looked coldly at the session's judge, who remained neutral without showing any signs of taking action.
"Is this how you conduct judgments? You are only intimidating the weak!" The voice of support and indignation came, curiously, from the big stage. Etri stood and moved in front of Ian, relieving some of the pressure. Even she, however, could not take much.
The sight of a noble beauty protecting someone without a background touched the surrounding crowd. Although the Helis lived in peace and rarely experienced crimes, even with equally distributed natural resources in the territory, it didn't mean that society was egalitarian. Manufacturing, pills, elixirs, and all the work of men were concentrated in the hands of the family ranks. The higher-ranking families had more command over the workforce and its fruits, further widening the gaps over time. Popular indignation reached a risky level with heated cries and demands for justice, disregarding the pressure from the experts of the four clans.
"I request that the masters regain their composure, or I will have to take action to restore order!" Once again, the commanding voice of Marshal Javi was heard, and everyone calmed down. Even the members on the stage, albeit reluctantly. An observant person could catch a hint of satisfaction in the high official's eyes.
Javi seemed to ride the political waves, being an important figure in a middle clan, he would wait and watch for the fall of some leading family. When he had nothing to gain he didn't move a finger, but when he spotted a moment to weaken the morale of the big boys, he acted without a second thought. Even in calm seas there is danger.
Etri sighed; she was at her limit. Her knees trembled from the effort, and the man behind her was in an even worse state. However, by some miracle, he didn't kneel, fall, or sit. Even with sweat dripping down his handsome face, Ian maintained the pride and dignity.
"Ian, from Earth, what did you mean with your accusations? Explain them, or I will have to exercise my authority over you. What you have spoken to all of us is very serious." Javi spoke seriously, his powerful aura oppressing everyone.
"If these esteemed gentlemen allow me to speak without being attacked, I will answer your questions." Ian turned to the four groups before him with veiled anger.
"Proceed."
"To begin with, I did not choose to come to this place, let alone 'steal' the body of the God Hellgar. It was you who brought me against my will through a poorly executed ritual. I came to this foreign region with a strange culture and was immediately labeled a public enemy by those responsible for the mess. If it weren't for the maiden Etri Two Towers, I wouldn't even know the language." Ian told the story in a biased manner. It was said on Earth that the best lie was the one that contained the highest degree of truth, the famous half-truth.
"You shameless junior!" shouted the First Elder of the Dark Castle.
"No interventions are allowed at the moment. You are not giving me face!" Thundered Javi, sending an attack directly to the indignant woman's soul realm.
"Apologies, Marshal!" She paled at this attack. Soul injuries were the most painful. Although they were both in the same cultivation realm, she was the weakest of them all and was caught off guard, while the other represented the greatest strength of the Golden Body of Helis.
"According to the laws of the Helis, no one should be accused of something done by another." Ian was clever, not pressing the issue of "committing a crime without intention" further, as there were cases of individuals being convicted of unintentional crimes.
"Humph, we have evidence that we performed all the ritual procedures correctly. Now, do you have any means to prove your innocence in physical form?" the Patriarch of the Grand Rock spoke loudly and clearly, with serenity and an air of justice. Although the spectators knew that it was a low blow. How could anyone prove their innocence if they were summoned against their will and without prior notice? There was not much justice in reality.
'That old fox!' Ian was shocked by the speed of the reply. He knew he would need some additional elements in his defense, but he thought he could still play with the minds of the 100 other present clans, putting on his play. However, if the opponent wanted to expedite the script, why not? Ian was prepared.
"I don't know how I can prove my innocence, considering that everyone here knows how I was brought to this plane. However, there are hundreds of witnesses, including Etri Two Towers, one of the four God's Wives, present at the time of the invocation. They can attest that I, Ian, arrived here abruptly and without any knowledge of the local culture. It took me months to gain any understanding of the Continent of Sombreal and the Helis. I don't understand how I could have planned all this and not even have the slightest notion about the race and the God I would supposedly usurp. Isn't that illogical? Do you think a superior being would do all this just to be killed shortly after reincarnation?"
Ian's words provoked the rationality of everyone present. The Patriarch of the Grand Rock Clan, who had previously provoked Ian, now furrowed his brow. This time, the intervention and assistance came from the Two Towers clan.
"So, Ian from Earth, regardless of your intention, the fact is that we lost a thousand years of resources due to this supposed 'accident.' As you can see, we, the four major clans, have evidence that the ritual process was correctly executed. Although you cannot present concrete evidence, you have offered some logical arguments to support your innocence. However, thinking about our race, as leaders that we are, we must act in a situation where there is a conflict between all of us and an outsider, according to your own words, with no connection to the Helis, ensuring that our interests are prioritized. According to some experts on the matter, we could recover thirty percent of our previous investment, saving three hundred years of our species' sacrifice by offering your life in a new ritual. Regardless of who is right or wrong, these are the concrete facts." Calmly spoke the First Elder of the Two Towers Clan, looking not at Ian but at the audience. He took the initiative to sever ties with the invocation and assist in the discussion to win it, in order to minimize the political damage resulting from this terrible undertaking they had gotten themselves into.
Etri, who was still close to Ian, was extremely disappointed with her master and even with her father, who seemed to be supporting the whole situation. Loli had never been interested in politics, not only because she was young for the standards of her race, but also because, as a martial genius, she always believed in strength and the codes of honor and conduct of martial artists. The latter had some resemblance to the medieval chivalry code on Earth. Always stand by the truth; never oppress the weaker ones; help those in need...
The common population in the stands also showed signs of indignation. Just like Ian, who was currently in a low-status situation, they, the commoners, had encountered and would continue to encounter similar situations where they would be at a disadvantage compared to the nobles of their clans and the great clans. We are talking about a vertical power relationship where one side has far more advantages, beyond reason and custom, than the other.
However, the situation within the arena, both on the grand stage and in the 300 seats, was entirely different. Even those who did not condone the dark actions of politics had to agree that the Union carried more weight than any individual, especially an outsider. Moreover, the amount of resources at stake was significant. We're talking about 300 years' worth of accumulation for an entire race!
Javi, who knew the situation very well, stared at Ian. He understood his side, the weaker party, because of his own position, which facing the great clans, was similar in the past. If it were not for his abnormal martial talent, he would be sitting at the back of the arena, with little or almost no voice on today's subject. Now, as First Elder and Marshal, he knew that the number equivalent to 300 years of taxes could not be ignored. In fact, regardless of his personal gains of power, as a guardian of his race, there was no way he could stand by this boy's side.
Ian also understood the dilemma of the leaders, and had to give a good deal of credit to these clever old men of the big stage. Nevertheless, everything was still within his plans. Some detours had been taken, but the road to his victory was still paved. He looked at everyone around him, especially at Etri, who was standing nervously beside him, before he said in a loud, clear voice:
"According to the Code of the Dark Alliance, written 15,000 years ago, I invoke the Martial Talent Protection Rule!" As he said this, the jaws of those present dropped. A mere 20-year-old Base Body, demanding a martial battle. The battle in question, according to the code, said that if one won three battles, one harder than the other, in a row, against opponents at least one realm higher than the average population at the same age, thw winner could claim asylum for other races. Of course, this had to be accepted by the leadership of the species that the specialist in resided.
The leaders of the four clans looked at each other with joy. Ian had given them an exit that no one could contest in terms of fairness. It would calm the agitated crowd and save the face of the powerful. Was there any sweeter deal than this? However, they still remained cautious and soon calmed down. For, in some way, they had faced setback after setback, and the expected political battle between the clans ended up being controlled by the tool. Ian manipulated the situation as he pleased, every step of the way.
"Do you all agree with what this junior has proposed?" Marshal Javi was starting to like Ian's temperament and secretly regretted not standing up for him. Direct, proud and warlike—qualities he valued the most in a warrior.
"None of us disagree." Spoke the Patriarch of the Silver Shield Clan, taking the right to speak on behalf of the others, who nodded in agreement. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' Now they needed to unite against the external threat because the pride of the quartet was at stake.
"Junior Ian, you have a bone age of 20 years. In our race, the average person in the same age is the advancing Copper Body. So, you will need to win a Bronze Body, initial, intermediate and advanced, respectively, without rest breaks. Should you win, I will handle the matters of your reception myself with whatever species you choose. In defeat, only death awaits you... "