The marketplace buzzed with anticipation. News of the public trial against the Guilde had spread like wildfire. Everyone who had suffered under their ruthless exploitation had gathered to witness it. Amara had organized the event as requested by Lumumba, ensuring it would take place in the open, where the public could see justice being served. A grand platform had been erected in the middle of the square, with a raised podium for the judges and an audience of onlookers that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Lumumba stood confidently in the center of it all, wearing his usual smirk, while Jon and Amara flanked him. He had been waiting for this moment. The Guilde had gotten away with too much for too long, but today, they would finally answer for their crimes. The evidence he had uncovered in the fissure—proof of child labor, market manipulation, and political corruption—was his trump card.
But before the trial began, the Guilde had made one last attempt to silence him.
In the shadows of a dimly lit alley the night before, a member of the Guilde approached Lumumba, offering him a bribe.
"Listen, we can make this go away," the man had whispered, trying to sound convincing. "A large sum, more than you've ever dreamed of. Just walk away. Forget about the trial. Think about it—wealth, freedom, everything you've ever wanted."
Lumumba had leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, pretending to think it over. Then, without missing a beat, he had cracked a grin.
"So, you're trying to bribe me? Me? Seriously? We're about to go into a courtroom, not some shady tavern. But hey, thanks for the effort... I appreciate the creativity." He gave a mock bow before straightening. "But I'm afraid I'll have to decline. Unless, of course, you've got a better offer." He had looked around, waiting for a reply. "No? Shame."
The man had slunk away, clearly realizing that no amount of money would sway Lumumba.
Now, as the trial began, Lumumba stood before the judge. The representatives of the Guilde sat on the other side, their faces stern, some sweating nervously. The judge, a stern-looking elder, eyed the proceedings carefully.
"Your Honor," Lumumba began, his tone light but his words sharp, "I'd just like to point out that there's a big difference between running a business and taking people for fools. But given this guild's... practices, I can see how the line might be a little blurry for them."
The judge raised an eyebrow, while murmurs rippled through the crowd. Lumumba smirked as he caught the eyes of some of the Guilde members, their expressions growing darker.
"Now, I know they're going to try and tell you everything they did was 'legal,' that they were just 'following the rules.'" He turned, pacing back and forth with casual confidence. "But we all know that when the rules are written by people whose pockets are already full, it's pretty easy to play the legal game, right? Isn't that you over there with pockets that seem a little too heavy?"
He gestured toward a group of wealthy guild members, who shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
As the trial progressed, the Guilde tried to push back, denying the charges. But their denials only brought out Lumumba's trademark sarcasm even more.
"Oh, of course," he said, mimicking their indignant tone. "You're going to say everything's above board, right? It's all legal, just good business. Yeah, because forcing kids to work in mines and rigging the market for your own gain—that's just good commerce, huh?"
He fixed his gaze on one of the Guilde's female representatives, a woman dressed in a sharp, perfectly tailored suit. Her confident posture faltered slightly under Lumumba's scrutiny.
"You, there, with the suit that's way too well-tailored," he said, his eyes narrowing with mock seriousness. "You do realize that sweet smiles and empty promises don't count as a valid defense, right? I mean, you could try to charm me with that... um... ridiculously large chest you've got going on there—trust me, I'd gladly dive headfirst into it—but I'm not the kind of guy to fall for those tricks. Well... not today, anyway."
The woman's face turned red, and a mix of laughter and shocked gasps echoed through the crowd.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. One of Lumumba's key pieces of evidence was presented—documents recovered from the fissure—proving the Guilde's involvement in child labor and their manipulation of the kingdom's market. As the damning evidence was revealed, a heavy silence fell over the square. Even the judge, who had maintained a neutral expression throughout the trial, looked visibly disturbed.
Lumumba, feeling the tension, let the silence hang for a moment before breaking it with his usual irreverence.
"Ah, that cold chill in the air... It's amazing what a little hard evidence can do, huh?" He grinned, looking at the Guilde members, who now sat in stunned silence. "Don't worry, though. You can always pursue a new career. I hear selling cheap love potions or becoming a bard is in high demand these days."
The crowd, sensing the shift, began to murmur again, some laughing, others looking on in anticipation. Lumumba stood tall, knowing that the Guilde had been cornered.
The judge, his voice steady but stern, finally spoke. "There is more than enough evidence here to suggest the Guilde has committed severe offenses. Now, Lumumba, you've brought these charges forward. What is it that you seek as compensation?"
All eyes turned to Lumumba. The Guilde leaders held their breath, knowing their fate now rested in his hands.
Lumumba smiled slowly, his eyes glinting with mischief. "What do I want? Oh, that's simple. I want control of the guild."