Chapter 16 – The Court on Trial
The echoes of Ibrahim's broadcast still rang through Gotham. The city was awake now, its people no longer blind to the corruption that had lurked beneath their feet. The Court of Owls had ruled from the shadows for centuries—but today, they were being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the light.
Inside the grand courtroom, the weight of history pressed against the walls. Every seat was filled, not just with reporters, but with civilians, off-duty police officers, and even politicians who now feared for their own futures. Gotham's elite, once untouchable, now sat in chains before the law.
Nathaniel Crane was one of them. His suit, once pristine, was slightly disheveled, yet his expression remained composed. Calculated. Even as the world turned against the Court, Crane did not look like a man who had lost.
Judge Holloway's gavel struck. "Order in the court." His voice carried authority, but even he knew—this was no ordinary trial.
Ibrahim Al-Farooq rose from his seat, the air around him crackling with tension. The eyes of Gotham were on him, and he knew this was the most important battle he had ever fought.
He took a step forward, his voice sharp. "The people of Gotham now know the truth. They have seen the evidence for themselves. The Court of Owls is no longer a myth—it is an institution of terror that has enslaved this city for generations."
He turned, locking eyes with Crane.
"You once ruled from the darkness, Mr. Crane. But here, under the law, you are just another criminal."
Crane chuckled under his breath. He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. "You think you've won something, Al-Farooq?" His voice was smooth, taunting. "You think exposing us changes anything? The Court has outlived every attempt to bring it down. Gotham needs us."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
Ibrahim's system flashed a subtle alert.
[Psychological manipulation detected. Crane is attempting to shift the jury's perception.]
He had expected this.
"You claim Gotham needs you," Ibrahim said, his voice unwavering. "Tell that to the families of the people you had locked away in Arkham. Tell that to the orphans created by your assassins."
Crane's smirk twitched, but he remained silent.
Ibrahim continued, pressing forward. "Let's talk about control. Because that's what this has always been about, hasn't it? The Court doesn't protect Gotham—it controls it. You decide who lives and who dies. You manipulate the justice system, ensuring that only the criminals you approve of stay on the streets, while the ones who threaten your rule disappear."
The jury was listening. They were really listening.
Crane finally responded, his voice edged with condescension. "You speak well, Mr. Al-Farooq. But words don't matter. Power does. The Court is power. It does not fall because of speeches."
Ibrahim didn't blink. "No, but it falls when the people turn against it."
With a flick of his fingers, Ibrahim activated his system.
The screen behind him changed. Live footage filled the courtroom—a broadcast from Gotham's streets.
Protests.
Hundreds, thousands, of Gotham's citizens had taken to the streets, standing in front of City Hall, in front of GCPD headquarters, in front of the courthouse itself.
They held signs. They chanted. Some wore owl masks—ripped apart. Others held banners that read:
NO MORE SHADOWS
GOTHAM BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE
THE COURT MUST ANSWER FOR ITS CRIMES
Ibrahim let the moment sink in.
Then he turned back to the jury. "This is Gotham's choice. Not mine. Not yours, Crane. The people have decided."
For the first time, a crack appeared in Crane's expression. A flicker of something beneath the mask.
Doubt.
Ibrahim pressed further. "The law may have been your weapon once. But today, it is the weapon of the people. And it is passing judgment on you."
He turned to the judge. "Your Honor, I rest my case."
Silence filled the courtroom.
Then—
"The jury will now deliberate," Judge Holloway announced.
Crane exhaled slowly. His fingers tapped against the desk, but now, the rhythm was offbeat. His control was slipping.
Ibrahim met his gaze one final time. "You've already lost."
Crane said nothing. But he knew.
The Court of Owls was falling.
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