Chapter 139: She...
"Hah hah hah! Interesting! I like it!" The Strategist slapped his knee. "I accept your bet! Who will be the judge?"
Robin nodded. "As we two are in a bet, we cannot choose our members. As Dirk is involved, and is partial to me, he cannot be a judge. I propose that we let Dirk's Aunt be the judge, as the elves are known for their logical thought and wise judgement."
"Agreed!" The Strategist nodded. 'Heh! This will be easy enough. I can't wait to blacken your face, Hero Robin.'
Robin's eyes secretly flashed with a smile. He had taken the bait.
"Here is how this will go." Robin said. "Dirk, as the witness, will give his testimony. And tell the whole story from the time he lost his relatives to the time I arrived at the Inn with him. The witnesses and involved people will not be harmed. However, should they become violent, they will be restrained. Any witnesses of these events are allowed to step forward and give their testimony." Robin raised her voice so that the crowd could hear.
"After that, you and I shall take turns asking the witnesses questions about their testimony. After each turn, there will be a ten minute break to collect our thoughts."
"Why ten minutes?" The Strategist asked.
"This allows for time to think and compile the information we believe is relevant to the case." Robin replied.
"Continue." The Strategist leaned forward, slightly intrigued at this.
"At the end of questioning the witnesses, we will each present our narrative of the events which transpired using the witnesses' testimony to prove every point of our argument. Then, we will both be given the opportunity to use the witnesses' testimony to try and disprove the other's narrative. Finally, the judge, Diplomat Dewtre, will be left to decide which narrative to believe. Do you have any objections to this arrangement?" Robin asked.
"None. Let it happen as you have instructed." The Strategist smirked. He loved beating others at their own game.
Dewtre, on the other hand, was surprised by this new form of inquiry. It was orderly, and allowed for conversation, and interpretation based upon established facts, instead of personal worth. And, finally, the crux of this structure was that it favored no side, but was intent upon discovering the truth. As an elf that valued logical reasoning and thought, this structure was highly desirable. Dewtre was highly impressed
For this human to come up with something like this, perhaps humans weren't as bad as rumored. But, then again, Robin could simply be trying to tempt her with this logical invention. Dewtre reaffirmed her decision to remain impartial.
Robin, unaware of Dewtre's fascination with her simplified version of America's legal system, was instructing the foxkin on how to layout the room for the 'game'. Chairs and three large tables were brought out, and set up in a 'U' formation. The judge, and each side had one table, upon which paper and writing instruments were provided.
Another elf, off to the side of Dewtre, who was skilled in her swift writing, was the note-taker for the session. She would write down everything that was spoken. She was also excited by the new system, and was taking notes before the session even began.
'I never expected I'd play lawyer in another world.' Robin mused as she waited for any other witnesses to report in. Out of all the plans she could think of, this was the only one that took the least amount of time. As Robin was eager to get back home, she could only bring something from her own world to gain the advantage.
After a half an hour, the courtroom was set up. Chairs were brought out so that everyone could be seated properly. Paper and ink was liberally distributed to the three tables.
Dewtre stood up and cleared her throat. "Let the examination of the events concerning my nephew, yesterday, formally begin! Now, will the witnesses come forward to give their testimony? Dirk, you are the main witness. Please tell us everything that you saw and heard from the time you left my sight to the time you arrived at the inn."
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Walking away from the palace, Robin's group-minus one Dirk-was completely quiet. It was already late evening, and The stars twinkled overhead as the light from the different storefronts lit their way back. When the group arrived back in the inn, Jasmine sank down into a chair.
"It can't have happened that easily, can it?" She asked in disbelief.
"It did. It really did, though...Robin, I'm concerned about you." Quinn put a hand on her shoulder.
"You didn't get some sort of cheat ability on your way here, did you?" He asked seriously.
"My existence is enough of a cheat as it is." Robin joked. But everyone else nodded their heads, convinced.
"Hey, you all, that was a joke." Robin pointed out.
"No, I'm afraid it wasn't." Christian said seriously. He walked over, and also put a hand on Robin's shoulder.
"You went up against the Strategist. And you won a complete and total victory. Indeed, the Hero cannot be an ordinary sort of man." He laughed and clapped Robin's shoulder a couple of times.
"Did you see his face at the end there?" Chelsea chortled. "When Dewtre announced that she believed Robin? It was like he couldn't believe what he was hearing! Ahahahah!"
The company relaxed as they also let out the laughter they had been holding in.
"No, I think the part where Robin called in her favor was even more funny! He completely thought she was going to ask for the seal, he did! And then the blank look on his face when she asked him-pfft hahaha- to-to banish slavery from his kingdom!" Gerard was rolling on the floor, laughing.
"What? I think it was a great request." Robin replied seriously. "A magically-enforced banishment of slavery will prevent stuff like that from continuing to happen."
"But, that look of his when he said 'What? Are you sure you don't want my seal?' was definitely the best!" Quinn agreed.
"Like I said, I wanted to earn things fair and square; not force it. Forced approval is the same as no approval." Robin replied.
"So you did, so you did!" Keith's merrily shook his head. "You messed with his head to the point where he gave it to you anyways! From now on, I don't think anything else amazing you do can impress me. I'm beginning to expect the miracles you create."
"Please don't. I'm surprised things went well enough as it is." Robin replied.
"Robin, if things hadn't gone so well, and he didn't give you the seal, what would you have done?" Jasmine asked.
"Obviously, I'd stay here until I received his approval. Besides, the longer I stay, the heavier my presence will weigh upon his mind." Robin said.
"I will remember not to make you mad in the future." Sir Drago said seriously.
To him, Robin's feat had revealed an internal cunning that was not inferior to that of dragons. Everyone in the room near doubled over in a second round of laughter.
"Thanks, Sir Drago. That would be appreciated." Robin replied.
"Wrong, wrong!"Chelsea clicked her teeth disaprovingly. "What 'sir' is there among friends? Everyone should be on a first name basis, outside of social functions, of course."
"That's right. I never did ask for your first name." Robin realized.
"It's 'Sir'" Sir Drago replied. "My full name is Sir Drago. It has always been Sir Drago."
"What! Were you named by a kid!?" Chelsea exclaimed.
Sir Drago nodded. This flabbergasted Chelsea, as she realized it was true. As a captured hatchling, his name was at the mercy of his captor.
"W-well that's definitely not okay!" She continued, recovering from her surprise. "We need come up with a good first name for you. Because I refuse to keep calling you 'sir'!"
Sir Drago stared at Chelsea blankly. Although her eyes were covered by a veil, the stubborn set of her mouth clearly expressed her intent.
"I leave it to you." He nodded. It was best to get things over with so that he wouldn't call out the stubbornness of Chelsea. Besides, maybe a new name would be a good thing.
"If you think those other ones were the funniest, then you're all wrong!" Jasmine finally spoke. "The highlight of this evening was when the strategist asked Robin what was under his mask."
"Oh my-how could I have forgotten that!" Chelsea re-enacted the scene.
"The foxy guy said, 'I do wonder just what is under that mask of yours.'
And Robin just asks 'You want to see under my mask? All right.'
And everyone starts to look over.
Then reaching up to the mask, sh-Robin says, 'What's under my mask is....another mask!'"
Quinn glanced over at Robin. "You stole that quote from Kakashi, didn't you?"
Robin grimaced. "Actually, it was a complete coincidence.The words just popped out of my mouth like that."
Quinn stared at Robin unconvinced. She shrugged. "Not everyone is affected by chunnibyou, Quinn. Get over it."
Both Jasmine and Chelsea had already devolved into yet a third fit of giggles as another round of laughter descended upon the group.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
BriarRose
BriarRose Hah! You thought I would pull a Phoenix Wright on you, didn't you!? I am not that legally gifted. Moreover, a lawyers arc isn't conducive to the storyline, so I'm just skipping it entirely. You'll have to make do with the flashbacks.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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