OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 210: Judgement Day

Chapter 210: Judgement Day

?

The day arrived.

And they walked into the tiger's den.

Emir and his family sat on the right side of the court, next to the long walkway that led to the three podiums up front.

The central dais, elevated the highest, was where the judge appeared, looking to be a different man than before...

[Lyra?] Emir asked as he looked to his right, his eyes reflecting Amanda's form.

[I know him... He's related to the target.]

The judge before them had long gray hair and silverish blue eyes, similar to Eldritch's appearance, although a slightly watered-down version of him.

But most importantly, he almost looked to be the same target that Lyra tracked.

[You know what to do.]

[I'm on it.]

Emir's left hand was then tightly grasped as he felt the soft hand of his sister, whose eyes remained fixated on their mother, standing in front.

Alone.

"Don't worry, kiddo; me and 'Amanda' got it covered."

Lily didn't reply and remained holding his hand, slightly trembling in the process.

Emir rolled his eyes, then raised her hand and licked it.

Lily staggered back, hitting Elijah, who was next to her, as she screamed:

"EWWW! What the hell are you doing?!"

Emir chuckled and pulled her towards him.

"You calm now?"

Lily stared at him for a moment, not knowing what to say, but then she let out a scoff and shook her hand away.

"Whatever..."

Emir snickered and returned his attention to his mother, not before sparing a quick glance at Elijah, whose face showed embarrassment at Lily's accidental touch.

'Is he crushing on my sister?'

'...Should I kill him?'

'No.'

'It doesn't matter.'

'... He'll have to become a man first.'

Only then would he consider that possibility.

Besides, Lily, although initially intrigued by Elijah, quickly lost her interest.

Since he had nothing to show besides his looks and the fact that he was once an Elite.

Never mind that Lily compared every guy she met with her brother, as Emir unknowingly set a high standard for her future husband to reach.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The judge suddenly banged his gavel, getting everyone's attention.

"I, Lewis Moonscribe, swear my Oath..."

"Unlike my predecessor, who's now under investigation for corruption, not just for his actions against Prince Emporium but the many before them...."

"I shall follow the UEF's justice and present a fair case today for both the plaintiff and the defendant."

Emir let out a tired sigh.

'This oath means nothing....'

'I guess we'll have to interfere at some point.'

"Let's begin this trial!"

Clang!

"Present your case, Plaintiff."

Similar to the day of their loss, the same man came.

Hargrove, donning an identical demeanor to the one he had before.

Confidence.

However, Hargrove no longer had the backing of the Moonscribes or at least the family head, which made Emir wonder about his new plan.

...

The proceedings all went as usual, obviously leaning on the defendants as clear-cut winners of the case.

Yet Emir saw nothing from Hargrove-no attempt at blackmail or even threats.

This only made him irritated, which caused his paranoia to take over as his eyes meticulously scanned Hargrove's every action.

And suddenly his attention was disrupted as the judge slammed his gavel down.

"...We will now take a brief recess."

Lots of clamor replaced the judge's departure, all excited at the unfolding events, but a single corner of the courtroom remained quiet.

The people there were all affected by Emir's state.

His dark eyes were the deepest shades of black, his face eerily calm as he looked at where the judge left.

[You find anything?]

[He looks clean... His only blemish is his cousin, our target.] Lyra answered after a moment.

[I see... Then let's follow the judge. Do your magic.]

[Give me a moment, I'll disable the cameras.]

A few seconds went by, and then came Lyra's chant:

"Shadow Veil."

Causing both of them to be shrouded in shadows, becoming invisible to the naked eye.

"Brother?...."

"What?!"

Lily's reaction was that of surprise; Elijah was too, but they both soon understood Emir's actions and acted as if nothing was wrong.

Lyra led Emir down the carpet into the main podium as they jumped and landed on it with no noticeable movements to the environment.

They walked past a few offices that housed many of what seemed to be attorneys, a few libraries, and break rooms.

Until their steps paused as Lyra passed an office that had Lewis's name written above it.

They stood outside, and then Emir lowered himself, sticking his ear to the door, in an attempt

to listen in to whatever conversation was ongoing inside.

But he heard nothing.

[...I think they've got a barrier up.]

[Then I'll shadow Meld in there; you can listen to their conversation through the feed.]

Emir nodded and looked for a place to hide, as he knew that Lyra's ability range wouldn't

hold.

It didn't take him long to find one, as what other place was better than the roof?

He gripped onto the wall and used it as footing.

Then he jumped up and held on to the chandelier above.

The chandelier swung lightly from side to side until he reached the top and was parallel to the

ground like a spider.

A Fangclad.

[I'm ready.]

[Uhn.]

The shadows obscuring Emir disappeared as he watched Lyra meld into the shadows.

His HUD soon showed Lyra's POV as she remained right underneath Lewis and another man,

talking in hushed tones.

She had bypassed their isolation barrier undetected.

"I told you a thousand times already; I've come from Seraphina Moonscribe herself!"

'I know that bitch...'

"You know that it's in your best interests to accept this money and do what you're told."

'Seriously?'

"...I've got my own integrity to uphold, sir."

"And I've heard that the MoonScribes won't unjustifiably interfere with matters relating to

the UEF again, so why are you here?"

The man sneered.

"That's none of your business. Now tell me... what do you truly want? Is the money not

enough?"

"Yes... I'll be risking my job here; I need a couple more Valora at least."

'Integrity indeed.' Emir mused inwardly.

"Fine!"

The hooded man took out seven coins from his pocket and threw them at the table in front of

Lewis.

"Now go do it!"

Leaving those words behind, the man exited the office.

A flabbergasted Emir watched over his departure.

'....That's it?'

'I get why he doesn't want Lewis to swear an oath, but....'

'Everything ends just like that?'

'No grand plan?'

'This Seraphina thinks that just bribing the judge is enough?'

'...'

'Did I overestimate them?'

Hundreds of similar thoughts went through Emir's head at that moment.

Seraphina, Elijah's older sister.

Emir understood that she wanted Elijah dead, and this was one of her steps in doing so.

Not swearing an oath meant that they accounted for the CCA's history record, which also

meant that they didn't want this to be known by anyone.

So she had a functioning brain that came up with contingency plans...

Or did she?

'I don't know...'

'Like really? That's it?'

Emir scoffed as he slowly lowered himself from the chandelier, dropping down onto the

ground.

His feet stepped closer to the door, and his hand pushed it wide open.

The room housed a greedy Lewis who was hoarding all his Valora into a lock hidden behind his

desk.

Just as he noticed Emir's arrival, his eyes shot up in shock.

"Who are you?! Weren't you told that I had private matters to attend to?"

"Shut up..." Emir mumbled, barely able to suppress his rage.

"What did you say? Speak-"

Bang!

Emir shut the door behind him and rushed forward, grabbing Lewis by the throat.

Immediately, the Aether in their surroundings turned thick, creating a bubble of Aether.

Emir's Aether control wasn't great yet, so unlike the man before him, his isolation barrier would allow their voices to leave the room.

Though it would've been distorted, almost inaudible.

And that was enough.

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

"O-okay calm down... I don't want any problems." Lewis stuttered while struggling to

breathe.

Emir let out a sigh and then dragged Lewis's body back to a chair and threw him on it.

"First.... Tell me, how's your day?"

His words, unlike before, were serene, as if talking to a long-lost friend, causing surprise to

show on Lewis's face.

"I-It's alright. I've had better, haha...."

"Well, hopefully, it gets better after today. It looks like someone gave you a good tip for your services." Emir said with a wink.

"Hahaha.... What can I say, people like me."

"You're a man with integrity; of course people would like you!"

Lewis breathed, barely able to control his emotions.

"....Thank you for your kind words, sir."

Emir then stepped closer to him and walked behind him, lowering his head until he reached

Lewis's ear.

"But I've seen a nephew of yours visit a forbidden place, Judge Lewis..." He whispered.

"W-what do you mean?"

Emir spun the chair around, and they now locked eyes with each other.

A trembling silver blue opposing the deepest of blacks.

"The Order.... having someone close to you openly interact with them will spell your doom,

my friend."

His blues' widened, and his body began to shake as if experiencing a seizure.

"I-I don't know w-what you're talking about!"

Lewis struggled as he spoke.

His voice hitched, and his eyes kept failing at their attempts to leave Emir's as if they were

glued to him.

Like a terrified man, scared of death yet unable to keep his eyes off it.

And indeed, this was a literal manifestation of that word:

Death.

Aether itself became infused with Emir's overwhelming killing intent.

It flowed around them like a shroud of malevolence, and Lewis, caught in its grasp, couldn't

look away.

He was trapped, watching his own death unfold before him in Emir's void-like sockets, eyes

that seemed to absorb all light.

In those moments, he experienced every conceivable form of agony.

Lewis was stabbed, cut, gutted, burned, pummeled, drowned, frozen, electrocuted, and even

skinned alive.

He saw himself die over and over again, on repeat.

A never-ending cycle of nightmares.

And as he teetered on the precipice of madness, a few words, like a soothing whisper, reached

into his fractured mind with an inexplicable calm:

"Don't fail me, Lewis..."

The words echoed in his consciousness, anchoring him to reality and to the man whose gaze

bore into his very soul.

It was as if those words carried the weight of purpose that comprised all his life.

Every year that marked his journey, every decision, and every breath...

Had led up to this.

He had to follow this man's demands.

Lewis couldn't let him down.

HE MUST NOT FAIL HIM!