OLD-WORLD EXTRA-Chapter 176: No Sign Of Lyra

The courtroom fell into a hushed silence as the judge's words reverberated through the space. Emir's gaze shifted between both parties, Hargrove and his own mother taking the stand, respectively.

The tension in the room was palpable as everyone awaited the unfolding drama.

Hargrove, stood up with an air of authority, addressing the judge confidently:

"Your Honor, we present before you substantial evidence that Party B, Prince Emporium, has been involved in nefarious activities to artificially boost their relic sales..."

"This blatant disregard for fair competition not only tarnishes the reputation of the GoldLeaf family but also undermines the integrity of the entire relic market."

The judge, Mercer, leaned forward, his stern expression unwavering.

"Present your evidence, Mr. Hargrove. The court will assess its validity."

Hargrove nodded, projecting an aura of certainty.

"Your Honor, we have documented transactions that took place under suspicious circumstances. These relics were sold at remarkably low prices, far below their market value. Our investigations reveal that Prince Emporium obtained these relics through illicit means, many of which were counterfeit, compromising the hard work of legitimate relic merchants." Judge Mercer's gaze remained fixed on Hargrove, his discerning eyes hinting at the 'scrutiny' he would apply to the evidence presented.

"Continue..."

"Furthermore, we have statements from several credible sources who have witnessed secretive dealings between Prince Emporium and known underground relic traders. Their collusion is undeniable, and we believe that they orchestrated a scheme to gain an unfair advantage in the market." Hargrove asserted.

Judge Mercer listened intently, his expression unreadable.

"Very well, Mr. Hargrove. I will carefully review the evidence you've presented... Ms. Laura, please stand up."

Laura then rose to respond to the accusations with a confident demeanor:

"Your Honor, we categorically deny these baseless allegations made by Party A. Prince Emporium conducts its business with the utmost integrity and adheres strictly to the laws and regulations governing the relic trade."

While silently watching things unfold, Emir leaned back into his seat with wide eyes, impressed by his mother's words.

Judge Mercer nodded.

"Ms. Laura, the court expects a thorough and persuasive defense from your side as well. Proceed."

Her eyes locked with the judge's, radiating determination.

"Of course, Your Honor. We have comprehensive documentation of all our relic acquisitions, and each transaction was conducted transparently, following the standard market procedures. The so-called 'suspiciously low-priced relics' were simply part of seasonal discounts and promotional offers to benefit our loyal customers and to increase our customer base."

Hargrove interjected, "Your Honor, we have evidence of off-the-record transactions involving Prince Emporium!"

But Laura remained undeterred.

"Those allegations are baseless, Your Honor. We take pride in our commitment to fair competition and ethical practices. We demand that the plaintiff present concrete evidence to back his claims rather than rely on unfounded insinuations."

Judge Mercer maintained his seemingly impartial stance.

"Both parties should remember that this court will evaluate the evidence based on its credibility and relevance to the case."

Hargrove stood his ground.

"Your Honor, we have a witness who can provide firsthand testimony of the clandestine dealings between Prince Emporium and the underground relic traders."

Judge Mercer's gaze intensified, and he spoke with a note of warning:

"Make sure your witness is credible, Mr. Hargrove. False testimonies can lead to severe consequences, but for now, present your evidence."

Hargrove nodded and retrieved a stack of documents from a briefcase, handing them over to the judge's secretary.

The judge, receiving the stack of papers, silently scrutinized the evidence for a few minutes, carefully examining each piece of paper.

Emir observed the judge's demeanor, wondering if he would truly remain neutral, as he had claimed.

The judge then handed the documents back to his secretary, confirming their authenticity.

He cleared his throat and said:

"Prince Emporium, do you wish to respond to these allegations?"

Laura sat with concern etched across her face.

She then held her breath, ready to defend the family's honor.

Emir's heart swelled with pride at that sight, knowing his mother would not back down from

this unwinnable fight.

Rising from her seat, she faced the judge with a resolute expression.

"Your Honor, I say this again: we deny all of their claims."

Judge Mercer nodded, acknowledging her response.

"Very well, Mrs. Laura. I trust you have evidence to support your claim."

With a confident smile, Laura produced a stack of her own documents, thoroughly prepared

for this confrontation.

She handed them to the judge's secretary, who passed them to the judge as he quickly verified their authenticity.

The room seemed to hold its breath as time almost appeared at a standstill.

Emir watched the expressions on the faces of the spectators, sensing their curiosity and anticipation.

After a few moments, the judge looked up with an air of finality.

"Having reviewed the evidence presented by both parties, I find the claims made by Party A to be insufficient in proving the alleged illegal activities. The evidence provided by Party B, Prince Emporium, on the other hand, is compelling and supports their assertion of integrity." A murmur of surprise and satisfaction rippled through the room.

With a raised eyebrow, Emir noticed the smug expressions of Hargrove, and the rest turned sinister as the judge's verdict became apparent.

"But before you slam that gavel down, Your Honor," Hargrove interjected, his voice laced with a subtle edge.

"We have yet to examine our witness. Our evidence might be unsatisfactory, but he will recount his experience with Prince Emporium. We of the Moon Scribe family hold our honor dearly, and we stake it into this testimony."

Hargrove's words hung in the air, laden with an underlying threat that seemed to reverberate throughout the courtroom-a threat that Judge Mercer couldn't ignore.

Mercer's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features.

He glanced at Hargrove and then at someone who appeared to be a member of the Moon

Scribe family just behind him.

"Very well," he acquiesced, his voice betraying a hint of apprehension.

"Proceed with your witness."

Emir easily noticed the subtle change in Mercer's tone and demeanor.

It was clear that the Moon Scribe family's influence had taken its toll, and Mercer's impartiality fell under their veiled threat, an inevitable outcome...

His cold eyes then narrowed as he observed the witness heading to the stand closely.

Something about the man's demeanor seemed off, but Emir couldn't pinpoint what it was.

Laura, too, seemed suspicious, but she held her composure, knowing that any premature accusations could further jeopardize their case.

And as the witness stepped onto the stand, both of their frustration grew while they listened

to the rehearsed account.

It was extremely obvious that they had coerced the witness into presenting an entirely fabricated narrative in Hargrove's favor.

'Even a deaf man could notice it... I guess our only chance of winning is with Elijah.'

Emir now understood that the judge completely stood with Hargrove, as no mention of the

lies this witness spewed out was mentioned.

'Would he claim that the lie detector wasn't working, I wonder?' He mused.

Soon, the cross-examination began, and Laura attempted to unravel the witness's testimony.

She asked probing questions that exposed inconsistencies and contradictions in the witness's

account.

With each question, he squirmed uncomfortably, but no matter how bad the witness's

answers were, Mercer never commented on them.

This was no longer a courtroom, and the judgment had already been made.

'If only Lyra was here...' Emir thought as he let out a sigh.