Lucifer looked down at Robert struggling and casually said, “keep acting like a fool and you will drag more than yourself down with you”.

Robert cursed at the dungeon knights as they shoved him into a caged chair and shut the door. He looked up and growled at Lucifer, “you have no right to--”

“I have every right” Lucifer interrupted, “shut him up”. Ahri who was standing to Lucifer's side absentmindedly with a hand on her stomach jolted, then cast a quick spell silencing Robert. “that's better” Lucifer commented before looking around the room.

This building was designed with a modern court in mind and was very similar, with a few alterations. Firstly the judge's bench was higher and resembled a throne. The accused seat was also replaced with a cage with a chair inside and had a curtain that could be lowered to conceal the person inside. Lastly, the public gallery was far larger and had two levels.

Currently, the gallery was full, the nobles had segregated themselves and seated only in the upper level. While businessman and curious onlookers filled the lower level. How this new court is handled could have far-reaching consequences, for both the common folk and the nobility.

Lucifer waited for everyone to settle down, one noble commented rather loudly, “the dungeon has caged the man before he is even found guilty”

Lucifer responded in kind, “continue to disrupt then I will find you in contempt of this court and you will be sitting in that ‘cage’ next”

Whispers erupted, but they were quiet enough so Lucifer didn’t bother speaking, instead, he simply waited for silence.

Soon enough it was quiet enough for his liking so he began, “we have gathered here today to witness this trial, I will be presiding over this case as the judge jury and executioner.” Lucifer pointed to the Jury box and said, “normally this box would be filled with randomly chosen people from this city, and they would decide whether the accused is guilty or not and I would hand down the judgment afterward, however, this mans crimes are against me and this city, so I alone will decide his fate”

Someone from the top level shouted, “The trial hasn’t even started and you have already found him guilty, what kind of trial is this”

Lucifer chuckled, “it seems you people aren't as stupid as I thought, my also acting as the jury implies he is already guilty, however, I have the final say on all matters, the jury is just there to decide on things I simply don’t care about. For example, if someone steals something and are put to trial, or in a case of spousal abuse of which I care little, the jury, will decide whether the person is guilty or not”

Someone on the lower level shouted, “will only the nobles be in the jury” causing the nobles above to scowl, which only got worse when Lucifer answered, “no, I said the jury would be chosen randomly from the cities population of which nobles are rare”

once again discussion erupted throughout the building, a noble tried to argue that commoners don’t have the right to judge nobles, but Lucifer gave him a final warning about interrupting before he waited for quiet again.

Several more questions came from the commoner's section, some he answered others he ignored. Someone asked about the anonymity of the jury members, although in a roundabout way, which Lucifer answered that jury members would be masked and their identities kept secret.

The commoners seemed somewhat excited by the prospect. Perhaps the nobles would be put on trial and have someone they have crossed secretly in the jury deciding their fate. The nobles were far less enthusiastic.

After thinking it over Lucifer said, “since you all seem so interested in the jury I will make an exemption and use a jury in this trial, even though the crimes are against me” he looked towards Ahri and she quickly left through the back door to arrange things, while he waited he answered a few more questions.

Twenty minutes later eleven black robed and masked people entered the court and sat in the jury box. A noble quickly yelled, “how do we tell if they aren’t just your people in disguise”

Lucifer rolled his eyes, “I already have ultimate power in this city, why would I go to the trouble to add a jury just to fill it with people that are just going to say what I’m going to say”

Just as he said that one of the jurors took off his mask and yelled at the noble, “GO FUCK YOURSELF”

and Lucifer added, “the jurors don’t have to hide their face if they don’t want to”

Several nobles recognized the man and immediately shouted back, “That man is Eric from the coiled dragon adventurer group, he has been antagonistic to us nobles, how is this a fair trial”

Lucifer chuckled, “don’t make so many enemies's then, besides he is just one vote”

Robert scowled towards Eric but couldn’t curse at him, or even threaten him with his mouth sealed.

Lucifer announced, “Let us begin” then began to list off crimes. “you are accused of quite a few crimes.

Smuggling illegal substances, such as fire salts and fairy touch.

Lighting the dungeon on fire

Planning and sending men to attack the dungeon knights.

Murder

Rape

Theft

Bribing officials

Slavery, or sex trafficking

and a few other minor things. Well you are a very busy man Robert”

Lucifer had Ahri remove the silence spell and Robert immediately cursed, “all fucking lies, this is slander, and you Eric, you better watch your back”

“threatening a jury member, in my presence no less” Lucifer laughed, “your first charge is smuggling so bring out the first witness”

Wolfram stood up from one of the observer seats and sat in the witness stand. Lucifer asked, “and you are”

“Wolfram Wehinger, former general under the King, now the captain of the guard in this city”

Lucifer said, “so your character is sound, so let's hear your testimony”

Robert yelled, “BULLSHIT, he has had a grudge against me since day one so anything he says is questionable, and more importantly, he was demoted from the Kings general to a simple caption of the guard, thus his character is questionable at best”

Wolfram looked down at the man and said, “I wasn’t demoted, this is my retirement, we can’t all be as useless as you and do nothing all day” earning chuckles from the crowd.

Wolfram continued, “on the first of the month of fall I confiscated dozens of prohibited goods from Sir Roberts caravans” he then listed off all the contraband.

Robert yelled in protest but was quickly silenced again and Lucifer asked, “you confiscated all these goods, I didn’t think that someone of your standing would be personalty searching the caravans entering the city. Please watch your words more carefully in the future, lying in this court carries heavy penalties”

“I am telling only the truth Sir Morningstar” Wolfram started, “normally I do not search the carts myself, however, I noticed some of my men being overly brisk when searching Sir Roberts caravans, so I did the search myself”

Lucifer said, “ahh, so this had to do with the bribery charge, do you have any proof of said bribery”

“I do not,” Wolfram said, “although those men have been punished and replaced”

Lucifer nodded, “good, those are your men so I leave their discipline to you. As for the charge of bribery, since there is no proof the charge is dropped”

Wolfram’s head snapped up to Lucifer with a look of protest, but Lucifer ignored it and said, “unsilence the accused, I want to hear what he has to say about the smuggling charge”

Once he was able to speak again Robert argued, “just because the contraband was found in my wagons doesn’t mean I put them there”

Lucifer agreed, “indeed, so Wolfram I ask that you step down for the next witness”

Roberts almost triumphant expression from having had the bribery charge dropped quickly changed when his butler walked in. Robert yelled, “he is the culprit, my butler was in charge of all my shipments-”. He was silenced again. Lucifer said, “it's not your turn to speak”

The butler sat on the witness stand and began without prompt, “I was Sir Robert’s butler since he was born, and my testimony is that Sir Robert commanded me to smuggle all those goods”

Robert mimed in outrage, while Lucifer glanced down and coldly asked, “is that all, we talked about a lot more before. Your sentence is going to be reduced for your cooperation and if this is all you have…”

The butler paled and quickly listed off, “Sir Robert has just recently used a families debt to take their daughter. He has ordered his competitors to be killed on several occasions and stolen their secrets. That’s how he has made his wealth because his father all but disowned him. He has filled his brothels with people who owe him and can’t pay. I’ve had to several times give money to powerful people to have the guard look the other way under Roberts order”

“that's quite the illustrious career for a mere Butler” Lucifer commented, “and in light of your co-operation I will overlook your crimes, you are free to go”

The moment Robert was allowed to speak he roared, “HANS YOU TRAITOROUS BASTARD I’LL KILL YOU FOR YOUR UNGRATEFUL ACTIONS A--”, he was silenced again.

Lucifer lightly said, “argue against the charges”

Robert calmed down slightly and he hissed, “its only that traitors word against mine, you have no proof”

Lucifer said, “bring in the next witness”

Over the next half hour several witnesses were called forth, all of them had something to do with the smuggling, some looked the other way, others were the officers who told their men to quicken their search on Roberts carts and purposely did a poor job of it.

Each of them had accepted money from the Butler to do so. Robert seemed almost happy that all evidence was pointing to the butler, however, when the previous guard caption took the witness stand Robert became frightened.

The previous captain was a smart man, he wouldn’t do dealings with a simple butler, because that wouldn’t implicate the noble behind him and force him to help out if he ever got caught. And he did get caught, by Wolfram no less and whether he would even get to keep his own head was questionable, but he had Roberts secrets and he wasn’t someone you could kill in secret. So Robert pulled some strings back at the capital and forced Wolfram to stand down. The captain lived and Roberts secrets were safe, however, Wolfram had been after him ever since.

The ex-captains testimony was just as bad as Robert feared, it was a solid link between him and the smuggling and the captain's life was proof enough of its truthfulness. Lucifer grinned at Robert and said, “so how are you going to explain this one”

Robert gritted his teeth in fury and replied, “so what I brought a few fire salts in the city, I’m allowed to use them”

“and the drugs” Lucifer questioned.

“completely harmless,” Robert said, “they are just things the upper-class use to spice up life once in a while, nothing worth mentioning”

Lucifer laughed, “we will see” then announced, “we will be having an hour-long break, so feel free to get up and stretch your legs and get something to eat” he then turned to Ahri and said, go get Robert something to eat”

“excuse me?” Ahri said.

“just something lite to eat, a last meal per say” Lucifer answered. He then grabbed a dungeon knight and gave him a few instructions.

An hour later.

While Lucifer waited for everyone to get seated he turned to a dungeon knight and said, “did you get them?”

“yes,” the knight simply replied.

“good, get the first one” Lucifer smiled.

Once everyone was seated he announced, “Bring the next witnesses.”, and moments later a scantily dressed woman and a scruffy older man stood in front of Lucifer. They were fidgeting constantly and had sores on their arms.

Lucifer asked them, “do you both know who I am” to which they both nodded, “you are both addicted to fairy touch” the man nodded and the woman looked at the floor with clenched fists. “I take that as a yes, you are both here to prove a point for me, now under my power, nothing you do here will be punished, even if you were to say murder someone”

They both looked at him then each other with obvious confusion. Lucifer continued, “so, I’m going to throw this packet of fairy touch on the ground and you two can decide how to split it between yourselves”

Lucifer nodded towards Ahri and she used magic to project their voices and image into the air. The crowd witnessed the two drug addicts approach the bag with caution, but after they were confident that they wouldn’t be punished for taking it they went to grab it.

The man acted first but the woman was closer and thus quicker, she reasoned to him that his hands were too shaky to properly divide the drug, however, the man was insistent that he was fine. She ignored him turned her back and knelt down, pulled something from her pocket and opened the bag.

However, the bag was caught on something and wouldn’t open. By this point, the man had circled her and was intensely watching her. She pulled too hard and the bag exploded sending powder everywhere. The man similarly exploded but into rage instead, he bellowed at her carelessness.

Although she was just as panicked as he was, she used the straight edge of whatever she was holding collected all the powder with practiced ease before he stopped shouting.

She looked between him and the pile a few times before cutting the pile roughly in two. He said that his share was smaller, she argued that she did the work so she should get the larger share. He replied that all she did was fuck it up and it quickly grew heated as the two argued who needed the hit more.

After half a minute or so she was tired of arguing and lowered her head, but he was faster this time and grabbed her hair. He yanked up and practically threw her back. Then said it was only right that he gets the bigger share because she was going to steal it.

Before he could snort up his prize she scrambled up and got onto him. Whatever strait thing she used to prepare the drugs wasn’t sharp, but that didn’t stop her from stabbing him several times in the ribs. He turned around howling in pain and grabbed the object with one hand.

However, he accidentally brushed past the two piles with his leg and sent powder everywhere sending her screeching. She bit his face drawing blood and he screamed in response, then using his free hand he grabbed her face and used his thumb to push her eye. It worked, she let go leaving a vicious bite mark on his cheek and he then used his greater strength to smash her head into the ground, he shouted for her to stop as he continued crushing her skull on the ground and his thumb was now berried in her eye socket.

Once her struggles stopped he rushed back to collect the powder, but his hands weren’t very effective. So he went back to the woman and grabbed her bloodied object and collected the now bloody powder. He lowered his face and snorted all that he could and spent a minute extra trying to get all but the stone up his nose.

Meanwhile, the crowd sat there horrified, Lucifer smirked and broke the deafening silence, “so just a harmless drug, I have been receiving reports of people addicted to this harmless drug in the slums and similar scenes to this one… … ... clean this shit up”

Lucifer allowed everyone a few minutes to collect themselves before inviting the next witness. Another scantily dressed woman entered causing several people to flinch, however, no one followed her so they breathed out a sigh of relief.

This woman looked far better than the last one so she probably wasn’t an addict. Lucifer waited for her to sit down then asked, “tell the court who you are”

“Maya Sir” she replied a little stiffly.

“well Maya, I would like you to tell the court how you came to work in a brothel,” said Lucifer.

Her story wasn’t uncommon, her families farm had one too many offseasons, they couldn’t pay their taxes and buy next seasons equipment, so got mixed up with a loan shark. At first, everything was fine, but Maya swore that once the loan-shark saw her he started increasing the interest. The farm was doing well by that point so they just wanted to pay what was left and be done with those people.

However, their farm started to be attacked by strange pests, something that had never happened before. They couldn’t go to the loan-shark again to get more money nor would they want to considering the suspicious circumstances. So they went to the noble in charge of the loan.

At this point Maya glared and pointed at Robert then said, “he was the noble in charge of our loan, he said that he would look into the sudden interest increases and the suspicious pest infestation, but he didn’t do anything and when I was forced to work the house by my family he was the first in line”

Lucifer said, “that's enough, the court thanks you for your time, see Ahri on your way out. Next witness”

Several more witnesses went by and their stories were very similar. Unplayable debts under suspicious circumstances, all under Roberts supervision and he somehow manages to be the first to “taste” these girls.

Lucifer commented, “that is quite the ‘high class’ hobby you have there Robert. Now this is taking far to long so let's wrap this up--”

“YOU F--” Robert interrupted before being silenced.

Lucifer continued, “you had people set fire to my dungeon, I don’t intend to give any proof because I’m not bothered by this point, do you have any counter arguments before we close”

Robert gained the ability to talk again and smugly said, “you have no proof, its all circumstantial, I helped out a friend from getting beheaded by an asshole, so what, there was a few drugs in my carriages, that doesn’t mean I put them there, I slept with a few women at the brothel, so what, everyone does that, that is what whores are for”

Lucifer waved and had Robert silenced preemptively, before he asked, “so jury, if you find him guilty then stand up, if not stay seated, I will count to three. One” everyone was already standing and Eric was gleefully smiling at the scowling Robert.

Lucifer announced, “then I find Robert whatever his name was guilty” he could see Robert furiously attacking the cage in silence, “oh, you have something to complain about Robert, well too bad, the evidence could be considered circumstantial, however, I never asked if you actually did these things, only if you were guilty. Also even if you weren’t found guilty I would still punish you for threatening a juror and witness.

As for the punishment, I think the punishment should fit the crime, you have raped, murdered, enslaved and burned. So you will be raped to near death by beasts of my creation, then healed, sent to work to near death a few times, then when I’m satisfied that you have suffered enough I will burn you to death”

Lucifer expected more discussion to break out, but instead, it was a dead silence, he shrugged stood up and left. Several Dungeon knights opened the cage and escorted the guilty away and helped the jurors leave anonymously.