Chapter 17: The Merchant of Benetsa 7

The fateful hour had finally arrived.

The courtroom was packed with numerous people, most of them comprising priests and holy knights affiliated with the Church, as well as merchants.

In other words, individuals who were highly likely to harbor some form of grievance against the Jewish merchant Shaylok.

While the composition of the courtroom could be attributed to the nature of this trial, with the defendant being a merchant and a pagan, a closer examination would reveal that the so-called ‘victim’s’ side, the prosecutor who had filed the charges, and the Holy Imperium behind them had deliberately summoned only this particular demographic.

And among those assembled, as I watched her…

Cazeros, who had stepped forward as the defense counsel in this trial, I felt an uneasy sense akin to a father sending his daughter into the battlefield, unable to take my anxious eyes off her.

‘I hope this goes well… please, don’t make any mistakes…’

Although I had devised my own formula for victory and conveyed it to Cazeros, it fell entirely upon her to argue the case and steer the situation in this venue.

As an excommunicated individual, I could not utter a single word here, leaving me powerless to assist her should she face any peril.

Feeling my heart pounding, I awaited the start of the trial…

And finally, before my eyes appeared the judge, the prosecutor, the defendant Shaylok, and the ‘victim’ – that man named Anton.

‘So that’s the one called Anton… he certainly looks like a third-rate villain straight out of a story.’

Although judging by appearances is generally ill-advised, in this case, where I already knew his true nature, such evaluations were warranted.

It was precisely because Shaylok had refrained from judging by appearances that he now found himself in this predicament.

With that thought, I began surveying the other individuals in the courtroom.

‘As for the judge… he doesn’t seem particularly motivated from the looks of it. That man has likely received some form of bribe as well. Well… better than someone openly displaying hostility, I suppose.’

The judge’s yawning demeanor, as if bored by the entire situation.

Of course, having a more upright judge would be preferable, but this was far better than dealing with an aggressive zealot.

Such individuals were more likely to be swayed by the prevailing atmosphere.

Next, my gaze fell upon the individual who had effectively instigated this trial and formally pressed charges against Shaylok –

the female bishop named Portia, serving as the prosecutor.

‘Her name is Portia, but her appearance is more akin to a venomous snake than a potion. She doesn’t look like someone to be trifled with, that’s for sure.’

Her expression suggested she could suck the lifeblood out of a flea.

However, at the same time, I also discerned that Portia was distinctly displeased with the current situation.

‘Well, no wonder she feels that way. She likely expected no one would step forward to defend the Jewish Shaylok, only for someone to undermine her like this. And not just anyone, but a holy knight, no less.’

Although of a lower rank, holy knights were essentially under the direct jurisdiction of the Papal State rather than local bishops, granting them a certain degree of authority.

For such an individual to defend Shaylok must have seemed like a sudden, unignorable adversary emerging in what the bishop had expected to be an effortless victory.

Thus, separate from the trial’s actual proceedings, I derived a slight sense of satisfaction from having already landed a blow against those who had orchestrated this affair right from the outset.

With composure, I began observing the trial’s unfolding.

“Then let us now commence the trial of the defendant Shaylok.”

With those words, the judge lightly struck his gavel.

Simultaneously… after reviewing the materials she had prepared one last time, Cazeros slowly set aside the documents and faced the situation with a cold expression.

For a moment… an inexplicable, chilling aura emanated from her.

From the very onset of the trial, Portia and Anton felt distinctly displeased.

Their envisioned scenario involved easily disposing of a completely isolated, floundering Shaylok without any defense counsel. In fact, until the day before the trial, they had no doubts that such a vision would be realized.

Although Shaylok himself was no trivial adversary, in the present circumstances, any words from him were highly unlikely to withstand the onslaught from the numerous observers in attendance, not to mention their own offensive.

For those who had expected such an effortless victory, the appearance of a holy knight as Shaylok’s counsel on the eve of the trial was as disconcerting as a treacherous reef emerging before a smooth-sailing ship.

‘A wretched holy knight daring to defend that vile pagan? Does she not know the consequences she might face?’

‘Did Shaylok offer her an exorbitant sum? At this point, that seems the only plausible explanation… In that case, we could potentially raise an issue with that afterwards, but for now, the priority should be breaking that shameless wench.’

While the exact circumstances were unknown, Anton and Portia found themselves in a situation where they had to subdue this adversary to achieve their desired outcome.

However… despite their displeasure and slight bewilderment, they did not entertain any notion of losing.

Particularly Portia, who had taken the lead in orchestrating this affair, harbored no doubts about their victory.

‘Although our grounds may be flimsy, this is our stage, meticulously prepared. Everyone present – the clergy, merchants, and even ordinary observers… while their allegiances may vary slightly, they are all believers of the Church. There is no one here who would side with the pagan Shaylok.’

Assured that all those assembled were effectively on their side, Portia proceeded to read the indictment she had prepared, in accordance with the prescribed order.

Its contents were essentially as follows:

Exploiting the dire circumstances of the upstanding merchant Anton, Shaylok had sought to take his life, forcing Anton to sign the vile contract Shaylok had prepared.

When matters ultimately went awry and Anton found himself unable to repay his debt, he lodged this complaint out of fear, resulting in this trial.

“Even if Anton bears some guilt for failing to repay his debt, Shaylok’s crime as a pagan, daring to harm a believer blessed by God’s grace, far outweighs it. Therefore, this prosecutor moves to confiscate all of that wicked pagan Shaylok’s possessions and banish him permanently from Benetsa.”

“Agreed!”

“How dare that pagan attempt to harm an upstanding believer of the Church!”

“That evil one must be punished immediately!”

The prosecutor’s words, falsely portraying Shaylok as the malicious party when it was Anton who had brought the contract, immediately drew an almost feverish response from the observers.

However, Shaylok simply remained silent, his head bowed.

Despite his personal connection to Santana, which had enabled him to secure legal counsel, it was clear that altering the heavily skewed atmosphere and trajectory of this trial would be no easy feat.

From its very inception, this trial lacked any semblance of logic, based solely on hatred toward Jews.

It was only natural, given the circumstances.

As Shaylok seemed to resign himself to his fate, that was when it happened.

-Thump! Thump! Thump!-

“Now, now, let us have order. No matter how grave the accused’s crimes, the law has its proper procedures. If the defense has anything to say on the defendant’s behalf, let them proceed.”

The judge’s words, tinged with slight annoyance and a desire to conclude matters swiftly.

In response, Cazeros strode calmly into the center of the courtroom without the slightest hesitation.

And then…