Chapter 19: The Merchant of Benetsa 9

Human beings are complex yet simple creatures.

They each act and think based on what they deem to be the ‘correct’ standards, believing them to be ‘good’ and ‘just’.

Guided by these standards, they can easily raise their voices or condemn others, even cheering injustices committed against someone else.

However…

Many are unaware of one fact:

Those standards they consider the inviolable truth and justice…

Can change far more easily than they might think.

“…Very well. In that case… I have no choice.”

Cazeros spoke in a resigned tone.

Hearing her words, Anton and Portia were convinced of their imminent victory.

‘Although there were a few precarious moments, it ended well after all.’

‘Of course… no matter how much they struggled, there was no way to overturn this situation. Public sentiment against pagans is not so easily swayed…’

While the balance had tilted slightly compared to the initially one-sided affair, the fundamental divide between pagans and believers of the Church was too vast, leaving the overall atmosphere still in their favor.

Moreover, with the defense counsel effectively conceding, they believed the only remaining step was to declare Shaylok’s guilt and conclude the proceedings.

At that moment…

“Truly… there is no other recourse within this courtroom. You have made your stance abundantly clear.”

“!”

A sudden, chilling sensation.

An ominous, inexplicable quality it carried caused expressions of bewilderment to emerge on Anton and Portia’s faces.

A precise explanation eluded them, but this foreboding presence…

They had been utterly convinced that everything was concluded, with no possibility of a reversal in this situation.

However, defying their certainty, this instinctive feeling they harbored began to slowly yet undeniably undermine their convictions.

And then, shifting her gaze from them to the judge…

Cazeros spoke in a cold voice.

“Your Honor, I have but one question to ask.”

“Wh… What is it?”

Unnerved by the unsettling shift in atmosphere, the judge’s voice quivered as he responded. Observing him, Cazeros spoke in a composed yet clear tone.

“At this very moment, who is the one who presented the torn paper before Your Honor?”

“What?… What kind of… why, it was you, was it not?”

“Yes, that is correct. Then, we can summarize the recent events thus: Cazeros offered the torn paper to Your Honor. Is my statement accurate?”

“Why… yes, of course.”

Cazeros spoke in a solemn voice, stating the obvious.

Despite her incomprehensible actions, an ominous air had descended upon the courtroom.

And then… with a firmness akin to delivering a crushing blow with a sword, Cazeros addressed the judge.

“Thank you, Your Honor. From this moment forth, I request that the alleged victim, Anton, be treated not as a victim, but as a criminal.”

“?”

“Wh… What are you…”

Cazeros’s incomprehensible statement caused bewilderment to etch itself onto the faces of those in the courtroom. Simultaneously, the sole observer…

Santana silently suppressed a smile within.

“Wh… What nonsense is this? To suddenly label the victim a criminal? Are you jesting in this sacred court of law?”

The judge’s voice carried a mixture of perplexity and offense as he responded to Cazeros.

Observing him, Cazeros spoke in an unwavering tone.

“This is no jest or mockery. Did you not acknowledge just moments ago that it was none other than I who tore the paper and presented it to you, Your Honor?”

“But… what does that…!”

At that instant, the judge’s expression froze as if recalling something reflexively.

Not just the judge, but a few perceptive individuals also began to display signs of bewilderment, as if recognizing the implication… Whereupon Cazeros articulated the crux of the matter in a clear voice.

“The phrase in the contract submitted as evidence in this case… about Anton offering his heart to Shaylok. The subject extracting and offering the heart is not Shaylok, but Anton himself. I trust Your Honor comprehends the meaning behind this?”

“Sui… cide?”

“…Yes. Precisely.”

The judge’s trembling words were quietly affirmed by Cazeros.

Upon hearing that word, not only the directly involved Anton and Portia but everyone in the courtroom began to display expressions of shock.

Suicide.

The most grievous of crimes in the Church’s eyes, unforgivable under any circumstances.

While the Church officially considered murder, robbery, and even heresy as crimes warranting rehabilitation for the sinner, or excommunication if deemed impossible, suicide was the one transgression that could openly warrant an execution sentence.

As the act of severing the precious life bestowed by God, it was deemed worse than murder – an unpardonable cardinal sin beyond the reach of salvation.

Hence, those who attempted suicide were to be kept alive by any means necessary, then boiled alive in a cauldron representing the fires of Hell.

Even if they had already died, they were denied a proper burial; instead, their necks were severed and their bodies buried beneath the gallows, for desecrating their souls and defying God.

And according to the contract, the subject extracting the heart was undoubtedly Anton himself, not someone else.

In other words, this phrase could be interpreted as Anton declaring his intention to carve out his own heart – in essence, to commit suicide – and then offer it to Shaylok.

“Suicide is an unforgivable cardinal sin, forbidden under any circumstances for a devout believer of the Church. Even in the face of a life-threatening situation, it is deemed the most grievous crime, the ultimate betrayal of the Lord, akin to the treachery of the wicked Iscariot. And Anton has personally signed a contract vowing to commit this horrific act, driven solely by a desire for mere monetary gain.”

Cazeros presented a new interpretation of the contract.

With the conclusion that the author of the contract form could not be determined, the critical aspect was its content. Regardless of the circumstances, Cazeros pointed out that the subject intending to execute its terms was none other than Anton himself.

Of course, from a conventional perspective, this could also be seen as a mere technicality, no different from Anton’s accusation against Shaylok.

However, this entire trial had originated from such petty technicalities, and moreover, Anton and Portia had previously shed tears in the courtroom, elevating these very trivialities to the status of ‘truth’.

While the principle was to avoid hastily rendering judgments on suicide charges unless clearly established, due to the severity of the punishment, Anton’s case now constituted an open declaration before numerous witnesses within the courtroom – a setting where all statements carried legal weight.

As Cazeros stated, Anton had effectively proclaimed himself a criminal guilty of attempted suicide, driven by mere financial gain.

“No… No! I… I never had any intention of committing suicide!”

“The… The victim speaks the truth! Suicide, you say… how could an upstanding believer like the defendant ever commit such a horrific sin? This… This must be a trap set by Shaylok…”

Anton and Portia spoke in desperate tones.

However, observing them, Cazeros stated in a clear voice.

“Any attempt at suicide is an unforgivable crime, regardless of the reason. Even if Shaylok had instigated it, a believer should have naturally refused – that is the principle. More importantly, the tear stains still visible around your eyes are undeniable evidence of the fear you experienced at the prospect of committing the grave sin of carving out your own heart.”

Thus, Cazeros countered their nonsense with her own, instantly reversing the courtroom’s atmosphere.

As he witnessed this, a slow smile began to spread across Santana’s face.