The Mobile Fortress Destroyer has been successfully defeated.
Of course, whether this can truly be called a conquest, even the adventurers in Axel aren't entirely sure. They merely cleared out the spectator-like golems, and then the Mobile Fortress Destroyer was stopped by Ethan and his companions.
The Adventurer's Guild seems to have acknowledged this conquest and has begun submitting a request to the kingdom for the conquest reward funds for the Mobile Fortress Destroyer to be granted to Ethan and the involved adventurers.
However, the kingdom—which doesn't even have the funds to rebuild Axel—certainly can't gather billions in conquest rewards in a short time. So, for the foreseeable future, the adventurers will have to wait through a lengthy "review" process conducted by the kingdom's nobles, even the royal family.
But the most worthy of celebration is that Axel suffered no damage at all, and the homes of its residents were all successfully protected.
And Ethan is the one who benefited the most. Not only did he seize the Mobile Fortress Destroyer for himself, but he was also the main contributor and the greatest hero in this conquest. Later, when the conquest rewards are distributed, he'll also receive the largest share.
And if someone asks whether the kingdom will actually give it to him? Ethan just wants to say: "The princess herself is my little sister—do you think they'd dare not give it to me? If they really don't, I'll just take the Mobile Fortress Destroyer and teach them a lesson!"
There's just one thing that deeply troubles Ethan. Apparently, he accidentally pressed a button that activated a laser, and the laser ended up destroying the mansion of the noble overseeing Axel's territory. Now, it seems they're preparing to cause trouble for him?
Ah, whatever—let's just go home and celebrate with his beloved friends.
That problem can be dealt with later. Right now, he's exhausted!
So, Ethan put the incident of destroying the noble's mansion out of his mind and walked toward the newly purchased villa, carrying the Cursed Sword Gram.
By the way, where's Mitsurugi Kyouya? Don't tell me he really had his kidneys stolen by shady people somewhere!?
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The court system in this strange world is also very strange.
Of course, compared to saury fish growing in rice fields, bananas living in rivers, and cabbages flying in the sky—things that once made Ethan complain—this world's court is relatively less bizarre.
Generally, the process involves the prosecutor gathering evidence, the defense refuting it, but if the judge deems the evidence questionable, the defendant is sentenced.
And in this world, there's no such profession as a lawyer, so defendants must ask friends or acquaintances to defend them.
This makes Ethan look down on it greatly. A court like this not only benefits corrupt nobles but is also extremely disadvantageous to people with few friends, like Yunyun.
The courtroom's structure isn't much different from the courts in Ethan's original world. Typically, the shackled defendant and their defender stand in the center, while the judge, prosecutor, and plaintiff sit across from them.
Except, the plaintiff looks more like a villain than the defendant!
The plaintiff is a greasy, overweight middle-aged man—not only large in stature but also excessively hairy. He casually props his feet up on the table while his lecherous eyes shamelessly ogle the women in the room, making the women he stares at uncomfortable as they try to cover themselves. Yet, no one dares to stop this middle-aged man.
He is Alderp, the noble responsible for managing Axel's beginner village. He is a noble with a terrible reputation, fitting his appearance.
It's said that Alderp is deeply disliked by his people. Not only is he greedy, but he's also utterly incompetent. In fact, many claim he has committed numerous crimes, but no evidence could ever be used to convict him, leaving him free to continue his ways.
In fact, according to a leak from Iris, if not for the lack of evidence, this scumbag noble might have already been placed on the royal family's blacklist and disposed of!
"Why hasn't that stupid defendant been brought here yet!? How dare a criminal who tried to murder a noble act so self-important in court!?" Alderp shouted angrily, while the adventurers watching as ordinary spectators frowned at his words.
Alderp's outburst also revealed one key detail: the defendant hasn't arrived in court yet.
Not because the defendant was punished unofficially before trial and disappeared, but because this defendant is simply too incredible!
Yes! Only the word "incredible" can describe this defendant!
Because the defendant is Ethan! The charge? Controlling the Mobile Fortress Destroyer in an attempt to murder the noble Alderp!
After Ethan defeated the Mobile Fortress Destroyer and took control of it, he first went home and spent the night having fun with his three female companions. The next day, the guards arrived with an arrest warrant, forced open his door, and tried to drag Ethan off to prison for interrogation.
But one second after they opened the door—except for the kingdom's beautiful investigator, Sena, who led them—every other guard screamed in pain and collapsed, unable to get up!
And under Ethan's terror, which rivaled that of the Devil King, these guards—usually feared by ordinary citizens—not only returned empty-handed but also had to dig into their savings to replace the door they broke with an even more luxurious one.
This made the guards realize one thing: Ethan is on a whole different level compared to the usual criminals they arrest!
Just kidding! They realized that Ethan, the "criminal" was in an entirely different league!
As a would-be hero who had defeated a Devil King's General and the Mobile Fortress Destroyer, forget the guards—even if the king himself came, Ethan could take him down!
So? The greatest defendant in Axel's history—no, in the kingdom's history—has been born!
Not only did he not eat prison food or undergo interrogation, but he also stayed in a luxurious villa, enjoying himself with three beautiful girls.
Even now, as the trial begins, Ethan has just finished breakfast with those three beauties and is leisurely strolling to court!
"The defendant has arrived!" As if announcing the arrival of a VIP, everyone involved in the trial wiped the sweat from their brows and sighed in relief.
"So many people! Are you holding some kind of ceremony? Sorry, but I already held the Mobile Fortress Destroyer victory party at home, so if you want to invite me next time, please make a reservation in advance..."