Raising My Trash Ability into a Broken SSS+ Rank Skill Chapter 740 Respectful Judge

Vritra rose to his feet and proceeded forward, taking his position opposite the globally renowned advocate, PetoPhil.

"Hmm? Are you an advocate? I haven't encountered you before," PetoPhil inquired, his gaze fixed on Vritra with curiosity.

"No, I will be arguing my own case-" Before he could conclude his sentence, the advocate erupted into boisterous laughter.

He laughed so heartily that tears began to stream down his face, unable to contain himself for several minutes.

"Hahaha, y- You mean to imply you'll be standing against me, the unparalleled PetoPhil?

You? Pfft, it's akin to a child bullying another. What's the point of this trial anymore? Honorable man, just declare it my victory," he proclaimed with extreme arrogance.

"…We shall see about that." Vritra merely rolled his eyes. This fellow might be the finest lawyer, but if the judge had already reached her verdict, what could he possibly do?

"Cease this jesting and present your case!!" one of the individuals clad in dark attire shouted, interrupting PetoPhil.

"Ah, yes, yes. Please, forgive my lapse in composure. It was simply too amusing,"

The stout advocate dabbed the tears from his eyes before turning his attention back to the gods.

"Rest assured, your investment in me will not be in vain. This case is practically as good as ours. There is absolutely nothing to fret about.

Should I falter, you may do as you please. You could even make me consume dog excrement, and I wouldn't object, hahaha."

Upon hearing PetoPhil's confident declaration, the gods felt an even greater sense of reassurance. Fortunately, they had made preparations for such contingencies beforehand.

They had felt a slight apprehension regarding Vritra's claim of a mole among their ranks, but now, everything seemed poised to proceed smoothly.

"COUGH. As a professional legal counsel, I shall commence, thus allowing my less professional associate to glean some wisdom." PetoPhil spoke, then directed his gaze towards the judge.

Evelyn's impassive eyes settled upon him, and she nodded, stating, "You may begin."

"Thank you. Let us not prolong this unnecessarily. Allow me to provide a summary.

These ten individuals, the inhabitants of the Zoratian planet, illicitly infiltrated the third game hosted by the Zitorge planet.

Subsequently, they disrupted the game on multiple occasions, perpetrated several acts of mass homicide, and were responsible for the demise of numerous participants. They further facilitated the intrusion of the World Bank's enforcers, causing chaos within the game.

As evidenced by this document, they instigated numerous other complications."

Having concluded his statement, he handed the document to one of the dark-clad attendants, who swiftly reviewed it before passing it to Evelyn.

Evelyn perused the document and then looked back at the self-assured advocate.

"These ten individuals emerged victorious in the game. They even went so far as to abduct one of the participants, transforming him into a mere puppet.

The game has been irretrievably ruined, and an immense quantity of resources has been squandered. Re-staging the games would necessitate excessive time and resources. However, with so many of Zitorge planet's players now deceased, it would be unjust to them."

He paused briefly, a triumphant smile gracing his lips, his voice measured yet resonant.

All individuals present in the courtroom, upon hearing these accusations, immediately cast hostile glances towards Vritra's group.

Nevertheless, they were obligated to hear the opposing perspective, and thus, their certainty remained incomplete.

"In light of such egregious transgressions, I implore you to impose the most severe penalty upon these ten, a punishment so dire that even their souls are not spared. Let their suffering serve as a stark example to all. That concludes my presentation. Thank you."

PetoPhil executed a bow and retreated a few paces, casting a smug grin towards Vritra, radiating pride and a challenging demeanor.

"I see. Now then, Vritra Arclis, what do you have to say for yourself?" Evelyn inquired after making a note of something.

"Why does that name sound so familiar?" the infant god mused, withdrawing his candy and scratching his head.

"Isn't that the designation of the next Divine? The individual who was supposedly put to death by the gods' decree? How is he still alive?!!" the book god exclaimed in utter astonishment.

All ten of them were quite bewildered. No one possessing such strength should have survived such an assault; their physical bodies, minds, and souls would have been obliterated completely.

"So, the Divine was indeed orchestrating this entire affair!!"

Previously, they had harbored deep suspicions regarding this possibility, but now, their conviction was absolute. Vritra's significance had abruptly escalated in their estimation.

Utilizing all their available resources, they were compelled to eliminate this emerging threat before he surpassed their capabilities.

Due to their recent, humiliating encounter with the Divine, wherein he vanquished all ten of them, they had neglected to inform their advocate of this critical detail.

However, they now recognized the necessity of disclosing it to bolster their case. The Divine was a fugitive, and anyone associated with him would also face execution.

It appeared this trial was poised to conclude with remarkable swiftness. Yet, prior to that, they needed to apprise PetoPhil of this crucial information.

The gods reached a swift consensus and gestured towards PetoPhil, beckoning him closer.

"…" PetoPhil motioned for them to stand down, as he needed to hear Vritra's accusations first.

"We hail from the Zoratian planet. Several months ago, an anomaly emerged, altering everything.

The climate and even the populace underwent transformations. It was only later that I discovered the gods had colluded with some players, intending to preemptively end the competition."

Vritra paused before adding,"Consequently, we were compelled to act in this manner to safeguard ourselves and our planet."

"Now, PetoPhil, what is your response? Do you possess any evidence to refute their claims? If not, you will be deemed to have lost this argument," Evelyn stated promptly.

"H- Huh?" PetoPhil appeared stunned, completely bewildered as if he had overlooked a crucial detail.

"S- Shouldn't they be the ones to present their case first, and then I can disprove them?" he inquired, his tone laced with confusion.

It couldn't be that she was siding with these unknown humans, could it? He reminded himself that she was a respected judge and a higher being, incapable of partiality. PetoPhil took a steadying breath.

Evelyn's brow furrowed, but before she could interject, Vritra spoke.

"Indeed, we have a witness. Kindly permit me to present him."

"You may proceed," Evelyn replied, her gaze locking with his, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

She could barely contain her urge to embrace him but recognized the necessity of resolving this matter first.

Asmodeus stood, his demeanor confident. Unfazed by the scrutiny of everyone present, he advanced and took his position.

"Relate the events that transpired," Vritra instructed.

"Yes, the other players struck a pact with the gods. In exchange for weakening the Zoratian planet beforehand, thereby ensuring our easy victory in the fourth game, they were compensated with significant concessions," Asmodeus declared, his voice firm with assurance.

"I comprehend. So, the gods were involved. Having considered all the evidence and heard the witness, I have reached my verdict and am now delivering the punishment for-" Evelyn commenced her judgment.

PetoPhil nearly stumbled backward, utterly bewildered by the proceedings. Was she truly about to pass judgment after hearing only a single witness?

What if the witness was fabricating his story? He began to question Evelyn's impartiality…

No, that was impossible. She was a higher being; she would never compromise her integrity. Respect was paramount to them.

Numerous higher beings had sacrificed their lives and fortunes solely for the sake of their reputation, which was among their most prized possessions, if not the absolute most valuable.

"A moment, esteemed Madam. Please grant me the opportunity to pose a few questions and demonstrate the falsehood of his testimony. I, too, possess evidence to substantiate our position," PetoPhil pleaded.

"Hmph, interrupting me mid-sentence? Is this the upbringing you received? As a penalty, you shall maintain a handstand throughout this proceeding and endure one hundred lashes, regardless of the outcome," Evelyn decreed, causing PetoPhil's face to pale considerably.

"S- Forgive me, I intended no disrespect- sigh…" He understood the futility of further argument.

Moreover, observing the stern glares from the men clad in black, he realized he had no alternative.

With some effort, he inverted himself and assumed a handstand. He then proceeded towards Asmodeus and inquired,

"May I commence my questioning now?"

"You may," Evelyn responded, clicking her tongue. She was eager for this trial to conclude so she could meet him.

"COUGH- COUGH COUGH," PetoPhil attempted to clear his throat but, due to his inverted posture, erupted into a harsh coughing fit.

"Apologies. Now, Asmodeus, you stated that the gods were paid a hefty price. Could you specify precisely what they received, or rather, what could you players possibly offer the gods that they could not already possess or obtain themselves? Do you have any corroborating evidence for your assertions?"

He inquired, finding the challenge of cross-examination while performing a handstand to be exceptionally difficult.

"I-" Asmodeus faltered, at a loss for words, as he genuinely had no knowledge of the purported deal.

"Well, that certainly highlights the veracity of your statements. Might I inquire, did you willingly associate with these humans, or were you forcibly taken?" PetoPhil pressed further.

"Of course, I acted willingly. Why would they need to coerce me?" Asmodeus responded swiftly.

"Haha, you are a rather unconvincing liar, Mr. Asmodeus. In the video evidence presented here, you did not appear to relish their company. It is quite evident you were being forcibly taken along," PetoPhil countered.

PetoPhil then played a recording that depicted Vritra and Asmodeus's initial encounter, showing Asmodeus being manhandled by Vritra's group.

"I- I was merely jesting; that signifies nothing-" Asmodeus attempted to fabricate an excuse, but he was no match for the skilled prosecutor.

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Thank you for reading…