SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

"Now, the Justice Hall Head will take votes from the 31 Crest Family Heads." The main judge announced, silencing the crowd.

In the next instance, a servant in white clothes moved silently between the rows of kings, each representing a powerful crest family. He held a tray with two bowls: one black, and the other red, filled with a thick, liquid ink.

Each king, as the servant approached, dipped their family seal into the red liquid and pressed it onto a crisp white paper, their whispering voices uttering the name of the family they supported. The paper, stained with the crest mark, was then placed into the black bowl.

The whole court watched with bated breath, the eyes of every noble, soldier, and spectator glued to the servant's hands as they moved from one king to another. The creaking of robes, the whispers of supporters, and the occasional murmurs from the Doom family's side filled the otherwise silent arena.

Princess Chuli stood with her head high, a smug smile playing on her lips. Beside her, King Hoon Doom was equally confident, his fingers twitching slightly as if already celebrating their inevitable victory. He glanced over at King Ragnar, who remained stoic, but Hoon's smirk widened. He could almost taste his victory.

Kent suddenly moved close to King Ragnar. Leaning closer to his uncle, he whispered, "Do you think we have any chance of winning this through voting?"

Ragnar exhaled slowly, his eyes following the servant's movements. "No," he said, shaking his head ever so slightly. "We have the support of fourteen families. The Doom family has seventeen. These kings don't care about justice. They care about their own benefits."

Kent furrowed his brow, his gaze now flicking toward the smug expressions of the Doom family head. "But what about the judges? Two out of three sided with us."

Ragnar shook his head again, his voice filled with quiet resignation. "The judge's opinion only matters if the vote results in a tie. Without that, it's just a formality."

Kent clenched his fists, frustration brimming beneath his calm exterior. "Then what are we waiting for?" he hissed. "Why don't we call for Honour Justice? I'll fight three of their best men and put an end to this farce."

Ragnar's gaze softened as he leaned in closer to Kent. "I'm just buying time," he whispered. "Time for you to think about it. Facing three of their strongest warriors is no small matter. And besides…" He paused, casting a glance around the court. "I want to see if any of our supposed allies betray us.

That's why I'm waiting."

Kent nodded slowly, understanding the strategy. Around them, the spectators murmured in confusion, their eyes darting toward Kent and Ragnar as they whispered between themselves. The crowd, unaware of the inner politics at play, grew restless.

"Uncle, there's no need to wait any longer. What's the use of finding out who betrays us? These kings only act based on what benefits them. In future war, no one here will support us against the might of the Quinn family. Let me end this. Now."

Ragnar remained silent for a moment, staring at the kings seated before them, his jaw clenched in frustration. Before he could respond, the white-clothed servant stepped forward, his voice echoing across the court. "The voting is complete."

The crowd fell into an eerie silence. The servant carried the black bowl toward the three judges seated at the head of the court. He placed the bowl before them with a reverent bow, before stepping back into his position.

Kent's eyes narrowed as the judges nodded to each other, signaling for the kings of both families to approach. King Hoon Doom and King Ragnar stepped forward, their faces a stark contrast—Hoon's filled with smug certainty, while Ragnar's remained impassive, though his eyes betrayed a storm brewing within.

One by one, the judges drew out the votes from the black bowl, unfolding the papers with meticulous care. The first vote was raised high, its ink turning blue—Frost family. The second vote, red—Doom family. The process continued, each vote marked with either a blue or red hue, each one dictating the future of two powerful nations.

As expected, Doom family quickly took the lead in the count. Hoon Doom's smirk grew wider with every red vote revealed, while Ragnar's jaw tightened with each passing moment.

When the final vote was raised, the room held its collective breath. The judges hesitated for a fraction of a second before revealing the last vote—red. The Doom family had 18 votes to the Frost family's 13.

Hoon Doom's smug expression turned into outright gloating. He gave King Ragnar a sidelong glance, his lips curling into a taunting smile. "It seems, even your closest allies are not as loyal as you thought." Hoon said mockingly.

Ragnar's eyes burned with restrained fury, but he held his tongue, his gaze dropping to the vote in the judge's hands. His chest tightened as he recognized the symbol on the last vote—the Lin family crest Leopard. The father of Scott Lin, King Jerome, had betrayed them.

Ragnar's eyes, once calm, now flashed with rage. He turned sharply toward King Jerome, who avoided his gaze, his head lowered, pretending to be engrossed in a conversation with his advisors. The betrayal stung, not just for Ragnar, but for the entire Frost family.

Kent, sensing the shift in Ragnar's mood, didn't wait another second. He took a step forward and made an announcement in a loud tone. "I want to challenge this Justice Call."

Like a bomb dropped on a calm battlefield, the entire court stadium took hit of Kent's statement.

Kent's voice rose again, his tone resolute and commanding. "Justice should not be decided by a mere vote. I challenge the Doom family to an Honour Justice Fight. I will face their champions, and let the gods decide the outcome."

A ripple of shock spread through the court. The Doom family's smugness wavered, and whispers filled the air. Many spectators were caught off guard by the boldness of Kent's declaration, some excited, others wary.

Hoon Doom, however, quickly regained his composure, a twisted grin forming on his face. "You? Challenge us? You think you can defeat three of my best men? That too all at once!"
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"This farce has gone on long enough. I will answer your stupidity with my strength. Do you dare?."

The three judges exchanged looks, the main judge raising his hand for silence. "Honour Justice is an ancient right, reserved for those who believe the court's decision has been influenced by factors beyond fairness. The challenge has been made. The Doom family must now decide whether to accept or drop this Justice Call entirely."

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