New law of Beast Taming

'T-These idiots. Why are they taking their words back? Don't they know that it would be worse for them if they take their words back like this?'

The priest cursed these fools inside her head but she remained calm on the outside. She needed to show that she had nothing to do with any of this.

"T-The person we met in the forest just looked like you. Their aura did not feel like yours and you also have different powers than the 'Yoko Tsurugi' we met. We-"

"That is enough babbling around. We have heard what you had to say and we now will take some time to discuss things among ourselves."

The priest spoke up before these people could say anything more and give away her identity. There were only a few people in this village who could practice magic.

And even among them, identity magic was special and had only a few selected users.

"B-But you said that you will spare us if we told you everything honestly. And we are telling you everything you wanted to know so-"

"Well, I said that you will get to live if you are proven innocent. You have not yet proven innocent, right? And from the way you all are talking; it doesn't look like you all are innocent. So, you will have to stand on trial for your sins."

The poachers went pale and looked shaken. They had expected to live through this ordeal and go back home, but it did not seem as likely as it had in the start.

"I-I need to go home. I have a family waiting for me back home. My kid and my wife, they are waiting for me. I am their only source of income. So please let me go."

The second poacher started crying and begging for his life. The priest was disgusted by his over-dramatic display of emotions.

'Look at this man and his fake acting. How dare he try and fool us all by trying to guilt-trap us. I will not let this trickery go unpunished.'

"My queen, I have changed my mind. I don't think there is any need for us to delay the trail any longer for these people. We should hand them over to nature and let them take the trail. If they are innocent, then it will be proven during this trial."

The priest knew she needed to shut the mouth of these people. They had not said anything suspicious yet, but they might slip up later.

'I cannot afford to let these fools live another day. Let's end their lives now.'

The queen looked serious and she considered the priest's words. She wanted to take the priest's advice but something stopped her. There was this nagging feeling in the back of her mind that said that she needed to be careful of what she did here.

"My queen, your verdict?"

The queen was being backed into a corner. If she said that this trial was not to happen, then it would cause her people to lose faith in her.

"Fine. This trial will be permitted to happen. You have my permission to check these people for their innocence."

The queen had no choice but to agree after all this. The priest looked satisfied for a solid minute before she looked serious once more.

"My queen, there is one more thing I would like to ask of you. I know that you have agreed to take in Yoko Tsurugi as a royal guest but we need to prove her innocence as well. I propose for her to take part in this trial as well."

Everyone stopped and looked at the priest with horrified eyes. They could not believe what they had just heard coming out of her mouth.

Did she want to put a royal guest on the trail? Was she alright in the head?

"I know what you all are thinking and rest assured, I am in my right mind. Yoko Tsurugi is indeed a royal guest and we should honor her. But her name also came up in this investigation and we cannot ignore it."

"My queen, you cannot let your affection cloud your judgment. You need to be fair to everyone."

The priest was a good speaker. Her words were convincing the crowd that she was right.

The queen was in a predicament now. She did not want to let Yoko Tsurugi go through this trial, but she had no reason to stop this trial either. In the end, it was out of her hand

"Hmm, a trail? I don't mind going through one to prove my innocence. I agree to these terms."

Everyone gasped out loud as soon as they heard Yoko's words. They knew that this trail was a rigged system that did not favor outsiders. Only seldom had someone come back alive out of it.

And it had never been an outsider who managed to clear it.

The queen wanted to stop Yoko from making this mistake but Yoko had already spoken. There was no way to stop this trail now.

"Very well then. I shall declare this trail as open so you can start preparing for it as soon as you can." Enjoy more content from empire

The queen spoke with a heavy heart as she sent everyone to their deaths. This was something that would weigh heavy on her mind since she was certain that Yoko Tsurugi was innocent.

After all, Yoko had been with her through the whole night. So, there was no way these poachers could have seen her out and about.

...…

"-and we shall take into account this meeting and-"

Sakura half-heard the words being spoken in front of her. For the first time in her life, she regrets showing interest in politics.

If not for this meeting, she could have gone with Yoko and enjoyed some alone time with her. It may have also held her further her relationship with Yoko.

'This is all because I am too weak to support Yoko. The only reason Yoko left me behind must be because I do not possess any powers.'

A rational part of her brain reminded Sakura that Yoko had left behind Charlie Suzuki as well. And as far as power was concerned, there was no one above Charlie Suzuki in this known world.

But the irrational part of Sakura wanted something to blame. And this was the point it latched upon.

"-This shall be the end. Lady Tsurugi, would you like to say some last words?"

Sakura snapped out of her daze once she was called. It had been a long time since she had been called by her surname and she had to take a minute to realize that these people were calling her.

"I have nothing to say. I will need to look over your reports and then decide on my input. I am thankful for being invited here."

Sakura might not have heard a world of what was being said, but she still knew how to close the conversation.

Everyone else breathed a sigh of relief as soon as Sakura dismissed them. This meeting was finally over.

Sakura took a quick look at all the faces in front of her, only to find a new face among the people she was looking at.

"My lady, do you know that person? Do you want to talk to him?"

Layla, the maid who had helped Sakura before during the Jorōgumo incident had been officially appointed as her maid. She looked at the person Sakura was looking at and asked if she needed help.

Sakura looked at the unknown person once more before deciding to make her move.

Since the only way Sakura could help Yoko was through politics, she needed to get a grip on everything and remain vigilant.

"It would be appreciated if you could do that for me. I will give you a raise if you are successful."

Sakura promised her maid this but Layla looked hurt by her words. This was not the first time Layla had made such an expression.

"My lady. Do you take me as a person who would be moved by metaplastic things? All I want to do is to help you out and nothing more. It is an honor to fulfill the missions given by you. I do not need a raise."

Layla seemed to have taken personal offense to the offer of being given a raise. Sakura did not know what to say to her.

Despite how much experience she had while dealing with maids and stuff, she had always been awkward about people being too loyal to her.

"I…see. I will think of appropriate compensation to give you for all your help later, Layla."

This time, Layla did not say anything. She walked up to the other party and quickly spoke some words to them. Sakura did not pay attention to what was happening so she did not notice how that young master's eyes widened as soon as he saw Layla.

But Layla did notice and she shot the other man a poisonous glare that finally caused him to get his expression under order.

"Young master, my miss wants to talk with you. You should accept this talk and give her a taste of what you have to offer."

Layla knew this man posing as the young master well. He was a part of The HIVE as well and he had been sent here to look for potential investors.

And Sakura Tsurugi was the perfect prey for someone like him.

"Ah, I see. So that's the case. I better put on a good show for your miss then."