When he finished speaking, the entire courtroom fell silent.
An unprecedented light flared in the eyes of the nobles on the jury.
They exchanged glances, seeing shock, wild joy, and the relief of complete liberation in one another's eyes.
So that was it!
How could this potion be a banned drug?
It was clearly "sweet rain" bestowed by God! A sacred gift that helped them fulfill their duties as nobles!
Weilin Klein had used the Church's own Holy Scripture to give them a reason they could not refuse-one that even made them feel immensely honored!
Brian's face turned deathly pale, and his whole body trembled.
No... how could this happen...
He wanted to refute it, only to find that Veylin's deeper interpretation of doctrine had completely shut down every argument he had.
"You... this is sophistry! You're twisting scripture!"
All he could do was repeat those words helplessly.
"As for whether I have twisted it, I believe the devout believers present can judge for themselves."
With that, Veylin bowed deeply to the judge and jury once more, then returned to Count Lyman's side.
The judge glanced at the ashen-faced Brian, then at the jury, and struck his gavel.
"The jury will retire to deliberate."
Deliberate?
There was no need to deliberate at all.
In less than five minutes, all twelve jurors returned to their seats.
Count Drummond, their foreman-the man Brian had once considered the staunchest of zealots-rose to his feet.
In a booming voice, he announced, "By unanimous decision of the jury, Count Lyman Klein is found not guilty!"
Not guilty!
Brian's legs gave way, and he nearly collapsed to the floor.
He had lost.
Utterly defeated.
Not only had he failed to bring down Lyman, he had personally draped that damned potion in the mantle of "doctrinal conformity."