Soren woke up early today. He went to the bathroom, cleaned up, and then sat on his bed—waiting.

Scarvguard had informed him of his trial, which was going to happen today. The guards had also set reminders for him.

To say he was not nervous would be a lie. But he had no choice but to see this through.

The familiar metallic clicking was heard, and the door opened up.

A man holding a briefcase walked in. He was in a three-piece black suit highlighted by the red tie and handkerchief at his breast pocket—the first Soren had ever seen on a person.

His brown hair was perfectly combed to the back. He was cleanly shaved except for a small mustache that matched his hair color.

With a masculine jawline and confident build under such well-tailored clothing, Soren was of the impression that this man was a person of combat.

But he was not.

"Soren... no last name." He spoke with a smile. "Good morning. I am Devon Lamington. No need to call me by my last name as you do in the military; Devon is just fine." He chuckled, placing his briefcase on Cynthia's empty bed.

"Do you mind if I sit?" Devon asked.

Soren shook his head.

"Thank you." Devon sat on Cynthia's bed. "Hmmm, not so comfortable." He adjusted on the bed, making squeaking sounds.

"I'm going to be your attorney. Considering how much you are paying me, I can assure you that..."

"Paying you?" Soren interrupted.

"Ahh..." His head bubbled in realization. "I see you have not been informed, but you already have a very generous supporter on the Ladder board, and I think you know this particular one." Devon opened his briefcase and then handed Soren a document.

It was titled Imperial Soulforge Academy Ladder Board.

He opened the first page. At number 1 was a name, King Hermes.

Soren believed he had heard of it before, but then his eyes were drawn to the others.

There was a long list of them, page after page. And in front was a list of supporters.

Then his eyes fell on a certain someone he recognized.

Vass.

He was in the top hundred and had at least sixty supporters.

He flipped the pages, checking to see if he would see any of the others.

There was Goldsworth, Polystar, and even Tommy. But no Pencil, and the Bloodshine he saw was not the Linda Bloodshine he knew.

"Yes, the Ladder Board is actually updated in real time; that's just a quick screenshot I took a few days ago. If you turn the pages, you will eventually see..."

"My name." Soren said, staring at his name, number 1000. Last of the Ladder Board

Soren.

1 supporter: Madam Wawa.

Soren's eyes shone. He was surprised to see that the person sponsoring him was actually the pompous businesswoman that Pencil used to work for.

After his confrontation with her, he did not see her again.

To think she no longer threw her lot with Pencil but with him instead.

"What is this?" Soren asked.

"The Ladder Board is the official ranking for students of the Imperial Soulforge Academy.

It works like this. Basically, the students get sponsors that make their lives easy in school, and in return, the sponsors get benefits and rewards from the achievements they make both within and outside the school, of course."

Soren shook his head, handing back the document. "But this is on the condition they take me back."

"Yes." Devon' smiled."They will take you back." He said confidently, folding his legs.

"But I killed a..."

"You mean... you DEFENDED over a hundred helpless and defenseless students of the Empire's academy and saved their lives from a vicious traitor.

Yes, yes. Commander Jared has already filled me in on the details. Don't worry, your supporter might be covering your fee, but I was not recommended by mistake."

Just then a figure walked into the room, guards behind him.

It was Captain Scarvguard. He looked at Soren and then at Devon.

"Devon. They even got an expensive prick like you as his lawyer?"

"You know me. I follow the money." Devon replied shamelessly.

Scarvguard turned to Soren. "If this does not work out, then Lady Luck abandoned you."

He gestured to the guards, and they stepped forward, cuffing Soren.

Soren did not struggle.

They matched his out of his cell. Today was a workday for the prisoners, but most of them had not left—they were waiting in their cells.

The moment they saw Soren, they walked to the edge of their cells, three fingers out.

One, two—soon, it was the same for all the prisoners, regardless of gender.

"What are they doing?" Devon asked Soren. But he did not know. This was the first time Soren was seeing this too.

""It'stheir display of respect." Scarvguard answered, turning to Soren.

He suddenly remembered the conversation he had with Soren only a few days ago when Sausage Neck touched the boy's food.

Back then, Soren had stated that he did what he did for respect.

It had seemed silly back then. But to think that the boy actually did it.

He was just sixteen, in a deadly prison with some of the most terrible Soulbound warriors, and he managed to win their respect.

But the most chilling part was that he did it in under a week.

Scarvguard has been Warden of this place for years but had never seen anything like this.

"Incredible." Scarvguard muttered under his breath, knowing fully well that he should not be complimenting a prisoner.

Meanwhile, Devon looked around at the prisoners, his eyes shining steadily. Like he had come to a certain understanding.

Regardless, Devon leaned into Soren a bit. "There are going to be a lot of people in that room. I need you to keep your cool. No matter what happens, do not talk and let me do my job, okay?"

Soren nodded back. "Okay."

Finally, they reached a room. In front, waiting, was the woman in red Soren had seen during Billy's interrogation.

She nodded at Scarvguard, and then with a push of a button, the door slid open, and they entered the room.

It was spacious—about the size of the yard the prisoners used on their free days.

It was mostly empty except for two tables and four chairs.

Didn't they say it was a trial? Where is everybody?

But the thought had merely hovered in Soren's mind before the lights shone down, forming holographic projections.

The entire room was packed full.

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