Professor Moonwhisper leaned forward. "He has a point, Aldric."

Whitehall looked irritated. "Very well. Mr. Celestius, do you have your financial records available?"

Adrian hesitated. Just for a second. "I... didn't bring them. I wasn't aware I was under investigation."

"Because you're not," Whitehall said quickly.

"Then neither should I be," I countered. "Either investigate both of us fairly, or dismiss these politically motivated charges."

The audience was rivoting between us like watching a tennis match.

"Mr. Ravana" Professor Ironforge spoke up, he's one of the Combat instructor and respected. "You claim these charges are retaliation. For what?"

"For competing successfully. For recruiting allies Adrian considered 'his.' For refusing to acknowledge his supremacy." I looked directly at Adrian.

Gasps.

"That's absurd," Adrian said. "I don't... "

"Don't what? Care about losing? Don't hold grudges?" I smiled slightly. "Then why did three of my supply caravans get hit by 'bandits' the same day Lucille Nightshade publicly left your faction?"

More murmurs.

"You have no proof..."

"I have patterns. Coincidences that strain credulity. And I have this." I nodded to Thomas, who produced a document. "A contract between Adrian's family and the Nightshade clan. Paying them to groom Lucille as his personal operative."

The room exploded. The contract is something I've been hiding since and it was found by Lucille herself, handed over to me. Adrian might have began his life as an orphan but he has since been adopted.

Just a protagonist plot armor.

"That's a private family matter!" Adrian's composure cracked.

"It's evidence of systematic manipulation," I said. "You manufactured Lucille's loyalty and when she discovered the truth and left, your attacks on my businesses began immediately. That's a retaliation."

Professor Moonwhisper was reading the contract, eyes widening. "This is... highly unethical."

"It's not illegal," Whitehall said quickly again.

"Neither is anything I've done," I pointed out. "Yet here we are."

Adrian stood, holy aura starting to manifest. "I'm not on trial....."

"Perhaps you should be," Professor Ironforge said quietly.

Everyone turned to stare at the combat instructor. He was a man of few words, but absolute integrity.

"Explain," Whitehall demanded.

He gestured at the contract. "This. I don't like it."

"Personal opinion isn't...."

"I call Seraphina Valorheart as a witness," I said suddenly.

Silence.

"You can't call witnesses," Whitehall sputtered. "This isn't that kind of hearing."

"You made it that kind when you allowed Adrian to present accusations without evidence. If he can make claims, I can call character witnesses."

Professor Moonwhisper nodded. "Fair point. I vote we allow it."

"Seconded," Ironforge said.

Whitehall was outvoted. "Fine. Someone get Valorheart."

Five minutes later, Seraphina entered. She looked between me and Adrian, her expression carefully neutral.

"Miss Valorheart," I said. "You've worked with both of us. Trained with both of us. You're known for your honor and honesty. I have one question. In your professional opinion, which of us fights with more integrity?"

She was quiet for a long moment.

"In combat?" she finally said. "Hadeon Ravana. He fights within rules and uses tactics, preparation, skill. Adrian..." She looked at him. "You rely on overwhelming power. You don't cheat, but you don't need to. You have enough raw strength to make rules irrelevant."

"And outside combat?" I pressed.

"I don't know either of you well enough to judge personal character. But..." She paused. "Adrian has asked me to join his faction twelve times. Always framing it as what I should do. What's expected of me and what heroes do."

"And Ravana?"

"Asked me once, he offered partnership. When I said no, he accepted it and never pressed." She met my eyes. "He respects boundaries. That matters to me."

"Thank you," I said.

As she left, I could see the calculation in Adrian's eyes. He was losing control of things.

"This is all very interesting," Whitehall tried to regain control. "But it doesn't address the charges....."

"Then let's address them directly," I said. "Charge one, Theft. No evidence. Dismiss. Charge two, Surveillance. Its standard political monitoring, not illegal. Dismiss. Charge three, Fraud. Our books are clean. Dismiss. Charge four, Market manipulation. We compete fairly. Dismiss."

"You can't just declare charges dismissed....."

"Then investigate properly. Compare our practices to Adrian's. Examine both our financial records. Interview our business partners. Do actual due diligence instead of staging a show trial."

Professor Moonwhisper was nodding. Ironforge too. Even the other two committee members looked uncomfortable.

Whitehall was isolated.

"I move we table this hearing pending full investigation," Moonwhisper said. "Examine both parties' business practices. Return in two weeks with findings."

"Seconded," Ironforge said.

"All in favor?"

Three hands raised. Whitehall and one other opposed.

"Motion carries. This hearing is suspended for two weeks. Both Mr. Ravana and Mr. Celestius will submit complete financial records for review."

I bowed. "Thank you, Professors."

Adrian's face was carefully blank, but I could see the fury behind his eyes.

As we filed out, students were buzzing. Things had shifted. This wasn't "villain finally caught', this was "maybe the hero isn't so heroic."

Exactly what I wanted.

☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆

Seraphina found me in the gardens an hour later.

I was sitting on a bench, decompressing, the hearing had been exhausting after all.

"That was well played," she said, sitting without invitation.

"Thanks for the testimony."

"I only spoke truth. That's all I ever do." She was quiet for a moment. "Why did you call me?"

"Because you're the most honest person I know. And I needed honesty in that room."

"You used me."

"Yes. But I didn't lie about it. I told you exactly what I was doing."

She almost smiled. "Fair."

We sat in companionable silence. Then...

"Adrian asked me to testify for him," she said. "Before the hearing. Wanted me to say you're dangerous, manipulative and a threat."

"What did you say?"

"That I wouldn't lie. Not even for him." She looked at me. "He was... upset. Said I was supposed to support heroes against villains."

"And what did you tell him?"

"That I support honor, not the labels." She stood. "You're still a manipulator, Hadeon Ravana. You twist situations to your advantage. You use people strategically."

"I know."

"But you're honest about it. That's more than I can say for him." She started to walk away, then paused. "I'm not joining your faction."

"I know."

"But I'm done pretending Adrian is automatically right because he's the 'hero.' If he wants my respect, he needs to earn it."

"That's all I ask."

After she left, the system chimed.

```

[RELATIONSHIP UPDATE: SERAPHINA VALORHEART]

[STATUS: Neutral → Respectful Distance]

[LOYALTY: N/A (not recruited)]

[RESPECT: 30% → 65%]

[RECRUITMENT POTENTIAL: 45% → 70%]

[IMPORTANT: She's questioning Adrian actively now]

[ACHIEVEMENT: Fourth Heroine Influenced]

[BONUS: +1,000 Villain Score]

[ADRIAN'S FATE POINTS: -600]

[HEARING OUTCOME: Tactical Victory]

[EXPULSION AVOIDED]

[PUBLIC OPINION SHIFTED]

[ADRIAN'S REPUTATION DAMAGED]

```

Marcus appeared from behind a tree. "So that went better than expected."

"You were watching?"

"Obviously. Had to make sure no one tried to stab you in the gardens." He sat down. "Seraphina's close to joining us."

"No. She's close to leaving Adrian, its a different thing."

"Is it?"

"She values honor and independence. She'll never fully join a faction. But she might fight alongside us. As an ally and not a subordinate."

"That's still a win."

"That's the best kind of win. The kind where everyone chooses to be there."

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