Chapter 412: Judgment of the Pillars

Seeing the display of domain dispelled, Scott swallowed hard and sat down, trying to regain his composure. The person at the other end of the table was not someone to be toyed with; he was known worldwide as one of the Four Pillars of the World, a mass of destruction.

"Alright, Brian... tell me, I’m listening," said Scott, resting his elbows on the black glass table.

"Well, Scott... can I call you that? TMC General Manager sounds far too long for my taste," replied Brian, adjusting his cuffs with a smile.

"Sure, Brian. Calling you the Bloody Pillar of Nullity is annoying for me as well."

"I have no issue with that. My name doesn’t bother me," said Brian in a warm tone. "Anyway, I came on behalf of the Federation. As one of the Four Pillars, I hold decision-making authority, so I expect you to face me directly and respect my verdict."

"I’m listening," answered Scott, narrowing his eyes.

Brian pulled a holographic terminal from his suit jacket, projecting golden documents stamped with the seal of the World Federation.

"I will now read the charges and violations levied against the TMC and your protegé," stated Brian in a patient voice:

"First, Chapter 1, General Section: No member within the World Federation shall launch a lethal attack against another registered member.

"Second, Subsection 38, Territorial Regulation: Resource disputes within planetary borders shall only be carried out by members below Silver Rank. Resource disputes off-planet may be conducted by members below Gold Rank.

"Moving on to Subsection 43.1.2, High-Tier Duel Protocol: Any fight to the death in which neither party wishes to yield must be submitted to the Federation in writing. The Federation shall designate a venue where ranks above Gold may battle.

"Continuing with Subsection 75.1.2, Supreme Asset Protection: No Platinum Rank may or shall be executed or assimilated without the explicit authorization of the Federation Directorate, as this directly violates Subsection 1.2.

"Which stipulates in Subsection 1.2, Planetary Preservation Code: Every Platinum member of the planet shall be considered a global maximum priority resource and treated accordingly as humanity’s asset.

"To this we add Subsection 88.4, Off-Planet Punishment Jurisdiction: Any individual who interferes with the military chain of command during extraterrestrial resource extraction missions shall be declared an enemy of the Federation; as well as Subsection 102.9, Unauthorized Use of Annihilation-Class Weaponry: The deployment of spatial domains or mass distortion abilities within inhabited zones without an official safe-conduct carries immediate capital punishment."

Brian closed the holographic display and looked at the TMC leader with familiar warmth.

"Alexander has infringed upon every single one of these points in a short span of time. Now tell me, Scott... how do you intend to justify such defiance?"

"Justify?" asked Scott, cracking a smirk as he leaned back in his chair and interlaced his fingers over the table. "There is nothing to justify, Brian. In fact, the TMC acted within the legal framework to protect a supreme asset with ascension potential."

Brian blinked slowly and let out a chuckle, tilting his head with curiosity.

"I always love it when you stretch logic like that, Scott," said Brian politely. "But please, enlighten me. How does a massacre fit into the protection category?"

"It’s simple," replied Scott. "Your almost-Platinum Rank, Big Black, felt terror upon witnessing Alexander’s potential. He knew it was only a matter of time before he was surpassed. For that reason, he struck first with the explicit intent of eliminating him, attempting to stunt the growth of a prospect of humanity."

Scott made a pause, pulling out a copy of the code to point firmly at a paragraph before continuing.

"We lean on Subsection 1.3, Growth Inhibition, which clearly dictates: No higher-ranking member shall attack, sabotage, or hinder the growth of another Federation member with ascension potential. Alexander did not initiate the conflict; he exercised his right to self-defense against a predator attempting to stunt his evolution. And by destroying him, Alexander didn’t just prove his innocence, but proved he had the strength required to claim that vacant rank."

Brian listened with a smile, nodding as he tapped his finger against the table.

"My, what an impeccable argument," commented Brian in a warm tone. "Citing Subsection 1.3 and painting Big Black as the initial aggressor out of potential-envy is a brilliant move, Scott. It almost makes me forget the mess you two left in that sector."

Scott cracked a smile and tapped the glass table, projecting a new holographic document.

"You’re partly right, Brian, but you’re missing half of the equation," said Scott, leaning back. "The battle left collateral damage, true, but the conflict didn’t start on this planet. If your intelligence team did their job, you’d know it all began in Sandoria. The struggle for resources triggered a territorial dispute. Alexander held the official backing of the Fox Royal Family, while Big Black illicitly colluded with the vassal Serpent and Spider Queens to execute a coup."

Scott paused, sliding a file marked with glowing red letters toward the center of the table.

"We have all the evidence documented. It’s written into Report P987xR-16, the formal territory annexation request submitted by Big Black himself. In that document, he details how, by utilizing a puppet queen under his control, he intended to seize the Kingdom of Sandoria for private resource exploitation."

Brian looked at the file with a raised eyebrow. His demeanor didn’t flicker, but his tone grew sharp and meticulous, fitting for a global legislator.

"A clever maneuver, Scott, but legally untenable," replied Brian with a smile, resting his hands on the table. "You’re overlooking Subsection 114.7 on Off-Planet Sovereignty and Concessions. Big Black had already filed Request P987xR-16 with the Federation Expansion Council before Alexander ever set foot in Sandoria. With the application under review, the territory was placed under provisional Federation jurisdiction."

Brian tilted his head, regarding Scott with empathy.

"Therefore, Alexander’s armed interference not only lacked legal standing, but constitutes a direct violation against a registered annexation operation. Under Article 88, Subsection 4, Alexander’s actions in Sandoria are classified as an act of piracy and sabotage against the Federation’s geopolitical interests."