Oswald exhaled slowly, then nodded. "Alright. If you’re certain, then I’ll prepare everything you’ll need."

"Good," Ethan said.

Oswald reached down and opened his briefcase, pulling out a small stack of papers. He set them on the table between them and with that they continued on a lengthy conversation.

——

Later that night, Ethan rewatched the livestream. Of course, it wasn’t live anymore.

The event had ended hours ago, but the recording had been uploaded to the online space almost immediately, and it was already being shared across multiple platforms.

Right now, he was watching a part where the journalist asked the questions to Edgar Desdemona, the CEO of Crypco.

He was a tall man and well-dressed in a dark suit.

The journalist asked, "Mr. Desdemona, your team has been working on this project for quite some time. Can you tell us, how easy was it to bring this all together? Were there any significant challenges?"

Edgar smiled as he gestured toward the mecha with one hand.

"Multiple times during development, we ran into structural issues with the knee assembly under heavy load. Some teams might’ve scrapped the design entirely."

He paused, then added "But the point of failure tells you where to start, not where to stop. So we redesigned the entire lower frame around that weakness, and now..."

He pointed to the completed mecha, his voice steady and assured.

"...you’re looking at the most stable bipedal frame ever constructed."

The crowd in the recording applauded. The camera zoomed in on the mecha’s legs, showing the intricate joint work and reinforced plating.

Ethan shook his head slowly and sighed.

After a while of watching, sat there in the quiet for a long moment, he stood, grabbed the stack of documents Oswald had left for him.

-

The next day in court...

The courtroom itself was an imposing space. It had high ceilings supported by stone pillars, with wooden benches arranged in neat rows.

The Court Warden’s bench was at the most elevated spot in front. Behind it, the crest of Gritnia was on the wall, a reminder of the authority that presided here.

Ethan sat at one of the two tables near the front, dressed in a three-piece suit. His posture was calm, and he had his hands resting on the table in front of him where a neat stack of documents were organized and ready.

Beside him was Lucy.

She wore a simple but professional outfit and though her expression was composed, there was tension in the way her fingers occasionally intertwined with each other.

At the opposite table sat Crypco’s advocate dressed in formal robes. Beside him was a younger man with glasses on, and he was Crypco’s lead engineer.

Behind them, in the rows of benches reserved for observers, were a handful of people. Journalists, Businessmen and few curious onlookers who had managed to get in.

And in the very back, sitting quietly, was Hayley.

She had seen him at the guild the previous day and had come to check on him at Stark Industries that morning.

Luckily Ethan and Lucy were just about to leave for this place, and so she tagged on.

Court Warden Halvern was an older man with graying hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wore the traditional green and gold robes of a Court Warden, the colors of Gritnia’s judicial system.

His expression was stern but not unkind, and his sharp eyes scanned the room briefly.

Before anything could proceed, a court official stepped forward. He was a younger man dressed in a simple uniform, carrying a small artifact in his hands.

The artifact was a smooth, circular stone about the size of a fist, etched with glowing runes of blue light.

This was a magic detection stone, a standard tool used in Gritnia’s courtrooms.

The official approached the judge first, holding the stone up near Court Warden Halvern’s head and chest. The runes flickered for a moment, then settled into a steady, calm glow.

There was no magic influence detected.

Then the official moved to Ethan’s table. He held the stone near Ethan’s head, then Lucy’s. The runes flickered again, then settled. They too were on the clear.

Finally, he moved to Crypco’s table and did the same thing. They were also on the clear.

The official nodded to the Court Warden and stepped back, placing the stone on a small pedestal by side of the room. The runes continued to glow faintly, a passive indicator that would remain active throughout the hearing.

This was one of the court room’s standard procedure. In a world where magic existed, where minds could be influenced and memories altered, the court took precautions.

The detection stone ensured that no one in the room was under any magical influence at the start of proceedings.

And once placed on the pedestal, the stone would continue to monitor the courtroom, ready to flare brightly if any magic was cast during the session.

Magic was banned in court. Absolutely. If anyone attempted to use it, the stone would react immediately, and the case would be dismissed on the spot.

Court Warden Halvern waited until the official had returned to his position, then raised his gavel and brought it down.

"This court is now in session," he said, his voice clear and authoritative. "In the matter of Stark Industries versus Crypco, regarding the injunction filed on the grounds of patent infringement."

He looked down at the papers in front of him, then raised his gaze to the room.

"Mr. Stark," he said, his eyes settling on Ethan. "You are appearing on behalf of Stark Industries today. Is that correct?"

Ethan rose from his seat. "Yes, Your Honor."

Halvern nodded, then glanced at the other table. "And counsel for Crypco, you are present as well."

The advocate stood. "Yes, Your Honor. Advocate Tyrwin, representing Crypco."

Halvern nodded again, then returned his attention to Ethan.

"Very well. Mr. Stark, you may proceed."

Ethan inclined his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Honor."

—

A/N: A Court Warden is this world’s way of saying "Judge"