Chapter 705 705 Trial Begins
?The Fae and their Demonic ally wisely shut their mouths and remained silent as the high-ranking group accused them of their crimes. That was the easiest way to get out of more serious charges. If there was only circumstantial evidence, and hearsay from an onlooker, then they might just slide through the trial.
The only issue was that hey didn't realize that Wolfe was in charge here, and that they had essentially been caught red-handed by the head of the local law enforcement agency.
"Once this show ends, we will be bringing the group, along with the evidence, up on stage for everyone to see. The town guard will go through all the reports of missing and stolen items in an attempt to match them to their owners, and the trial will be held." Wolfe announced.
The thieves were shocked that not only would the trial be public, but it would be held nearly immediately, without time to gather more evidence against them. That could be a good thing, they thought. If this accuser didn't have anything solid to go on, they would walk free, and he would have to return their goods.
[Cassie, can you go to the security office and pull up the recordings of the last event? I think that we should have some sort of recording in the town's security, right?] Wolfe requested.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt[We do, it's not great though, since it's just a bunch of magical devices that the Fae brought for tourist purposes. It does record most of the town from the spire, though.]
[That's enough. We caught a group of pickpockets, and I want to show solid evidence to the town that it's not just my personal vendetta against them. Without anything but my word and a few recovered items, they will surely claim I planted the evidence because I'm biased against the Dark Fae.]
Cassie ran off to get the footage, while Wolfe and the others waited for the show to end so they could bring the pickpockets up on stage. It was no problem for Wolfe to carry everyone with Gravity Magic over the heads of the crowd, but it would certainly create a spectacle and keep the crowd from dispersing as soon as the show was over. That was the most important part. They needed as many of the people who had items stolen today to be present and vocal during the short trial that was to follow.
The music ended, and Wolfe activated [Levitation] to bring everyone to the stage as the applause slowly settled.
"Good afternoon, everyone, let's have another round of applause for the wonderful performers." He began, then paused as the crowd found more reasons to cheer.
"I know it is a bit unconventional for me to show up after a show, but today it is important. We have captured a pickpocketing ring during the event, and recovered what we believe to be all the stolen goods from the last hour, as well as a selection of goods from previous thefts.
Now, while the camera footage is prepared, we will begin by activating enchantments on items that are linked to members of the crowd. It is not uncommon for either the Fae or the Witches to put a finding spell on their valuables, in case they misplace them, and those items will now return to their rightful owners. If one of them returns to you, please hold it above your head for the crowd to see before putting it safely away.
Do check your pockets for cuts or holes, as some of them might have been slashed to get at the contents." Wolfe began.
Dozens of items from amulets, broaches, wands and other magical trinkets began to fly through the crowd, headed back for their owners. Most of whom hadn't even realized that the item was missing yet, though there were some whose items found them while they were reporting the incident to the town guards.
"That is the easy part. Next, will be the trace spell, assuming that one of the others on stage knows it. If not, I will call one of the Witches up to cast it. That spell will make the last few people to touch an item glow. If you legitimately traded, sold or bartered the item, please inform us when you are highlighted, as we will be checking the town's security footage to verify."
First, the Fae next to Wolfe cast a spell on a rather familiar blade that was sitting on the podium. One of the Dark Fae and a woman in a hooded cloak in the crowd both glowed with a light blue. The blade was a simple design, and Wolfe realized that it was one that they had made for the villages in the Frozen Wastes.
Wolfe picked it up, and began to glow as well, then read the markings on the blade.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"From Windfall Wolf Pack to our Guardian Bogart. May you live in peaceful days." He read out loud.
That was enough for the Fae to know that it wasn't a joke, and the hooded Fae suddenly took to the air, spreading mismatched wings from under its cloak. The creature was a form of Wind Sprite that belonged to the Dark Fae faction, but they weren't inherently evil, just irritable and antisocial.
How this one had ended up as the guardian of a local tribe was a mystery, as she was only Rank Four, and not part of the usual groups that were taking over territory.
"That is my blade. I did not trade it to anyone, and it should have been in my spatial pouch. The red one on the ground. If you cast the finding spell on it as well, it should locate the contents." She declared as she landed.
It took a bit more finesse to only mark the items that had touched the inside of the pouch, but the caster was a Rank Seven Fae, and the spell was a rather simple one in its base form.
A number of coins, feathers, and other items began to glow, as well as the Air Sprite and the same pickpocket, plus one other member of the accused group.
"Please collect your goods and remain here on the stage. There is quite a bit to get through, but the victims and witnesses will be important to the trial." Wolfe explained.
"I understand. Thank you for recovering my belongings."