Justice
He stood up as he slipped papers into his dress shirt and made his way out of the office.
His reputation within the city preceded him, and as he strolled through the halls, the citizens gave him respect and showed him immense benevolence. He accepted the nods and greetings with congeniality, having proper knowledge of how to face a crowd.
Notwithstanding, they were all leeches, eagerly siphoning the resources he carefully managed and nurtured for their benefit.
"Cheers to you, Lord Belfort, you're awesome!" a particularly exuberant councilman proclaimed, nearly stumbling over his own excitement.
Arthur merely smiled, masking his true disdain. A true lord knew when to grant favour and when to withhold it. That was key to maintaining the balance of governance.
Upon reaching the courthouse, he seamlessly converted into smoke, dissipating into thin air before infiltrating the eligibility chambers.
The ambiance shifted the moment he entered. Towering stacks of files teetered precariously, representing the backlog of criminal cases awaiting resolution.
His brows furrowed as he scanned the cluttered room until his eyes fell upon the cabinet bearing Tayuya's name. He opened it and retrieved her application, unimpressed by the sheer weight of the crimes within those pages.
Ironically, each sheet was similar to the crimes he had been accused of back at the Leaf Village.
Not all records could be expunged under the law, especially those that could be classified as heinous felonies. Yet he had already taken the first step toward providing Tayuya with a new beginning—one that would legally make her free in the eyes of this country's officials.
He left to confront the next phase of his plan: securing a judge's approval.
Among the judges, one stood out—a figure swathed in political intrigue and secrets. He was a part of an influential fraternity that promoted certain agendas under the guise of legality, a society that operated just beneath the surface of statewide governance.
This judge was pivotal to Arthur's earlier endeavours, including a forged birth certificate that had allowed him to officially step into the world as John Belfort.
Of course, Arthur had to take care of the more pressing matters by burning any documents that could otherwise put him on trial. No thanks to that secretary general.
'I wonder how his wife is doing,' he remembered after recalling a political dinner he had with the two.
Arthur, arriving at the judge's usual office, found it empty. He had expected as much. Timing was paramount in this enterprise, and he was prepared to hand off the documents with or without the judge's presence.
He left behind Tayuya's application along with a letter written in his handwriting. As he carefully sealed the envelope, his intent was made clear:
'To judge Davyn, the applicant must be approved at all costs. Expedite the decision without requiring the presence of the applicant; any objections from the prosecution or additional parties are to be disregarded. Upon finalizing this request, mail the outcome alongside the requisite signatures for records.'
With that neatly articulated decree folded into the envelope, Arthur placed it next to the application and departed, confident that this particular judicial process had already borne fruit.
As he stepped outside into the city lane, he knew that in this world, like on Earth, the wheels of justice would grind steadily and slowly. Applicants wishing to expunge and rewrite their past would wait weeks, even months, depending on the severity.
But for Arthur, expectancy was a game he played well. With his understanding of bureaucratic machinery and its flow, he anticipated a swift turnaround.
He made his way across town to the office of the foremost criminal attorney, a figure reputed for his ability to navigate legal treacheries without getting his hands dirty or the public being aware.
Arthur strode through the opulent front doors and was greeted by the smell of polished wood inside the attorney's office.
"Ah, Lord Belfort, what a pleasure!" the attorney exclaimed warmly, an invitation for him to come further in.
Arthur offered a polite nod and pulled out the prepared documents as he stated, "I'd appreciate your work on a matter concerning an expungement application."
The attorney grinned at the mere mention of an expungement; it was an opportunity to dive in because these cases tended to pay well.
But why would Arthur pay this crook anything? This attorney was already under the influence of his Evil Illusion Flattery technique!
"Of course!" the attorney said with glee and admiration. "Please, let me have a look."
"I'll need your signature on this application," Arthur smoothly interjected.
The attorney, eager and accommodating, took the document without a second glance or scrutiny.
"You got it, Lord Belfort! I trust your judgment implicitly. I'll sign this right away."
He inscribed his name and handed the application back without ever comprehending what he had just authorized. Arthur left without batting an eye as the attorney effused forth praises of his unparalleled competence.
"Keep up the great work! You're changing our country for the better!"
But Arthur didn't care for those useless praises. His thoughts were already on the next step of his plan.
The expediency of the matter pleased him; what would ordinarily take several weeks had culminated into a matter of mere minutes.
Tayuyaffavor surely owed him more than her life now, if that even had any value to it.
Why he was going through all the trouble and didn't have her do this via a transformation was because she needed to be protected from the media storm that would undoubtedly arise should her identity be recognized.
On top of that, she didn't have any knowledge of legal proceedings or where to go to get things finalized.
The next step involved a hearing.
Arthur had to formulate a strategy to mitigate exposure while simultaneously leveraging the judge's favours without Tayuya's representation. He knew he could not allow her to be seen in public, an exposure bound to attract unwanted media attention and serve as fodder for speculation.
The judiciary was almost like a game of chess, and he was extremely adept at playing.
After delivering the signed papers to the appropriate courthouse departments, he returned to his office with an expectation, knowing full well the order he had instilled within the system would soon be approved.
Back at his desk, he found focus again. He began drafting potential scenarios to consider the ramifications of Tayuya reclaiming her role in society.
It was all part of something larger.
In the span of a few hours, he had cleverly maneuvered through legal precedents, positioning Tayuya to emerge victorious in a system that he controlled.
The intricacy of the law was indeed strange—both here and on Earth. But things like that didn't matter for a man like Arthur. The courtroom might have seen many alters of justice, yet he could never lose to something so corrupt in nature.
At the intersection of law, justice, and personal redemption stood he, a connoisseur of manipulation.
Arthur, however, was not finished. He had to now navigate the system of law enforcement agencies across the land. That required both diligence and cunning.
The jurisdictions of this world mirrored Earth's legal systems, but their bureaucracy was a tad outdated, being more convoluted.
He needed to ensure every agency within a two-thousand-mile radius, including the ninja clans, was on the same page regarding Tayuya's record. This wasn't just about erasing her past; it was about solidifying her role as an ally in his country.
'Flying Raijin…'
His immediate destination took him to the Hidden Mist Village, a location he habitually avoided.
This particular village had thrived faster due to his proper funding procedures. And though he did not enjoy coming here because it housed many formidable shinobi, speaking with the Mizukage was essential for this mission.
His ties to Mei Terumi were as foundational as they were complicated, but duties of governance always took precedence over sentiments in this world.
Upon arrival at her office, many of the staff were shocked, remaining quiet. Practically everyone in this country recognized John Belfort, something he was unable to prevent.
How could he when he was publicly known as the esteemed successor of the Hiromu, the current feudal lord?
Resistance to his presence was unthinkable, and bows of respect lined the Mizukage's office as he passed by.
He pushed through the double doors, and he found Mei sitting amidst towering stacks of paperwork. She had the look of dread.
A surprised smile etched her face as she looked up and saw him.
"Ah, Lord Belfort!" she exclaimed, turning more professional. "What brings you here today? I didn't get any notice you were coming."
Arthur stepped further inside, casually surveying her office. It wasn't as grand or as nice as his, despite the funds he sent over for its renovation.
Just what the heck was this woman doing with his money?
"I have something urgent to discuss," he replied, exuding authority that left no room for her to question the significance of this visit.
She nodded, sensing it in his tone. Arthur didn't usually visit unless it was necessary, so she asked, "What do you need, Lord Belfort?"
"In a short while, specific paperwork will arrive at your desk. It will be marked with a distinct seal, different from the others." His tone was level. "I need you to sign off on it immediately and send it back to me without delay."
Mei became quite curious as she couldn't help but wonder, "What is this regarding?"
Arthur waved a dismissive hand and said, "That's not important. What matters is that it's imperative that you adhere to this request."
His words were quite commanding, and he could sense her internal conflict; the Mizukage had her own responsibilities. However, as the successor to the feudal lord, his title eclipsed hers by a significant margin.
There was no way she could refuse, and they both knew it.
Mei ultimately chose not to press further and simply said, "Very well. I'll handle it as soon as possible."
Her acknowledgment reinforced his status and the importance of this mission, even amidst the fraught complexities of politics in the ninja world.
Had she denied him, her days of being the Mizukage would have been numbered.
Arthur nodded. With the exchange concluded, he turned and exited, feeling the gaze of her apprehensive staff follow him as he left.
The following day, Arthur sat in his office.
The wait was short, and soon a carrier delivered the application he was expecting—the one that would free Tayuya from the burdens of her criminal history.
Just as he had predicted, it was accompanied by the requisite judge's signatures and the formalities of court protocol.
He added a layer of paper to the documents, making sure to conceal the explicit details of Tayuya's crimes. All that would remain visible was a neatly formatted signature line marked for the Mizukage's approval.
He carefully reviewed the package, ensuring that no trace of its original context could be gleaned from viewing the envelope.
After ensuring its validity, he activated the Flying Raijin once more.
Measured and calm, he appeared inside Mei's office and placed the specially sealed envelope directly on her desk, careful not to disturb the other papers scattered across her workspace.
This part was easy, his careful timing allowing him to place the documents while she was away.
This repetition of events—wherein he concealed the true nature of Tayuya's situation from the very figures ensuring her freedom—would soon become the norm for other agencies.
With focus, he moved to the next designated agency and repeated the earlier steps for each bureau he needed to infiltrate, casting his genjutsu where necessary to ensure the targeted officials complied without question.
This task, while tedious, only affected certain areas both in and around his countries. Other territories, like the Land of Wind, he couldn't tread. That meant Tayuya's crimes there would remain.
Chapters from this point forward are no longer proofread. We apologize in advance.