The hearing hall for the mandolin is built inside a giant banyan tree. The thick banyan tree reaches straight into the sky, with lush leaves and vines covered with small purple flowers entwined on its branches. The entrance is a large opening in the tree.
Xu Milu changed into a black mercenary outfit today, with a golden mandolin pattern painted on the chest, and a cloak covering her body, making her look particularly dashing.
“The elders will be furious when they see you wearing a mandolin.”
Lola giggled, looking rather smug.
Although the mandolin is the national flower, today's hearing is of a different significance. Xu Milu's move is a silent counterattack against the Presbyterian Church's accusations.
"You have that much confidence in me?"
Xu Milu couldn't help but tighten her collar, when she suddenly felt a lightness on her chest. It was Lola who had taken off her gemstone brooch and put it on her.
"Of course I believe you! You're the first human I've ever met who's so interesting. This is a brooch that represents good fortune for us elves. I'll lend it to you for now. Go ahead and teach those old potatoes a lesson!"
This brooch is shaped like a tree branch, with tender green branches exuding vitality, and its shiny surface showing how much its owner cherishes it.
Xu Milu felt a warmth in her heart and said earnestly, "Okay, I will definitely make them admit how delicious chili peppers are!"
Sunny, perched on Lola's shoulders, was also visibly nervous, clenching her fists and blushing as she cheered Xu Milu on.
"Lady Miru can definitely do it! I believe in you!"
Even a real-life Barbie couldn't be cuter.
Xu Milu, full of confidence, strode into the council hall, facing the gazes of the passing dwarf citizens.
...
...
The banyan tree's interior is structured like a winding spiral, with rows of seats providing the jury with the best possible view.
The banyan tree has a hollow center and a wide-open top, allowing a beam of golden sunlight to fall precisely into the space, creating a unique beauty as golden particles dance in the air.
As soon as she entered, hundreds of eyes fell on Xu Milu, scanning her up and down like searchlights. Some eyes were curious, some were angry, and some were scrutinizing. For a moment, Xu Milu felt like a monkey in a zoo.
"Human? Her hair is black! Look at her eyes!"
Did she really use mandolin to cook for the princess?
"...A human chef?"
"Look, what is she carrying in her hand?"
"Are the people following behind her elves? Then is she half-human and half-elf?"
"It's Her Highness the Princess! Her Highness the Princess has come too!"
Someone exclaimed in surprise, recognizing Sunny who had entered the venue with Lola. Sunny remained unmoved, her lips pressed tightly together, trying to put on a serious expression.
The area was divided into three sections in the very center, and people were already sitting on three chairs entwined with flowering and fruiting vines.
Sitting on the right was a young woman with short, light blue hair. She did not seem to be human; each cheek had a cluster of faint blue scales that shimmered with tiny light.
On the right was a tall, dark-skinned human male with particularly fierce eyes, wearing a chef's medal awarded by the Culinary Association on his chest. Xu Milu nodded secretly.
This must be food journalist Nanako and chef Morgan.
The person sitting in the very center, who is also today's host, Justice Jeb, has the highest chair, almost two meters off the ground.
Chief Justice Jeber had distinct dwarven features, with a long white beard that almost dragged on the ground, and his heavy black robes and pointed black hat made him look mysterious and unpredictable.
Xu Milu followed the instructions and walked to the center of the venue. Immediately, dwarf soldiers brought her a wooden chair of normal size.
"Thanks."
Xu Milu smiled slightly, but the dwarf soldiers retreated to their positions without saying a word, as if they had seen some kind of ferocious beast.
Once everyone was ready, the elders arrived late. The seven dwarves wore identical ochre robes, had identical wrinkled faces, identical white beards, and droopy eyelids that obscured their eyes.
Xu Milu finally understood why Lola called them "old potatoes".
What's the difference between this and copying and pasting?
"Silence! Silence! Silence!"
Justice Jeb tapped his gavel and adjusted his large black hat, and the buzzing in the courtroom gradually subsided.
"Cough cough."
Chief Justice Jeber opened the thick dwarven codex before him and began to speak, his voice trembling:
"By the God of Gourmet Food, ladies and gentlemen, good day. Today is the year 1437 of the Dwarven calendar, the month of peanuts, the day of the sun—the first young human woman accused of poisoning the royal family today is Miss Milu, an adventurer from beyond the island."
"Ho—"
"Oh my god—"
"My God of Gourmet Food!"
An unusually exaggerated gasp rang out from the crowd, one after another.
Xu Milu was speechless. The hearing content had been released three days ago, but everyone was pretending to be shocked.
It seems Lola was right; the dwarves really do love exaggeration.
“Uh, let me see. The seven elders of the Elder Council are accusing Miss Milu. They are—Elder Chad, Second Elder Thorin, Third Elder Owen, Fourth Elder Pick, and Fifth Elder Kahn…”
Xu Milu stared wide-eyed but still couldn't tell the seven brothers apart.
“Alright, now it’s the Elders’ turn to speak. Elder Chad, please present your evidence, or rather, any evidence that Miss Milu intended to poison a member of the royal family.”
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