The Demon King's Paladin

Chapter 153. Dispute

" And with that, we begin the duel to establish who will be responsible for the production of Silverware in Paradise! BEGIN!"

/CLANG!/

I currently was sitting on an elevated platform above the ground. I could oversee the battlegrounds in front of me. Sarah was sitting to my right side and Anna to my left. For the first time today, I was viewing an ancient Diablos tradition. It was a battle between the 2 heads of a business battling for the right to claim a product as their own. It's an old tradition that was started by King Draken Bloodboon The Wise. He was the 3rd recognized King of Diablos. He was a historical figure that seemed as if he was from a different time than the one he was actually born in. Thankfully, seeing as he was a King who was beloved by his people, there were autobiographic texts that were completed after interviewing Draken when he was a retired King living in his retirement home. I was given the 3 books that comprised his life story by Warrick to read.

/CLANG! CLANG!/

The battle I was watching was beginning to heat up, the clashes of dulled sparring swords were reverberating in the battlegrounds. It was if the sounds were reflecting off of the crowds cheering and booing and growing louder as the 2 fighters were locked in their intense battle. Draken, who as he told it to his interviewer, wanted to become King from a young age as he noticed that his people were causing more harm to each other than any foreign enemy could. Because of that, when he became King, he began to install laws that would protect his people from themselves more or less.

/CLANG! CLANG!/

This battle is an example of one of his changes. Before, when people had a disagreement over products or business dealings in a territory, or any other kind of disagreement that neither party would back down from, they'd fight in a deathmatch. The one still breathing at the end was the correct party in the dispute. Obviously, this is a great way to lower your population. From childish squabbles over toys, to men fighting over women and vice versa, it all attributed to the multiple reasons why Demons were nearly overtaken by their neighboring species, from Humans, Elves and even Beastmen at one point in time. Draken, who obviously wasn't blind, noticed this problem, along with many others. instilled the law that deathmatches were illegal, instead, the parties could fight in a public space with an official of the government there to witness the outcome and name the winner and the spoils.

/Clang!/

" GUWA!"

Speaking of which, a winner was made today. I rose to my feet and both the fighters, and the crowd turned their attention to me. I began to speak loudly so everyone could hear me.

" Winner of this dispute, George Bronzebone! As per the agreement both participants signed before this fight! With the power vested in me as a Marquess of Diablos and the Lord of Paradise! Granted by our King, Warrick Dreadnaught! I declare from this day forth, George Bronzebone's business, Bronze Works, will oversee production of all silverware for Paradise starting from today onward, unless he chooses to relinquish his rights or loses in a dispute!"

" Thank you, Lord Drake!"

The winner flashed a happy smile, when this case first came across my desk, I wondered why a dispute that worked its way to a fight for the rights to silverware happened. I ended up asking both of them, I was surprised at their answers. Because they were the same. Silverware production is highly coveted because as the person making it, you can add your own art style to the handles of the silverware. Because of this, a good silverware creator is judged under the same criteria as a good blacksmith. However, I have heard arguments that silverware creators deserve more respect as you don't need to be a warrior to use their creations. Regardless, I turned to the loser of the contest and begin to address him.