Jibril leaves her hotel and searches for this "Arbiter" Association in Scarlet District in hopes she finds this Gannon and put this case to rest.
Scarlet District, New Canaan
Time: 10:30am
Jibril is on the main boulevard she and her group came through to the Golden Laurel, but where is this office? Looking at the letter she had received with the address, she searches the signs around her looking for Paper Street. She sees the Red Queen Brothel where the letter gave her directions to. Following the landmarks, she sees a street back the way she came and turns into it to the Eastside Scarlet District.
East Scarlet District is a single district dedicated to a single massive landmark: The Ampitheater. A large colossal structure with the capacity to hold 50,000 people into four levels with six entrances through archways much like a clock face with a rooftop canopy tented with crimson fabric for shade. Inside, Jibril walks around to find that the Ampitheater is empty save for patrons who use this place as a meeting grounds. Rumors were overheard that this was where the Council meet and the Tribunal Judges come to render their verdicts on criminal cases. At the center of the structure is a raised platform for theater performers but has since changed to a council chambers with stone tables arranged around a single podium used for speeches. Before the council platform are two more podiums for Defendant and Prosecutor to state their cases during Tribunal.
Jibril leaves when she gets the directions to the Arbitration Association that she was looking for. Stepping back onto the streets she travels further east until she faced two three story buildings: NCR Jailhouse and the Association.
The Jailhouse is surrounded by barbed wire fences and wrought iron support beams in the vein of a Concentration Camp style with the ground beneath it made of pure concrete. On the pavement surrounding the Jailhouse were magical seals engraved into it with ink ones layering around the others. This is a triple layered defense against mages and spellcasters from entering or leaving the Jailhouse with the building having watchtowers in four corners guarded by five Militia guards at each post.
The Association building is a rotunda capped building marking it symbolically as the hall of justice for this country. It's sheer size is enough to note that the council takes pride in design and capacity than flashy spacious forms and gaudy statues used by the Romans in another universe. Jibril takes the large fleet of stairs up to and through the archways of the building to the marble interior with many faces coming and going. All these people wore white flowing robes with red sashes while others wore tightly made dress suits in black and white exclusively. It seems they are adopting a business attire one would expect in a company in modern day.
As Jibril looks for the receptionist desk she is greeted by five different people wearing the white robes and red sashes worn like belts securing their waists and/or draped over their shoulders like some form of rank. When Jibril asked a lowly receptionist where to find Dennis Gannon showing the letter, another snatches the letter from the receptionist and looks at it. The one with a red sash draped over his shoulders takes the letter and directs Jibril to follow him.
Following the fellow closely behind him, Jibril passes several glass windows where rooms were occupied by chairs one both sides and filing cabinets and other decorative things she's never seen before. These were Arbitration chambers for discussing cases with the Arbiters from either Prosecution or Defense. Taking the stairs to the next level up, they turn down a hallway and make another turn to the catwalk above the lobby and stop at the door at the very end of the building with a blurred glass door with "Dennis Gannon Director of Arbitration, Arbiter Association" stenciled onto it.
"Wait right here" the man stated, going inside the office.
Jibril stands around and awaits as instructed by them. She's nervous to be here but it is amazing to see how advanced the Canaanites are compared to the other cities she's been to. Before she can really let this whole place sink in, the man exits the office and directs Jibril inside. The man takes his leave with a bow and walks away with manilla envelopes with him.
Jibril steps inside with a large glass stained window before her of the Agriculture District and the spectacular view of the ocean and Shadow Cove mountain ranges. Before her sat a young man in a blue Magnifica Academy mages robe writing on paper with a feathered quill using an inkwell behind a large ebony wood desk and a grand rug below. Jibril looks to the two black leather sofas and the coffee table at the center of the room and takes a seat while she waits.
When she closes the door, the blonde haired young man raised his head, removes his glasses and drops everything he's doing and sets everything aside to greet her. Strolling over to Jibril, he shakes her hand (an odd gesture) then gestures the sofa behind her as they sat.
"Thank you for coming, Jibril" Gannon says, assuring her of his friendliness. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions about the criminal charges placed against you right now. But please don't worry yourself too much. It is my job to ensure that I fight for your behalf and get your case dismissed. As your Arbiter, I'm given authority to be your personal council and anything spoken here is just between us. As your confidante, if you say you've done it or not, then whether I agree or disagree, I must go forward in my defense for you. As a confidential agreement, by signing the disclosure form, we can get started immediately and address the charges. For my safety and as well as yours, I need this form signed for liability assurance"
"You've lost me" Jibril replied.
"Right, I forget this is all completely abnormal outside of the country" Gannon taps the table figuring out how best to explain this, he goes with: "Signing the paper, you agree to let me talk for you and since I'm versed in our laws, you agree that I am to represent your interests. Right or wrong, I must defend you during your case. This agreement is also a a failsafe for Arbiters like myself to accept responsibility for our clients. Should we misrepresent our clients, we face the same charges as our defendants for severe crimes such as the death penalty or receive heavy fines for lesser crimes. We, of course, are paid by the country's government so any financial benefit or bribery is frowned upon. Our liability, or safety net for risk, is having a form saying we both understand why you are here and why you want an Arbiter to represent your case. I'm agreeing to risk my life to save yours, essentially, without anyone worrying about corruption."
"Sounds complicated" Jibril breathlessly thinking how often he has to say something like that to everyone else.
Gannon hands Jibril the forms to sign, she does so quickly and sets them to the side and Gannon reads through and sighs in relief. He drops the smiles and pleasantries and gives her a serious business stare.
"The charges for you are grim, Jibril, over 30 counts of vehicle manslaughter, a single count of 1st degree murder and thousands of coins in government property damage. The Tertiary City Council has raised the severity of your case, they're pushing for the death penalty and seizing any assets you may have to recoup the losses."