Several moments passed in silence as the whole hall waited for the last person of concern to show up.
Finally, after several minutes Shaddam walked into the hall.
Almost immediately, all eyes shifted to him.
In silence they followed his movements as he walked to the top of the pillar and sat down on a throne placed on the pillar at the very top.
He was silent as he observed the large hall.
"Greet The Emperor!" A loud shout resounded in the hall.
Many great houses and minor houses immediately stood up, and following behind were the houses that had forced this session to resume.
Paul stood in silence as he neither greeted nor paid respect to the Emperor, his eyes sharply staring up at Shaddam in silence.
Shaddam's eyes never moved to anybody as they greeted him in the formality of the Imperium, rather, his eyes remained still on Paul, quietly staring back at him.
Slowly, the hall quietened down.
For several more moments, Paul stared at Shaddam in silence, finally his eyes shifted towards Vorn.
"Senior Administrator Vorn. What was the scale of military vessel movement to Arrakis during the period of attack, and what was the estimated cost of that deployment?" Paul said.
Several eyes in the hall shifted towards Vorn, who had stood up.
"The scale was ten legions and the cost was approximately 54 billion Solari" Vorn said, "Official untampered guild records are present for further validations."
A moment of hush spread throughout the room.
Everybody in the hall knew it clear as day.
House Harkonnen could never afford to pay such a price and stay out of sight of the Emperor.
All eyes shifted back to Emperor Shaddam.
He was silent for a moment before he stood.
He walked a few steps before he arrived close to the edge of his platform.
"I am aware of what you are trying to insinuate, Duke Paul, this is simply damaging the Emperor's image based on an assumption," Shaddam said staring down at Paul.
'He is good...' Paul thought to himself as he turned to look at the hall.
"House Harkonnen cannot afford ten legions and fifty four billion solari. That is not an assumption. That is arithmetic. An inquiry commission does not change the numbers." He loudly stated.
Nobody spoke up for a moment as they ran their own calculations.
"Emperor Shaddam, it sounds like you do not deny evidence, it appears that you seem to be trying to hide behind procedures," Paul said as he glanced at Shaddam.
Shaddam was silent for a moment, as his gaze subtly turned towards Mohiam, who quietly nodded.
Her gaze was immediately directed towards Feyd, who noticed Mohiam looking at him.
In that moment of silence, Feyd stood up.
"Duke Paul speaks of arithmetic and procedure like a clerk, not a Duke." He paused for a moment as his eyes landed on Paul. "His father at least had the dignity to face his enemies directly. It seems that is not an inherited Atreides trait after all."
The room froze.
Piter, who was silently sitting, slowly turned his head towards Feyd, his eyes wide.
Paul narrowed his eyes as he glanced towards Feyd.
'Is this supposed to bait me?' Paul thought to himself, but a small frown appeared on his face as his eyes flashed towards his wrist for a moment.
'Perhaps...'
He gulped as a dangerous thought began to form.
'Getting rid of Feyd would leave House Harkonnen without a successor...' Paul thought as he took a sharp breath in.
His eyes shifted towards Feyd as he stared at him in silence for a moment.
'This is reckless.'
'Unnecessary.'
'Exactly what they wanted.'
'At worst, I go down with him during battle...'
"Allow me to show you what type of Duke I am" he said, staring at Feyd.
"I invoke the right of personal combat. And I will name my terms." Paul exclaimed in the hall,
A moment of silence passed.
"When I win" Paul paused as he glanced at Feyd and then at Piter.
I want House Harkonnen to pay reparations of 50 billion solari."
"If you win, House Atredes is willing to completely drop the matter of the attack and pay a sum of 25 billion solari," Paul exclaimed.
Piter was silent.
Feyd was silent.
The whole room was silent.
On the highest stand, Mohiam nodded towards Shaddam, who glanced back down at Paul.
"I approve of this challenge," he exclaimed, "May Landsraad be a witness to these conditions set forth, House Harkonnen, do you accept?" Shaddam asked glancing towards Piter.
Piter remained silent for a few moments as his eyes hovered on Paul. A moment passed before Piter stood up.
"Baron Harkonnen has agreed," Piter said and immediately, Feyd began moving and all eyes in the hall followed.
As he began to slowly walk down the stairs of the stands, he slowly approached the center, arriving in front of Paul. He withdrew a short sword from his waist.
Paul glanced back at Duncan for a moment, who swiftly withdrew his own short sword and handed it to Paul.
"You got this," Duncan muttered as he and Thufir began to walk away giving space to Paul and Feyd in the center.
Paul simply nodded towards Duncan as he held the short sword in a tight grip. His eyes lingered on the short sword for a moment before his hand moved towards his belt. He activated his shield without looking away from Feyd.
A blue pulse appeared around him before disappearing the next moment.
Across from him, Feyd did the same.
A moment passed before Feyd lunged forward.
His sword struck down on Paul who reacted quickly as he swiftly moved his short sword to block.
A sharp clank rang out as the two metal blades clashed against each other.
'Damn, he is strong,' Paul thought as he rested on his back foot.
His muscle stressing.
'Confrontation will not work,' he thought for a moment before stepping to the side.
Paul stabbed towards his waist, but Feyd reacted quickly using his hand to parry. He stabbed back at him.
Seeing the sword slowly approaching, the shield around him lit up with yellow.
Quickly, Paul stepped back.