Chapter 138-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation
Under the tense gaze of the crowd, Qin Lu, sporting a small ponytail, raised an eyebrow. He retrieved a cloudy sphere from the box-like machine and held it up for display.
"The core of this machine is a crystalline lens preserved from the S-rank Demonic Domain No. 136
"Precisely because it rotates rapidly during operation, the bottom part connecting to the fixture suffers wear and tear. Please look, everyone: the bottom of this sphere is extremely smooth, as if it just came fresh off the assembly line."
"According to Mr. Green, this Image Recorder
David Green retorted, "Perhaps the first core was damaged, and this is a newly replaced core!"
" The core stone of an Image Recorder is a non-renewable product. One stone has a shelf life of three years. Once the three-year term is up, or if it is damaged mid-use, the core must be returned to the Royal Factory for reprocessing. This is a clause in the sales contract."
"I have compared the batch numbers. We have not received a returned core from this machine, nor have we approved a new core for it."
"Even if His Highness Sykes
David Green choked. He hurriedly cast a panicked look toward the top of the court. Seeing the Chief Justice avoiding his gaze, his composure began to crumble. He opened his mouth to argue but was immediately interrupted again.
"This machine should belong to your base, but the core is not. I guess you just found someone to forge it in the last few days, didn't you?"
Qin Lu let out a scoff, his lazy eyes turning toward Ye Fanjing
"Judge Ye, if you feel my personal statement isn't enough to prove the other party is faking it, experienced old workers can deduce the recording time from the core's luster and the imaging colors. They can help with the appraisal."
Seeing Qin Lu's confident demeanor, and then looking at Ye Zheng's
Sure enough, how could Ye Zheng do such a thing? She had always been a well-behaved child who knew her limits.
The hand holding his gavel hesitated for a moment before finally bringing it down. "The evidence presented by the defendant is suspected of forgery. The court will initiate an investigation into the physical evidence. Today's trial is suspended pending the investigation results..."
"No."
"No!"
Two voices overlapped almost simultaneously. Ye Fanjing looked first in surprise at Ye Zheng on the lower left, then toward a certain direction in the back.
A middle-aged woman wearing a black dress and a black hat stood up from the witness stand. There were obvious tear tracks on her face. "Even if Ye Zheng didn't kill those two people, what about my brother, Henry Jones
"He was drowned by Ye Zheng using an ability in remote shallow water. When the base was breached by monsters, his corpse was ironically lucky enough to be preserved—"
"The corpse told me that the person who killed him was Ye Zheng!"
Ye Fanjing had a headache. He prayed this lady didn't have any substantial evidence. It had been so long; the body should be bloated and decomposed by now. How could it leave any clues?
Suddenly, Ye Fanjing sat up straight. No, perhaps there really was someone who could track a murderer using a corpse.
As the middle-aged woman wiped away her sorrowful tears with a handkerchief, she passed a secret look to the person beside her. The man sitting next to her stood up and bowed to Ye Fanjing above.
"Your Honor, I am an ordinary magistrate from the Middle District
Ye Fanjing narrowed his eyes. "You are that... 'Hound' Magistrate
The Middle District had always been dull and ignored. To the Upper District
But this 'Hound' Magistrate was a famous figure in the Middle District, with the reputation of a master detective. The Upper District security bureau had invited him many times, but he had rejected them all with the excuse of not wanting to leave his hometown.
For this case, the Jones family actually managed to hire him?
Ye Zheng turned her head to look at the strange man. The man seemed neither humble nor arrogant, exuding confidence in his every move. Ye Zheng immediately realized that David Green was just a feint; the real trouble was this person!
The man smiled and nodded. He clapped his hand against his side, and a phantom hunting dog with an illusory body jumped out.
"My ability is very weak, only D-rank. Its only function is to track ability auras."
"I found a trace of a strange ability aura on Mr. Jones's body. There were two gunshot wounds. The gunshots were not the cause of death, but I extracted the bullets and found they were not a common type circulated on the market."
"Lady Saintess
The young man smiled and stroked the phantom puppy by his side, locking eyes with Ye Zheng across the crowd.
Observing the corners of Ye Zheng's mouth turning slightly downward, the man revealed a polite smile, as if inviting her to cooperate with his work.
The next moment, Ye Zheng pulled up the corners of her mouth. Her expression was somewhat cold. The man restrained his smile; he sensed the other party's subtle mockery and disdain.
Ye Fanjing held the gavel suspended. Based on his years of experience, once this hound-like man was allowed to participate in the investigation, he would likely find decisive evidence. Should he stop it? The Jones family was one of the pro-royal factions with considerable power.
In the stagnant and tense atmosphere of the courtroom, just as the suspended gavel was about to land heavily on the table, a shocking voice forcibly halted the gavel in mid-air—
"I killed Henry Jones."
Ye Zheng glanced at the wall clock on the left side of the hall, withdrew her gaze, and spat out the shocking answer in a clear, faint voice.
Everyone inside the court erupted. Ye Fanjing's gavel froze first, then his hand loosened, and the gavel representing fairness and justice fell to the floor. But no one noticed; at this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on one person.
"Ye Zheng, do you know what you are saying?" Ye Fanjing, dressed in black judicial robes, stood up, losing his composure, his eyes wide.
Ye Zheng smiled indifferently, staring at the astonished young man, and replied, "I have no interest in continuing to play detective games."
The phantom hound under the man's hand vanished instantly. He stared in disbelief at this legendary Saintess. He had seen all kinds of criminals and enjoyed battling wits with them.
He accepted the Jones family's invitation this time not because he wanted to uphold justice for Henry Jones, but because he was too bored. If he could cross swords with the famous Saintess, it would surely be an interesting affair.
He had thought Ye Zheng would use various methods to evade his investigation and overturn his conclusions, but he never expected that just as the game had started, Ye Zheng would completely flip the table!
Was she crazy?
"Ye Zheng, are you pleading guilty? Do you know what awaits you!"
Ye Fanjing looked at his daughter in disbelief, hoping she was just momentarily confused.
"You've shown so much evidence; it's time I took something out too."
Ye Zheng flipped her palm, a metal card clamped between her fingertips. "This is the identity card for Henry Jones, the supervisor of the Incubation Chamber
"I killed him first, then used this card to move freely through the base, discovering quite a few secrets—alright, Ye Fanjing, I won't say too much."
Ye Fanjing's eyes widened even more. For a moment, it was hard to tell if he was angrier about his daughter pleading guilty or her daring to call him by his full name.
The crowd in the court looked at this Saintess who openly admitted her guilt with bewildered and uncertain gazes, holding their breath as they waited for her to continue speaking.
"Ye Zheng, what are you trying to say? Your Honor, she admitted to killing my brother; you should convict her!" the middle-aged woman in the black hat said sharply.
"I did kill your brother, but Ye Fanjing and the Upper District Court have no right to convict me."
Ye Zheng raised the metal card in her fingertips. "He was working for the Sei Curia
"Yet you are judging me for the sake of imperial parasites, disasters, and true heretics. Do you really stand on the side of justice and truth?"
Ye Fanjing slapped the table with his hand, sternly saying, "Ye Zheng, you cannot prove the victim had a relationship with the Sei Curia. The court has already investigated; that base is private property and—"
"The base is the property of the Sei Curia."
The rapid, agitated words were interrupted by an abrupt voice. Ye Fanjing's pupils trembled as he stared at the open main doors of the hall. Someone walked in.
The leading man wore a satin white robe with a gentle temperament. Behind him followed a tall young boy and a robust knight.
Pope Wen Jian
"Judge Ye, the Sei Curia has been overwhelmed with matters in the West District
Wen Jian stood in the aisle, maintaining his usual gentle smile, but his eyes were extremely dark, devoid of any mirth."Hand Ye Zheng over to the Sei Curia. Judging her is the Sei Curia's job. We will return fairness to the victim."
Percy
On Friday night, he received a message from the Saintess's knight. The other party somehow knew he held information on Wen Jian and wanted to ally with him to threaten Wen Jian, using the Sei Curia's power to help Ye Zheng escape punishment.
Ye Zheng's people also seemed to hold some secret of Wen Jian's. Under the threat of both parties, Wen Jian voluntarily came with them to this court.
Percy stared at Wen Jian's back with slight worry, then looked at the straight-faced Knight Wen De
Transferring to the Sei Curia for judgment was like jumping from one fire pit into another; it only delayed the execution time.
Pope Wen Jian was only compromising temporarily. Their actions must have thoroughly angered him. He would certainly not let Ye Zheng off easily during the Sei Curia's trial.
Percy clenched his fists. The best way was to help Ye Zheng hide before the Sei Curia's trial. Although Ye Zheng had once almost killed him, she held many secrets, and he couldn't let her die now.
Suddenly, he turned his head and met Ye Zheng's gaze.
She was looking in his direction. Percy froze for a moment, then subconsciously gave her a reassuring and encouraging smile. Unexpectedly, his body tilted as someone shoved him aside.
"So lively. The Saintess's pomp is even bigger than mine, the Crown Prince
When Sykes's iconic blond hair burst into everyone's view, the people in the court were already numb with shock. This jury duty would absolutely be one of the most unforgettable experiences of their lives. Even a royal banquet might not have such a luxurious lineup!
Sykes barged into the court with several majestic knights. His expression was somewhat listless. He lifted his chin toward the person beside him, and a knight immediately stepped forward with documents.
"This David Green's identity is forged. He is not personnel from the base at all."
The crowd in the court went into an uproar instantly. After all that, this plaintiff wasn't even from that so-called base? He had absolutely no relation to the victim he claimed died so miserably?
The short, fat man standing in the plaintiff's box trembled, bowing his head in silence.
"His accusation is invalid. If the Sei Curia wants to judge the Saintess's crimes, I'm afraid they'll have to find someone else willing to file a lawsuit."
Sykes looked at Wen Jian with disgust, his face even more impatient than usual.
The gentle smile on Wen Jian's face stiffened, as if he sensed something was wrong.
When Ye Fanjing saw Sykes appear, he was almost moved to tears. The Emperor indeed still regarded him and Ye Zheng as family. The Crown Prince wouldn't watch his future fiancée be thrown into prison.
The plaintiff's identity was fake, and it was announced personally by the Crown Prince of the Empire. Ye Zheng's case could be suppressed!
Great, this matter was resolved so perfectly. His daughter, his daughter's great marriage, and his future were all saved!
Ye Fanjing hurriedly picked up the gavel from the floor, about to announce the end of this session, but the girl who had been silent for a long time suddenly spoke up.
"Mrs. Jones, I killed your brother. You can file a lawsuit against me again as the plaintiff."
Ye Zheng stared at the woman in the black dress in the witness stand. At this moment, there was no sadness on the woman's face, only the surprise of suddenly being named.
Ye Zheng understood completely.
Many people revealed puzzled expressions. Ye Fanjing wanted to rush to the front of the girl and ask what exactly was wrong with her.
The matter could clearly be put to rest; why did she want to convict herself so badly?
Doubt, confusion, and scrutinizing gazes surged toward Ye Zheng from all directions, while she stood silently in the very center of the tide.
At this moment, only Ye Zheng understood her own anger.
—The Emperor never intended to convict her for this matter from the start.
When Sykes appeared to hammer the final nail in the coffin for this incident, Ye Zheng finally understood. This event was just a display of power.
It was the Emperor beating down an unruly future daughter-in-law.
He was telling Ye Zheng that the Royal Family
Even Wen Jian was just a link in his beating. See how dangerous and untrustworthy the Sei Curia is? But the Royal Family can overlook past grievances and forgive all your sins.
The surrounding noise sounded like the roar of a receding tide, distancing itself. In the vast hall, it seemed as if she was the only one left.
Ye Zheng was thinking rapidly. What should she do next?
According to the original plan, if the trial was transferred to the Sei Curia, she had the ability and confidence to maneuver against Wen Jian.
But now she didn't need to waste effort battling wits with Wen Jian, because the matter had been smoothed over.
Was it really smoothed over? Even if the lawsuit was withdrawn, this incident had already caused immense damage to her reputation.
Ye Fanjing looked at his motionless daughter and couldn't help jumping off the platform to pull her. He wanted to lecture her severely, then drag her to thank His Highness Sykes.
Just as his hand grabbed Ye Zheng's arm, he was immediately pushed away forcefully.
Ye Zheng's indifferent gaze swept over her angry father, the impatient Sykes, the worried Wen De, the confused Percy...
Finally, she looked at the gloomy-faced Wen Jian.
"Wen Jian, I killed a member of the Sei Curia. You are qualified to prosecute me as the accuser."
Wen Jian revealed a surprised expression. He didn't understand why she would foolishly jump out when the Royal Family had already protected her.
"But I do not need you to judge me."
"I apply for—Divine Adjudication
Divine Adjudication: a method of judgment left to the gods. Those who pass are declared innocent by the god; those who fail, die.
Wen Jian stared at her for a moment and almost wanted to laugh out loud. Did she know that historically, almost no one had ever passed the Divine Adjudication?
His arch-enemy was actually sending herself to death. What reason did he have to refuse?
"Good! The god will not misjudge!" Wen Jian suppressed his excitement.
Ye Zheng stared at him and said, "I have only one request. Project my Divine Adjudication synchronously to every large district."
Wen Jian paused. He thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth. "I agree."
Ye Zheng breathed a sigh of relief. She pushed away her father who still wanted to grab her, jumped off the defendant's stand, passed the people with their varying expressions, and walked toward the main entrance of the hall.
She could have used the Emperor's "favor" this time to save herself, hide her light again, and wait for a time to strike back, just as she had done before.
But Ye Zheng had a premonition. In front of an absolute colossus, she could not retreat. Once she fell into the opponent's rhythm, it would be difficult to climb out again.
She could advance circuitously, but she must never retreat!
She wanted to reclaim the dignity and initiative that belonged to her in this Divine Adjudication!
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