Pop, pop, pop—
The radiance of the flashbulbs lit up consecutively. The many reporters in the spectator seats completely recorded down this scene. The tips of their pens rapidly flew across the paper pages, deeply afraid of missing any single sentence of dialogue.
Under the intimidation of Gu Yuan's Oppressive Aura, fine dense sweat seeped out of the prosecutor's back. Even so, he still chose to continue speaking:
"Lord Judge, I haven't finished reading here yet."
"...Read!"
"During this period, the defendant Han Meng actively contacted the Dusk Society, and the two sides completed a secret transaction after negotiation. When the Seven Great Districts lost the protection of the aurora, Han Meng abandoned District Three and defected alone to Aurora City, wanting to rely on his own Judgment talent to obtain an opportunity to enter the city.
After entering the city, according to the agreement negotiated by both sides, Han Meng betrayed the Enforcement System, colluding inside and out with the Dusk Society to open the gates of Aurora City, allowing the Heretic Chen Ling to sneak into the city.
After Six of Hearts Chen Ling entered the city, he completed self-immolation under the witness of the crowd, spreading the Plague virus on his body into Aurora City along with the dust. Thus completing a round of biochemical attack aimed at Aurora City..."
As these few sentences came out, everyone present couldn't sit still anymore. Especially those onlookers who had previously witnessed everything at the scene and came to the courtroom to watch the bustle. They were frightened to the point of standing up from their seats on the spot!
The courtroom abruptly fell into great chaos.
During this moment of chaos, the prosecutor took a deep breath, and spoke pausing after every word:
"To sum up the above, I propose that the defendant Han Meng... be sentenced to death by a thousand cuts!"
Chen Ling's face instantly became as cold as frost.
Thump——!!
A heavy gavel strike suppressed all the noise without a trace.
"Prosecutor." On Gu Yuan's palm holding the gavel, bulging blue veins had already popped out one by one. "These things you said, do you have evidence?"
"Here is a medical report issued by Frost Leaf Hospital. Within the recent seven days, there have already been over fifty consecutive virus infection incidents. Moreover, all these patients were onlookers who witnessed the self-immolation scene that day, and were relatively close."
"Then where are they?"
"As of yesterday, the last virus-infected person was already confirmed dead, and was cremated in the Crematorium."
"You mean to say, there are no living bodies or corpses carrying the virus available for inspection, only a piece of inspection certificate from Frost Leaf Hospital?"
"There is also a cremation certificate issued by the Crematorium. After all, it's currently unclear how this virus is transmitted. Cremating as soon as possible can prevent the virus from spreading."
"Then how did you determine that Han Meng had a secret transaction with the Dusk Society?"
"Underneath the mattress of the prison cell Han Meng was in, we discovered a Playing Card." The prosecutor paused for a moment,
"The Card Face of that Playing Card, is [Six of Spades]."
The entire venue once again erupted in shock.
"Hehe, this evidence is truly coincidental." Wen Shilin was after all a veteran newsman, and instantly sniffed out what was wrong within. "Frost Leaf Hospital, the Crematorium, those are all the Stars Chamber of Commerce's own properties. Even the so-called organ trading records were discovered underground in the Stars Chamber of Commerce... Do they know that the things they did can't be concealed, so they're conveniently dragging a Han Meng down into the water with them?"
"Casually stuffing a Playing Card into someone's space can frame the blame onto the Dusk Society's head." Chen Ling sneered chillingly. "So making someone dirty is this simple. No wonder the public reputation of the Dusk Society is so poor..."
"But I have to say, this move is truly ruthless... Utilizing people's panic towards the Plague, as well as their fear towards the Dusk Society, and supplementing it with the power of the media to catalyze and ferment it. With this, even if Han Meng is innocent, he won't be able to escape the sanctions of public opinion. Forced by pressure, the court also won't be able to easily hand down a verdict... Does this Han Meng have such a huge grudge with the Stars Chamber of Commerce?" Wen Shilin sighed deeply.
On the trial stand, Gu Yuan also slowly spoke:
"Prosecutor, relying merely on these fragmented pieces of evidence is insufficient to convict the defendant... I think you should be clear on this point."
"Lord Judge, with the matter concerning the Dusk Society, how could we gather such detailed evidence? For the stability and safety of Aurora City, I feel it's better to execute Han Meng as soon as possible."
The air suddenly fell into a stalemate.
"Defendant's defense." Gu Yuan's gaze fell on Han Meng's defense lawyer.
"Do you... have any evidence to list out, or anything to defend the defendant on?"
Before the trial session opened, Gu Yuan had already handed Tan Xin's letter to the defense lawyer. According to the original progression, as long as Gu Yuan finished stating the case, and the defense lawyer here displayed the letter, it would be able to completely erase Han Meng's two charges. Now, although the development of the matter was overly unexpected, that letter could at least help Han Meng clear up a large portion of the suspicion, explaining the reason for his opening of the gate.
The defense lawyer stood silently below the stand. After feeling the gaze falling from the prosecutor's side, he shook his head,
"No, I have nothing to defend."
Bang——
A soft sound transmitted out, and the wooden gavel in Gu Yuan's hand shattered on the spot.
"Very good..."
Gu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Then right now, how many people support executing Han Meng?"
The crowd looked at each other. Under the coercion of the prosecutor's gaze, several figures among the jury all raised their hands. Endless flashes of flashbulbs lit up, illuminating the entire courtroom.
Zhuo Shuqing originally also wanted to take photos, but after seeing Chen Ling sitting opposite him looking at him with a man-eating gaze, he still silently put down his camera, lowering his head and hunching his back like a quail.
Amidst the countless flashing lights, Han Meng stood silently in the defendant's seat. Upon that black prison uniform, shackles named "Framing" were placed on him one after another.
The gazes of everyone looking at him had changed. From their original confusion, curiosity, and support, they gradually changed into fear and disgust. The general public fundamentally didn't understand what the truth was, but at this moment they wished for nothing more than for Han Meng to be executed immediately, because this would make them feel reassured.
At the same time, the prosecutor's voice sounded once again: "Lord Judge, isn't it time to hand down the verdict?"
Gu Yuan's aged eyes slowly closed. He took a deep breath, and his deep voice echoed once again within the courtroom:
"Regarding the charges against the defendant Han Meng, the evidence is insufficient and the defense is insufficient. I declare that this trial is adjourned... Court will open again in two days, and the final verdict regarding the defendant Han Meng will be handed down."
Faced with so many vile charges, and under the situation where the defense lawyer was not acting, wanting to accomplish an innocent verdict for Han Meng was as difficult as ascending the heavens, let alone there were so many media reporters present... Under this situation, adjournment was the only way out, and also the best result.
"Why adjourn?!"
"Yeah, I also feel that there is a big problem with this Han Meng right now. Didn't they say that group of people from the Dusk Society are all criminal thugs? Why not execute him immediately?"
"He brought the Plague to Aurora City!! I was wondering why my throat has always been uncomfortable recently... Damn it!! I need to go to the hospital right now!"
"He is the main culprit of everything!!"
"..."
Even though the trial had been adjourned, the crowd didn't have the slightest intention of leaving. The ordinary masses in the spectator seats opposite stood up one after another, pointing at Han Meng in the defendant's seat and cursing angrily.
Within the chaotic courtroom, that figure wearing black prison clothes, not uttering a single word, had already suffered Unanimous Condemnation;
"Bullshit! Who dares to say Superior Han Meng is a criminal! I'll be the first to disagree!!" After adjournment, Zhao Yi obviously let loose. He led the crowd of District Three Survivors to begin exchanging curses with the opposite side. The scene was incomparably chaotic for a time!
Amidst this crazy hubbub and chaotic noise, Chen Ling, draped in a brown coat, silently stood up and walked out of the courtroom.
"Where are you going?" Wen Shilin asked in confusion.
Chen Ling didn't answer.
The corners of his coat lightly swayed with the wind. Amidst this Unanimous Condemnation, he lonely went upstream against the current. Back to back with the figure standing in the defendant's seat, he walked alone in silence...
A cold wind brushed past the main doors of the courtroom. Behind those seemingly gentle half-rimmed glasses, fury filled with killing intent flickered chillingly;