Chapter 947. Trial (6)
‘Fuckin’ bastard.’
Asshole.
‘Demon-summoning bastard.’
Jerk.
‘Jin Cheong, you jerk.’
There was truly no one on my side.
‘In the end, people really are alone in the world, damn it.’
It felt like Ji-Hye noona, Park Deok-Gu, and Kim Hyun-Sung had turned their backs on me. Jung Ha-Yan and Han Sora weren't around. I assumed they were enjoying their time with the new recruits, who had disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
The jurors looked strange, so I assumed that they had been bribed or something.
Perhaps the build-up to this point was too perfect.
The series of processes that would undoubtedly transform Gen into a criminal was making me feel suffocated. I started wondering what it would have been like if I had left out at least one of those processes.
If I hadn't left a note when I got kidnapped...
If I hadn't stayed for such a long time in that desolate, abandoned building...
If I had avoided that strange incident in the city...
Those incidents popped up in my mind, but I knew better than anyone that regret was meaningless at this point.
‘It was too perfect. Too perfect, damn it.’
The way Jin Cheong was sitting with his chin raised arrogantly made me feel angry. I was annoyed by his attitude, as he was basically telling me that he was going to win in the end, no matter what I would do against him.
It was like he was telling me that I could struggle as much as possible, but it wouldn't matter because I was in the palm of his hand anyway. He looked satisfied and smug; he also looked like he was finally relieving the stress that had accumulated over the years.
‘Ah, he’s really annoying. Damn it.
I had to say something because I couldn’t ruin the second trial.
“It was all because of his twisted concept of belief. If you’ve sinned, you must take responsibility for the sin that has twisted your feelings for Goddess Benigoa.
"Templar Simon and Father Yohan had taken advantage of his belief to control him. They used his desperate wish of wanting to stand beside Goddess Benigoa, transforming him into a puppet. Must he take responsibility? Must he be blamed for his desperate feelings of wanting to serve Goddess Benigoa?” I asked.
“It is undeniable that he committed a crime,” Jin Cheon said casually.
“It was a mistake. It’s true that he had made a mistake, but it doesn’t mean that he had sinned,” I argued.
'He did drink, but he didn’t drink and drive, damn it.'
“Father Yohan and Templar Simon are the ones who must take responsibility for his mistakes. The independent Templars are the ones responsible for the incident, and the suspect is nothing more than a small cogwheel in their grand scheme,” I explained. “...”
“I’d like to ask if a scapegoat is what you really need or if you’re looking for someone to vent out your anger. Let’s think about the mistake William the Mage had made two years ago.
"Let’s talk about that incident here. All William did was cast a spell and throw it at the designated place, but he ended up destroying a village due to the Magic Tower's mistake. At the time, no one held him accountable,” I said.
Framing Templar Simon and Father Yohan was the only way I could win here. It was an outcome I had been building up since the first trial, and I happened to have a good precedent.
“Objection, Your Honor. Father Lee Ki-Young's example has nothing to do with the current case,” Jin Cheong argued.
“Objection overruled. Please continue,” the judge said.
“The observers of the Magic Tower and the signalman on duty at the time ignored the protocols and were promptly punished for the deaths of those civilians. No one blamed William. No one. They actually comforted him and sympathized with his pain.
"How is Templar Gen different from him? All he did was carry out his tasks like he always does. I believe that’s faith and a path to reach Goddess Benigoa; he simply carried out the holy mission he has received,” I explained.
The problem was that this statement was flawed.
I glanced at Jin Cheong and saw that he was shrugging with his arms spread out exaggeratedly. I bit my lips because he looked like he knew I was going to deploy this card against him.
‘This bastard already knows what I'm going to do.’
“Father Lee Ki-Young’s statement doesn’t make sense, Your Honor,” Jin Cheong argued.
“...”
“Haha. He sold his rosario of the Goddess Benigoa to the black market. Do you consider that as faith in Her as well?!” Jin Cheong yelled.
‘This asshole.’
“He abandoned Goddess Benigoa, Father Lee Ki-Young. How dare you try to defend the one who had sold their rosario to the black market by saying that their actions are born from faith? You’re too innocent,” he said.
“D-Do you have evidence?” I asked.
“We have a copy of the ledger that shows how the suspect had sold his rosario to the black market. I’ll submit it as evidence, Your Honor,” Jin Cheong replied.
“It’s the ledger of the black market. It’s unreliable evidence, and it cannot be submitted as evidence,” I argued.
— How disgraceful, Lee Ki-Young.
"You can’t submit something like that as evidence, Commander Jin. Got it? How dare you fabricate evidence."
“Templar Gen had sold his rosario for three hundred and fifty gold coins to buy a new identity and everyday supplies. My statement does make sense. How dare you accuse him of throwing away the symbol of the Goddess when he was doing it for his mission of faith?
"The Vatican surely knows what the rosario means, and you can’t claim that he committed a crime for the sake of his faith,” I said.
“Where’s that rosario? The evidence has to be clear. Even if that ledger is real, we can't say for sure whether it’s the same ledger that contains information about Templar Gen selling his rosario,” the judge said.
— This must be the only thing you have up your sleeve, Lee Ki-Young. Did you really think you’d be able to buy time with nothing but a rosario?
"It’s not over yet, Commander Jin. You’re too relaxed and complacent."
— What a ridiculous bluff. Don’t think I’m going to fall for it.
'You’re right. I am bluffing, damn it.'
"You’re the one who’s really disgraceful, Commander. If you didn’t bring proper evidence with you, then you shouldn’t have submitted any evidence in the first place. You’re so disgraceful showing off with half-assed evidence. Was that the best you could do?"
— I don’t think the jurors think that way.
I felt like I'd instantly look away as soon as my gaze met with any of the jurors, so I simply rolled my eyes and caught a glimpse of the jurors' shocked faces. The religious jurors were especially affected. It was understandable, as I was basically arguing that Templar Gen had sold his rosario to fulfill his mission of faith for Goddess Benigoa.
‘Damn it.’
— You would have had a chance of winning if you had won over the religious jurors. What a shame.
"I said it’s not over yet, Commander. You’ve really put your guard down. Don't tell me you've already forgotten how you ended up losing everything after acting like this the last time we played this game? I guess you've forgotten, as you were resurrected."
— You only talk big because you’re scared.
"From my experience, losers talk big as well."
— Hmph.
What kind of reaction was that?
"Anyway, let’s see if things really go your way. We’ll see."
— I don’t care what kind of tricks you have up your sleeve. The evidence is clear, and you can't possibly wiggle your way out of this.
'He's right, damn it. I don’t think I have a way out of this.'
The evidence was clear, and everything was going his way.
Just like the first trial, I couldn't achieve much in the second trial. The defense was in a hopeless state for quite a while now. It was to the point that they suggested we go with getting a reduced sentence instead.
‘No, we have to win no matter what.’
Jin Cheong's way of talking changed drastically upon realizing that he was winning, and I could already imagine what was going to happen as soon as I lost this trial. He’d get on my nerves every day with that arrogant face of his, and he'd provoke me every day by mumbling that the trial was easier than he thought.
“The defense’s argument makes sense. It’s not clear enough of an evidence,” the judge said.
‘Nice.’
"Look, Commander Jin. How dare you submit such a useless item as evidence? Hey, Commander Jin. You think the court is a joke? You think the Sacred Democratic Country’s courthouse is your playground or something?"
— It’s only a matter of time. This is just a minor accident that will not affect the overall trend.
He looked calm right now, but he definitely couldn't see this as a "minor accident." I was certain of that, as he was a perfectionist, after all.
He was right. This "minor accident" would not affect the overall trend, but this "minor accident" meant that there was a flaw in his argument.
Once he found out that I was trying to frame Templar Simon and Father Yohan for this case, he definitely wouldn't be able to ignore this so-called "minor accident."
‘He's acting like he's calm, but he’s bothered by it.’
“The trial is adjourned and will resume in two days,” the judge announced.
— The next trial will be the last one, Lee Ki-Young.
"You mean it’ll be your last trial, Commander?"
— I don’t know how much time you can buy with that card, but since you desperately want to buy some time for yourself, then I’ll play along and give you some time.
'Stop talking nonsense. I know you’re really worried. You’re nervous right now despite pretending like you’re not. You should know that since you’ve already tasted what it feels like to get stabbed in the back. You will play along and will desperately try to find that rosario first.'
I hadn't said anything about it, but...
‘I need to find that rosario before him.’
It’d be best if I ended up obtaining that rosario in the end.
Actually, there was something else that would be truly the best.
‘It can be said that I've already lost.’
Everyone was aware of that as well.
The jurors no longer listened to me. The denizens and the religious figures of the Vatican were all taking their anger out on Templar Gen. The series of events was just so perfect that I couldn't see an opening at all, which infuriated me.
Even if there were an opening, I’d also be pressed for time.
'Damn it, I'm gonna lose. I’ll lose at this rate.'
“Sub Guild Master,” Kim Mi-Young called out.
“Yes, Miss Kim Mi-Young?” I answered.
“I’m sorry for telling you this... but about our suggestion—”
“No, I don’t want a reduced sentence. We have to win this case no matter what,” I interrupted.
“I’m sorry for my lack of skills,” Miss Kim Mi-Young said.
“No, you’re doing more than enough,” I told Miss Kim Mi-Young.
'I did it a bit too well. You didn’t do anything wrong. Being able to come this far is already a miracle, and I feel bad because she lost a lot of weight over this case.'
“Please find the rosario first. We must move faster than that Republican beast. Head to the black market right now, and I’ll dispatch... Lee Chang-Ryeol and Belier,” I instructed her.
“Yes, sir.”
“Additionally, please prepare for the next trial with the defense. You don’t have to report every little thing to me. Do what you think is best, Miss Kim Mi-Young,” I added.
“But—”
“I haven’t given up on the trial. I need to find a way to win,” I interrupted her.
To be exact, I had to find a way to turn the tables; this wasn't just about winning and losing anymore. I thought about it many times, but I thought this was the most reasonable method available to me.
If I couldn't win, then I couldn't let Jin Cheong win either.
I had to make sure that he'd lose as well.
‘Damn it.’
It was an ambitious outlook, but it would allow me to commit irresponsible acts without any hesitation.
It was 2:33 a.m., and I realized that this was the only way.
Just like that, I had no choice but to visit our Hyun-Sung.
“I’ll get straight to the point, Mr. Hyun-Sung,” I said.
“Yes?”
“Please help Templar Gen get out of here,” I requested.
'You understand what I’m saying, right? Help him escape from prison. I know you can do it.'
“I won’t meet him ever again,” I added.
'If you do this for me, I won’t hang out with him anymore. I’ll only hang out with you.'
“Please help him live freely. I beg you,” I said.
'I’ll cut ties with him and you’ll be my brother again. We’ll be best friends with a strong bond. If you help me with this, all of that will be yours again. You’ll get it back. I know that I’ve been neglecting you recently, so I’ll give all of that back to you.'
It was a trade that even elementary school students would find childish, but the corner of Kim Hyun-Sung’s lips quivered slightly at my offer.