Silent Crown

Chapter 422 Sudden Change

"Objection! The prosecutor's witness is slandering without any evidence!"

Induced by Bastian, Miller continued no matter how Aldrich roared or retorted. He did not stop until he completely broke Ye Qingxuan's 'saintly disguise' and smeared on a layer of vile blackness.

He did not say anything afterward. There was nothing else to say.

"Thank you for your support of justice and the law." Bastian patted his shoulder. "I know that you are under great pressure to stand here. You've worked hard and can rest now."

After a long while, Miller raised his head blankly, glanced at him, and let the guard lead him away. When he was at the door, he heard Ye Qingxuan's voice behind him.

"Miller."

He paused but did not look back.

"I don't hate you," Ye Qingxuan said quietly as he stared at his friend's back. "I know how painful it is for you to stand here and can guess what has happened. It is because of me; it is my fault."

Miller laughed emptily and walked away quickly with his head lowered. His figure was frail and hunched as if he was crushed by something.

Ye Qingxuan lowered his eyes sadly. Behind him, Bastian's lips curled up and the coldness in his eyes grew.

This was only the beginning. There was still a lot of time.

The first trial, retrial, third trial…he had many gifts prepared. Bit by bit, Ye Qingxuan would collapse psychologically. When he clearly understood how much pain he had brought to the people beside him, he would end things in his own cell without anyone's urging.

He tapped his finger lightly and smiled.

-

In the jury, Maxwell was expressionless. He glanced at Lancelot in the audience and nodded slightly. Lancelot looked down at his watch. He took a deep breath and made his decision.

He rose and left.

Soon, beside Aldrich, the student's aether ball shone. After studying it for a bit, he looked relieved and murmured something to Aldrich. His mouth opened soundlessly but his anger dissipated. Cruelty emerged in the old man's eyes as well as a chilling glint. Bastian froze. For some reason, he got a bad feeling.

"Your Honor!" Aldrich looked up and stated, "We also request to call for a witness."

"Objection! Wit…" Bastian reflexively tried to stop Aldrich but he trailed off halfway through. What could he protest? That the witness was not on the list and this broke the rules? He had broken the rule first earlier…If he tried to argue on this fact, he would not win anything.

Judge Borja could not support him either. He had allowed for Bastian's request earlier. If he stopped Anglo now, he would seem biased. Anglo could then target that and even say that the judge was keeping the court from being just. So how could he stop them?

The gears in Bastian's mind spun. Countless laws flashed past his mind and he suddenly raised his hand. "Your Honor! I request that the witness's identity and credit are investigated before appearing to ensure credibility!" He paused and gazed at Aldrich meaningfully. "After all, this is the Sacred Court. If the defender grabbed a random passerby because he was losing, it would be disgraceful!"

Bastian requested the court to check the witness's identity before appearing in court. He must have the advantage and never become passive! He did not know what evidence Anglo had but while the court was investigating the witness, he could have time to get ready. If he dragged things on purposely, the entire process could last up to thirty minutes.

Half an hour? For an examiner of the Amnesty Ministry, it was enough to check the witness's entire background and make the right preparations. At that time, Anglo would lose the advantage of suddenness and instead become passive.

Hearing this, Borja nodded slightly and raised the gavel but his actions froze.

"A random passerby?" Hoarse coughing traveled from outside the door. "Is that what I am now?" The door was thrown open. An old man hobbled in with a cane. No guards stopped him; no one dared to stop him. As everyone looked in shock, Bastian froze and his expression stiffened as if he had seen a ghost.

After disappearing for half a month, the man seemed to have aged decades. He was even older than before—withered and decayed like a dead man who refused to stay in the coffin. He remained on this world because of his stubbornness and discontent, refusing to die.

Now, he wore the Church robe he had not worn in a long time. The black robe was lined with faint gold. He wore a black headpiece and old rosary beads were wrapped around his wrist. A holy emblem hung from it, swaying as he walked. It looked as if he was attending a solemn ceremony.

Leaning on his cane, he moved slowly into the court. He walked to the witness stand under everyone's shocked scrutiny. He glanced at Bastian with disdain and finally to the pale Borja.

"Now, if anyone still doubts my identity and credibility, please feel free to come investigate me. If you think that my status as a bishop is not enough, what if we add the title 'Commander of the Witch Hammer'?"

The silence dragged on. Borja did not speak but his expression changed dramatically. After a long while, he took off his glasses and studied the old man at the witness stand.

"Father Michel, according to customs, I should bow to you. However, this is the Sacred Court. As the judge, I cannot lower myself to anyone. Please forgive me." His voice was a bit raspy. "Have you thought clearly what you are doing? Why are you here?!" The last word was practically an interrogation.

"Why?" In the witness stand, the dying old man coughed lightly. Hearing Borja's question, he looked up and smiled. "Didn't I tell you? I am here as a witness."

The director of the Ministry of Information, the archbishop of the Sacred City, the commander of the Witch Hammer—Michel Grey—had appeared in court!

There were finally surprised cries in the audience. As the commander of the Ministry of Information, Michel had been bedridden and had not appeared publicly in a long while. Other than a handful of people, no one could recognize him.

Those who did recognize him thought they were hallucinating.

The Ministry of Information! The director of the Ministry of Information! The director of the Ministry of Information was appearing as a witness for Anglo!

Was this a f*cking joke?!

"Is he crazy?" The low murmur of the audience could no longer be kept down, despite Borja's pounding of the gavel. People rose and left continuously to report this shocking news to their organizations. This was as bizarre as if Hyakume and the Sacred City suddenly held hands and became good friends!

The Ministry that had raised Colt as a hero, the Ministry that had kicked Ye Qingxuan into hell, the Ministry that had sacrificed so much to save Colt, the Ministry that had six musicians killed by Ye Qingxuan, the Ministry that had lost dozens of Witch Hammer members…The Ministry whose last bit of dignity was torn apart by Ye Qingxuan before the Sacred City gates… Michel had appeared as Ye Qingxuan's witness! Was he crazy?!

Even the jurors stared at each other blankly. Finally, they looked at Maxwell in shock. He just looked down at the doodles on his paper as if spacing out. He had already experienced this shock days ago.

That day, when he and Lancelot had realized that the one who had snuck into the Anglo embassy and walked into the office was Michel, he had thought he was hallucinating. He even thought that it was the Ecclesiastical Order's evil plot. He could not believe it.

This great card should be left to the end but he had not expected that the Ecclesiastical Order would do everything they could to kill Ye Qingxuan. Even Miller, who came from a renowned family in the Sacred City, was forced to bow under their pressure, let alone others…

If they dragged things on, the matter would only worsen. Maxwell and Lancelot were forced to show this card early. They would also have to pay greatly for it…

-

After the long silence, Borja said hoarsely, "Because the Sacred Court does not have any precedents or related procedures, I did not prepare fully for this. It is my mistake and I will shoulder all responsibilities." He pounded his gavel. "Adjourn for thirty minutes."

"No need." Michel lowered his cloudy eyes and said, "If I'm not wrong, you will receive an order from the Papal Chamber very soon."

Three seconds later, a bell rang in the distance with an indifferent voice.

"Continue."

The radiance of the holy emblem descended from the heavens onto the courtroom. It projected a long table with seven figures behind it. They were robed and their faces were stern. It was the Cardinals!

"Judge Borja," one of the figures said, "Under His Highness's order, the Cardinals will witness this event. There is no need for any concern. Please continue."

Borja's expression changed. After a long while, he pounded his gavel and rasped out, "Continue."

Thus, Michel let out a relieved smile on the witness stand.

"Here, I surrender myself to the Sacred City." He placed his headpiece beside himself, revealing his sparse white hair and ugly scalp. "Everything Ye Qingxuan did was under my command. Because of his position, he was forced to help me. I am willing to take all responsibility and pay for my actions."

The audience erupted!

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