Chapter 1283: Acting the Part
"I have no relationship to the theft you mentioned," Zac said. "As for why I triggered your treasure, I'm not at liberty to say."
Declaring himself a Holy Son had a huge chance of backfiring. He'd amassed no Imperial Faith and no item to corroborate his claim. He couldn't replicate the resonance from before even if he wanted to. In that moment, he'd truly believed he was the chosen of the Empyrean Chalice, and there'd been nothing in his heart to refute that claim. His conviction had affected reality, like how his Heart had formed a hatchet out of nothing.
"Forgive me if I cannot trust your word alone," the general responded.
"What about me? I am vouching for his innocence. Contact my master if you don't believe me," Joanna said.
Her assertion confirmed Zac's suspicion. It wasn't that the identity brand on other trial takers was hidden inside memory domains. It was rather that Joanna wasn't using a borrowed identity. Entering as herself was more than enough, at least to Imperial Soldiers who revered Godking Eyler.
"You did not arrive together," the Monarch countered. "You cannot guarantee that he did not come in contact with the heretics out of your sight. A thorough investigation and search of his belongings and person is the only way to prove his innocence."
Zac absolutely couldn't allow a search. There were many ways to hide treasures, so scanning his Spatial Ring couldn't fully absolve him of guilt. If anything, the unusual contents of his Spatial Rings would raise more questions than answers.
"So that's it," Joanna sneered, her face burning with righteous indignation. "It seems to me you're using the heist as an excuse to line your own pockets. Who's to say you haven't already retrieved the relic yourself?"
Zac played along by looking at the Monarch suspiciously. Her say-so wasn't enough to clear his name, but it might be enough to muddy the waters. There was hope so long as they could long as they could buy time. Escape was currently impossible, but that was because they were right in the middle of the memory domain. But so long as they could get closer to the edge…