Chapter 473: Trial (2)
Chapter 471
Ray remained on his knees, locked to the metallic pole as he looked around as much as his neck allowed.
Luckily, he could still catch glimpses of his friends, the jury, Jack, and nearly half of the spectator stands.
He felt like he could stand upright if he wanted to.
The bindings weren’t particularly tight around him.
Perhaps the Vanguard members had taken pity on him after everything he had been through over the past few weeks.
Or perhaps they simply didn’t believe he would try to escape.
Either way, Ray wasn’t interested in testing them.
".... Let the trial begin!"
Ray’s heart skipped a beat at those words.
Still, he remained calm, keeping his head lowered.
His friends immediately laid eyes on him, and all their chests tightened the longer they stared.
Even though Ray was wearing a fresh pair of black pants, a sleeveless shirt, and boots, he still looked almost miserable.
His silver hair had grown noticeably longer during his imprisonment, falling around his face.
Van clenched his hands across his lap as he stared at his best friend, locked down like some sort of criminal or livestock.
He gritted his teeth but chose to remain calm.
Kai, on the other hand, was staring directly at Berg and the three people sitting beside him.
He was unsettled by the arrogant Legacy’s presence.
When they had been separated and brought to this stand, the cohort hadn’t been told why they were being placed there.
They had simply been instructed to sit where they were and remain there throughout the trial.
No explanation.
Nothing.
At first, Kai had assumed it was because they were Ray’s friends.
Perhaps the authorities wanted them present because of their connection to him.
But that deduction flew out of the roof the moment he laid eyes on Berg.
’Then what could be the reason?’
Kai’s gaze narrowed slightly.
"Aspirant Ray Dawson."
Jack’s voice echoed through the chamber.
"You stand trial before the jury and the whole world for the fact that you are a monster—a race we thought to be nothing more than a myth."
Jack paused.
"And not only were you hiding among us like a normal human—"
"—I am a normal human."
Ray interrupted without even lifting his head.
The entire chamber seemed to tighten for a moment.
Jack paused.
His expression didn’t change in the slightest.
"I would advise you not to interrupt or speak unless you are called upon."
His words carried a slight chill.
Ray scoffed inwardly.
’Whatever.’
He lowered his head again and remained silent.
Jack continued.
"Now, you are charged with being a monster, hiding among us as though you were one of us, causing disruption during your time in the Corps, and ultimately standing trial before us today so we can determine what is to be done with you."
He paused as he looked down at the document in his hands.
"You could very well be a threat to humanity."
Jack scanned the document for another moment before looking toward the jury.
Then his eyes returned to Ray.
"So, how do you plead?"
Ray remained silent.
He didn’t give an immediate reply.
He simply breathed in and out slowly for several moments.
Then—
He slowly lifted his head.
His grey eyes met Jack Kyre’s.
"Not guilty of all you accuse me of."
Jack inhaled before giving a small nod.
"Very well, then."
He shifted his attention away from Ray.
"Bring in our first witness for the day."
Ray lowered his head once more.
He didn’t bother trying to figure out who would step forward.
He would find out soon enough.
Several seconds passed.
Then—
Creak.
The massive double doors at the far end of the chamber opened.
A figure was led into the room.
Footsteps echoed across the metallic floor as the person was escorted forward.
And then—
He stopped.
Three metres away from where Ray was locked to the metallic pole.
It was an Aspirant.
His hands were folded behind his back as he stood stiffly in place.
His eyes moved nervously between Jack Kyre and the members of the jury.
"State your name."
"I’m Marcus, sir."
"And you are an Aspirant of the Corps?"
Marcus nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Jack pointed toward the chained Ray.
"Do you know him? I mean personally. Have you ever interacted with him?"
Marcus glanced at Ray for a few seconds before turning back toward the head of the Kyre family.
"I don’t know him personally, but I have seen him around the Corps a few times and even on the battlefield. Aspirant Dawson had helped us tremendously when we were battling th—"
"—You are to only answer what you have been asked, Aspirant Marcus."
Jack cut the boy off with a stern look.
Marcus gulped silently before lowering his head slightly.
"I’m sorry, sir."
Jack nodded.
"Good."
He glanced down at the document before looking back at Marcus.
"Now, were you there when he transformed into whatever he was?"
"Yes. I was."
"Kindly describe what you saw that day."
Marcus glanced at Ray for a second.
Then he inhaled deeply.
As he exhaled, his expression became solemn.
"That day, it was hopeless for any of us. We had thrown everything we had at the Five-Spined Abberant, yet nothing we did could even hope to damage her.
"Even Aspirant Dawson, who was the heavy hitter among us, tried his hardest and threw everything he had at her.
"Yet nothing."
Marcus paused.
His hands tightened behind his back.
"And when we couldn’t satisfy her any longer, the Abberant turned around and went on a killing spree. She didn’t give a damn about any of us. She just began ripping through Aspirants left and right."
He paused again.
His eyes briefly glazed over as though he were reliving the entire day all over again.
Then, he continued.
"...With no other option left for us, Aspirant Ray bolted after her. We tried stopping him, but he wouldn’t listen."
Marcus swallowed.
"He gave chase until he caught up to her while she was about to kill another Aspirant in the middle of a street."
His gaze lowered.
"That was when he made the tough decision to—to transform."
His voice trembled slightly.
"His transformation saved the Aspirant who was about to meet his end that day."
The jury members quietly took notes.
Some exchanged whispers among themselves.
Of course, everyone had already seen the footage of the battle that day.
Over and over again.
They had seen the chase.
They had seen Ray’s transformation.
They had seen what followed afterward.
But this testimony was still necessary.
Jack looked back toward Marcus.
"And was anybody hurt during this transformation?"
Marcus thought for a few seconds before shaking his head.
"Not that I can think of."
Jack nodded.
He then pointed toward the side of the chamber.
"That will be all for now, Aspirant."
Marcus immediately straightened.
He saluted before walking toward the side of the chamber and taking his place.
Ray remained where he was, his head lowered, saying nothing.
Jack turned toward the chamber.
"Call in the next Aspirant!"