Chapter 476: Trial (5)
Chapter 474
Drawing in ragged breaths, Ray laid his eyes on Flinn. His gaze then flickered towards Berg, the drones, and finally back to Flinn.
"You said that I attacked you and tried to kill you in the process?"
Feeling the intense gaze resting on him, Flinn just wanted to be swallowed by the earth. Even so, he maintained his composure.
Ray couldn’t do anything to him here. Otherwise, he would prove the fears of humanity to be real, and he could be killed within the blink of an eye.
He could try to escape Captain Ella’s grasp, but Jack would definitely kill him without breaking a single bead of sweat.
So Flinn straightened himself.
"Did I tell a lie?"
"Of course not. I did attack you, I did try to kill you, I did beat you, and I did say those words you accused me of."
"Ray! What are you doing?!" Chloe shouted furiously.
Jack slammed his hand against the table.
"I won’t tolerate any interruptions henceforth. Keep yourselves in check, Aspirants."
Ray swallowed hard before tilting his head towards Flinn.
"But then, why didn’t you say the words you actually said to me that day that made me lose my temper? Why did you omit the exact same words you spoke to me that made me lose my cool?
"Oh. Did you also forget to inform everybody that you had wanted to attack me in the cafeteria that same day? Unprovoked, at that.
"If it wasn’t for Kai, you would have dealt with me alongside your goons."
Flinn was beginning to tremble slightly, but even so, he held himself together.
"I didn’t say anything. You want to make up—"
"—As a werewolf, we have incredible memories. We don’t forget things easily, so let me remind you."
[Anime weeb; that’s true.]
Ray turned his gaze towards the jury and began:
"These were his exact words on that day after he beat me into the dirt.
"’Look at you. Pitiful idiot.’"
He turned to look deep into Flinn’s eyes before continuing.
"’So useless that you are unable to defend your friend. Did you know?
"’I actually researched you after the incident at the canteen to know if you were someone to worry about. But I found out that you were a resident of Wall Rose.
"’The same wall that fell to the Abberants’ attack. Instead of staying to fight, you all fled like the cowards and weaklings you are.’
"
Ray paused for a moment, his tone rising with every sentence he uttered.
"’I don’t know what gives you the idea that you would even be of use in this war when you couldn’t even save your family. Pathetic.
"’You should have just died like the rest of your family and residents of Wall Rose. Because you are basically a disgrace to humanity, along with every single person from Wall Rose.’"
Ray gnashed his teeth deeply as he turned towards the jury.
"So tell me, how long was that Wall Rose incident? Maybe two weeks? I was just a fresh orphan. I had just recently lost my family, and my supposed comrade had such filth to say about my dead family?
"My dead people?
"He literally spat on their graves and efforts, and you expected me to keep quiet?
"No, tell me!"
Ray shouted as he turned his head from side to side, glaring at the audience.
"...If you were in my position as a fifteen-year-old boy who had just lost his family and someone decided to talk trash about them, wouldn’t you be angry?
"Wouldn’t you be furious?
"Wouldn’t you want to take revenge for what was said?"
"Still doesn’t justify wanting to kill him," Berg countered with a frown on his face.
"No, it doesn’t. But I was furious. We have all been furious at some point and done things we would regret afterwards, haven’t we, Berg? Or shall I remind you too?"
Ray asked with a tilt of his head.
Jack stared at them for several moments, most especially at Flinn, as he contemplated what to do when—
"Okay. Let’s accept Flinn di—"
"—Hang on."
Ray lifted his head slightly.
"I haven’t spoken about the fact that after that day, Aspirant Flinn and his goons ambushed me in the forest on my way back from getting some snacks."
The hall grew quieter.
"They attempted to take my life in that forest that day. And it was only by luck that I was able to defeat them and hold onto my life."
"Luck? Or your monster ability?" Berg countered, his brows furrowed.
"Call it whatever you want, Berg. The truth doesn’t change the fact that your so-called witness attempted to take my life because he was furious that he had lost face in front of everybody that day."
Ray’s voice trembled slightly.
"And if it wasn’t for my ’Monster ability’..."
He paused.
"If—if it wasn’t..."
Ray’s lips quivered as his face contorted into a sad expression.
He sniffed.
"...If it wasn’t because of it, I would have died that day. I wouldn’t be standing here today and would have gone to meet my family in the world beyond."
His gaze lowered.
"So Aspirant Flinn is equally a monster, as you all call me."
Ray lowered his head.
"I rest my case... for now."
Ray finished speaking and immediately dropped back down onto his knees, his head lowered as his silver hair fell over his face.
"...."
The hall was almost completely silent.
Only a few whispers could be heard spreading across the chamber as everyone watched with conflicted expressions on their faces.
Felix stared at Van before leaning closer.
"I think our friend is more than capable of defending himself, so I advise that we try our very best not to make things worse for him, okay?"
The Werewolf whispered.
Van gritted his teeth before answering through clenched teeth:
"I will try."
Jack turned his gaze towards Flinn.
"Aspirant Flinn, do you have something to say in your defense?"
Flinn trembled for a second as he felt the intense, judgmental stares from every corner of the chamber.
Cold sweat broke across his forehead.
"I-I-I didn’t do anything of su—"
BEEEEEP!
A loud sound blasted through the halls.
Jack’s face immediately scrunched up.
"Lies."
His gaze hardened.
"You just told a lie, and I warned you against doing such a thing."
Turning towards the Vanguard members, he nodded.
"Take him away."
"No—No—No, wait! I-I can explain..."
Flinn’s words trailed off as he was dragged away.
His friends sitting in the stands shrank back in fear as they watched the scene unfold.
Berg looked towards Flinn as he was dragged away before turning his gaze back to Ray, who wasn’t paying attention anymore.
"Aspirant Berg, do you have anything more to say?"
Berg inhaled, then exhaled quietly before nodding.
"Yes. A lot to say about the accused’s brutality and character."
He paused.
"He has done and said a lot of things that, if you heard them all today, you would stone him to death."
Jack tapped the side of his face.
"Do tell."