Chapter 478: Trial (7)
Chapter 476
Soon, the double doors could be heard cracking open.
"Welcome, my special witness, you all—Bryce Jackson."
Tak. Tak. Tak. Tak.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the trial room, which was as silent as a graveyard except for the approaching footsteps.
Who didn’t know Bryce Jackson?
The leader of a tech faction whose influence and power could make him rise to the position of one of the Big Four if given the chance.
In this world, the Big Four weren’t the only ones with power and influence capable of swaying public opinion.
Unfortunately, Bryce’s faction wasn’t a combat one.
Walking into the room, the man stopped directly beside Berg with a small smirk on his face as he stared straight ahead.
Van and Kai exchanged brief, nervous looks before turning to glance at Ray, who wasn’t looking in the man’s direction but instead at his friends.
Seeing their gazes on him, the Tribrid slowly shook his head, signaling them not to do anything stupid.
"The hell is he shaking his head for?" Van whispered angrily as he glared furiously at his friend.
Kai sighed and lightly slammed his palm against his face.
"You are usually the one with the brains among us. Why can’t you use that big brain of yours and see that he is telling us not to interfere any longer?"
Felix, with his incredible hearing, turned his head towards the beautiful Legacy.
"Meaning? Why shouldn’t we do so? I don’t know if you forgot, but I remember what we did to that man over there. And knowing how Berg is, the truth is about to be twisted in Ray’s face, and we shouldn’t interfere?"
Van’s brows drew closer in worry.
"... They are about to lie about Ray, so it will be better if we expose that evil man be—"
Kai shook his head.
"Throw your emotions away for a moment and think deeply and critically. Why would Ray ask us not to interfere? You think he doesn’t know what is about to happen?"
Van thought for a few seconds, his mind churning as he tried to come up with an explanation for Ray’s attitude.
Nothing came to mind until a memory of that incident flashed through his mind.
Van’s eyes stretched wide in horror as he turned his gaze towards his best friend, whose attention had shifted to Bryce.
A murderous look that could freeze anybody in their position appeared in Ray’s eyes, his fingers faintly crackling with lightning for a few seconds.
"Re-Revenge. But how will he do that here? He-He will just prove everybody ri—"
The corner of Kai’s lips lifted upward as he stared intently into Ray’s eyes.
"Just don’t interfere, no matter what."
Caster stared at Ray, his gaze not failing to catch the faint crackle of lightning in the boy’s eyes.
’Huh? His eyes only crackle that way when he is immensely furious. Even when Berg was accusing him, he didn’t have this sort of reaction. Does he really have a history with Bryce?’
Bryce stopped beside Berg with a faint smile on his face.
Even the livestream was exploding with comments.
[Viewer 123: Wow! Bryce Jackson? I must have done something in my past life to deserve to see two famous people standing in the same room.]
[Goon lord: Wow. He looks splendid... as expected from one of the famous faction leaders.]
[Jimmy_Parker: But what does he have to say here today?]
[Bonny’s Lover: Who knows?]
[Proud Hater: And who the fuck cares? Fucking execute this werewolf already and get it done with, damn it. Is it until he harms us all here?]
[Anime Weeb: Exactly. All the evidence and testimonies that Aspirant spoke of since the machine didn’t react, it means he’s speaking the truth.
We already have enough to convict and execute him, so what are we waiting for?]
Bonny read these comments with a worried expression on her face.
She turned to glance at Ray on his knees with a pitiful look in her eyes.
’You saved a lot of lives that day, and to think humanity wants you executed. How will you prove your innocence now and survive?’
Looking at Bryce Jackson below him, Jack nodded.
"Bryce Jackson, you have something to say about the accused?"
The man didn’t rush to react. Instead, he turned to look at Ray, whose hands had tightened into fists, his eyes almost glowing with murderous rage.
The image of a battered Van kept flashing through his mind.
Then another image surfaced.
Bryce standing in front of his best friend with a gun, ready to fire and finish him off.
Ray’s blood boiled.
Unknowingly, a killing intent like never before began pouring out of him, his entire body tensing as the memory threatened to overwhelm whatever restraint he had left.
But just as quickly as the killing intent began to rise, Ray swiftly regained control over his emotions.
He drew in a deep breath.
Then another.
Slowly, he calmed himself, forcing his clenched fists to loosen as he fought to suppress the fury burning within him.
’No. Not here, not now.’
His eyes narrowed.
’But soon....’
" Yes, I do."
Bryce turned his attention back to Jack Kyre.
Then, with a solemn look on his face, he began looking around the chamber as if he wanted every single eye in the room—and every person watching from home—to remain focused on him.
"A few months ago, probably six or seven months ago, I made a diplomatic visit to the Aspirant Corps, as I always do every year.
Every year, the Corps is to present me with tech geniuses who could very well serve in my faction, and I help showcase them to the world."
Taking a step forward, he straightened his blazer, maintaining the composed demeanor of an influential faction leader.
"This time, however, seven months ago, I had gone to the Corps for something different. I wasn’t after some young genius. Instead, I was after a piece of technology I had assigned the tech instructor of this institution to help create."
"This tech, what is it?" Jack asked with a lifted brow.
"... I mean, aside from the Blue family, your faction is the next biggest tech faction we have. So what sort of technology would the tech instructor of the Corps be able to build for you that even the brightest minds in your faction couldn’t build?"
The corner of Ray’s lips lifted upward.
His eyes remained fixed on Bryce.
And for the briefest moment, he saw it.
The back of Bryce’s legs shook.
Only for a split second.
But Ray caught it.
Van’s face brightened as he stared at the man’s back for several moments.
’Now I want to see you lie your way ou—’
"Unfortunately, such information is confidential. All the trial room today can know is that this tech will better the lives of thousands."
Jack’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Doubt began filling his mind as he tilted his head to the side.
"And you can’t tell us what this tech is? Why?"
The corner of Bryce’s lips twitched into a slight frown, but he regained his composure the very next moment.
"Pardon me, but if I were to say it out in front of millions watching—and I have no doubt that the other Big Four, including the Blue family, are watching—don’t you think my idea could be stolen right here and now?"
Bryce paused briefly before continuing.
"You yourself said that aside from the Blue family, I’m the next person in line when it comes to technology. I can’t have my rivals stealing my ideas, so pardon me, as I wouldn’t be able to expose myself here."
"...."
Van clenched his hands across his lap, his teeth gnashing angrily as he stared at Bryce’s back.
’That lying, scheming bastard. How do you want to say it aloud that it’s a nuke? Tsk.’
"Don’t act irrationally. Let him be because we have no proof against someone of his influence."
Kai leaned in and whispered the words while keeping his gaze fixed on Jack’s expression.
The head of the Kyre family remained silent for several moments.
His eyes stayed on Bryce as he seemed to weigh the man’s words carefully.
After a few moments of deep thought, Jack simply nodded.
"Very well then. Carry on."