Chapter 479: Trial (8)
Chapter 477
"Very well, go on."
The corner of Bryce’s lips curved into a wicked smile.
Subtle, yet dangerous.
Berg took a few steps backward as all attention was currently on Bryce.
Nobody was paying him any attention whatsoever.
Not the audience.
Not the public.
Not Jack.
Not even the jury.
Hence, he was able to quietly excuse himself backward until he was directly beside where Ray was chained.
His eyes scanned the whole hall.
A few members of the Vanguard Order were staring in his direction, but none of them seemed concerned enough to stop him.
This position was good enough.
Berg leaned slightly toward Ray and opened his mouth, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"I made some research, so I know how advanced your hearing is."
The moment those words left his mouth, Ray’s gaze shifted toward him.
Berg’s smirk deepened.
"... Did you think that if the Corps is dumb or didn’t have the power, I wouldn’t be able to find out what happened months ago? Tch. I had to make my father summon Bryce today because that’s the nail on the coffin I need to send you to some scientists forever and out of my life."
Ray didn’t reply immediately.
His eyes slowly rolled toward where his friends were seated.
He studied them for a brief moment before turning his attention back to Berg.
"I’m curious when you began using your brains more. I can’t believe that you were the same hotheaded fool of a few months ago who would rather punch than speak."
Berg’s lips lifted into a smirk.
"... When you realize that not all problems involve brawns, you will be forced to learn how to use your brains more."
"Good. I hope your—"
Ray paused.
His lips closed as he shook his head.
Berg grinned.
"Go on. Threaten me. I know you want to so desperately, so go ahead. Give me more ammunition to send you to the gallows."
Ray clicked his tongue.
He didn’t bother answering.
Instead, his gaze returned to Bryce.
The man was ready to speak.
Berg leaned closer for one final moment.
"Just know this, Ray. You aren’t surviving this mess today. So, in advance, I wish you a good life in the afterlife. And if you come back again in the next life, I hope you will learn to know your place and respect those above you. Goodbye."
And with that, Berg moved away from the Tribrid with a satisfied grin.
"So, what do you have to say?" Jack asked as Bryce remained quiet for a few moments.
Clearing his throat, the man straightened his blazer before beginning.
"Like I said, I made a diplomatic visit to the Corps to come get what I paid for. And to answer your previous question; Elysa wasn’t the sole creator of what I needed.
I had my men work on it in my factory, and the parts they couldn’t work on, I sent to her to have a look.
What I didn’t know was that she had her students have a look at it too, and with their help, she was able to get what I needed working to finally complete my tech.
And one of these Aspirants was that kid."
Bryce lifted his hand and pointed directly toward Van.
All eyes immediately turned toward the boy.
Van squeezed his hands tightly across his lap, his expression remaining tense beneath the weight of the attention suddenly directed at him.
"Ahem..."
Bryce cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention back toward himself.
"... According to Elysa, the kid’s brain was unlike anything she had ever seen before. He was a tech genius, even better than her.
So I trusted her judgment and came over when it was ready.
While we were together finalizing the deal, that Aspirant burst into the room."
All eyes flickered toward Van once again before slowly returning to Bryce.
"He had bugged the room without Elysa’s knowledge, so when he heard how valuable the tech was, he attempted to steal it from me.
But, of course, even geniuses make mistakes, and he got punished for that by my guards.
In the process, he was battered, and that was when he..."
Bryce slowly raised his hand.
His finger pointed directly at Ray.
His expression hardened, fury settling across his face as his eyes locked onto the Tribrid.
".... Out of nowhere, he attacked me. And when my guards tried to stop him, he decided to fight them.
He was so furious, with his eyes shining like those of a demon. I had never seen such anger before. It was as if he was going to swallow me whole.
He turned his hands into that accursed fur we saw on the screen and ripped my guards to shreds. He was going to kill me too if I hadn’t escaped with my life and Elysa’s.
While trying to escape, one of my guards tried to keep him at bay, and that monster bashed my guard over and over again.
He ripped his flesh and mauled him with those dangerous claws of his. He even swore to kill each and every one of us if we ever dared lay hands on his best friend.
He was obsessed, dangerous, and deadly all at the same time. He-He-He—"
All eyes turned toward Ray.
His long silver hair hung over his face, concealing his expression from everyone in the hall.
The jury began whispering amongst themselves, their voices low but restless, while the public watching from home listened with rapt attention.
Bryce continued.
"—That guard was like a brother to me, and he destroyed his face beyond recognition. But luckily, I survived and escaped in time with Elysa, so I don’t know what happened afterward.
"All I know is that that thing doesn’t deserve to live. It is too dangerous for us.
"If he could attack someone as influential as me in the Aspirant Corps, no less, what more could he do?
"He could even attack the Big Four Legacies if they pissed him off. He could attack you, you, you, and you."
Bryce uttered the words as he began pointing at each and every one of the people seated throughout the hall.
Then his finger landed on Jack.
"... He could even attack you too if care isn’t taken.
"So, in summary, we need to deal with him now, so we don’t pay for it later on."
With that, Bryce took a few steps backward before giving a small bow.
The hall exploded.
Murmurs and whispers erupted from the audience, spreading through the chamber like wildfire. Even the jury was no longer silent, several members exchanging uneasy glances as they discussed Bryce’s testimony.
Berg, meanwhile, was beginning to grin from ear to ear.
His eyes slowly scanned the faces of everyone in the room.
Fear.
Disdain.
Suspicion.
Each expression was exactly what he wanted to see.
He crossed his arms over his chest.
’Wonderful.’
Jack remained silent.
He thought for a few seconds before turning his gaze toward where Caster was sitting.
Father and son locked eyes for a moment.
In that brief exchange, Caster pleaded with his eyes.
*Please.*
But the next second, Jack averted his gaze.
He turned toward Ray instead.
"Aspirant Dawson, do you have something to say in your defense? Or do you want to ask the witness any questions?"
Van’s face immediately lit up with excitement.
His heart pounded with renewed hope.
*Finally.*
Maybe Ray had something.
Maybe he could expose the lies.
Maybe—
Ray didn’t reply.
Several seconds passed in complete silence.
Then, slowly, Ray lifted his head.
His long silver hair shifted away from his face just enough for his eyes to become visible as he looked directly toward Jack.
"No.
"I have nothing to say and nothing to ask.
"All he accused me of, I did.
"I did them all."