Chapter 483: Conditions? (1)
Chapter 481
WAM!
The metallic head of the axe crashed into Ray’s midsection with tremendous force.
His body arched forward as the impact drove the air from his lungs. Specks of saliva tore from his mouth as a strained gasp escaped his throat.
Before he could even react—
WAM!
Raze smashed the weapon into Ray’s knees.
The force buckled his legs, sending the boy crashing down onto one knee.
Trisha’s and Van’s faces immediately twisted with anger.
They whirled around and were about to bolt toward the man, but Ella and the other Vanguard members moved instantly.
BANG!
They struck the cohorts and sent them crashing against the ground.
"Oi! Don’t touch them again!"
Ray’s voice erupted through the hall.
Despite the pain coursing through his body, he shot Ella an icy glare.
His eyes almost seemed to gleam with a different shade.
"Quiet."
Raze’s voice slithered through the air.
Before Ray could say anything else—
WAM!
With all his might, Raze swung his weapon and smashed it into the side of the boy’s head.
Ray’s head snapped to the side.
Specks of blood splattered from his lips.
"RAY!" Chloe shouted.
She desperately tried to stand, but the intense gaze of the Vanguard members kept her pinned down.
Crystal was beginning to creep up Kai’s fist.
His eyes were locked onto Raze.
His teeth ground together as the Captain swung his axe again.
WAM!
The metallic weapon came from below and slammed into the Tribrid’s jaw.
Ray’s head was thrown backward.
BANG!
His skull collided with the reinforced pole behind him.
The entire hall fell silent.
Not a single spectator spoke.
They simply watched.
Watched as a Captain of the Iron Corps beat a sixteen-year-old boy who was still restrained against a pole.
Jack couldn’t take it anymore.
"Captain, what are you doing?"
Raze didn’t rush to reply.
He simply threw his axe to the ground.
CLANG!
Then he walked toward Ray.
The boy remained on his knees, his chest rising and falling as he drew raspy breaths of air.
Raze stopped in front of him.
Then—
WAM!
His fist smashed into Ray’s face.
Ray’s head snapped sideways.
Before he could recover, an uppercut crashed into his jaw.
BAM!
A kick followed.
THUD!
The sole of Raze’s boot slammed into Ray’s abdomen, forcing his body backward.
Raze pushed off the ground.
His body spun once.
Then—
BANG!
A roundhouse kick crashed into the Tribrid’s neck.
A silent crack cut through the air.
Several people in the crowd winced as though they had felt the impact themselves.
"CAPTAIN RAZE!"
Captain Jake’s voice finally erupted from the jury stands.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
Raze ignored him.
He grabbed Ray by the collar and pulled him closer.
Then he took half a step backward, revealing the Tribrid’s half-bloodied face to everyone in the chamber.
Ray’s breathing was ragged.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Raze looked directly into the drones panning across the hall.
"What?"
His voice carried through the chamber.
"Didn’t you people want to send him to the gallows a while ago?"
"....."
Raze stared into the drones.
"Look at him, everybody!"
He tightened his grip on Ray’s collar.
"Look at the person you all wanted to convict."
His eyes moved toward the jury.
"He could break out of these bindings and attack me."
Raze paused.
"Did he?"
Silence.
"Did he lift a finger to defend himself while I continued beating him up?"
He glanced down at Ray.
"Did he transform a shred of fur?"
Ray remained silent, breathing heavily.
Raze turned his attention toward the cohort on their knees.
"But look."
He pointed toward them.
"As soon as someone tried to touch his friends, he was furious."
Raze’s voice echoed throughout the hall.
"Tell me something, you all..."
He slowly looked from one person to another.
"Don’t you have someone you care about?"
No one answered.
"Do you not have someone you don’t want anything bad happening to?"
The solemn silence deepened.
"So is it a crime to shield and take revenge on people who hurt those we care about?"
Raze spread his arms slightly.
"If so, then we all should be executed."
His eyes hardened.
"Because that’s what you all want to do."
"....."
The hall remained silent.
The anger that had filled the chamber only moments ago slowly gave way to solemn expressions.
People lowered their gazes.
Others exchanged uncertain glances.
Raze released Ray’s collar.
The boy remained on his knees.
Raze turned around.
Then he began walking forward.
He passed by the cohort still restrained on the ground and returned to the position he had occupied earlier.
He stopped there.
Then turned back toward the jury.
"I want to implore the jury to reconsider their decision about the Aspirant."
His voice was calm once again.
"You are all condemning him for what he could become..."
He glanced toward Ray.
"...and not what he is at the moment."
Raze’s eyes hardened.
"This monster you all judge could very well be the one to help us all."
He paused.
"Despite being what he is, the same hatred—maybe even more—that we have for the Aberrants is what is burning in his heart."
The jury members exchanged brief glances.
Raze continued.
"If he is going to take advantage of humanity..."
His gaze swept across the chamber.
"...shouldn’t we take advantage of him first and help us win this war?"
The jury members exchanged another series of glances and whispered amongst themselves.
Berg sat rigidly in his seat.
His hands squeezed tightly across his lap, fury burning in his eyes as he glared at Captain Raze.
Drip.
Drip.
Ray’s blood could be seen dripping onto the ground as he panted heavily.
Drip.
Drip.
The General finally broke the silence.
"So what do you want us to do with him? We can’t allow him to roam around unchecked."
Raze shook his head.
"You shouldn’t."
His gaze shifted toward Ray.
"Which is why I suggest we allow him into the Vanguard Order."
The hall immediately grew tense.
Raze continued.
"You all know me. I have no personal squad because I demand strength, and I wouldn’t let anything or anybody drag me down."
He paused.
"So I’m personally volunteering to take the werewolf under my fold and create my own squad here."
Raze turned his head.
His eyes landed on the cohort still kneeling on the ground.
"I will also take them all under my fold..."
He shrugged.
"...unless they don’t want to join the Order, though."
The jury members exchanged looks.
The cohort glanced at one another.
Then Ray’s head suddenly snapped upward.
His eyes widened slightly.
The Vanguard Order.
His heart was already beating faster at the thought.
After everything that had happened...
After everything he’d gone through...
He could finally become a Vanguard.
Raze looked back toward the jury.
"And I promise you all, no matter what happens, I will keep the werewolf in check."
His eyes narrowed with confidence.
"No matter how powerful he becomes, he can’t become stronger than the Spine Reaper, yeah?"
Raze chuckled silently.
The jury members briefly discussed amongst themselves.
Their eyes shifted toward Ray.
Then toward Raze.
Then back toward Ray.
The murmurs continued for several moments.
Finally—
They stopped at the same time.
One of the jury members, a retired General judging by his appearance, looked deeply at Raze.
"We all trust you, Captain."
His voice was firm.
"You are the most efficient and powerful Captain humanity has, and we trust you will be able to have everything under control."
He paused.
"But..."
Raze lifted a brow.
"But?"
Captain Drey took over.
"But we don’t trust that monster yet—"
"You don’t have to trust him."
Raze immediately cut him off.
"Trust me instead."
His expression hardened.
"And see how I and my squad rip the Aberrants to shreds."
The jury members exchanged looks again.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
Then the deliberation continued.
Finally—
They sighed.
And nodded.
"Fine, then."
Raze relaxed slightly.
"But there’s something."
Raze raised a brow.
"Which is?"
A retired Captain pointed toward the cohort, who were still on their knees.
"They need to be punished for what they just did today."
His expression was stern.
"And I don’t mean a slap on the wrist."
He narrowed his eyes.
"A hardcore punishment."
Raze briefly glanced toward the cohort.
Then toward Ray.
His expression became thoughtful.
He turned back toward the jury.
Around the hall, the audience began nodding, seemingly agreeing with the jury’s decision.
Raze remained silent.
He thought.
For nearly a minute.
Then—
His eyes twinkled.
"How about this?"
Everyone’s attention shifted toward him.
"Since you don’t trust the werewolf and want his friends punished..."
A faint smile appeared on Raze’s lips.
"...I have the perfect thing for these two problems."
Jack Kyre lifted a brow.
"Which is?"
The corner of Raze’s lips twitched upward.
"Wall Rose."
"....."
The words dropped into the chamber like a bomb.
Raze continued.
"I will take my squad to retake Wall Rose from the hands of the Aberrants next week."
"....."