Ch59 - [Silver tongue] -- This was a sign that a certain person was about to be up to mischief.

The golden framed glasses reflected an eerie light under the lamps.

“What you mean is, regardless of Langdon Street or Crescent Moon Lake, you were together with Admiral Sirius?”

Nalun thought for a moment and then nodded his head in acknowledgement.

“That’s right.”

In an instant, things suddenly brightened: why hadn’t he thought of this previously. Compared to exhausting himself, arguing his way out of the crime, actually he could use Sirius as a witness.

Looking at a certain man in military uniform, sitting up right and proper in the gallery stands, Nalun thought: In the eyes of countless Imperials, this was the embodiment of perfection, its direct representative. If his own words weren’t trustworthy, then add Sirius……

The Chief asked: “Are his words true?”

The other judges looked over in unison.

Sirius stood up, imperceptibly avoiding Princess Shasha, who was leaning closer over to him, and walked towards the center of the courtroom.

“En, that time on Langdon Street, Nalun and I met to have lunch. That store was pretty cheap, but the food tasted pretty good.” He stood steady next to Nalun and smiled: “Our records should be available in the consumer center.”

Nalun: “…….” Sirius’s testimony was very beneficial to him. However…… When answering, please look at the person asking the question, thanks.

Unfortunately, his wish didn’t actually reach the Admiral. Not only did Sirius not shift his gaze, he seemed to have stuck his eyes even more firmly on Nalun.

“Oh, Diya and the other soldiers should have seen us leave.”

Nalun: “That’s right.”

Sirius: “The surveillance camera at the entrance of the shop also has images of us entering and leaving.”

Nalun’s expression changed subtly.

Truly worthy of a man who’s established such contributions in the Empire at such a young age. To provide so much evidence within just a few short words!

The Chief said: “With this evidence, we can eliminate the Honored Prince’s suspicions from the matter of Langdon street. However……” He pushed his glasses and asked his question: “Why didn’t His Highness say this clearly from the start?”

— Because he forgot.

Nalun: “Because……” He lowered his eyes. Staring at the floor tiles and thinking for half a second, he sighed: “I originally thought an unreliable test like the body comparison wasn’t enough to prove anything. So I never paid any mind to it. Who would have thought, in the end, I’d have to trouble someone else testify for me in court.”

Nalun subtly gave a few verbal stabs, hinting that the problem lies within the court itself.

In the observer gallery, several virtuous and reputable elders furrowed their brows.

Indeed, how could this kind of test which only had consideration values, be used as conclusive evidence in the courtroom. Not to mention, in such a special place as the circular auditorium!

This clearly was not in accordance with the proper procedure.

Even the students showed doubtful expressions, seeming to disapprove of this conduct of the court.

The Chief saw through Nalun’s intention and also noticed the change in atmosphere inside the courtroom.

–However, behind countless coincidences, there must be something fishy going on.

The many years of experience in law made him believe this firmly.

When so many coincidences happen to the same person, the truth can be concealed under any trivial, insignificant matter. Therefore, he didn’t want to let any detail slip by…… Who would have thought, this silver tongued youth would seize the opportunity to retaliate subtly.

At this time, someone in the gallery raised their hand.

Other than allowing the public to observe, the courtroom also awarded some qualified observers the right to speak. The requirements were set very severely. There weren’t many with the right to speak. It’s even rarer to see amongst young people. Coincidentally, there was a student inside the courtroom today with exceptional grades, who spent all of their extracurricular time listening to cases. Therefore, they were rewarded with the right to speak.

Bystanders see the situation more clearly than those involved.. Sometimes, they can capture details overlooked by the judges.

The Chief pondered for a moment and gave a wait gesture. Currently, he didn’t plan to have someone interrupt his examination just yet.

“What about Crescent Moon Lake?”

Sirius said: “I was the one who dragged him over there.”

He narrated what happened during the hunting competition, and also mentioned roughly how he had been ‘subdued’ by Nalun. In the journey afterwards, he recalled how he had accidentally entered Crescent Moon Lake a few years ago. He felt the scenery there wasn’t bad. Therefore, he wanted to bring Nalun over there to take a look.

Because of a certain secret reason, he didn’t even say it clearly and only pretended to lead the way unintentionally.

Nalun: “……Wait. Wasn’t it my good luck that we found Crescent Moon Lake?”

Sirius smiled, a profound look on his face.

Nalun: “…….”

So the person who was lucky was Sirius?

The Honored Prince furrowed his brows and pressed his lips together, wordless.

Sirius then talked about how they had just reached Crescent Moon Lake not very long when he received the news that “insectoids invaded the celebration area”. He speculated that they might have also infiltrated the forest.

However, seeing the Honored Prince who was sitting beside the lake and enjoying the scenery, he couldn’t dare to say such mood dampening words at that time.

“I told him to wait for me there.” Sirius said coolly: “The outside was very chaotic. However, the Crescent Moon Lake was in a very remote and hidden location. It would be very difficult for the Insectoids to find it. I originally thought I could settle things and then rush back immediately. Unexpectedly, I overestimated myself.”

Nalun said gloomily: “So this is why you made me wait for you for several hours by myself?”

Sirius guiltily admitted to his mistake.

Nalun said: “As soon as I left Crescent Moon Lake, I bumped into Lan Jia after taking just a few steps.”

Sirius said with a regretful tone: “Lan Jia shouldn’t have noticed the entrance to Crescent Moon Lake.”

As long as he remained by the lakeside, he could have avoided the unexpected encounter with the Mist Bug.

Nalun fell silent for a long time before he could accept the fact that his untimely exit from the lake had directly resulted in the ‘caught in the act in the forest’ event later on.

–He knew he shouldn’t have waited a few more minutes.

The Crescent Moon Lake event was finally reconstructed under Admiral Sirius’s narration.

Several judges, the Chief included, all sank into bewildered contemplation.

The entire courtroom was silent and still.

The young judge stated with difficulty: “Then…… that leaves only the Princess’s banquet.”

Nalun waited for a moment, then said: “Actually……”

The crowd’s gazes all whipped towards him in unison, eyes shining with a terrifyingly ferocious light.

Unfortunately, Nalun was facing the judges and didn’t actually notice the abnormality.

“There’s one thing I have no choice to say…… regarding Sirius.”

Princess Shasha grasped her chest and said suddenly: “No, I’m not listening!”

Nalun: “…….” He didn’t even say anything yet?

Turning around, he encountered a pair of eyes filled with accusation.

Princess Shasha pointed at the two men at the center of the courtroom with a complex emotion beyond her age pouring out of her eyes. She said with a trembling voice: “Are….Are you, you guys……..”

Nalun narrowed his eyes: “Us?”

Sirius gave a well-suited look of curiosity: “What’s the matter?”

She took a deep breath and screamed sharply while stomping her feet: “How can you guys do this?!”

Throwing down these words, she charged out, slamming the door behind her without even looking back.

Nalun furrowed his brows: “What’s wrong with her?”

Sirius said quietly: “I have never been able to guess a girl’s heart.”

Nalun shook his head and decided solemnly: “Too inappropriate. After this is finished, I will find her an etiquette teacher.”

Sirius expressed his approval.

The judges who were nearest to the two and could hear their chitchat: “…….”

Princess Shasha’s brief episode passed in a flash. It seemed like as long as the two people were gathered together, she couldn’t escape the conclusion of ‘screaming in anger’.

Yet the culprits of this only exchanged a few looks, not actually knowing what kind of a trauma their behavior and conduct had brought to a properly sensitive, adolescent young girl.

Regarding the frequent disturbance of order in the courtroom, the judges finally felt somewhat unable to bear it.

The Chief coughed, put on a stern face, and did his best to take charge of the trial.

“Back to the main point. Honored Prince, what did you want to say just now?”

Nalun: “……”

Doing his best to recollect his interrupted train of thought…… his expression changed faintly. Gaze lowering and grayish green eyes spinning in a half circle, he looked at the person by his side with a sideways glance.

Noticing this series of changes in expression, Sirius shivered, suddenly having a bad premonition.

— This was a sign that a certain person was about to be up to mischief.

Sure enough, the next second, he heard Nalun say.

“Don’t tell me that other than me, there’s no one else suspicious?” Nalun paused for a few seconds and said: “Just a moment ago, I discovered an issue.”

Sirius abruptly realized that Nalun was looking at him while he spoke. Therefore, his premonition became even stronger.

Those grayish green eyes carried scrutiny: “To be honest, I’m not the only one who lacks an alibi at the Princess’s banquet.”

The Chief nodded his head: “That’s right. There are some people who can’t be ruled out from the list of suspects.”

Nalun said: “But you guys definitely missed one.”

The Chief asked in confusion: “Who?”

Nalun said: “Sirius.”

Sirius: “…….”

The Chief: “……”

The crowd: “???”

Oh fck, why’s this?

Nalun sneered: “Searching for someone whose features couldn’t even be recalled with such fanfare, just because of rolling in bed together, isn’t this rather strange? Who knows if Sirius is speaking the truth or purposely creating this lie for everyone to know, so that everyone thinks that night, he was busy spending a drunken , inappropriate night with a stranger.”

“All abnormalities must have a hidden story behind them. Rather than questioning me right now, you might as well ask other people about their suspicious behaviors.”

Sirius fell silent.

Gazing darkly at Nalun for a long time, Sirius seemed to sigh silently.

Palm landing on this silver tongued fellow, he was just about to speak.

“Of course, I was only giving an example. I don’t truly feel like there’s something wrong with Sirius.” Nalun’s topic of discussion turned as he said seriously: “I have basically been cleared of suspicions, whether in Langdon Street or Crescent Moon Lake. Right now I only feel, if you must haggle about the Princess’s banquet, it’s bound to implicate even more people. Also, the person on trial shouldn’t be only me.”

He made a serious conclusion: “Of course, I trust that Sirius wouldn’t commit treason.”

Grayish green eyes blinking, when Nalun looked over, he seemed to carry a natural innocence.

The Chief was expressionless.

The crowd in the gallery behind him were all dumbfounded.

They seemed to be having trouble understanding this more and more.

The student, who raised their hand previously, raised two hands this time.