Chapter 171 The Water Dragon King's Wrath, Chaos Arises in the Trial...
"It will be alright, sir. Go and do what you need to do..."
Villette really couldn't understand how Leosley could remain so calm after hearing what was happening.
“You probably haven’t fully grasped the seriousness of the situation. Apart from the gods of Winter and Nata, five of the seven ruling powers have already gathered in Fontaine. The last time they mobilized like this was five hundred years ago during the destruction of Kanria. Leosley, even so, are you still insisting that nothing will happen?”
"Naviette, calm down."
"No, perhaps we shouldn't send just one person to safety. It would be best if all the ordinary citizens of Fontaine were to be evacuated immediately—"
"Calm down, Judge!"
Leosley pressed down firmly on Villette's shoulder and patted his back lightly.
"It is precisely because all the gods are here that I am even more certain of my conjecture."
"Show me the evidence."
Navigette grabbed him by the back of her hand, sternly preventing him from taking another step closer to the opera house.
"Otherwise, I will not allow you to enter the courtroom and will put your life in danger."
What evidence could there possibly be? Leosley could only try his best to calm the clearly frightened young dragon king, patiently explaining in his deep voice:
"Killing someone is easy, but saving someone..."
"I think even gods would have to personally take action and give it their all."
*
Even though Leosley's words made a lot of sense, Villette still felt very uneasy.
He sat in the judge's seat ahead of time, watching with great concern as the cat-eared youth was wheeled into the opera house by medical staff and placed in the defendant's seat.
As he was wheeled in, spectators from various countries quickly made way to see him off.
Only the ladies from the Rose Society rushed forward and stood in front of the wheelchair.
"Wake up! I have something to ask you! Dad, don't stop me! Hey! Xiao En!"
"This is against the rules! We should at least wait until he wakes up before the trial!!"
The young lady's appeal resonated with some people.
"Yes, even if he is that legendary lynx, he still has to be defended... Lord Vilette! Is this appropriate?!"
This was certainly inappropriate, and Nasita had also strongly protested to Nasita, who was in charge of the case.
“Judges of the Kingdom of Justice, I understand your adherence to the rules.” The child-like god looked very sad. “But believe me, even if he were truly conscious, his mind and spirit would not allow him to utter a single word in his own defense in court.”
“He can do nothing to restore your justice except howl and scream. Mr. Villette, let us quickly insert the medical needles into his skin and let the pain pass in his dreams, rather than facing fear and suffering while he is awake.”
Since you are so considerate of him, why did you accuse him of this?
Weren't you and that power-wielding Vizier the ones who refused to let the Shadow Court enter Sumeru to investigate the new king?
"Xumi Fang voluntarily dropped three hundred assault charges that were supported by solid evidence."
"...Fontaine will consider your proposal."
As the opera house filled up, Navelette watched with unease as Siegwen directed the placement of Mainkuhn in the defendant's seat, which was suspended above the audience.
“Your Grace, please leave without worry. I will stay here to provide any medical assistance he may need.”
"Duke! You are not allowed to leave!"
Instead of striking a glamorous pose in her seat, Funinna leaned forward and desperately twisted towards the defendant's dock.
“You can’t just stand there! That’s your brother! Your brother!!... I mean, your reaction isn’t very dramatic…”
Her attempt to salvage the situation was somewhat clumsy, and her sudden movement of pulling back into her seat was extremely flustered. Violet couldn't bear it, so she closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, trying to look down upon everything in the world with a calm and selfless gaze.
The chair provided to the defendant by the opera house was too rigid, and the unconscious Mainkuhn had nowhere to lean on. His golden crown slowly sank down, like the setting sun sinking into the sea.
"...The court session will be postponed for five minutes."
"Someone, get the defendant a different chair."
…
The harp plucked a note of wind, and the bard, hidden behind all living beings, played a silent song.
"Please have the representatives of each country present the case in order."
Dragon King! Dragon King, why do you furrow your brow, yet still righteously question the cat's sins? The overlord of the wilderness should be carefree, but today you are troubled by the world. Judge, is it love or responsibility that torments you, or both?
"Burning, killing, looting, tyranny, rule of terror, shaking the very foundations of the nation, deposing virtuous men and proclaiming oneself king..."
Scholar! Scholar, conceal the rare smile on your lips. I know you are overjoyed, as if a long holiday has arrived. But in court, this smile will only bring you glares! Vizier, beware the water god's wrath upon you!
"He misled the people, falsely claimed to be a god, and undermined Inazuma's political ideals... He murdered twenty-three warriors who served as magistrates of the Heavenly Territory."
Ah Ying! Ah Ying, hide the blush on your cheeks. It's a good thing to know shame, but the black-haired duke's eyes are filled with scrutiny because of it! Sigh, lying isn't for you. And that little pink fox? Is she still angry with you?
"Oh, what was that called again? Interfering with Mondstadt's economic development? Kidnapping me and my dear sworn brother?... Mr. Mainkun certainly didn't ask for a ransom, but my fragile heart has been deeply hurt because of him~"
Kaiya! Kaiya, stop laughing and straighten up! The charges are already ridiculous enough; now at least put on a pitiful, tearful face! I don't want to be treated like a drunkard and kicked out of the opera house!
"Where is Liyue's representative? Ms. Gan Yu, please state the facts of the case."
Oh! Old man, let me hear the charges you've fabricated.
"That, the earth's veins, the ley lines..."
Your little fairy looks like she's about to become withdrawn from guilt.
"Ms. Gan Yu, please explain more clearly."
"...Legions! It's legions! Mr. Mainkun has touched the very foundation of Liyue! He intends to use the legions to harm the Elemental Dragon King!"
Well, that's a complete distortion of the truth, even you, sir, can't do that!
[Sigh, there's really not a single fault to be found.]
The echo came from the rocks, carrying a faint hint of boasting.
[Liyue received his gentle treatment because of my existence.]
"Earth veins??"
Unaware of the truth, the Water Dragon King paused slightly, looking at Gan Yu with undisguised astonishment. "Are you sure? Is the evidence complete? Ms. Gan Yu, the ley lines are the foundation of Teyvat, no less important than the nerves and blood of humans. Once damaged, they will inevitably cause a world-ending natural disaster in the region. Ms. Gan Yu, are you really sure?"
"We have evidence that Mr. Mainkuhn interfered with the ley lines of the Stratorock Abyss for several years..."
Gan Yu's eyes darted around, but fortunately, the Dragon King was so flustered that he didn't notice anything amiss for the time being.
"How could this be..."
Navelette leaned lightly on her cane, her head slightly lowered, not wanting to look at the accusing crowd, nor at the dying cat.
Even if it was to save Fontaine, this action was going too far.
But all these excessive actions were for the sake of saving Fontaine.
How should those who do evil or good be treated?
No… don’t be so sure. They haven’t even started presenting evidence yet. Think about Leosley’s trust in Mainkun. These… these could all be false accusations…
"Oh my god!"
But a terrified scream jolted him awake from his daze.
They were ordinary citizens of Fontainebleau, and they were all stunned, vying to look up at the unconscious defendant.
"How could a lynx that was once a chivalrous hero have become such a vicious criminal?"
! ! !etc!
"These crimes are enough to warrant being executed ten times over, what a waste of such a handsome face."
"This doesn't even include the murders and kidnappings he committed in Fontainebleau. These were just crimes he committed while traveling abroad. The death penalty is justified."
"There can't really be a death penalty, can there? My great-grandmother has never even seen anyone sentenced to death!"
"Hey, look at all the crimes he's committed. He's quite a talent; most people couldn't do that! This death penalty is an honor for him."
The busybody read on with relish for a while, then suddenly looked up expectantly at Navelette.
"Sir! Will you sentence him to death?"
"Naviette! Shut up!"
Almost the instant the man spoke, Funina couldn't help but scream:
"He's not human! Violet! Look at his ears! You can't use human laws to govern a cat!"
"...Ms. Funina?"
To help Mainkun get away with his crime, Funina disregarded everything else, her voice trembling as she stared intently at the water dragon's lips.
“Navilet, think about it carefully… think about your relationship with Cat God, think about how he sleeps on your lap…Navilet, didn’t you take him to the vet? He’s not acting like a human being at all! Just grab him, give him a beating, teach him a lesson, that’s enough, there’s no need, really no need to do that…”
"Funinna".
Looking into her moist, heterochromatic eyes, Navelette also felt an urge to cry.
“Fontaine has no precedent for judging the bloodline of monsters.”
The gods' pleas and the duke's sighs, each and every one of them, cut like knives into my heart.
But the greater the pain, the more resolute one must be. Tears cannot sway the judge, nor can lamentations shake him. Even as his soul convulses over his words and deeds, Violet still turns his head and, ignoring Funina's tearful eyes, reveals a pained and pitying expression to the sleeping Mainkun.
My dear students...
I regret refusing to hug you so many times back then in order to teach you manners.
"The law is impartial; here we have only the defendant 'Mainkuhn' and the charges against him that require a joint ruling by the Cardinal and this Court."
So, Mainkuhn, I will examine their evidence one by one later. If there is false accusation, I am not afraid to declare war on the Four Gods. But if the evidence is true...
"Unfortunately, as the Supreme Judge, I must rule that your existence has seriously jeopardized the order of Fontaine, and your actions have crossed the line of the survival of civilization. Without further evidence to mitigate your sentence, I will sentence you—"
"etc!"
Funina, there's no need to stop her anymore...?
“Little Lucky Grass King, your turn to speak is over.” Navelette stopped speaking and looked coldly at Nasita.
"I am now absolutely certain that you are a selfless person."
It was breathtaking; Nasida's heart, like that of a plant, had never beat so fast.
"I'm sorry I tested you and hid things from you because of distrust and worry, just like an oak tree distrusts a squirrel that will take away its seeds."
“In court, use concise and clear statements. Please stop using metaphors and analogies that are easy to misunderstand.”
Navelette now finds Narcida extremely displeasing, but due to her high level of self-restraint and adherence to the law, she can only manage to put on a show of displeasure.
"If what you're about to say has nothing to do with the case, then shut up now! I'm not a scholar of yours, and I won't listen to any useless words you utter!"
I'm so angry!
Not daring to say anything more, Nasita immediately raised a green device.
“What I mean is that your fairness has been recognized by me and deserves to be treated with the highest courtesy by the World Tree.”
"So, why don't we all take a look at the images of the ley lines together?"
"Judge, please allow us to recount the first half of this half-demon's life frame by frame, and then pronounce judgment on the world: is he an unforgivable villain, or yet another victim of this chaotic human world?"
Navelette sneered: "Ha, a new technology without even a license has no right to be shown at the Opiclie Opera House."
Nasita was startled. "Oh no, this is terrible... I'm completely furious."
“Um, Your Honor.”
Looking at the somewhat flustered Little Grass God and then at the Dragon King with eyes full of anger, Lei felt that as an elder, he had to liven up the atmosphere.
“Looking at the images of the World Tree is beneficial. Didn’t Mainkun commit many murders in Fontaine before? It’s a good opportunity to investigate the details now…”
The original intention of Ray's film was to allow Navelette to personally witness, during the movie screening, whether Mainkuen had any ulterior motives when he committed the crime. However, upon hearing this, Navelette was so angry that his dragon horns almost stood up.
"Afraid that my personal feelings are too heavy and my sentence too lenient, you want to dredge up Mainkuen's old case and settle scores with him? Fine, you impudent god! His case in Fontaine should have been tried after he had regained his senses, but Fontaine has always been an open and just country, there is nothing to hide. Ms. Narcida, please use your power of manifestation, but don't forget that you are now nothing more than an unaccused tyrant. You must act carefully and beware of my impending judgment on you!"
“…Divine Child, I think I’ve said something wrong again.”
Furina heard only half of it, and her heart sank. She cried out, "Naviette, what are you doing? I won't allow it!"
"By all accounts, I am the rightful guardian of Cat God, I am! It's legal, even Leosley doesn't have this!"
Unexpectedly, the Dragon King suddenly became furious and pulled out an adoption contract with a cat's paw print on it from his pocket.
"Don't I want to give him his innocence and freedom even more than you do?"
"Who is the Cat God? He's appearing a bit too often." Seno suddenly realized something was wrong.
"The nickname of the Wise King?" Tinari guessed.
Kavi: "Uh... so Maine used to sleep on Vilette's lap and was even taken to the vet?"
It is known that Mainkuhn was still a minor, a thin and small boy, when he completely left Fontaine, so...
Seno looked at Navelette with a puzzled expression. "Is it time to convict them???"
Perverted? That shouldn't be the case.
"Yes, it's time to convict them."
The black-and-white-haired woman, who was not far from them, suddenly sighed and took the hand of her pink-haired companion.
"Although the young master has entered Mello Petersburg for causing trouble, and the lady is not here, I suppose what we have done cannot be kept from the Empress for long, and may even be regarded as betrayal."
Is Pepe scared?
Clementine smiled and leaned on her shoulder. "Need a hug? Or a pat on the head? I can provide either."
“I am not Mainkuhn, nor am I a child. The worst outcome is just another defection.”
Kavi listened curiously for a while, then couldn't resist leaning over to interrupt their conversation.
"Excuse me... are you two also aware of Grass God's plan?"
"yes."
Arecino knew what he wanted to ask.
"But there's no need to say hello, because we're not in the group."
"Huh?? That shouldn't be the case. You seem to know everything..."
“That’s because…” Linni enters.
“Us.” Lynette poked her cat head out.
"He's...a child from the fireplace house..."
The longest self-introduction was left to the introverted younger brother by his mischievous older siblings.
"Obviously, no fool would want to put a Fool's spy in their bed."
Clementine gave a concluding speech with a smile.
"What a pity, I feel like I've missed out on so much about Maine~ Would you be willing to tell me about it?"
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A note from the author:
Item: Adoption document with paw print, which appeared once in Chapter 59, during a conversation between Navelette and Funina.
I bet you've all forgotten, but Violet was indeed the only legal guardian, albeit under pet law.
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