Chapter 38 Bennett's Fate "Oh? Is that so? Yes..."
"Oh? Is that so? There are many males named Bennett, then that's a bit tricky."
Murphy looked somewhat troubled, nodded with his finger, then suddenly clasped his hands together and smiled, gesturing to the judge, "Then let's continue playing."
The judge in the courtroom nodded.
[I need your cooperation. Since you live in the core area, it will be difficult to deliver successfully.]
I have my own way.
"If this isn't enough, perhaps there's this part too?"
There's only one chance: the annual male insect feast...
"...The banquet you hosted was indeed the best opportunity..."
Bring the bugs on time, and you don't need to worry about the rest...
As we all know, only high-ranking males can live in the core area, which narrows down the range. In addition, with the important news of hosting the annual banquet, the identity of Bennett mentioned in the previous audio is now beyond doubt.
It should be noted that the male insect banquet is jointly hosted by the high-ranking male insect lords of the cabinet, with six of them at a time. And none of the male insect lords of the cabinet have the same name.
Bennett's deliberately maintained smile faded slightly. It turned out that, without his knowledge, the old fox Hausman had already extracted so much information from him.
But it doesn't matter, public opinion is on his side now. As long as he insists that all the evidence is fabricated, no one can convict him...
Murphy seemed to read his mind. His eyes crinkled, his lips widened, and his tone was light and cheerful. "Ah, are you trying to say that these audio recordings are all fake?"
Bennett raised an eyebrow, looking both indulgent and helpless towards Murphy. "Isn't that right?"
With a regretful expression, Murphy held up a finger and waved it from side to side. "Oh dear, what a pity. Hausman is using a military communicator. All the audio is transmitted to the mainframe in real time. You know what the mainframe is, right? I've heard it's amazing; no data can be forged."
Transferred to...mainframe for storage?
Bennett couldn't believe it.
Is Hausman an idiot? How could he not even know to replace a basic general-purpose communicator?
Was Hausman stupid? No, quite the opposite, he was very clever. The evidence stored by the mastermind was the most reliable, and he could use it to threaten Bennett. Perhaps he had this purpose from the beginning, but unfortunately, he was already in trouble before that, and this evidence ended up benefiting Murphy.
Murphy's smile widened, and he looked somewhat excited. "Why don't you try requesting access to the mainframe's communication details about Hausman? You might hear even more interesting things."
Bennett looked at him without speaking. Of course, he couldn't make that application. Apart from these few paragraphs that might reveal his identity, he hadn't held back on the other communications about the plan. If they were all exposed...
No, no, Murphy wasn't trying to use his rank to suppress the insects; he was actually gathering evidence. No, the situation was bad. He couldn't use the previous plan anymore. But he was already in court, and what was worse, he didn't know how much substantial evidence Murphy actually had.
A cold glint of anger flashed in Bennett's eyes. Murphy... Damn it!
Why is His Excellency Bennett silent now?
[I don't believe it! Your Excellency Bennett, please submit your application immediately! Expose Murphy's fabricated evidence!]
[...]
No way...
Is it really true? Did His Excellency Bennett really do such a thing? The Allied Forces have intervened in the war?
After a moment of silence, Bennett smiled instead of getting angry, and said in a normal tone, "I just admired Hausman's abilities, so I talked to him a bit more. But Hausman was too jealous. I tried to persuade him when he was making his plans, but I couldn't change his mind. He could only save Atia in his own way. That's the whole truth. As for what was in the audio, it was just something I said to keep him calm and cooperate with him."
Sitting in the audience, Rupert was stunned by Bennett's shameless words. "That works?"
Palmer shook his head. "After all, he wasn't the one who did it; it was Hausman. This evidence mainly convicts Hausman."
"Clap clap clap!"
While clapping, Murphy praised, "Brilliant! To be honest, you're much more... well... tenacious than I expected, but that's what makes the show interesting."
Murphy reached into his pocket and pulled out a basic-looking optical computer.
Murphy reiterated his intention to submit a video as evidence.
Bennett breathed a sigh of relief when he saw what Bennett had pulled out.
As for evidence surveillance, given Bennett's cautious nature, he would never have entrusted it all to Haussmann. He personally destroyed much of the surveillance footage, including the most important part that might have recorded his image.
It's impossible for Murphy to have any video evidence that could convict him.
However, the video that was released was not from a banquet or a battlefield, but from a cold, dark basement.
The video clearly shows Attiyah in a coma, severely injured and covered in blood, without receiving any treatment or being guarded by any insects. It is clear that this is a form of unauthorized confinement.
Some insects noticed the time displayed on the video. It was clearly during the war between the Dawn Legion and the Star Beast King. How could Atia be a single insect, severely injured and imprisoned here? Wasn't he the commander of the Dawn Legion at that time? Then who was actually commanding the Dawn Legion back then?
This question lingers in the mind of every insect.
Murphy smirked. "How strange. It's clearly during the war according to the records, so why was Attia locked in the basement? Bennett, can you answer me?"
When the video was released, Bennett's heart clenched. How did such a top-secret video end up in Murphy's hands? He had clearly destroyed them all, so how could he still have a copy?
But Bennett remained calm. He didn't appear on screen, and the basement environment didn't reveal much. Perhaps he should thank the Male Insect Protection Association for taking shortcuts when building it, as all the basements were exactly the same. He raised his head slightly and smiled, "Unfortunately, I don't know either."
"Huh?" Murphy drawled, his voice carrying a strange hint of confusion. He frowned slightly as he looked at Bennett. "Why? Why wouldn't you know? Isn't this... your basement?"
As he spoke his last words, Murphy suddenly smiled, and his tone became more excited.
Bennett's expression didn't change; instead, he retorted, "Murphy, there's a limit to how much you can frame someone. Can an empty basement really be used as evidence?"
Murphy tilted his head, revealing a genuine smile. "Hmm...really? How could there be nothing? Have you forgotten? Or did you simply not see it?"
Murphy slowly and deliberately continued, "You locked Attia in there, huh? Guess if you can find his blood in there... um?"
Bloodstain detection methods in the interstellar era are quite advanced. They can detect any place where bloodstains have ever been, and even extract trace amounts of residue to find the blood source.
Blood……
Almost as soon as Murphy spoke, Bennett reacted instantly; his muscles tensed abruptly, his relaxed movements froze, and bloodstains appeared…
Damn it, damn it, he was too careless. He didn't dig up the basement and rebuild it completely, and he didn't imprison that damned female insect, Atia, somewhere else.
Previously, he was second only to all other insects in the Federation, often acting recklessly because no insect dared to sue or investigate him. So when dealing with certain matters, he didn't think much about it, merely destroying surveillance footage and cleaning up bloodstains. He never expected that a Murphy would suddenly appear and disrupt his position.
This once easily summoned and dismissed F-rank lackey inexplicably started to oppose him and suddenly became a high-ranking S-rank. Now, his previous recklessness and carelessness have all become knives stabbing him in the back.
Bennett's mind raced, searching for a reason, "I..."
“It’s alright, no need to think of reasons, it’s fine if you don’t admit it,” Murphy chuckled softly, clasped his hands together and looked at Bennett with excitement, “Because from now on, your house has become an evidence collection site. I will open it up to testing teams from all over the world who are willing to come and find evidence. Oh my, I wonder if they will find anything else interesting. I’m so looking forward to it.”
Bennett frowned and gritted his teeth, saying, "That's my house, how dare you..."
What right does Murphy have to open his house? So what if he's an S-class male? Disgusting.
Murphy's eyes crinkled as he raised his hands and pressed them down to soothe her, "Alright, alright, don't get so agitated. You won't miss lunch at the federal prison. If you're really in a hurry, I'll start the next one right away."
As he spoke, Murphy reached into his pocket and magically produced a small syringe. The liquid inside was clear and transparent, shimmering with tiny specks of light.
Murphy held the tiny syringe up to the light, blinked, and explained, "This is a trigger, the one that caused my Atia to lose control at the banquet. My darling is amazing; he always kept it on him, and now it can be submitted as evidence."
As everyone probably knows, the most fundamental ingredient in pheromones is fresh pheromones from male insects, right? Because the production method is so simple—any male insect could make it—and because the raw materials are so demanding—requiring the presence of a male insect—the quantity is actually quite scarce. So, whose pheromones are in it?
"It's so hard to guess."
Bennett took a deep breath. He had to stay calm and think of another way. "The innocent will clear themselves. If it's a baseless accusation, nothing I say will help."
Murphy chuckled softly.
"Oh? You mean there was a bug in the core area, protected by layers of security, that chose you, the one with the highest status, stole your pheromones, and used them to create this trigger to frame you?"
Murphy became more and more excited as he spoke, his eyes shining. "And he even chose to use it at your banquet, and after using it, only you, the innocent host insect of the banquet, benefited. You are really too lucky."
As a high-ranking male insect in the core area, Bennett would inevitably leave traces of any kind of pheromone purchased from any source. Furthermore, making pheromones requires fresh pheromones, so from any perspective, obtaining his own pheromones would be the most convenient option.
Of course, the convenience comes with the prerequisite of remembering to recycle; otherwise, this is evidence that cannot be denied.
Bennett clenched his fist into a fist hidden in his sleeve. Damn it, Attia, that wretched worm, should stay in the basement forever.
Before Bennett could say anything, Murphy quickly submitted the next piece of evidence: several medical examination reports.
"Although Nelson and the others have admitted it, I still asked the Male Insect Hospital to submit a full physical examination report of them. Their medical history does not include such a serious injury as a broken leg."
As he spoke, Murphy pretended to wipe the corner of his eye, "Of course, not counting the days before, they were really unfortunate to have encountered such a misfortune. All three of their insect legs were broken. I feel so sorry for them."
...
As the evidence piled up, Bennett's smile gradually faded, and his usually gentle face became unusually expressionless.
Murphy pulled out a small black cube. "The last one, guess what fun thing I found."
“What…” Bennett looked at the thing and suddenly felt an extremely strong sense of foreboding, stronger than any he had felt before.
Murphy grinned and pressed play without hesitation.
The scene showed a combat command center, where a high-ranking male insect in a three-piece suit sat, holding a wine glass and occasionally issuing orders into a walkie-talkie. On the screen in front of him were countless dead and wounded female insects, but the male insect was smiling and taking a sip of red wine.
Clearly, he had no respect for this war and treated it merely as a war game.
"..."
If Bennett could still argue against the previous things, this one is undeniable evidence that will make it impossible for him to recover, and it will overturn all his popular support.
Bennett choked on his words, remaining silent for a long while before finally saying in a deep voice, "What you forged doesn't even qualify as evidence..."
Murphy looked at him, his tone both wistful and pitying, "Forgery? It seems you really don't understand war at all. It's a pity, everything can be forged, but marching recorders can't."
...
No, is this real? This, this, what does it mean?!
Oh my god...
[Lord Bennett... no, what is Bennett doing?]
No...no...
[I can't believe it. What do he mean by the lives of female insects? Just because we outnumber each other, does that mean we deserve to die?!]
My brother died in this battle. I initially thought it was just bad luck, but it turns out his death was just a game by Bennett. How dare he do that?
Why? How could he still have the nerve to say that before the trial? Doesn't he feel like throwing up?
[Go to hell! Go to hell! Go to hell! Bennett, get out of the Federation!]
...
"Enough, enough, enough!"
The three sudden sounds silenced everyone inside and outside the venue.
Bennett abruptly raised his head, his face visibly grim and furious. He slammed his hand on the table in front of him, making a dull thud. He stared straight at Murphy and shouted, "You're a male insect! What are you doing? I'm asking you, what are you doing? Are you trying to sentence and convict a noble A-grade male insect like me for a few lowly female insects?"
After hearing what he said, Murphy slowly put away his smile and corrected him, "It's not a few, it's tens of thousands. They are not lowly, and you are not noble."
"ha?"
Bennett wore an expression of disbelief, spreading his hands at his sides as if he thought Murphy's statement was utterly ridiculous.
"They're nothing but a bunch of lowly female insects. If they die, they die. It's their honor to die for me."
"..."
Murphy chuckled, looking at Bennett as if he were some worthless piece of trash. "You? Who do you think you are? What makes you think you can make other insects die for you?"
Murphy's expression made his usually friendly face suddenly appear cold.
“Haha, hahaha,” Bennett said loudly as if he had heard something funny, “I am a male insect, I am an A-grade male insect, I was born noble. How can female insects, which are so numerous that they could not be killed off even after hundreds of years, be worthy of comparing themselves to me?”
"..."
Many of the insect staff in the courtroom were female. Upon hearing Bennett's words, they all clenched their fists, wishing they had something handy to use, and also hating that damned male insect who protected the law.
Just then, a voice from Murphy echoed in the courtroom, the same voice that had been playing for Bennett.
"noble……"
"noble……"
"expensive……?"
"Ah...you're right, you're absolutely right."
Murphy suddenly smiled again, clasped his hands together excitedly, and said, "I suddenly have a really, really good idea."
"Since you're so proud of your status, then pay the price accordingly. Life imprisonment, with pheromone extractions every three days for the families of martyrs to receive for free. What do you think of this idea?"
"After all, your pheromones are too expensive to sell normally, so this is a win-win solution."
Murphy smiled and looked at President Nehemiah, who had been sitting beside him listening.
What do you think of my suggestion?
The aged S-class male insect had a complex expression. Murphy was more outstanding and understood insect psychology better than he thought. He was a born ruler, just like his father.
"This is a very reasonable suggestion, and I have no reason to refuse it."
……What?
Bennett's voice suddenly stopped, and all his movements came to a complete halt, as if he had frozen into a puppet.
He slowly raised his eyes and looked at Nehemiah, "...Teacher?"
Shouldn't Nehemiah be on his side? Why did even he betray him?
Nehemiah looked at him and said, "It is my fault for not teaching you well."
Nehemiah directed the bailiffs standing nearby, "Take him away and let him calm down."
Upon hearing this, Bennett finally sprang to life, shouting incredulously, "No, teachers, you can't do this to me! I'm an A-rank! An A-rank!"
However, the bailiffs quickly dragged him away, leaving only his terrified roars echoing in the room.
The trial, which wasn't particularly long, has finally come to a close. As many netizens expected, Murphy won, but it wasn't just Bennett who lost; those who foolishly trusted Bennett also lost.
...
"Father, may I go with you to the peace talks?"
Loxsis sat down in front of Hawthorne and pleaded.
"I also want to learn something from you."
Hawthorne looked at him and did not refuse, "Okay."
Loxis immediately smiled. "Great! I'm happy to go with Father Xiong. I'll go back and prepare."
"Um."
Loxis turned around, his smile instantly losing its warmth.
The Federation's Murphy has been confirmed to be an S-class male insect, and the Federation President will most likely bring him to the peace talks. He has to find a way... find a way...
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Author's Note: Thank you AAA for the gift! Hehe, muah! [starry eyes][heart eyes][cheers]
Thank you to "Yiyun Zhufei Niao" baby, "Aichi Binggan" baby, and "Long Shiyu" baby for the nutritional solution! [Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Go for it!] (ps. Thank you to "Aichi Binggan" baby for the nutritional solution before, love you! I saw the comment! I might have accidentally missed you before, thank you again! Love you! Thank you, babies! [Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Go for it!])
(P.S. I've run out of drafts, so updates might be a bit irregular lately. Go to sleep, everyone, and you'll definitely see them when you wake up the next day! Of course, I'll try to update earlier [poor face])
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