Chapter 122: The Trial of a God
With her thoughts laid bare so precisely by Neuvillette, the Hydro Archon, Furina, felt a wave of helplessness. All she could do was concede her flawed accusation. "Sigh… No objections. I admit I lost, alright?"
She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Honestly, you could have at least let me keep a little dignity. Did you really have to call me out at a time like this?"
Hearing that Lady Furina had no further objections, Neuvillette restated the case's progress one final time, confirming that the culprit behind the serial disappearances of young women was, in fact, Marcel.
"Therefore, this case can now be handed over to the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale for a final verdict."
As Neuvillette's solemn words echoed through the opera house, the grand machine enthroned below him began to hum. It pulsed with a dazzling, aqua-blue light that washed over the courtroom.
Conan's expression went a little blank. 'Wait,'he thought,'the evidence is already overwhelming. Why does it still need a verdict from some… Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale?'
Mitsuhiko, on the other hand, was buzzing with curiosity. He stroked his chin, mimicking the pose of a serious detective. "Do you think there will ever be a time when the Oratrice's verdict is different from the Chief Justice's?"
Natsume patted the boy's head, her own expression equally grave. "As far as I know, in the five hundred years that Neuvillette has served as the Iudex of Fontaine, such a situation has never occurred."
"Really?!" Ran Mouri looked at Neuvillette with a mixture of surprise and deep admiration. "In that case, Monsieur Neuvillette is truly amazing…"
Noticing the star-struck look in Ran's eyes, Conan felt a familiar prickle of annoyance and muttered under his breath, "We don't even know if this machine is accurate in the first place…"
Just then, the brilliant aqua-blue light receded, and the final judgment of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale materialized in Neuvillette's hand.
He glanced at the verdict before rising to his full height to address the court. "Hereby, according to the judgment of the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, I declare: the Magician, innocent; Marcel, guilty."
A cheer erupted from the children. They high-fived each other, celebrating their victory. "Alright! A total win!"
Across the hall, Furina watched the scene of jubilation and sighed, a picture of dejection. The feeling lasted only a moment before she visibly perked up, a performer finding her spotlight once more. She clapped her hands together lightly. "Travelers from a foreign land, I admire the efforts you've made to solve this case. So cheer to your heart's content! Cheer for winning against the God of Justice in a courtroom duel! Although I must confess I wasn't giving it my all, your passion moved me. Consider this victory your just reward."
With a theatrical turn, Furina addressed the entire opera house. "And so, I wish to congratulate the travelers from afar for passing my trial—the trial of the Hydro Archon, Furina! They have proven their courage and wisdom to me. Therefore, I hereby announce that they have gained the friendship of the Hydro Archon herself! In Fontaine, they shall be our most honored guests!"
As her declaration concluded, thunderous applause suddenly erupted from the audience. The murmurs of doubt that had arisen from her defeat in the debate vanished, replaced by a wave of renewed admiration.
"So it was all a trial? I knew it! How could Lady Furina's 'justice' ever truly lose in a courtroom duel?"
"Wow—as expected of our Archon! She considers things on a level we can't even imagine. What a wonderful drama!"
…On the other side of the courtroom, Genta squinted. "...Is she just bluffing?"
The others nodded in solemn agreement. "Seems like it…"
A corner of Natsume's mouth twitched. 'Noah's Ark is actually quite impressive, in a way,'she mused.'To be able to recreate Furina's personality to this extent… she can even spin a situation like this. It feels like the courtroom has become her stage all over again.'
Just as Neuvillette was directing the Gardes to escort the relevant parties away and preparing to adjourn, a sharp voice cut through the dispersing crowd.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, please wait a moment! I have one more thing to say!"
At Conan's shout, the audience members, who had been shuffling toward the exits, froze. Furina and the others halted their previous actions, turning back toward the source of the interruption.
Neuvillette fixed his gaze on the small detective. "Is there something else?"
Conan's voice rang out, clear and loud. "While everyone is still here, we want to initiate a trial against a god. The subject of this trial is—the Hydro Archon, Furina!"
Furina, who had been on the verge of making a graceful exit, stopped dead. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you joking? I am Focalors, the God of Justice. You wish to put justice itself on trial? Isn't that a bit absurd? As the god of Fontaine, I have many important matters to attend to. I will not play along with this farce. I'll be going…"
"Wait!"
It was Neuvillette who called out, his voice stopping Furina in her tracks. He, too, had been taken aback by the traveler's accusation, his eyes widening slightly. But then, he recalled Ms. Furina's evasive attitude whenever he had tried to discuss the prophecy or the former Hydro Archon, Egeria. In an instant, he understood the travelers' intent.
He had originally planned to accept the accusation and schedule the trial for a more suitable time. But seeing Furina attempt to flee once again, he realized this was the perfect opportunity—the best chance he might ever get—to compel her to speak the truth.
The audience, the accuser, the judge… all the necessary parties were present. They might as well conduct the trial today.
He blocked Furina's path. "Where there is an accusation, there must be a trial. Ms. Furina, am I to understand your words just now as a refusal to be tried?"
"Of course not!" Furina denied instantly. "I simply believe this trial is nothing more than an absurd drama, completely meaningless."
"That is not a valid reason to refuse," Neuvillette stated calmly, before pressing the point. "Ms. Furina, do you refuse the trial? If you do, you may defend your honor through a duel."
"Fine, fine!" Furina threw her hands up in a gesture of feigned ease, though a flicker of panic crossed her face. "It seems I don't have much of a choice. In that case, I decide—to accept the trial."
Neuvillette struck the floor with his cane, the sound sharp and final. "Then, I declare the trial of the Hydro Archon, Furina—to begin now!"
"Wait, it starts now?" Furina's composure finally cracked. "There's no time to prepare at all?"
She was genuinely panicked. She had assumed that, like before, accepting the accusation would mean scheduling a new date for the trial. She never expected it to begin immediately.
Neuvillette's gaze was unwavering. "Ms. Furina, do you have any objections now?"
Furina glanced down at the audience below, who were cheering with wild excitement, thrilled at the prospect of witnessing history. She knew she couldn't bring herself to deny them this spectacle.
She lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought for a moment. Then, she looked back up, a brilliant, theatrical smile spreading across her face as she addressed her people.
"Cheer! Applaud! My dear citizens, you are about to witness a historic moment for Fontaine!"
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