49 Judgemen (2/2)
”Oscar Schwarz, what do you remember from the incident in the Vault?”
”… nothing…” my voice was hoarse and raspy, but I pushed through, ”I don't remember… anything that happened… when I was possessed.”
”And what do you remember about this case in question?”
”Even less… nobody woke me up… I just remember blood… wanting to help… and Tai…”
”So why did you tell Dong Guozhi that Chen Tai was the perpetrator?”
In this exhausted, deprived state, I broke down in tears.
”I don't know… I just didn't want to believe it was me! I remembered Tai… I thought it had to be him! But he wouldn't do that… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… It must have been me…”
”Sir,” Master interrupted, ”Oscar Schwarz is not murderous. The witnesses have failed to demonstrate that. I have shown evidence that this was an accident, so I plead that you judge it as such.”
”Thank you, Mr Yin Xue. I am inclined to judge this case as involuntary manslaughter, the punishment for which is immediate dismissal. Are there any objections?”
”Yes Sir.”
The crowd riled in anger at Master's complaint.
”Mr Yin Xue, you wish to say more?”
”Yes Sir. Dismissing this child is a mistake.” I felt an unnerving gaze pierce through me and knew it was Master, ”Oscar Schwarz is beyond talented. He is a prodigy.
”Since arriving here, he has raised his qi force by one hundred and broken through to Low Elite Grade. He hasn't even been conscious for months!”
The crowd fell silent.
”Mr Yin Xue, that is indeed impressive. However, if he cannot control that power, another incident will happen.”
”… control it.”
”Mr Oscar Schwarz, do you have something to say?”
”I can control it!”
”Is that so? Will you demonstrate?”
”Yes Sir… Master?”
”Heh, brat, are ya sure ya can control it?”
”Yeah.”
”All right, then. Do yer worst.”
I raised my palms, handcuffs clinking. I didn't have much qi left, but I shot out a thin tendril. Some murmured, while others gasped, as I detached my qi and coiled it around Master's arm.
It lay there dormant, pulsating and wriggling, but nothing more. After a few seconds, I retracted it, letting it twirl back into my palm.
”Ahem. It would be a waste to lose Mr Oscar Schwarz. However, he must still be punished. Mr Oscar Schwarz, do you accept responsibility for this crime?”
”… I do.”
”Mr Oscar Schwarz has shown remorse before us. I propose one year of volunteer work. Are there any objections?”
”Yes Sir.”
All heads turned to Tai, who was seething with anger.
”Proceed.”
”Sir, even if you rule this as an accident, Schwarz does not fit in this school! He has repeatedly undermined authority and even killed a student! It's only a matter of time before this happens again!”
”Mr Chen Tai, your concerns are noted. However, I am acting in the military's best interest. This ruling will go on Mr Oscar Schwarz's permanent record and will inform future decisions.
”I will put Mr Oscar Schwarz on probation for the next year. Any incident will result in immediate dismissal.”
”Yes sir…”
”By my authority as Judge Advocate General, I sentence Mr Oscar Schwarz to one year of volunteer work on probation. Dismissed!”
The crowd filtered out, and the guards unlocked my cuffs. I stumbled while trying to get up, but Master caught me.
”Ya owe me fer this one, brat. Let's get ya to the Vault.”
This entire ordeal… it was finally over. Finally released from the oppressive tension, I passed out in Master's arms.