Institution, Imperial Academy.
Only deep silence hangs in Professor Revan Belzer's laboratory.
Revan, Kali, and Max, who were staying by his side as his escorts, had already been watching Ryan's reaction for 30 minutes.
Today is the day of the first retrial of the Konrad massacre, a tragedy from 16 years ago.
"...What kind of law is this? It sucks, seriously."
Ryan, who was lying on the sofa, muttered with his arm resting on his forehead.
"They say I have to prove I'm incompetent. Fuck, it would be one thing if I had to show off my abilities. But how am I supposed to prove I don't have any?"
Sixteen years ago, Ryan could not cause a massacre.
Because he was incompetent at the time.
However, no one will believe it if he says it out loud.
"Given the circumstances, there has to be an incompetent one. The kids my father raised until they were twelve suddenly became my children. Anyone can see they are incompetent, so didn't he just dump them on me?"
"Judges do not make rulings based on only partial circumstances."
As Kali spoke coldly, Revan and Max glared at her.
Who doesn't know that? You're so clueless!
"Why did they accept the request for a retrial in the first place? Didn't you know they reopened the trial because it seemed like I wasn't the arsonist?"
The family's supernatural ability research data that Christa had smuggled out to Alexander.
It provided decisive help in opening a retrial.
This is because there was a research result in the data stating that 'superpowers do not overlap,' which was accepted as a matter worth considering for mitigating circumstances.
"Everyone in the world knows you're the second-in-command who uses fire, and there is evidence that no one but a dog could be the arsonist, so what more do I have to do? I thought we would just go to court and they'd declare you innocent."
"Is the courtroom a children's playground? The fact that a retrial was held means, 'We will listen to your side of the story, but prove your innocence.'"
"Why should I prove it when I didn't do it!"
"Because you have admitted to being a criminal and gone to prison."
"Shit!"
For the first time in a long while, Ryan felt a sense of injustice. He didn't know that laws and norms were this complicated.
"What really pisses me off is the fact that I'm actually not incompetent. Alex said that I'm going to be exposed as an instant kill soon, so it'll be even harder to clear my name."
"Of course. Because instant death is a superpower specialized for mass slaughter."
"Uh, but I'm really being unfairly treated. I couldn't use my ability during the Konrad massacre, and I didn't even know I possessed an instant kill ability."
"That is why we must unconditionally prove the special nature of supernatural ability manifestation. The fact that not all ability users will have their powers unleashed by the age of twelve."
"..."
"It would be even more perfect if we could fabricate circumstances where the real culprit approached the defense attorney participating in the trial and attempted to murder him to cover up the crime."
"Hey!"
Ryan sprang to his feet and glared at Kali.
"Do you think I'm saying this because I don't know? Just go and comfort me by saying, 'You must be feeling down, Lord.'"
"You must be feeling down, Lord."
"Ha."
Ryan lowered his head and tore at his hair. Revan, who was sitting diagonally across from him, widened his eyes.
"Brother, what's wrong? Are you crying?"
“No.”
Everyone became solemn.
It is because they know the reason why Ryan is doing this.
He was a man who thought that since he had already paid the price for his sins anyway, it was fine to carry the label of a criminal around for the rest of his life.
All he needs is for his people to believe that he is innocent.
So, the reason Ryan was suffering so much right now was not that he felt wronged, but because of Alexander, who had gone 'to his death' claiming he would gather evidence, saying,
"Me, f***... What did I do to deserve this, you dog?"
That was exactly the evidence Alexander intended to submit.
After official death, resurrection.
I mean showing my special ability in court.
Father must be really angry right now, right?
***
Ryan, who officially stated in court the truth that he went to prison 16 years ago on his biological father's orders.
It is a case where the son, who should have been living like a dead mouse, properly bared his claws at his father.
Father was angry, yet he was clearly racking his brains trying to figure out what on earth we were relying on to act so cocky.
From the audacious request for a retrial by the son he had cast aside, to the daughter who unexpectedly married into the imperial family...
He must have a hundred question marks in his head.
So Alex becomes a target.
Father has many questions for us right now, and since he made a big fuss with the Konrad massacre retrial, he will naturally want to 'warn' us.
"Vania, are you okay?"
The Prince, who was having a silent meal with me, asked worriedly.
"Ah. I am Belzer right now."
The day I took Merchen to Belzer after finishing the schedule.
This is because he knew that Alex had left for the capital to execute the plan.
In that case, since I had to come back to Belzer sooner or later anyway, I just stayed here with Merchen.
"You look really upset."
“It can’t be good.”
My younger brother died today.
I had to hold a funeral here when my younger brother's body was returned.
***
Central continent, Binster.
A territory situated along a branch of the Bond River that cuts across the waist of the continent.
As it was a nature-friendly land bordering the outskirts of the capital, it was also a place where many villas of the nobility were located.
Nike stood in the middle of the town of Benster and quietly gazed at the villa buildings built here and there on the mountainside.
Among them, one large white mansion.
That is a villa owned by the Wassenberg family.
It is also where Alexander is right now.
"Your Highness!"
At that time, a familiar face came running towards him.
It was Jeff, Alex's close bodyguard.
“Everyone, stand by.”
Nike gestured to the ten Imperial Knights standing behind him to keep their distance, then walked toward Jeff.
Jeff, who approached, was surprised.
It was because Nike was wearing a red uniform.
All the people in the city were passing by the red-clad imperial knights, glancing at them with fearful eyes.
"Are you really going this far?"
Jeff whispered humbly.
The Imperial Knights, who wear different uniforms depending on the type of duties they perform.
Red uniforms are worn when the Imperial Family dispatches knights to directly investigate cases deemed serious.
"You're okay, right?"
Jeff asked worriedly. Because this is an abuse of power.
Nothing has happened yet, and no reports have been filed, yet to think he is using his knights like a security force.
"As many people as possible need to know what is going to happen today. And to be the first to recover the bodies and complete the autopsy quickly, operating the Order this way is the most efficient."
Nike whispered and explained.
"Ahem. I know that, but..."
"More importantly, who came?"
"They haven't arrived yet. The young master is waiting."
It was impossible to know who the superpowered person from Wassenberg would be when meeting Alexander today.
"But our young master has never been wrong in his predictions. The guy, he said, would come..."
At that time.
Coogugung.
The ground shook.
Minor earthquake.
Everyone in the city was flustered and scrambling.
"Look."
'Look?' Jeff shrugged.
***
Kugu Palace.
A faint tremor was felt across the ground.
Alexander, who was checking his death plan while tapping on the railing of the villa's front garden, let out a smirk.
A small earthquake occurred suddenly.
It is likely a calculated scheme to use it as a precursor to a landslide.
'As expected, you don't act stupid.'
In Wassenberg, they openly called him out in Christa's name. This means that today's meeting is proof.
In fact, it was also a picture of His Highness the Third Prince, his sister's husband, coming to Binster out of concern for this meeting.
So, they wouldn't openly threaten his life by sending an assassin or anything like that.
Instead, they will secretly threaten and torture him to extract the information they want, and then use their ability to make it look like an accidental death.
The intention is to make it so that only Ryan, who has supernatural abilities, can understand that Alexander's death is a 'warning' sent by Wassenberg.
Having heard the news that a landslide targeting Ratan had occurred in the east, Alexander had anticipated who would come to attack him that day.
'Even so, this is really hopeless.'
How many people are in this estate, and you threaten to tear down a mountain just to bury one person without any evidence?
'They are real devilish bastards.'
Alexander, who had been grinding his teeth in rising disgust, relaxed his expression and turned around at the sound of footsteps behind him.
Bright red hair and blood-red eyes, similar to his. A gold piercing in the ear.
It was Mario Wassenberg, the sixth son of the Wassenberg family.
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