The Target of Public Criticism

The dignitaries onstage were dumbfounded. The audience below was dumbfounded.

Even Chen Miemie, hiding in a corner, was dumbfounded.

“What kind of move is this? A spy within a spy? Shi Buyi thought he had turned Luo Lang’s son, only to be outmaneuvered and stabbed in the back?”

Onstage.

Stone Speaker’s tone did not change in the slightest. “Luo Wen, do you have evidence?”

“I do. The letters we exchanged, the information on the wristwatch—conclusive proof.”

“Why would I do such a thing?”

Stone Speaker’s question was also the question on everyone’s mind.

“You wanted to drive a wedge between humans and witches.

“The Skin-Shedding Clinic has a witch as its president, and the Burger Workshop has a witch as its vice president. The two businesses have grown too close and get along too well.

“That is something you cannot allow to happen.

“In your eyes, there must be a clear line between witches and humans.”

Stone Speaker neither confirmed nor denied it. “I have received your report. We will continue investigating based on the information you provided.”

Mortar Granny let out a cold laugh. “What, Scholar Shi? Investigating yourself? You’re a party to this case. Under the principle of recusal, you’ll have to step down as judge.”

Mortar Granny’s words drew Luo Wen’s attention. He turned toward her.

“I’m not finished exposing him. The [Pufferfish Poisoning Case] was also carried out on Stone Speaker’s orders.”

Mortar Granny was connected to the [Pufferfish Poisoning Case].

The two people who had died from the poisoning were peripheral members of the [Skin-Shedding Clinic].

She shot Luo Wen a cold, sinister look. “Explain yourself.”

“The seaweed that caused the poisoning was given to me by Stone Speaker.”

Mortar Granny had always been fiercely protective of her own. She ground her teeth in fury. “Evidence?”

“This type of seaweed is extremely rare, and its uses are very limited. Stone Speaker purchased some, so there must be a record of it. He gave the seaweed to me, which means he no longer has it. If you don’t believe me, ask him to produce it and see whether he can.”

Everyone turned their eyes toward Stone Speaker.

Shi Buyi chuckled lightly. “I bought the seaweed to use it. My specimen was consumed during an experiment. That can hardly count as evidence in a trial.”

Mortar Granny immediately shot back, “Whether there’s a problem and whether it constitutes evidence can be determined with an investigation. You’re the city’s highest law-enforcement official. Surely you understand the proper procedure.”

Shi Buyi actually smiled. “Mortar Granny, since when did you start believing in the law? Don’t forget, the materials presented earlier implicate far more than two people in the crimes you committed.”

Mortar Granny smiled as well. She still looked anything but kind when she did. “This old woman has lived long enough. Taking a scholar like you down with me wouldn’t be a loss.”

Luo Lang interrupted their bickering. “Enough. Since we have new developments, the case will be reopened. Shi Buyi, you are involved in this case. Cooperate with the investigation.”

Shi Buyi let out a hearty laugh.

“Investigate me? Who can investigate me? Under the Scholar Court system and the laws currently in effect, as long as I remain in office, I am in charge of the law and criminal penalties. Even if I am one of the parties involved, that does not affect my supreme authority as judge.”

“Listen to yourself. Do you think that’s reasonable?”

Shi Buyi shook his head. “No, it isn’t. But that’s the current state of affairs. When power is involved, how many things in this world are truly reasonable? All of you here, in your respective fields, what about the various monopolies, dictatorships, self-regulation, and clause-based exemptions? Are any of those reasonable?”

Luo Lang was equally well versed in the law. “When four scholars express objections, we have the authority to amend specific laws once a resolution has been reached.”

“Correct. But the fastest that process can take is seven days. Within those seven days, I’ll have already concluded the case again.

“Besides, Luo Lang, your son is also a party to this case. Whether he was acting under someone’s orders or surrendered voluntarily, you know exactly how serious his crimes are. Are you certain you want to handle this impartially? If you don’t want to save him, will you lock him up in your family’s cellar?”

Luo Lang looked at his son in the distance. “Isn’t this all thanks to the example you set? At this point, what’s the difference between keeping him locked in the cellar at home and putting him in prison?”

Xiumu spent most of her time in the laboratory and had no patience for politicians trading barbs.

“Why are you wasting so much time talking? Take Stone Speaker into custody first.”

Shi Buyi acted as though he had only just noticed her. “Xiumu, how did you dare leave that witch’s den in the library? And you even dare to stand this close to President Yu?”

Shi Buyi’s provocation instantly set President Yu off. She rose abruptly.

“I’ve been waiting for this day. It’s time to settle the score for what happened to my daughter. Everyone, clear out the spectators.”

At President Yu’s command, mysterious ones guided the audience out of the grand auditorium.

No one on the judges’ panel moved.

Chen Miemie was no ordinary spectator. He turned and slipped into the group of mysterious ones from the [Skin-Shedding Clinic].

When Bridge Maiden saw him suddenly appear, she glared fiercely at him. That morning, she had invited Chen Miemie, but he had replied that he wasn’t coming.

Once everyone else had left, President Yu attacked without warning.

She drove one foot into the ground like the fixed point of a compass. Her entire body became the compass arm drawing a circle, spinning 360 degrees as afterimages filled the air and formed a sphere.

“Geometry—Golden Ratio Circle!”

The sphere flashed through the air and vanished without a trace.

When it reappeared, it had completed a short-range spatial displacement and struck its target.

Smack!

Shi Buyi was sent flying. The tremendous force carried him into the row of seats behind him, smashing them apart.

“You... You attacked me?” Shi Buyi picked himself up from the floor.

Only then did President Yu drop the feigned attack on Xiumu.

“Shi Buyi, did you really think your clumsy attempt to steer the conclusion of the case would make me hunt down Xiumu? You’re underestimating me.”

Shi Buyi rose to his feet and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “You knew all along and deliberately acted along with Xiumu? How did you know it was me?”

President Yu walked toward Shi Buyi one step at a time.

“Acting? Yes. I deliberately dug a pit to numb the real culprit’s suspicions. Before today, I only suspected you; I had no proof. You were the one who jumped into the pit. You shouldn’t have tried to drive a wedge between Xiumu and me at a time like this.”

Anyone trying to sow discord at a moment like this was very likely the real culprit, panicking under pressure.

Shi Buyi did not deny it. He merely asked in an even voice, “Why did you suspect me?”

“At the scene of my daughter’s fall from the cliff, there were indeed no traces of [Mystery]. But what if it was a [Mystery] that left no traces in the first place?

“Shi Buyi, you are the Stone Speaker. You can communicate with stones, and you have spent years outside the city, so you understand geological conditions thoroughly. You don’t need to use [Mystery] to manipulate anything. All you have to do is ask the stones which dangerous places are prone to accidents and which rocks have reached the end of their lifespan.”

“President Yu, that’s pure speculation. I never came into contact with your daughter.”

“That’s what makes you clever. You truly never met my daughter, but you know how to bait the hook and fish.”

You quietly posted stories about the mountains around the Sealed-Book Hall. Any boy who wanted to get close to my daughter would know to play to her interests. He would take the initiative to learn about the area and study it, until his research eventually became the itinerary for one of his outings with my daughter.

It didn’t matter which boy it was, which dangerous spot he discovered, or what day he took my daughter mountain climbing. Given enough time, the “accident” you wanted would happen sooner or later.

You waited two years, and at last, the “accident” happened.

And you walked away from the whole thing completely, leaving not a single loose end.