Chapter Twenty-Four: The Tribunal of the Organization (Part Two)

Three days later, inside the Tribunal Hall.

The Tribunal Hall had not been used for a long time; even the cleaning staff had given up on this place, resulting in a thick layer of dust covering every surface. After a day and night of thorough cleaning, the hall was finally restored to its former glory.

This was a place drenched in blood. Anyone found guilty here would be executed by the side presiding over the judgment. In other words, if Xia Yan were to be declared guilty, Director Aiyou would execute him on the spot before everyone.

This was perhaps the most complete gathering of institution members in its history: the director was present, all the mentors were here, the ten members of the "Institution Management" were in attendance, and nearly one thousand four hundred out of approximately one thousand five hundred institution members had come.

Their purpose was to witness this tribunal.

Guilty, or not guilty.

It was no longer a matter between individuals, but between entire races. Would the humans simply watch the drama unfold? What about the werewolves? The angels? The bloodkin? The winged race? The only certainty was that the demon race, led by Chief Judge Aiyou, would not be mere spectators—they would judge Xia Yan guilty.

Xia Yan stood at the very center of the Tribunal Hall, subjected to the gaze of over a thousand people. His expression was calm, utterly unperturbed, not at all like someone awaiting judgment—a human.

No member dared to utter a word; everyone watched silently. They had no right to speak, only to observe. Only the mentors and "management" members with seats had the privilege to speak.

Director Aiyou rose, her eyes cold and sharp, as if she could kill Xia Yan with nothing but her gaze.

"Member Xia Yan, I ask you: during the match a few days ago, did you deliberately kill Daren?"

"No," Xia Yan met her gaze unflinchingly. "You demons want to frame me. Do you have any evidence?"

At these words, the entire hall was shocked! Xia Yan was challenging the demon race itself, not just an individual. Such blatant ridicule could not be ignored. Immediately, at least four mentors, including two from the "Institution Management," rose, their eyes fierce and fixed on Xia Yan.

If looks could kill, Xia Yan would already be dead—slain by Director Aiyou, the four demon mentors, three management members, and countless ordinary demon institution members, torn apart a thousand times over.

For one person to challenge an entire race—he must be mad, utterly devoid of reason.

"You want to frame me? Produce evidence. The tribunal only considers evidence, not the ravings of lunatics!" Xia Yan swept his gaze over the standing group, his eyes filled with contempt.

"Member Xia Yan, do you need evidence for deliberate murder?" Laiwen challenged him. "That match was witnessed by countless spectators and institution members. Who didn’t see Daren die by your hand, her head crushed?"

"I've already explained it very clearly before!" Xia Yan’s cold eyes swept over the crowd. "Demons, let me recount it for you one last time. Open your ears wide and don’t miss a single word."

Many gritted their teeth, hatred for Xia Yan seething within them. To provoke an entire race—he truly was insane!

Xia Yan began, "During the match, just as I was about to win, something extremely bizarre occurred. It seemed the entire arena was engulfed in an illusion."

"Speak clearly..." a demon mentor interrupted, dissatisfied.

"Demons, let me finish." Xia Yan cut him off. "Even if you do not understand human etiquette, you should not behave like some mutated beast!"

"You’re courting death!" The demon mentor’s gaze was vicious, glaring at Xia Yan.

Ignoring him, Xia Yan continued, "I told Daren to surrender, but she refused, saying all sorts of incoherent things."

"For example—'Xia Yan, I want to die with you.'"

"For example—'Xia Yan, I paid the price, you won’t escape.'"

"For example—'Ha! Xia Yan, let’s die together.'"

Xia Yan looked puzzled. "I was utterly confused. Daren had already lost, so why wouldn’t she surrender, but instead said such irrational things? Was she mentally unstable?"

"I even called for Mentor Nina, asking her to come and end the match."

"But Mentor Nina couldn’t see my gestures or hear my voice. In fact, none of the spectators could perceive any of it..."

He sounded helpless. "Suddenly, my eyes were filled with hallucinations—Daren transformed into a mutant and lunged at me. Panicked, I killed this 'mutant.'"

Xia Yan surveyed the crowd. "That is the entire story. I’ve recounted it again, before all the institution members."

Now, many institution members began whispering among themselves.

"Did you see it? The strange phenomena during that final match."

"Yes, everyone witnessed the illusion—even Xia Yan saw it."

"Not surprising. That ability affected the whole arena, a truly eerie power."

"It’s called Crimson Eye, a domain-like ability that manipulates others’ perception. Xia Yan must have been controlled, too!"

"The demons... are despicable. No—not all of them—I mean only Daren, don’t misunderstand!"

"Clearly, Daren couldn’t win, so she forced Xia Yan to kill her, shifting the blame onto him."

"A last bite before death!"

"Why did Daren kill herself?"

"They say that ability has terrible side effects. Once used, the wielder doesn’t live long. She must have been desperate."

"That Daren deserved what she got... No, I don’t mean the demon race, just Daren herself, don’t misunderstand."

...

Because Xia Yan’s ‘lies’ were so convincing, he appeared to be the victim. The majority of members felt he was not at fault; all except the demons sided with Xia Yan, holding nothing but disdain for the dead Daren.

"I’ll ask you again: why do you demons seek to frame me?" Xia Yan fixed his gaze coldly on the director’s seat.

Only Director Aiyou knew that her original instructions had not been followed, and Daren was not so reckless. So everything Xia Yan said was fabrication.

But as Xia Yan claimed, the demons had no evidence.

Without evidence, they could not judge Xia Yan guilty, could not sentence him to death—a glaring problem!

Xia Yan had to die; even if she had to abuse her authority, she would force his execution. He could not be allowed to live—he was a calamity.

At that moment, a demon mentor finally broke his silence, speaking up: "Daren’s actions do not represent the entire demon race..."

He had fallen right into Xia Yan’s trap, for Xia Yan had just said, "Why do you demons seek to frame me?"

Many demons’ faces darkened; this fool had uttered words that only hurt their own side.

Director Aiyou was furious, shooting a cold glare at the mentor—a true imbecile!

"Member Xia Yan, regardless, you killed Daren. That is fact. Your words likewise lack evidence," Laiwen retorted coldly. "I can only conclude you are lying!"

"No evidence?" Xia Yan sneered, meeting his eyes. "Who says I have no evidence? Everyone present is a witness—they all saw the illusion, just as I did."

"Moreover, you demons saw it too, didn’t you? Will you deny it?"

Xia Yan glared at the demons, whose rage nearly drove them to violence, barely restrained by the tribunal’s solemnity.

"My evidence is those who witnessed the illusion—members and ordinary people. And you, Director Aiyou, cannot produce a single person who did not see it. What right do you have to accuse me? What right do you have to sentence me to death? Are you even qualified?"

His open challenge to the director caused faces across the hall to shift; Xia Yan was not merely arrogant—he seemed determined to shorten his own life.

It was one thing to provoke others, but to challenge the director herself—a figure said to be the strongest in Fuxiang City, her power surpassing all mentors and management alike.

Just then, Gong Kui rose, drawing all eyes upon her.

This tribunal was finally about to take a new turn. Gong Kui judged the time was right; she would lead Xia Yan, the representative of humanity, to end this farcical charade.