OBS Chapter 377 In the Courtroom
Chapter 377 In the Courtroom
The fire priest didn't take this minor disturbance to heart and concluded, "This defense is not for conviction, but for Ms. Guo's honor. It is only to confirm whether Ms. Guo is suspected of a crime. Given that the evidence provided by both sides is insufficient, the final decision will be made by the jury. Before that, do either side have any other points to make?"
"Your Honor, I have something to add before the formal vote." The defense lawyer clearly realized that the current situation was unfavorable to his side, and could only stand up from his seat to make a final effort.
"Please provide more details," the fire priest said.
The defense attorney slowly said, "Regarding this curse case, the Uncrowned Ones have obtained crucial evidence, but they need time to extract the information. Therefore, we request a temporary recess so that we can hold a vote after presenting new evidence."
Upon hearing this, the fire priest narrowed his eyes slightly and said after a moment of silence, "As I just said, the purpose of this defense is not to convict. If there is new evidence, it can be presented during the investigation stage. I believe that neither the police department nor the court will wrong Ms. Guo. Therefore, whether the evidence you present in the future is valid or not, it will not affect today's defense, nor should it affect the jury's vote. So this court rejects your application."
Qin Xiaochuan was not surprised by the fire priest's actions. If the other side knew that they had key evidence, they would only speed up the voting process to prevent any unforeseen complications. If it were him, Qin Xiaochuan would also make the same choice. The defense lawyer's application was just a test; he would still have to save the day in the crucial moment.
"Since no one has any objections, then next..." Just as the fire priest was about to bring down the gavel, Qin Xiaochuan suddenly spoke up, "I have something to say."
Since Qin Xiaochuan arrived in Crescent City, he has rarely made public appearances. He remained silent after appearing in court. His words immediately drew everyone's attention. The Fire Priest frowned and could only put the gavel aside.
Qin Xiaochuan stood up and said carefully, "The Fire Priest is right. This debate is not about conviction, but it concerns Shiyi's reputation. I believe that anyone who cherishes their reputation would not want to be burdened with accusations that have nothing to do with them. On the day of the incident, Shiyi and I were in the inner court of the royal court. I can swear on the honor of the uncrowned kings. I do not hope to change the opinions of the jury members, but I hope the court can give us some time. In just two days, we can produce the most direct evidence to prove who the real murderer is. Well, I have finished speaking. I hope the Fire Priest can consider it."
When Qin Xiaochuan sat back down, he glanced around the courtroom and noticed that everyone had a thoughtful expression on their face, indicating that his words had clearly had some effect.
"We will naturally consider the words of the uncrowned one carefully. Before that, we don't know if the prosecution has anything else to say," the Fire Priest said in a deep voice. When he said the second half of his sentence, he looked deeply at the prosecution's lawyer. If Qin Xiaochuan could see it, he would definitely be able to see a special meaning in his eyes.
"We also have something to say," the plaintiff's lawyer immediately stood up.
Qin Xiaochuan frowned slightly, sensing that what was about to happen was likely to get out of his control.
"The plaintiff shall make his or her statement," the fire priest said calmly.
"Your Honor, fellow countrymen, this is a new era. When the previous Blood Witch King was still alive, he encouraged us to keep pace with the times and learn from the advanced ideas and technologies of the human race. That's why our Crescent City has undergone such a great transformation. In Huaxu, almost all countries are societies governed by the rule of law. Our Blood Witch Clan should also learn from this advanced legal spirit. All judgments should be based on evidence, rather than relying on personal reputation and oaths to make judicial decisions as before. Only in this way can we uphold the fairness and impartiality of the law."
As the prosecution's lawyer launched into his eloquent speech, his tone grew increasingly impassioned: "Your Honor, as the head of the criminal law in Crescent City, you surely do not wish for the legal environment painstakingly established by the previous Blood Witch King to be destroyed. I also believe that everyone hopes for a fair and just living environment in Crescent City. If you don't believe me, we can certainly listen to everyone's voice." With that, he gestured to the audience with a flattened hand gesture, much like a music conductor.
The audience was already somewhat agitated, and with his provocation and incitement, things spiraled out of control in an instant. Someone shouted "Fairness! Justice!" and the shouts spread out from the crowd, turning the entire courtroom into a street of protests.
Qin Xiaochuan's expression changed slightly. He hadn't expected the opposing lawyer to be so capable, not only quickly spotting the flaws in his arguments but also stirring up public sentiment. Under the current circumstances, the defense was destined to fail. However, he wasn't concerned about the outcome of the defense. Compared to that, he was more concerned about Guo Shiyi's safety. It wasn't that he was being overly worried; he knew that if the situation was allowed to spiral out of control, the Fire Priest could use the pretext of quelling public anger to imprison Guo Shiyi. At that point, even as an uncrowned figure, he probably wouldn't be able to protect her.
As the saying goes, concern leads to confusion. He regretted bringing Guo Shiyi to court. Now he just wanted to get Guo Shiyi out of Crescent City as soon as possible. His eyes swept across the entire courtroom, trying to find some familiar figures. He wondered if Riyin could fulfill his promise under these circumstances.
The fire priest did not stop the commotion in the audience. He was obviously trying to put pressure on Qin Xiaochuan and the jury in this way. Just as Qin Xiaochuan was getting anxious, a gentle hand suddenly grasped his left hand. He turned his head and saw that Guo Shiyi still had a smile on her face and said, "It's okay, there won't be any problems."
A warm current suddenly surged into his heart, and as this warmth spread throughout his body, Qin Xiaochuan was filled with courage. Actually, there was nothing to worry about, because he had made up his mind that no matter what happened, he would never let anyone take Guo Shiyi away from him. He would protect his girl with his life.
"It's okay, no one can hurt you," Qin Xiaochuan said, and then he saw the girl next to him slowly stand up from her seat.
"I have something to say." Under Qin Xiaochuan's surprised gaze, Guo Shiyi slowly opened her mouth. Her voice was not loud, but it was very penetrating. Even in the angry audience, everyone could hear her voice clearly.
The courtroom fell silent immediately, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone’s eyes were on Guo Shiyi, the girl at the center of the storm. She looked so young, almost like a minor, yet she unexpectedly stepped forward at the most crucial moment. Her gaze was so firm, without the slightest hint of weakness, like a queen who remained calm in the face of raging storms.