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Another two days passed, early morning.
A crisp alarm rang out, breaking the silence. Paimon lazily stretched, let out a huge yawn, and muttered, "Ahhh… today's the day they put that Marcel guy on trial. We've gotta hurry and get going."
At that moment, Lumine had just finished brushing her teeth and washing her face in the bathroom. She walked out slowly while wiping her face with a towel.
When she saw Shao Yun sitting on the bed with a slight frown, seemingly lost in thought, she asked, "Shao Yun, do you want to come with us?"
Hearing Lumine's voice, Shao Yun snapped back to his senses. He quickly shook his head and replied, "What would I go for? I don't like watching trials. It's just a waste of time."
At this moment, Shao Yun was busy calculating how to successfully hijack the execution during the trial and torture that "Vacher" to death.
However, Lumine grew curious about Shao Yun's refusal to attend and pressed on, "Then what are you planning to do? You can't just sit around doing nothing all day, right?"
Unhurried, Shao Yun pulled out a commission slip he had prepared long ago and waved it slightly as he explained, "See? I picked up a commission. This should keep me occupied."
"You know, I have a natural aversion to places like courts."
Hearing this, Paimon couldn't help drifting over and asked curiously, "But aren't you worried someone might take the chance to break Marcel out?"
"After all, Chevreuse said his Confrerie of Cabriere isn't weak at all—they've got deep roots and serious power!"
The moment Shao Yun heard this, he threw his head back and burst into laughter.
Laughing as he shook his head, he said, "Oh please, how could that happen? If Fontaine really let that guy escape right in front of everyone, then the security patrol would be completely useless. They might as well all jump into the river and drown!"
Just then, creeeak, the door was pushed open.
Navia walked in energetically with a bright smile and called out cheerfully, "Partner, are you all ready to head out?"
But when she looked closely and realized Shao Yun was also in the room besides Lumine, she froze in place.
After a brief silence, she scratched her head awkwardly and said with a smile, "Ah, Mr. Shao Yun, so you're here too…"
The moment Shao Yun heard the word "partner" from Navia's mouth, a flood of thoughts flashed through his mind.
Coupled with how Lumine had been leaving early and returning late for the past four days, acting mysteriously, and even arranging for him to stay at the Spina di Rosula base—then becoming especially clingy and affectionate at night—
All signs pointed to something being off.
So, Shao Yun stared at Lumine beside him with suspicion and asked, "What exactly is this 'partner' thing Navia's talking about…?"
Caught off guard, Lumine's face instantly turned bright red. She fiddled nervously with the hem of her clothes and stammered, "Ah… um… it's really nothing…"
But her flustered expression and hesitant words only deepened Shao Yun's suspicion.
Shao Yun narrowed his eyes and pressed further, "Don't give me that. Tell me the truth. And speaking of which, you and Paimon have been going out early and coming back late every day—what exactly have you been doing?"
Just as Shao Yun was about to piece together the truth, Lumine's heart jumped. She quickly grabbed Paimon's hand and hurried toward Navia.
With a somewhat panicked expression, Lumine took a deep breath and said in a slightly tense tone, "I-it's nothing, really! Look, you still have a commission to take care of, so we won't keep you!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Lumine pulled Paimon with one hand and grabbed Navia's wrist with the other, hastily leaving the room.
Watching their retreating backs, Shao Yun already understood everything.
Over the past four days, Lumine and Paimon's constant early departures and late returns must have been because they accepted Navia's request and started investigating her father Callas's wrongful conviction, trying to clear his name.
Looks like what Clorinde said really stirred Lumine and Paimon's urge to meddle in other people's business…
Thinking this, Shao Yun shook his head helplessly and muttered softly, "Sigh… those two really know how to make trouble for themselves. Still, Navia probably won't treat Lumine badly…"
Recalling how Navia usually treated Lumine and Paimon fairly well, Shao Yun decided not to interfere.
If something went wrong, he'd handle it himself—they're his wife and child, after all. How could he not care?
…
Outside the Opera Epiclese.
The victims' families who had agreed to gather here two days earlier were now clustered together in small groups, anxiously awaiting news.
They chose to gather here for two reasons. First, the seating inside the opera house followed a strict assigned-seat system, making it impossible for them to enter and observe the trial.
Second, Shao Yun had explicitly instructed them to wait outside.
With only a short time left before the trial concluded, Shao Yun appeared as planned, dressed in Dutch van der Linde's "Gang Leader" outfit.
A distinctive red checkered bandana covered his face, giving off an air of mystery and authority.
On top of that, he shouted loudly in an authentic Blackwater accent, "Is everyone here?"
The gathered families exchanged glances, looking at one another in surprise and confusion at this suddenly appearing, oddly dressed figure.
Finally, a slightly braver family member stepped forward and asked, "We're all here, yes, but… may I ask who you are?"
Shao Yun casually waved his hand and replied, "My name and appearance aren't important. What matters is what we're about to do."
Hearing this, the man nodded thoughtfully and continued, "I had a feeling. We've already got a rough idea of what this is about."
"A few days ago, a mysterious stranger came to us and said that if we wanted justice for our children, we had to wait for the arrival of a mysterious person."
As he spoke, he lifted his head and stared straight at Shao Yun. "So… that person must be you."
Shao Yun nodded slightly and said, "Yes. You guessed right. Now, according to the plan—cover your faces."
…
Meanwhile, inside the trial hall, the tense and oppressive atmosphere finally began to ease. It seemed the trial was nearing its conclusion.
Facts spoke louder than words. Faced with overwhelming and irrefutable evidence, even the silver-tongued Marcel was left speechless, unable to defend himself.
Especially the crucial document submitted by the Snezhnayan Adventurers' Guild.
The membership application bearing Vacher's photograph, along with the clearly visible Adventurers' Guild seal, became the fatal blow sealing Marcel's conviction.
In the end, confronted with undeniable proof, Marcel bowed his head and confessed, personally admitting that he was the detested "Vacher."
Not only that, he laid out in full detail the reasons and circumstances behind his crimes.
…
Just as Vacher, utterly dejected and like a walking corpse, was being escorted out of the Opera Epiclese by two members of the security patrol, an unexpected scene unfolded.
"Shao Yun," leading a group of masked individuals, suddenly rushed forward and blocked their path.
Spreading his arms theatrically, Shao Yun shouted loudly, "Gentlemen, please wait a moment!"
One of the patrol members instantly raised his guard, locking a sharp gaze on the masked Shao Yun and the group behind him as he barked, "Who are you people?!"
Calm and composed, Shao Yun raised his hand, pointed at the tightly restrained Vacher, and replied, "We're here for the criminal between you."
Before his words even settled, the other patrol member's face changed drastically, and he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Help! Someone's hijacking the prisoner!"
Seeing that negotiation was impossible, Shao Yun knew delaying any longer was pointless. His heart hardened as he chose force!
His right hand shot to his waist with lightning speed, and in the blink of an eye, Dutch's Schofield revolver was in his grip.
Without hesitation, Shao Yun aimed at the legs of the two patrol members.
Bang! A sharp gunshot rang out as a bullet struck one patrol member squarely in the thigh.
In an instant, the wounded man felt his leg go numb, as if countless ants were gnawing at his flesh, before the numbness turned into searing pain, and he collapsed backward.
The other patrol member turned pale and tried to drag Vacher back toward the opera house—but it was already too late.
Bang! Another gunshot tore through the air. The second patrol member let out a piercing scream and crashed to the ground, clutching his wound and howling in agony.
Vacher, who had already resigned himself to his fate, suddenly felt his spirits soar.
Ecstatic, he believed reinforcements had arrived and ran toward Shao Yun in excitement.
As he ran, he shouted, "You're here to save me, right? Hahaha! I knew someone would come for me—"
But when he reached Shao Yun, what greeted him was not a warm welcome, but a crushing punch.
Shao Yun looked at the foolish Vacher before him with a blank expression, a trace of disdain and coldness flashing in his eyes.
In a split second, his arm swung, fist whistling through the air as it slammed straight into Vacher's jaw.
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