The Trial Is in Session II
With Neuvillette having seen straight through her, Focalors had no choice but to concede the point with a sigh. "Ugh, fine, no objections. I admit I lost. Happy now?"
Then she added under her breath, "Honestly, you could have spared me a little dignity. You didn't have to ask me at all, you know."
Hearing that Focalors raised no objection, Neuvillette recited the course of the case once more from beginning to end, then declared that the investigation into the missing girl had ultimately identified Marcel as the culprit.
"Then this case may now be entrusted to the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale for its final judgment."
The moment his last word fell, a brilliant azure glow flickered to life across the great machine looming above him.
Conan's expression went briefly blank. Hold on — the evidence is this airtight, and we still need the Oratrice to decide?
Mitsuhiko, meanwhile, was simply curious. He stroked his chin and asked with an air of feigned gravity, "Say, do you think there's ever been a case where the Oratrice's verdict and the Iudex's verdict didn't match?"
Xia Yu patted his head and answered with equal solemnity, "As far as I know, in the five hundred years since Neuvillette took office as Iudex, that has never once happened."
"Really?!" Ran turned toward Neuvillette, astonishment and admiration mingling in her eyes. "So Mr. Neuvillette is that incredible..."
Catching the look in Ran's eyes, Conan felt a flicker of irritation and muttered, "Doesn't mean that machine's actually accurate..."
By then the azure glow was steadily fading, and the Oratrice's judgment emerged at Neuvillette's hand. He read the verdict once, then rose to his feet and proclaimed, "In accordance with the judgment delivered by the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, I hereby declare: the magician — not guilty. Marcel — guilty."
At the verdict, the children slapped each other high-fives and cheered, "All right! A complete victory!"
Watching the jubilant scene across the courtroom, Focalors let out a deflated sigh — but she rallied almost at once. After a round of applause, she declared, "Travelers from afar, I admire the effort you poured into cracking this case. So celebrate freely — cheer for having won a courtroom duel against the God of Justice herself. I'll admit I didn't give this duel my all, but your dedication moved me, and so this victory shall stand as your reward."
Then Focalors turned to face the hall. "Here and now, I congratulate the travelers from afar on passing my trial — the trial of Focalors, God of Water. They have proven to me their courage and their wisdom. I therefore proclaim that they have earned the friendship of the Hydro Archon Focalors. In Fontaine, they are our honored guests..."
The instant her words ended, thunderous applause erupted from the gallery below.
All the doubt that had stirred against the God of Justice over her courtroom defeat had vanished without a trace, swept away by the audience's admiration:
"So the whole thing was a test? I knew it — of course our Lady Focalors of Justice could never actually lose a trial."
"Wow — that's the Hydro Archon for you. She's always thinking several layers beyond anything we could imagine. What a magnificent piece of theater..."
...
Meanwhile, on the other side, Genta half-lidded his eyes. "...She's bluffing, isn't she."
The others nodded in agreement. "Looks like it..."
Xia Yu's mouth twitched. Noah's Ark is honestly kind of impressive in its own way — recreating Furina's personality to this degree. She even managed to talk her way out of a situation like this. It feels like the courtroom's turned back into Focalors' home turf again...
Once Neuvillette had ordered the gardes to escort everyone involved away and was preparing to depart, Conan's voice suddenly rang out toward the bench. "Mr. Neuvillette! One moment, please — there's still one more thing..."
At Conan's shout, the audience filing for the exits — along with Focalors and the rest — froze mid-motion.
Neuvillette looked at Conan. "And what would that be?"
Conan's voice rang loud and clear through the hall. "While everyone is still gathered here — we hereby bring a trial against a god! The accused is — Focalors, the God of Water!"
Focalors, who had been on the verge of leaving, stared at him in open shock. "Are you all joking? I am Focalors, the God of Justice — and you dare dream of putting justice itself on trial? Isn't that a touch too absurd? As the Archon of Fontaine, I have a great many matters demanding my attention, so I won't be staying to play. If you'll excuse me—"
"Wait!" Neuvillette's voice stopped her cold.
He, too, had been startled by the travelers' declaration, his eyes widening a fraction — and then he recalled the evasive manner Focalors had shown whenever their conversations touched upon the prophecy and the former Hydro Archon, Egeria. In that instant, he understood exactly what the travelers intended.
His first thought had been to accept the charge and simply reschedule the trial for a more fitting time. But the moment he saw Focalors preparing to slip away yet again, he realized that this was the finest opportunity he would ever get to force the truth of the prophecy into the open. There would be no rescheduling.
The audience, the accusers, the Iudex — everyone concerned was present and accounted for. Very well. The trial would be held today.
He called her to a halt. "Where there is an accusation, there must be a trial. Lady Focalors — am I to understand that your words just now constitute a refusal of trial?"
"Of course not!" Focalors shot back. "I merely believe that a trial like this is nothing more than an absurd farce — utterly meaningless."
"That is not grounds for refusal." Neuvillette pressed on. "Lady Focalors — do you refuse the trial? If you refuse, you may defend your honor by combat instead."
"Fine. Fine then." Focalors spread her hands with studied nonchalance. "It seems I haven't much room to maneuver, do I? In that case, I decide — to accept the trial."
Neuvillette struck the floor with his cane. "Then I hereby declare — the trial of Focalors, the God of Water, is now in session!"
"Wait — right now?!" Focalors blanched. "You're not going to give me even a moment to prepare?"
Flustered, she had assumed that once she accepted the charge, the trial would be rescheduled as it always had been. Never had she imagined it would begin on the spot...
"Lady Focalors," Neuvillette asked, "do you have any objection at this time?"
Focalors gazed down at the audience, already roaring with excitement at the prospect of witnessing history — and found that she could not bring herself to utter a single word against the trial.
She lowered her head as if in thought, and after a moment, raised it again to face the crowd, a radiant smile spreading across her face.
"Rejoice! Cheer! My beloved people — you are about to witness a moment that will go down in the history of Fontaine!"