The Chief Justice could indeed become a witness.
But throughout history, cases requiring his testimony could be counted on one hand. This meant that the current Judge must be...
Everyone turned their gaze toward the Oratrice.
The Oratrice glowed with a soft light. It possessed self-awareness—a common knowledge among all Fontainians.
After Neuvillette took the witness stand, Luna and Navia approached the stage.
"Let us explain," Luna began. "The water of the Primordial Sea possesses the unique ability to dissolve—and only dissolve—Fontainians."
Dissolve?!
"This is..." The audience struggled to comprehend.
Lyney's face darkened as he murmured, "I didn't expect Luna to have obtained such crucial intelligence. But this confirms the Archon's Prophecy that 'father' feared... is indeed..."
Real.
Perhaps Fontaine would soon be submerged, its people dissolved.
But this had nothing to do with the current trial.
Marcel spoke up, "Dissolve? You're indulging in wild fantasies—"
"If you're only going to spout such meaningless platitudes, then shut your mouth," Navia said without mercy.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, according to the Academy's analysis report, Sinthe and the Tears of a Maiden share identical components. These components are precisely the water from the Primordial Sea..."
Luna pressed her hands against the witness stand. "And you heard voices within the Tears of a Maiden, sensing the lingering consciousness of someone who was once human..."
Neuvillette nodded.
"Exactly as Miss Luna says. This is the Academy's analysis report. I can swear that within the Tears of a Maiden there truly exists the echo of a consciousness that once belonged to a young girl... the consciousness of a deceased person."
The Tears of a Maiden were a creation forged from the essence of a true young girl.
Luna smiled. "My deepest gratitude."
Monsieur Neuvillette actually swore an oath?
"Someone was truly dissolved..."
"You're joking..."
"And only Fontainians were dissolved..."
The audience remained stunned in the aftermath of this revelation.
This was undoubtedly a seismic news event that could shake Teyvat to its core, perhaps even a crisis.
Furina pondered. "Are you suggesting the murderer was dissolved? That's why the Callas case has taken this shape?"
"Precisely."
"Actually, the Maison Gardiennage found a piece of clothing at the scene, didn't they?" Navia continued. "That was the 'vanished murderer'—the remains of a third party!"
"The killer who murdered Jacques dissolved, leaving no traces behind."
"That day, there was a heavy rain," Navia said earnestly. "The dissolved killer was washed away by the rain."
"People from the banquet arrived shortly after the second gunshot."
"To make the killer dissolved by your father's bullet at such a precise moment, they must have been in a position to see all three of them clearly."
"That's why you went to the second floor!"
The Oratrice's balance began to tilt.
It leaned toward Luna and Navia.
Marcel shook his head. "Aren't there two others who went to the second floor besides me?"
"Don't be hasty, old man." Luna showed no panic even when countered.
She slowly raised her hand.
"Before continuing the trial, let's first count your sins."
Luna's smile vanished as she pointed at Marcel... or more accurately, "Marcel".
"Selling your soul to demons? Do you think that's a good thing? Fake."
Fake? The audience looked utterly confused.
Furina, unable to keep up with the abrupt shift in conversation, blurted out, "Fake? What fake?"
Navia scrutinized Marcel closely, finally detecting an incongruity.
"You... you're not Marcel! Who are you?"
Though the body and voice matched perfectly, she knew Marcel intimately enough to be certain she wasn't mistaken.
Could his burned face have been for this purpose?
"Marcel" spoke in a low, menacing tone. "Fake? Hah. Miss Luna certainly likes to throw accusations around. What evidence do you have to prove I'm an imposter?"
Luna smiled. "Please wait momentarily. The evidence will come of its own accord."
Come of its own accord? Had the evidence grown legs?
The words had barely left her lips when a member of the Maison Gardiennage rushed over. "Monsieur Neuvillette, Captain Chevreuse of the Special Task Force requests permission to participate in the trial!"
Chevreuse? Neuvillette pondered this, then sighed.
These sudden developments had become common in recent trials.
"...Permission granted."
The doors swung open to reveal Chevreuse and her Special Task Force members standing at attention.
"Thank you for your swift approval, Monsieur Neuvillette," she said, saluting. "This matter arose unexpectedly."
Furina blinked repeatedly.
Wow, is everyone here now?
Navia, Luna, Clorinde, Chiori, and Chevreuse—these were the members who had gathered together earlier.
However, the Phantom Thief White Cat wasn't present. It was strange, considering Clorinde had mentioned the thief was the one causing the most trouble.
If the Phantom Thief had been here, the scene would have been even more "spectacularly chaotic."
Clorinde murmured, "Everyone's assembled."
"Waah! The entire Special Task Force is here!"
"This is a once-in-a-millennium spectacle!"
Despite the solemnity of the trial, the audience erupted in exclamations and cheers, as if watching a masterful drama.
Chevreuse turned her head. "Stand in the defendant's position."
"Marcel."
Marcel! Everyone focused their attention.
Sure enough, a man with bandaged face was pushed forward by the Special Task Force, coming into full view.
This was the real Marcel.
"The defendant Marcel attempted to cross the Fontaine border, fleeing Fontaine."
"Fleeing the accusers requires punishment, but now please stand where you belong and prove your innocence—"
Chevreuse's voice turned frosty. "If you have any 'innocence' to speak of."
The moment she saw the newspaper, she understood the Phantom Thief White Cat's scheme.
This thief intended to use disfigurement to have someone else take his place on the trial stage. While all eyes were focused on the imposter, he would seize the opportunity to escape.
Before long, a new merchant would appear in Fontaine.
"President, I..." The fake Marcel found himself at a loss for words.
Luna's voice rang clear. "Speak."
"What?"
"Explain why you'd disfigure yourself to impersonate Marcel!"
The imposter clenched his teeth and knelt. "I... he said he'd give me money to clear my debts, to feed my family."
His forehead pressed against the ground.
"I'm sorry! I lied! I'm not Marcel!"
The crowd stared in shock.
The burns were deliberate? This...
"That's insane."
"So cruel..."
Luna's tone remained detached. "Don't think this act will win you sympathy. No matter your reasons, you've shielded a demon who destroyed countless futures."
"That alone condemns you to the Abyss."
"Your family will never forgive you. Don't use them as an excuse."
The imposter curled into himself, his pitiful appearance failing to move the crowd.
Furina rose.
"The trial isn't over, but I, Focalors, Archon of Justice, have already reached a verdict!"
"You are guilty!"
Neuvillette nodded. "Maison Gardiennage, take him away. We'll try him for his crimes later."
He tapped his cane.
The security guards seized the fake Marcel, produced handcuffs, and secured them around his wrists before leading him away from the accused's position.
"What a pity..."
"But should we continue trying Marcel? He's already fled in shame. Can't we just declare him guilty?"
Luna turned to Navia.
"Was that what you meant?"
Navia responded with a smile.
"Of course!"
They'd planned this together.
They couldn't let the trial end so easily.
"Absolutely not!" Navia declared solemnly. "We haven't finished speaking, and the trial isn't over yet!"
"I stand here not just to prove my father, Callas Caspar's innocence, but for all the victims."
Luna's voice turned cold. "Bring the defendant to the stand, then..."
"We'll crush you completely! We'll grind you into dust!"
Don't even think about escaping.
This is how it should be! Furina nodded in satisfaction and raised her hand.
"I hereby declare the trial to continue!"
Chevreuse escorted Marcel to the defendant's seat, then stood with her hands on her hips, her posture rigid and upright.
She was both a witness and someone who would bear witness to justice taking its seat.
Neuvillette narrowed his eyes slightly.
How dazzling, he thought. So this is what humans can possess...
"...The trial continues. Let both sides proceed with their arguments."