Chapter 103

Chapter 103

"Yi Ye!!"

Kaiser bellowed in disbelief, about to charge forward when Bai Chuan firmly held him back.

"What are you doing? Where is he going now!"

Bai Chuan's breath hitched, veins bulging in his neck from restraint. "Let him be."

"Are you crazy! Do you realize what the Emperor will do to him if he leaves now?!"

"I know."

Bai Chuan strained to get the words out. "I know the consequences better than anyone. But, Kaiser, this is the first time he's ever seriously begged me."

Kaiser was stunned. "What..."

*

Two hours earlier, at home.

Bai Chuan cleaned up last night's mess on the table, tied up the trash bag, and left it by the door.

When he returned to the living room, Yi Ye was still in the bathroom. His terminal was on the coffee table, and worried Little Orange might eat it, Bai Chuan moved it to a higher place. But as he set it down, his finger accidentally brushed the screen, pulling up a chat log.

"Should we head out? I'll get changed—"

Yi Ye walked out mid-sentence, saw the terminal in Bai Chuan's hand, and trailed off.

The chat log was open to his message to Ling Pei about attending the trial.

"Xiao Bai..."

Bai Chuan handed the terminal back, his expression eerily calm. "Little Orange gets into everything, keep it out of reach next time."

"...Okay." Yi Ye averted his gaze and took it.

He still hadn't told Bai Chuan about the Twelve Seats, had rehearsed it in his head for days, but when it came time to speak, the words stuck in his throat. If he admitted he wanted to give up his A-level status at the Imperial Honor Military Academy to attend the trial, would Bai Chuan understand?

No, he'd just be disappointed.

"Xiao Bai, I..."

"We need to go." Bai Chuan coldly interrupted him.

Realizing his tone was too sharp, he rubbed his temples and softened his voice. "We're running late, let's go, brother."

After saying this, he grabbed his coat and quickly turned to the door, as if escaping something, but there were no footsteps following him.

His hand under the coat tightened. "Brother, this is an occasion where the Emperor is personally present, we must attend."

"What if I—"

"There is no if!"

He almost shouted it out.

Yi Ye was momentarily stunned, not refuting immediately.

Bai Chuan took a deep breath. "I know what you've been doing these past few days, you've been looking at a lot of information about the Twelve Seats, I also know the origin of that trial, I even know more than you! Before, when you wanted to find the puzzle pieces, I didn't oppose, on the contrary, as long as you let me help, I would do anything. But... do you know what going to this trial means?"

"It's a secret trial, and the audience seats are occupied by members of the Round Table, the top echelon of the entire empire. If you go, they could squash you like a bug."

His voice trembled as he continued, "I can't protect you in front of so many people... I'm too weak now, brother... I can't guarantee you'll come out unscathed..."

"Yi Ye, brother, let's go with me," he turned around, pleading with Yi Ye, "Let's go to the ceremony, alright?"

Yi Ye had rarely seen Bai Chuan beg so humbly before, and for a moment, all his words were stuck in his chest, unable to utter a single word.

Between them, they were brothers, and also bound by a shared destiny that spanned an entire game world. He should focus all his attention on Bai Chuan, helping him become the first commander, seeing him through to the end. But if something happened to him in the courtroom, the mission would be impossible.

What was the right choice?

Yi Ye was silent for a long time before he managed a weak smile and went over to hold his hand, "I understand... let's go."

Sitting in the car with Bai Chuan, they arrived at the palace. Along the way, Yi Ye saw a sea of people, and in front of the grand hall, camera flashes kept popping. People murmured among themselves about which family the students of the Imperial Honor Military Academy who were about to receive honors belonged to, and how to cultivate their favor. Amid the scent of perfume and the clink of glasses, expensive dresses and red wine, everyone was beaming.

In the vastness of it all, his own voice was lost.

Then, in those conversations filled with deals and negotiations, he suddenly heard the word "trial."

They mentioned the Twelve Seats, saying that he had been kidnapped by space pirates when his hands and feet were cut off. The space pirates wanted to get the mecha blueprints and government deals from him, but the Twelve Seats never agreed, so the space pirates cut off one of his arms and a leg, threw him into an ant-infested cell, and then used electric shocks, water torture, and other methods to keep him alive with nutrient supplements, while subjecting him to unimaginable torture.

But the Twelve Seats never uttered a word until the empire's rescue team arrived and took him, covered in blood, out of the cell. The old man lay on the stretcher, looking at the blue sky, and finally cursed, "Damn you, space pirates!"

Which left everyone present in tears and laughter.

Yi Ye had already learned about this incident while investigating the life of the Twelve Seats in the past few days, but hearing it again still made him laugh.

He always thought that the old man had a terrible attitude, and would be beaten to death sooner or later. But he didn't expect it to come true, now not only life and death unknown, but also accused of treason.

He had it coming.

He likely made many enemies in politics.

But.

He never betrayed the empire.

Yi Ye stopped.

His own voice rang out.

"Xiao Bai, what kind of person do you see me as?"

Bai Chuan stiffened, not daring to turn around.

"Answer me."

He finally turned around, but did not look at Yi Ye's face, instead avoiding his gaze like a thief. But the next second, Yi Ye pressed him with both hands, forcing him to meet his eyes in a strong posture.

Bai Chuan whispered, "Unflappable in any situation..."

"What else?"

"Strong and compassionate."

He was the breeze that cradles the world, the blue bird that soars high, the sunlight that burns upon a gentle touch, the epitome of all beauty he could envision in this world.

Also a person who would not retreat because of death.

Yi Ye smiled, relieved: "So I’m that good in your eyes."

"Xiao Bai, I’m asking you for one thing, give me a few more minutes to think, alright?"

"Whatever choice I make, please believe in me. I may not be as strong as you imagine, but I’ll do everything I can to stay alive and be with you till the end."

"I beg you, believe in me."

Words as light as a feather, yet they hit Bai Chuan’s heart like a sledgehammer. His eyes welled up instantly, his breath shaky: "At least let me come with you."

"No. With you here, you can at least defend me, but if we both leave, the Langley family will be left with no one."

"..."

"Do you really need to go?"

"Give me five minutes, let me think it through one last time."

Bai Chuan, of course, knew what the answer would be after he thought it over. Yi Ye was just that kind of person—once he decided to do something, he’d charge forward even if it meant being torn to pieces.

But it was exactly this Yi Ye that he loved so deeply, yet at this moment, he also genuinely hated this Yi Ye. Why couldn’t his brother be a little more selfish?

His hand slowly relaxed, the black-haired youth stood still, waving at him: "You go ahead."

"...I’ll wait for you to return."

"No matter how long it takes, I’ll be right here waiting for you."

Yi Ye tilted his head and smiled lightly: "Alright, you silly little brother."

Bai Chuan bit his lip, holding back his trembling as he turned around, passing through the crowd under Yi Ye’s gaze, walking onto the stage. Each step felt as heavy as if he were dragging a thousand pounds of cement. He had to use all his strength to resist the urge to turn back.

When he saw Yi Ye walking towards him again, no one could tell how happy he was. But the youth soon stopped, the moment he looked at him, a helpless but gentle expression crossed his face.

Bai Chuan knew the answer right then.

...

"This is what he asked me to do, I must do it."

Bai Chuan closed his eyes, no longer saddened by the current situation, showing a serious expression, looking at Kaiser, "Kaiser, let’s buy him some time together."

*

At the same time, in the Imperial High Court.

The treason case of the last seat of the Round Table was being held in the largest military tribunal of the Imperial Court, the atmosphere solemn and oppressive, so quiet that the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.

Judge Ai Linya presided as the chief judge, below were the judges, clerks, and bailiffs, in the gallery sat the other seats of the Senate Round Table, except for the chief Pope, the always vacant third seat, and the fifth seat Principal Howard, the others had all arrived.

Of course, the twelfth seat, the suspect, would not be present.

Before the trial began, the clerk would first verify the list of trial personnel and read out the court discipline. He took out the list, checked the names of the attendees one by one, but did not read out the name of the party involved, "Ake Anderson."

General Lin Pei crossed his hands on his knees, slightly lowering his voice: "Judge Ai Linya, shouldn’t we confirm whether the party involved is present?"

"General Lin Pei, I don’t think today’s trial needs that, does it?"

Duke Nikolai Jed stroked his beard, sarcastically said.

Lin Pei: "The complete procedure should be followed."

"General Lin Pei has a point. Although Dr. Anderson is not present, the Imperial Court is very strict about procedures and rules. Judge Ai Linya wouldn’t tolerate such rudeness, would he?" Duchess of Wenz chuckled, fanning herself and winking at the man on the judge's bench.

Judge Ai Linya looked at the clerk: "Begin again."

"What a group of obstinate fools!" Duke Jedd grumbled, thumping his cane on the ground.

The clerk hurriedly wiped the cold sweat from his brow and nodded, restarting the roll call.

"Now confirming the identities of the parties and participants in this case. The Senate and the Central Army's supervisory department, as the prosecutors, have filed a lawsuit against the Twelfth Seat of the Senate, Ake Anderson. Please, the defendant, state your name, gender, and other information."

Silence fell.

The defendant’s seat remained empty.

The clerk glanced at Judge Ai Linya above, unsure if he should repeat the call, as there would be no response from below. But calling twice ought to suffice, he thought, and so he repeated it.

"...Verification is complete. Please, all parties and participants, confirm the accuracy of the information. If there are any objections, please state them now. If there are no objections, the court rules will be announced next."

Judge Ai Linya nodded slightly.

With his approval, the clerk nervously looked at the increasingly important faces in the gallery and exhaled: "Alright, now announcing the court rules, Im—"

"I have an objection!"

With a loud crash, the courtroom doors were thrown open.

Everyone turned with mixed expressions to the figure who had burst in.

It was a black-haired youth with striking features, wearing the exclusive uniform of the Imperial Honor Military Academy, calmly walking through the suspicious gazes across the atrium, straight to the defendant's seat.

Someone suddenly shouted: "Seize him!"

The bailiffs immediately charged forward with batons, but suddenly a gunshot rang out! Duke Jedd, sitting next to Lin Pei, was so startled he almost leapt to his feet, awkwardly clutching his cane, glaring at Lin Pei: "Lin Pei! How dare you discharge a firearm in the courtroom!"

Lin Pei, holding the firearm, said coldly: "I will personally seek His Majesty’s forgiveness later. Until then, no one is to move."

"You—"

The bailiffs looked at each other, not daring to provoke Lin Pei, the highest-ranking person here, and quickly retreated.

Duchess of Wenz hurriedly pressed Duke Jedd's shoulder with her fan, making him sit back, and chuckled softly: "Duke, you are old, and General Lin Pei is in the prime of his life. If he accidentally misfires and injures you, it would be a great loss."

"You bunch of, bunch of scoundrels!" The old man was so angry his chest heaved violently.

"Silence!" Judge Ai Linya banged the gavel, warning the courtroom of discipline, then looked at Yi Ye: "Student of the Imperial Honor Military Academy, Yiye Langley, do you know that publicly intruding into a secret trial is a capital crime?"

"I do, Your Honor, but I did not intrude," he smiled. "I am here at the behest of the Twelfth Seat, Dr. Anderson, to participate in the trial on his behalf."

As soon as he finished speaking, the courtroom erupted.

"What a joke!" someone from the Twelve Seats stood up and shouted. "What right does a student have to participate in a secret trial!"

"Order!" Another bang of the gavel. Judge Ai Linya remained expressionless: "Without a signed or sealed power of attorney from the client, you have no right to represent the Twelfth Seat in the trial."

Yi Ye nodded understandingly, then took out a neatly folded paper from his pocket. The clerk quickly stepped forward to take it, glanced at it, and looked at the student in surprise, immediately handing the paper to Judge Ai Linya.

After verification, the seal and signature on it were indeed those of Dr. Anderson.

Judge Ai Linya's expression was unexpectedly calm: "Even with a power of attorney, you are not a lawyer, nor a relative or staff member of the Twelfth Seat, and thus have no right to represent him in litigation."

"But I think I’m more qualified than any of them to take part in the trial."

"Your reasoning?"

...

As they conversed, in a corner of the courtroom, the red light of a camera began to flicker. Simultaneously, a live broadcast targeting the entire empire was secretly initiated.

Someone stumbled into a live stream with a random name and was shocked to find that the faces appearing were all famous figures from political and business news. Suddenly, the number of viewers surged, and more and more people flooded into the live stream, with dense comments filling the entire screen.

"No way, is this a trial scene? The Imperial Court has almost never broadcasted live before!"

"I see General Lin Pei!! OMG! It feels like today can be recorded in history!"

"Wait! Look, the gallery is packed with members of the Round Table. Is this the trial for the Twelve Seats' treason?!"

"The Twelve Seats' treason? When did that happen?"

"That guy in the defendant’s seat looks familiar... I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before."

"He’s a student from the Imperial Honor Military Academy! The one who defeated the Melville family’s young master in the military academy league!! I remember he’s a Beta!"

...

The flood of comments instantly shot the live stream to the top of the page, setting the entire empire abuzz.

But Yi Ye had no clue; he was just doing what he thought was right.

"Your Honor, as a cadet at the Imperial Honor Military Academy, I don’t have the authority to stand in for Dr. Anderson in this trial, but—" he extended his hand, revealing a blue gemstone ring symbolizing a seat at the Round Table, "what if I’m the new Twelfth Seat?"