"Yuxie, draw your sword," Callas said, his eyes filled with determination.
He had already anticipated this day, and had long since made up his mind.
A man's resolve should not be "trampled upon." In response to that resolve, Yuxie should have drawn his sword at this moment.
But Yuxie did not.
He remained silent, his mind drifting back to the first time he met Uncle Callas.
The breeze by the seaside was so pleasant, and the fish they grilled that day tasted so good.
"Yuxie, draw your sword!" Callas raised his voice slightly, but still kept it at a level only the two of them could hear.
The audience in the stands watched the scene unfolding in the center of the stage. Some had expressions of deep contemplation, while others were more entertained, watching like they were seeing a drama.
It was a bit ironic.
"Yuxie, listen to me. You need to fulfill your duty as a Champion Duelist," Callas said again. "After this... please take care of Navia for me."
"Take care of Navia? What do you mean by that?" Yuxie finally spoke up. "You're her father! If you care about her, don't just hand her off to someone else!"
Like Callas, there was a new kind of resolve in Yuxie's eyes at this moment. He turned his gaze toward the audience.
"Everyone, we all know that according to the laws of Fontaine, there is a provision—if you are unsatisfied with the trial, you can request a duel. And if you win the duel, you can avoid the trial. Am I right?"
There were many voices in the audience, but everyone present recognized the validity of the law, as it was clearly stated in the legal code.
"Actually, ever since I became a Champion Duelist, I've been thinking about a question," Yuxie paused, then continued, "What if the person requesting the duel is guilty, but they win the duel?"
"What if Callas is guilty, but he wins the duel today?"
This statement caused even more murmurs in the audience.
Indeed, while the duel system was a safeguard in Fontaine law, it also had its flaws.
This provision had been in place for a long time, but it seemed no one had ever noticed this loophole.
Perhaps it was due to the existence of the advisory tribunal and the impartiality of the Chief Judge, Neuvillette, that this double layer of insurance had prevented any wrongful judgments from occurring.
"As a Champion Duelist, I have the duty to respond to Callas' challenge, but..." Yuxie paused, "I believe the duel system itself needs to be revised."
"Yuxie, should I interpret your words as a question of Fontaine's duel system?" Neuvillette spoke up.
"That's right," Yuxie nodded.
"But you must understand, what you're doing right now may be perceived by many as a conflict of interest, considering your close relationship with Mr. Callas."
Yuxie gently smiled.
"In all the duels I've fought before, I have never been defeated, and I've never questioned the duel system because I knew that those who challenged me were either simply trying to test their strength against me, or they were guilty and hoping to use the duel as a way to clear their names.
"So, I said nothing and simply fulfilled my duties. But today is different. I know for a fact that Callas is innocent!"
"Do you have any evidence?" Neuvillette asked, still calm.
"I do." Yuxie turned his gaze toward the audience. "But before I present my evidence, I'd like to first accuse someone—Marcel, the president of the Confrerie of Cabriere."
Following Yuxie's gaze, many in the audience turned to the same direction. Marcel was sitting there, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Yuxie, what are you trying to do?" Callas felt a surge of shock in his heart.
"Uncle, just trust me this time," Yuxie whispered.
Marcel stood up from the audience, under the gaze of many, and looked at Yuxie with a puzzled expression.
"Yuxie, what do you mean by that? Are you accusing me?"
"What is the charge?" the chief judge, Neuvillette, asked from the seat of judgment.
"Trafficking 'Sinthe,' and orchestrating the series of disappearances of young girls," Yuxie replied.
At these words, the audience erupted in shock.
Not only the spectators, but even Callas and Marcel looked stunned.
"Yuxie, what you're saying is truly hurtful," Marcel said with a pained expression. "I've watched you grow up. Do you really dislike me this much? Are you really going to frame me like this?"
"Uncle Marcel, whether I'm framing you or not, let the evidence and witnesses speak for themselves," Yuxie said with a slight smile, then turned his gaze toward the doors of the Opéra House.
The doors opened.
Two people walked in.
One was a Marechaussee Phantom officer, the same officer whose family had been torn apart by "Sinthe."
The other was Jacques, who was supposed to have died from a gunshot wound.
While the officer's presence was expected to provide evidence, Jacques' appearance shocked the entire audience, sparking a wave of whispers and discussions.
"What's going on? Wasn't that person supposed to be dead?"
"Faked death? Does this mean that Callas is truly innocent?!"
Amid the murmurs of the crowd, Callas glanced at Jacques, then at Yuxie, his confusion growing.
Marcel's expression froze, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"Your Honor, the evidence and witnesses are present. Shouldn't we ask the accused to step forward to the defendant's stand?" Yuxie looked up at Neuvillette, the chief judge.
"Mr. Marcel, since there are accusations, they must be addressed. Please proceed to the defendant's stand," Neuvillette said.
Under the gaze of the audience, Marcel slowly stepped forward, silently making his way to the defendant's stand.
His expression remained frozen, as if his facial muscles had become stiff.
Suddenly, it seemed as if he understood something. Marcel looked at Yuxie.
Yuxie responded with a slight smile at the corner of his lips.
"Uncle Marcel, do you remember what I told you before about 'actors'? The actor I was referring to wasn't you, but me."
"You've been acting this whole time?"
"I had no choice. I couldn't be sure if you had someone secretly watching me, so I had to keep up the act until now," Yuxie said. "Now, let's present the evidence."
As Yuxie finished speaking, the Marechaussee Phantom officer who had entered with Jacques took out several photographs from a camera.
"Everyone, please take a look. These photos were secretly taken at the banquet where Mr. Callas attended. In these photos, there is a person gradually dissolving into water! This is the truth behind the piece of clothing left at the scene!"
"To take these photographs, I infiltrated the banquet in advance and hid for a long time. I can vouch for the authenticity of these photos with my name and my life—none of them are false!"
The photos were taken in quick succession, capturing the full sequence of the Callas incident.
Another officer walked up to the stage, took the photos, and then ascended the nearby stairs, handing them over to Neuvillette.
"The content of the picture is just as this officer said, someone shot at Mr. Jacques, and then also tried to shoot Mr. Callas, but Mr. Callas grabbed the gun and killed him in return, and finally dissolved into water by unknown factors." Neuvillette said slowly as he finished watching the contents of the picture.
End of chapter
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