Off to the side, the police officers next to Berrier quickly subdued him, pressing him down. Yet even then, he continued to hoarsely voice his unwillingness, cursing everyone present with the most venomous words imaginable.
At the same time, his previously arrogant lawyer slunk away with his tail between his legs. Losing this case would undoubtedly become a massive, indelible stain on his legal career.
The moment the trial ended and Berrier was pronounced guilty, the majority of the people in the audience erupted into thunderous, deafening cheers.
Angelica was so overjoyed she dashed forward in a flash and tightly wrapped Antina in a hug.
“I’m sorry, I’m just so overwhelmed…”
Angelica said, her voice choked with tears as she wiped her eyes.
Honestly, she herself hadn’t expected to win this case, yet now this unbelievable truth stood vividly right before her.
“Miss Antina, thank you.”
Luo Jiani and Vista also stepped forward to offer their congratulations to Antina. The four of them huddled together, the atmosphere warm and electric. But then, Antina’s expression suddenly turned serious as she spoke:
“Luo Jiani, later you and your father go to the entrance. If you sense anything wrong, hurry and escape with Angelica down the alley.”
Hearing this, Angelica looked confused, while the smile on Luo Jiani’s face gradually faded.
“Vista, you can decide for yourself whether to stay or go.”
Vista nodded firmly. He intended to stay and face things together with his teacher.
“Luo Jiani, Vista… this will be the last lesson I teach you. Listen well, learn well.”
By now, the judge had already left, but the audience was still packed with people, all hotly discussing the just-concluded trial and the lawyers’ brilliant debates.
Antina quickly walked up to the judge’s bench, picked up the small hammer symbolizing justice, and gently tapped the desk. Its crisp sound echoed once more through the somewhat noisy space.
“Everyone!”
Antina called out loudly, and instantly, everyone’s attention focused on her. Many looked on with anticipation, eager to hear what this exceptionally capable lawyer had to say.
“I stand here today, not just for Angelica—this beautiful lady who was harassed and slandered by that aristocratic brat, Berrier.”
“Anyone with eyes can see this whole affair is just a farce of an aristocrat bullying a commoner. Simply because Angelica refused to give herself to Berrier, he maliciously framed her in return, ruining her reputation.”
Hearing Antina’s words, the people in the audience nodded in agreement.
“On the surface, this lawsuit was about a dispute over reputation. But in reality, it’s yet another solid proof of how the Empire’s laws favor the aristocracy and oppress the common people!”
“Look at that Berrier kid—the evidence he forged was held up high in court like a treasure. And Angelica’s testimony? It was dismissed just because it was deemed ’emotional.'”
“The opposing counsel, trying to get Berrier a reduced sentence, actually invoked Article 8 of the ‘Aristocratic Privilege Protection Act,’ claiming Berrier’s social behavior fell within the leniency of aristocratic law, and that some of his actions towards Angelica couldn’t be considered insult.”
“Berrier even strutted around in court, arrogantly cursing us all, showing not a hint of remorse!”
“Everyone, isn’t this a blatant example of Imperial law siding with the aristocracy, treating the reputation of common people like trash to be trampled on?”
The audience continued to strongly agree with Antina’s words; everything she said was fact. However, hardly anyone was willing to touch the Empire’s sore spot by bringing this into the open. People only dared to whisper about it privately.
“My teacher, Gray Winston, was a professor at Imperial Central University. She used to tell me: ‘When the law becomes a rubber stamp for the powerful, justice turns into a commodity waiting for the highest bidder.'”
“And what happened to my teacher, Gray? In the year 231 of the Goddess Era, she was transferred away by the Empire, suspected of being caught up in aristocratic conflicts. To this day, there’s been no word from her.”
“I considered myself to have inherited her ideals and became a lawyer. But when I actually stepped into this field, I discovered that the Empire’s legal system has long been gnawed full of holes by worms!”
“From the moment children enter school, their teachers drill into them: ‘The aristocracy’s peace is the common people’s blessing.’ But most folks can barely even afford tuition.”
“The tears and blood shed by the ‘Angelicas’ of this world aren’t even enough to add color to an aristocrat’s silk handkerchief! Angelica sings so beautifully, she should be shining freely on stage. But now?”
“She’s been locked in an invisible ‘cage’ by aristocratic rumors and power.”
“I sincerely ask you all: if the so-called peace of the Empire demands trading away the people’s dignity; if the so-called prosperity of its laws requires dyeing aristocratic carpets red with the blood of the lower class—then why should such an order be preserved? Why should it continue to exist?!”
“If the judge and I let Berrier, this little ‘cub’ not yet fully grown, off the hook today, then tomorrow, the Empire’s city walls will be lined with more victims just like Angelica!”
Hearing Antina’s impassioned incitement, many in the audience stood up directly, loudly cursing the shameless actions of the aristocrats and the Empire.
However, a few seemed to sense the atmosphere turning dangerous and got up to leave.
“Now, the trial is over. The outcome, though not perfect, still means Berrier has been punished. It seems like everything is finished… the scales of justice weren’t tipped by the aristocrats’ gold.”
“Even though I say that…”
“I know that one lawsuit alone won’t change anything.”
“I also know that humanity cannot learn anything from past experiences!”
“That’s why I’m standing here today—to shout out loud.”
“I’ve had enough of this Empire’s tyranny, enough of the aristocrats riding roughshod over us!”
“I can’t understand it. Why do aristocrats get to enjoy wealth and honor generation after generation, while we common folks have to struggle desperately just to scrape by in the mud?”
“What gives their children the right to good schooling and fancy houses, while our kids live in constant fear, worrying where their next meal will come from?”
“I’ve long had enough of this injustice!”
“And you, everyone?”
People in the audience rose, waving their fists, their shouts growing louder and louder.
“We’ve had enough too!”
Most of these were factory workers, off on their Sunday rest and out for some entertainment. They were already suffocating under the high-intensity workload at their factories. Outsiders might think they had decent-paying jobs, but that pay came from slaving away over twelve hours a day, six days a week, trading their blood and sweat.
Yet even that meager wage was subject to deductions. These damned vampires simply didn’t treat people like human beings.
Listening to Antina’s cries and watching the crowd’s surging shouts, Luo Jiani felt the confusion within her slowly transforming into a thrilling sensation.
Teacher Antina is truly amazing. Just one person can stir up the emotions of an entire crowd. Is this the immense power one individual can unleash that she wanted to show me?
“If you’ve had enough, then rise up with me! Stop swallowing your anger! Stop letting our families and children live lives worse than dogs!”
“We must resist this tyranny! We must build a new, fair, and just Empire!”
“In this new Empire, there will be no more high or low, no more distinctions between aristocrats and commoners!”
“Everyone will be able to live by their own abilities, and no one’s dignity will be trampled!”
“I know, resistance isn’t easy. There may be bloodshed, there may be sacrifice.”
“But, my friends, if we don’t resist, our children and grandchildren will continue to suffer this same oppression!”
“For ourselves, for our children, for our future—let us unite! Let us use our fists to shatter these chains that bind us!”
“Let us use our strength to overthrow this corrupt Empire!”
“Let justice and fairness shine upon every corner of this land!”
As her final word fell, the entire hall fell into a brief silence, followed by an even more fervent response.
But no sooner had the echoes died down than a series of urgent, chaotic footsteps came from outside the door. Each step pounded like a hammer against everyone’s hearts.
Aka made a swift decision and immediately led Luo Jiani out the back door.
Following a route he had carefully planned, he hurried along until they reached a small church established by the followers of the “Chosen One” doctrine.
His bodyguard stuck close behind Aka, their eyes alert, constantly monitoring their surroundings.
Aka used this small church as a pivotal turning point in their escape, quickly boarding a carriage he had rented in advance.
The moment the carriage driver saw them get in, he cracked his whip, and the carriage shot off like an arrow from a bow, the entire maneuver executed smoothly and seamlessly.
Meanwhile, Vista was keeping a close watch on everything outside the courthouse for Antina. He saw a group of people rushing over frantically; judging by their clothes, they were indeed from the police department.
They split into two groups: two in front, ten following behind, advancing menacingly towards the courthouse.
“You won’t escape, you damned rebels! You should just go meekly to jail and reflect on your crimes!”
The speaker was a woman in elaborate clothing—either the wife of some aristocrat or a close personal maid to one.
As soon as she spoke, the relevant personnel related to the aristocracy nearby nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with contempt and disdain for Antina and the others.
“That’s right, I’m the one who phoned the police in this district and told them everything! Your little rebellion plot is doomed to fail. You are… completely trapped!”
The woman continued to crow triumphantly.
Her words were like a bucket of ice water thrown onto the rebellious fervor Antina had so carefully stoked, instantly dampening it.
Antina cursed inwardly. This woman really deserves to die…
The original contingency plan never accounted for a situation like this. What should they do now?
Use the scroll Renith gave her to escape?
“No!”
Antina gritted her teeth. She was just about to rally everyone again, using their rebellious energy to try and fight their way out.
But at that very moment, the police burst through the door.
