"What utter bullshit!"
"You claim the victims fled their homes after receiving word that Monsieur Tartaglia was coming, but the state of their homes and the clothing they were wearing show no signs of a panicked escape!"
"Furthermore, the initial crime scenes weren't in the streets but inside the victims' homes!"
"The victims offered no resistance and were killed with a single blow, clearly the work of someone they knew!"
"Your flimsy claims have gaping holes!"
"In reality, Monsieur Tartaglia could simply be using his overwhelming power to fabricate whatever story he pleases!"
-
Tartaglia watched the two attorneys clash fiercely, his jaw dropping. Good heavens, their mouths are like machine guns!
At that moment, Tartaglia couldn't help but feel grateful he'd chosen to hire a lawyer. Otherwise, he probably wouldn't have been able to get a word in edgewise during today's "Judgment."
"Attorneys, please maintain order. Loud outbursts are prohibited in the courtroom."
"No problem, Your Honor, Chief Justice!"
"What a load of bullshit!"
"Monsieur Tartaglia entered the deceased's home as a stranger. The deceased would undoubtedly have been extremely wary of his presence."
"Moreover, Monsieur Tartaglia's purpose was to collect a debt. He had no reason to sneak into the deceased's home, kill him, dump the body in the street for passersby to find, and then remain in the house searching for something."
"Therefore, Monsieur Tartaglia is innocent!"
"Your argument has a fatal flaw!"
"If You say the culprit isn't Monsieur Tartaglia, then who is the real culprit?"
"It's obvious: the deceased committed suicide!"
"Excellent deduction! Case closed!"
-
"So it was suicide after all... Ahaha, sorry, I couldn't help myself."
The audience roared with laughter at the exchange between the Attorneys, the courtroom brimming with merriment.
Neuvillette took a deep breath and cautioned them, "Attorneys, joking is strictly prohibited in court."
"Chief Justice, we were merely trying to lighten the tense atmosphere of this Judgment," Attorney Qiang replied.
"Exactly!" Attorney Li Haotian chimed in.
Hearing their responses, Neuvillette felt his blood pressure rising.
Does this atmosphere even need lightening?
If not for the fact that these were the only two attorneys who had passed the bar examination, Neuvillette would have refused to preside over their Judgment.
"Attorneys, please be serious. Judgment is a solemn matter."
"No problem, Chief Justice!"
"Let's begin with my investigation," Attorney Qiang said, straightening the documents before him.
"Through my investigation, I've discovered that the deceased had a twin brother. I request that he be brought to court for questioning."
"Request granted. The Maison Gardiennage shall locate the witness and bring him to the Opera Epiclese immediately."
Before long, the deceased's twin brother was brought before the court.
"What do you want from me? I've already told you, I haven't had anything to do with that scum for years!"
The deceased's younger brother wore an impatient expression.
"Can you provide an alibi for the time of your brother's death yesterday?"
"I was taking a nap at that time. I only found out about that scum's death when I woke up."
"So, you have no alibi, correct?"
Hearing Attorney Qiang's accusatory tone, the brother immediately flared up.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you interrogating me like I'm a criminal?"
"Have you lost your mind? The real killer has already been caught—that Fatui Harbinger!"
"Those Fatui have killed countless people. It's perfectly reasonable that they'd kill my brother in a fit of anger after failing to get money, right? Right, everyone?"
The brother shouted toward the gallery, but instead of the expected support, he was met with sympathetic glances.
"It's him, isn't it?"
"Looks like it."
"He's cornered."
"Sigh, I originally thought the Fatui Harbinger was the killer. But as soon as Attorney Qiang and Attorney Li Haotian stood in court, I immediately realized the truth!"
"Ha ha ha! As expected, the ironclad laws of Attorney Qiang and Attorney Li Haotian remain unbroken! Trying to escape after taking the witness stand? Unthinkable!"
-
"What nonsense are you spouting?! How could I possibly be the culprit?!"
Seeing the deceased's younger brother's utterly bewildered expression, kind-hearted spectators in the gallery quickly advised him to thoroughly review all cases handled by the two attorneys after his imprisonment.
"Confess! You're the murderer!" Attorney Qiang accused sternly, a powerful gust of wind swirling around him. The audience squinted with excitement, eager to witness the unfolding drama.
Neuvillette opened his mouth to speak, but ultimately remained silent. What's the point in saying anything?
No, this regulation absolutely must be incorporated into Fontaine's law! I'll discuss it with the law revision team later!
"You were the one who panicked and fled! You met with your older brother, and a conflict erupted."
"In a fit of rage, you killed him and hid the body well."
"But just then, someone came to warn you that Monsieur Tartaglia would be arriving soon to collect his debt. Since he was arriving so soon, you had no time to clean up the scene. You could only deliberately make the room look chaotic and flee."
"However, at that moment, a perfect idea for escaping justice struck you: frame Monsieur Tartaglia for the crime."
"The Fatui's reputation is far from good, and everyone knows that their Harbingers engage in dangerous activities across Teyvat. So when people hear that a Fatui Harbinger committed murder, they wouldn't doubt the truth for a moment."
"According to your plan, Tartaglia would ultimately take the blame for the murder, while you would continue to roam free."
After hearing this, the deceased's brother turned deathly pale and collapsed to his knees in despair.
"I... confess..."
"Chief Justice, this case is closed."
Attorney Qiang slammed his fist on the armrest before him, finally calming the violent Anemo swirling around him.
Tartaglia stared in stunned silence. The case had been solved so decisively and swiftly. A powerful urge to recruit this attorney as his subordinate surged toward him.
"Attorney Qiang, would you be interested in joining the Fatui?"
"We offer a 9-to-5 schedule, weekends off, five times the salary for holidays, and a full month of paid vacation each year."
"You wouldn't need to do much else—just be my mouthpiece!"
"No, thank you. This courtroom is my battlefield!"
Attorney Qiang decisively rejected Tartaglia's invitation. Seeing his unwavering resolve, Tartaglia felt a twinge of regret but didn't press the matter further. He then turned to Neuvillette.
"Now that the truth is clear, Chief Justice, let's end this farce."
Neuvillette was about to deliver his verdict when another voice interrupted him.
"There's a flaw!"
"There's a flaw in what you said!"
Attorney Li Haotian slammed his fist on the armrest, and a dazzling purple light erupted from his body, causing the audience to squint or quickly don their pre-prepared sunglasses.
This must be added to the new Fontaine Law!
Neuvillette resolved inwardly as he watched the spectacle unfold before him. He then addressed Attorney Li Haotian:
"Attorney Li Haotian, do you have any dissenting views on this matter?"
"Chief Justice, this still isn't the full truth about the security check!"
Attorney Li Haotian placed both hands on the armrests and rapidly rattled off a string of clumsy phrases in the Teyvat Continent language.
"Monsieur, aren't you actually the older brother?"
"No, no! What are you talking about? How could I possibly be that scumbag?!"
The deceased's younger brother looked utterly panicked, sending the audience into a frenzy.
Holy shit, a plot twist!
As expected of Attorney Li Haotian! He always loses his cases, but his plot twists are legendary!
"Attorney Qiang's argument has a glaring flaw: the scene showed no sign of a heated argument, suggesting this was a premeditated scheme."
"The culprit likely killed his warmhearted younger brother to evade debt collectors, attempting to frame the debtor for the crime."
"However, upon hearing of Monsieur Tartaglia's arrival, he immediately shifted his target, selecting the Fatui Harbinger where murder would raise no suspicion among the Fatui."
"Am I wrong, Monsieur Culprit?"
"Damn you! Damn you! Damn you!"
"Why won't you let me live?!"
Upon hearing Attorney Li Haotian's words, the deceased's older brother instantly erupted into a frenzy. His earlier breakdown and helplessness had clearly been nothing but a facade.
"I've already confessed! Can't you just wipe out my debts?!"
"You damned bastard! I'll kill you!"
With that, the older brother pulled a weapon from his coat. The crowd gasped in unison—it was a gun.
The gun was small and homemade, which had allowed it to slip past the Maison Gardiennage's security checks.
Without hesitation, the older brother aimed the gun... at the audience in the stands, emptying the entire magazine.
Screams and gunshots erupted simultaneously, plunging the audience into terror and confusion.
Wait, what does this have to do with us? We just came to watch! Why aren't you aiming at Attorney Li Haotian instead?!
Neuvillette moved to intervene, but he was too late. Caught off guard, he hadn't anticipated such a sudden turn of events.
"Ha ha ha ha! Attorney Li Haotian, I know you have a Vision! I can't kill you!"
"But these people died because of you! Live the rest of your life in endless guilt!"
The older brother was violently restrained, but he offered no resistance. His final act of revenge had already been accomplished.
"Quick! Tend to the wounded!"
Neuvillette temporarily halted the Judgment and abruptly rose from his seat to leave.
Soon, the death toll was tallied, and a Maison Gardiennage officer reported to Neuvillette.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, there are five fatalities. All were struck in vital areas and died instantly."
"Moreover, these five individuals were either renowned for their outstanding contributions to Fontaine or for their substantial charitable donations, making them widely recognized figures."
Neuvillette took a deep, sorrowful breath before inquiring further.
"What about the injured? How severe are their injuries?"
"Um... Monsieur Neuvillette, there are no injured. Only the five fatalities."
Neuvillette breathed a small sigh of relief. Typically, the number of injured would far exceed the number of dead, and delayed treatment could easily lead to additional fatalities.
While such a scenario—with no injured survivors—was rare, Neuvillette didn't dwell on it.
The gravity of this incident was undeniable. If the perpetrator didn't face severe punishment, the public would undoubtedly demand justice.
A cold glint flickered in Neuvillette's eyes. His decision had already been made.
-
Shortly after, the Judgment resumed.
Tartaglia was still reeling from what had just transpired. Fontaine was deeply unsettling—utterly and completely off!
Why did he constantly feel like Fontaine's people were far more honest and straightforward than those of Snezhnaya?
What surprised him even more was when he heard the Judgment was continuing. He initially thought Neuvillette was joking.
Everyone's fled! What's the point of holding a Judgment now?
But now, seeing that only the seats near the defendant remained empty while the rest of the courtroom was still packed, Tartaglia began to wonder if he was still dreaming.
"Now, the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale will announce the final verdict."
"The Oratrice's final assessment indicates... Monsieur Tartaglia, you are found not guilty."
Hearing this, Tartaglia let out a small sigh of relief.
Though he knew he was innocent, he had feared that Arlecchino and Pantalone might manipulate the proceedings to frame him.
"Thank you, Attorney Qiang, for your help."
"No need to thank me, Monsieur Tartaglia. Just remember to call me again next time you need a lawyer."
"Ha ha ha, Attorney Qiang, you're joking. I definitely won't be involved in any more cases after this."
"...Death sentence."
On the other side, Neuvillette pronounced the prisoner's final Judgment.
Upon hearing the verdict, the prisoner slumped to the ground in despair, while the audience erupted in cheers, reveling in the justice served.
The prisoner was swiftly executed by hanging, passing away peacefully.
Tartaglia was finally a free man once more.
Standing outside the Opera Epiclese, Tartaglia took a deep breath.
"I've never realized how wonderful the air of freedom smells!"
"Wait, now's not the time to relax. I need to figure out how to get my subordinates out of prison."
"As for settling scores with those two bastards, I'll put that off for now."
Tartaglia scratched his head. While a prison break typically requires meticulous planning, his chosen method would undoubtedly involve a direct assault, smashing his way through.
As long as Neuvillette didn't personally intervene, he remained confident in his chances.
But now came the problem: where exactly was Fontaine's prison located?
"Maybe I should just ask some Fontainians on the street."
Lost in thought, Tartaglia wandered aimlessly down the main road.
"Strange... when did the streets become so deserted?"
He glanced around, slightly puzzled, noticing only a woman ahead dressed in a yellow pleated skirt, a top hat, and carrying a parasol.
"Never mind, someone's better than no one."
"Might as well ask her."
Temporarily setting aside his earlier question, Tartaglia approached her.
"Excuse me, beautiful lady, do you happen to know..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp blade flashed in response.