Chapter 120: The Trial Begins
"It seems the Hydro Archon will not reveal anything about the prophecy unless absolutely necessary," Natsume analyzed, her fingers steepled thoughtfully.
Ran Mouri's brow furrowed. "Then what other way do we have to make her talk?"
"We create a situation where she has no choice but to speak," Conan declared, a glint in his glasses. "Tomorrow's trial!"
"Tomorrow's trial!" Natsume and Conan exclaimed in unison, the same realization striking them at once.
Just as Moroboshi had pointed out earlier, the trial was the most likely deadline for this strange game. It was the perfect, and perhaps only, opportunity to pressure the Hydro Archon in a public forum, forcing her to reveal what she knew about the prophecy. A single, decisive move could solve everything.
"In fact," Conan continued, lowering his voice, "I suspect that Lady Furina isn't actually…"
He then proceeded to share his complex web of suspicions and deductions with the group, outlining a bold plan for the upcoming trial. As he spoke, a quiet gravity settled over them, each person nodding in understanding.
Perhaps the game's system was being generous, giving the players more time to prepare. The night before the trial didn't seem to vanish in the blink of an eye as previous nights had. Yet, for the players, the hours still bled away far too quickly. It felt as though Conan had only just finished explaining his strategy when the time for the final showdown arrived.
Following the instructions of the Opera House staff, the group filed into the magnificent Opera Epiclese.
"Silence!"
The voice of the Iudex, Neuvillette, boomed from the judge's bench. He stood atop the grand Oratrice Mécanique d'Analyse Cardinale, the centerpiece of the opera house, his gaze sweeping over the chattering audience. He struck his staff against the platform, the sharp sound echoing through the vast hall.
As his voice connected, the excited murmurs of the crowd—thrilled at the prospect of watching their deity engage in a court duel—began to subside. The whispers died down, and a respectful hush fell over the venue.
Seeing the hall quieted, Neuvillette proceeded. "Please welcome the accuser…"
As the Chief Justice introduced her, Lady Furina made her way to her designated seat, waving grandly to the adoring audience as if she were the star of a show.
"Lord Hydro Archon!"
"I love you, Lady Furina!"
"Wow! It's so rare to see Lady Furina in the courtroom itself…"
"You're right! Most of the time, she's in the audience with the rest of us…"
Conan's mouth twitched as he watched the scene unfold. It was less like a trial and more like a celebrity fan meeting. 'It's like watching Mom take the stage,' he thought with a sigh, the image of his actress mother, Yukiko, flashing through his mind.
Neuvillette, having clearly anticipated the commotion, said nothing more. He waited patiently for the noise to die down once again before gesturing for Natsume and the others, as the opposing party, to take their designated positions.
"Both parties are in position," Neuvillette announced, his voice carrying to every corner of the hall. "Let the trial begin—"
"There's no need for all those tedious opening remarks, Neuvillette," Furina interrupted, a dramatic flair in her voice. "Let's get straight to the point, shall we?"
Neuvillette didn't seem to mind the interruption. Accepting her suggestion, he readily skipped the formalities. "Very well. Then, Ms. Furina, do you accuse the Magician of being the culprit in the serial disappearances of young women case?"
Furina nodded sharply. "Yes."
Neuvillette turned his gaze to the other side. "Travelers from another world, do you object to Ms. Furina's accusation?"
Before the older members could speak, Genta, Ayumi, and the others shouted in their high, clear voices, "Objection! We object!"
"Do you have a new target for your accusation?" Neuvillette inquired, his expression unchanging. "If so, who is it?"
Conan cleared his throat. "Ahem, we accuse the president of the Confrerie of Cabriere—Marcel, whose real name is Vacher, of being the culprit in the serial disappearances case."
"That's right!" Ayumi added confidently. "We found a lot of evidence, and he even admitted it himself!"
A wave of murmurs rippled through the audience.
"Splendid! Absolutely splendid! They're at odds right from the start…"
"They're accusing two different people! Which one is the real culprit?"
"It has to be the person Lady Furina identified, of course. Lady Furina is the Hydro Archon, the very embodiment of justice! How could she possibly be wrong?"
"That makes sense… But didn't that little girl just say they found clues?"
"Clues can be misleading. How can you so easily doubt the judgment of the Hydro Archon?"
Hearing the faint whispers of support from the crowd, a flicker of discomfort crossed Furina's face, but she masked it in an instant, her confident smile snapping back into place.
She looked at Conan and his friends, shaking her head with an exaggerated sigh. "Alas, while I commend your courage in challenging a deity, some things require more than just courage… I heard about your investigation. To have visited so many places in just three days, you truly are a group that doesn't falter, even when facing a god."
Her tone shifted, becoming patronizing. "But today, you are accusing an unconscious patient. Are you certain that, in your haste to win this duel, you haven't simply accused someone who cannot refute you? I do hope you can present real evidence to prove your claims in the trial to come. Otherwise, no matter how much I admire you, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop you from being convicted of making a false accusation."
She leaned forward, a benevolent yet threatening smile on her lips. "Of course, as the benevolent and tolerant Hydro Archon, I will find a way to lighten your punishment. At the very least, I'll see to it that you don't spend the rest of your lives in the Fortress of Meropide with those special permits."
Genta stared at Furina with a flat, unimpressed expression. "What's with this Hydro Archon? She's so annoying. She talks like she's already sure we're going to lose."
"Exactly, exactly," Kikukawa chimed in.
"Don't let her get to you," Mitsuhiko advised wisely. "This is probably just a strategy to mess with our emotions."
Ayumi, Genta, Emori, and Kikukawa nodded in unison. "That makes sense…"
Conan remained silent, a weary look on his face.
"...I don't think so," Moroboshi murmured, his voice low. "I don't believe the Hydro Archon had any strategy in mind. She might just be speaking her mind…"
"So what is the Fortress of Meropide?" Haibara asked, her usual cynicism replaced by a spark of morbid curiosity. "A prison in the game? I wonder if we'll get a chance to see it."
Hearing this, Natsume's interest was piqued. "I want to see it too," she interjected. "I've never been to prison. It's hard to get into in real life, but maybe I can try it out in the game. I wonder if the food is any good…"
Ran looked at Natsume, a helpless smile on her face. "...Who gets curious about prison? And since it's a prison, what kind of good food could there possibly be?"
"Not necessarily," Natsume countered playfully. "If we get to play this game again in the future, Ran, let's find a way to visit the Fortress of Meropide. How about I treat you to something with those special permits then?"
Ran hesitated for a moment. "Going to prison still doesn't sound very appealing… but I guess it's fine in a game… In that case, I'll treat you too, Natsume."
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