Chapter 9:
There's only one Truth
"This is... Veronica's trial?" Aiden realized.
"Yes, in her shattered dreamscapes, this scene appears most frequently." Fei sat beside him, handing over a bag full of popcorn.
Aiden didn't take it. He still wasn't sure if this succubus might take advantage of him. Maybe while he was eating in this dream, he was actually gnawing on a pillow in the infirmary back in reality.
This was a very peculiar trial. The judge, prosecutor, and jury mbers were all giants over three ters tall. These giants had no eyes or ears, leaving only noses and enormous mouths, making them look incredibly bizarre.
The only two living beings in the spectators' seats were them. The others sitting in the seats was just a faceless puppets.
After the judge pronounced the verdict, the hands of these puppets seed to be lifted by invisible threads, and they started applauding.
"Execution! Execution! Execution!" The puppets shouted in unison, echoing the judge's verdict. They had no vocal cords or mouths, but they still produced sound, as if there was an invisible puppeteer behind each one, ventriloquizing in unison.
"Why do these people all look so strange?" Aiden scanned the surroundings.
"This is her dream, dreams are inherently strange. The appearances of these characters have evolved based on the impressions in her subconscious." Fei replied while munching on popcorn.
"Is this how she sees herself?" Aiden pointed to the defendant's stand.
A girl with wolf ears, bearing a striking resemblance to Veronica, stood on the defendant's stand, nervously scanning her surroundings, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Many people dream of their childhood when they feel insecure," Fei explained calmly.
"In their mories, childhood is when they were the most vulnerable. Once they experience feelings of helplessness or injustice as adults, they link those feelings to mories of their childhood."
After hearing Fei explanation, Aiden understood a little bit.
This was the impression left in Veronica's heart by that trial: in this trial, the prosecutor accusing her, the judge and jury who was judging her were all giants she couldn't resist. These giants were blind and deaf, unable to see the facts or hear her defense.
The spectators were all foolish puppets, cheering and rejoicing for the end of the "evil werewolf cop," but unaware that they were being deceived and manipulated.
As for herself, even though she was born with the formidable strength of a pure-blooded werewolf, she was still a small, helpless girl in the face of the entire society's opposition.
"Execution! Execution! Execution! Execution!"
The judge, jury, prosecutor, and the puppets in the gallery all shouted in unison, extending a hand with a thumbs-down gesture.
In the past, when the barbaric practice of slave gladiator fights still existed, the audience would collectively vote on the life or death of the loser after a deathmatch.
Thumbs-up ant they allowed the defeated to live, while thumbs-down urged the victor to execute them.
Veronica opened her mouth in distress, but not a sound ca out of her throat. It was as if an invisible barrier enveloped her, blocking out all her sounds.
The courtroom resounded with the deafening cries for her death, yet she could only wave her hands in a futile attempt and open her mouth, like she was performing on a silent movie.
Aiden watched this absurd scene in silence. In reality, countless people feared Veronica as a pure-blooded werewolf;
her ferocity and formidable strength instilled fear in both prison guards and inmates. It was likely that her fellow citizens and colleagues who knew of her lycanthropy felt similarly.
However, in Veronica's own subconscious, everything was turned upside down. Here, everyone wanted to kill her, but she was utterly powerless to resist.
But Aiden remained cautious, "Just based on this, can we conclude she's innocent? I've t many criminals with twisted minds, who believe their criminal actions were justified, viewing legal judgnt as persecution."
"But, I've seen many scenes in her dreams, and I haven't found one related to her committing murder. If she cares so much about being sentenced to death, how is it possible that she has no profound impression of killing soone? This is very unusual."
Fei raised a finger with confidence, and even conjured a detective's hat and pipe with magic. "So, there's only one truth, she's been wronged!"
"Alright, I understand what you're trying to convey." Aiden nodded thoughtfully. "End the illusion."
Fei snapped her fingers, and in the blink of an eye, Aiden's consciousness returned from the illusion to reality.
At this mont, Franda pushed open the door from outside and saluted him. "Warden!"
"What did you find out?" Aiden responded, turning around.
"Their initial statents during the first interrogation didn't match at all, so I asked them again. Here are the transcripts." Franda respectfully handed over the transcripts.
Aiden quickly skimd through them. Anna and Catherine initially pointed their fingers at Veronica, but many details contradicted each other.
It was clear there was an issue—however, it could be understood.
Veronica's sudden attack on them was a completely unexpected situation. They didn't have a chance to coordinate their stories from getting beaten up by Veronica to being restrained by the riot squad.
Then, in the second interrogation by Franda, their statents beca slightly more credible.
They admitted to the extortion of Fei, and most details aligned with what Veronica and Fei had stated.
The only contradiction was that they both accused each other of being the mastermind behind the extortion, claiming they were coerced accomplices.
"These two are quite loyal," Aiden sarcastically chuckled, returning the transcripts to Franda.
"Both of them will be in solitary confinent for ten days, and their treatnt level will be lowered to the minimum. The extortion case will be filed separately, and they can congratulate themselves on an extended sentence."
"Understood, but what about the death row inmate... Veronica?" Franda asked cautiously.
After realizing she had nearly falsely accused Veronica, her attitude had beco more cautious.
"Put her in solitary confinent for half a day, and tomorrow morning, send her back to her own room," Aiden imdiately gave instructions.
"Does she... also need to be put in solitary?" Franda hesitated.
"Stopping the duo from Room Six can be considered as an righteous act and won't be pursued. But she is partially responsible for the accident caused by the soap she dropped on the ground, so she must bear so of the bla. We have to follow the regulations," Aiden smiled.
"Alright, I understand. I'll assign soone from the night shift to watch over her," Franda replied.
"No need, I'll go personally," Aiden waved his hand. "It just so happens I have so questions to ask her privately."
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