Genshin Impact, all those behind-the-scenes big shots are me

Under the spotlight, the deep blue skirt rippled like waves. In the small defendant's seat, the water god closed her eyes, humming a tune and dancing.

The group exchanged bewildered glances, with Arya and Wilt looking puzzled.

"What happened to her?"

"Don't worry, judging from past experience, it's probably just a bluff."

The two spoke in hushed tones.

Funina stopped.

Ah, I forgot what the tune was at the end of the song... Oh well, it doesn't matter. Since it's a stage, we should at least keep the performance going.

She opened her eyes and continued what she had just said: "But the darkness that the eyes see is not necessarily the real darkness."

These were the words Su Chen had said to her not long ago.

There is never absolute light, nor absolute darkness. She has seen childlike smiles under the sun, as well as bloodthirsty eyes lurking in the darkness, and despair on wrinkled faces—Water God, why are you silent? ...The sound of prayer never entered her faith, but she would never forget it once she heard it. Those who are truly suffering are not as well-dressed as you fools.

Idiots, idiots, idiots! Do I have to curse you ten thousand times before you wake up?

What do you mean by thinking of the people? You're clearly just thinking of yourselves, you selfish bastards and vampires! Go to Mello Petersburg, you lot!

boom! ——

The courtroom doors opened.

Everyone turned around and saw Lord Ryder rushing over from outside.

"I'm coming!"

"Lord Ryder has finally arrived!"

Is this the time for final judgment?

"No way, is Lady Funina really going to lose?"

"Something just doesn't feel right."

Amidst the murmurs, Su Chen walked to the front of the courtroom.

"Ryder, you've arrived! Quickly hand the report over to Lady Vilette!" Arya said impatiently.

"it is good."

Su Chen, who arrived late, nodded slightly and handed the documents in his hand to the guard, who then placed them in front of Vilette.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Navelette opened the document and carefully read every paragraph inside.

After a brief silence, Navelette said, "Based on the information submitted by Lord Ryder, I hereby announce... Ms. Arya's accusations against Ms. Furnessa are unfounded."

Crash! ~~

"How could this be?!" Arya exclaimed in surprise. "Lady Vilette, are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

“I’m not mistaken,” Navelette said calmly. “What Lord Ryder just submitted was not a report to withdraw the approval, but a feasibility study on the construction of the Opiclie Opera House. It includes a section on funding, and I think he has done an extremely thorough job in this area, which is sufficient evidence to refute Mr. Wilt.”

"This is impossible!" Arya exclaimed angrily. "Ryder, this isn't what we agreed on! You clearly said you would withdraw the approval!"

Su Chen asked in confusion, "Ms. Arya, what do you mean by this? As Lady Funina's lawyer in this trial, I was just a little late, but you can't slander me like this."

He then looked at Navelette and asked, "Your Honor, may I charge this woman?"

Navelette's lips twitched slightly: "Since you are a lawyer, you naturally know that this situation does not constitute defamation. If you want to sue Ms. Arya, you can provide relevant evidence, and I will open the next trial for you."

"lawyer?!"

Everyone was shocked.

"Lord Ryder is a lawyer? How come I've never heard of him before?"

"I've never heard of him either. Isn't he a logistics and administrative officer?"

When people in Fontainebleau talk about Ryder, they basically think of him as a logistics officer, a messenger of the water god, a tea-drinking freak at 3 pm every day, etc., and they never associate him with a lawyer.

"See, so that no one will say I'm impersonating someone else."

Su Chen pulled out his lawyer's license and held it up for everyone to see. "Senior lawyer Ryder Cross, so as Lady Funina's personally appointed lawyer, is there a problem?"

The theater was unusually quiet.

“It seems there are no problems.” Su Chen nodded and put away the documents. “So, continuing from what we were saying earlier, did you hear what Lady Vilette said? The charges are not established. Does Miss Arya have any other evidence? I think not, after all, the Academy of Sciences itself is a dirty place. Lady Vilette, as Lady Funina’s lawyer, I have an obligation to file a lawsuit against Arya for the false accusations she made against her in this trial, and sentence her to thirty years in prison.”

“Thirty years?!” Arya’s face turned pale.

“That’s impossible,” Wilt said, frowning. “According to Article 1254 of the Fontaine Law, the maximum sentence in this case is no more than fifteen years. Mr. Ryder, I have serious doubts about your qualifications as a lawyer and the authenticity of the evidence you just presented.”

"Oh, that one? It's been changed." Su Chen smiled slightly. "According to the latest laws, anyone who causes serious damage to, defames, or falsely accuses the Water God will be sentenced to up to thirty years in prison."

"Changed?" Wilt was stunned. "That's impossible! When did that happen?"

"Just last night, the Legislative Ministry unanimously voted to amend this law and also updated a series of new legal provisions, which came into effect first thing this morning... Mr. Wilt, didn't you see the news? I suggest you pay more attention to your professional field and get less involved in these messy things."

Arya's pupils contracted: "Ryder, you asked me for legislative power, so that's what you wanted..."

“Miss Arya, there are some things you can’t say carelessly, especially in the courtroom.” Su Chen’s lips curled up. “If it’s only thirty years, you’ll still have a chance to come out and see the sun in the sky. But if it becomes sixty years, you’ll probably only die in Mero Petersburg.”

"I..."

“Lord Ryder!” Wilt gritted his teeth and said, “Even if the funding isn’t as good as we said, that doesn’t negate the impact building the opera house will have on Fontaine, does it? Where are you going to get such a huge funding gap?”

"What the hell? You're just a lousy lawyer, what right do you have to interfere in my affairs? If I couldn't come up with the money, would I have been able to produce that feasibility study? Do you think Lord Villette is a fool?"

Navilette: "..."

"Of course, if you think there's a problem, you're welcome to file a complaint. I wouldn't mind having another trial with you, as long as you have the guts," Su Chen said disdainfully. "But do you have the guts?"

Wilt's face turned ashen, and he clenched his fists, trembling with rage.

But he didn't have the guts to tell Su Chen what he was talking about.

The accusations were unfounded, and Arya's downfall was inevitable. Thirty years later, her grave would be overgrown with weeds.

Without Arya, how could a mere lawyer like him possibly stand up to Su Chen, who wields immense power?

boom! ——

At that moment, the courtroom doors were pushed open again.

But this time, it wasn't just one person who rushed in, but a whole group of people!

"Lady Funina! Where is Lady Funina?!"

"Which bastard wants to judge Lady Funina?"

"Release Lady Funina!"

"I'll fight anyone who dares to judge Lady Funina!"

"Yes! Fight him to the death!!"

Looking at the group of people who rushed into the theater—most of them were dressed in tattered clothes, and their faces, covered in calluses and weathered by time, were enough to tell who they were—they stormed in so aggressively that even the guards maintaining order at the scene didn't have time to react.

"The people in the lower districts have rioted!!" a nobleman in the audience exclaimed.

"Bullshit! You're the one causing a riot! We're here to protect Lady Furina!!"

"Shut up, you bunch of worthless nobles! All you know is how to exploit us! Let me tell you, we've tolerated you before, but this time you dare to lay a hand on Lady Funina, I'll risk my life to tear you apart!"

The people in the audience were pale.

Most of the people who witnessed this trial, even if they were not nobles, lived in the heart of Fontaine, the place with the highest order and civilization. When had they ever seen such 'barbarians'?

In the lower-level areas, they would show expressions of disgust simply from seeing or hearing some news.

"It stinks..."

Some people covered their noses and kept their distance from this group of 'lower people'.

But they didn't care. When they saw Funina standing in the dock, they rushed over, but then stopped a little distance away, not daring to disturb the deity.

"What...what's going on?" Funina was a little stunned.

"So, are you satisfied with your loyal followers?" Su Chen walked to her side and chuckled softly.

"Are they...my followers?"

Their clothes were tattered and dirty, but their eyes were so pure, and their worship was so simple. Funina never imagined that so many people in Fontainebleau would admire her.

She likes these people.

Although they didn't look nearly as glamorous as those in the audience.

"This is only a part. If the theater weren't so small, they could have come even more." The list that Aina compiled was much larger than the number here. All she needed to do was convey the Water God's thoughts to these people. She didn't need to give them money or bestow any favors. Just being noticed by the Water God was already a great honor for them.

For those living in the sewers, the gaze of God is a luxury.

"Alright, now's not the time to be sentimental. Your performance isn't over yet."

"Oh, um, yes..."

Realizing what had happened, Funina quickly composed herself, putting on a smile and putting on her acting skills on cue—"Hahaha! My loyal subjects, have you come because of my summons? Seeing how devout you are, I won't blame you for interrupting my performance... Well, as you can see, my messenger has arrived here, bringing a magnificent reversal to this trial."

"Ah~ This was indeed an interesting trial for me, Arya. Your overstepping has given me a taste of what it's like to be judged. I am satisfied, and I think this will also be your glory. So take this glory with you to Mero Petersburg."

Plop.

Arya swayed and collapsed to the ground, utterly disoriented.

Furina raised her hand and shouted, "Cheer, my people! I believe the Opizley Opera House will bring a brighter future to Fontaine!"

The lower classes cheered.

"Silence!" Villette rubbed his temples, looking rather annoyed. What did these people think the courtroom was, a vegetable market?

But seeing Funina being supported by the crowd, Navelette was somewhat moved.

Given the level of madness these people possess, even if Arya ultimately wins the trial, they would still stand by Frynn's side without hesitation.

How to weigh the law against human sentiment is a question worth pondering.

“I declare,” Navelette said in a steady voice, “that the charges against Ms. Frinna by Ms. Arya are unfounded—this court hereby declares the Water God innocent.”

"oooooh!!"

"Lady Funina!"

"Lady Funina!"