Transform into a human

The three major systems are not only in conflict, but also in cooperation. However, it is difficult to find room for cooperation on one thing – the Holy Throne.

With the number of divine beings extremely limited, saints, who are slightly stronger than the stars and second only to the gods, constitute the core strength of each faction. Furthermore, the sainthood attained through any extraordinary path is unique, making it a true zero-sum game.

Especially for the path of great inventors, which is extremely widespread, the more people on this path, the greater the secular influence of the holy positions. Once someone is promoted to a holy position, just as the Speakers of the Law completely control the Holy Court, the North Wind faction will gain complete control of the Federal Research Foundation.

Love and Austin's attitude was clear: they would not cut off the possibility of this technology's development, but they would certainly exert unprecedented influence on the North Wind system, forcing the latter to pay an extremely painful price.

This has been an unwritten political rule for the past few centuries. Only in this way can we ensure that the overall strength of humanity is not harmed, while keeping the number of holy positions in each power roughly the same and maintaining a balance among secular political forces.

So, the instant Xueji saw the expressions on her colleagues' faces, she knew that Yue Lai's life was spared, but at the cost of his freedom. The judicial system was within the Central Faction's sphere of influence; they would first convict Yue Lai, and then the North Wind Faction would facilitate the exchange.

However, the North Wind faction, having paid a high price, would naturally not grant Yue Lai complete freedom.

As for Yue Lai's reputation? Sorry, that's completely outside the scope of politicians' considerations.

Austin said softly, "I must say this is a scene that defies conventional wisdom, but what does it prove, Mr. Yue Lai?"

Yue Lai put his conscience back into his chest, and his answer was firm and resounding, spreading throughout Andromeda via the Chain Crystal Network:

"I swear as a child that I have never betrayed my sense of justice in the matter of killing Hou Fan."

A moment of silence fell both online and offline; the voices of doubt vanished instantly, and people remained willing to believe in the justice of a hero who had saved the police headquarters.

Austin Song said quietly, "Even if a pure heart cannot lie, Mr. Yue Lai, how can you guarantee that your reasoning is correct? In the end, 'justice' is still a rather subjective definition."

Threads of silk shot from Yue Lai's fingertips—it was the spy's secret!

Although everyone already knew that Yue Lai had another way out, they were still astonished when they saw it with their own eyes.

"What are you trying to say? Even a spy's deduction can be wrong."

"Congressman Song, this is your judgment. The purpose of the hearing is to show the truth to the public, so the public will make their own judgment."

Austin's expression darkened as he glanced at the Chain Crystal Network.

"I believe in heroes!"

"More than whether he's a hero or not, I'm interested in the skills he just displayed. If they can be applied with advanced technology, wouldn't the value of his relics plummet?"

"Damn it, how could I not have thought of that? I just bought shares in Mirror Flower Agency yesterday!"

"Offering."

Large heritage search agencies like Jinghua are also the largest heritage dealers. According to federal law, divine relics and ordinary relics verified by the Bureau of Investigation can be bought and sold on the market—except for those with significant historical value.

"Associate Song is right. Even if Yue Lai is a traitor and a spy, that is his subjective judgment and cannot be taken as evidence."

"laugh."

"Let's stick to the facts upstairs."

"It's better than believing the nonsense of those politicians."

"..."

Public opinion has indeed shifted dramatically.

Damn it, it's the same old trick again! Yue Lai couldn't possibly be unaware of the legal procedures. All these attention-grabbing maneuvers are clearly an attempt to replicate the previous hearing and use public opinion to influence the judicial trial.

The judges have it easy; they just need to make a ruling based on the hearing results. But these lawmakers have to deal with all sorts of online attacks!

Austin hesitated. Did he really want to go against the voters? The next Grand Council election was just around the corner, and he had to think about himself.

But just then, he received a communication request from a friend who was marked as "special attention". In reality, Austin's pupils contracted slightly - it was that chanter who had actually contacted him personally!

Before he could answer, the call was cut off, but the message had already been conveyed. The fact that the other party could contact him bypassing the vice-speaker clearly indicated that the central leadership had reached a consensus—

He should bear the brunt of this criticism!

After all, the holy position cannot be shaken any further under any circumstances.

Austin's face was grim, but even he could not defy the collective will.

He looked at Love and Snow:

Let's vote.

Xueji: "The Chixin will resonate with the innocent in the police headquarters. Even if Yue Lai also possesses the skills of a liar, he still cannot lie. Therefore... I believe Yue Lai is innocent."

as predicted.

Austin: "I disagree."

The two turned their gazes toward Love, as did hundreds of billions of viewers, who awaited Senator Waris's decisive vote.

Love glanced away slightly at her daughter, who was looking at her with great expectation in the audience. This was extremely rare for her. Love Wallace never felt guilty towards anyone, but this time she had to admit that things were completely out of her control.

Now... she has to consider the interests of the Imperial faction.

"I agree that Yue Lai is guilty."

Li stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Yue Lai had clearly won Xue Ji's vote, yet her own mother had "betrayed" her!

She opened her mouth, but choked up at the truth.

Within the Chain Crystal Network, three major cities with populations of hundreds of billions are simultaneously engulfed in an information tsunami.

"There's a cover-up! There's definitely something fishy going on! I want to speak out for the hero!"

"Fuck you, this is a victory for the law!"

"Are we going to disregard the facts for the sake of procedure? Anyone with eyes can see that Yue Lai is innocent, while Hou Fan is definitely involved!"

"If you ask me, we should have used some tricks on Bryce before his execution. Since he's going to die anyway, why not extract some information from him?"

This person looks like a remnant of the old regime.

"What's wrong with this world? Even a pure heart can't prove its innocence anymore?"

"I also feel indignant on behalf of the hero!"

"+1"

"..."

At this moment, based on the extraordinary logic of all human civilization, public opinion has manifested as a concrete impact, crashing against the vast bureaucratic system like a tidal wave.

Although the vast majority of them were targeting the "Federal Government," Love and Austin still felt as if they had been run over by a heavily armored warship, and cracks appeared in their once solid foundation.

A trace of blood appeared at the corner of Luo Fu's mouth. It was not only the impact of public opinion, but also the backlash after the embroiderer's failed attempt to weave her destiny. Yue Lai's fate had completely slipped out of her control.

The trial is about to end, but what remains is not a calm lake; the tsunami of public opinion has yet to subside.

Just as Xue Ji was about to strike the small wooden mallet, a crimson light, unlike anything anyone had ever seen before, illuminated every inch of space.

The gods descended.