Chapter 57:
Chapter 58 — The Emperor's Verdict
My New Home
Akiko clutching her phone, her eyes wide with shock. 「No way.」Koichi looked at her, leaning in close. 「What is it?」Akiko's smile tight and nervous, whispering urgently.「The live feed of the trial—it's been cut.」She shows him her phone screen displaying a 'Technical Difficulties' prompt. Koichi let out soft, knowing chuckle. 「So, what Devon Samuels said was true, in a way.」Akiko chuckles, the adrenaline surging. 「Yes. I think their enemies believed JJ Samuels would continue to remain silent, but with the revelation that he's actually Militia's Emperor, the entire power dynamic has just violently shifted.」
Judge Yamato hammers his gavel against the block with savage, repeated blows until a semblance of order returns to the court.
Joshua struggling to compose himself, regaining his attorney stance. 「With deference to the court, are you confirming that the current Prime Minister of Japan, Hitoshi Suzuki, engaged in bribery to manipulate the proceedings of this case?」JJ had a friendly, almost innocent chuckle. 「Of course. You know I could never be such a terrible father that my own daughters would willingly betray me by sleeping with an enemy.」He suddenly gasps in surprised realization, his eyes wide and beaming 「Grandmother! Is this why Mother said our enemies will despise the fact that I will grow up to be a man?」Aurora a rich, booming laugh echoing from the pews. 「Besides the fact you can fight an entire army by yourself, yes, that’s precisely why she said that.」Joshua turning sharply toward Aurora, his voice laced with annoyance. 「Maw Maw!」Aurora laughing a little harder.「What? Your brother’s energy is infectious! Besides, look at him, he’s cute.」JJ pouts playfully, a theatrical tone in his voice. 「Correction, Grandmother. I'm adorable!」Aurora: 「That you are, Grandmother’s muffin.」Joshua rubbing his temples in exasperation. 「Could the two of you please cease this behavior?」JJ with a childish, dramatic boast. 「Hmph! I'm a muffin!」Joshua sighing deeply. 「You are such a child.」JJ chuckles, snapping back to his normal, grounded voice. 「Okay, little bro, I know you’re jealous, so I'll stop.」Joshua rolling his eyes, clearing his throat and returning to the matter at hand. 「Then the information you received from one of Prime Minister Hitoshi Suzuki's daughters is verified?」JJ's became serious, all trace of playfulness gone.「Absolutely. I even had time to compromise Mr. Towa's laptop while I and—」 He looks Nanami dead in the eyes, a predatory certainty in his gaze. 「—his wife were otherwise engaged. Oh, and change your password to something more creative. That was far too easy; I use the term 'hack' generously, given the lack of security on your device.」Nanami shot to his feet, his face contorted with anger and humiliation. 「Your Honor, this is inadmissible in a court of law! Furthermore, did the defendant just admit to committing yet another crime?!」JJ: 「Yes, I did. My brother requested that I expose everyone, and that includes me. And a sexual offender such as yourself shouldn't be speaking, or I will detail, minute by minute, exactly what you did to your wife.」The threat hangs heavy and cold in the air.Nanami sinking back into his seat, utterly defeated.【 It's over. All of it. It's over. 】Joshua contemplating on the judge's reaction. 「Hmm... Your Honor, you appear rather distressed. Is the veracity of the testimony truly that disconcerting?」Judge Yamato: 「I will not remain here and be falsely accused of unlawful conduct!」JJ: 「Then the 120 million yen transferred to your personal account on Saturday, the 20th of August 2050 at 16:34 p.m., was merely a generous donation?」Judge Yamato: 「What—how did you—」He catches himself, his voice dying in his throat.JJ scoffing dismissively. 「Now, this is what shall happen. For the crime of attacking the Emperor, Akuma and his living associates will serve a life sentence in a Militian maximum-security prison. Nanami Towa is to legally divorce his wife and serve thirty years, with no possibility of parole, in a Japanese correctional facility. And as for you, Your Honor, and the compromised jury members—given that your sole crimes were accepting those 'donations'—which I understand was likely due to being blackmailed by a higher political status—you shall perform three years of compulsory community service and immediately donate all received funds to certified charities.」Judge Yamato: 【 Is he offering us a way out? 】Nanami standing up, feeling the victory stolen from him. 「Your Honor—」The gavel slams down, silencing him immediately.Judge Yamato not looking up, utterly defeated. 「Jury members, do you concur with the verdict presented by Emperor JJ?」
The Jury members exchange meaningful looks, then nod in unanimous agreement.
Judge Yamato: 「It has been decided. The verdict laid out by the Emperor of Militia will be put into effect immediately.」He bangs his gavel one final, resounding time 「The court is dismissed!」
Judge Yamato hammers his gavel against the block with savage, repeated blows until a semblance of order returns to the court.
Joshua struggling to compose himself, regaining his attorney stance. 「With deference to the court, are you confirming that the current Prime Minister of Japan, Hitoshi Suzuki, engaged in bribery to manipulate the proceedings of this case?」JJ had a friendly, almost innocent chuckle. 「Of course. You know I could never be such a terrible father that my own daughters would willingly betray me by sleeping with an enemy.」He suddenly gasps in surprised realization, his eyes wide and beaming 「Grandmother! Is this why Mother said our enemies will despise the fact that I will grow up to be a man?」Aurora a rich, booming laugh echoing from the pews. 「Besides the fact you can fight an entire army by yourself, yes, that’s precisely why she said that.」Joshua turning sharply toward Aurora, his voice laced with annoyance. 「Maw Maw!」Aurora laughing a little harder.「What? Your brother’s energy is infectious! Besides, look at him, he’s cute.」JJ pouts playfully, a theatrical tone in his voice. 「Correction, Grandmother. I'm adorable!」Aurora: 「That you are, Grandmother’s muffin.」Joshua rubbing his temples in exasperation. 「Could the two of you please cease this behavior?」JJ with a childish, dramatic boast. 「Hmph! I'm a muffin!」Joshua sighing deeply. 「You are such a child.」JJ chuckles, snapping back to his normal, grounded voice. 「Okay, little bro, I know you’re jealous, so I'll stop.」Joshua rolling his eyes, clearing his throat and returning to the matter at hand. 「Then the information you received from one of Prime Minister Hitoshi Suzuki's daughters is verified?」JJ's became serious, all trace of playfulness gone.「Absolutely. I even had time to compromise Mr. Towa's laptop while I and—」 He looks Nanami dead in the eyes, a predatory certainty in his gaze. 「—his wife were otherwise engaged. Oh, and change your password to something more creative. That was far too easy; I use the term 'hack' generously, given the lack of security on your device.」Nanami shot to his feet, his face contorted with anger and humiliation. 「Your Honor, this is inadmissible in a court of law! Furthermore, did the defendant just admit to committing yet another crime?!」JJ: 「Yes, I did. My brother requested that I expose everyone, and that includes me. And a sexual offender such as yourself shouldn't be speaking, or I will detail, minute by minute, exactly what you did to your wife.」The threat hangs heavy and cold in the air.Nanami sinking back into his seat, utterly defeated.【 It's over. All of it. It's over. 】Joshua contemplating on the judge's reaction. 「Hmm... Your Honor, you appear rather distressed. Is the veracity of the testimony truly that disconcerting?」Judge Yamato: 「I will not remain here and be falsely accused of unlawful conduct!」JJ: 「Then the 120 million yen transferred to your personal account on Saturday, the 20th of August 2050 at 16:34 p.m., was merely a generous donation?」Judge Yamato: 「What—how did you—」He catches himself, his voice dying in his throat.JJ scoffing dismissively. 「Now, this is what shall happen. For the crime of attacking the Emperor, Akuma and his living associates will serve a life sentence in a Militian maximum-security prison. Nanami Towa is to legally divorce his wife and serve thirty years, with no possibility of parole, in a Japanese correctional facility. And as for you, Your Honor, and the compromised jury members—given that your sole crimes were accepting those 'donations'—which I understand was likely due to being blackmailed by a higher political status—you shall perform three years of compulsory community service and immediately donate all received funds to certified charities.」Judge Yamato: 【 Is he offering us a way out? 】Nanami standing up, feeling the victory stolen from him. 「Your Honor—」The gavel slams down, silencing him immediately.Judge Yamato not looking up, utterly defeated. 「Jury members, do you concur with the verdict presented by Emperor JJ?」
The Jury members exchange meaningful looks, then nod in unanimous agreement.
Judge Yamato: 「It has been decided. The verdict laid out by the Emperor of Militia will be put into effect immediately.」He bangs his gavel one final, resounding time 「The court is dismissed!」
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