77: Chapter 77 The Trial!

Lu Yin sat by the window, gazing calmly outside.

With three heavyweights like Ye Fenghua, Hong Feng, and Lin Haina backing him up, he felt there shouldn't be any major issues.

Not long after, several military off-road vehicles parked downstairs from Lu Yin's residence.

Lu Yin didn't let the military personnel come up, fearing they would disturb Lu Xun, and walked out of the house alone.

After he left, Lu Xun, who had been napping while holding his wine gourd, slowly opened his eyes.

Lu Xun smacked his lips, then pulled out his old-school feature phone.

While scrolling through his contacts, he muttered to himself.

"The things this kid pulls off are getting more and more outrageous one after another."

His finger slid over the keypad of the old phone, finally stopping on a number that had no name stored but was etched into his memory.

He squinted, took a sip of wine, and pressed the call button.

The call was quickly answered, and a steady middle-aged male voice came from the other end: "Master?"

"Xiao Zhao." Lu Xun leaned lazily back in his recliner.

"My grandson was just taken away by your military people."

There was a moment of silence on the other end before the voice turned serious.

"Lu Yin is your grandson?"

"This trial is because of his deal with the Abyssal Demon Emperor; this matter involves a great deal..."

"Stop using official jargon with me. I haven't even settled the score with you guys for what happened to my son and daughter-in-law yet."

Lu Xun interrupted him, took another sip of wine, and continued, "That kid knows what he's doing."

"Besides, if not for him, Tianjing City would have turned into a purgatory by now."

"I understand, but procedurally..."

"Tell those old fogies."

Lu Xun's voice suddenly became sharp. "If anyone dares to make things difficult for my grandson, I don't mind making a personal trip to the Military Department."

A sharp intake of breath came from the other end: "Master, don't be impulsive! I'll go make arrangements right away."

After hanging up, Lu Xun watched the military vehicle receding in the distance, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

...

Meanwhile, inside the military vehicle, Lu Yin was resting with his eyes closed.

He could feel that although the soldiers beside him looked serious on the surface, their eyes were filled with curiosity and awe.

After all, within the military district, tales of his deeds had already spread like wildfire.

Basically everyone knew that Tianjing City's safety this time was all thanks to Lu Yin turning the tide.

They also couldn't understand why the state would put such a young hero on trial.

Since Lu Yin's contract with Aiolia was currently top secret,

the soldiers in the military district only knew part of the facts.

The vehicle drove for an hour and stopped in front of a military teleportation array.

After several more transfers, they finally arrived at a heavily guarded military base.

The trial location was set in a conference hall deep within the base.

When Lu Yin walked in, he found it was a place similar to a courtroom, only more solemn and dignified.

Directly ahead sat five figures dressed in plain clothes.

Ye Fenghua, Hong Feng, and Lin Haina sat in the witness box on the right.

To Lu Yin's surprise, in the center of the judicial bench was a gray-haired old man.

He wore a neat Mao suit; though simple, he possessed a natural aura of authority.

His gaze was calm, yet it seemed able to pierce through one's heart.

To the old man's left sat a cold-faced middle-aged soldier.

Five general stars were pinned to his epaulettes; he was none other than the Commander-in-Chief of the Four Armies of the Celestial Empire.

The remaining three were also extraordinary Elders of the State, top figures in their respective fields.

Such a lineup actually made Lu Yin feel a bit 'flattered'.

The atmosphere in the entire trial hall was heavy, and when Lu Yin walked in, everyone's eyes focused on him.

Ye Fenghua gave Lu Yin a reassuring look, Hong Feng remained expressionless as usual, and Lin Haina nodded slightly.

"Lu Yin, please take a seat."

The old man in the center spoke, his voice steady and powerful, echoing throughout the hall.

Lu Yin sat in the designated spot, neither servile nor overbearing.

This calm demeanor caused the five people on the bench to look at him with a bit of surprise.

"Lu Yin, native of Tianyang City, 18 years old, Three-Star Mythic Class... Death Monarch."

The old man flipped through the documents in his hand and said slowly.

"Today's trial is convened mainly to evaluate your actions in stopping the resurrection of the Abyssal Demon Emperor Aiolia, and the resulting consequences."

"According to the reports from Eastern Theater Commander Ye Fenghua, Mage Association President Hong Feng, and Minister of Education Lin Haina,"

"you played a crucial role in this incident, averting a greater disaster. This is an undeniable merit."

The old man paused slightly here, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"However, the report mentions that you reached some kind of agreement with the Abyssal Demon Emperor Aiolia."

"To us, this is a fatal hidden danger that cannot be ignored."

"In regard to this, we want to hear your thoughts."

Hearing this, Lu Yin showed no fear toward the five sharp gazes from above.

"I did indeed sign a contract with a demon, and I do not deny that this will bring a huge hidden danger to this society and even all of humanity."

"So I didn't run away; I just need an opportunity."

"I believe in myself—that when Aiolia is resurrected, I will obliterate him once again."

"But the premise for everything is the trust of everyone present."

"After all... the battle against the Abyss has never been a one-man job."

A brief silence fell over the trial hall, with only Lu Yin's clear voice echoing in the air.

After hearing these words from Lu Yin, many people's faces showed touched expressions.

Especially the three, including Ye Fenghua, who had witnessed everything at the time.

"Chief Justice, I am willing to guarantee with my lifelong reputation that if Lu Yin conspires with the demon against humanity, I will personally kill him and then apologize with my own death."

In the oppressive silence, Ye Fenghua couldn't help but speak up first.

At that time, to suppress Aiolia, Lu Yin had committed suicide twice without hesitation.

Though he had life crystals as a backup, this determination was definitely not something a coward who fears death could display.

"I, as well."

The always calm Hong Feng also stood up without hesitation at this moment.

"The same applies to me."

Following him was the refined-looking Lin Haina.

The status and positions of these three might not be the very top in this trial hall,

but they are definitely indispensable and important figures in human society today.

Even they were willing to guarantee for Lu Yin with their lifelong reputations and lives.

This point alone was enough to make most of the audience in the court side with Lu Yin.

Looking at Ye Fenghua and the others, Lu Yin cast a grateful look.

Another brief dead silence followed, then whispers came from the hearing seats.

Many who were originally skeptical of Lu Yin now had much softer expressions.

However, the old man in the center of the bench remained calm, showing no emotion.

He nodded slowly, then looked at the four judges beside him.

"What about you?"

On the far right of the old man, an State Elder with a mustache pushed up his glasses and said in a deep voice,

"Merit is merit, and fault is fault."

"The risk of trading with Abyssal Demons is too great; we cannot easily gamble with the fate of all humanity."