NOVEL NEXT 42
Chapter 42
Judge Moyer Lando hadn’t slept all night.
Being of advanced age, he couldn’t compare to the younger female zergs. After staying up all night, his face looked frighteningly haggard. His personal servant brought him a delicious breakfast.
It was Moyer’s favorite: a sausage and fried egg sandwich. The sausage was made from top-grade Venus ham, rich and savory. The egg was perfectly cooked, slightly runny, and smooth on the palate. Even the simplest toast was made from special flour, and every step, from kneading the dough, was meticulously done by the servant.
But facing such a fragrant breakfast, Moyer Lando had no appetite at all.
He knew he was very hungry and that he had a very important trial today, requiring ample energy.
So, he forced himself to take a bite of the sandwich, but tasted nothing. It got stuck in his throat, refusing to go down, and finally, his face changed, and he spat it out.
He coughed repeatedly from the effort, his face turning red.
His loyal servant, thinking it was his fault, hurriedly offered a sweat towel to wipe the residue from Moyer’s mouth.
Moyer sighed, sitting dazed on the bed, silent for a long time.
Just yesterday, his teacher had visited upon invitation, and they had a long heart-to-heart talk throughout the night.
His teacher was a very famous judge, known for several landmark cases that every law student had to study. Moyer deeply respected him and would seek his help whenever he faced a difficult problem.
And now, he was facing another tough issue.
He confided his dilemma to his teacher: “Teacher, I have to judge Adler’s case tomorrow, but it’s far from ready for trial. The evidence we have is completely insufficient to determine who the real culprit is. Without knowing who the culprit is, how can I convict them?”
Though his teacher had been retired for many years, he immediately saw the root of the problem: “Is the pressure from above getting too much to handle?”
“Isn’t it?” Moyer smiled bitterly. “The pressure from all sides is immense, and we can’t delay even a single day. The public’s anger is growing exponentially. In just a few days, it has escalated to this situation. If we delay any longer, they will lose their sanity.”
Without needing Moyer to say more, his teacher understood everything: “If you don’t give the public a satisfactory answer, you will become their target.”
What would satisfy the public?
A conviction was necessary, and it had to be a serious charge, the highest possible charge.
The imprisoned females must all die; the public cannot tolerate an ambiguous outcome.
Moyer was silent. His teacher grasped his hand, giving him a bit of support. As a student, Moyer had drawn courage from this same teacher many times.
“Moyer, remember what I told you,” his teacher said meaningfully, “This is the first time in three hundred years that a male zerg has been attacked in a public place. Your judgment will set a precedent for all similar cases in the future.”
“Also remember what you are truly protecting.”
“Everything we have learned is to safeguard what we need to protect: the future of the zerg race, the needs of the people…”
With those words, the teacher had imparted his wisdom. At Moyer’s age, there wasn’t much more knowledge to be taught. The teacher patted Moyer’s shoulder, then held his head in a loving embrace, saying, “Moyer, you have always been a somewhat timid female, but this time you must not be weak.”
Then he left. Moyer, however, couldn’t sleep all night.
He tried many times but couldn’t swallow even a bite of the sandwich. His poor servant was terrified, apologizing profusely. Moyer was lost in thought; when he finally heard the apologies, the servant had nearly lost all hope for his career, seemingly ready to quit.
Moyer quickly reassured him, making him understand that he was still an excellent servant.
Seeing the relieved smile on his wrinkled face, Moyer’s heavy heart lightened slightly, allowing him to eat the remaining third of the sandwich.
Honestly, it didn’t make him feel much better. If he had been starving before, now it felt like he had swallowed a stone.
Sighing, Moyer trudged to his car.
The sky was overcast with heavy, leaden clouds, which had lingered for days without snow or break, mirroring Moyer’s mood.
“Let’s go. We must leave.”
“Yes.”
——————
This feeling did not ease; instead, it grew heavier with time. When Moyer finally saw those dozen or so females being escorted to the defendant’s seat, he could barely breathe under the pressure.
These females had come from military academies, making them much fiercer than ordinary females. Their hard, cold expressions made it clear they were not to be trifled with.
Moyer’s court was of the highest standard, with a large, accommodating audience area. Today, it was packed. Workers from various TV stations were everywhere, setting up professional cameras, showing just how significant this case was.
For a moment, Moyer felt like he was standing not on solid ground but on the edge of a volcano, with hellfire roasting beneath him.
There were whispers from the audience.
“They look tough. It must be them. I have a friend who can judge someone’s character by their face. You know what he said about these females?”
“What?”
“No female who hasn’t committed a serious crime would have those kinds of eyes. They must be guilty.”
“Wow, that’s impressive. I thought their eyes looked off too. Last time, I even found a photo of their female father. His eyes were just as scary.”
“Indeed, bad genes are hereditary.”
The female being discussed turned her head in anger and let out a howl at the audience.
Flashes went off from all directions as photographers frantically captured the explosive moment, further cementing the public’s suspicions and escalating the anger.
Some live broadcasts were already flooded with comments.
Moyer let out a bitter smile.
… What kind of logic is this? If you could judge guilt by appearance, most criminals would walk free.
Most hardened criminals look very different from the stereotypical thugs with menacing faces and exuding malicious vibes. In reality, they often look quite ordinary. They resemble… the neighbors you greet every day, coworkers you share an office with, pedestrians waiting for the light to change.
As the murmurs grew louder, Moyer raised his gavel and struck it down: “Order!”
The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Moyer. He put down the gavel, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.
He was about to make the most significant decision of his life in this courtroom.
A decision he might carry with him until his death.
————
Lu Xi stood at the defendant’s stand. Compared to the other females who looked angry, scared, or despondent, he appeared calm and steady, standing straight without a hint of wavering. Even with shackles on his hands and whip marks on his body, he was composed, as if he were delivering a speech at the flagpole rather than standing as a prisoner.
At the plaintiff’s stand stood a haggard-looking female, with eyes full of bloodshot and a face full of sorrow. The video had surfaced not long ago, but he seemed to have aged considerably. Even the most cold-hearted zerg would be moved by his appearance.
Xia Baiyuan’s gaze quickly swept over his face.
These little tricks were very effective in garnering sympathy. This female was adept at these things, and every moment of that video struck at the most vulnerable parts of a female’s heart. Perhaps it was because females understood best what other females wanted?
He wielded enormous influence, intending to use it to completely destroy Lu Xi.
When Xia Baiyuan stood there, he felt the near-fanatical atmosphere in the air—a fervor that could consume everything and destroy anything in its path.
He frowned, instinctively surveying his surroundings and mentally calculating the most likely escape routes.
A warm hand covered his.
Startled out of his thoughts, Xia Baiyuan looked down. Lu Xi, using the table and his wide cloak as cover, had secretly grabbed his hand. But he continued to face the judge.
The warmth from that hand reassured Xia Baiyuan, as if saying, “Stay calm.”
“…”
Xia Baiyuan slightly relaxed his clenched fist and held Lu Xi’s hand in return.
No one noticed their small gesture.
The court proceedings were lengthy, and the audience grew increasingly impatient, almost ready to stand up and shout if it weren’t for the solemnity of the courtroom.
Finally, after half an hour, they reached the crucial stage.
When the pale, sorrowful female stood up, everyone perked up, eagerly waiting.
…
This was undoubtedly the most watched moment of Jia Dena’s life.
In this courtroom, everyone was watching him.
At this moment, the entire zerg race was focused on him.
He instinctively wanted to adjust his gloves but stopped himself. He needed to present an image that would garner more sympathy.
Disheveled yet resolute, brave but still showing vulnerability.
Jia Dena took a deep breath, his cheeks flushing with excitement, though the audience perceived it differently.
“Today, I stand here not for anything else but for my male child, Adler.”
From television to the internet, everywhere was broadcasting Jia Dena at this moment.
The female’s gaze was determined, his face flushed with anger. He maintained his composure as best he could, wearing finely tailored clothes with complete accessories.
But everyone could see his grief.
His gloves were on inside out, with the seams clearly visible on camera, originally a comical image. Yet, faced with such a dignified female father, no one could laugh.
“Adler was truly a kind female. I raised him well, and he was very happy to be born a male because…”
Jia Dena paused before continuing, “Because he said that being male meant he could save females. How fortunate he felt to have that ability!”
The entire audience was silent for three seconds, with every female trying to process what had just been said.
Then, a tremor-like heat surged from the depths of their hearts, spreading instantly through their bodies. Though the temperature in the courtroom was perfectly controlled, they couldn’t stop shivering.
Unable to handle the overwhelming emotion, they began to cry.
“However—”
Jia Dena’s tone shifted, and his gaze toward the defendants blazed with fury: “I don’t understand what my Adler did wrong. Why did you treat him like that?! His greatest wish was to heal the females. If you truly hated him, you could have broken his legs or his arms, but why did you degrade him to that extent?!”
The faces of the females on the defendant’s bench turned ashen.
They knew Adler’s true nature, even if others didn’t. They, having been in the same school, knew all too well.
To hear the demon that all females feared portrayed this way made them want to vomit.
Finally, one female couldn’t hold back and interrupted Jia Dena: “What nonsense are you spouting?! That scum from your family—his death is a blessing! Do you want to see what my brother looks like now? Adler crippled his wings!”
A single stone caused a thousand ripples.
Jia Dena turned pale, his eyes bulging with rage. Though he remained standing, he was clearly about to collapse.
Moyer reacted swiftly, striking the gavel: “Silence!”
It was not yet time for the defendants to speak.
But it was too late. Water bottles started flying from the audience, followed by cups, hats, pens, shoes, and even communicators, raining down with curses.
Some missed their mark.
Lu Xi tilted his head to dodge a flying water bottle, which then hit with a loud “bang” right behind him.
Xia Baiyuan retrieved it from behind Lu Xi’s head, and seeing the size of it in his hand, Lu Xi was shocked.
This was definitely intentional.
Xia Baiyuan thought for a moment and then handed it to Lu Xi.
Lu Xi, puzzled, asked, “To take back and use?”
Xia Baiyuan: “…”
He grabbed Lu Xi’s hand and used it to shield his head.
Lu Xi: “…”
He couldn’t help but show a slightly embarrassed expression.
The chaos lasted for a full half-hour, not because the audience’s emotions were controlled, but because they ran out of things to throw.
Jia Dena looked at the judge and said, “No matter what the judge decides, I will accept it. I trust you will give me a fair and reasonable verdict.”
Moyer looked around the courtroom. The fire in everyone’s eyes reminded him of a time in his youth when he ventured to the snowy plains and encountered a pack of wild beasts.
Even after many years, he still remembered the eyes of those beasts, often waking up from nightmares because of them.
And now, he faced those beasts once again.
There was no way out.
Events were spiraling toward an irreversible outcome, and he could no longer resist.
However, when it came time for the defense, the lawyers hired by these females were not skilled. Intimidated by the terrifying, fervent atmosphere, their statements were stammering and incoherent. Though they had points in their favor, they mumbled and stumbled, unable to articulate clearly.
“I-I’ve finished my statement.”
Moyer spoke for the first time, “Is that all?”
There was even a hint of hope in his voice.
The defense lawyer looked at him timidly and nodded silently.
Moyer stood firmly in place, but the light gavel now felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and his trembling hand was undeniable.
…
Lu Xi heard the sudden lightness in Xia Baiyuan’s breathing.
Like a poised and ready leopard.
His hand toyed with the ring on his index finger, his piercing red eyes fixed on the judge’s pale face without blinking.
The room was silent.
The judge’s graying hair trembled slightly. He pressed down hard on the table to hide his shaking hands, not wanting everyone to see his fear.
“The evidence presented in this case does not prove that Lu Xi, Luo Qiao, Qi Lifeng… the twelve individuals committed any crime. Therefore, they are found not guilty of harming the male zerg, but they will be under observation for three years.”
…
Xia Baiyuan crushed a corner of the table.
Lu Xi’s left hand slipped, creating a screeching sound across the table.
Jia Dena’s face twisted.
No one could believe what they heard, exchanging glances to confirm what had just occurred.
But they gradually realized it was indeed true.
This judge had declared these criminals not guilty, even though they had harmed the most innocent male zerg in the world!
Something was silently accumulating, soon to break through the calm facade.
Moyer could no longer stand and fell back against the wall, gasping for air. His aging lungs wheezed like an old, about-to-fail organ.
But his mind had never been clearer.
He saw the furious spectators rising from their seats, some even spreading their wings. They were like an unstoppable tide crashing against the officers’ barricade.
When the barricade was breached, Moyer knew he would be overwhelmed by this tide.
“You must remember what it is you are protecting.”
Moyer had spent his life protecting this.
Even if it cost him his life, he would not hesitate.
He knew he couldn’t change anything by doing this, but some things had to be done, even if they were futile.
No, not entirely futile.
Moyer opened his eyes and looked at the twelve females on the defendant’s bench.
He had managed to salvage something, after all.
Moyer’s gaze swept over the faces of the defendants and finally lingered on Lu Xi’s face for a long time.
Then, the dark-haired Zerg smiled at him.
Despite the scene being chaotic and filled with violence, at that moment, all the Zerg heard one sentence.
“Judge, I plead guilty.”
“I admit, I was the one who drove Adler mad.”
Lu Xi raised his hand, the heavy chains tightened, and then it was as if an invisible blade sliced through the iron chains, leaving a clean cut.
The sound of the chains falling to the ground was crisp and echoed in the courtroom.
The spectators and officers, who had been grappling with each other, froze in place, the scene suddenly silent.
They quietly watched Lu Xi, sensing something significant was about to happen.
Lu Xi clutched the ring on his index finger and murmured, “I had planned to tell you at a better time.”
This was directed at Xia Baiyuan.
“But plans often can’t keep up with changes. I was worried I wouldn’t manage to do it before I died, but luckily, this went off without a hitch.”
In the blindingly bright light, the black-haired, red-eyed Zerg slowly removed the ring. The obsidian ring rolled a few times on the table.
Centered around him, a distinct pheromone scent quickly spread, sweeping through the courtroom.
It was not overpowering, but unmistakable, a faint fragrance that could not be ignored.
“Thud.”
“Thud.”
“Thud.”
Rows of Zerg females collapsed to the ground, drained of strength, tears streaming down their faces.
The world was at peace.
All the noise and pain that haunted them, even in their deepest dreams—pain that seemed to belong nowhere on their bodies yet felt like it was everywhere—vanished.
It felt like being back in the egg shell, so calm, so gentle.
Lu Xi sat on the table, reached out, and pulled off Xia Baiyuan’s hat, staring into his blue-green eyes.
The bandages around Xia Baiyuan’s head unwound, revealing his refined and delicate face.
He smiled, half in astonishment, half in sudden realization.
“So, you really are a male Zerg.”
Lu Xi placed the ring in his hand, “This was my male father’s ring.”
————
When he was very young, right after Lu Mo had picked him up, he was still in a daze, unable to control his mental powers.
The room was always a mess, no matter how strong the walls were, they would end up in tatters.
His male father was unconcerned, thinking he was just a bit lively and took pride in it.
Until one day, when he lost control again, this time falling unconscious after a severe headache.
Upon waking, his male father gave him this ring and told him never to take it off lightly.
“I know, it’s your instinct.”
“You want to grow, you want to mature, but it’s not possible.” Lu Mo squatted by his bed, his dark green eyes heavy and somber. “You have a one in a thousand chance of breaking the mental power limit successfully. If you fail, you will… die.”
“Never try it, Ah Xi. You’re fine just the way you are.”
…
Xia Baiyuan balanced the ring on his fingertip, wobbling but never falling off.
He asked, “When did you…”
Before he could finish, Xia Baiyuan seemed to realize something and asked directly, “Was it when you were in the hospital?”
Ah, Xia Baiyuan is so smart!!
As expected of the God of War, OVO.
Lu Xi scratched his cheek sheepishly and said, “I miscalculated at the time. I thought I could control it… but I almost exploded.”
Xia Baiyuan: “…”
Lu Xi: “But it turned out fine!!!”
Xia Baiyuan said gloomily, “So, in other words, you almost went to see the Zerg God without me knowing.”
Lu Xi corrected him, “No, I almost took you and your female father to see the Zerg God with me.”
Even though he tried his best to control it, if he had exploded, Xia Baiyuan, being so close, would not have survived.
He almost cried at that time.
Xia Baiyuan sighed and rested his head on Lu Xi’s shoulder.
“Well done.”
“Yay!”
“Don’t do it again next time.”
“……”
Lu Xi felt incredibly guilty. Xia Baiyuan lazily leaned on Lu Xi and let out a faint hum.
He was utterly exhausted.
Since yesterday, his nerves hadn’t relaxed, and any slight movement made him extremely anxious.
He knew that Lu Xi had really driven Adler mad.
Even with just a one in ten thousand chance, he feared Adler might suddenly recover.
He even considered killing Adler to eliminate any future problems, but time was too tight, and he had never felt so powerless.
But now, everything was over.
…
The entire hall of Zerg finally snapped out of it, looking at Lu Xi with tears streaming down their faces.
No words were needed; they knew exactly what kind of male Zerg was standing before them.
But a sharp laugh broke the peaceful atmosphere.
Everyone turned towards the sound, seeing Jia Dena pointing at Lu Xi and shouting to the judge, “Judge, he admitted it! He admitted it! Sentence him to death! He’s the one who harmed my Adler!”
Lu Xi raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean harmed? I was just playing with him.”
“Who knew he was so fragile? I just used a little bit of force…” Lu Xi made a tiny gesture with his thumb and forefinger, “and he fell asleep. I was afraid he might fall off the chair while sleeping, so I kindly tied him up tightly with chains.”
Lu Xi pouted, “I went through so many shocks and still considered your Adler. Instead of thanking me, you want to kill me. What do you mean by that?”
Xia Baiyuan quietly watched him spout nonsense.
After Lu Xi finished his theatrics, he turned to Xia Baiyuan and said, “Wow, that felt great. No wonder he was so into it earlier, it’s incredible.”
Xia Baiyuan gently reminded, “Keep your voice down.”
Lu Xi awkwardly closed his mouth.
But Jia Dena had already heard. He looked at Moyer with sorrowful eyes, tears streaming down his face. “I know my Adler is just a low-level male, but he shouldn’t have suffered such brutal abuse. He was such a good male. Your Honor, I know you are fair and wise, but you can’t let the murderer go unpunished, can you?”
Before Moyer could respond, Xia Baiyuan glanced coldly at Jia Dena.
Jia Dena shrank back as if he had been stabbed. He had never seen such a look before.
Xia Baiyuan rarely held grudges, but when he did, it was deeply ingrained.
“A good male?” Xia Baiyuan bit out the words with a mocking smile. “What’s good about him?”
Jia Dena stammered, “He—”
“Good at slicing off their flesh?”
“Good at cutting off the wings of females?”
“Or good at forcing females to jump off buildings?”
Xia Baiyuan sneered, “Such a good male should be sent to hell to enlighten the masses, not save females here.”
Jia Dena suddenly realized that he had been too absorbed in his act, even deceiving himself. Didn’t he know what his son was like?
He stiffened his neck and said, “Do you have evidence? Slandering a tormented male like this? Aren’t you afraid of being abandoned by the Zerg God?”
“Evidence?”
As if hearing the world’s biggest joke, Xia Baiyuan chuckled softly, “What a coincidence, we happen to have evidence.”
“You,” he pointed his chin at a certain female standing in the defendant’s dock, “you just said, what did Adler do to your brother?”
The female’s eyes were red with hatred as she looked at Jia Dena. “He drugged my brother, then cut his Achilles tendon. But Adler thought my brother would recover eventually, so he cut off his wings.”
“Do you want to see him?”
“Do you want to see him?”
Years of suppressed hatred erupted, overwhelming Jia Dena who took a step back in fear. “Who—who wants to see a low-level female?”
The female’s cheek twitched as if trying to smile. “But we’ve wanted to see you for a long time.”
He stepped closer, making Jia Dena’s face change. “Who knows if what you say is true? I’m leaving!”
Watching Jia Dena’s retreating figure, Lu Xi said to the female, “Are you just going to let him go?”
The female took a big step back.
Lu Xi: “… You were asking me for paper and pen to write a will just now when we stood together.”
Is your step back serious? You’re making Lu Xi feel hurt.
“No… it’s nothing,” the female scratched his cheek, “Seeing Adler like this has satisfied me. As for his father…”
Lu Xi understood everything without him needing to say more.
He turned his head and surveyed the faces of all the spectators, all wearing gloomy expressions.
Being used as a pawn didn’t feel good at all. The more excited you were back then, the more crappy you feel now.
Not to mention that Jia Dena had just manipulated the entire Zerg race this time, and as he wished, he was now the most famous star among all Zerg.
After this incident, it’s likely that all Zerg will remember firmly that they will never take sides again when things are not clear…
His master hadn’t intended to kill him, which was more than enough.
“So—” Moyer raised his gavel, struck it heavily, and declared loudly, “The plaintiff no longer pursues the criminal responsibility of the defendant, Lu Xi is acquitted and released!”
In this courtroom, such a lively scene appeared for the first time.
Everyone was cheering, even the elderly and dignified judge, who took off his robe and danced the steps he learned when he was young.
Only now did he finally understand what his teacher meant.
You must uphold your principles.
Don’t hesitate, don’t be timid.
The teacher knew he would choose this path, but his status didn’t allow him to say too much.
“Moyer, you may never become a judge who goes down in history, but you’re the most interesting Zerg I’ve ever met.”
These were the words his teacher left him when he graduated.
Amidst the cheers, Lu Xi grabbed Xia Baiyuan’s hand.
“We can go register for marriage now.”
Xia Baiyuan looked at him, showing a faint smile.
He didn’t seem to have much feeling. Even when he confirmed Lu Xi was a male, there was no extra joy.
Whether Lu Xi was a male or a female—
Xia Baiyuan loved him.