NOVEL NEXT Chapter 168
Chapter 168: To the Military Tribunal!
As Lu Ji arrived at the scene, his mind had already gone through every possible outcome.
With a disaster of this scale, Wen Yu was undoubtedly finished as Supreme Commander of the Eastern Military.
Thousands of elite young talents had died, and behind each of them stood major academies, powerful noble families, and influential organizations.
Even as Regent, Lu Ji knew that not even he could withstand the full force of their fury.
And the Military Department—along with the Qin Family—had always seen Wen Yu as an obstacle to their ambitions.
They would do everything in their power to completely destroy her.
Even if they didn’t execute Wen Yu outright, she would at the very least be stripped of her rank and expelled from the military.
In the worst-case scenario, they might even exile her to the Void’s frontlines—a death sentence in all but name.
Thus, Lu Ji had to act.
Not just because Wen Yu was his disciple, but because she still held immense influence within the Eastern Military.
As long as she lived, she could still sway the minds of her former troops. And more importantly—if Lu Ji couldn’t even protect his own people, how could he expect his faction members to remain loyal?
If he let Wen Yu fall without resistance, his political power would begin to fracture.
However, to save her, he would have to make sacrifices—giving up resources, positions, and cutting deals with his enemies.
No matter how he looked at it, the Regent’s faction had taken a massive loss today.
Lu Ji’s gaze shifted to Qin Ming. He was certain—the Qin Family was behind all of this.
A Void Invasion, right in the capital? His fury boiled beneath the surface.
The Qin Family and the Military Department had completely disregarded the interests of the Empire and humanity itself—all for the sake of their own power.
Yet, Qin Ming remained completely calm, his eyes as serene as an undisturbed lake.
Seeing this, a silent tension spread throughout the gathering.
Was this it? Were the Regent’s faction and the Qin Family finally going to rip off their masks and engage in all-out political warfare?
Behind Lu Ji, the Director of the Imperial Special Intelligence Bureau, Shi Zhi, wore an equally dark expression.
The Special Intelligence Bureau had been tasked with assisting the Eastern Military in overseeing the [Void Hunting Trial].
They had even provided Wen Yu with intelligence reports on potential military sabotage. Yet, despite all precautions, the disaster had still occurred.
In the end, it was a failure on the Bureau’s part as well.
Shi Zhi couldn’t help but ask, “How did a Void Invasion break out? Was a Void Beacon planted?”
“What about the command center’s monitoring systems? Bring up all surveillance data!”
Before anyone from the Eastern Military could respond, Li Yinglong, the Vice Minister of the Military Department, spoke calmly.
“The monitoring system suffered an unexpected malfunction. All recorded data was lost.”
Shi Zhi narrowed his eyes, “Weren’t those systems under the Military Department’s control? How do you explain this failure?”
Despite being a newly established intelligence agency, the Special Intelligence Bureau was a powerful government division.
As its Director, Shi Zhi had every right to demand accountability from the Military Department.
However, Li Yinglong’s expression remained indifferent, a faint smirk forming at the corner of his lips.
“The section responsible was the Third Bureau of the Imperial Military Affairs Office. Those involved have already been detained and will face charges of criminal negligence.”
Shi Zhi’s face darkened. He had hoped to force the Military Department into a defensive position, making them hesitate to push too hard against Wen Yu.
But instead, they had sacrificed a few mid-level officials—completely washing their hands of the incident.
At that moment, a shocked murmur rippled through the crowd.
Wen Yu had arrived.
Accompanied by Qin Xian, she stepped forward to face the gathered leaders.
Meanwhile, Ren Xun hurriedly approached Lu Ji, whispering in his ear, “News just arrived—Wen Xu… has died in the trial space.”
Lu Ji’s expression stiffened for a moment.
He had once personally mentored Wen Xu and had regarded him highly. Though arrogant and impulsive, the young man had been exceptionally talented.
Given time and discipline, he could have become a legendary powerhouse. More than that—Lu Ji had seen Wen Xu as family.
And now…He was gone.
The weight of loss settled heavily in Lu Ji’s chest, but there was no time to mourn.
As Wen Yu stepped forward, the assembled officials all turned to her with various expressions—some mocking, others indifferent, but all expecting her downfall.
Among them, Li Yinglong was the first to strike.
His cold voice cut through the air, “Wen Yu, you are the primary person responsible for the disaster that occurred during the [Void Hunting Trial]. You must bear full accountability!”
Despite his aggressive tone, Wen Yu’s expression remained unchanged.
Her icy gaze met Li Yinglong’s, and she spoke firmly, “And whose fault is that? From the moment I took charge of this trial, the Military Department has been obstructing my every move.”
“The monitoring system was implanted with bugged software, the command center was paralyzed the moment the trial began—!”
Before she could finish, Li Yinglong chuckled mockingly. He had expected her to fight back and he had already prepared his counterattack.
“The Military Affairs Office’s Third Bureau has already been dealt with. What matters now is your own responsibility!”
“As the trial’s host, it was your duty to ensure its safety.”
“Over six thousand prodigies have perished. The damage to the Empire is incalculable. You must bear the full consequences!”
Then, turning toward Qin Ming and Fang Ji, he declared, “Chancellor, Grand Marshal, I recommend that Wen Yu be immediately stripped of her rank and taken into custody.”
“She should be handed over to the Military Tribunal for trial!”
The moment those words fell, even some of the high-ranking officials trembled slightly.
An institution directly controlled by the Military Department—a tool used to crush military rivals.
Once Wen Yu stepped into that courtroom, her fate would be sealed. She would either be imprisoned, exiled, or executed.
For a Supreme Commander of the Eastern Military to fall this way—It was nothing short of a political execution.
But just as everyone believed this was the end, a voice unexpectedly cut through the silence.
A voice that had remained quiet until now.
Qin Xian spoke, Father, Regent Lu Ji, esteemed ministers. During the trial, I made an unexpected discovery…”
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“I have identified the true mastermind behind this Void Invasion.”
The entire gathering fell into stunned silence.