The judge struck his Bone Gavel.

"Mr. Toxic Umbrella, your complaint is solely your own perspective, adorned with excessive hyperbolic terminology. It seems you do not quite comprehend the meaning of objectivity. As for my new defendant, Mr. Plague Doctor, you may state the facts and provide evidence to refute Mr. Toxic Umbrella’s viewpoint, of course, you also need to understand the legal basis underpinning Mr. Toxic Umbrella’s accusation against you."

"Your Honor, have I violated any regulations?"

"The Modified Creatures Protection Law." The judge handed Lyle a scroll of parchment. As the ribbon was untied, the meter-long leather rolled onto the floor. At the top was written "Modified Creatures Protection Law," the text emitting a cold white light across the parchment, carrying a deathly magical aura.

"Spirit Summoning Studies?"

Indeed, most Modified Creatures were the works of Spirit Summoning Studies; the corresponding laws would naturally consult the respective experts. The respective experts?

With a bad feeling, Lyle began to read through the entries.

"For Modified Creatures with self-awareness, any form or intention of subjective deception or persuasion, the death penalty."

"For Modified Creatures with self-awareness, without obtaining ’his/her/its’ own permission, any physical or spiritual beneficial or detrimental modifications to the creature, the death penalty."

"For Modified Creatures with self-awareness, even without the ability to express or communicate, the above rules still apply." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"..."

The subsequent myriad of terms, similar rules, as well as... the same... death penalty.

Even if the body tissues of a Modified Creature abnormally fell off and you discovered this situation without reporting it to the relevant repair/medical personnel, that too, was the death penalty.

Finally, Lyle saw the last entry.

"If the personnel who violate the above laws are students of the Spirit Summoning Department of Andrei Academy, they may apply for a sentencing modification..."

Lyle finally found a clue that was advantageous to him. Is this our advantage as Spirit Summoning Studies students?

"One may apply to have the death penalty modified to... permanent transformation into a Modified Creature. The punishment shall be executed by the individual personally."

"Andrei Academy, White Bone Spirit Summoning Studies Professor, Giant Dragon authored."

Lyle’s vision went dark. Teacher, you’re really trying to kill me.

Facing Lyle’s stupefaction, the judge provided an answer.

"Having a Spirit Summoning professor compile a book of laws and regulations was indeed a novel experiment for our executive committee. However, Mr. Giant Dragon did not study related laws, so some of the regulations he compiled were indeed somewhat flawed..."

Lyle looked at the judge with hopeful eyes.

"The death penalty as a punishment is indeed too light."

Too light? It’s too light?

Hearing the judge’s conclusion, Shiny and the others nodded in agreement.

"The judge is right, punishments like the death penalty are much too lenient. Doesn’t this encourage law-breaking? Although being transformed by Mr. Giant Dragon is terrifying, could this be targeted at us?"

"The death penalty is indeed too easy. We Spirit Summoners must protest against this discrimination and suggest being transformed together."

No, that is the death penalty!

Lyle came to his senses. For Liches, the death penalty might really not be that severe. For Liches, beheading, hanging, burning alive, and other forms of execution were merely a formality. So, the death penalty wasn’t really a big deal... Wrong! I’m the one being punished, and I’ll really die! For Shiny and the others, such a punishment is light as a feather, but for me, it weighs as heavy as a mountain. It’s literally a threat to my very existence!

Lyle began to look for a way to avoid becoming a masterpiece of the Giant Dragon. Upon careful study, he indeed found several keys.

"Judge, the precondition for these rules to be implemented is that the ’self-aware bio-modified creatures’..."

The judge raised his palm in agreement.

"Yes, Plague Doctor, that is the crux of this incident. Whether your Spine Wheel possesses self-awareness is also the reason I invited you here. If it lacks consciousness and is merely a ’tool’ that you created, then I will judge Mr. Toxic Umbrella guilty of damaging your Necromancer Figure Club’s property. However, if it is deemed to possess consciousness, I am very sorry, but I will have to inform your instructors..."

This was a chance, as long as Lyle staunchly insisted on the nature of the Spine Wheel, he could continue to live.

"For fairness, since you, Mr. Plague Doctor, have also become involved, I will invite a notary with the same level of knowledge as you to oversee and ensure that your investigation results are absolutely accurate." The judge pointed at Shiny and the others who had been gesticulating on the side, "Mr. Shiny and his friends seem quite willing to offer this assistance."

Shiny, Control, and Adaptation let out joyful laughter.

"Don’t worry, boss Plague Doctor. We will definitely maintain the truth. Besides, as a Lich of Andrei Academy, who hasn’t been modified himself, are you still considered a Spirit Summoner? I hope you cherish this opportunity and make up for your regrets."

These three bastards, they couldn’t wait to see him dead.

The judge began his questioning.

"So, Mr. Control, who also participated in the making of Mr. Plague Doctor’s Spine Wheel, I hope you will answer my questions truthfully. Does the Spine Wheel truly possess consciousness?"

Control quickly gave his response.

"According to the basic principles of Spirit Summoning Studies. Bones structure the skeleton, flesh constructs the connections, these two can switch between each other or even exist independently; however, the soul governs consciousness. The soul is indispensable. I can clearly answer that in the construction of the Spine Wheel, there was no input of soul substance; we merely created a ’device’ that can be driven."

Well done, Control. With that, my suspicion is.....

"But, this is merely ours, mine, Shiny’s, and Adaptation’s understanding. As for the creator of the Spine Wheel, a genius in Spirit Summoning Studies, Mr. Plague Doctor, we do not know the progress of his current research. If a Spirit Summoning student of my level claimed they could create a soul now, I would smash their skull with a White Bone Segment Staff. But, if this person is Mr. Plague Doctor... I would reserve my opinion. A Spirit Summoner who is favored by all professors and always completes his studies perfectly, if his Spine Wheel has an independent soul, I would believe..."

This... Lyle’s excellence led to his doom? Was being too excellent also a mistake?

"I see, so it has gone beyond the ordinary," the judge pondered for a few seconds, "then we have no choice but to invite the victim to confront the matter here and now. Who will bring back that special Spine Wheel of Mr. Plague Doctor? Bring it back gently and gentlemanly, oh, does it have a name?"

"Icarus!" Toxic Umbrella exclaimed.

"Spine Wheel number 357, that is the code Mr. Plague Doctor has set."

"Very well, then Mr. Control, please bring number 357 over here."

Lyle recalled in his mind any irregularities regarding that Spine Wheel. After much thought... no abnormalities, he had made nearly a hundred Spine Wheels, there wasn’t any remarkable or abnormal Spine Wheel that made an impression on his mind. The only thing he could remember were a few complaints from Nia asking for food during the creation process.

There shouldn’t be any problems, right? If something beyond my knowledge has happened since then, that would be terribly unjust!

Lyle looked at Shiny, who had filed the complaint.

"What exactly did Toxic Umbrella do to harm the Spine Wheel?"

Toxic Umbrella yelled, "It wasn’t a harm, I just gave Ileana some of our tokens of affection."

Shiny grabbed Toxic Umbrella’s wings and swung him through the air, quelling his screams.

"The members maintaining 357 found some foreign objects inside the Spine Wheel, hundreds of walnuts."

"That’s our tradition as Light Bats, I won’t let you describe it as a foreign object!"

Lyle sighed.

Walnuts, dried fruit, huh.