Exploring Technology in a Wizard World-Chapter 586 - 584 Evidence

Van Helsing glared at Richard, raising his voice accusingly, "Boy, tell me the truth about what’s happened! Stop crafting lies for me, don’t think you can fool me with your lies, I’m no fool!"

The surrounding wizards frowned.

Unaware, Van Helsing continued, "Boy, just admit it, you’re the spy. Accusing Wan An, Phil, and Oer of being spies? That’s defamation! Especially Oer, even if every wizard in this gathering were a spy, he couldn’t possibly be one, I trust his character!"

The surrounding wizards frowned again, and even Eva joined in the frown.

Van Helsing added, "Kid, drop your disguise. I smelled your true identity and knew you weren’t any good! Confess to your crimes quickly, I’ll let you die a swift death, or else..."

"Enough, Wizard Van Helsing!" Eva interrupted with an extremely stern reprimand, "This is a public trial. You are welcome to raise objections, as that is your right. However, it is not permissible for you to speak in a threatening and misleading manner, nor is it correct to insult your peers, whether intentionally or not. Now, I issue you a first warning. If there is another violation, I will remove you from the hall immediately, understand?"

"I..." Van Helsing appeared very angered, but beneath Eva’s gaze he backed down, grinding his teeth and saying, "Yes." With that, he sat back down, causing the chair to groan under his weight with a "thud."

Eva then withdrew her gaze and turned to Richard, speaking, "Richard Austin, we now have a basic understanding of your situation. However, I have several additional questions for you, to which you must answer truthfully."

"Yes."

"So before the attack, did your teacher, Master Guluo, say anything special to you..."

"Master, he..."

Richard then proceeded to answer with ease, responding smoothly to each question.

After some time, Eva finished asking all her questions and looked around at the other wizards to ask, "Does anyone else have objections or questions to ask?"

No one answered, as all the questions that could be asked had been posed by Eva already.

"Well then, if that’s the case, we’ll end this session for now," Eva declared. She glanced at Richard, her expression softening slightly, "And you—Richard Austin, until we are certain whether you are suspect or not, we need to continue restricting your freedom. I hope you understand."

"I understand."

"Very well, until we meet again, take him away," Eva ordered.

Immediately, the two wizards closest to Richard stood up and escorted him out of the hall, into a specially guarded building. The rest of the wizards in the assembly began to disperse, with Wizard Van Helsing leaving with a face full of resentment.

...

Eva walked out last, waiting until nearly everyone had left before heading out the door, accompanied by Wizard Tifeng.

Eva and Tifeng walked while she said to him, "You’ve been in charge of security here recently, haven’t you?"

"Yes," Tifeng nodded.

"Good, be vigilant during this time. Especially keep an eye on Wizard Van Helsing. Don’t let him do something he shouldn’t," Eva instructed.

Tifeng’s eyes flashed as he said softly, "Master Eva, do you mean to suggest that Van Helsing might act against Richard, who is under restriction? That seems unlikely; with so many people watching, how would he dare? He may be reckless, but he’s not brainless, is he?"

"It’s unpredictable. You know as well as I do about his relationship with Oer; they were best friends. With Oer gone, reduced to ashes, it’s hard to say if he’s lost his reason. His behavior in today’s meeting is proof enough. Honestly, if he could make a valid challenge, I would support him, but right now he’s clearly being driven by emotion, we must be cautious. So, increase the guards on Richard, and if Van Helsing attempts any malicious acts, apprehend him immediately and report to me."

"I’ll take care of it."

"Good."

The two of them reached the door outside.

After glancing around to ensure there was no one nearby, Tifeng’s lips moved silently before he probed Eva with a question, "Speaking of which, Master Eva, do you really think Richard is innocent?"

"What, you were the first to stand up for him. Are you having second thoughts now?" Eva said.

"Master Eva, you miss my point," Tifeng laughed, "When I stood up for Richard it wasn’t because I was certain of his innocence. I just felt that killing him directly without clarifying anything would only throw the situation into further chaos, which is why I stopped Van Helsing."

"And what about now? Do you believe Richard Austin to be innocent or a pretender?"

"This—" Tifeng hesitated for a moment, then spoke slowly, "Honestly, my reason tells me he’s innocent, because everything he says makes sense and fits with the bizarre behavior Wan An exhibited previously. But my gut tells me the matter seems too clear-cut, there’s a nagging sense that something’s not quite right."

"Your thoughts are valid," Eva spoke softly.

Tifeng’s eyes widened as he looked at Eva, "Are you suggesting, Master Eva, that you suspect..."

"I do indeed suspect... I have strong suspicions about Richard’s identity and every word he spoke. Although we can find no way to refute his words, that is exactly why they are suspect. Yet, unwarranted suspicion means nothing; we must not be swayed by emotions, or else both you and I would be no different from Van Helsing. Especially since there’s indisputable evidence, if nothing unexpected occurs, I would have to declare Richard innocent."

"Indisputable evidence? What is it?" Tifeng asked, puzzled.

"It’s simple, the explosion itself. The explosion destroyed the scene and most of the clues, yet it in itself is a clue. You’ve experienced its power; the scale of destruction it caused is something even I could not achieve—perhaps only a Third-level Wizard or an even more powerful being could do so. Wan An, Phil, and Oer lack such power—Richard, too. Otherwise, why would he be a spy? He could conquer our entire gathering. The only explanation lies with Master Guluo’s capability.

True, Guluo has weakened with age, approximating a First-level Wizard, but she was once a Third-level Wizard, and no one knows her full extent of her capabilities. Therefore, only her releasing that level of power makes sense, which would certainly imply Richard’s innocence."

Tifeng had nothing left to say; he had to admit that this was indeed indisputable evidence.

Eva then moved to the side and Tifeng followed, as the two quickly moved away from the hall.

Somewhere not too far, in a well-guarded wooden building, Richard sat in a room with a calm demeanor.

...

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