Chapter 277: Conscience Of A Prideful Man

"Not guilty."

The moment those words left Riven’s lips, Jack Sullivan let out a long, weary sigh, as in his heart he knew that the boy was telling the truth.

He had spent countless hours investigating the Imperial Academy massacre, and after everything he had uncovered, Jack was convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that Riven was innocent of the crimes for which he now stood accused.

Yet, despite knowing this, he was about to stand before the Imperial Court and present his findings in a manner that deliberately concealed just how unlikely the boy’s guilt truly was.

’Disgusting... To think that the very people entrusted with upholding justice are the ones conspiring to corrupt it.’

Jack thought, as just looking at the cunning foxes gathered in the throne room made his stomach churn with disgust.

’I still don’t understand why the Prime Minister is so determined to paint that boy as a criminal.’

Jack thought, nervously biting the inside of his lower lip as his gaze drifted towards Vinicius, who stood beside the Imperial throne with his usual composed expression.

’Although, the more I think about it, the more everything begins to make sense.....

It was him who pulled the strings from the start.’

Jack concluded, as following the mysterious disappearance of Vice Principal Chadwick, Jack had spent several days personally searching through the man’s office, hoping to uncover something that might explain his involvement in the Academy massacre.

He had examined official correspondence, financial records, administrative documents, and whatever personal letters had been left behind, although it quickly became apparent that several important records from the preceding weeks had mysteriously vanished.

However, amongst the documents that remained, Jack had discovered something that initially appeared rather insignificant, yet had gradually become increasingly troubling the more he considered its implications.

There were several old letters exchanged between Chadwick and Prime Minister Vinicius, dating back many years, which established that the two men had maintained a personal acquaintance long before the events surrounding the massacre.

Under ordinary circumstances, such a connection would hardly have warranted suspicion, as it was perfectly natural for a senior Academy official to maintain relationships with influential members of the Imperial government.

Yet what troubled Jack was the complete absence of any recent correspondence between them, particularly during the period when Chadwick had found himself under increasing scrutiny.

’If Chadwick was truly innocent, and merely found himself caught in an unfortunate scandal, then surely the first person he would have approached for assistance would have been the Prime Minister.’

Jack reasoned, recalling the numerous letters that had demonstrated just how familiar the two men had once been.

’After all, when a man finds himself in serious trouble, it’s only natural for him to seek help from the most powerful connection he possesses.’

And yet, despite their longstanding acquaintance, there was not a single surviving record suggesting that Chadwick had attempted to contact Vinicius during the crisis.

At least, not amongst the documents Jack had managed to recover.

’Unless, of course, those records were amongst the ones deliberately removed from his office.’

The possibility had troubled Jack ever since it first occurred to him, as it suggested that someone had taken considerable care to conceal Chadwick’s recent communications.

And if that someone had been Chadwick himself, then it raised an even more disturbing question concerning what he had been so desperate to hide.

’What if the Prime Minister was the one who supplied Chadwick with the Truth Orb?’

Jack wondered, his expression growing increasingly grim as the scattered pieces of his investigation began fitting together into a picture he desperately wished he could dismiss.

He had already suspected that the Truth Orb presented during Riven’s initial interrogation had been deliberately introduced to manipulate the investigation, although he had never managed to establish who had arranged for its appearance.

But if Chadwick had been acting under instructions from someone within the Imperial government, then the Vice Principal’s disappearance and the missing correspondence suddenly began to make a great deal more sense.

’The Prime Minister might have been involved from the very beginning.’

Jack thought, feeling an uncomfortable tightness spreading through his chest as he considered the implications of such a possibility.

’And if that’s true, then this entire investigation was never intended to uncover the murderer. It was intended to make Riven Dawnriver appear guilty.’

He possessed no direct evidence proving Vinicius’s involvement, and he understood perfectly well that his suspicions would mean nothing before the Imperial Court without something substantial to support them.

Nevertheless, the more he considered the Prime Minister’s insistence that both theories be presented as equally plausible, the harder it became to believe that the man was acting in good faith.

After all, Jack’s investigation had overwhelmingly favored the possibility that a powerful third party had infiltrated the Academy and committed the murders, leaving Riven to bear the blame.

Yet Vinicius had demanded that he conceal the enormous difference in probability between the two explanations, threatening to replace him should he refuse to cooperate.

’So this is what it’s come to.’

Jack thought bitterly, lowering his gaze towards the documents resting upon his lap.

’After everything I’ve done in service of this Empire, I’m finally being ordered to manipulate the truth for the convenience of someone more powerful than myself.’

Throughout his career, Jack had prided himself on being a righteous man, someone who pursued justice regardless of the wealth, influence, or noble standing of those involved.

He had never hesitated to investigate powerful families, nor had he allowed threats from influential nobles to prevent him from carrying out his duties.

Whenever someone attempted to intimidate him, he had always found the courage to stand his ground, secure in the knowledge that he was doing what was right.

And yet, now that the pressure was coming from the highest levels of the Imperial government itself, he found his convictions wavering in a manner that left him thoroughly disgusted with himself.

’Am I really such a coward?’

Jack wondered, clenching his fists beneath the table as he struggled to suppress the shame rising within him.

’Am I truly going to stand before hundreds of people and deliberately misrepresent my own findings, simply because I’m afraid of losing my position?’

The question weighed heavily upon him, particularly as his gaze returned to the young man standing alone before the Imperial throne.

Riven was barely old enough to have begun making his own way in the world, yet he now faced accusations that could see him imprisoned or executed for a crime Jack was almost certain he had never committed.

And the man who had been entrusted with uncovering the truth was preparing to make those accusations appear considerably more credible than the evidence justified.

’What sort of Imperial Inquisitor does that make me?’

Jack thought, feeling his throat tighten as he considered the answer.

’If I knowingly allow an innocent boy to be condemned, then how am I any different from the criminals I’ve spent my entire life pursuing?’

He knew perfectly well what would happen if he disobeyed the Prime Minister’s instructions, as Vinicius had already made it clear that his position could be taken away without the slightest hesitation.

Years of service, countless successful investigations, and the reputation he had spent decades building could all disappear because he refused to present his findings in the manner demanded of him.

Yet the possibility of losing his career suddenly seemed far less frightening than the prospect of spending the remainder of his life knowing that he had helped condemn an innocent child.

’Is a career like that even worth preserving?’

Jack wondered, staring at the Imperial insignia embroidered upon his uniform.

’What good is being called the Chief Imperial Inquisitor if I no longer possess the courage to tell the truth?’

For several moments, he remained lost in his thoughts, barely registering the words being spoken at the front of the courtroom as Prime Minister Vinicius continued addressing the accused.

Following Riven’s declaration of innocence, Vinicius formally explained the rights afforded to him under Imperial law, including his right to challenge the evidence presented against him and respond to the accusations brought before the court.

Riven listened attentively without interrupting, while the gathered nobles waited for the proceedings to move forward.

Eventually, Vinicius finished reading the formal declaration and carefully rolled up the scroll before turning towards the assembled Imperial officials.

"Now that the accused has entered his plea, we shall proceed with the presentation of the evidence gathered during the Imperial investigation."

Vinicius announced, his voice carrying clearly throughout the enormous courtroom.

"Before we entertain arguments from either side, it is only appropriate that this court be made aware of the facts established during the investigation, along with the conclusions reached by those responsible for examining the crime scene."

He paused briefly, allowing his gaze to settle upon the section occupied by the Imperial investigators.

"Therefore, I call upon Chief Imperial Inquisitor Jack Sullivan to step forward and present his findings concerning the massacre at the Imperial Academy."

At once, hundreds of heads turned towards Jack, as the gathered nobles and grieving families waited expectantly for the man responsible for investigating the tragedy to address the court.

Jack remained seated for a brief moment, staring at the documents before him as the weight of the decision awaiting him settled heavily upon his shoulders.

Then, drawing a slow breath, he gathered the files into his hands and rose from his seat, forcing himself to maintain the composed expression expected of the Empire’s Chief Imperial Inquisitor.

His footsteps echoed faintly against the polished stone floor as he made his way towards the designated dais opposite Riven, where he would be expected to present his findings before the Emperor.

And with every step he took, Jack found himself returning to the same question that had tormented him ever since his meeting with the Prime Minister.

’When the moment comes, will I have the courage to tell the truth?’

He did not yet know the answer.

But as he approached the dais and looked upon the young man whose fate might depend upon his testimony, Jack understood that it wasn’t just Riven who would face the consequences of his decision today.

For whatever judgment the Emperor passed upon Riven Dawnriver, Jack knew that his own conscience would deliver a verdict from which there could be no escape.