Chapter 50

Genres:Mystery Author:Izumi wordCount:974 updated:24/11/04 00:42:19
【”Why the hell does Harold need to be executed?!”】

【”Except for me, everyone agreed with this judgement, including the commander, Mr.Cox. They haven’t even checked the facts yet, the sentence is just too heavy…”】

Harold certainly had some strange points to him and he was suspected of being a spy, too. But still, this time’s judgement had jumped over too many steps, and it would be hard for anyone to say that it was very just.

【”…..What you’re saying is that someone put the squeeze on the judges?”】

【”I’m afraid that’s the case. To stop Harold’s execution, we’ll have to find that person.”】

【”I deeply apologize for my repeated sudden visits.”】

Honest as he was, Cody hadn’t quite grasped the situation so there weren’t many things he could talk about. Harold was sentenced to decapitation, that was the truth, but Erica was his fiancee and she was still a child, so he was extremely troubled over whether he should tell her or not.

【”How can I help you today…. you don’t want to hear that, right?”】

【”Yes. I’d like you to tell me what is Harold-sama’s situation and what has the tribunal decided”】

【”…..Frankly speaking, his situation is very bad. Do you still want to hear?”】

【”Yes, if you please”】

【”First of all, it’s no lie that the he was sentenced to decapitation. If nothing is done, in six days, Harold will be executed .”】

【”…… “If nothing is done”, you said, does that mean there is something we can do about it?”】

【”Sorry for raising your expectations but I can’t definitively say that there is. It’s a very bad gamble.”】

【”It doesn’t matter as long as there is even just a glimmer of hope of saving Harold-sama.”】

It should be all right to tell her.

【”Normally, it would be impossible to overturn the tribunal’s decision. But this time’s deliberation is far from normal.”】

【”But we need to search for that person using the time we have left. However, even if we manage to find them, there is no guarantee that that will save Harold.”】

【”In that case, we need to start moving immediately. Cody-sama, who were the ones who held the discussions?”】

【”Huh? Well, if I’m not mistaken there were six members of the tribunal, adding to that was the commander of the knight order, the vice-commander, and three commanding officers of the expeditionary units. Among them, only the vice-commander opposed the execution.”】

【”And what’s your standpoint, Cody-sama?”】

【”To be honest, it’s in my principles to bet on the winning horse. But this time only I’m ready to serve a losing battle.”】

【”Well then, would you please give me a list of those who agreed with the execution? It’s enough if you give me their names, their posts and their careers.”】

【”I can prepare that but….”】

【”Then please do. Yuno, go prepare the boat for boarding. I’ll catch up afterwards.”】

【”There you go. So, what are you planning to do?”】

【”….It’s difficult for me to admit it, but I don’t have the power to change the situation. I’ll deliver this list to my father and I’ll have him appeal for a withdrawal of the judgement and a retrial.”】

【”Also, in parallel to that, we’ll do a background check on the members of the discussions. We have no other choice than to investigate as much as possible about who they had contact with before the verdict was given. The time will not be enough to trace back to the source of the bad rumors…”】

【”Leave that part to me. Because some stories are only caught by the citizens’ personal information network. Even thought I might not look the part, I have quite a lot of influence among the town’s people.”】

【”The vice-commander Vincent will investigate the Commander. It’s fine to leave it to him, he can do it.”】

【”So, Vincent will be responsible for the commander, and I’ll investigate on the troops’ commanding officers and the source of the bad rumors.”】

【”The Sumeragi house will put its whole into investigating and persuading the remaining members of the deliberations.”】

【”Well then, I must get going. Thanks a lot for your cooperation, Cody-sama”】

【”Ah, hold on”】

Unable to control his impetuous mood, Cody called Erica to a halt. Perhaps he was meddling in things that were none of his business, but this alone he wanted to do.

【”If you do such a thing, won’t you be removed from the knight order, Cody-sama?”】

【”If that happens, please employ me at the Sumeragi house. I am fairly confident in my sword skills so I’ll be quite useful”】

【”Hehe, is that so? If that time does come, I’ll discuss it with my father.”】

【”Please hold on to these emotions”】(Tln: And not sure about this either)

【”Yes. Thank you”】

Erica slowly bowed and withdrew from the guest room. This time, she had left for good.

【”…She’s a strong kid.”】

【”Well, helping children who try their best is what adults are for”】

Could that be what being a parent felt like? Suddenly having such reflections, Cody had goosebumps.