Chapter 78: Evidence
Ryan first unrolled the parchnt map. Clear lines marked the route from the Northern Border to the academy, with several key points specially circled.
"This is the complete route map for the transport of the ice crystal flowers by the Northern Star Guild." Ryan’s finger traced the starting point. "According to the guild's logs and the imperial highway records: On the morning of July 22nd, the shipnt departed from the Northern Border warehouse, passing through Black Pine Town, Greystone Fortress, the Old Horse Inn, and Flowing City, ultimately arriving at the academy's warehouse in the early morning of July 24th. The entire journey was escorted by the team leader, Barton, and four assistants, using standard temperature-controlled cargo boxes, equipped with double-rated energy temperature crystals."
His narration was objective, devoid of emotion, as though he were reciting a dull report.
"The handover records at the Greystone Fortress guild warehouse show that the goods were intact, with sufficient energy in the temperature crystals, both parties signed off." He displayed a copied record sheet. "The issue arose at the next point—the Old Horse Inn."
He pointed to the map where the circle had been specially thickened.
"According to the magical imprint records for transportation," he pulled out another piece of paper, which had faint magical patterns imprinted on it, "At the Old Horse Inn, there was an unplanned and brief fluctuation in the opening of the crates. The inn was not an officially designated inspection point, and the transportation plan did not include any crate opening here."
He raised his eyes, the first ti his gaze swept over Andre and Wood, calm as ever: "And according to the testimony of the inn’s owner, and the records from the guild's personnel, the deputy leader in charge of guarding the goods that night was nad Hank. He had only joined the guild last year, and his background is questionable. That night, he left his post multiple tis citing illness. He is now missing, and the Northern Star Guild has used all possible channels to search for him, but to no avail."
He placed the paper down, both hands pressing on the edge of the table, leaning slightly forward, and his eyes scanned the room: "A reasonable question arises: At the only point on the transport route where an unplanned fluctuation in crate opening occurred, the only person who had the chance to leave their post and co into contact with the goods, and who mysteriously disappeared after the incident—does this not explain the problem more convincingly than the temperature fluctuations in the operation records?"
A low murmur spread throughout the hall.
Andre's face changed, and Wood clenched his hand tightly under the table.
Ryan didn’t wait for them to respond, continuing: "As for the accusation that Northern Star supplied inferior materials..." He picked up the copy of the procurent contract, "The contract is genuine, the stockholding relationship is real. But this only proves that the goods were shipped from the Velt family’s guild. It does not directly prove that the goods were defective when they left the warehouse, nor does it prove that I, Ryan Velt, a student of the academy, could have known in advance and participated in this possible comrcial fraud."
"To prove this, what is needed is not a single contract, but a comparison between the quality inspection report at the ti the goods left the warehouse and the one at the academy’s warehouse, as well as the continuous records of the temperature control asures during transport, and... finding Hank, who disappeared at the key point, and asking him what he did that night."
"You... you're talking nonsense!" Andre suddenly stood up. "You’ve said all this, going around in circles, just to push the responsibility onto a missing servant? Hank is one of your guild mbers! He went missing, maybe your guild did sothing wrong and hid him, or... silenced him! So he can take the bla for you! Ryan Velt, don't think you can escape using this trick!"
Wood also hurried to support: "Velt, we all know your family is in a tough situation right now, but that doesn't give you the right to shift the bla onto a poor servant who may have already t a bad fate! When a master makes a mistake, you make the servant take the fall—doesn't that reflect the responsibility of a noble?"
On the high platform, several advisors whispered among themselves. Dean Edgar furrowed his brow. Professor Horne looked at Ryan, his eyes filled with thought.
Despite Andre and Wood’s harsh rebuttals, Ryan’s face remained completely unchanged. He didn’t imdiately refute their accusations but waited for them to finish, slightly flustered, before speaking again, his voice still eerily calm:
"Comrade Garcia, Comrade Wood, I have not stated that Hank definitely did sothing, nor have I asserted that the responsibility lies solely in the transportation process. I am simply presenting another possibility based on existing records and doubts, just as you have made accusations based on operation records and guild relations."
He raised his voice slightly, his gaze like ice piercing through the air: "Since you two are so certain that the problem lies with the Velt family’s guild and that I bear an irrefutable responsibility, why, when faced with the unusual crate opening in the transport records and the bizarre disappearance of the key guard, have you shown no interest in investigating these anomalies? Why rush to attribute everything to a conclusion you’ve already predetermined? Is it more important to you to nail soone down with a ready-made story than to seek the full truth?"
The atmosphere in the hall beca subtle.
So of the students who had been swayed by Andre’s emotional appeal began to show signs of thoughtfulness.
Indeed, if the Velt family truly had an issue, shouldn’t the missing Hank be investigated? Why was the plaintiff side avoiding this and focusing only on Ryan and the contract?
Princess Cecilia lightly tapped her fingers on her knee a second ti. Her gaze lingered on Ryan’s calm face for a mont before glancing briefly at the slightly flustered Andre and Wood. The perfect curve of her lips seed to deepen just slightly, almost imperceptible.
Ryan’s question was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, waiting for Andre’s response.
However, Andre Garcia, sitting on the plaintiff's side, suddenly displayed an odd expression.
The brief mont of panic caused by Ryan’s questioning quickly retreated like receding tide, replaced by a darkened look and a certain determined gleam in his eyes.
The swollen corner of his mouth twisted upward in a cruel grin.
"Minister!" Andre raised his hand again. "Since Velt is so obsessed with that missing servant, Hank, and tries to lead all doubts toward the transportation process... then, to fully clarify the facts and to prevent him from further misleading the hearing, I request the summoning of a key witness!"
Dean Edgar furrowed his brow slightly and exchanged a glance with the advisors next to him. Finally, he nodded: "The request is granted. Please summon the witness, plaintiff side."
Andre imdiately turned around and quickly whispered a few words to a servant-like person seated in the front row of the audience. The person nodded and hurriedly left the hall.
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