Bab 44: Chapter 35 Emotional Intelligence
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This really is the worst news imaginable.
Rod was so surprised that he didn't notice the sun-drenched, serene atmosphere of the Upper City for a moment.
The air here was clean, the buildings were neatly laid out, and when he looked up, the Black Fog seemed far and high, like a dark cloud on the horizon.
Rod finally felt the atmosphere a normal city should have. On the main street, you could see the occasional pedestrian, vehicles like theirs without horses, bakeries, hat shops, beautiful restaurants, taverns with character, and the stations for the horseless vehicles, as well as the inn without horses next to it.
This was the kind of human city he understood.
Rod saw a group of people standing by a sign by the roadside and blurted out, "You have public... carriages too?"
Lauren's grey eyes looked at him as if to say, at a time like this, why are you still concerned with this?, but he still explained:
"Of course, the Spirit Car is one of the most important means of transport in the Royal City."
"Is it available in the Lower City District too?"
"Certainly, the Lower City District is dozens of times bigger than the Upper City. It would be very inconvenient without the Spirit Car. However, the public Spirit Car is only available on suitable days in the Lower City District."
Can't you change the name? The whole city is sitting in the 'Spirit Car', are you trying to cheat death?
Rod didn't know how to comment, so he decided to forget the term in his mind and refer to it simply as the 'car without horses.'
The Spirit Car wound through several blocks, entering a group of castle-like buildings with a darker color tone.
It had sharp towers and thick high walls, out of place with the light and bright atmosphere of the Upper City.
The Spirit Car drove into a castle at the center of the buildings and parked in an underground parking lot filled with numerous Spirit Cars. Following Lauren, Rod entered this infamous institution.
The interior of the Internal Affairs Court didn't look as grim and terrifying as it did from the outside. The lighting was bright, the colors soft, and the simple, straight corridors divided one room after another. Every ten steps along the walls were lamps, their bright light illuminating every corner. Most of the people coming and going wore neat robes and looked like any ordinary workplace.
But in a corner, Rod saw a sinister underground passage from which faint sounds of moaning and screaming echoed. People in blood-stained robes stood nearby with grim expressions, as if waiting for their next prey.
As Rod approached, their malevolent gazes turned toward him.
Luckily, Lauren didn't stop there; they went straight ahead into a massive, luxurious room.
Thick red carpets lay on the floor, and gorgeous mahogany benches hung with silver decorations. The air carried a subtle fragrance. All four of the Great Judges were here, waiting for him.
They sat at the head, and a long black table before them was covered with paper documents and specially made crystal balls, as well as their nameplates.
Rod stood silently behind Lauren, observing them.
On the far right was a middle-aged man with blond hair, his features indeed resembling those of Kashan, with the same blond hair and blue eyes. His nameplate read Mibor Prosomor.
Next was a red-haired individual wearing an iron mask. His nameplate read Manolo Bana Gula, and the surname reminded Rod of that fat red-haired man called 'Shit.'
To his left was an elderly man with black hair and light-colored eyes. There weren't many wrinkles on his face, and he had a peaceful demeanor. His nameplate read Aligali Dan Black Bear, although he himself seemed nothing like a Black Bear.
It seemed this was Lauren's mentor, one of his main backers.
Rod wasn't quite sure how they became backers.
The furthest left was a woman whose age was indiscernible. She had an unusual blue hair, delicate features, thin lips, and her narrow eyes shone with a cold light. Her nameplate read Laisa Blue Moon.
Behind them stood many black-robed guards, and the nameplates on their chests uniformly read "Crow."
Lauren bowed slightly to the four people and then sat down on one side.
Rod stood alone in front of the long table, under the scrutiny of the four judges.
The gaze of the blond Mibor was the most complex, full of a father's hostility, helpless friendliness, more genuine appreciation, and the indifferent neutrality representing the Internal Affairs Court.
In Manolo Bana's eyes, however, there was only pure malice and hatred.
The looks from Black Bear and Blue Moon were calmer, inscrutable.
Rod felt confident and was not as nervous.
"Rod from Redstone Village."
The iron mask, presumably Shit's father, spoke.
"I have a suggestion for you. No more lies. Just confess everything, and I will suggest to the King that your ashes be sent to the Holy Fire."
Rod said calmly, "Why don't you confess?"
The eyes behind the mask narrowed: "Are you suggesting that I am your accomplice?"
"No, I am innocent. It's you who are the murderer."
A Crow from behind shouted: "Watch your tone! This is a Great Judge!"
Rod replied calmly, "If you won't allow me to speak, then I can be silent."
The iron mask sneered, "I think there's no need to continue the trial. Let's proceed with a special inspection. I'll carefully pry open his soul and dig out every one of his secrets."
Black Bear said softly from the side, "Gula, let's hear his reasons."
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