The Extra Can't be A Hero-Chapter 141: Hyades High Council (2)

"Valen Wrenleigh! You stand accused of colluding with a Lich! How do you plead?"

Alrock's voice boomed in the indoor chambers, jolting Valen out of his stupor. Fearfully raising his eyes, the Governor trembled at the sight of the Hyades High Council, the highest authority of the land and the entity he could only dream of meeting. These lofty individuals would only spare a second glance at him once or twice at social gatherings and events, but mainly they would never concern themselves with his affairs.

Yet, seven of them were gathered today to judge him.

"Sir Solaris, we are neither the judiciary nor the parliament, and this is not a hearing."

Rather than let Alrock do as he pleased, a bespectacled woman in her late sixties intervened. She is a woman of quiet authority and undeniable presence. The Director of Scientific Research carries herself with the confidence of someone who has spent decades carving her resolute and lonely path.

Her silver-streaked hair is neatly pinned back, a nod to practicality and a touch of old-school elegance. Deep-set eyes, sharp and discerning, hold the weight of experience and the spark of curiosity that has never dulled.

The Governor's dim eyes lit up with life. Seeing that the Director was willing to step up for him was the oasis in the desert for the condemned man. As a politician, he had spent years currying favours with people in higher positions, and one of them was precisely the Director of Scientific Research.

While he had only met her twice before, this was enough to give the woman a lasting impression of him and trigger her to come to his aid.

"It may not be a formal hearing, but it's an inquiry nonetheless. We need to question the Governor and hear his account. Whatever judicial measures can be concluded formally in the future."

"... Are you saying that we should bypass our long-standing laws, just so that you can act as the judge, jury and executioner?"

"Of course not," Alrock shook his head with visible impatience. "Nothing here being revealed today will be binding to his future trial, and neither do I seek to punish him myself. That is for the courts to decide. We want to seek the truth of the matter so that we can further our investigation on the two matters the Solaris House aims to present to the High Council. He will be able to exercise his legal rights as per any citizen of the Hyades Republic."

"... Prime Minister, are you going to allow that?"

"If the Solaris House is willing to give up its rights to persecute the Governor and will leave it to the Republic's hands, I have no reason to disagree with the Solaris Lord."

According to Solaris House, Hyades was facing an immediate emergency. The Prime Minister had no grounds to deny the Solaris House some leeway if it could prove its legitimacy, and if it meant putting the Governor on the stand, the Prime Minister would give it some leeway.

"... Please proceed, Sir Solaris."

Certain she was alone, the Director closed her eyes and let Alrock proceed with the hearing. Though she held a favorable view of the Governor, defying the entire Hyades High Council wasn't a risk worth taking. The most she could do was advocate for leniency, but even then, the extent of the Governor's crimes remained unknown to her.

Her shut eyes were the final nail in the coffin for the Governor, as he realised that no one else could help him escape this predicament. He dropped his head down with no hope left while Alrock repeated himself.

"Valen Wrenleigh! You stand accused of colluding with a Lich! How do you plead?"

"... Not guilty."

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"Are you sure you want to lie? We have undeniable evidence of your collusion."

Knowing that the Governor would deny his claims, Alrock began listing evidence and gestured to the High Council to open their binders. Detail after detail, incriminating evidence was presented to the esteemed members, and their faces slowly hardened.

The collusion lasted decades, with the Governor's signature and influence tied to every level. Initially, he'd only sent the most dangerous and notorious criminals to the Lich. It was a deed that would raise eyebrows, but to some extent, those in higher positions could sympathise.

After all, who wouldn't want their most dangerous criminals to be eradicated and off the streets?

Soon, however, it devolved into sending those from lower parts of society. Petty thieves, homeless beggars without families, fallen nobles… but the most atrocious bit was when they got to the final section.

Children.

Orphans who had lost their families. Left with nowhere to go, the orphanage took them in, but rather than hope, they were given death. In the evidence binder, the Governor called them liabilities to society and could grow to potential disruptors.

Damning wasn't enough to describe the evidence being presented, as the Governor was practically responsible for everything.

At this point, even the Director of Scientific Research had to reconsider her feelings. There were many objectively evil parts of the Governor's actions, so it would be best if she could cut any relations to this monster before it could affect her reputation.

"Now, do you still plead not guilty?"

"..."

Valen remained silent. He looked around the room, and could only see eyes of disgust. They weren't just judging him, they were condemning him to hell. These politicians whom he knew… were the definition of privilege, nepotism and corruption.

How would they understand the lengths it took for a mere mercenary to rise to the ranks of Governor? How could they even hope to know how difficult a situation Alverton was in when he took over? The sacrifices and hard decisions he had to make?

They weep for a few children?

What about all of the benefits they enjoyed from Alverton? The peace and prosperity he had brought onto the lands because of his bold decision.

Valen was overwhelmed by hypocrisy and was about to break.

"Guilty? The only thing I'm guilty of is bringing peace back to Alverton. The world rots around you bastards while you sit in your ivory towers! Did any of you do anything when Alverton was being ridden with crime? Murders, rapes and thefts were happening daily, and none of you did anything! FUCK! Who was the one who cleaned everything up?! Me!"

Valen finally shed his external mask of a politician and revealed his true nature—a hoarse-mouthed mercenary who did everything he could to achieve his goal.

"You call me a monster, but my methods get results! I sacrificed thousands, so that hundreds of thousands could live!"

"You killed innocent children," Leon was unable to hear the ramblings of a mad man any longer, interjected.

Even though it wasn't his place to speak at the High Council, the members didn't object and watched earnestly as the young Hero showed himself.

"Killed? You speak as if I cut them to death. It's the Lich who killed them!"

"You practically sent them to their deaths!"

"Leon, child… You are really naive." Valen scoffed.

All pretenses were off as he didn't address Leon with Sir or Hero, but rather his name. Facing imminent prosecution, the only thing he showed was disdain and anger.

"When we first met, I posed you a question. Who would you save? One or a hundred. And you naively told me that you would save everyone. There is no such thing as getting everything you want. In life, you will eventually have to make tough choices. That's what the Solaris founder did, and I only learned his lessons and followed in his footsteps!"

"So you would do it all over again?"

"Gladly!"

Those words were enough to imprison Valen for the rest of his life. But he didn't care one wit. He was now at the end of his journey, and he knew it.

"..."

The chamber fell deathly silent as they finally understood Valen's motives. With his admission, there was no need for further questions as he was now unequivocally guilty.

"Valen Wrenleigh, name your collaborators. Who you colluded with and divulge all information about the Lich you worked with. That's the least you can do to cleanse your sins."

"... I only have one condition."

"Insolent! Do you think that you're in any position to bargain?!"

Alrock was about to slap the man's lungs out of his chest, but Valen looked at the Solaris Lord resolutely before he could do that.

"Without me, you will never find the information you seek. Everything I know has been locked away in a secret location far from Alverton, and the most sensitive information hasn't even been recorded. So if you don't meet my condition, I will die with those secrets."

"You…"

"Now, now. Let's not be hasty." Jex Amaris, the Archmagister of the Realm, intervened to cool the angered Alrock. "Let's hear him out. We can always reject his request if we deem it unacceptable."

"..."

Alrock grimaced and didn't answer. The silence urged the fallen governor to speak his mind finally.

"I know I will be executed anyway, so rather than wait out the long process, I wish for a duel with the young Hero."

"What?"

It was now Leon's turn to be confused.

"I've been living by the sword all my life. It's only fitting that I die by the sword. I would rather perish in the hands of the Hero, than to rot away in a cell for years before my eventual execution."

"You dare claim to…"

"I accept."

Before Alrock could reject Valen's demand, Leon accepted the challenge. If all it took was a duel to force Valen to reveal everything about the Lich and the Demon Cult, then it was a price worth paying. From the beginning, Leon had recognised Valen's twisted nature—there was no reason to indulge him. Yet deep down, uncertainty lingered… questions about the true nature of justice gnawed at him.

And if Leon knew that if he duelled against Valen… he would get the answers he sought.

"Leon, you can't just accept this challenge."

"Grandpa Alrock, trust me with this."

"..."

The Solaris Lord froze momentarily and glanced back at the other council members. Most of them wore wry smirks while others simply shrugged their shoulders. Essentially, they were amused by the scene and willing to let Leon indulge in his selfishness.

"Fine, let's save this discussion for later. Valen Wrenleigh, we expect you to give some concrete evidence that you have what you said. Once you provide that, then we'll consider agreeing to your request."

"Thank you…"

"You are excused."

Alrock waved his arm and two guards rushed over to pick Valen up. They dragged him out of the chamber, leaving the High Council members alone with Leon, Amon and Yue. Sensing the shift, the trio took deep breaths as Alrock opened his mouth after a brief rest.

"Now let's get onto the main topic, why I summoned you so urgently here." Alrock slammed his palm on the table and shifted his gaze throughout all the members present.

"The Demon Cult."