3065 Self-Defence (1) “I won’t let him have a chance to get away in the next trial!” said Ramiel with great conviction. “I trust you. But you have to make some preparations,” said Michael. “Do you have other arrangements?” Ramiel quirked one of his eyebrows. He wanted to learn more about Michael’s plan. “We’ll make another arrangement. Regardless of whether the seven archangels are in Holy City or are still wandering around on Earth, we have to ensure there are seven of them,” said Michael. “Do you mean you want to strike off Sharjah’s name from the archangel list?” Ramiel asked in puzzlement. Michael did not answer him. But Ramiel knew Michael had made up his mind. Regardless of how powerful a heretic was, as long as Holy City was insistent on getting rid of them, they always did it in a quick, clean manner. However, this time, Archangel Sharjah hindered them. Besides, Sharjah was also the one who proposed Mo Fan recite the divine oath. If not for her, Holy City would have settled Mo Fan’s case the moment he killed Shalitha. Even though Mo Fan had become the Wicked God at that moment, he could not fight against Holy City. “The current status of Holy City has fallen far behind compared to the past. Hence, it’s time to take drastic action,” said Michael. … The rain got heavier. The autumn rain fell down on the ancient and solemn Holy City. The streets were wet and washed away the dust that came from the Gobi Desert in the west. After the rain, Holy City looked clean. Various lights were reflected from the remaining moisture, making the bricks look sacred. Inside the Holy Judgement Court, Mo Fan’s trial was coming to an end. The final case was the death of Parade Angel Shalitha. Mo Fan could find reasonable excuses for his previous crimes. Holy City could not force the Red Demon case on him. However, it was unlikely that Mo Fan could keep himself out of the death of Shalitha. “Mo Fan, please answer us. Did you kill Parade Angel Shalitha?” asked the Chief of the Divine Magistrate, Ramiel, with solemnity. “Yes.” “Have you ever regretted yourself for committing such a sinful crime?” questioned Ramiel. “No,” answered Mo Fan decisively without a hint of hesitation. “Even if I can travel back to that time, I will still do the same.” “A-Are you pleading guilty?!” asked Ramiel once again. Once Mo Fan pleaded guilty, the verdict of his trial could not be more obvious! “Pleaded guilty, huh? I confessed that I’ve killed Parade Angel Shalitha, but I didn’t admit that I’ve committed a crime,” answered Mo Fan with solemnity as he looked into Ramiel’s eyes. “Admitting to killing Parade Angel Shalitha is a sin. Even if that person is not Shalitha and is just a commoner, it’s still considered a felony!” Ramiel said in a harsher tone. “Chief, I disagree with you,” Zu Huanyao finally spoke up. Ramiel looked annoyed. Still, he allowed Zu Huanyao to continue his words. “Just because he admitted to killing someone doesn’t mean it’s a crime. For example, you are on your way home when you see an outlaw barging into your neighbor’s house. The outlaw uses a murderous weapon to slit your neighbor’s veins. You immediately rush inside the house and grab the weapon. You kill the outlaw when the outlaw attempts to continue murder. This cannot be called a crime. Although Mo Fan admitted killing Parade Angel Shalitha, it’s still yet to be heard if this can be treated as a crime,” said Zu Huanyao. “Chairman Zu, how can you treat Parade Angel Shalitha the same as an outlaw?! How can Parade Angel Shalitha possibly be a heartless murderer?!” asked Ramiel. “I’m providing an explanation that admitting to killing someone doesn’t mean admitting to committing a crime. The focus of our trial should be on what Parade Angel Shalitha has done and what was Mo Fan’s motive to kill him.” Zu Huanyao had no intention of backing down. It was clear to see that Ramiel’s gaze had changed. Zu Huanyao was truly amazing. It was supposedly Mo Fan’s trial, but Zu Huanyao was able to reverse the trial and target Parade Angel Shalitha. What exactly had Parade Angel Shalitha done? Since this was a public trial, the world paid close attention to the matter. Therefore, the public also wondered what exactly Shalitha had done that made Mo Fan kill him. That was not where Holy City wanted public opinion! How could they interrogate Holy City and the Parade Angel? “Mo Fan, since you’ve admitted to committing a murder, tell us your motive for killing Parade Angel Shalitha.” Ramiel immediately interrupted Zu Huanyao’s speech lest the cunning man made more unfavorable remarks against Holy City. “My motive?” Mo Fan could not help but stun upon hearing the question. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦 “Yes. Although we already know your motive, we hope you can say it yourself. Be it a lie or a fact, we will make judgments according to your confession. Please think through the words that you are about to say next. This is a public trial. The crowd consists of people from various professions and the divine magistrates who have decided countless cases. Your following words will decide your final verdict!” said Ramiel to Mo Fan. What was his motive? What was his psychological reason for killing Parade Angel Shalitha? “It’s hard to explain my motive. But if I could turn back time, I would still kill him without hesitation!” Mo Fan looked up and faced the divine magistrates in the Holy Court. Ramiel thought Mo Fan sounded extremely provocative. Ramiel was so angry that he almost wanted to sentence Mo Fan to death on the spot. However, he still had to finish listening to Mo Fan’s words. “If I must state my purpose and motive for killing Shalitha, I think it’s because some people have been controlling my mind. What they did in the past led me to kill Parade Angel Shalitha on that day. If I am found guilty, those people should bear the sin with me,” said Mo Fan. “Who are those people? Can you invite them for confrontation in the Holy Judgment Court? Besides, are you admitting that you were under the temptation of some evil spirit or demon’s manipulation? Are they the ones who forced you to commit such a crime?” Ramiel tried to interrogate Mo Fan calmly. Mo Fan shook his head and said, “They are unable to appear in court…” Mo Fan stood inside the accused seat which resembled a bird’s cage inside the Holy Judgement Court. Upon being interrogated with that question, many faces flashed in his mind. Mo Fan also wished those people could appear in court. He hoped those people could point at the members of Holy City and rebuke them. It was the members of Holy City that put them in their current state. Unfortunately, those people passed away. “Why can’t they appear in court? Are you lying, or are you looking for someone to share your sins with? You said you killed Shalitha out of your own control, then who was it that was controlling your mind?” Ramiel realized that Mo Fan’s words could put them in a favorable situation, hence Ramiel continued to question him.