89: judgment

"Hahaha, and ask for its opinion? Who do you think you are, to be able to contact the Statue of Liberty whenever you want?"

Saike burst into wild laughter as if he had heard a joke.

The two adjutants behind him, despite their grim faces, couldn't help but force a smile, shaking their heads and sighing, "Truly, ignorance is bliss."

Gore's expression, however, turned a bit strange.

He had personally witnessed the Statue of Liberty acting like this person's lover; not exactly on call, but certainly like a husband and wife in harmony.

"Indeed, ignorance is bliss."

Zhang Huaiyuan nodded in agreement and lightly snapped his fingers.

The next moment, all screens in the command cabin, including the communication devices on Saike and the others, simultaneously flashed with light, and a calm, solemn female voice followed:

"I am the Statue of Liberty."

"Saike Okar, you have disregarded Star Alliance laws and offended the esteemed Researcher Zhang Huaiyuan. Saike Okar, please immediately apologize to Researcher Zhang Huaiyuan."

"Ha... the Statue of Liberty?"

Saike's laughter abruptly stopped, and he looked around in disbelief.

After a long while, he came back to his senses and pointed at himself in astonishment, saying, "Apologize, me? To him? That's impossible!"

"Star Alliance citizen Saike Okar, do you confirm that you refuse to accept the Statue of Liberty's verdict?"

The unhurried voice from the light screen transmitted.

“I...”

A fierce struggle flashed in Saike's eyes. He wanted to be tough, but lacked the courage to speak.

Given his status, he naturally knew the consequences of refusing a verdict.

Normally, the other party would summon powerful individuals from the Star Alliance nearby to enforce it, and the penalty would be doubled.

"Damn it, why is the Statue of Liberty meddling in such trivial matters! This damned broken machine!"

Saike gritted his teeth, and finally, closing his eyes, he nodded in humiliation: "I accept."

After all, refusing would lead to the same result, or possibly even worse.

"In that case, please apologize to Researcher Zhang Huaiyuan immediately."

"I..."

Saike clenched his fists tightly. If he weren't wearing a combat suit, his palms would probably have been cut by his fingernails.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked as if he wanted to devour someone. After a long while, he squeezed out three words through gritted teeth: "I'm sorry."

"No need, it makes it seem like I'm bullying you."

Zhang Huaiyuan smiled noncommittally.

These people are truly interesting. He was the one who rushed over aggressively, shouting and screaming like a madman, and now that he's been penalized, he's the one feeling wronged.

"You! Damn it! We'll see about this."

Saike stared intently at Zhang Huaiyuan, as if trying to engrave his image into his memory. Dozens of revenge methods instantly flashed through his mind.

"Let's go."

He turned around expressionlessly, not wanting to stay in this humiliating place for another second.

"Wait."

But at this moment, the voice from the light screen sounded again, leisurely saying:

"The first verdict has concluded. Now, the second verdict will be announced."

"Saike Okar, for instigating a fleet to attack and threaten friendly forces, attempting to illegally imprison the Star Alliance's future Chief Researcher Zhang Huaiyuan, and harboring malicious intent even after being penalized by the Statue of Liberty, severely threatening the future peace of the Star Alliance."

"According to the 'Star Alliance Major Security Matters Punishment Law,' the following judgment is hereby rendered: Saike Okar's military rank and noble title are stripped, all property is confiscated as spiritual compensation for Researcher Zhang Huaiyuan, and he is sentenced to death, to be executed immediately."

"What!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present, including Zhang Huaiyuan, was astonished.

He knew the punishment wouldn't be that simple, but he hadn't expected it to be a direct death sentence.

One must know, this was a genuine noble scion.

The laws of the Free Star Alliance are very lenient; they even failed to punish those from Sea Tree Island's "Conscience Chamber of Commerce" for smuggling active military equipment before.

"Is there a problem?"

He couldn't help but secretly type a line of text on the integrated device.

"No problem, Your Excellency. Guess what I was doing when I disappeared for so long? *Sticking out tongue emoji*."

"Uh... what were you doing?"

Zhang Huaiyuan was slightly taken aback by the reply. When did the Statue of Liberty start using emojis so skillfully? Had it evolved so quickly?

"I packaged all the evidence of the Okar Family's violations of Star Alliance law over the past century and sent it to all their competitors, and I've one-click approved all impeachment procedures. They're finished. *Eating melon emoji*."

"Is it that simple? Isn't the Star Alliance always lenient with those noble families?"

Zhang Huaiyuan typed, asking in surprise.

"It used to be, but in recent years, the Star Alliance Head has been obsessed with building a Star Fortress, and finances are tight. If a severely corrupt family is discovered, they usually don't mind using them to replenish the national treasury."

"Additionally, considering the current unrest within the Star Alliance, for your safety, a powerful fleet needs to be legally dispatched for close protection. The Okar Family officially declared five fleets, but actually possesses six fully-staffed fleets, which can now be confiscated. *Hands on hips emoji*."

"So that's how it is."

Zhang Huaiyuan suddenly understood. No wonder the Statue of Liberty suddenly proposed the need for reinforcements; everything was planned.

"What if the people who came were all normal? Or just relatively incorruptible?"

"Your Excellency, your talent in scientific research is unmatched, but your understanding of human nature seems to be lacking. The only difficulty in this matter was how to reasonably bypass my restriction procedures to make dealing with these families conform to my operating rules. You gave me an excellent excuse."

"As for the question you raised, among the aristocratic families that have endured in the entire Star Alliance to this day, finding one of the kind you described might be even more difficult. *Smirking emoji*."

"This... alright."

Zhang Huaiyuan was speechless looking at the reply. He was actually mocked by an intelligent life form for not understanding human nature.

Meanwhile.

Compared to the cheerful conversation here, Saike was now utterly thunderstruck.

"Statue of Liberty, what did you say!"

He roared with bloodshot eyes, "I am the third-in-line heir of the Okar Family! You want to kill me for some trumped-up charges? I refuse, I want to appeal... Damn it, anyway, I refuse this time!"

He originally wanted to say he would appeal, but then he suddenly remembered that the Statue of Liberty's personal judgment was equivalent to the former Supreme Court, which made him even angrier.

"Not trumped-up. Saike Okar, I ask you, do you harbor thoughts of revenge and killing intent towards Researcher Zhang Huaiyuan?"

"I... no, I was just joking," Saike said, his eyes flickering.

Drip!

The words had barely fallen when an indicator screen suddenly turned red, emitting a piercing sound.

"I regret to inform you, the polygraph results prove you are lying."

"Damn it, even if I wanted to kill him, I haven't done it yet, have I? Besides, he's just a Researcher. Our Okar Family has provided many talents to the Star Alliance's top Researchers. Why should a noble Okar Family scion be executed for this reason!"

Saike angrily defended himself.

"All my actions comply with Star Alliance regulations. As for the reason for your death sentence, it is classified at the highest level and you are not authorized to know."

"Now, the criminal has confessed personally. Colonel Gore, I order you to carry out the death sentence."

The Statue of Liberty's cold voice came out, sounding like a completely different entity from the one sending emojis on Zhang Huaiyuan's wrist.

"As you command, sir."

Gore showed no surprise at the words.

In his understanding, Zhang Huaiyuan was an expert researching the Galaxy Beast, the hope for resolving this disaster sweeping across various empires. Attempting to murder him, in a sense, was indeed 'severely threatening the future peace of the Star Alliance.'

"My apologies."

Gore's lips curved into a mocking smile, and the hilt of his blade once again projected a blue, blade-shaped beam of light. He coldly looked at the somewhat panicked Saike.

"No... you can't do this, I am from the Okar Family... I apologize... No... Ah!"