"Judge, do you think I can't leave so easily?" Ke En looked up at Adam. "Then how does the judge think I should be dealt with for injuring your men?"
"What do I think..." Adam rose from behind the judge's bench once more. His movements were slow, yet resolute. As he stood, he saw his teacher—a Chief Judge wearing four golden stripes—appear at the entrance to the judges' passage. The man said nothing and did nothing, merely looked at him quietly, a book in his hand—"Sha Lin Security Law."
Adam understood at once. He understood what his teacher had meant before: as a Shalin judge, as a member of Shalin's legal system, he had to stand by his principles. And people like Leonard and Ke En would deliberately challenge him over them, their purpose being to make him betray those principles. Then they could shake the foundations of Shalin law, and shake Shalin itself.
This was no simple public security incident. It was a test, one that could set everything in motion. That was why the Deputy Arbiter of Xia Ya Judgment Tribunal was here, why his teacher was here, and perhaps why countless others who had yet to show themselves would soon appear here as well. The Alliance and Shalin were playing a game over this minor matter, and he had been pushed to the forefront of it.
It was unfortunate, but also fortunate. He had no choice that could satisfy both sides. The only thing he could do was uphold his principles to the end. Since Ke En, this Deputy Arbiter, had asked him how he would handle it, then he would tell him—tell him how it should be handled according to the "Sha Lin Security Law."
"Huff... ha..."
Adam took a deep breath and withdrew his gaze