"Read out the charges."
"Yes, Speaker." The Prophet, who had appeared unnoticed, stepped forward with the indictment in hand.
"I hereby announce the crimes of the Black Queen, a major offender wanted by the Federation.
First, the premeditated murder of over fifty senior military and government officials of the Federation, using brutal methods in blatant disregard of the law.
Second, inciting rebellion, colluding with Ashen Dawn, and undermining the Federation's order and stability.
Third, the brutal murder of the city lord of Radiant Light City and setting fires throughout the city, leaving tens of thousands of citizens homeless.
Fourth..."
As the Prophet read out the charges, camera flashes strobed madly over Tang Guo. The blazing lights merged into a blinding sea of white, making her vision swim.
She could not make out the Federation Speaker seated high above, nor the crowd below cursing and spitting at her.
All she could see were those blurred figures, standing on their moral high ground and passing judgment on her again and again.
"Black Queen, do you plead guilty?" Du Jingzhe's aged voice rang out.
Tang Guo pressed her pale lips tightly together and said nothing.
After a moment of silence, she raised her head, her light brown eyes turning toward Du Jingzhe.
"Guilty?"
Her smile held bone-deep sorrow and scorn.
"What crime do you want me to confess to?
You sit at the very top, ruling the entire Federation, yet in the world under your rule, the starving dead lie hidden in the shadows of skyscrapers, and evil runs rampant through the gaps in the law. When someone tries to clean up this rotten world, you turn around and brand them an unforgivable criminal!"
Tang Guo's voice was quiet, but every word cut through the clamor.
She gazed at that figure high above