Hundred-Ring Island lay at the very center of Lake Nice, in the nature reserve outside Loi City.
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Beyond its central island, thirty-seven concentric rings of island reefs encircled Hundred-Ring Island, giving it its name.
Beneath Hundred-Ring Island's central island, Dio and Cheadle walked single file down an underground passage.
The passage had only basic lighting, and its walls were built from bluish stone that looked ancient.
Aboard the airship, Cheadle had explained why she had chosen Dio to come here. Her reason was-
"There wasn't any particular reason. Something happened to the original clerk, so we needed a replacement at short notice. You happened to call right then, so I vouched for you to the judge."
That was a lie. In reality, the clerk played a more important role in the proceedings than Dio imagined.
Because neither the judge nor the legal scholar was permitted to write anything down in the Secret Court, the entire record archived afterward depended on what the clerk had written.
Any mistake in that record could have serious consequences.
Who could have expected something to happen to the original clerk at the last minute? The judge felt unable to choose someone trustworthy himself and wanted Cheadle to recommend a replacement.
She had considered many people. They were all capable and trustworthy, but almost none could drop their work and come here on such short notice.
Just then, Dio had called.
In those few moments, she had considered whether appointing Dio as clerk was reasonable, and reached a conclusion-it was worth a try.
She had watched Dio ever since he enrolled, and had come to know him even better after taking him on as her student. That was why Cheadle had chosen to trust him and make him the clerk for this trial.
This would allow the Secret Court proceedings to go ahead, while also giving a little help to her exceptionally gifted student with his unfortunate background.
Two birds with one stone.
Of course, Dio knew nothing about any of this. He was still marveling at the hidden world beneath Hundred-Ring Island. The Secret Court certainly had an unusual choice of venue.
They passed through the long corridor. At its end, the space suddenly opened up into a room the size of a basketball court.
Passages in the surrounding walls were sealed with iron doors, while a small, clearly makeshift courtroom stood in the center.
This courtroom had neither a jury box nor a public gallery.
A long table facing the entrance presumably served as the judge's bench. Two tables stood to its left, one for the clerk and one for the legal scholar.
The bailiffs' area was on the right, with enough room for roughly three people. Opposite the judge's bench, near the entrance, iron bars enclosed a space where the prisoner would stand.
The courtroom was still empty. Cheadle directed Dio to the clerk's seat, then apparently noticed his curiosity about the place and explained:
"These ruins were left behind by the Ancient Kingdom. The authorities haven't announced their discovery yet. By now, they should have removed the dangerous species and valuable ancient artifacts. They'll probably announce the site's existence once this trial is over."
Dio looked curiously at the iron doors in the other three walls and asked:
"What's behind those doors?"
"I don't know either. Other entrances, perhaps. I've only heard about this place from a colleague who studies ruins."
Cheadle shook her head, as though she had remembered something irritating, then continued:
"Recording a Secret Court trial isn't the same as keeping laboratory notes. You must stick strictly to the facts. Use the format I explained on the airship. That shouldn't be difficult for you."
She had barely finished speaking when footsteps sounded from the entrance.
Several people filed into the room. An elderly man led the way, followed by a powerfully built man wearing strange shackles. Two armed bailiffs flanked him.
The elderly man headed straight for Cheadle, smiling as he extended his hand.
"Miss Cheadle, I trust you've been well. We'll be relying on you to oversee the legality of today's proceedings."
Cheadle shook his hand politely. After a few empty pleasantries, she changed the subject and introduced Dio beside her:
"This is the clerk I recommended over the phone. He's also my student, Dio Diego."
Cheadle turned to Dio and said:
"Dio, this is Judge Bell Connor."
Dio stepped forward with a smile, shook his hand, and said it was a pleasure to meet him.
Judge Bell then handed Cheadle a bound booklet before turning away to direct the bailiffs in preparing for the trial.
Dio saw "B-11" written on the booklet's cover. There was nothing else on it.
Rustle, rustle!
Cheadle opened the booklet and began leafing through it at an astonishing speed.
Just as Dio was wondering whether she could even make out the words at that speed, Cheadle finished the booklet and handed it to him.
Judge Bell paused when he saw her pass the booklet over.
"You certainly trust this student of yours, Miss Cheadle."
He thought this mainly because a clerk's sole responsibility was to record the proceedings. Ordinarily, clerks did not read the case files, since doing so could introduce subjective bias into the records of those who were insufficiently rational.
Cheadle's gesture showed that she trusted Dio to keep an objective record.
Dio remained completely unaware of that trust. He had no idea how much he, as Cheadle's only student, actually meant to her.
After all, in student Diego's memories, he had simply spent every day buried in experiments for four straight years, then decided he no longer wanted to do them once he graduated.
As for Cheadle, all he knew was that his teacher was an accomplished academic and took good care of him. That was all.
Put simply, Hunters and ordinary people understood the term "master and apprentice" differently.
Dio frowned as he turned through the booklet page by page.
Much of the classified information had been covered with black bars. There was very little he could actually learn.
First was the prisoner. His name was Sangli, and he was a senior officer in the Minbo Republic's national defense forces. He had been arrested for stealing vital state secrets and passing them to a foreign power.
As for the state secrets mentioned in the text...
The document said only that they concerned the location of an ancient ruin.
Second, before his arrest, the prisoner had been nationally honored as a [War Hero]. That was precisely why he had not been given a public trial.
Finally, his motive. He was suspected of having grown resentful after being denied promotion for a long time, and of resorting to this desperate act after [gambling] had cost him large sums of money.
As for why he had not been promoted-
The reason was also clearly stated: he had previously embezzled public funds and failed his political vetting.
Bang, bang, bang!
Judge Bell struck his gavel. Preparations for the trial were complete.
Cheadle sat upright with both hands resting on the booklet, while Dio picked up his pen and began writing down the current time.
Judge Bell then cleared his throat twice and began reading out the charge:
"We will now hold a secret public trial of the defendant, Sangli Windham, formerly a senior officer in the Minbo Republic's national defense forces. The charge is-tax evasion!"
Huh? Was that right?
Dio looked up at the judge in confusion.
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