Chapter 171 – Legal Murder (2)
The next morning.
I was on my way to a small town in the South listening to a messy song.
“Country Road~ Take me home.Hehe, I’m bilong~ West Virginia…”
A country road that passes over the parts that it has not memorized yet with a humming song.
Long-distance trips like this aren’t common, so Tia was very excited.
I don’t know if you’re traveling by plane. They are driving across the vast continental United States.
Originally, I wanted to take a plane, but I was on my way to a city with no decent airport or proper accommodation nearby, so I just dragged my car out.
This large bus newly acquired in Hunter City was a special model that doubled as a camper.
It’s a little grandiose, but it’s perfect because there are so many people.
First of all, the Tiamat series alone has 3 members, plus Yeriel, Alice, and Seo Ji-yu, so a total of 7 members is standard.
In addition, the US is so vast that accommodations are not very good.
If there is even a rundown motel on the roadside, you have to bow before entering, so of course it is hard to expect quality improvement in lodging establishments.
So I just pulled the camper out.
A vast wasteland spreads out beyond the darkly tinted windows.
Long-distance travel of more than 10 hours is not boring at all.
On the contrary, I feel more comfortable than usual for me who was suffering from heavy workload.
“Master, eat donuts, donuts!”
“Did you buy it at the rest stop earlier? I’ll pass.”
“I pass too.”
Alice in the seat opposite her also shook her head, and Yeriel, who was diligently tapping on her laptop her, smiled.
The Frost Foundation, which she manages, has long since entered Hunter City.
“I’m sorry. I’m behind on some urgent work…”
“I told you that you don’t have to follow me.”
“No. I can’t get Blanche’s help right now.”
Oracle is currently under maintenance.
In the meantime, she said she was going out of Hunter City, so Yeriel was worried.
So, she finally caught up with me.
“Mr. Jiu, do a briefing.”
“Oh, yes! This incident occurred in a small town called Everville. The current population is about 5,000. It is a murder case using the Hunter ability.”
With a population of 5,000, it is hardly even called a city.
Alice, who, like me, had not yet grasped the outline of the case, asked curiously.
“Why did the Hunters remain in such a small town?”
“That’s right, the culprit is a minor. He will legally become an adult next year…”
“Aha.”
American hunters are supposed to live in Hunter City unless there is a special reason.
In the first place, the use of abilities outside of Hunter City is severely restricted, so you can’t make money using abilities.
I don’t know if I’m determined and commit an illegal act.
Being a minor is one of those ‘special reasons’.
“That’s why they made things like Hunter City…”
“Ahaha. I will.”
Seo Ji-yu smiled awkwardly and comforted Alice.
“Who is the victim?”
“A woman of the same age as the culprit. Megan. The culprit’s name is Daniel.”
“Was there a resentment between the victim and the perpetrator?”
“I don’t think so. The criminal insists it was a mistake. CCTV footage of the incident was also secured, but there was no argument.”
They said they weren’t even that close in the first place.
I let out a sigh of relief when I heard that the CCTV footage was secured.
But. So the police could have caught him.
Seo Ji-yu added with a slightly uneasy face.
“And, there is one important peculiarity…”
“What else?”
“The criminal Daniel’s family is said to be influential in the area.”
“Parents stay local…”
I already have a feeling that things are going crazy.
The small town to which we are heading, Everville, like many other small towns in modern America, was getting smaller and smaller.
It is Daniel’s father, a criminal, who has prevented the fall of Everville.
He revitalized Everville by building a huge grocery plant.
People can survive if there are decent jobs nearby.
Thanks to factories, people gathered, and as people gathered, shops and convenience facilities increased.
Currently, more than 30% of the residents of Everville are registered as workers in the factory.
The criminal’s family would indeed rule like the king of Everville.
However, there is little we can do locally.
The investigation and adjudication of these crimes is the work of state governments and local police departments and courts.
At least it was a Hunter-related case, so I was able to intervene in this way.
“Since the trial is right around the corner, let’s see that first and decide.”
“Yes.”
Eventually arriving in Everville, Tia hardened slightly with her awkward face.
It is a very different impression from Hunter City, which can be compared to New York.
Old derelict houses were left unattended on both sides of the road, and the asphalt was cracked because it was not properly maintained.
At least, thanks to the factory, it is a province that maintains its reputation, but it is at this level.
Still, there are quite a few shops and large buildings in the center of the city, and there is a sense of vitality.
Having parked the bus in a suitable location, we immediately proceeded to the district court.
“It’s not too late. Tia, stay calm.”
“Whoa!”
Kerr, who came with her, barked briefly as if to warn Tia.
Tia made a very sad face.
“Until Kerner…”
When I entered the district court wearing a suit, everyone’s attention was focused on this direction.
Everville’s racial composition is about half white and half black, but this place is mostly white.
Since both the suspect and the victim were white, it did not escalate into a racial issue.
Thanks to conclusive evidence, the trial went smoothly.
Even the suspect readily admitted to his crime.
The part that was expected to be the most difficult in this case ended too easily.
‘Is this a bit unsettling?’
Just as expected.
The defense attorney started using a tactic I expected.
They began to claim that Daniel, the accused, had a mental illness.
It is a new kind of mental illness that has never been heard of before.
“The client, Mr. Daniel Wilson, grew up in a well-to-do family, and his cognitive abilities are troubled by the unwanted awakening of his hunter abilities his…”
“What, what nonsense are you talking about?”
“I told you to stay calm.”
Tia immediately shuts up at my warning.
Surprisingly, the judge acknowledged the lawyer’s bullshit her.
Even the prosecutor didn’t show much enthusiasm.
In the end, the verdict resulted in 5 years of probation.
It was a very light punishment for killing one person, no matter how minor or accidental.
If mental illness had not been recognized properly, such a judgment would have been impossible.
“Besides… The bereaved family asked for mercy?”
The bereaved family of the victim, Megan, bowed their heads deeply and said nothing.
It is clear that the parents are heartbroken over their daughter’s death her, but…
I did not protest the outcome of that absurd verdict.
The man who actually committed the murder is leaving the courthouse with a smile on his face.
“Well, you’re still going to appeal, right?”
“You won’t?”
“Why?”
“Will you even look at the ruling from a while ago?
Genetic innocence.
It’s a word that Koreans say when they’re bored.
The home of that genetic innocence is right here in the United States.
A land of opportunity that makes mental illness a decent name if you don’t have a lot of money!
Even if you say Korea’s genetic innocence, it’s a cute level compared to the aid.
Besides… The survivors are not in a position to go against Daniel’s family.
They were working at a grocery plant in Everville.
As I left the courtroom, I sighed as I explained.
“Other states in the United States are no different from other countries. Even if you want to leave immediately, it’s realistically difficult.”
Even the opponent is not a hunter with telekinesis ability.
Maybe you are preparing to move after receiving the settlement money.
“It would be better to run away than to complain and suffer retaliation.”
“Then… Is there anything we can do right now?”
I grinned at Alice’s careful question of her.
He was a guy who would have had a reckless temper in the old days, but he has definitely grown up.
“First of all, in addition to probation, I’m going to issue a forced relocation order to Hunter City. He’s already had an accident, so it’s okay even if he’s a minor.”
This comes down from an association under the US federal government, so it is useless to pretend to be an influential person in the region.
However, Alice was not satisfied.
“That’s it? An appeal?”
“Impossible. Double jeopardy.”
Commonwealth law’s double jeopardy is more severe than civil law, and once it is waived, the prosecutor cannot appeal again. (Of course, there are a few exceptions).
It is a probation sentence, not an acquittal, so there is no way out, but the state government will not be willing to cooperate.
“This case is completely under the jurisdiction of the state government, so it’s very cumbersome. We’re always in the role of giving advice.”
In fact, given the independence of the US state government, it is very unconventional that we, as members of the Hunter City, can interfere in this way.
We’re not directly under the federal government.
It’s a problem that I haven’t experienced properly in Korea.
“I want to know the suspect’s willfulness first.”
The skills of the police in this area are not very trustworthy.
Alice very readily agreed on that point.
However, the investigation will never be easy.
This place is no different from the courtyard of the family of the accused.
“If you ask openly, you’ll find out soon. Let’s investigate quietly after dark.”
“Great.”
“Go back and get ready for camping!”
“I’ll go with Yeriel after notifying the forced relocation order, so go back first. Don’t bring out the barbecue grill!”
“Eh, ah. Master. No matter how much I do, I’m not that ignorant.”
Tia, whose face looked like she had been beaten, trudged back in blatant disappointment.
We looked at each other, smiled and hurried our steps.
