A simple answer reverberated in the cafeteria causing the students to give Colt strange stares, but he was not talking just yet, “They were the ones who started it, I told them I wished not to fight, yet they pushed me to do so. They plotted against me and I was forced to retaliate back, that is all.”
As Colt gave his answer, Cutlass saw his eyes that were as clear as a gem. He looked around, and seeing how many people are present, Cutlass wanted to settle this dispute somewhere else. So, he wanted to take them away.
But when Gargosa and the other students heard Colt’s answer all of them secretly formed a grimace as Gargosa brought out an azure gem.
A hologram-like panel appeared mid-air in the middle of the cafeteria. A recorded video feed coming from inside a carriage was seen; as if they caught what happened on record just in time. And when one said in time, it was truly in time.
“I~AHHHH!” a scream came echoed from; it was night but the video managed to capture the details of what happened very clearly. Colt walked out of the alleyway with a scary expression, Gargosa stepped out of the carriage carrying the recording crystal and when words about him trying to condemn actions out of his mouth, Colt darted forth and silenced him.
Gargosa fell and the recording device captured the floor, but as Gargosa forced his body to turn to the side, he managed to capture the sight of Colt entering the carriage and leaving sometime after with the passengers all banged-up.
“Did you see that!? A recorded scene cannot be tampered with, sir, please you must give us justice. This barbaric man hurt our fellow schoolmates, what is there for us to say? The proof is here, those who were hurt can testify against him! And you dare lie we were the ones who started it? How dare you defame me and twist the truth!”
Gargosa had a melodramatic expression on his face as he cried out for justice riling up many to stand up against Colt.
The two injured students promptly stepped forward with tears flowing down their faces as they cried for justice.
“P-please, help us, Professor Meyers.”
“W-we were wronged, he even forced us to fight him saying that there will be accidents. And I assume you all know what he meant by accident.”
Cutlass Meyers looked at the hundreds of students in the cafeteria going against Colt. The students were turning to a rabble as they chanted for Colt to be punished.
At this point, Cutlass should be angered at Gargosa for starting such a scene. Evidence such as that should be shown in the Disciplinary Office, yet they showed it here.
But Cutlass’ anger was more apparent at Colt for he tried lying his way out of the trouble. He thought he was an honest and respectful student but it seems like he was wrong.
In anger, he was just about to take Colt by his arms. But he saw Colt’s calm expression and stopped.
Gargosa at this moment was celebrating inside. He had two plans, one for Colt to lose and embarrass himself and two for Colt to win and make him the villain of the story.
If he had just beaten the two to a pulp and left them in an alleyway, then that would be enough to tarnish his name. But to his luck, Colt broke two arms and even attacked him and the other nobles.
He was smiling in the victory he achieved over Colt, “Hehehe, how stupid of you! Do you really think I am that dumb to just hire them and beat up? I have layers upon layers of deep thoughts!”
Gargosa sneered, but then, he saw Colt smiling at him with an azure gem on his hand.
And before he can do anything, another recorded scene played out. It started with a white carriage parked by the roadside before showing was the same scene, but from a different time, angles, and perspective. The angle came from above, and it captured Colt and the two students who had their arms broken before the ‘receiving pointers’ started.
And as the mob saw this, their angered expression towards Colt began to lessen especially when the first exchange of words echoed in the alleyway.
“You are Colt Edgeworth, correct!?”
“What do you need of me? I don’t want any trouble.”
This part was enough to prove Colt’s earlier words but then another set of words flew out that completely flipped the situation.
“What do you need of me!? I don’t want any trouble, so, just leave!”
“We don’t want any trouble; we are only here to get some pointers. As a fellow student, is it not proper for me to seek someone of great skills such as yourself?”
“That’s right, this is just a duel. But as it is a duel outside the academy, we won’t use our Soul Partners and we ask of you to accept our challenge — oh? You’re willing to do it, that’s just great! Then, let us begin!” The man who stood on his back spoke loudly so some ‘loitering bystanders’ would hear him as he made the first move.
Their words echoed about and as the two engaged in the fight, Colt did his best to defend himself against the two. But nothing worked. The scene showed Colt on the ground, not doing anything then something more shocking was heard.
“Why are you doing this!? I told you, I don’t wish to fight!”
“Well we apologize, but our employer really wanted us to rough you up. Hehe, but personally I am enjoying this!”
The dull sounds of Colt’s face being thrashed reached the ears of everyone present. It was a pitiful sight already.
“They especially asked us to ensure that your face gets roughed up! Hehe, you act all big and mighty but you’re nothing but a weakling after all! Do you think you deserve to stand beside her? Even I am more compatible with her than you!”
Everyone’s reaction was a given, and the students who were in the cast watched everything transpire with a weird expression. Gargosa was also flabbergasted, but the next words that came out almost made him vomit a liter of blood.
“You, useless piece of shit. Are you trying to scare us? Do you think your Edgeworth Family can touch our backers!? Let me tell you something, it was the Second Young Master of the Fortiko Family, and the Young Master of the Slitherhead Family who told us to do this. Those are Marquis and Duke Family, I have yet to even mention the others and those two are enough to ensure you won’t be able to scare us with your family. Come on! Try it! Scare me again!”
It was here that Colt finally retaliated and broke his assailants’ arms. They pleaded but Colt responded with coldness. Then it showed the white carriage once again where Gargosa came out of talking nonsense trying to incite the anger of the people before being brought down by Colt out of anger, it was already clear it was his doing. It ended as Colt entered and left the carriage where he beat the shit out of his enemies.
The recorded feed ended and Colt looked at the six students especially Gargosa.
“As you said, I couldn’t have created this.”
Everyone fell into silence.
_________