Strongest Superhuman System - Chapter 444

Chapter 444: The Sentence
“You seem worried. Did the reporters get to you after all?”

Alec’s voice echoed from beside her, and Luna turned to look at him curiously. Reporters? What reporters? Luna was confused about what Alec meant for a second, but she eventually realized that Alec was talking about the reporters who had been asking her questions when she was coming into the courtroom. Luna shrugged.

“Not really.”

Alec eyed Luna from the side before he took another sip of his coffee. When he spoke again, there was some undertone of curiosity.

“So what they are saying is true. You are really going after Mark Vanitas.”

Luna frowned.

“That’s none of your business, Alec. I didn’t take you to be the type to be concerned about other people’s lives like this.”

“Well, when it also affects me, then of course I’m going to be concerned. The public sees the SOVEREIGN as one body; they think that just because we are the most powerful in America, we are in some sort of elite club where we all come together and talk over drinks. Just the same way Gunter and Sasha’s disappearance painted us in a bad light, your actions have made me a target for reporters as well. Ever since that incident between you and Mark, they’ve been hounding me for answers and asking if I knew about the ‘budding relationship’ between the both of you. I’m not a fan of such invasion of privacy, but they are relentless.”

Luna grimaced apologetically as she heard this. She knew that it was her fault things were so shitty right now, but she didn’t have any way to fix it. Reporters were like bloodhounds; once they smell a good story, they won’t stop until they get to the bottom of it. You just have to let them tire themselves out or at least let them get some new story to focus on before they’ll get off your back.

Luna apologized to Alec for the trouble and told him that she never meant for things to become this hectic for him. Alec shrugged and told Luna that it was okay. Alec didn’t get too much trouble from the reporters physically since he was able to move fast enough to avoid them before they even knew he was there, but it was the online reporters who constantly sent him messages on Y that were the issue.

“It’s become so rampant that I’m now curious myself. What exactly is your relationship with that boy, Mark? I don’t think I have the right to lecture you on matters of the heart, but if your relationship with him is anything other than platonic, well, I don’t think that’s very wise. He only turned eighteen the other day, right? If you look at things rationally, considering your ages, then pursuing a relationship with him would practically make you a borderline pedophile.”

Luna grimaced again as Alec said this, and she just shook her head and took a sip of her coffee. She knew that people would not look kindly on her choice of pursuing Mark, but hearing it in such a straightforward way was a little painful. But Luna didn’t care. If it meant that she could be with Mark, then she didn’t give a fuck about what people called her. They could call her a cradle robber or even a pedophile for all she cared; she would do what she wanted.

But with the way things are now, there was no need for any of that since Mark turned her down brutally. Luna crushed her empty coffee cup and tossed it in the bin beside her while talking.

“You don’t need to worry about anything like that. I was rejected, so you can tell them that there’s nothing going on.”

Luna started to walk back to her seat as the court clerk announced the judge entering back into the room. Alec raised a brow before he shook his head and sighed. What Luna just said to him basically confirmed that she had feelings for Mark and that she confessed to him. Alec would never admit to being a romantic person, but he knew that Luna must’ve really been in love with Mark for her to even try confessing to an eighteen-year-old.

Luna was arguably the most beautiful woman in America, and she could have any man that she wanted with only a look. Even though Alec was not in love with her, he couldn’t deny this simple truth. And yet, Luna decided to go for someone who would only bring her trouble. Alec shook his head as he concluded that he really couldn’t understand a woman’s heart.

Alec finished his own coffee, crushed his cup, and tossed it into the bin as well before walking back to his seat.

The judge came back into the room after he was announced and sat down calmly while bringing out some papers and arranging them on the table. The guards from the Superhuman Alliance brought Salazar into the room and secured him in place at the stand.

The judge raised his hand for silence, and the entire courtroom fell silent as they waited for him to speak. The judge fixed up his glasses and cleared his throat, and Luna frowned in irritation as she just muttered for him to get it over with.

“Is he trying to build suspense or something?”

Salazar turned towards Luna once he heard what she muttered, and Luna narrowed her eyes at him as he gave her a playful smile. It was obvious that he found what she said funny. Luna turned away from him in irritation as the judge began to speak.

“Myself and the rest of the panel have convened, and we have come to a unanimous decision regarding this case. This is the first time that such an egregious case has been brought before us, and it is no surprise that there were no arguments about what form of punishment was most suitable for it. Salazar, you have brought shame not only to the government of America but to the entire American Federation at large; and we have found you guilty of all crimes brought against you. The court sentences Ryan Salazar to death by secluded beheading. May whatever god you worship have mercy on your soul.”

The court erupted in chatter and flashes as all the journalists in the room stood up as one to begin asking questions frantically! They were all trying to get a good picture of Salazar’s reaction, and the security personnel around were barely able to keep them at bay as Salazar was led out from the courtroom amidst the questions and screaming.

Once they got outside the courthouse, the security had to be doubled for Salazar as all the journalists who weren’t able to get a seat inside the courthouse were suddenly trying their best to push through the barricade and talk to Salazar.

Salazar was led through the multitude of people as the security made a pathway for him, and Luna just watched the madness unfold from her place at the top of the stairs.

…

Salazar’s sentence was scheduled to be carried out one week after that final hearing, away from the public eye, with witnesses from major guilds and upper members of the government present to ensure it was properly done.