Chapter 623: Chapter 623: Decision
He turned toward Gu Jin; a rare trace of gentleness appeared in his eyes.
"Gu Jin is not only a necromancer. She also has the darkfire element."
Gasps and shouts erupted across the hall.
People stood from their seats.
Even the Gu family looked shocked, their mouths open in disbelief.
Gu Jin herself froze.
Confusion filled her mind.
She had never revealed her darkfire element to anyone.
Not even to Long Yifan.
How did he know? Why would he say this in front of the whole world? Would this not bring more danger to her?
But then she thought of her current strength.
She was already at the Heaven rank. Few could stand against her now.
Even transcendental experts might find it difficult to defeat her.
Slowly, her heart calmed. She began to understand what Long Yifan was trying to do.
Judge Hargrave stood suddenly.
"Is this true? Are you saying she carries the darkfire element?"
All eyes turned to Long Yifan.
He chuckled softly, but his words were firm.
"Yes, Your Honor. It can be proven easily. Gu Jin can demonstrate right here."
The judge turned toward Gu Jin.
The offense lawyer and Maria also turned, their faces filled with shock.
The entire hall waited breathlessly.
Gu Jin stood up and walked to where Long Yifan was.
She lifted her hand slowly. With a snap of her fingers, a dark blue flame appeared, with threads of black fire.
The air itself seemed to stop.
People gasped, their breath caught in their throats.
The flame danced in her palm; it was captivating and yet mysterious-looking at the same time.
Then Gu Jin snapped her fingers again.
This time a pillar of fire rose, swirling with dark blue and black, reaching high into the ceiling.
The temperature of the courtroom soared.
Complete silence filled the courtroom. No one dared move. No one dared breathe.
The sight was too shocking, too powerful.
Finally, Gu Jin’s calm voice broke the silence.
"Yes. I have necromancy. But I also have darkfire. Now tell me, do you still wish to execute me?"
Cold water seemed to have been poured on all those burning with hate.
People who had shouted for her death earlier now lowered their heads.
The offense lawyer’s lips trembled, but no words came out.
Inside her heart, Gu Jin understood Long Yifan’s plan.
First, he had arranged protests across nations, stirring doubt about the old law.
Second, he had pushed the issue into the Magic Council Court, where the whole world was watching.
Finally, at the peak of tension, he revealed her darkfire element. With this, everything changed.
The necromancy accusation was now weak compared to the glory of darkfire.
In the magic world, a darkfire user was like a god.
Even if they killed someone, the punishment would be light.
Many countries would fight to protect such a treasure. And now, she was revealed to be one.
If this had happened earlier, before she reached the Heaven rank, she might have been killed.
If her darkfire had been revealed before the protests, the Transcendentals might have attacked her in fear. But now? Now it was too late. The entire world was watching.
The judge stayed silent for a long moment.
His eyes moved from Gu Jin, to Long Yifan, to the crowd, and then back to the heavy files stacked on his table.
At last, he raised his gavel and spoke in a steady voice.
"The decision has been made," Judge Hargrave said.
"Gu Jin will not be executed. No one can force her to wipe away her necromancy element."
For a second there was silence. Then chaos exploded.
People shouted from every corner. Some clapped, others screamed in anger. The benches shook as the crowd stood on their feet.
"What do you mean she won’t be executed?" one man shouted.
"She has darkfire! She’s too important to kill!" another shouted back.
"Darkfire or not, necromancy is still evil!"
"You’re just jealous because she has more talent than you!"
Voices clashed and echoed, the entire hall drowning in noise.
The judge banged his gavel again and again. "Order! ORDER!"
Slowly, the voices died down. But the atmosphere still remained tense.
Everyone understood the true reason for the judge’s ruling.
Darkfire was too rare, too valuable.
If this court dared to execute her, other countries would rush forward, offering protection, offering shelter, offering promises.
Gu Jin would become their treasure, and this nation would be left in shame.
The crowd knew it. The officials knew it. The international observers knew it.
Yet questions still stirred in the hearts of many.
If Gu Jin was allowed to live as a necromancer because she had darkfire, then what about others?
What about necromancers without such rare elements? Would they still be hunted down and executed?
Whispers began to rise again.
"So can a necromancer now live a good life?"
"She’s only safe because of darkfire."
"Exactly. If it were any other necromancer, they’d already be dead."
"She’s an exception, not the rule."
Gu Jin’s sharp eyes scanned the crowd. And then she noticed her.
Liang Bao
The young woman sat quietly among the crowd.
Tears slid down her cheeks. But they were not tears of joy.
They were tears of regret, of helplessness. She looked so small, so broken.
Gu Jin’s heart tightened. She remembered what she had investigated before.
She turned her head and leaned close to Long Yifan. She whispered something softly into his ear.
Long Yifan looked at her, surprised, then nodded.
His expression was firm, as if to say, I will do as you say. He took out his phone and messaged someone.
Gu Jin straightened her back and raised her hand.
Instantly, the courtroom grew quiet again. Even the judge paused, watching her carefully.
She stepped forward and faced Judge Hargrave.
Her voice was calm, but it was loud enough to reach every corner of the courtroom.
"Your Honor," she said. "I am thankful for your decision. But this is not enough. I want this case to continue."
The judge blinked. "Continue? On what grounds?"
Gu Jin’s eyes were steady.
"On the grounds that the law itself must change. I want to file a motion for a new law. From today on, necromancers should not be executed without a proper trial."
Her word, though said in a soft voice, was as heavy as Mount Tai.
The entire hall froze in shock. For a moment, no one even breathed. Then whispers spread like wildfire.
"She wants to change the law?"
"Impossible! She’s just one girl!"
"But she has darkfire... and necromancy... maybe she can do it..."
Young Bao’s eyes widened.
She looked at Gu Jin with disbelief, then with hope.
Her lips trembled as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.
Gu Jin glanced back at her and smiled gently, as if to say,
’I understand. You are not alone anymore.’
She turned back to the judge.
"I may have darkfire to protect me. But what about those who do not? What about those who awaken necromancy by accident, through no fault of their own? Why should they be executed without even a chance to prove themselves? This is not justice. It is cruelty. And it must end."
Gasps filled the room. Many in the crowd looked moved. Some even wiped at their eyes.
In the audience, several people whispered through tears.
"My brother was executed..."
"My daughter... she had necromancy too..."
"They never even gave her a chance..."
For years, these families had hidden their grief.
Now, as Gu Jin spoke, their hearts cracked open.
Her words gave them the first ray of hope they had seen.
The judge frowned, deep in thought.
But before he could reply, the offense lawyer’s voice, full of hate, resounded.
"Ridiculous!" he barked. His face was red with rage, his hands clenched into fists.
"This girl dares to stand here and force changes to laws that have kept us safe for centuries? She thinks she knows better than history? Better than the council? Better than the people who bled because of necromancers?"
Gu Jin turned calmly toward him.
"I am not forcing. I am fighting for what is right. Laws exist to protect the innocent, not to punish them for something they never chose. If a necromancer commits a crime, punish them for that crime. But do not punish them for simply existing."
The lawyer’s lips curled in a sneer.
"You speak as if necromancy itself is not a crime. But it is! It always has been!"
Gu Jin’s eyes were cold but calm.
"No. That is only what fear has taught people. But fear does not make truth. Fear makes monsters out of the innocent. And I will not let that continue."
The lawyer slammed his hand on the table.
"You arrogant girl! Do you think you are the first to try this? Do you think no one before you has begged for mercy? I will not let you twist the law!"
The offense lawyer’s eyes flickered with the past.
His father, falling to the ground. A skeleton warrior standing above him. Blood. Screams. The boy was watching, powerless.