Note: I'm going by dates given by Court Records for the year Phoenix was disbarred, to clear up any issues there may be with the dates I'm using. I'm assuming these are accurate. Thanks for reading!
Chapter Two: Klavier
April 22nd, 2021 – 3:22 PM
Prosecutor Edgeworth's Office – Berlin, Germany
"Come in," was Edgeworth's weary response to the sharp rap on his door. "You're only…twenty minutes late." The prosecutor was busy at work on a summary of the latest court proceedings with which he had been involved, and he was not in the best of moods. What was more, he had agreed to meet with a new prosecutor who had recently arrived in Germany. And this newcomer was late. Not a smart way to make a good first impression on Miles Edgeworth.
"My apologies, Herr Prosecutor," came the reply, and a blonde, sharply-dressed young man entered the room, shutting the door gently behind him. "I was…forced to take a detour to avoid some rather enthusiastic fans of mine." The man wore a purple jacket with a black undershirt, long purple pants and black boots. To accentuate his already flamboyant attire, a silver necklace dangled from his neck, a serpentine letter "G" glinting from its end. He looked expectantly at Edgeworth.
Edgeworth removed his reading glasses, narrowing his eyes skeptically. "…Fans? Just what are you on about?"
"Hah! I suppose I owe you an explanation, Herr Prosecutor," the young man laughed, taking a seat in one of the large chairs facing Edgeworth's desk.
"It's Miles Edgeworth, if you please," said Edgeworth, already beginning to lose his patience with this visitor. "Now, I assume you're the prosecutor who has come to meet with me. As you can see, I'm quite busy and I only agreed to this because my secretary said that you had important information for me. If you don't get to the point in the next minute or so, you're out of my door."
The young man quickly became more serious, propping his arms on his knees and speaking through steepled fingers. "Of course, Herr Edgeworth. I am indeed the prosecutor you were waiting for. My name is Klavier Gavin, and I am also the lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock group 'The Gavinners.' I recently returned from a performance – I left my guitar case in your hallway. I hope you don't mind."
"Hence the detour, I suppose," said Edgeworth. "Well, you certainly look…rockish, though I can't say I've ever heard of your band."
Chuckling, Klavier ran his fingers through his bangs. "Understandable. We mostly cater to the younger teenage crowd, ja? And naturally we attract a good deal of female fans. But…I didn't come here to talk to you about my life as a rock star."
"I'd hope not," was Edgeworth's terse reply. He crossed his arms. "I'm waiting."
"I came here to discuss Phoenix Wright…specifically, his disbarring."
A hint of curiosity flashed across Edgeworth's features, but it was not particularly noticeable to Klavier. "Now that's a man I haven't spoken to in quite some time."
"But I assume you heard about what happened two years ago – the case with the supposed forged evidence," said Klavier. "I did some research, you see, and I found that both you and Herr Wright worked together to solve a case that wrapped up right before that one. It was quite the case – what with the spirit mediums and all."
"Indeed," said Edgeworth stiffly. "But it was, as you say, wrapped up. I still don't see why you're here."
Klavier leaned forward. "The point is, the two of you strove for the truth, Herr Edgeworth. No matter the circumstances. That much is obvious. Herr Wright even told me so, after that trial…"
Edgeworth cocked an eyebrow. "That trial…?"
"Yes. I was the prosecutor for the trial two years ago. The one involving Magnifi Gramarye."
Shifting in his seat, Edgeworth nodded. "Hmm. Is that so." It was more of a statement than a question.
"I still don't know the truth of that case, to be honest," said Klavier. "Afterwards, I thought, 'that was that,' as they say, and chalked my win up to my own alleged skill and luck. Luck that came in the form of that forged diary page, of course."
Edgeworth said nothing. Klavier continued.
"But…as you can probably surmise, I became ever the more skeptical the more I thought about that case. Herr Wright was too experienced and seemed too…decent to resort to something like that. That's when I realized that I had to discover the truth as well. It was haunting me."
"You suspected foul play." Edgeworth's eyes were now narrowed intensely. He was suddenly much more interested in the conversation than he had been before.
Klavier nodded, his blonde locks falling across his forehead. "I…dug around for information, I suppose you could say. I don't want to get too into the details. But clues were beginning to point uncomfortably towards a certain person close to me…someone very close to me, in fact. My brother."
"Kristoph Gavin? The defense attorney?" Edgeworth inquired. "Of course, I should have put two and two together." He looked incredulous. "I don't know much about him, but I did hear his name briefly mentioned in that report from the trial proceedings. He was the former representative for Wright's client."
"Right," Klavier said, nodding once more. "Again, I don't want to divulge too much. But I began to suspect that my brother was at least somewhat involved in Wright's downfall. I wasn't certain…and now, I'm pretty convinced that there is no way I can ever prove anything for sure. But…"
Klavier looked strangely desperate. "I know a way I could narrow it down."
"Oh? And what was your idea?"
"Channeling," said Klavier. "You and Herr Wright were involved in that Hazakura Temple case, and you have connections to the Fey clan. I was hoping you could convince the master to channel Magnifi Gramarye so that I could ask him about the events surrounding the…murder myself. Then I could finally get to the bottom of that case and put my worries to rest." The young prosecutor seemed uncharacteristically anxious now that he had stated his intentions.
Shaking his head, Edgeworth gave Klavier a look of utmost incredulity. "You can't be serious. You'd go to those extremes to…" He paused. "To discover the truth."
"Yes," said Klavier simply.
Edgeworth shook his head again, taking up his reading glasses once more. "…No. No, I don't think I can arrange that. That clan…the Fey family has been through enough already. I won't trouble them to summon up a long-gone spirit just so you can be satisfied. Even if it is for a cause as noble as seeking the truth."
"But there is no other way for me to quell my fears surrounding that case," pleaded Klavier. "You alone have the most influence…asking Wright is out of the question, and the police wouldn't –"
Edgeworth held up his hand. "Enough. I'm very sorry, Gavin, but I can't help you in this case. In any other instance, I would be more than happy to assist you in finding the truth you seek. But with this…I feel it is best to let sleeping dogs lie."
He gave a tightly drawn smile. "Besides, spirit channeling is not always an accurate way to discover the truth. Many people can be hurt by it if you don't know what you're doing. I should know."
"You would know, ja?" smirked Klavier. "Interesting. Sounds like a story to me."
"I certainly believe in its power," said Edgeworth brusquely. "Find out for yourself if you want to know my story. You claim to be adept at researching."
An uncomfortable silence followed these words, Klavier shifting in his seat. He leaned to one side, propping his face against his right hand.
"So that's it. You really won't help me, Herr Edgeworth."
Edgeworth sighed, peering over his glasses at the young prosecutor before him. "I understand your position. I do. But as I said, I'm not willing to dig that deeply this time. I'm sorry, Klavier." He waved at him absently, signaling that he was done arguing his case.
Klavier mumbled something under his breath, standing abruptly and walking to the door. "I thought you of all people would understand," he said rather caustically. "Thank you for your time anyway, Herr Edgeworth." He opened the door.
"Mr. Gavin…" said Edgeworth lightly so that Klavier could hear him. "There's more than one way to arrive at the truth."
Guitar in hand, Klavier shut the door with quite a bit more force than he had intended.