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Chapter 16

Date: 18th June 2026, 11:30

Location: Courtroom 4, California

**Witness Testimony**

-The Meraktis Clinic 2—

"Yes, I went to the clinic that day to speak to the doctor."

"I wanted that chart, but I failed to get it. So I went back to the clinic later."

"In any case, I didn't shoot him. You don't even have proof I stole that pistol, do you."

"And that brat was spotted in the park at the moment of the crime!"

"Frankly, I don't think it matters if Dr. Meraktis was shot in the temple or not."

**End of Testimony**

"You went back 'later'…?" The Judge asked.

"That chart was dangerous, you understand." Alita said. "I needed to get rid of it, that's why I went that day…"

"But you couldn't get the chart then, could you?" Klavier asked. Alita answered quickly.

"…And later that night, Dr. Meraktis was shot. I heard about the shooting, waited a day, but then I had to go back. No easy feat with cops all over the place."

"So that was you?" Emma asked, as she remembered the break in at the office. "You broke into the office yesterday in an attempt to get the chart…"

"That was you? If only I had one more minute…" Alita said "Then I could have opened that safe and gotten the chart!" Trespassing and attempted burglary, are you asking to be arrested? Emma thought.

"What!? That's trespassing! And brazen, at that!" The Judge exclaimed.

"Oh, is this a trial for trespassing now? Besides…" Alita put on an innocent look. "You can't blame a girl for wanting to protect herself… They are gangsters, you know." If you knew this, then why get involved? Emma thought, mentally rolling her eyes. You must really want the money.

"In any case, Mr. Justice, your cross-examination!" The Judge said.

**Cross-Examination**

-The Meraktis Clinic 2—

"Yes, I went to the clinic that day to speak to the doctor."

"I wanted that chart, but I failed to get it. So I went back to the clinic later."

"In any case, I didn't shoot him. You don't even have proof I stole that pistol, do you."

"And that brat was spotted in the park at the moment of the crime!"

"Frankly, I don't think it matters if Dr. Meraktis was shot in the temple or not."

"HOLD IT!" Apollo shouted. "The doctor was shot in the right temple, yes?" He asked. Alita gave him a questioning look as she answered.

"So it seems." Klavier then spoke.

"…Let's review the facts again, shall we?" A map of the park and the positions of the victim and the defendant was on the desk. "If the killer shot from this location…" Klavier pointed to where the defendant marker was. "…the bullet would've struck our victim square in the forehead. However! The entry wound was in the right temple." The Judge nodded in agreement.

"Yes, we heard testimony on this yesterday. At the time of the shooting, the witness was standing here." He pointed out a position on the map. "Just before the gun was fired, he shouted. The victim turned his head to look… and was shot."

"OBJECTION!" Apollo shouted out. Emma was concentrating on the map so much that she jumped in surprise at Apollo's objection. "Our egregious panty-snatcher, Mr. Stickler, did witness the crime…" Apollo pointed to another position on the map, to the north. "But he was standing to the north, next to the trash can where he tossed those panties! If Mr. Stickler shouted from this location, the bullet couldn't hit his right temple!"

"Silly, silly attorney…" Alita said.

"Wh-What…!?" Apollo exclaimed

"Do you remember what you had for breakfast that morning?" Emma gave Alita a strange look in confusion.

"How is this relevant Ms. Tiala?" She asked. Alita just shook her head and continued on.

"What matters is one thing: The doctor was shot in his right temple. If that's the case, there can only be one explanation! The panties guy was mistaken."

"OBJECTION!" Apollo shouted and banged his fists against the desk once again. "But his location was proven." He pointed at Alita. "You can't write that off as him being 'mistaken'!"

"OBJECTION!" Klavier shouted and banged his fist against the wall. "…The why don't you show us, Herr Forehead?" He asked.

"Show you… what?" Apollo asked. Emma cleared her throat slightly. Apollo turned to her and saw her standing arms crossed, body turned forwards but her head turned towards him. She was looking over the top of her glasses.

"Apollo, if the witness, the panties guy, was standing to the north…" She pushed her glasses up from the side and smiled. "Where was the shooter?" The Judge then voiced his opinion.

"But wait! If the witness was standing there…" He pointed towards the new witness location. "…how could anyone shoot the victim in the right temple?" Emma chuckled.

"Well Apollo?" She asked. Apollo looked at her and she shrugged, smirking. "I'm not going to give you the answer, where was the shooter?" She raised an eyebrow, in the hopes Apollo would catch on. He frowned in concentration for a minute before the Judge spoke up again.

"Let's hear what the defense has to say. Where was the killer standing when they shot the victim?" Apollo looked over the map before recalling what Emma had said. "Where was the shooter?" She said, not "Where was the shooter STANDING…" He thought.

"As the facts stand now, we can't explain this crime without contradicting ourselves at some point. But I know why. The real killer shot from an entirely different location!"

"What are you talking about!? I don't see any other place…" Alita said. The Judge then spoke.

"Apparently, Mr. Justice does. Let's hear it. Where in the park did the killer shoot the victim from?" Klavier then interrupted.

"OBJECTION!" He banged his fist against the wall again. "It's time to raise the roof! …And the stakes." Emma stifled a chuckle, having an idea on what he was about to do.

"Eh?" Apollo asked, confused.

"Penalties are such frightening things, don't you think?" Klavier asked and leant forwards. "But what if they were a bit more… terrifying?" He played his air guitar before he doubled the penalty. "…Like so." The Judge looked taken aback.

"D-Double penalty?"

"Herr Forehead wishes to take us in a new direction?" Klavier pointed at Apollo. "Then he must be ready for the challenges ahead!" Apollo looked at him with slightly wide eyes for a couple of moments before smirking.

"Challenge accepted." He said. Emma smiled slightly and glanced over at Apollo.

"You've got Polly, keep at it." She said and winked at him playfully. Apollo rolled his eyes at her before pointing to a position on the map.

"The killer shot from… here!"

[To be continued]

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