Chapter 136: The Diverging Paths in the Garden Will Eventually Converge

"I like chatting with you because I always gain something. I don't like chatting with you because you always hurt me." Yang Yi did not answer directly, but said this instead.

"You are much more honest than before, and much more cunning." Vider looked at her carefully and suddenly said, "Using honesty to evade the real problem."

"Thank you for your compliment—I'll take that as a compliment. It means I am much more mature than before. I am truly happy for myself; I have learned the cunning and hypocrisy of adults." Yang Yi said without a care.

Vider looked at her twice and said nothing.

Suddenly, the outside was quickly surrounded, not only by Xia Kingdom's peacekeeping forces, but also by peacekeeping teams from other nations.

Seeing the crowd in the courtyard frozen in place, even though they had known beforehand that Yang Yi was here, they were still shocked, because the Punishment Organization consisted entirely of Awakened ones, with no ordinary people.

A long-haired officer with yellow skin and black eyes saw Yang Yi and Vider from the office doorway; his expression was surprised, but he quickly concealed it.

"Captain Yang, Chad Republic Peacekeeping Force of the United Nations, Luo Yuanhang, salutes you. We are ordered to come and assist your work." He snapped his legs together and saluted Yang Yi, as if he did not see Vider sitting opposite her drinking coffee.

When involving international affairs, Xia Kingdom has always shown the demeanor of a great power. Even though Yang Yi could easily resolve everyone present, based on the fact that the Punishment Organization is an international terrorist organization committing crimes against all humanity, Yang Yi this time came to arrest Vider in the capacity of a special envoy from the Mobile Division of the International Awakened Alliance.

"Then, I leave this side to you," Yang Yi said. "I will take Vider to the United Nations for trial."

Yang Yi maintained her ability for a while until everyone in the Punishment Organization was handcuffed with anti-matter handcuffs by the peacekeeping forces and could no longer use their abilities to cause trouble; only then did Yang Yi fly away with Vider toward the United Nations.

Since the United Nations headquarters located in Xincheng, Ark Country, was bombed, the new United Nations building has not yet been constructed. Therefore, important United Nations affairs have been moved to the United Nations European Office—the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Rui Country.

When Yang Yi landed with Vider in front of the Palace of Nations, United Nations officials and troops were already waiting. After handing Vider over to them, Yang Yi did not wish to stay, but Jefferson Weber, Chairman of the International Awakened Alliance, actively detained her.

"Vider's danger is too great, and his accomplices are now spread across the globe. We do not have much confidence in being able to completely confine him. Therefore, please, Ms. Yang, stay at the United Nations for now; it is not too late to leave after the international court finishes Vider's trial."

These words were spoken very sincerely. Thinking of Vider's danger, Yang Yi stayed.

The international trial against Vider was convened quickly, not dragging on like usual international affairs.

Perhaps his crimes were too numerous to record, or perhaps the United Nations wanted to set up a target for people after this apocalyptic crisis, so that the public's anger could shift from the incompetent governments of various nations to the Punishment Organization, giving the people an outlet for their rage. On the third day after Yang Yi arrived at the United Nations Palace of Nations, the International Criminal Court began an unprecedented trial, broadcast live globally.

The International Criminal Court is composed of fifteen judges from different nations. As a privilege, the five permanent members of the Security Council always have someone serving as a judge.

The President is elected by secret ballot from all judges, with a term of three years. This year's President is Daria Petrova from Ross Country.

During the global broadcast, public prosecution was initiated by nations worldwide to try Vider.

Yang Yi attended as a special witness.

Vider refused the defense lawyer assigned by the court and chose to defend himself.

He stood inside a specially made glass cage capable of blocking anti-matter, speaking confidently to the cameras.

"I do not wish to deny the crimes I have committed." Standing inside the glass cage, like standing on a high podium, he said, "Under the cosmic dimension, human civilization is not great, and humans are not the wisest of all things. Humans are merely a most ordinary, low-level creature, a kind of intelligent monkey. Human civilization is merely an accident."

Ignoring the different expressions on the faces of various people in the courtroom, he continued, "If the universe is an ocean, humans are merely the smallest group of shrimp in that ocean. Now, a whale swims over; with one open mouth, it swallows a ton of fish and shrimp, yet this group of shrimp, due to their own smallness, cannot see nor understand the existence of the whale."

"One shrimp saw the future of its species; it wanted to save its species. The only method was to abandon those ordinary shrimp, selecting only the strongest among them, and using those ordinary shrimp as a price, allowing these strong shrimp to survive. Only thus could the entire shrimp species continue to reproduce."

"I am proud to have inspired those strong shrimp. The only fault is abandoning those ordinary shrimp. But, sometimes sacrifice is necessary, and it is mandatory."

"Even if this shrimp species eventually produced a lobster, what then?" His gaze looked at Yang Yi in the audience, "Can a single lobster stop the whale's steps?"

Finally, the International Criminal Court ruled that Vider Davis committed crimes against humanity and would be executed by injection at 9:00 AM tomorrow, in front of the global broadcast.

Hearing this verdict, Vider's expression remained calm, as if he had expected it all along.

That evening, just as Yang Yi was preparing to rest, the door was knocked on by staff.

"Vider Davis says he wishes to see you one last time before he dies." That United Nations police officer said to her uneasily.

Yang Yi then put her clothes back on properly and came to a special prison located underground.

"I need to confirm: if that One descends upon Earth, human power is fundamentally unable to resist—that is inevitable. If sacrificing all ordinary people could secure the continuation of the new humans, would you still persist in your benevolent view that 'every life deserves respect'?"

The cage was specially made, capable of blocking anti-matter energy and restricting Vider's Awakened abilities.

Inside the cage, Vider stared at her fiercely and said in an urgent tone, "If He demands you personally kill billions of ordinary people to preserve the continuation of the remaining humans, will you do it? Or will you still persist in your 'no killing' principle—don't deny it, I am certain you secretly established such a ridiculous principle for yourself—will you do it?"

Yang Yi pondered for a very long, very long time.

Finally, she said, "I am not sure."

But this answer already made Vider feel satisfied; he suddenly burst into laughter.

"Although we walk different paths, our destinations are the same... the diverging paths in the garden will eventually converge..." Vider looked at her with a strange gaze, as if he had come to know her anew.