Babatunde instantly noticed Ohta did not display the same respect as the others.
His brows creased.
This close, Ohta saw his face even clearer. Tribal marks aside, Babatunde was not the most handsome man out there.
But the presence spoke of his capabilities.
"Bow!"
Grrrrrhhhh...
The world shook around Ohta. He felt his body suddenly weigh a ton. His feet sang into the earth.
His veins felt like they pumped glass shards to his heart, and his knees felt like they would break under such pressure.
[Ding]
// Kingly Aura (Pauper) responding to external pressure //
// Bonus Lesson: A king who bows with dignity stands taller than those who never kneel //
Ohta was surprised by the sudden alert from the Kingly lesson system.
However, a memory flashed in his mind. It was of his former world.
A time he stubbornly did not give to a cartel’s request because the assumption was that all under the sky was supposed to bow to him.
His stubbornness led to a war. He won, but the cost had been many innocent lives caught in the cross fire.
Back then, he wondered if those innocent civilians would be living their peaceful lives if he was not so stubborn.
A realization dawned on him. However...
Ohta raised his head to Babatunde.
Whoosh... a quick crimson glare from his eyes.
Babatunde was taken back, allowing his mana to sharply ease for a slight second.
Ohta bowed.
//+10 KP//
The alert came in Ohta’s mind.
He was rewarded for that?
Babatunde stared wide eyed, and this lasted a few seconds.
"Lord Babatunde! Lord Babatunde!!" A younger lady called.
Even though she dressed in similar military attire, she was clearly his assistant.
"Hmmm, yes." Babatunde responded, snapping out of his daze.
"We are here to arrest the Azure Dragon cultists." She reminded.
"Yes. Of course, Yemisi." Babatunde responded, gaze becoming firm again.
"If the boy consumed the memory fruit, then he clearly knows the benefits it provides. He must have planned this."
"Planned this?" Ohta raised his head. "Pardon me, Lord Babatunde, but I have no hand in this..."
"Save the excuses. I already read your bland statement." Babatunde interrupted. "And I also inquired from the other students."
’Other students?’ Ohta’s mind went to those hateful faces that accused him of cheating in the day’s test.
A forbade feeling rose in his heart.
"All Avalon students are the same, cunning little things." Babatunde’s disgust was obvious.
"After seeing your prey’s incredible skill after the test, you lured her here and then ganged up on her with the others, so that you can consume her capabilities."
Ohta could not believe his ears. He wanted to protest, but what was he to say. After all, they were no cameras that caught the battle in this open space.
Even worse, he had dove out of the window and Sofia had followed.
That was the evidence Babatunde was using against him.
Ohta gritted his teeth.
"One of the Assaulters exploded in a pool of his own flesh and blood." Ohta added.
"Yes. He did." Yemisi stepped up, "you two must have been fighting for the rights to the memory fruit, and then you got rid of him, so that you can consume it yourself."
Ohta was again left speechless. "But... what of my witness, Boppa? He saw the entire thing."
"Witnes?" Yemisi have a dry chuckle, "you mean the battle merchant that you stole a Beretta M92 from?"
Ohta was tongue tied.
He had intended to pay for the gun after the battle was over. It’s just that at the time, there was no time to waste.
Also, his years struggling in the other world had thought him some bad habits.
Bad habits that were now biting him in the ass.
"The Battle Merchant stated that you stole a weapon from him, and by the time he arrived, you had already disposed of Lady Escobar."
Ohta wanted to talk but he could not even refute those words.
"While deaths during battles are allowed, and sometimes encouraged, Ohta Waterfell, you went too far."
Yemisi waved a hand, and soldiers in similarly red tunics stepped forward.
"Ohta Waterfell, you are under arrest for the Murder of Sofia Escobar and your association with a demonic cult—the Azure Dragon Demonic Cult.
By morning, you will be hanged."
For the second time today, weapons were raised and pointed at Ohta.
Ohta tried to talk, but he could sense at least two fellows with trigger happy fingers, just like his classmate Timi.
’No! No!! No!!! How did it get to this? I have barely had 24hrs in this place and I have already been accused of murder. This cannot be happening.’
Even worse, Ohta could tell, there was now at he was beating this soldiers. He was not so strong.
And even if he could, Yemisi was clearly strong enough to take him down. And then there was Babatunde.
’Is this it? Do I end here?’ Ohta’s frown deepened.
One of the soldiers advanced towards Ohta with cuffs.
"Wait!" Doctor Rock suddenly interrupted, stepping in between Ohta and the pointed guns.
"Lord Babatunde, please. If you could hear me out."
Babatunde’s frowned. "Yes...Golem" he responded with a kind of hidden disgust.
Doctor Rock could see it too, but prejudice against his face was not knew to him.
Besides, even Babatunde had to give Medical practioners some face. It was a standing rule in the empire.
In the war against the invading demon race, medical practitioners had saved millions of lives.
"I don’t think Mr Ohta is either the killer or a member of the Azure Dragon Demonic cult."
"And what proof of that do you have?" Yemisi asked.
"I don’t." Doctor Rock answered.
’Huh!? Doctor iron brain, if you are going to help me, can’t you think up something better?’ Ohta lamented in his mind.
"You can call it a golem’s intuition, but I don’t think Mr Ohta is part of the cult. While there is no current evidence to support this, let me remind you all that Lady Escobar still lays behind us.
After all, we all know that the memory fruit of the 7 rainbow Lotus Fruits Of memory have one major disadvantage.
Any one that consumes it," Doctor Golem turned to Ohta with a pitiful look, "will die..."