The Trial - Continued
A ripple ran through the gallery.
Faces that once wore smug smiles — faces that had whispered about justice and moral outrage — now stiffened. Spines straightened too quickly. Hands clenched in laps. Lips paled.
Beryl Tai continued, each word landing with surgical precision.
"But desperation alone did not satisfy them." His eyes hardened. "They went further. Together, they conspired to hire members of the Crescent Moon — a notorious international killing syndicate — to murder Amelia Yang."
A sharp inhale tore through the courtroom.
Someone gasped audibly.
Another spectator's hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide with horror.
"Their attempt failed," Beryl said, unflinching, "only because Arch. Guang Zhao placed himself between the blade and Mrs. Yang."
The name ec
