the three foxes

part three

### Chapter Three: The Court of the Father

2016

William Blackwell, a 42-year-old man, tall with fair skin, meticulously styled golden hair combed back, and piercing blue eyes. He wore a finely tailored black suit, reflecting his calm and high status. William stood in the center of a dark and ominous room, alone without witnesses, jurors, or even spectators. The dim light cast shadows on his tense face, highlighting his isolation. In front of him, anonymous judges sat in unknown numbers, concealed in the shadows, watching him with anticipation and complete silence. The room was filled with an atmosphere of grandeur and dread, where the accused felt increasing isolation and pressure with each passing minute.

Jacob Blackwell, William's blood brother, began speaking in a firm voice, "Your charges have become significant. First, plotting a coup to take control of the family. Second, contracting with external parties such as the Gods organization to harm the family. Third, engaging in an extramarital affair and having three illegitimate children with tainted blood, which the Blackwell family forbids. Do you have any statements to defend yourself?"

William looked at his brother and smiled faintly, speaking with coldness and calm, "No, I have nothing to say."

Jacob shouted in his loudest voice, "According to family law, let any judge who wishes to question the accused stand."

Among the judges, one stood up—Lawrence Blackwell. Jacob took his seat, and Lawrence began questioning William.

Lawrence, calmly with a hint of wonder and inquiry in his eyes, "You were the legitimate heir to the family leadership, but to protect your three children from the tainted blood execution order, you planned to take control of the family and change its laws. However, when your plans were revealed, everything was thwarted, and you lost everything. All you managed to do was spend some of your points with the Gods organization to protect your children for three years. I don't understand."

William: "What don't you understand?"

Lawrence: "The points you had could have secured protection for your children for at least eight years. Why did you give them only three years? Why didn't you include the mother of your children in the protection? What did you do with the rest of the points, and where were you during the first ten days of this month?"

William, with a sly smile, said, "I gave them three years so they wouldn't say I left them unprotected. This way, after my death, I gave them a chance to protect themselves. As for the rest of the points, I drank alcohol and had the best nights with women in the past ten days. Honestly, I wished you were with me to have the best time together, cousin. Do you want anything else?"

Lawrence looked at William with disgust, knowing that everything he said was nonsense. But what was he hiding? What happened to his enormous points, and why three years? However, he knew that no matter how much he tried, he wouldn't succeed in getting anything out of him.

Jacob stood up after the questions ended and spoke in his loudest voice, "The court sentences William Arthur Henry Blackwell to death. As for his three children and their mother, they are to be brought to the family mansion under the custody of the current family head, Arthur Henry Blackwell. William Blackwell, do you have any last words?"

William, with a calm smile: "There is an Arabic proverb that says: (He who has children does not die)."

The words ended, and the sentence began to be carried out, leaving behind a mystery greater than what the family could easily solve.