Ch 187.

  Matt’s puppet observed intently as Apricity’s mother, Cassie, settled into the judge's seat for the trial. It pondered the reasoning behind her selection, concluding that both Apricity and Jaelyn lacked the neutrality required for such a role, while Cassie was respected enough to fulfill it. However, a single glance at Cassie revealed her displeasure as she motioned for Matt’s puppet to present the charges against Louie and explain why he deemed him guilty. Once Matt’s puppet had articulated its case, Cassie shifted gears, adopting the demeanor of a defense attorney as she interrogated him.

  “Do you have any way to demonstrate that Louie here was fully responsible for what transpired?” she inquired, her brow furrowing in skepticism.

  “No, but if you ask anyone affected by the ship incident, they should recall enough details,” Matt’s puppet replied, a frown creasing its features. “We lack our modern conveniences, and I’m unaware of anyone who can perceive the full extent of his abilities.”

  “Louie, do you have anything you wish to say before we summon those impacted by the event near our ship?” Cassie asked, her expression still serious. “Keep in mind that you are likely the only one here who will advocate for yourself, and while we can’t promise that your words will change anything, staying silent won’t bode well for your fate.”

  “So what, you all will just kill me for using a skill I didn’t even know I had!” Louie shouted, his voice rising with indignation. “Even now, I’m terrified that if any of you try to help me, it will lead to my end, and yet if no one does, I’m just as likely to die! What am I supposed to say? ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realize I had mind control powers, but now that I do, I’ll only use them for good’? I’m not stupid; I understand how terrifying such powers can be! That’s why I ran and risked my life against whatever threats lurk out there, but no, you couldn’t just let me go!”

  “If you’re finished throwing a fit, we can proceed to hear the testimonies of those you affected,” Cassie remarked, her tone dripping with boredom. “For your sake, I hope some of them show you mercy.”

  What followed were the accounts of each person known to be affected, with each individual speaking for around two to five minutes. As the hours passed, the sky darkened and the stars began to come out, indicating that it was well into the night by the time Paige was finally called to close out the trial. Matt’s puppet sensed that this timing had been orchestrated to give Louie the best chance possible, as Paige spoke earnestly about Louie both before and after the integration. She recounted the tragic loss of his entire family and how he consistently expressed a desire to do good in the world. Finally, the moment arrived for her to recount their journey while following Jaelyn’s group, and Cassie prompted her to describe it.

  “We just kept to the back and made sure not to get near Jaelyn,” Paige stated with a casual shrug. “Honestly, no one cared that Louie and I wanted to travel with them; it’s dangerous out there, and they knew us. It was only when we got close to this area that we broke off to speak with other groups nearby, but that was solely to gather any information we could while ensuring Jaelyn didn’t see us. She can be a bit controlling when it comes to people not following her orders, and to me it’s strange just how many people listen to her.”

  “Please keep your comments focused on you and Louie,” Cassie interrupted, her frown deepening. “Jaelyn has her role, and most who follow her do so in hopes of gaining strength, as that is what they are offered.”

  “Right, this world sucks,” Paige muttered under her breath, crossing her arms defiantly. “Anyway, you know the rest—a ton of people have already shared their stories. And no, I don’t think I was under any compulsion before our encounter with Matt or whatever he is, since it isn’t the real Matt, apparently. So, am I done here, or do you want me to stick around and watch as you kill my—my friend?”

  “That hasn’t been decided yet,” Cassie replied, her expression softening slightly. “You may yet have a role to play in his survival.”

  “Don’t toy with my emotions,” Paige shot back, her voice sharp.

  “She isn’t,” Apricity said reluctantly, glancing at Paige with an earnest look. “Paths often respond to what we need. From what you’ve shared, you’re only level 15, correct?”

  “Yeah, and what of it?” Paige retorted, her brow furrowing.

  “You will go to the dungeon and seek the power to nullify any mind-altering effects,” Jaelyn stated firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. “You must accept becoming his shackle, understanding that if he ever uses his ability without a reason that saves lives, you will be judged alongside him.”

  “I thought the twelve over there were the ones who get to decide his fate?” Paige questioned, a hard look in her eyes. “Plus, why should I be the one stuck watching over him for the rest of my life?”

  “The twelve will indeed decide his fate,” Apricity admitted. “We are merely providing an option for them to consider in order to avoid executing him. Right now, his execution isn’t the only option on the table, as Matt’s puppet over there wields a skill that Matt despises. I won’t divulge what it does, but it would make what Louie does to others feel gentle, albeit limited in the number of people it can affect. This situation is just as likely to lead to his death eventually, given how dangerous his role is, and Matt would likely push him to level up until he becomes useful.”

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  “I am not using that ability on him,” Matt’s puppet declared resolutely. “I still regret using it on the one person I did, and I hope to never use it on another person. The giant octopus that is still trapped by it is bad enough as it is.”

  A low murmur rippled through the crowd at Matt’s puppet’s words, but after a heavy silence settled over the group, all eyes shifted back to Paige, who wore an expression of inner turmoil. It was evident that the thought of being permanently tethered to Louie as his minder unsettled her, yet the weight of his potential death loomed over her like a dark cloud. Finally, under Cassie's gentle but insistent prodding, she spoke up. “I would prefer if he was given a chance to control it first.”

  “Even if he did,” Jaelyn interjected with a weary sigh, “the risk that he might use it when threatened still exists. Trust me, I know this struggle all too well. I grapple with a skill that compels others to prioritize my survival, and it teeters right on the edge of what Matt has deemed acceptable for me to continue living. When he first discovered it, I received a stark warning: get it under control or face execution. The only reason I wasn’t placed in the same predicament as Louie is that my skill inadvertently benefited the group, encouraging cooperation. Even so, it stirred up significant conflict, and some have yet to forgive me.”

  “In case you’re wondering, she is talking about me,” Matt’s puppet remarked dryly. “She knows that I’ll end her if she steps out of line, which is precisely why I’m confident she won’t. After all, what good would it do for her to rebel if it would surely lead to her own demise?”

  “You really are a cold-blooded bastard,” Paige shot back, a mix of anger and resignation in her tone. “Fine, if the decision is made to give him a chance at life, I’ll accept the role of his jailor, assuming I can even acquire the ability you mentioned.”

  “Alright, there you have it,” Cassie said, directing her gaze toward the twelve jurors. “Apricity will escort you all to her tent for deliberation, and we will reconvene tomorrow once you have reached a decision. I want each of you to reflect on this tonight and limit your discussions. A man’s life hangs in the balance, and I will not allow anyone to claim we rushed to judgment. Matt, you’ll keep watch over him tonight, and hopefully, we will know his fate by morning.”

  “Fine, but I’m heading out of the settlement and I don’t want anyone following me; where I plan to keep him is a secret,” Matt’s puppet replied with a weary sigh. “We should return in the early afternoon.”

  With a nod from Cassie, Matt led a visibly disheartened Louie out of the settlement as the crowd began to disperse. The air felt heavy with unspoken tension, and as they walked, it was evident that Louie was grappling with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Despite this, he found himself compelled to speak the moment it was just him and Matt's puppet. "What was the option that you refused?"

  "I could implant a piece of myself inside you that can track your movements and take over your body if I choose," Matt's puppet stated without a hint of hesitation. "It's a dreadful ability, one I reserve for those who pose a lethal threat to me, but I have my reasons for sparing lives. Even then, I would prefer not to use it, as I know firsthand what that experience entails, and it’s far from pleasant."

  "I see," Louie replied, sounding more intrigued than alarmed. "Could doing that to me help me overcome my fear of fighting? I mean, it still seems better than dying. And if they give Paige a chance, but she fails, does that mean I die as well?"

  "Yes, and I don’t like that you seem so interested in relinquishing your free will," Matt's puppet responded, a warning lacing its tone. "Let me be clear: if I were to do that to you, I would be seizing control of most of the cells in your body, able to hijack it whenever I wanted. However, only you could access your abilities. So, no, I wouldn’t be able to wield your mind control at will."

  "That’s good to know, but does that mean you wouldn’t be able to turn it off either?" Louie pressed, a flicker of concern crossing his features.

  "Turning it off would simply mean hijacking your brain and killing you. That’s how I expect things would ultimately end up. So, drop the idea. Even if Paige fails, I am not doing that to you."

  With that, Louie slumped slightly, his shoulders sagging as he fought to hold back tears. Matt’s puppet sensed the young man was at the end of his rope, worried that he might shatter under the weight of his despair before they could return to hear the verdict. Yet, Matt’s puppet pushed aside that concern and navigated toward a secluded spot nestled between two small hills, a location Bob had discovered during the trial. There, they settled in for the night, the cool air wrapping around them like a shroud. Matt’s puppet focused intently on staying awake, knowing it was still too early to attempt contacting the other clones for updates. This was particularly frustrating, as Matt’s puppet longed for additional perspectives on how to manage Louie’s situation.

  Sure, the young man posed a danger, but he also represented a tremendous opportunity; if he could be trained and controlled, he might single-handedly turn the tide of battles. Yet, Matt’s puppet understood that, in the grand scheme of things, the significance of Louie’s abilities was constrained by the fact that they only impacted those weaker than him. In that respect, Matt’s own power to dominate those more formidable than himself was far superior; a single low S rank was likely worth thousands of mid A ranks in a confrontation, based on what he had observed. However, if Louie could ascend to S rank, wouldn’t he then have the capacity to control entire planets with his ability? If that were the case, he could either ensure that everyone lived in harmony or rally them all for impending wars.

  This unsettling thought twisted in Matt’s puppet’s stomach, a deep-seated dread that Louie should never be allowed to attain such overwhelming power. After all, if he did, Matt’s puppet was certain that Matt would feel an unbearable sense of responsibility for the loss of free will across an entire world. No, Matt’s puppet concluded that the only role that made sense for Louie was that of a prison warden; at least then, those under his control would have been convicted of crimes. It was this grim notion that occupied Matt’s puppet’s mind throughout the night, as he thoroughly considered the implications of Louie’s potential and the heavy burden it carried.