Vance’s blood spread out before An Zhe’s eyes, a deep red. The people in the queue heard the movements and turned to look over here. Seeing what happened, they turned back as usual, as if nothing had happened.

However, Vance died. A man was killed at the gates of the human base and no one disputed it.

An Zhe suddenly realized that this person was the Judge, the man Vance had mentioned to him a day earlier. He was the master of the Trial Court, the judge of whether everyone who entered the gate was human or heterogenous. He could decide the life and death of any person, no matter who, with no reason needed.

Now it was An Zhe’s turn to stand trial. At first, his heart beat hard. The moment the muzzle pointed at him, An Zhe realized he was really going to die. Yet looking at the judge’s cold green eyes, he gradually returned to calm. Coming to the Northern Base was a decision he had to make. So this trial was his end, no matter the outcome.

He was quiet and counted the seconds in his heart.

One, two, three.

The sound of the gun didn’t ring out. The judge pointed the gun at him and walked slowly to this side. The people on the queue sped up their pace. They spontaneously moved forward and after a few moments, this place was empty with only An Zhe remaining.

11, 12, 13.

By the 14th second, the judge had come to him. The ring finger clasped the handle of the gun as he lowered the muzzle. Then he put away his weapon. An Zhe heard him say, “Come with me.”

The tone was cold and plain, like his eyes. An Zhe stood there waiting for him to leave but three seconds later, the man hadn’t moved. He looked up in disbelief. Then he heard the judge’s voice that was colder than before. “Reach out your hand.”

An Zhe held out his hand.

Click.

He shivered at the icy feeling. One end of the silver handcuffs was around his wrist while the other was held by the officer.

An Zhe was led away like this. Curiously, when Vance had been shot, the people in the queue didn’t respond. Now that he was taken away by the judge, they turned their heads and whispered to each other.

An Zhe only had time to look at the fallen Vance’s body when he was dragged through the gate of the city. Inside the gate, he found it wasn’t a narrow passage but a vast area divided into several spaces with white lights everywhere. The lights reflected on the steel walls, like a grey shade reflecting the light of winter.