COMPLETELY & UTTERLY, HUMAN

three.

soil falling over my head.

"Almost all previously possible suspects have been cleared, Monsieur Neuvillette. We have finished investigating painters in the Court of Fontaine, Poisson, The village near Marcotte Station, thus all that is left is the little village just outside of Opera Epiclese. It is good that they are quite few, although more difficult than anticipated as they are spread out across different places." One of the Gardes state, lightly flicking the document in his hands before continuing, "Just three more suspects to investigate, so surely, we will find out whoever they are within this day—well, assuming that they are still in Fontaine."

"Yes, it would be cumbersome if they were to flee or have already fled from Fontaine." The Iudex nods before pausing, eyeing the Gardes thoughtfully. The personnel seemed to shift in place uneasily under his leveled gaze. "The citizens have grown restless over this so-called 'wild goose chase' as they have worded it. Although..."

Neuvillette thinks it over as his hands clasp his cane firmly, his black gloves smoothing over the gloss of its handle before holding it tightly once again. Would it truly be wise for the Iudex, the Symbol of Justice and therefore also Equality to carelessly voice out his opinion on the matter? Humans hold tightly onto their beliefs, ideals, and inevitably, their biases like a lion to its prey, so who's to say that they may interpret his intentions the wrong way if he were to pluck it from them and switch it for a new one; a new perspective?

The case rubbed him the wrong way.

There have been no cases in the past that were similar to this one, thus he does nor have a basis to rely on. To put it simply, the Iudex—no, Neuvillette— was at a standstill.

Art was vast and boundless, he learned over the years, but recently, he also learned that there were apparently some limitations. So, which one was right and which one was wrong?

The entire time he has been operating as the Iudex, though entrusted by the divine will of the Archons, he has been depending on humans' arbitrary ideals to build judgements. These arbitrary ideals are then concretized into what is "good" and what is "bad" through the establishment of official ethical codes of conduct, moral standards, and constitutions as a foundation for future judgements. Still, it does not take away the fact that these are decisions—subjective decisions—simply made by the collective.

( But isn't that how the Oratrice Mechanique D'Analyse Cardinale operated to a certain extent? Oh. Was he questioning the work of the God of Justice? That cannot be. )

The Iudex sighs, oblivious to the fact that he has been quiet for a while.

How was the Iudex to judge a morally gray matter? He may engage in the art of justice through continuous pursuit towards making fair judgements, but still, the Iudex was no artist.

"Uhm, Monsieur Neuvillette?" The Garde asks, a slight worried lilt in his tone.

Neuvillette snaps his gaze up from where it had fallen. He allows a minuscule apologetic smile to roll across his lips. "Ah, how unbecoming of me. Pardonnez mon impertinence."

The Gardes all looked at each other and shook their heads simultaneously. "N-No, it is quite alright, Monsieur. But... if I may inquire, what were you about to say earlier?"

"It was nothing. Please do not think too much of it." Neuvillette shakes his head lightly. "I thank you for the report on the developments. You may proceed with the investigation."

He pauses.

"And let it be that when you come back here, it is with the identity of the culprit in your hands."