Ace Attorney: Mask of Deceit

Chapter 47: Turnabout Regrets - Trial 2 ~ Part 2

September 7 10:45am

District Court

Courtroom No. 1 ~ Chrysalis Starr's POV

The smug jerk who called himself the Masked Gentleman strutted into the courtroom, twirling his cane with his left hand and keeping his right hand in his pocket. James backed away from him, his face scrunched up with a mixture of confusion and sadness.

"Y-You're...!" the judge gasped, pointing a shaky finger at MG. "You're... that thief...!"

"I am indeed!" MG cried, coming to a stop behind the witness stand. "I make myself shown here for a very simple reason!" He pointed his cane directly at James. "This boy intends to accuse me of the heinous crime of murder! I, however, shall disprove his little theory!"

"What?!" Prosecutor Wood gasped. "James, is it true?! Were you gonna accuse this guy of the murder?!"

James didn't respond; he merely looked away, almost as if he was ashamed of himself. "I shall now prove what this boy has to say is wrong!" MG announced. I gripped the edges of the defense bench, taking out my anger on it.

- Witness Testimony -

- Proof of Innocence -

"This boy claims that I am the killer because some blood was found on a glove?"

"Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha! Just how is such a thing supposed to prove my guilt?!"

"No proof whatsoever exists that it belongs to me."

"You see? You have been listening to false words!"

James was biting his lip in an attempt to hold back the tears now streaming down his face, but had very little luck. Prosecutor Wood looked desperate to run over to him and give him a hug. I was too, to be honest. Cotoli and Roberto were scowling heavily at the Masked Gentleman, of which I don't blame. Not one bit.

"W-Well..." the judge stuttered, clearly still in shock. "The defense... may begin the cross examination of the, um, witness."

"... On it, Your Honour." Cotoli nodded slowly.

- Cross Examination -

"This boy claims that I am the killer because some blood was found on a glove?"

"Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha! Just how is such a thing supposed to prove my guilt?!"

"No proof whatsoever exists that it belongs to me."

*OBJECTION!*

"There is proof." Cotoli announced. "And that proof... is yourself."

"I beg your pardon?" the Masked Gentleman chuckled lightly. "I am the proof?"

"Yes. Because, if you recall, the glove was of a pure white silk material." Cotoli explained. "Not to mention, it looks exactly like the one you're wearing."

"Yeah!" Prosecutor Wood chipped in. "You even have your right hand in your pocket! That's because you don't have the matching glove!"

"..." MG remained silent before sighing heavily. "I must admit I was never the best at arguing. Therefore, I must hand you an early victory."

"Wait, seriously?" I asked. He barely put up a fight.

"Yes." MG nodded. "Simply because... Well! I won't have need of these anymore!" MG flicked off his top hat and removed the glintering golden mask that covered his face. Under that mask was a man of fairly young age, with bright jade green eyes. He wore a small smile on his lips. He looked quite a bit like James.

Wait... he looked like James?

James must have noticed this, too, as he dropped to his knees with an even more dejected look on his face. "N... No..." he muttered. "It can't be...!!!"

"Looks like we'll have to ask again." Roberto said. "Witness... state your name for the court. Your real name."

"Of course." 'MG' bowed. "My real name is... Albert Devine."

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"D-Devine?!" I repeated. I glanced at James, who was practically leaning against the prosecution bench for physical support. MG - or Albert, as we now know - nodded.

"What I want you to explain is why you did everything you've done so far." Roberto explained. "Can you do this?"

"Leave it to me." Albert began, his arms crossed. "It all started six years ago. My father, a lawyer by the name of Richard Devine, vanished. All police searches turned up nothing. So I, despite being just fifteen at the time, decided to leave home in order to search for him. I left behind my now deceased mother, my grandparents and... my younger brother James. I admit, it was a foolish choice on my part. A mere day after I left, I was attacked."

"Attacked?!" the judge repeated. "Attacked by who?!"

"I believe some of you are familiar with them... The Shinokage." Albert closed his eyes. Prosecutor Wood and I gasped; those assassins that caused QS-5?!

"I was lucky: I escaped from their assault alive, although not completely unscathed." Albert continued, holding up his right hand; there was a scar on the back of his hand. So that's how got into my evidence room... "With my injuries and the cold climate of the area, I was weak and would have died if it wasn't for the man named Raymond Templeton."

"Raymond Templeton?!" the judge repeated.

"The very same." Albert nodded. "I suppose you could say he took me in. He owned a mansion, you see, quite a distance to my little village. All I knew at the time was that the Shinokage had something to do with my father's disappearance. I told Raymond my story, and he suggested that I take on the guise of a masked man, taking all of the evidence I needed. Thus, we planned for six years..."

I couldn't believe my ears. All of this... this was the reason why he became the Masked Gentleman...?!

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HANDS UP HOW MANY OF YOU SAW THIS COMING

Also to Croo I know I said the epilogue would be after this but Albert needs to finish his 'why i became the villain' speech and emotional stuff that I couldn't fit in here-

I severely apologise if I kill you anymore-

AceAttorneyFan over and out!