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The fire began to spread at a terrifying speed.

A politician came out in person, doing the whole dogeza thing while pleading, “My life is in danger,” and “I couldn’t help but commit corruption,” so it was bound to create a buzz. Journalists, eyes wide with excitement, started frantically typing out articles as if a scoop had dropped, and even the upper management, who usually cut or revised anything political, turned a blind eye to the frenzy of the journalists.

No, it went beyond simply turning a blind eye; they actively encouraged it.

“Hey, is that all you can write? Make it more provocative! Make him out to be a real monster. Make it sound like he wouldn’t be forgiven even if he committed seppuku! Is that so hard?”

“Editor-in-chief! We’re going to get sued like this!”

“Sued? We’re writing anonymously, so what’s there to sue? And if they want to sue, let them! Those bums don’t hold a candle to the people behind us. The higher-ups are really angry. How dare a mere sword try to harm its master?”

“Oh.”

“Do you understand what you need to do now? You’ve got the support of the big shots, so just write without hesitation. We’re not saying to attack someone innocent; we’re just telling you to go wild on those who’ve committed crimes!”

“Yes.”

If it seemed too vague to avoid problems, they’d complain about it, and later, if they tried to highlight Ryosuke’s faults, they’d criticize saying they weren’t addressing the right person and acting weird.

Most newspapers poured all their energy into tearing apart the warriors and construction companies that had “the audacity to threaten the upper-ups using just a sword.” They pooled their connections, family power, money, and worked together regardless of whether they belonged to the Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party, or the Communist Party.

Is Ryosuke being targeted by politicians?

Is he being subtly ostracized?

That had nothing to do with it.

No matter how much he was being ostracized by them, the fact remained that he was a politician. For the modern nobility, ‘politician,’ leading Japan, it was absolutely unacceptable for a warrior who was deemed nothing more than a tool to wield a sword against them.

The privileges of the elite must be maintained, and the dignity of those who lead the country is something no one below should even think of surpassing. Politicians began diligently punishing anyone who dared infringe upon their privileges, and as a result, countless articles flooded the media, while police and prosecutors started hunting for crimes.

“Investigation into Kurotsurugimine’s solar energy facility, shocking! The worst embezzlement case!”

“CEO of OO Construction arrested…”

“Continuous roots, the public is outraged.”

“Justice Minister Inosuke: ‘Unthinkable. We will thoroughly investigate and uproot it.'”

Guilty?

Let’s start by taking them in.

If there was even a slight connection to the solar energy facility, anyone related to the construction—material managers, accountants, and all management levels—were caught. And when someone caught mentioned another name, that person was also taken in, and so it spiraled on.

Won’t name anyone else?

Refusing to cooperate?

That was completely unacceptable.

“You’d better blow the whistle now; otherwise, you’ll be found guilty for sure at the trial. You’ll have a criminal label, be unwelcome in your hometown, and face murahachibu (village ostracism) everywhere you go.”

“Let’s see, one son and one daughter? Wow. What a harmonious family. But have you thought about what will happen if you get a criminal label? This harmonious family will be shattered.”

“A father is a criminal? A disgrace to your hometown and your village? Your son who earnestly learns under you to inherit the family business will naturally fail to get a proper job. And your daughter… well, where can she go to get married? Huh? Why do you look like I’m threatening you? I’m just stating the facts.”

“In our society, having a criminal relative leads to harassment. You know this, right? But a father is a criminal? Wow. Where can she find a good marriage? I mean, she might just lose her means of living too. Given your daughter doesn’t seem like a scholar, who would hire the daughter of a criminal as a worker? So naturally, what opportunities are there left for her?”

“How unfortunate! So unfortunate! Your son’s life, filled with sweat in the family business and a hope for a harmonious and happy life, is ruined, and your daughter’s chance to get married and live as a housewife falls into the sewers. Ah, and what about your wife? Working diligently at her company? Do you think she can stay there after you’re arrested as a criminal? Tsk, tsk, tsk. One father’s failure to cooperate with the investigation could destroy the entire family.”

The prosecutor’s horrific threats were something they couldn’t endure.

There exists such a thing as ‘original sin’ (冤罪, えんざい).

Put simply, it means an unjustly imposed crime.

And… it’s also a term that denotes Japan’s almost magical judicial system that makes it difficult to prove innocence once charged.

This ‘original sin,’ twisted by Japan’s elite bureaucratic tendencies, dictates that once charged, the person is viewed as guilty, and the prosecution is seen as righteous. Even if proven innocent during the trial, the verdict of not guilty is rarely handed out.

This is due to the combined inclination of elite bureaucrats to avoid admitting mistakes and shirking responsibilities. Furthermore, if a charged case is pronounced not guilty, it creates issues for their careers, making the existence of the concept of original sin all the more bizarre.

“Let’s settle this nicely. There are many high-ranking individuals already involved and countless elites eagerly digging up data. Are you getting it? The moment you fail to cooperate properly, only those who’ve studied far more than you could ever imagine will rush in just to take you down. Every act of criminality you’ve committed will surface, your sordid life will be dissected, and they’ll brand you as an unnecessary non-citizen of Japan. Is that really what you want?”

And this original sin applies from the moment you’re charged.

Once the prosecutor drags you into court claiming you’re guilty, there’s no turning back. A prosecutor must inevitably find a crime to ensure a guilty verdict to avoid issues in their career, and if evidence is lacking or the situation seems unfavorable for an acquittal, they will do whatever it takes to get a conviction.

And if you become guilty?

That’s the end.

Even if evidence proving your innocence surfaces, it won’t gain any traction due to the indifference of the prosecution and judiciary, retrials will be dismissed, and even if you try to commence one, the process will be dragged out until it’s as late as possible. Even if it does open, it can be canceled due to a prosecution appeal.

Once branded guilty, there’s no escaping it.

Even with a stroke of luck to get away, many years will have passed, your reputation will be shredded, and you’ll live a life of misery with nothing left—money and foundation, all gone.

“I will speak. There were some people who appeared as guards at the construction site. They said they were from a famous school….”

“A famous school? Do you remember the name?”

“I don’t really know. I wasn’t close with them. Honestly, when looking at the faces and bodies of warriors, it’s a bit intimidating to approach… ”

“Why? Aren’t construction folks supposed to not care about such things?”

“Well… even if we’re tough and strong, I wouldn’t want to get tangled up with people skilled in wielding swords aiming to kill. Moreover, if those folks had approached me cheerfully, that would have been different, but they didn’t. So I haven’t had any actual conversations with them.”

“So you don’t even know their style?”

“That’s correct, but…”

“Oh, really? You don’t know that they were from the Shiheng Style?”

“Huh? No, I don’t… Ah. That’s right. They were linked to the Shiheng Style, yes. Now I remember! Hearing the prosecutor’s words jogged my memory.”

“Good. Now that you have remembered, do you recall the color of the energy they use?”

“I’ve never seen it… No, I have! It wasn’t white… nor red! I think it was blue! Yes! It was definitely blue! Hahaha….”

That’s why those who were caught had no choice but to ‘cooperate’ actively.

They played along with the subtle hints the prosecutor gave out and the words spoken, knowing full well that each piece of information they let slip would be used as a blade in the prosecutor’s hands to save their skins.

And so, the sharp enough blade was completed for the prosecutor’s wielding.

All those numerous ‘confessions’ coming from witnesses became the grip of the sword, and desperate ‘witnesses’ trying to avoid the miserable collapse caused by original sin became the blade.

“Head of Yatadoarangkryu, Hiramoto Michisige—arrested under various criminal charges!”

The sharp blade aimed to cut down the Yatadoarangkryu.

* * *

“We are innocent!”

Hiramoto Michisige of the Yatadoarangkryu proclaimed his innocence.

“Oh really?”

But the prosecutor sitting opposite him showed no interest, even as he pled with tearing eyes full of injustice. Instead, they stared at him with a cold, unfeeling gaze, much like observing livestock waiting for slaughter.

“Everyone who came here said so.”

“Yes, but I am innocent, truly!”

The prosecutor smirked at Michisige’s outcry of innocence.

“Wow, what a bold statement. Listen, head. Even a five-year-old boy knowing his seven-five-three can’t say he’s innocent. No matter how much you declare your innocence, you are still guilty.”

“What evidence do you have for that?!”

“Evidence? I have a pile of testimonies right here…. For starters, weren’t there warriors of the Yatadoarangkryu employed as guards at the solar energy facility construction?”

“That’s only natural. Our warriors from the Yatadoarangkryu have…”

“Not so natural! With shoddy construction, threats to politicians, embezzlement! Your style’s warrior was in a place brimming with all sorts of crimes; how could that possibly be considered natural?!”

“But there’s no evidence that warrior participated in any wrongdoing!”

“There are testimonies! Someone saw him meeting a construction executive in a secluded area at night!”

“What?! That could just have been…. No, it’s just a conversation at night, right?”

“Someone heard you urging to ensure tight security, just in case anyone got caught!”

“Wh-what?!”

Michisige stared blankly at the prosecutor.

“Say that again? There are plenty of testimonies and witnesses. So… let’s confess what you did with mana, what deeds you committed, and why. Then, maybe your sins can be lightened, and you’ll have a chance at survival.”

“Wha-what did I even do with mana?!”

The prosecutor, seeing Michisige’s anger flair up at the mention of mana, smirked and pulled out his smartphone to call someone. Then, once the video call connected, he turned the screen toward Michisige.

“What’s with the video call all of a sudden? Huh?”

There were two figures on the screen.

One was a master he recognized from the Shiheng Style. The other, a young man dressed like a Shinto priest, ready to speak.

 

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