49 49. Value

"Y-you set us up!?"

"I didn't set anyone up, this one simply took a Gem-Recorder. It sensed you guys flying around us like flies so it took the feed, you simply moved according to its thoughts, in other words, the played you."

Gargosa was at a lost for word. He does not know if Colt was telling the truth or not, but hearing him say he was played by a cat made him so embarrassed his blood rushed to his head. To make matters worse the cat even looked at him and did the cat-version of a sneer.

"Nyi!" Fluff's paws were raised to incense them further.

Colt is not a man of many talents.

Right now, he is an expert in the sword because he inherited the original's untapped potential and he knows a lot about the power system and magical beasts because they are fantasy elements to him.

But not being a man of many talents does not translate to him being incompetent.

He is a man of a few skills and one of them are setting up someone. Being a delusional introvert, it is only natural for him to contemplate on how he should take revenge on others.

The revenge part doesn't happen on earth other than when he broke up with his ex, however, that doesn't mean his ideas had gone down the drain. Quite the opposite as the ideas began to swirl in his mind and from time to time, he would perfect these thoughts until they are seamless.

Of course, the idea of his plans being seamless is nothing but a pier dream, but right now as he stared at Gargosa and the rest, Colt managed to execute it down the very last detail.

He set things up even before the lynching happened. Having Fluff leave him so that they will not fear him and have it carried the Gem-Recorder to record everything that will transpire.

Before the act began, he checked if Fluff was in the scene and made sure to alter the tone and range of his voice when needed. Making sure his provocative words will not reach the Gem-Recorder and only his pleadings could be heard.

Yes, his attempt to set this up caused him to be beaten like a dog for some time, and be humiliated but all of that is worth it. He does not like pain, but he also didn't like being walked over by everyone just because Mina is with him.

He knows his past leaves many to be desired and his strength is not something he can flaunt about, but he is trying. And to those who are trying to ruin what he is trying to build on will become the sacrifice and become his stepping stone.

'This is not a game and I am not just some background character. I must take the limelight, and with your sacrifices, I will take one more step up the stairs of grandeur.'

Cutlass Meyers looked at Colt's honest and untainted eyes. He was the Professor of an aura class, the highest in the Warrior Class teaching hierarchy. Teaching students for 30 years had let him a bunch of youth who shone to become great figures of today.

One such figure was Shickly Edgeworth.

'He's as fierce as his father…well if he's not sleeping or drinking wine that is.'

Cutlass turned to the Gargosa and his group with an enraged expression.

"Teacher, we~" Gargosa wanted to smooth things over before he can speak, but Cutlass lifted his hands and gave him a crisp slap on the face.

Pah!

"Your lies have already been exposed and yet you try to speak some more? Have you no shame!? Look around you, do you not see their scornful gaze? Do you not feel their disgust on your distasteful deceit!? Your audacity baffles even me, from where do you get your confidence to stage such a scheme!?"

Cutlass' words were like his name; a blade cutting through Gargosa's skin and pride. His face was bright red, and he gritted his teeth as he stared at Colt. His gaze was full of hate. The urge to jump on Colt blossomed in his heart, he wanted to tear him for putting him in such a position.

But the funny this is that the stage he is standing upon was not built by Colt but by himself. Colt's original plan did not have this part. Though he knew he was 60% sure he'd be framed considering how Gargosa stepped out so confidently yesterday, Colt was rather pretty sure he has something other than the ambush.

But not this. The stage he is standing on was constructed by Gargosa meaning, from start to finish of his plan, the one who destroyed Gargosa was not Fluff nor was it Colt, but his recklessness.

"Why are you so angry? You have no right to act as such…"

However, the end is yet to come. Ending this here will simply mark Colt as cunning and ruthless therefore if this spreads nothing will come of it other than him being a scheming person. He is the son of a famed military personnel.

He is the son of Shickly, the one who darts forward on foot against cavalry. He is the son of Shickly who stands at a mountain pass to let his injured companions escape; he is Colt Edgeworth, ending this occasion like this will not garner the attention of people.

His name must resound throughout the ears of everyone in the academy and the people of the capital. Let the King, the Nobles, and Commoners hear his name, let it resound to their hearts who he was and what kind of man he is.

Colt is not powerful enough to get the attention of everyone to call him a genius, so, without any major events happening in the Kingdom, the only way he can get their attention is by doing such audacious acts.

Colt took his pin and threw it over to Gargosa.

"Without any Soul Partner, only the weapons of your choice – I challenge everyone who schemed to defame me to a duel."

For himself, his daughter, and his dignity.

Colt will fight them without fear.