The monk Alexander entered slowly.
Lucas hurried forward and said, "Master Alexander, forgive my lack of courtesy in receiving you."
Alexander nodded. "I have come to settle a matter. I believe Windsor and the Tan family are here for the same purpose."
Lucas frowned. "And what matter would that be, Master?"
"This," Mia declared, drawing a folding fan from her sleeve. "Does anyone recognize this?"
When the crowd shook their heads, Mia turned to Lucas. "You must know it, don't you?"
Lucas stiffened. "That is my fan. How did you come by it?"
Mia smirked. "I found it in the courtyard the day my brother Matthew was murdered. Which means—you are the killer." Her accusation struck like a hammer upon an anvil.
At this, Elliott spoke up. "Master Alexander, I have a question—may I seek your wisdom?"
Though Mia was confident in her case against Lucas, this black-robed stranger unsettled her.
"Master," Elliott continued, "how does Buddhism interpret the sight of a blind man?" His question seemed entirely unrelated.
Mia's tension eased slightly. Alexander replied, "The sutras say the blind see with their hearts. Thus, they perceive more clearly than ordinary men."
"Is that so?" Elliott said. "Then perhaps my words carry weight, for I, too, see clearly." He removed his mask, revealing a strikingly handsome face—marred only by his sightless eyes.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. No one had expected him to be blind.
Elliott pressed on. "From the start, the Beggar Sect has claimed Matthew died by his own signature technique—hence why you suspect the Kennedys, as 'returning a man's own blade' is their hallmark. But now, you accuse Lucas based solely on a fan? Isn't that rather... arbitrary?"
Alexander stroked his chin. "Indeed, the logic is flawed."
Jackson, growing impatient, snapped, "But Lucas is the killer!"
Lucas glared. Perfect, Elliott thought. Just waiting for you to slip up.
"Were you there?" Elliott countered. "If you knew for certain Lucas did it, why didn't you speak up when the Beggar Sect blamed the Kennedys? Your motives are suspect. Are you trying to turn the Beggar Sect and the Kennedys into mortal enemies? Such a man's words are not to be trusted!" He left no room for Jackson to retort.
"Well said!" Henry chimed in—then shrank back under the stares of the crowd.
Elliott smirked inwardly. This kid's playing along nicely. The others, swayed by his argument, eyed Jackson with newfound doubt.
Seeing the tide turn, Mia quickly interjected, "I know Lucas is guilty—because of this!" She produced a letter. "Let Master Alexander read it. Then you'll all see the truth."