Because this is a court, Zach doesn't want to be too wanton. It would not be good for a vampire to mess around in a place that represents the core of human justice and accidentally affect something important.
So it took some time. But Zach still managed to get to Judge Judy's office, and when no one was paying attention, he opened the door and entered.
"If you just come to defend yourself now." The alien behind the desk already knew about the arrival of the vampire, but did not raise his head. He was lying in front of the desk stacked with documents and signing something, "No need, the plaintiff's lawyer has already I submitted an application to withdraw the lawsuit and applied for a restraining order against you." He looked at Zach, just a glance, without any particular emotion, "I am approving it."
Zach smiled and nodded, making a gesture to please continue. He locked the door 'consciously' and sat across from the desk. He folded his hands and looked at the other party, super direct, "Judge?"
Judy finished signing, stamped a few stamps, put it aside, and pointed to the name tag on her desk, 'Judge Judy Judy', without repeating it, her first and last names were the same. It means to answer Zach, if you are a fake judge, don’t question it.
"I'm beginning to regret that I didn't communicate more with you at the last inheritance wedding." Zach chuckled, "After a few years, the status of the guy I don't want to have has become far higher than before."
Receiving no response, Zach continued—
"I remember, when Anthony became the mayor." Zach began to recall the past, "I gave him a list of the Barton aliens and told him that these people should not appear in any government that can influence human society. In the agency."
The conversation had become serious, but the two interlocutors still maintained their courtesy. At least they were still human beings, right
Judy just shook her head, "Does the list mean anything to a shapeshifter?"
No, shapeshifters have countless forms, and they can become whatever they want to be. but-
"It really doesn't make sense, but I see you." Zach raised his eyebrows, "You haven't changed your identity. When I first came to Barton, you were Judy, and you still are now." Zach raised his hand politely, Pointing at the other person's face and wagging his finger, "I see you put some effort into this face. The wrinkles and some gray hair are all very detailed."
Judy looked at Zach, "And you have not changed at all from the first time we met."
Zach took it as a compliment, no big deal. Since the vampire came to Barton ten years ago, he has not left anyone in front of anyone with a reference that can compare the changes caused by age on ordinary humans. To be honest, his profile photos until recently were all fake black and white photos.
Coupled with the special environment of the funeral home, and the reason why Zach seldom went out before (at least before this year), our vampire's human identity is still safe now.
According to the identity update speed of the former secret alliance, it usually takes about twenty years for a new generation to be carried out. Zach, who carries Grande's last name, will be comfortable for a few more years. Haha, at least Anthony's second term can be completed, and Grande's sister, Alice, can also become a full adult...
"Thank you." Zach was honest about the praise. In order to sincerely thank him for the praise, he should let the other person relax a little. "But, I remember that your last name was not Judy. How did you change it? Besides, Judy." Zach pouted his lips deliberately, "Judy." The meaning was already clear.
"I changed it after I became a judge." Judy seemed to have a fearless attitude. She didn't seem to mind being led by a vampire, "Mist." It should be her original last name, "Judge Mist, listen. It can be easily misunderstood.”
Zach curled his lips, "Misunderstanding, I don't think so. Mist is a very common surname."
"The misunderstanding is not the last name, but the 'judge'." Judy has already taken another document. Judges should be very busy. Zach's locking the door has done her a favor, and no one will send it to her again. Coming to a new job, "When people hear Judge Mister, or anyone with the surname of Judge, they think he will be someone who sits in the court and presides over justice." He glanced at Zach and said, "It's a man."
Zach's eyebrows raised, which was surprising, but not surprising at all. Everyone can understand. When we imagine a person based on a surname in a high and powerful position, is the person we imagine a man or a woman? Let's face it, in this ongoing world, it's men.
Zach nodded slightly, "So if it's Judge Judy, people won't have the possibility of misunderstanding."
Judy withdrew her gaze and flipped through the documents on the table, "Do you have any other questions? I'm very busy."
"You still haven't answered my first question," Zach said with a smile.
"I don't know how to answer." Judy stopped looking at Zach. "You said it yourself. You gave the mayor the list of aliens, and you saw it yourself. I haven't changed my identity, and I'm still Judy." She said. After solving one document, moving on to the next, "Now, I'm sitting here as a judge. What else do you want me to answer."
Zach was stunned for a moment, then curled his lips, "Are you saying that Anthony asked you to become a judge?"
"Tsk." Now, anyone dares to tut at a vampire. Well, it's not Judy's fault, it's Zach who deserves it. Judy put down her pen and looked at the vampire seriously, "Sorry, no one can make me a judge. I became a judge based on my own ability. Your mayor friend." Judy curled her lips, "At most, I didn't stop it. " He curled his lips again, opened the drawer, took out a trophy, and threw it to Zach, "Give me this back."
Zach caught it, took a look, and blinked, how much Anthony likes to give people such messy honors! This has 'Judge of the Year' engraved on it. Remember, the trophy for the best warden...
Zach put down the trophy and looked a little weird, "So, Anthony not only knows that you are a judge, but also supports it, an alien judge?"
"Do you have any prejudice against my race?" Judy seemed unhappy, "Do you think our race is like your Grande's Great Dane and is not worthy of human status?"
Zach frowned, "No, that's for convenience." This is not an excuse, but a fact. After all, Jin's target appearance was James. Zach couldn't let Jin maintain that appearance and let Jin choose. He himself turned into a Great Dane. Zach didn't force it, "But really, judge, Judy, shapechanger, cold-blooded race, judge." Zach tried to make the other party realize that something was wrong.
"No way." The topic seemed to touch on the sense of racial honor. Judy looked at the vampire and faced it without flinching, "We are recognized as the race with the strongest sense of purpose, not just for prey, but for everything. In this way, our race is best suited to abide by the rules. When our race is prosperous, we and our abilities are lawful! In my case, now, it is the law of human society. You have seen it yourself, my court , very fair.”
Indeed, focusing on the facts, even when Zach gave up speaking, he still did not favor the plaintiff and gave him the fairest judgment. as well as-
"I'm honored that you mentioned cold-bloodedness. Do you think that no matter what decision is made, there will inevitably be victory and defeat, two completely opposite results. Does a judge need to be hot-blooded?"
Well, if you put it that way...
Zach frowned and nodded, "Okay, I accept your statement."
Judy was stunned for a moment. She was not prepared for the vampire to be persuaded so easily. The fact is that Zach was not persuaded by her, but by the fact that Anthony supported the existence of this judge. If a human mayor thinks that it's okay to have a skinchanger judge in his city, then what else can Zach say
There is also a small detail, that is, the best of the year trophy is this year. This shows what? It explains that the top vote-getting rhetoric for Aisela's campaign, 'feminism', is already being dealt with by Anthony. Zach will not ruin Anthony's future just for a little imbalance of his own.
Zach stood up, "It seems I'm interrupting." He actually meant to leave, "Goodbye, Judge Judy."
"Wait a minute." Judy stopped Zach, frowning, curling her lips, as if hesitating for something, and put down the work in her hands, "Sit down."
Zach raised his eyebrows but sat down. He watched with some amusement as the other person pushed away the file, took out snacks from the drawer, and started stuffing them into his mouth. A bit like a shapechanger.
"I'm still resting." Judy looked at Zach, "It's rare that you are here. You have also discovered my identity as a judge. There is nothing to hide from you. How about we chat for a while."
Zach nodded, still finding it funny. The other person said there was no need to hide, obviously he was talking about the wedding. At that time, a group of people passed notes through Mrs. Sheila and asked Zach questions, but Judy remained silent.
"I heard that Tam and your descendant named 'General' got together." It was actually gossip.
Zach nodded.
Judy seemed to have thought out the entire chat process, "Is the agreement between you and Tam still there?"
"Forget it, he didn't ask me to unlock the Charming Eyes." Zach felt there was nothing to hide.
Judy deliberately left Zach’s chat. The focus was obviously not on Zach’s agreement with another person. Sorry, so we can’t know what Zach and Tam’s agreement was for the time being. Judy continued, "What about our agreement? Does it need to be maintained?"
"Why do you ask?" Zach smiled.
"I'm a foreigner and a judge. I have my own information channels, both human and foreign." Judy kept putting snacks in her mouth, but it didn't affect her speech. "Kozir from the Sabbat has been here for so long. Well, the Barton family in the West District had inexplicably severed ties with the church before, and Sibella also has some news from the middle of the country, about the departure of the Secret Alliance, not to mention the Smith family's Rimmer."
There was curiosity in her tone, as if the next sentence was - 'Why are you still alive now... '
But she is obviously still aware of the racial gap, "I think we no longer need to maintain that agreement. After all, it is no longer a secret that the last Toledo is in Barton."
Zach didn't even think about it, "Indeed, the previous agreement can be voided." Zach smiled and shook his head, "You also understand, this means that when you are in danger, I don't have to help you. "
Judy's movement of putting food into her mouth paused for a moment, then resumed, shook her head, and said in a somewhat silent tone, "I think I won't be in any danger. The foreign aliens at the beginning of the year, those low-level aliens, spreading Barton are useless. According to the rumors in the main city, I already know that it was the Skinchangers, my own race, who did it." Somewhat lonely, "My race is already at the bottom of the alien society and has to find a new place to live." After taking some time, I stuffed the snacks a little faster, my eyes drifted away, and then returned to normal, "With the chaos in the middle, I don't think they are in the mood to find me, a 'special' person who has disappeared for more than ten years. "
She seemed to have revealed some special information.
Zach obviously knew, but just shrugged indifferently.
Judy adjusted her mood and looked back at Zach, "If you can keep this secret, of course I will be very grateful." Then he laughed at himself inexplicably, "But my gratitude is of no use to you."
"I think no one would refuse to have a judge who is grateful to himself." Zach tilted his head and smiled, "I can keep your secret."
"Then." Judy stopped stuffing food, finished chewing what was in her mouth, and seemed to say seriously, "Thank you." Then she looked like she was hesitant to speak.
Zach understood, so he waved his hand, "Don't worry, the aliens in Grande don't know your secrets." Zach raised his eyebrows and added, "You don't have to worry about anything. I think he knows about other people." Women are not interested in that Republican Mo. Well, speaking of it, I don’t know its gender yet, but judging from its color, it should, no, no, it likes to flick its tail so much, it should be... "Gossip from my own people, Zach didn't want to go into details, so he stopped at the point, smiled and shut up.
Judy raised her eyebrows, said oh, nodded, and finally grabbed a handful from the snack bag, stuffed it into her mouth, clapped her hands, and picked up the file again. It looks like the break is over.
Zach felt very conscious and stood up again, "Excuse me, judge."
Judy stopped looking up again and was completely immersed in her work.
…
It's time for an explanation. No one wants to see the conversation flow between Madison and Zach, so let me just give Zach’s explanation—
"Unless the shapeshifters show it themselves, no one will know what gender they are, which can take on countless forms. It makes no sense to judge their gender from the human form they turn into. Perhaps the world is jealous of this kind of creature that can adapt to any living environment. Race has given them a fatal flaw. The number of births of each female skinchanger is limited, and the way of expression is still the same. If they don't show it themselves, no one can find it. Female skinchangers who want to survive will Leave the race before reaching production limits and hide. That's Judy's secret." (.)