Chapter 11: Social Death

"It looks like..."

"You might need a little help."

Xu De offered a gentle smile. Dressed in a slim-fitting black suit, his posture was perfectly straight.

Hearing his seemingly comforting tone, the people in front of him felt slightly dazed.

The female lawyer stared at Xu De, completely dumbfounded.

"Wang Mei, Miss Mei, I am the defense attorney in charge of Wang Qiang's murder case."

"My name is Xu De. You can call me Lawyer Xu."

Xu De introduced himself.

"Your name is Xu De?"

The female lawyer beside her furrowed her brows at Xu De. After a moment of deep thought, she suddenly raised an eyebrow and asked hesitantly,

"The model lawyer of the moral world?"

Hearing this, Xu De turned his head, only to see a beautiful female lawyer... who looked somewhat familiar.

Seeing him frown, the female lawyer immediately raised both hands, twisting her hair into a bun, and stared at him with wide eyes.

Xu De's brow relaxed, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Wasn't this the 'fellow enthusiast' he had met back when he was feeding that stray child?

Seeing that he recognized her, Lin Yue revealed a gentle smile. A moment later, however, that smile froze on her face.

Xu De suddenly exclaimed in astonishment, "You're the 'Nine Heavens Flying Dragon Jade-Faced Thunder Prime Universal Transformation Living Beings Demon Subduer Longevity True Monarch'?"

Lin Yue: ?

Almost instantly!

A faint blush spread across Lin Yue's pale, slender neck before burning blazing hot, crawling all the way up to the roots of her ears until her earlobes were completely flushed.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm as she suggested, "This is the courthouse, how about... we find somewhere else to talk?"

Xu De chuckled, not pressing the joke any further.

Right now, business was more important. As for how to resolve the situation... he already had a plan.

"Alright."

......

Meanwhile.

In Greenwood City, at Yangteng Law Firm.

Inside the reception room.

Li Youcai and Liu Cui sat on the chairs, howling dryly while wiping away nonexistent tears.

"Lawyer Chen, you have to help us!"

Sitting across from her was a lawyer named Chen Wei, to whom she was currently making her tearful complaint.

"My son was only in his thirties! He was still just a child. He can't just die in vain like this!"

Li Youcai stood by her side. He didn't say a word, merely sizing Chen Wei up with a pair of shifty eyes.

The lawyer in front of them was in his thirties.

He had a gaunt frame and a thin face with hollow cheeks and protruding cheekbones. His very appearance was unsettling.

"Don't worry, the contract is signed. Our firm will always put our clients' interests first!"

Chen Wei tucked the contract away, responding with a beaming smile.

Hearing this, Li Youcai and Liu Cui finally let out a sigh of relief.

Li Erniu's case had been accepted.

Chen Wei would participate in the court trial as the victim's legal representative, fighting for Li Youcai's interests.

This was the fourth law firm Li Youcai and Liu Cui had visited.

The previous three had all turned them down with various excuses. As for the reason... Chen Wei knew it perfectly well. It was obviously because this case was too 'dirty'!

That was right.

Taking on a lawsuit on behalf of a human trafficker's family to persecute the victim... quite a few lawyers found that hard to accept. They simply couldn't overcome their own moral hurdles.

Let alone a case like Li Erniu's...

But Chen Wei was different!

To him, whether Wang Qiang lived or died was entirely unimportant.

He only cared about money and win rates!

With a guaranteed-win criminal case like this delivered right to his doorstep, how could he possibly pass it up?

As for whether Wang Qiang deserved to die... that had nothing to do with Chen Wei. Even if his maneuvering really ended up getting him sentenced to death, it didn't matter.

After all, he wasn't the one dying.

As for their demands...

"Your demand is to fight for the custody of your grandson, correct?"

Chen Wei grinned, his already small eyes narrowing into thin slits.

"Yes, we definitely can't let that ungrateful wretch snatch him away!" Liu Cui nodded vigorously like a chicken pecking at rice.

She had two demands. First, she wanted Wang Qiang to die. Second, she wanted to force Wang Mei to back down and hand custody over to them.

If the second goal could be achieved, they were willing to compromise on the first point.

"No problem."

Chen Wei nodded, agreeing immediately.

In his view, there was a massive amount of room to maneuver in this case. He only needed to use Wang Qiang to threaten Wang Mei, and she would naturally surrender without a fight.

What?

As for whether it was too cruel for Wang Mei, who had been abducted and imprisoned for ten years, to not even be able to keep her own child...

If it brought him money and boosted his win rate, Chen Wei would happily take on a mountain of such cases with a perfectly clear conscience!

"Does the defendant currently have a defense attorney?"

Chen Wei asked.

Liu Cui nodded. Her eyes darkened as she muttered maliciously, "He does!"

"I don't know which heartless bastard is bullying us old folks..."

Chen Wei asked, "When did they take the case?"

"Yesterday. I found out when I went to the police station," Liu Cui said.

Yesterday, huh...

Wang Qiang's family consisted of Wang Mei and Sun Hong, so the defense attorney would highly likely contact those two. Since Wang Mei had just recently finished her custody battle... calculating the time, she should have gone to the police station to prepare for Wang Qiang's case.

Chen Wei thought to himself.

And that lawyer... should also be at the police station meeting with them right now!

From a legal perspective, the opposing side's chances of winning were virtually nonexistent—a fact he was sure the defense attorney knew as well.

So right now was the perfect time for him to have a chat with them!

Or rather...

Kick them while they were down!

A sharp glint flashed through Chen Wei's eyes. He immediately stood up, gathered his things, and walked out.

"I'm going to have a little talk with him."

......

At three-thirty in the afternoon.

Inside the lobby of the Greenwood City Police Station.

Wang Mei and Xu Hong, the mother and daughter, went to find the relevant police personnel to hand over the court verdict.

As for Xu De and Lin Yue,

They sat next to each other on the public benches in the lobby, staring blankly at one another.

After a long while, Xu De suddenly broke the silence, clicking his tongue in marvel as he looked her up and down.

"Tsk, I didn't expect the True Monarch to have so many identities. Aside from being the Longevity True Monarch, you're actually secretly a Law True Monarch."

"It's quite surprising."

Hearing this, Lin Yue's face turned red at a visible speed, the flush climbing from her neck all the way to the tips of her ears. Yet, she maintained her forced composure as she replied, "My father is a law professor at a university, but his mental state has been a bit unstable in recent years... So, he moved into a Daoist temple to seek some peace and quiet."

"Because of that, I also live in the Daoist temple... Usually, I just recite scriptures and cultivate my mind. I haven't taken any vows!"

So that was how it was.

Xu De understood. Law was a rather extreme field.

The depression rate among experts in the field was quite high, so it wasn't uncommon for them to become monks, Daoist priests, or even convert to foreign religions.

"So, is the True Monarch now considered to be 'descending the mountain to eradicate demons and defend the Dao'?"

Xu De chuckled, teasing her playfully.

"I'm just taking a few cases, and also..."

Lin Yue truly couldn't hold it in anymore.

She lowered her head and pressed her slender, pale fingers against her burning face, leaving her bright red earlobes completely exposed. Her embarrassed voice filtered through her fingers and into Xu De's ears.

"I haven't taken vows."

"That Daoist title or whatever was really just a joke. I was wrong, I'm sorry..."

Xu De nodded, expressing his understanding.

"Alright, Law True Monarch. I got it, Law True Monarch."

Lin Yue: ...

Lin Yue felt absolute despair. She felt like she had died a little inside... a total social death.

She had only casually blurted out 'Nine Heavens Flying Dragon Jade-Faced Thunder Prime Universal Transformation Living Beings Demon Subduer Longevity True Monarch'...

She swore that she had forgotten all about it right after saying it. It was such a long string of words, she couldn't remember it at all.

But how had it been over twenty days...

And he still remembered it so clearly!?

He even added a 'Law True Monarch' on top of it...

"Forget it, let's talk business first."

Lin Yue took a deep breath, suppressing her inner turmoil. Pretending she didn't care, she looked at Xu De with a serious expression, though her face was still flushed.

"Regarding Wang Qiang's case..."

"Are you confident?"

"The information currently available is very unfavorable to the defense."

"The abduction and the murder are being tried separately. Looking solely at the murder, Wang Qiang struck first. Defending him will be extremely tricky."

"If the presiding judge's subjective inclination doesn't favor the defendant, then..."

The two of them sat next to each other, and Lin Yue voiced her deepest concern.

"The sentencing outcome... might be very disadvantageous for the defendant."

Silence fell over them.

To be honest, Lin Yue had initially wanted to take this case, but after hearing the details, she decisively gave up...

She knew she didn't have the ability to influence the outcome of such a case. Taking it on rashly would only make things worse for the victim!

There was no other way.

The case was too volatile; the upper and lower limits of the potential verdict were simply worlds apart!

First, judging from Wang Qiang's actions, the court could absolutely rule it as intentional homicide according to the law; even a suspended death sentence would be reasonable.

But if they ruled with leniency...

The judge could also pronounce him not guilty based on legitimate self-defense.

One meant the death penalty, the other an acquittal. The difference of a single thought depended entirely on the defense lawyer's performance. One single mistake...

"Wang Qiang has an extremely high probability of receiving a suspended death sentence."

Lin Yue took a deep breath, her delicate face serious.

Looking at Xu De, she asked,

"So... what are your thoughts?"

Xu De crossed his legs with great interest and looked at her, asking in return,

"If it were you, Lawyer Lin, what would you do?"

Lin Yue paused. After a moment of silence, she sighed and shook her head helplessly.

"Sacrifice the child's custody rights in exchange for the other party signing a letter of forgiveness in Wang Qiang's case."

"At the same time, have them change their statement, so the court can follow the flow and pronounce his actions as legitimate self-defense."

As things stood, it was an either-or scenario.

Either trade custody for the withdrawal of their statement and the issuance of a letter of forgiveness.

Or seize custody, leaving Wang Qiang's fate hanging in the balance.

"Although the child won't be by Wang Mei's side, at the very least, their life won't be in danger. We can always fight for custody again later."

"But Wang Qiang... if he dies, he's truly dead."

Xu De nodded thoughtfully, then smiled.

"A very common line of thought. However, compared to that method of winning the case, I prefer..."

"To have it all!"

Lin Yue stared blankly, as if she hadn't heard him clearly.

"What did you say?" she asked hesitantly.

Xu De's expression grew serious as he replied flatly, "Custody and winning the criminal case... I want it all!"

He hadn't forgotten that his case rewards were calculated based on client satisfaction.

With an either-or outcome, would Wang Mei be satisfied? Anyone could tell it would just be a move made out of helplessness!

Unless...

He got both!

But...

Lin Yue was slightly taken aback and shook her head. "That's impossible."

"Nothing is impossible."

Xu De smiled.

Just as he was preparing to explain further...

Suddenly,

A loud, resonant voice echoed from behind, ringing throughout the police station lobby.

"Excuse me, is Lawyer Xu De here?"

Hearing the commotion, Xu De paused slightly. He and Lin Yue turned their heads to look.

They saw a neatly dressed man standing at the main entrance of the lobby, holding a briefcase and wearing glasses.

The man spoke with a police officer.

The officer then pointed toward Xu De. The man followed the gesture, his gaze meeting Xu De's.

'He hasn't come with good intentions.'

Xu De thought to himself.

The man smiled and walked over to Xu De, extending his hand as he spoke.

"I am Chen Wei, a lawyer from Yangteng Law Firm."

"We have signed a contract with the couple Li Youcai and Liu Cui, and I am here to serve as the legal representative for the victims in the Wang Qiang case."

"You must be the defense lawyer, Lawyer Xu De, right?"

A smile appeared on Chen Wei's face. The look in his eyes clearly carried a kind of contempt, as if victory was already in his grasp.

Not giving Xu De a chance to speak, he continued,

"I came to find you this time..."

"Mainly to find out your attitude toward the case."

Li Youcai's lawyer?

They tormented Wang Mei for ten years, and they actually had the nerve to find a lawyer to fight for their interests!?

Lin Yue's eyes widened, her lips pressed tightly together. Anger surged in her heart, but she didn't speak.

Xu De also remained silent, nor did he shake the man's hand.

He looked the man up and down for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said,

"What attitude? Be specific."

Chen Wei's smile faltered, and he restrained his expression. He calmly withdrew his hand and chuckled.

"My clients are willing to give your side a chance to offer compensation. If my side is satisfied, perhaps Mr. Wang can bear less criminal responsibility. Lawyer Xu, what do you think..."

A chance?

Would Li Youcai and Liu Cui be so kind-hearted?

"The price?" Xu De asked.

Chen Wei continued to smile. "Naturally, it pertains to the custody of the grandson."

As expected, Li Youcai and Liu Cui's goal was also the child. Things were exactly as Lin Yue had anticipated.

However...

"The court has already reached a conclusion regarding the custody. Lawyer Chen couldn't possibly not know that, right?"

Xu De suddenly stood up and looked straight at him. Even though his tone was gentle, he felt like a hedgehog, pricking people until they were thoroughly uncomfortable.

Chen Wei sensed his hostility but still continued,

"It's merely the first trial. If during the second... the beautiful Lawyer Lin beside you is willing to persuade Wang Mei to voluntarily give up custody..."

He left the sentence hanging, not saying more.

Lin Yue could no longer hold back her anger. She stood up immediately, gritting her teeth.

"You are coercing us!"

Chen Wei just waved his hand, completely unconcerned.

"No, no, no, this is just a negotiation."

"Moreover..."

He looked up at Xu De.

According to Chen Wei's estimation... Xu De would most likely agree.

After all, this was an opportunity to win a not-guilty verdict in a murder case. It could very well change his entire professional destiny. The temptation for a lawyer was simply too great!

And what about himself?

He would also be considered to have won, guaranteed his clients' demands, and secured a payout.

If Xu De could make Wang Mei and Xu Hong pay Li Youcai a large sum of compensation, that would be even better. It would absolutely be a win-win!

Therefore, they should have a tacit understanding right now and work together!

As for the victims Wang Mei and Xu Hong... who cared about them?

A bunch of ignorant, lower-class people. Being able to provide value to an elite like him was already their good fortune.

"What do you think?" Chen Wei asked.

Xu De looked at him and suddenly said, "Does Lawyer Chen want to go to the bathroom?"

Chen Wei was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Xu De said, "If you don't have a mirror, you can at least use your own piss, right? Take a good look at your reflection."

The air around them stagnated. Even Lin Yue stared blankly, then looked at him with a strange expression.

Chen Wei's face turned green, then red. Finally, he took a deep breath, clenched his fists to suppress his anger, and whispered,

"You better think carefully. This is a murder case. Once you lose, it will deal a heavy blow to your entire career!"

"For this case, without the letter of forgiveness and the withdrawal of their statement... how the court will rule is completely unknown."

"Moreover, you should notify Ms. Wang and let her make the decision."

Xu De directly rejected him.

"You said yourself that it's an unknown. My client doesn't need you worrying on her behalf."

"I have some tea leaves here. Tea makes you pee. Do you want to take some back?"

"You!"

Looking at the stubborn Xu De, Chen Wei's forehead was covered in dark lines. This was the first time he had met someone so unappreciative.

A win-win situation, making money together and increasing their win rates—wasn't that good?

"Hmph, then I'll see you in court."

Chen Wei glared at him for a long moment, dropped the harsh words, took a deep breath, and turned to leave.

Watching him go, Lin Yue breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at Xu De and chuckled lightly.

"You certainly have an interesting way with words."

She paused, sighed again, and whispered,

"However... even though he is annoying, without the letter of forgiveness... our chances of winning the case will indeed be much lower."

The moment she finished speaking, a response immediately sounded.

"Who said I don't have a plan?" Xu De asked casually.

Lin Yue continued,

"To be honest, I am more inclined toward negotiation, continuing to fight for custody time..."

But halfway through her sentence, she suddenly stopped. As if realizing something, her head snapped up to look at Xu De. Her clear eyes were wide with astonishment as she exclaimed,

"You have a plan!?"

"Of course I do."

Xu De nodded matter-of-factly.

"The plan is, we..."

...

Outside the lobby.

Chen Wei walked out the door with a dark expression. Just before leaving, he turned his head and took a long look at Xu De on the public bench.

He had initially wanted a win-win situation, but the man had actually been so unappreciative...

Then he wouldn't mind putting more pressure on the defendant, making sure the judge sentenced Wang Qiang even more heavily!

'Heh, ungrateful bastard!'

Chen Wei raged inwardly, feeling both humiliated and annoyed.

This was the first time he had been humiliated like this by a young pup. Since that was the case, he would teach the guy a lesson on how society really worked!

"Just wait."

With that, Chen Wei ducked his head, walked to his car, opened the door, and sped away.

Not far away.

"Is that Chen Wei from Yangteng Law Firm?"

In the parking lot, the doors of an official vehicle opened, and several men in suits stepped out. One of them looked at the departing car and spoke thoughtfully.

"It should be. The court informed us that he's the legal representative for the victims in the Wang Qiang case."

A man beside him nodded.

"Looking at the time, it makes sense for him to be at the police station."

Hearing this, the first person nodded in agreement.

There were three of them in total: two middle-aged men around thirty-five, and a young man in his twenties. All were dressed in black formal uniforms.

The uniform was somewhat similar to a suit, with a white shirt underneath and a red tie at the collar, but a red national emblem was pinned to the chest. They all exuded an imposing aura.

Undoubtedly.

These three were prosecutors from the Greenwood City Prosecutor's Office!

"Isn't this Chen Wei a famous shyster? Why is he the plaintiff's legal representative?"

The young prosecutor, Zhang Qing, furrowed his brows and gritted his teeth.

They were the prosecutors responsible for initiating the public prosecution against Wang Qiang. They had come to the police station today to collect evidence.

"Shut up."

The middle-aged prosecutor, Hu Guang, frowned. His face was resolute and stern as he reprimanded the younger man.

"We are prosecutors."

"There must be no prejudice, and personal emotions are strictly forbidden!"

Hearing this, Zhang Qing said indignantly,

"Master, I've read the files on Wang Qiang's case. He clearly was—"

Before Zhang Qing could finish speaking, Hu Guang immediately interrupted him.

"Whether he deserves to die depends on objective evidence and the court's decision, not on you, and certainly not on me!"

"If you still don't understand what a public prosecution is, then get the hell out and go to another team!"

His forceful words were heavy with the smell of gunpowder.

Seeing this, the other prosecutor, the peacemaker Wang Wei, hastily spoke up to smooth things over.

"Old Hu, look at what you're saying. Little Zhang is still young, isn't he? We've all been there. Your words are a bit too harsh."

Hu Guang just glanced at Zhang Qing, then turned and walked silently toward the police station.

Wang Wei looked back at Zhang Qing and chuckled warmly.

"Little Zhang, you need to remember as well. The public prosecution must not mix in personal emotions."

"If Chen Wei had heard what you just said... there would be trouble."

Zhang Qing opened his mouth, hesitating, but finally remained silent.

After a long while, he suddenly spoke up,

"Uncle Wang, what do you think about this case... What will happen to Wang Qiang?"

Wang Wei remained silent for a moment before shaking his head and sighing.

"It's hard to say. The evidence provided by the police, the statements from Lijia Village... they are all very unfavorable to him."

Zhang Qing asked quietly,

"Is there no other way?"

Wang Wei shook his head.

"Alright, kid, stop worrying about this. Based on the schedule, the first trial will start at the beginning of November. Just go investigate the case with your master for now."

"As for what happens to Wang Qiang... that depends on the defense lawyer's performance."

"As for what else they could possibly do given the circumstances..."

Saying this, he led the young prosecutor in the direction Hu Guang had gone, casually adding,

"I really have no idea."

"After all, he can't possibly break the law, right? That's highly unlikely."

...

"Let's go steal the child!"

"Mm... hm?"

"What did you say!?"

Inside the police station lobby.

Looking at Lin Yue, who had jumped up in astonishment, Xu De gestured for her to calm down and repeated his words clearly,

"I said, my plan is..."

"To go steal the child!"

Lin Yue: ?

Hearing his plan, Lin Yue stared at him in sheer disbelief.

A second later, her astonished voice rang out.

"No, what do you mean your plan is... to go steal the child?"

"That's breaking the law!"

"Sigh, how can you say that? How is that breaking the law?"

Xu De sounded very dissatisfied. He then began to explain slowly and softly,

"Calm down, and hear me out. I promise you that what we're going to do is absolutely legal and compliant."

"Even if you wear out the Criminal Code flipping through it, you won't find a single word of illegality!"

Lin Yue: ?

Steal a child? Legal? You're a lawyer, how did you even put those two concepts into the same sentence?

Do you even know what you're saying right now?!

Moreover...

Lin Yue covered her mouth and exclaimed,

"Why on earth would you just go steal a child!?"

The moment his words landed, Lin Yue shot straight up, staring at Xu De in pure disbelief.

What did he mean, steal the child?

Wasn't that exactly what human traffickers did? And wasn't human trafficking illegal?!

"Sigh, why are you getting so worked up? We're surrounded by people just trying to run their errands. What if you scare them?"

Feeling the confused gazes of bystanders locking onto them, Xu De looked at the shocked Lin Yue with obvious displeasure.

Lin Yue stared blankly.

"Are you kidding me? Why aren't you considering whether you've scared

me

?"

Lin Yue curled her lips and eventually sat back down in her chair, though she discreetly scooted outward, as if trying to put some distance between herself and Xu De.

Seeing this, Xu De added, "Don't worry, what we're doing is entirely legal!"

Lin Yue took a deep breath and slowly said, "Let's put aside the legality for a second."

"I'm more confused as to why... why would you want to steal a child in your free time?"

With that, she widened her clear eyes, staring at him in bewilderment.

The court had already concluded the trial regarding the custody of Wang Mei's child. It was a complete victory, granting Wang Mei full custody rights.

Even if Li Youcai and Liu Cui refused to hand the child over... they could always apply for mandatory police enforcement later on, and the child would still be returned.

Therefore...

No matter how you looked at it, stealing the child was utterly unnecessary.

However...

"Do you really think she can keep custody right now, given that Wang Qiang has been arrested?" Xu De suddenly asked.

"That..."

Lin Yue hesitated, then shook her head. "No, she can't."

"Why can't she keep it?"

Xu De sat in his chair. He didn't seem nervous at all, appearing completely relaxed as he spoke.

Without waiting for a reply, he provided the answer himself.

"Because Li Youcai and Liu Cui believe that, to Wang Mei, the child could never outweigh the life-or-death crisis facing Wang Qiang!"

That was the truth.

If Wang Qiang's case continued down a desperate path, Wang Mei would absolutely trade her custody rights in exchange for them changing their testimonies.

In other words, winning the custody case was useless.

The main focus was still Wang Qiang's case. If Xu De performed poorly, Lin Yue would only be left with empty sorrow and wasted effort.

This was also why she was willing to converse with him for so long. Their interests had long been firmly tied together!

While Lin Yue was deep in thought...

Suddenly.

Xu De spoke up again.

"Have you ever thought about... why they proposed this condition in the first place?"

"You have to remember, Li Erniu was their own flesh and blood, and they have a deep blood feud with Wang Qiang!"

"In theory, they should want nothing more than for Wang Qiang to die!"

"Yet right now, they're demanding the child in exchange for letting Wang Qiang off the hook... don't you find that strange?"

The moment those words fell.

Lin Yue paused, her eyes widening slightly.

He was right.

The child was their grandson, but Li Erniu was their biological son, someone they had raised for thirty years!

Yet, after Wang Qiang had literally sliced their son's stomach open, Li Youcai and Liu Cui were surprisingly devoid of grief. They were even using it as leverage to demand custody!

If it were Lin Yue, she would try to find a way to kill Wang Qiang even if it meant risking her own life!

Why was this?

"Because of ignorance."

"Lijia Village is utterly backward, and Li Youcai and Liu Cui are the epitome of archaic feudal thinking!"

Xu De didn't waste time and decisively gave the answer.

He crossed his right leg over his left, a cold sneer flashing across his face.

"Li Youcai and Liu Cui care about their descendants, but they only care about what they consider the 'continuation of the bloodline'!"

Put simply.

The more ignorant a person was, the more manic their obsession with 'carrying on the family line' became.

This was something younger generations, like those born in the 90s and 00s, could feel deeply.

Some parents constantly pushed for marriage. They wanted you to get married and have children, to birth a chubby little boy just to continue this so-called bloodline. As for why...

Did they have a throne to inherit?

Or a commercial empire to pass down?

Neither!

Yet they absolutely insisted on 'carrying on the family line,' even if it meant destroying your future upward mobility or saddling you with a burden of childcare you couldn't afford.

In short, no matter what... they would force your head down and make you produce offspring!

If you had a child, you 'had face,' you 'could stand tall,' and you had 'completed the mission'!

If you didn't, you were unfilial! A rebellious child! A disgrace! Someone who couldn't lift their head in society!

Was there any logic to it? No, but if there were logic, it wouldn't be called 'ignorance.'

"Among them are the most obsessive people."

"They merely treat children as tools for continuing the bloodline. While they might hold some affection, that affection is nothing more than a byproduct of 'carrying on the family name.'"

Xu De's eyes revealed a calm detachment.

From the moment Li Erniu died, he knew that Li Youcai and Liu Cui were exactly this type of people!

As his words sank in.

Lin Yue instantly understood. All the inconsistencies regarding Li Youcai and his wife finally made sense in her mind.

A hint of astonishment crept across her face. Covering her mouth, she subconsciously muttered:

"So, even though Li Erniu was their child, they don't feel heartache over his death."

"Because the bloodline has continued. They have a grandson!"

Xu De nodded. "Exactly."

"Li Youcai and Liu Cui are already in their sixties. They've lost the ability to reproduce."

"Their only son is dead, and they only have one grandson."

"Losing this grandson... to them, is no different from their entire family line dying out!"

Even if the child was taken away by Wang Mei and lived a perfectly good life.

In the hearts of Li Youcai and his wife, it was no different than the child dying and their lineage being extinguished.

"In summary, we can draw a conclusion."

Xu De took a deep breath. Looking at Lin Yue, he continued to explain at a steady, methodical pace:

"Currently, between the 'Wang Qiang' case and the custody case."

"Our priority is the 'Wang Qiang' case, while Li Youcai's priority is the custody case."

Both sides had different needs.

This was exactly why Chen Wei, the lawyer from Yang Teng Law Firm, believed he could achieve a win-win situation with Xu De, where everyone got what they needed!

But herein lay the problem.

"Now that we understand their motives, let's circle back to the very first question."

In a flash.

Xu De's gaze sharpened, reeling the entire conversation back to the starting point.

"【Why do we have to steal the child?!】"

"Before I answer that, I must raise another question."

"Namely."

"【Why do they dare to threaten us when both sides clearly need something from the other?!】"

As the two questions dropped.

The thoughts Lin Yue had just managed to organize spiraled back into chaos, her mind buzzing.

He was right.

The other party wanted the child, fearing the end of their family line without him.

Their side, Wang Mei, didn't want her father to die, knowing she would live in agony for the rest of her life if he did.

Since both sides clearly had strong reservations and major demands... what gave Li Youcai the confidence to directly threaten them?!

"Because of the urgency brought on by time!"

Xu De declared decisively, not mincing words.

Lin Yue froze, her slender brows knitting together, her eyes brimming with confusion.

She leaned her upper body slightly toward Xu De, her scattered hair releasing a faint, creeping scent of gardenias into the air. Staring at him, she asked, "What urgency?"

"It means that because the timelines of the two cases are different, the mentality and the urgency of the demands are also different."

Xu De, unbeguiled by her beauty, maintained a perfectly clear mind. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Wang Qiang's case is imminent."

"Half a month... half a month at most. The trial starts on November 9th. By then, whether Wang Qiang lives or dies will likely be decided!"

"Conversely, what about the matter of the child's custody?"

Wang Qiang faced a life-or-death crisis in just half a month. When the time came, if he was sentenced to death... and if they failed to appeal in the second trial, the man would truly be dead!

They only had half a month!

As for the child's custody...

"Even though the verdict was delivered half a month before Wang Qiang's case, how long is the actual execution period?"

Xu De countered, "Lawyer Lin, you couldn't possibly be unaware."

Lin Yue paused.

She was a professional lawyer; she naturally understood what he meant.

Custody cases were notoriously drawn out.

First, after the court awarded custody to Wang Mei, they would grant Li Youcai and Liu Cui an execution period—a timeframe to comply with the ruling and hand the child over. Let's say, a month.

And after a month... what if the time ran out and Li Youcai still refused to hand him over?

Then they could only apply for mandatory police enforcement. But... usually, the police wouldn't step in to forcibly remove the child until the execution period had been exceeded by a year, or even two or three years!

Lin Yue remained silent for a moment before finally saying dryly, "Two... two or three years."

"I won't even say three years, or even two."

Xu De shook his head, directly contrasting the timelines of both parties.

"Let's just assume mandatory enforcement happens in a single year!"

"That still leaves Li Youcai with a whole year. He won't experience the feeling of 'his family line ending' until a year from now. Whereas we..."

His voice lowered, spitting out a sobering number.

"Only have fifteen days!"

Fifteen days versus one year.

Li Youcai was in no rush, but Wang Mei was utterly desperate.

In business logic, the more anxious you were, the greater your demand, which made it vastly easier for others to exploit you and pull stunts like impromptu price hikes!

"This is why, despite having mutual needs, they have the guts to directly threaten us!" Xu De stated.

Lin Yue paused, then fell silent.

Looking at the current situation.

It was a dead end.

The execution periods for the two cases were entirely disparate. Unless Dongguo suddenly amended its laws, they would forever be more desperate than Li Youcai!

But that was obviously impossible.

"Hmm... why did you zone out again, Lawyer Lin?"

Beside her, Xu De raised an eyebrow and lowered his head, trying to prompt her.

Lin Yue snapped back to reality. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her delicate features betraying a trace of desolation.

"It's nothing. I just think this case is a bit difficult..."

Difficult?

"Difficult how?" Xu De blanked.

Hearing this, Lin Yue also blanked.

He had just laid the situation out so thoroughly himself, and the timeframe couldn't possibly be altered... how did he not know what was difficult about it?!

"Never mind, we'll talk about it later. Anyway, let's bring the problem back to the very beginning."

"Namely, 【why do I want to steal the child!】"

Xu De, uncaring of her thoughts, waved his hand dismissively and dragged the topic back to the start.

"Because I need to..."

"Artificially manufacture urgency!"

Manufacture... manufacture urgency?

"Isn't... isn't that inappropriate?"

Lin Yue's voice was weak, betraying a hint of apprehension.

She understood what he meant.

It was nothing more than stealing the child, forcing the other party to experience the despair of having their family line severed a whole year in advance—or even before Wang Qiang stood trial.

That way, Li Youcai would become far more anxious than Wang Mei, and his stance naturally wouldn't be as unyielding.

At the very least, both sides would return to an equal footing!

"What's inappropriate about it?" Xu De countered.

"If this angers Li Youcai, Wang Qiang might..." Lin Yue trailed off hesitantly.

She shouldn't have brought that up.

The moment the words left her mouth, Xu De exploded, a look of sheer exasperation crossing his face.

"I was fine until you mentioned that."

"Now that you have... I can't help but laugh."

Then, before Lin Yue could formulate a retort, he dropped the most crucial point.

"You need to realize that Wang Qiang is the only bargaining chip Li Youcai has to threaten us with!"

"But it's a counterfeit chip!"

"Once Wang Qiang is handed a heavy sentence, Li Youcai will instantly lose that sole leverage. After that, he can forget about ever getting the child back. In other words..."

"Li Youcai and Liu Cui wouldn't dare let Wang Qiang die themselves!"

"The only path before them is an exchange of needs. This so-called 'letting Wang Qiang die' or 'fighting to the bitter end'... it simply doesn't exist!"

The instant those words settled...

'Bzz!'

Suddenly.

An invisible current seemed to jolt from Lin Yue's tailbone straight up to the crown of her head, making her scalp tingle.

Her eyes widened slightly, shock splashing across her features. Her mind cleared as if infused with sudden wisdom, parting the clouds to reveal the bright moon.

Yes...

That was exactly it!

They were using the threat against Wang Qiang as leverage, scheming to get the child.

But the moment Wang Qiang died, the chip in their hands would vanish, completely stripping them of any right to fight for custody!

As long as the child wasn't in their grasp, Li Youcai and Liu Cui would never dare let Wang Qiang die.

"And they're actually using something they wouldn't even dare to do themselves as leverage?"

Xu De laughed out of pure indignation.

"I haven't even threatened them yet, and they beat me to the punch by trying to threaten me!?"

"Ridiculous... absolutely ridiculous!"

Truthfully, if he weren't a man of good manners...

He would have cursed Chen Wei out to his face right then and there!

If anyone was going to do the threatening, it should be him!

"This..."

Lin Yue was stunned. She stared at him, dumbfounded and entirely swept away by shock.

He was right...

He was absolutely right!

Li Youcai didn't even have the courage to follow through on his own threat, yet he dared to use it against them. The audacity was simply off the charts.

Furthermore, court judgments considered a multitude of factors; it wasn't a one-man show dictated by the opposition. As long as Xu De performed well, even if Li Youcai talked until the sky fell, there was still room to turn things around!

Conversely, if they refused to hand over the child... then that was truly the end of it!

In just a handful of sentences.

He had broken down a seemingly dead-end case with crystal clarity!

And after he took it apart...

She faintly realized that if they followed his logic... the advantage actually belonged to them!!!

Lin Yue was filled with disbelief, feeling a surreal, dreamlike sensation wash over her.

Just like that... a breakthrough for the case had been found?

She had agonized over it for nearly half a month without a single viable solution, yet he had been on the case for less than a day...

"Lawyer Xu... how is your brain wired!?"

Lin Yue muttered unconsciously. When she realized what she had just blurted out, she snapped back to reality.

Her face flushed a delicate shade of pink. Flustered, she frantically waved her hands and rushed to explain.

"I... I didn't mean it like that! I mean you're... incredible!"

She meant it as the highest praise, not an insult.

This method of deconstructing a case...

Lin Yue had never seen anything like it in her entire life!

She had studied law since she was young and graduated from Dongguo's premier institution, Shuimu University. She had rubbed shoulders with more than just a few brilliant minds.

Not to mention, those brilliant minds were the absolute cream of the crop among Dongguo's billion-plus population!

And yet...

Lin Yue had never encountered a talent like Xu De. His approach to cracking the case... transcended the bounds of jurisprudence itself!

"You flatter me, Daoist."

Xu De waved it off, thick-skinned enough to offer a modest reply to smooth over the awkwardness.

Then, he gave a cold snort.

"Once we go and steal the child."

"By then... we won't be the ones panicking."

Only if they stole the child would Li Youcai realize that they were in a desperate hurry now too!

Wang Mei shouldn't be subjected to their threats. At the very least, both sides should be sitting across from each other at the same table, confronting each other as equals.

In fact, upon closer inspection, Wang Mei held the upper hand!

After all, Li Youcai's only leverage was Wang Qiang, and actually harming him... was something they didn't dare do.

At that point, Li Youcai and Liu Cui would find themselves in a desperate situation with nowhere to turn.

And as for Xu De?

"We seize the opportunity to negotiate terms with them!?"

Lin Yue's heartbeat gradually accelerated, her eyes growing clear and bright. Feeling a surge of excitement, she tentatively offered the suggestion.

"Negotiate terms?"

Xu De furrowed his brows, shooting her a highly dissatisfied look.

"Once we have the child, and knowing they won't dare do anything reckless... you think we're still going to negotiate with them?"

"Then wouldn't I be stealing the child for nothing!"

Xu De expressed his extreme displeasure, decisively rejecting her proposal.

"Threaten."

"We must outright threaten them!"

"Heh, as for how to threaten them most effectively so it impacts the criminal case... you don't need to worry about that. I have my own arrangements!"

It circled back to his main point.

He hadn't even threatened them yet.

Yet Chen Wei and Li Youcai had beaten him to it, threatening him first!?

If they hadn't gotten their hands on the child, fine, they'd swallow it, since the opposition didn't understand the gravity of the situation yet.

But...

If Xu De went through the trouble of stealing the child and they still held back... wouldn't the whole effort be wasted!?

As for the possibility that even if getting the child forced Li Youcai to sign a letter of forgiveness, it still wouldn't be enough to turn the tide in a criminal case...

He could only say that she still didn't understand what exactly they needed to threaten others into doing!

"You..."

Lin Yue once again looked at him as if he were a deity descended from the heavens, feeling her entire worldview being smashed to pieces.

She had lost count of how many times she had looked at him with that exact expression.

He always managed to say things that sent shivers down her spine!

Leaving the whole child-stealing business aside.

No normal lawyer would ever utter those words!

Just openly talking about threatening people.

What kind of upstanding lawyer kept the word 'threat' perpetually on the tip of their tongue!?

Was he really a lawyer? With that tone, if the background were slightly different, Lin Yue would have believed he was a bank robber!

She remembered the bar exam having a section on professional ethics... how on earth did this guy pass!?

"Wait. No."

In her daze...

Lin Yue suddenly caught herself. She shook her head, tossing those stray thoughts away, and then her brow furrowed in concern.

What he said made sense.

Once the deed was done... Li Youcai would be meat on the chopping block, entirely at Xu De's mercy!

It was just...

"Isn't this... illegal?"

Lin Yue hesitated before voicing her greatest fear.

"Stealing a child is practically the same nature as human trafficking. Honestly... this has to be against the law!"

Stealing the child... while effective, didn't change the fact that it broke the law.

They were lawyers; they couldn't just commit crimes. Never mind professional ethics, the moment the other party reported them... the police would give them a harsh lesson on the iron fist of the state!

Her worries were entirely justified.

However...

"Illegal? What's illegal?"

Xu De frowned, looking at her in total incomprehension as he tilted his head.

"What we're doing is completely legal and compliant!"

Lin Yue: ?

Legal... legal and compliant?

Scrutinizing every word he had spoken, right down to the commas...

Lin Yue couldn't find a single shred of legality or compliance.

Instead, she could probably use the Criminal Code as a reference guide for his plan!

Unable to hold back, she gasped again:

"You're about to steal a child and even threaten them, and you're telling me this is legal!?"

"Of course."

Xu De raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely puzzled as he stated it as a matter of fact.

"Is that weird?"

"I've made my way in this world by strictly abiding by the laws and regulations."

Lin Yue: ?

Lin Yue stared wide-eyed and couldn't help but exclaim:

"No... is there a single syllable of what you just said that's legal!?"

Seeing her expression, Xu De asked in confusion, "Is that so strange?"

"Isn't it strange?!" Lin Yue was utterly shocked.

She was on the verge of losing her composure.

Having studied law for years, this was the first time in her life she had ever heard someone combine the words 'steal' and 'legal'.

Seriously, how on earth did he manage to link those two words into a single sentence?!

"Lawyer Lin, as a man of the law, I can't believe you would think I'd break it..."

Xu De looked at her with dissatisfaction, silently condemning her conscience.

"This is blatant personal discrimination!"

Lin Yue paused, suddenly feeling a twinge of guilt. "I'm sorry..."

But a second later, she snapped back to reality. Her eye twitched as she retorted, "Wait, no, I'm perfectly right! You're planning to steal a child!"

Xu De replied, "Who told you that stealing a child is inherently illegal?!"

He corrected her again, then paused, looking past her.

At the corner of the lobby, two frail figures appeared in the corridor and walked toward them. Noticing this, he spoke faster, "If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I absolutely do not commit crimes."

"I guarantee that everything I do is completely legal and compliant!"

"Of course, I'll need you to cooperate with me as the handling lawyer. We'll also need to find someone capable to physically assist us. If all goes well... we can close the case before the end of the year!"

Lin Yue wanted to say something else, but the two figures had already stopped right in front of them.

"Ms. Wang, Ms. Xu."

Xu De stood up, offering a polite smile to Wang Mei and Xu Hong as they returned from completing their paperwork.

"Did the police say anything unexpected?"

When they traveled from the courthouse to the police station, Xu De had first asked them to handle the custody matters. By now, they should have finished coordinating with the authorities.

Wang Mei's face remained incredibly haggard, so thin that her underlying bone physiognomy was starkly prominent. She stayed silent for a moment before shaking her head. "No."

Only now did she realize that even though custody had been decided, it didn't mean she could immediately reunite with her child.

"Lawyer Xu... right now, I just want to spend some time with my child before my father goes on trial."

Wang Mei's tone was bitter and filled with a profound sense of powerlessness.

She knew that the day Wang Qiang stood trial would be the exact moment her child left her completely.

Right now, Wang Mei just wanted to hold onto her child for a brief period before that separation... even if it was just for a week, or a single day!

However... after asking the police, she found that this wish was nothing more than an extravagant hope.

The police could only carry out mandatory enforcement long after Li Youcai exceeded the compliance deadline.

Until then, if Li Youcai and Liu Cui refused to hand the child over, there was absolutely nothing she could do.

Powerless.

It felt as if the bones had been extracted from her body, leaving her limp and completely devoid of spirit.

"Spend some time?"

Xu De crossed his arms, rubbing his chin with one hand in thought.

"Actually, I don't think it's necessary to give up the child because of Mr. Wang."

Wang Mei's nose stung with impending tears. She replied bitterly, "Lawyer Xu, that is my father... He was taken to the police station for my sake. I can never abandon him..."

Xu De was briefly taken aback before realization dawned on him. 'She probably thinks I'm advising her to abandon Wang Qiang,' he thought.

Seeing her misunderstanding, Xu De quickly clarified, "Ms. Wang, what I mean is, both the child and Mr. Wang..."

"We will save them both!"

'Both... we can save both?'

Wang Mei froze. She lifted her emaciated face, a tiny glimmer of hope shining through her coarse wrinkles.

Beside her, Xu Hong reacted similarly. The two women looked like they had grasped a solitary, floating firefly representing their final hope in the depths of despair. They held their breath as Wang Mei asked, her voice trembling, "Really?"

Having to choose between a father and a child was a moral trial that no one could easily endure.

Wang Mei was on the verge of madness. At this point, even if he was lying to her, she was entirely willing to believe it!

Xu De nodded.

"I currently have a preliminary solution."

"Please go home and get some proper rest today. Once I return to the firm, I will work overtime to draft a concrete implementation plan. I'll pass it to Lawyer Lin in a few days."

Of course, calling it a plan was actually just a way to dispel Lin Yue's suspicions about his 'illegal' methods.

After all, words were empty. No one was willing to risk their own safety to gamble on a stranger's morality. If such a gamble went wrong, an entire career would collapse!

Let alone someone like Lin Yue, who had such a bright future ahead.

Xu De understood this logic perfectly.

"Okay... okay!"

Wang Mei's dry, unsightly hands gripped his tightly, terrified of letting go.

Xu De looked up, meeting a pair of eyes that contained a thousand unspoken words.

"I... I believe you..."

Xu De nodded. He held her hands and gently patted the back of them, then smoothly pulled away.

He borrowed a pen and paper from a police officer, wrote down his phone number, and handed it to them.

"Here is my contact information. If you have any further questions, you can reach out to me at any time."

"It's getting late... I should head back now."

"Rest assured regarding Wang Qiang's case. I will go all out to ensure your satisfaction!"

With that, Xu De bid the group farewell and slowly walked out of the police station.

They stared in the direction he had left until his figure completely vanished from sight.

Only then did Wang Mei snap out of her daze.

She felt somewhat in a trance.

For the past half-month, she had suffered in agony day and night. Every time she zoned out and came back to her senses, she would find her face inexplicably covered in tears.

Even Lin Yue could only turn the harsh reality into a blade, tearing a fresh wound directly across her heart!

Every passing moment had been pure torment for her soul.

Until now, when Xu De suddenly told her...

Not to worry!

Those few words were like a drowning person catching hold of their only lifeline. Even though this lifeline was incredibly fragile, basic survival instincts made her clutch it with a death grip, refusing to let go!

"Lawyer Lin... Lawyer Xu, he..."

Wang Mei felt as though she were in a dream. It didn't feel real. She wanted to ask something, but she didn't even know what to ask.

Beside her, Lin Yue's expression was incredibly peculiar. It was obvious she had no idea how to evaluate the man.

Logically speaking, she had never met anyone who casually brought up threats and stealing children, let alone someone who claimed to be engaging in 'legal stealing' and 'compliant threatening'!

Moreover... he was so confident. Could it be... that it actually was legal and compliant?

The more Lin Yue thought about it, the more curious she became. Her heart felt as if a cat were scratching at it, eager for him to hurry up and hand over that 'implementation plan'.

Ultimately, she suppressed her emotions and softly comforted Wang Mei.

"Don't worry. He probably isn't lying to us. After all, he calls himself..."

"...the moral paragon of the legal world."

...

...

At four-thirty in the afternoon.

A taxi pulled up in front of Jinmao Law Firm in Greenwood City.

"Clack!"

The car door opened.

Xu De stepped out, pushed open the entrance doors, and strode into the law firm.

As soon as he walked in, he ran head-on into the sharply dressed group leader, Sun Hao.

Sun Hao had been looking around the lobby, searching for something.

Hearing the door open, he turned and spotted Xu De walking in. His eyes lit up, and a warm smile spread across his face.

"Xu De."

"A few old clients from the group are coming in to ask about some matters. Come into the firm a bit earlier tomorrow..."

Xu De paused his gaze mid-stride and cast a sideways glance at Sun Hao.

He showed no emotion. He didn't wait for the man to finish his sentence, nor did he break his stride.

Instead, he brushed right past him, leaving behind only two airy words.

"No time."

In that instant.

Staring at the empty space in front of him,

Sun Hao's smile froze on his face.

Sun Hao turned back, and seeing Xu De walking away, he flew into a rage. He planted one hand on his hip and pointed at him with the other.

"Stop right there!"

"You dare defy the team's arrangements? Do you still want this job!?"

Hearing this, Xu De paused. He turned sideways, met Sun Hao's gaze, and said calmly:

"The team's arrangements?"

As he spoke, he smiled.

"Team Leader Sun, I have a criminal homicide case in my hands right now. You wouldn't happen to be unaware of that, would you?"

"Or should we find the director and let him judge who is right?"

At the first half of the sentence, Sun Hao wanted to explode, but the second half made his face flush red with guilt.

Even though the director was his cousin, they weren't close. He only got this position during the New Year when his mother cornered the director in front of all their relatives, forcing him to reluctantly take Sun Hao in.

In contrast, the director often praised and thought highly of Xu De.

Furthermore, the man truly had an active criminal lawsuit on hand.

If the director found out that he was trying to delay a case that could impact the law firm's reputation just so he could go on a blind date...

Regardless of what happened to Xu De, Sun Hao would be in deep trouble!

Sun Hao's eyes shifted, and he threatened cryptically, "Let me tell you, Jinmao Law Firm is the only boutique firm in all of Greenwood City!"

Xu De smiled and waved his hand, completely unbothered.

"Then Team Leader Sun can have the director fire me. I don't have time to entertain you."

With that, he ignored the man, turned around, and walked toward his workstation.

He hadn't planned on staying here long anyway. Once Wang Qiang's case was finished, he would immediately leave to open his own law firm. Therefore, in his eyes, the other party's words...

Weren't a threat at all.

Without a single ripple in his heart, Xu De arrived at his desk.

Just as he sat down, the lawyer next to him silently gave him a thumbs up without saying a word, merely watching Sun Hao as if looking at a joke.

"Heh."

Xu De chuckled but didn't pay it any mind. Instead, he lowered his head and pulled some paper and pens out of his drawer.

Looking at the blank paper, he fell into deep thought.

For Wang Qiang's case, what he was preparing to do was indeed legal.

Even if the matter escalated to the Supreme Court, those old men could pull their hair out all day and still wouldn't be able to utter the word 'guilty'!

It was just that bringing it up rashly would scare everyone else. What he needed to do was...

Provide the legal statutes to back it up!

In addition, he had to write down the key operations for the first instance.

At that thought, a glint flashed in Xu De's eyes.

"Got it!"

His pen immediately began flying across the paper.

......

......

At the same time.

In the lobby.

"Dammit!"

Sun Hao was exasperated, grinding his teeth in hatred. He watched the direction Xu De had left, his expression shifting uncertainly.

He was already dissatisfied that his cousin believed Xu De was more capable than him, and now being so nakedly ignored...

It felt like a slap to the face.

Especially with the surrounding gazes fixed on him, Sun Hao felt even more like a clown, leaving him angry and humiliated.

Until...

Buzz-buzz-buzz~

His phone suddenly vibrated against his chest.

Suppressing his anger, Sun Hao took it out and checked the caller ID: [Lawyer Chen Wei].

"Hello?"

Sun Hao answered, placing the phone against his ear.

A voice came through the speaker.

"Haha, how have you been lately, Old Sun?"

"I'll skip the pleasantries. The main reason I'm contacting you this time is to ask about a lawyer at your firm..."

"What's the background of that guy named Xu De?"

Sun Hao paused, his brows furrowing.

This kind of private inquiry... if discovered, he would definitely suffer the consequences.

His first instinct was to hang up, but...

'Wait, if Xu De loses that criminal lawsuit...'

An idea popped into Sun Hao's head.

His cousin always thought highly of the guy, which was exactly why he agreed to let Xu De take on a criminal lawsuit.

In his cousin's eyes, Xu De only lacked a case to showcase his abilities before he could soar into the sky!

But, if Xu De's performance was subpar and he lost such an important case...

"Hold on."

Sun Hao's eyes flickered, tempted.

He looked around to make sure no one was paying attention before covering his phone and walking toward the restroom.

Once inside, he took the phone back out and said eagerly:

"About Xu De, let me explain slowly. I'll give you the details..."

"He's just a college student who graduated a few years ago. He doesn't even have a decent resume. He's also dull. He looks smart, but actually..."

"......"

......

Inside Yangteng Law Firm.

Chen Wei sat in his office chair. Listening to the voice coming through the phone, an intriguing look filled his eyes.

A long while later, he finally hung up and turned to look at the two people in front of him.

Sitting across from him were none other than Li Youcai and Liu Cui!

Chen Wei looked at them and smiled.

"I found out. He's just a recently graduated college student."

"Don't worry about the case. I will exact bloody vengeance for Li Erniu!"

"We'll push to steer it toward the death penalty!"

Hearing this, Li Youcai and Liu Cui's faces lit up with joy, but a second later, they froze.

Wait, if Wang Qiang received a death sentence with a reprieve... then how would they get their biological grandson back?

At that thought, Liu Cui suddenly said to Li Youcai:

"Old man, Wang Mei is still our son's wife, no matter what..."

"We and Wang Qiang... are technically in-laws."

Li Youcai nodded repeatedly, chiming in:

"Right, right, right, we're all in-laws... if things get too ugly, we'll just become a laughingstock to outsiders."

"Actually, as long as they return the child..."

"It's not like we can't let him off the hook."

Seeing her logic acknowledged, Liu Cui immediately said smugly, "From now on, she can serve the two of us."

"After all, my son is gone. She should be the one to care for us in our old age and give us a proper burial!"

Looking at the two people in front of him, Chen Wei paused slightly. "So..."

"You mean..."

Li Youcai raised his chin, putting on an overbearing posture:

"How about... we talk to that ungrateful wretch's lawyer again?"

"Isn't there that thing called the letter of forgiveness... Just make it clear to them. As long as they are willing to give us the child and provide for us in our old age."

"We'll be the bigger people and let Wang Qiang off the hook!"

Chen Wei thought for a moment and nodded.

"Alright, I'll try."

......

......

November 4th.

9:30 PM.

Lin Yue hadn't gone to work today. Or rather, her law firm was opened by her family, with a total staff of three, so going to the office was optional. As a result, she had been cooped up in the Daoist temple.

The Daoist temple was located in the suburbs of Greenwood City. Since no one usually came to offer incense, it was quite peaceful.

At this moment, she was wearing pajamas and sitting at the dining table. Across from her sat a middle-aged couple, her parents, Lin Guodong and Su Xin, both dressed simply.

Clack... clack...

Lin Yue's eyes were vacant, her thoughts flying out the window to somewhere else. Her chopsticks unconsciously picked at her rice.

'Legal? Is it really legal?'

'But no matter how you look at it, it doesn't seem legal... Could he be lying!?'

Lin Yue suddenly thought of something and forcefully tapped her chopsticks against her bowl.

Instantly, a crisp

clink

rang out.

Hearing this, the two middle-aged people across from her looked up and glanced at her.

'No, no, there's no benefit to lying to a client in a trial case. He's not stupid...'

Lin Yue settled down again and continued picking at her rice.

Since returning home a few days ago, her mind had been restless.

After all, what that lawyer named Xu De had said... was simply too outrageous!

Legal? Under what law!

A long time passed...

Clink!

Another crisp sound of chopsticks hitting the bowl.

Her parents looked up, only to see Lin Yue's brows furrowed together again.

But before long, she fell back into deep thought.

After quite a while, Lin Yue absentmindedly muttered, "I'm full."

She then stood up and walked away.

Watching her departing figure, the two middle-aged people stared at each other with wide eyes. They exchanged a glance before resting their eyes on her bowl.

Looking at the bowl that was only half-eaten, the remaining rice mashed into a sticky paste by her chopsticks...

Her mother, Su Xin, fell into deep thought.

Where did she learn how to pound mochi? And she's been pounding it for several days in a row...

......

Creak~

After returning to her room, Lin Yue collapsed directly onto her bed, burying her face deep into her pillow.

Her mind was still filled with what Xu De had said a few days ago!

Even when she tried to sleep, his voice echoed in her head, disturbing her so much she hadn't slept well for nights!

Lin Yue felt her brain was a bit of a mess right now, yet she subconsciously slipped back into thought.

'No, no matter how you think about it, stealing a child is clearly illegal, right!?'

'Not to mention the threats, that's coercion, very obviously illegal...'

Lying on her bed, Lin Yue agonized over it with a bitter expression.

'No, no, he was so confident, it definitely wasn't empty talk...'

'Right, right, right...'

'No, no, no...'

'Right...'

"Ugh, so annoying."

She took a deep breath.

"Is this guy always this good at keeping people in suspense? Even if you don't have the evidence yet, you could at least tell me your thoughts."

"It's been so long! Why hasn't he told me yet!"

"Dammit, does this still count as a moral role model!?"

Lin Yue gritted her teeth in anger.

Then she straddled her pillow and began beating it up. The air between the cotton fibers was squeezed out, emitting a whimpering

swish-swish

sound.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear!

Just as the pillow 'whimpered' a few times... vaguely, a vibration came from the head of the bed.

Buzz~

Lin Yue looked up at her phone and saw that it was the number she had saved for Xu De yesterday. He had just sent an unread text message.

She opened it.

【Xu De: I've finished organizing it.】

【Xu De: Do you want to see it?】

Lin Yue paused, then her eyes lit up as she suppressed the excitement in her heart.

Legal?

She wanted to see exactly how legal it was!

Lin Yue spared the pillow's life. Still sitting on it, she lowered her head and held her phone to reply.

【Hurry, let me see!】

Xu De replied:

【Come to Jinmao Law Firm in Greenwood City tomorrow. I'll wait for you here.】

Lin Yue:

【Okay!】

After replying to the message, Lin Yue put her phone down. Feeling her heart pounding with curiosity, she raised an eyebrow slightly.

"I'd like to see how you make this legal!"

The next day. November 5th.

Seven in the morning.

The sky was just beginning to brighten. The biting autumn cold had turned into a wind that whistled and wove through the streets.

Xu De walked out of his rented apartment carrying some leftover food. Pulling his coat tighter around himself, he blended in with the pedestrians on the street. Before long, he stopped at the entrance of an alley.

In the corner.

A head peeked out from a remote nook in the alleyway. Upon seeing him, the figure sheepishly walked over.

Once the boy was standing in front of him, Xu De extended a hand and said,

"Shake."

The young scavenger reluctantly reached out and shook Xu De's hand.

He was about 1.6 meters tall with a frail frame. His hand, now resting in Xu De's palm, was incredibly thin—so bony it felt slightly rough, and stained with dirt.

Xu De spoke again.

"Spin around."

The young scavenger pinched the hem of his shirt with both hands, looking very awkward. Reluctantly, he spun in a circle.

"Too slow. Do it again," Xu De said, sounding thoroughly dissatisfied.

The young scavenger's eyes widened in shock.

In this freezing weather, doing a quick spin was not a pleasant experience. He was already so miserable; didn't this person have any empathy at all?!

But realizing it was Xu De giving the order, he somehow felt it made sense, so he sped up and spun around again.

As he spun, his thin clothes flared out, and the cold wind poured in through the gaps, raising goosebumps all over his skin.

"Great job!"

Xu De was much more satisfied this time and handed over the leftovers.

"Eat up."

Once the boy took them, Xu De stopped teasing him, turned around, and continued walking toward the law firm.

Looking at his retreating back, the young scavenger hesitated, opening and closing his mouth before finally whispering, "Thank you."

With that, he vanished into the alleyway as quickly as a mouse.

Seven-thirty.

Jinmao Law Firm.

Creak.

The main door of the law firm was pushed open. Xu De walked over to the attendance clock as usual.

A colleague in the lobby paused briefly upon seeing him, then stood up and called out,

"Lawyer Xu, someone was just here looking for you."

Was it Wang Mei and her daughter?

Xu De was a bit surprised. After clocking in, he looked at his colleague with a puzzled expression.

"Did she leave?"

His colleague shook his head. "No, she's waiting for you in the reception room. Just go to Reception Room 001."

"Alright, thank you."

Xu De nodded and immediately headed toward the reception room.

To be honest, there weren't many people who would come looking for him. If it wasn't Wang Mei and her daughter... then it had to be the 'Perfected Lord of Longevity', Lin Yue.

After all, he had told her to find him last night.

But it was only seven-thirty right now. Would she really come this early?

Xu De pondered this as he stood before the door of Reception Room 001. He reached out and pushed the ajar door open.

Creak.

As the crack in the door widened, a man's face came into Xu De's view.

Seeing who had arrived, the man sitting on the sofa inside paused slightly, then broke into a warm smile.

"Hello, Lawyer Xu. We meet again."

This person was...

Chen Wei!

The defense attorney representing Li Youcai and his wife!

Seeing this man, Xu De's heart skipped a beat. He didn't rush in, but instead asked,

"Lawyer Chen? Do you have urgent business with me?"

Chen Wei stood up and spoke with a chuckle. "Lawyer Xu, the court summons has been issued. The case will go to trial in five days."

"As for why I came to find you this time..."

Chen Wei paused. He picked up his briefcase from the sofa, pulled out a document, and placed it in front of Xu De, chuckling again.

"It's mainly because of this."

Xu De shifted his gaze to the document and instantly froze.

This document was quite specific. The title consisted of only three words:

【Letter of Forgiveness】

In an instant, Xu De's eyes narrowed.

...

...

Eight o'clock.

Creak.

A tall figure wearing a trench coat pushed open the main door of the law firm.

Whoosh.

Feeling the heating in the main lobby, she untied her scarf, revealing an expressionless, delicate, and aloof face. Her lively eyes darted around before she finally asked softly,

"Excuse me, does Lawyer Xu De work here?"

Her clear, crisp voice echoed in the room.

In the lobby, a lawyer who was already hard at work looked up. He was slightly stunned by her appearance before coming back to his senses and asking in confusion,

"And how should I address you?"

"My name is Lin Yue. I know Xu De."

As she spoke, Lin Yue exhaled a puff of warm air. The sudden contrast from the heating made her whole body shiver, and her aloof expression quickly softened.

Clearly, she wasn't actually aloof; she was just frozen stiff from the sudden drop in temperature.

The lawyer replied, "Lawyer Xu is currently busy in Reception Room 001. You can wait a moment."

The reception room?

Lin Yue paused. She was just about to head to the waiting area, but as she turned around, her eyebrows twitched as she thought to herself,

'Given the timeline, the trial should be starting soon. At this hour... could it be Xu Hong and Wang Mei?'

Thinking of this, she said,

"Thank you."

After pinpointing the direction of the reception room, she strode over.

Wang Qiang's case was imminent, and it was closely tied to the custody case she was handling. It was definitely necessary to give a few words of advice before the trial.

However...

Just as she leaned in close to Reception Room 001 and was about to knock...

"Lawyer Xu..."

A man's voice suddenly drifted out from the reception room, lingering by her ear.

This...

This wasn't Wang Mei or her daughter.

Lin Yue froze, then immediately tiptoed, preparing to slip away quietly. But before she could move, the voice from inside rang out again.

"Lawyer Xu, you need to think this through carefully. The court won't take the initiative to mediate between the two parties in a criminal murder case!"

"If you don't plan to sign this letter of forgiveness now... then when the time comes..."

"It won't be this simple when you eventually want to sign it!"

That voice... was it Chen Wei?

Lin Yue's mind suddenly flashed back to the scene she had witnessed in the police station lobby.

There was no time to think.

A second later, Xu De's voice sounded.

"See yourself out."

"You!"

Inside the reception room, Chen Wei slammed his palm onto the table. He glared angrily but couldn't find the words to say.

After a long time, he took a deep breath, looked at Xu De, and said grimly,

"You don't know what's good for you..."

"Then I'll see you in court!"

With that, Chen Wei didn't hesitate anymore. He grabbed his briefcase and stormed out in frustration.

Bang!

The reception room door was violently pushed open, the edge of the door brushing right past someone's face.

Lin Yue, who was eavesdropping outside with rapt attention, jumped in fright. By the time she recovered, she only caught a fleeting glimpse of Chen Wei's retreating back.

"What's with slamming doors? Do you have no manners at all!" she grumbled, voicing her protest.

Before she could fully process what had happened, a voice sounded from behind her.

"Have you heard enough?"

Turning around, she saw Xu De leaning against the doorframe, an inexplicable smile playing on his lips. As he spoke, he reached out and tapped the glass next to the door.

Tap-tap!

The frosted window, which acted as a wall for the reception room, let out a crisp sound.

Although the window wasn't completely transparent, while he was talking with Chen Wei earlier, anyone who wasn't blind could perfectly see a blurry, suspicious figure crouching by the door and pressing against the glass.

"Perfected Lord of Clairaudience, did you hear everything that was said in the reception room just now? I didn't sell out my client in private," Xu De teased.

Hearing this, a blush instantly spread across Lin Yue's fair neck, climbing all the way to the tips of her ears in the blink of an eye.

"What eavesdropping? I wasn't eavesdropping. I was just... just... just standing at the door zoning out for a second!"

"And what the heck is Perfected Lord of Clairaudience... I already told you I just made that up on the spot," Lin Yue replied vaguely, averting her gaze.

Xu De didn't say anything. He simply crossed his arms and looked at her with a teasing gaze, making her feel thoroughly embarrassed.

It took a long time before the topic finally got back on track.

"Was that Chen Wei just now?" Lin Yue looked back in the direction Chen Wei had disappeared. She raised an eyebrow and asked in surprise, "What did he want with you?"

Xu De replied, "He said the victim's family is now willing to 'forgive' the defendant, and he came to persuade me to have my client sign a letter of forgiveness."

The victim's family wants to forgive the defendant?

"Forgive? Are they even worthy of saying that word?!"

Lin Yue gasped in shock, then paused. She rubbed her chin, and a moment later, her eyes lit up.

"But... you were actually right!"

Li Youcai was using the letter of forgiveness as a threat!

The opposing party subconsciously realized that Wang Qiang being sentenced to prison brought them a hundred harms and zero benefits!

Thus, they were trying to maximize the value of their chips before the trial to get what they wanted.

All of this...

It was exactly the same as what Xu De had predicted!

And that was twelve days ago!

To accurately predict the opposing party's every move, and even their psychological reactions, twelve days in advance... Is this really something a lawyer could do?!

Not to mention, analyzing a major case from the perspective of an absolute dead end... this level of ability... was simply a dimensional strike in the legal world!

When did Greenwood City produce such a figure?

Lin Yue stared at Xu De in disbelief. After a long while, she asked in astonishment,

"You're from Jinmao Law Firm? There's no golden lawyer named Xu De at this firm."

As she spoke, she suspiciously looked him up and down.

However, Lin Yue quickly stopped thinking about that.

Because...

She suddenly realized something else.

That was, if the current situation was developing exactly as he predicted, did that mean... the solution had to be exactly the one he proposed?!

If it was a normal solution, it wouldn't matter. But the method Xu De had suggested...

It was practically the work of an outlaw!

"Wait, don't tell me..."

Lin Yue's eyelid twitched, and her heart pounded. She stared at the gentle, tall man beside her, her eyes widening in absolute disbelief.

She cried out in alarm,

"Are you really going to do something illegal next?!"

As her voice faded, an eerie silence fell over the reception room.

The two of them stared at each other.

Just as Lin Yue's eyes grew wider and a sense of unease gnawed at her heart... Xu De suddenly smiled.

"You guessed it, except..."

"I'm going to do it, but... it absolutely won't be illegal!"

"Lawyer Lin, I must emphasize this once again."

Xu De's expression was solemn and his eyes serious as he spoke in a low, deep voice.

"I have never done... anything illegal!"

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow. Resting her hands on her hips, she asked in confusion, "So... you aren't going to steal the child?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Xu De immediately retorted with clear dissatisfaction.

"How is that possible? Of course I have to steal the child. Never mind stealing."

"If pushed into a corner, I'll even snatch him by force!"

Saying that, Xu De turned and walked back into the reception room. He dropped onto the sofa, looked at her, and continued,

"Also, why do you think stealing a child is illegal?"

Did that even need an explanation? Wasn't that just common sense!?

Lin Yue grumbled endlessly in her heart, but she still managed to rein in her emotions.

She took a seat opposite Xu De, organized her thoughts for a moment, and slowly began to explain.

"Dongguo does not have a specific 'child-stealing crime' in its laws. Instead, it defines two separate crimes: Article 240 of the Criminal Law, the Crime of Child Abduction and Trafficking, and Article 262, the Crime of Abducting a Child."

"Both of these laws are inextricably linked to stealing a child, and both carry heavy penalties!"

"And your intended actions perfectly constitute the liabilities for these two crimes."

What she said was completely true.

However...

"You're right, but..."

Hearing this, Xu De nodded. He offered a gentle smile before continuing the conversation.

"What is the core subjective criterion for conviction under the Crime of Child Abduction and Trafficking?"

Without waiting for her to answer, he gave the answer himself.

"It's intent plus profit!"

In other words, subjective intent combined with the pursuit of financial gain. Only when both elements exist simultaneously can one's actions be judged as the Crime of Child Abduction and Trafficking!

Xu De wasn't stealing the child for money, so theoretically, his actions could not constitute this crime.

"But even so, it still involves Article 262 of the Criminal Law, the Crime of Abducting a Child!"

Lin Yue shook her head, her tone resolute.

True, he wasn't selling the child for profit, but he was intentionally taking and controlling the child!

That fit the charge perfectly.

"Lawyer Lin, your professional expertise is quite strong."

Xu De didn't deny it, nodding in agreement.

But then, his tone took a sudden turn.

"However..."

"What you're talking about is the subjective aspect in terms of criminal law."

"What about the objective aspect? May I ask..."

"In the original text of the Criminal Law, what is the objective definition required to constitute this specific crime?"

Lin Yue paused. Her high level of legal literacy caused the original text to instantly surface in her mind, and she blurted it out without thinking.

"Article 262 explicitly defines the objective aspect as: abducting a minor under the age of fourteen, thereby separating them from their family or guardian."

If it involved profit, it was abduction and trafficking; if it didn't, it was simply abduction.

The child-stealing Xu De spoke of... was practically following the objective definition of the crime to the letter.

However!

The moment Lin Yue's words settled, Xu De interjected.

"Lawyer Lin, you said it yourself."

"Objectively, tricking or abducting a child away from their family or guardian constitutes abduction, but..."

Xu De's voice followed up seamlessly, his eyes suddenly turning sharp.

"Are Li Youcai and Liu Cui the child's guardians!?"

"Of—"

Lin Yue was about to nod, but she suddenly froze in a daze, halting entirely as she realized something.

Seeing her reaction, Xu De spoke slowly.

"They aren't!"

"According to Article 27 of the Civil Code, the core statute regarding guardianship..."

"The parents are the child's guardians!"

"Close relatives like Li Youcai and Liu Cui are merely first in line for guardianship. Note the phrasing: 'in line'!"

In other words.

Only if both of the child's parents were dead could they fight for guardianship. Only with guardianship could they attempt to keep the child.

But the problem was...

The only person who had died was Li Erniu. Wang Mei was still very much alive!

Therefore, guardianship was currently held by one person and one person alone.

"And that is my client, Wang Mei!"

Xu De spoke at a rapid pace, his tone decisive and unwavering as he continued.

"Lawyer Lin, looking back at the objective definition of the crime of abduction in the Criminal Law, do you still think... I'm breaking the law?"

As soon as those words came out, Lin Yue was utterly stunned. Her brain began to spin wildly, plunging into a storm of thoughts.

The objective definition of the crime was: separating the child from their family or guardian. But the plaintiffs were not the guardians.

The most crucial point was...

"Lawyer Lin, don't forget that the custody case has already concluded."

"Wang Mei won!"

Xu De suddenly lowered his gaze. He leaned forward and stared at her, his voice dropping to a serious tenor.

"In other words..."

"Li Youcai has neither custody rights nor guardianship."

"Legally speaking, their act of keeping the child to themselves is an illegal act in and of itself!"

Instantly, those words exploded in Lin Yue's mind. Her pupils shrank slightly.

What he was saying seemed to... actually... be right!

With neither custody nor guardianship, in the eyes of the law, Li Youcai was just a stranger to the child.

And right now, a 'stranger' was forcibly keeping the child by his side... Just thinking about it felt wrong.

A long while passed.

She finally recovered her wits and replied hesitantly,

"But... the law also mentions 'separating them from their family'. Li Youcai's status as a close blood relative is an undeniable fact..."

Even if the other party had no rights, it was hard for the law to completely ignore the bond of blood.

Xu De retorted immediately.

"First, I harbor no malicious subjective intent in taking the child."

"Second, Li Youcai's home is a home, but does the home of my client, Wang Mei, not count as the child's home!?"

As he spoke, Xu De's eyes widened. He looked at the shrinking Lin Yue with an expression full of exasperation at her failure to grasp the concept. He shook his head and sighed.

"I'm merely taking the child from a 'residence' belonging to someone who has neither custody nor guardianship..."

"And bringing him to another home, one with both custody and guardianship rights."

"Legally, I am not separating him from his family!"

In that moment, Lin Yue stood frozen in place. All the counterarguments in her head melted away like butter.

Common sense told her it was illegal, but her professional knowledge told her...

It was legal!

"This isn't called abduction. This is called exercising guardianship rights."

A smile appeared on Xu De's face. He sat on the sofa, his hands clasped and resting on the table, leaning forward slightly.

He pondered for a moment before saying,

"You know."

"No one understands breaking the law better than I do!"

Even though it seemed a bit arrogant and sounded shocking, anyone faced with this logic could only stare blankly in defeat!

After figuring this out, Lin Yue felt her heart trembling. The look she gave Xu De was entirely filled with disbelief and shock.

She had lived for over twenty years.

She had met legal giants, listened to expert lectures, graduated from a top national university, and studied under famous mentors.

But despite all those experiences, this was the very first time she had heard of legally stealing a child!

And the key was that he wasn't spouting nonsense!!!

Lin Yue's eyes went wide. Her lips parted slightly, and she voiced a question from the depths of her soul.

"Is... is this right!?"

"What's wrong with it?" Xu De replied.

"Besides, the child's custody case has already been decided. Wang Mei won the trial of first instance, and the court ordered immediate enforcement."

"Yet Li Youcai and his wife have dragged their feet and delayed handing the child over!"

Xu De waved his hand, his face showing extreme dissatisfaction. His tone was laced with anger.

"Strictly speaking,"

"We're legally stealing the child with good intentions."

"They are the ones maliciously and illegally getting stolen from!"

The moment that sentence was uttered, Lin Yue felt as if her very soul had been elevated. The wrinkles in her brain were smoothed out perfectly by his logic. Somewhere in the ether, a brand-new door had opened before her.

So words could be arranged like this...

Could a human actually come up with such a thing!?

Seeing her expression, Xu De showed a gratified look, feeling that she was finally a teachable pupil.

"Do you still think my actions constitute a crime?" he asked.

Lin Yue's lips moved, but she couldn't force out a single word of disagreement.

A crime?

Even if they brought all of this into a courtroom, the judge and prosecutor would at most be collectively dumbfounded.

No one would be able to pick out a single illegal flaw in it!

"You..."

Lin Yue looked at Xu De's calm and composed face. She didn't know what to say, her face flushing slightly red from holding it in.

After a long pause, she finally squeezed out a sentence.

"So... when are you planning to go steal the child?"

Since it wasn't illegal, she had instead begun to worry about the impending first-instance trial.

Lin Yue gripped the back of a chair, a hint of anxiety showing on her face. She said,

"You have to remember that the first-instance trial is coming up."

"If we don't steal the child back before the trial, then the trial... is going to be very risky."

Earlier at the door, she had clearly, albeit accidentally, heard that the court had sent the trial summons.

The hearing was scheduled to begin in five days, on November 10th. If Xu De didn't take action soon... he would likely lose the case.

However.

Just as Lin Yue was wondering if he would strike today, tomorrow, or the day after to catch them off guard...

"Steal the child before the trial?" Xu De raised an eyebrow, wearing a puzzled expression. He spread his hands out.

"When did I ever say I was going to steal him before the trial?"

Lin Yue: ?

"If you don't steal him before the trial, and wait until after court is adjourned and the ruling comes down, what's the point of stealing the child!?"

Lin Yue's face once again showed pure astonishment.

The trial was the place for both sides to clash and reach a verdict!

Stealing the child was supposed to be a bargaining chip to secure a victory. But if he was going to steal the child after getting the result... what use would that chip be!?

"Naturally, I'll use something else in its place," Xu De replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"You must remember, the child is our leverage to handle the plaintiffs, the Li Youcai couple."

"This leverage has nothing to do with the arguments in court!"

"To deal with the judge and the prosecutor, we... need to bring out some new tricks."

Lin Yue stared blankly at the somewhat unfamiliar man before her.

She watched as Xu De pulled a document he had drafted out of his briefcase and placed it on the table.

"You didn't think I spent the past few days just working on those couple of sentences I just said, did you?"

"This is what I am going to use for the trial!"

With that said, he extended his arm, pushing the document across to her.

Curious, Lin Yue cast a puzzled gaze over the papers.

But when she clearly saw the contents of the document, she completely froze.

Right there, written boldly across the page were several lines of text...

【1. Regarding the defendant Wang Qiang acting to stop human traffickers and defend a police officer, an action which possesses the nature of acting bravely for a just cause. Based on the facts of the case and the application of the law, our side presents the following defense opinions...】

【2. Regarding the deceased Li Erniu, whose attempted intentional homicide resulted in his own self-inflicted death, which is unrelated to the defendant, our side presents the following defense opinions...】

Looking at these words, Lin Yue's eyes bulged. Her mouth formed a perfect 'O' shape, and her brain shut down entirely, descending into chaotic stagnation.

Words carried weight.

And at this moment, Lin Yue distinctly felt the crushing weight of those words.

These few lines felt like a one-ton sledgehammer smashing ruthlessly into her skull!

The trial was in five days. If this actually appeared in court, the judge and the prosecutor...

It was hard to say if they wouldn't just take off their belts and whip them!

"Wait..."

Lin Yue looked up at Xu De, her eyes filled with absolute shock. Her pale throat bobbed as she opened her lips.

A second later, a trembling, broken voice echoed through the reception room.

"What do you mean Wang Qiang's actions were self-surrender?"

"And what do you mean he was acting bravely for a just cause, protecting an armed police officer?"

"What exactly are you trying to do!"

Xu De smiled. "I meant exactly what I said."

"So, what you're saying is..."

Looking at Xu De, Lin Yue's blank expression faltered slightly as she opened her mouth.

"The defendant, Wang Qiang... caused the death of the deceased, Li Erniu, because he was acting bravely for a just cause to protect the police!?"

"Correct." Xu De nodded.

Lin Yue pressed on, "And you're claiming that Li Erniu committed suicide... or rather, his death was self-inflicted? And that he also committed the crime of attempted murder!?"

Seeing that she fully understood his intentions, Xu De looked highly satisfied.

"Spot on!"

Lin Yue opened her mouth to speak, then stopped. She hesitated a few more times before falling completely silent, swallowing all her questions.

'Protect the police? Why would the police need Wang Qiang to protect them!?'

'No, wait...'

"Can these arguments really be used in court?" Lin Yue took a deep breath, her words brimming with intense worry.

"Why couldn't they?"

Xu De found her reaction baffling. He spread his hands and leaned back in his chair, looking at her in confusion.

"I don't know what you've prepared for the courtroom, but just based on what you've told me, don't you think this is a bit..."

Lin Yue crossed her arms, weighing her words carefully before finally stating it as tactfully as she could.

"Arrogant!"

Never mind the actual courtroom debate, with just these claims alone... she feared that the moment he submitted them, the prosecutor would pull out a belt and whip him like a spinning top!

"What's arrogant about it? Everything I've proposed is reasonable and strictly follows the rules."

"If it's illegal, let Chen Wei sue me!"

Xu De couldn't care less. He waved a hand dismissively and said casually,

"Anyway... if True Monarch really wants to help..."

"Just find a male lawyer you have a good relationship with over the next two days to lend a hand. Of course, don't force it if you can't find anyone."

Lin Yue fell silent.

After a long while.

She let out a deep sigh, a helpless expression washing over her face.

"Fine."

She compromised. She had no choice. Although she had no idea how the prosecutor would react to Xu De spouting these claims.

The arguments he brought out were completely legal from every angle. There was absolutely no illegality to them. Even if the prosecutor got furious, they would have no way to deal with him!

As for finding someone...

"I do have someone in mind, it's just..."

Lin Yue reined in her thoughts. As a face surfaced in her mind, her expression suddenly became a bit strange.

Seeing her reaction.

Xu De was intrigued. Sitting in his chair, he raised an eyebrow.

"Just what?"

"It's just..."

Lin Yue pondered for a long time before finally squeezing out a sentence.

"He is somewhat free-spirited!"

"Free-spirited?"

Xu De was taken aback. What kind of description was that?

"You mean he's unrestrained? Doesn't take orders?" he guessed. "Let me make this clear first, I only want someone in the legal field who will listen."

Lin Yue shook her head and spoke gently,

"He is in the legal field, graduated from a top domestic university, and when it comes down to it, he listens to instructions and doesn't make mistakes."

He doesn't make mistakes, and he's competent...

Then what was so free-spirited about him?

Xu De didn't quite understand, but he wasn't the type to split hairs over minor details, so he didn't dwell on it.

"Alright, if he's willing to come..."

"I'll pay a fee of one thousand yuan out of my own pocket. I'll have to trouble True Monarch to go communicate with him."

Lin Yue nodded.

She looked up at Xu De, her eyes complex.

To be honest.

As a lawyer, she naturally knew what the public meant by a 'shyster', and she had even gone up against many of them.

But clearly, those past so-called 'shysters' were simply too pure and innocent compared to the man sitting in front of her!

At the very least, those guys could read their law books until the pages fell out, and they still wouldn't come up with the idea of stealing the child back!

But this man had perfectly circumvented every single illegal point... Even she, who utterly despised shysters, was willing to help him!

Lin Yue's emotions were in a tangle.

This swirl of feelings even made her forget to bicker about him calling her 'True Monarch'. She immediately sighed and said,

"Alright."

"I'll take my leave now."

Xu De offered a friendly smile and stood up. "Take care. I won't see you out."

Lin Yue wasn't one for pleasantries either. She turned and walked toward the door.

Reaching the front door, she pulled her trench coat tighter and wrapped her scarf around her cheeks, as if trying to bundle up her heavy thoughts along with herself.

Creak—

The door opened, and she stepped out into the freezing wind.

Xu De withdrew his gaze.

He didn't feel much of anything; he simply tidied up the documents on his desk and stuffed them into his briefcase.

He had done everything he needed to do.

All that was left... was to wait for the trial to begin in five days!

......

Meanwhile.

"Heh, what a naive, greenhorn idiot!"

On the other side.

Chen Wei left Jinmao Law Firm and returned to his own Yangteng Law Firm with a belly full of rage.

Bang!

He violently shoved the front door open, his face incredibly gloomy. Striding inside, he slammed his briefcase directly onto a desk.

Bang!

Inside the law firm's lobby.

Several lawyers familiar with Chen Wei were drawn by the commotion. Looking up, they immediately saw his deeply displeased expression. Raising an eyebrow, one asked,

"What's wrong, Lawyer Chen? Run into a tricky client?"

Hearing the voice.

The anger on Chen Wei's face didn't fade; if anything, it burned brighter. He took a deep breath and sneered,

"I ran into a lawyer who's still wet behind the ears!"

His words were concise, and his colleagues immediately understood.

Law was a rather extreme profession. Newcomers to the industry were usually either completely black-hearted and cunning, or brimming with hot blood, wanting to fight for justice and the world.

For veterans like them, whenever they encountered the latter in certain cases...

It was a genuine headache. After all, those types were stubborn mules. No matter what you said, they wouldn't change their stance and would fight you to the bitter end.

"Enough about that. Are my two clients here?"

Chen Wei took a deep breath, reining in his emotions, and looked at the crowd to ask.

A colleague replied, "The clients for the Wang Qiang case?"

Chen Wei nodded. "Yes."

It was only because of their demands that he had even gone to discuss things with Xu De. He had assumed that after their initial talk at the police station, the other party would have thought things through over the past few days and chosen to cooperate. Unfortunately... he never imagined he would get cursed out a second time!

"Tsk, tsk. Lawyer Chen, your case is causing a massive uproar out there,"

the colleague remarked.

"Besides, the trial starts in just a couple of days. How could the clients not show up? They're waiting in the reception room."

How did one determine the severity of a case?

By looking at public opinion!

And this case, which had taken place in Lijia Village, had already caused a massive uproar in Greenwood City!

A child abducted, a ten-year search, the buyers treating the victim like a dog, their refusal to return her, the victim's father killing the buyer, and now facing charges of intentional homicide...

Just piling these factors together made it hard for the public outcry not to be severe!

"Alright, I got it."

Chen Wei nodded again.

Without even picking up his briefcase, he headed straight toward the reception room.

Soon, he stood at the door, placing his hand on the knob and giving it a gentle twist...

Creak—

The door opened.

Li Youcai and Liu Cui appeared through the gap. The two had been dozing off, but upon hearing the noise, they snapped their heads around.

Seeing it was Chen Wei, their eyes immediately lit up, and they rushed forward.

"How did it go? Did that ungrateful wretch agree!?"

Liu Cui asked excitedly.

As she spoke, it was as if she could already see the image of Wang Mei serving her for the rest of her life, her tone brimming with anticipation.

"Heh heh, that's the crime of murder! He committed murder, so he has to be punished!"

Li Youcai smugly started puffing on his dry pipe, his voice drifting through the swirling smoke.

"If he doesn't want to be punished, he has to sign."

His tone carried a sense of absolute certainty.

It was as if he had Wang Mei completely in the palm of his hand, just like he had controlled her for the past ten years!

So what if they had trafficked her? The other party still couldn't do anything to them!

Unfortunately, reality was the exact opposite.

Hearing this, Chen Wei's face looked a bit grim. He hesitated for a moment before finally closing the door and replying,

"They... didn't sign."

As his words fell.

The two people in front of him froze slightly. A second later, a sharp voice, thick with a rural dialect, rang out.

Li Youcai looked stunned. He pulled the dry pipe from his mouth and said, "Didn't sign?"

"Did they eat a bear's heart and a leopard's gall!? How dare they not sign!?"

Liu Cui's face turned even uglier, her sharp, monkey-like features instantly contorting as she shrieked in anger.

"Her father killed my son! We just want our grandson, and she won't even give us that!?"

With that.

Liu Cui started slapping her thighs and wailing at the top of her lungs.

"Oh heavens, is there no justice left!? Are you trying to kill us!? Isn't this forcing people to end their family line!?"

Listening to her howling.

"Don't panic. The court has already issued the subpoena. The trial begins in five days!"

Chen Wei repeatedly tried to placate them.

"Once we gain the upper hand in the courtroom in five days, then..."

"They will be the ones begging us to sign the letter of forgiveness!"

In his eyes, the opposing side was simply refusing to turn back until they hit a brick wall. The first-instance arguments in five days would completely tear their unrealistic delusions to shreds!

Hearing this.

Liu Cui and Li Youcai's eyes immediately lit up, and they instantly stopped howling.

"Really!?"

Chen Wei offered a confident smile and took two sips of the tea on the table.

"The opposing lawyer is just a wet-behind-the-ears kid. I asked around at his law firm; he has absolutely zero record of criminal trials. His defeat is a certainty!"

"Haha, then we'll be counting on you, Lawyer Chen!"

Li Youcai and Liu Cui were instantly overjoyed.

Having received his affirmative answer.

The two then hurriedly left, preparing to go home and play with their grandson.

After seeing them off.

Chen Wei let out a long breath. He watched their retreating backs and began to ponder.

The factors that decided the direction of a case, aside from [evidence], often included another.

The judge's discretionary power!

In other words, the judge's personal will. This was crucial. Besides evidence, the only thing that could influence the outcome of a case was who the judge personally favored.

And the thing most likely to influence a judge was...

Public opinion!

In the year 2002, the medium that best reflected the state of public opinion regarding the Lijia Village case was newspapers.

Thinking of this.

Chen Wei walked straight over to the nearby public newspaper rack and pulled out a newspaper delivered to Greenwood City that morning, still holding a faint trace of warmth.

Rustle—

The newspaper unfolded, the paper making a crisp sound.

The next second, the social news covering the case instantly caught Chen Wei's eye!

【Moral Decay! Greenwood City Shocked by...】

[A loss of morality! A shocking case emerges in Greenwood City: the victim faces the death penalty!]

[Does the law still need improvement? Ten years of searching for his child, and what welcomes him is not a reunion, but prison!]

[Outrageous! Should human traffickers be stripped of their human rights?! Should buyers face the same charges as the traffickers!]

[Confessions of an abducted woman, the person chained in the pigpen...]

[...]

November 8.

At half past six in the morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten. A biting chill hung in the air, and along both sides of the street, white steam billowed continuously from the steamer baskets of the breakfast stalls.

Looking at the striking headlines in the newspaper, the diners sitting around the breakfast stand felt a fire burning in their chests.

"Screw this! When the kid was kidnapped, they didn't show up. When she was being raped, there wasn't a shadow of them either. But the moment the family kills the trafficker, a whole bunch of cops suddenly appear!"

"What about Li Erniu's parents? Why aren't those two being arrested?!"

"Those two didn't break the law..."

"Bullshit! She was captive for ten years. Do you honestly believe those two old bastards didn't take part in the abuse?"

"I bet those two old bastards even put up the money to buy her!"

"Sigh, the court has no evidence."

"What a messed-up world..."

"..."

At the breakfast stand, several people sat in a circle. They read the newspaper, arguing until their faces were flushed and their necks bulged. Their glares looked as if they wanted to eat someone alive, their chests heaving violently.

The heated debate rose and fell, almost never stopping.

Lin Guodong stood in line a short distance away, turning his head to look at them as he listened silently.

The stall owner serving his food glanced up, then lowered his head again, continuing his work without pausing. He casually asked, "Professor Lin, what do you think of this case?"

Hearing the question, Lin Guodong snapped out of his daze.

He withdrew his gaze, looked at the stall owner in front of him, shook his head, and sighed.

"It's difficult."

Even though he hadn't read the newspaper, Lin Guodong knew exactly what these people were discussing.

It was none other than the trafficking case of the woman in Lijia Village, Greenwood City!

The victim, Wang Mei, had been abducted for a full ten years. For a decade, she had been chained in a woodshed and subjected to daily assaults, living a life worse than a dog's.

In order to save her, her father killed the trafficker during the rescue and was now being taken to court by Li Youcai and Liu Cui...

"You know, in the past, with cases like this, some lawyers would practically pay out of their own pockets to take them on."

Lin Guodong's tone was flat, but his words were filled with melancholy.

Lawyers worked for money, but it also depended on the nature of the case. As long as a case generated enough social pressure and public opinion, those star lawyers would gladly spend their own money to run around for the victim!

Wang Qiang's case was big enough. It had caused an uproar throughout Greenwood City, with people discussing it in every street and alley.

But even now, not a single major lawyer had stepped up to take the case.

"Because it's hard to win."

Lin Guodong lowered his head and dug into his pocket for money, speaking as he did so.

"The defendant struck first, and Li Erniu died as a result. On this point alone, there is almost no evidence favoring the defense."

"Not to mention the rest of the objective evidence that favors Li Erniu."

Saying this, Lin Guodong shook his head.

"It's difficult."

Hearing this, the owner paused his work, refusing to give up.

"I heard the trial starts the day after tomorrow. There are still two days left."

"Is there really nothing that can be done in these two days?!"

Lin Guodong's heart was a tangled mess of emotions. He didn't want to say it, but as a professional in the field, he understood the inner workings better than anyone.

Breaking his silence, he replied, "Even if there is, the chances are only one in a hundred. Calling it a miracle wouldn't be an exaggeration..."

With that said,

he didn't wait for the breakfast stall owner to speak and continued,

"Let's put it this way."

"The incident happened in Lijia Village. The police and prosecutors can only gather evidence in Lijia Village!"

"That includes testimonies, witnesses, and physical evidence. And the testimonies and witnesses..."

Where would that evidence come from? Naturally, from the villagers of Lijia Village!

What kind of evidence would they provide? Anyone with half a brain would know it would be a hundred percent fabricated to benefit Li Youcai!

And the police and prosecutors had no choice but to hold their noses and record this evidence.

"That's why this case is so difficult, and why no one is willing to take it."

Lin Guodong let out a long sigh.

Cross-examination required genuine evidence, but the defense couldn't produce any. Shrewd lawyers wouldn't let themselves take on such an impossible risk.

"This..."

The breakfast stall owner's lips moved. He looked at his former junior high classmate and finally sighed as well, saying nothing more.

He handed the breakfast to Lin Guodong, then turned away to silently knead his dough.

Lin Guodong turned his head and glanced at the diners at the tables.

The customers were still filled with righteous indignation.

He shook his head, looking away, and turned to leave with his tofu pudding and flatbread, disappearing into the distance.

The weather in November was rather biting.

Lin Guodong walked down the street wearing a thick, bulky coat. He stopped and started, turning past several intersections.

A short time later.

Lin Guodong stood in front of a Daoist temple. He walked into the courtyard, finally stopping before a guest room where he raised his arm and placed his hand on the door.

Creak.

The door opened at his touch.

"You're back?"

A gentle voice came from inside. Looking up, he saw a mild-mannered middle-aged woman walking toward him to close the door.

"Yes."

Lin Guodong nodded, placing all the breakfast he held onto the table.

"Eat while it's hot."

His wife, Su Xin, glanced at him, then slowly turned her back to him. As she set out the breakfast, she asked,

"Are you in a bad mood? What's wrong?"

"Sigh."

Hearing this, Lin Guodong didn't hold back. He immediately sat down on a chair and let out a long sigh.

"It's that case in Lijia Village. You have no idea how massive the public uproar is out there right now."

"At the breakfast stand, the wet market, the supermarket... Just on my way back from buying breakfast, I ran into crowds discussing it at least five times!"

As the wife of law professor Lin Guodong,

Su Xin was also in the legal field. She naturally knew about the case and said gently,

"What are your thoughts? Maybe you could contact the local lawyers' association and try taking on the case..."

At her words, he fell silent.

As everyone knew, the legal field... produced a lot of depression!

Lin Guodong wanted the justice system to be better, wanted society to be more stable, and wanted the people to be happier. But... reality always dealt him a heavy blow, leaving him feeling lost.

Take the simplest thing with the greatest contradictions: marriage.

First, when divorcing, the court decided based on 'whether the affection has broken down.' This meant that even if the relationship was completely shattered, as long as one party refused to let go, getting a divorce was very difficult.

It seems unreasonable, doesn't it?

But if you were a man, and without this law, you were tricked into marriage, and the woman swiftly divorced you the day after the wedding, with the court immediately declaring the divorce valid.

What would await you then? Your assets would be split at lightning speed!

Therefore, a divorce buffer period was needed.

Thinking about it this way, does it seem reasonable again? No.

Now, imagine you are a woman suffering from domestic violence. You can't take it anymore and want a divorce. But because this law exists, the man firmly insists that the affection hasn't broken down, making a quick divorce impossible.

Like this, doesn't it feel unreasonable once more?

But if you tried to break it down further, attempting to perfect the law, not only would it fail to plug the holes, but the loopholes would actually grow larger.

Lin Guodong, an idealist, had lost himself at this double-edged, maddening crossroad.

Thus, he decisively moved to the Daoist temple to rest for a few months, allowing his state of mind to return to a peaceful equilibrium.

"Forget it."

Lin Guodong remained silent for a moment and shook his head.

"I am merely an academic. To take on a case using the title of a professor from a top-tier university would be irresponsible to the client."

Hearing this, his wife Su Xin didn't offer empty platitudes.

The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes curved slightly as she softly consoled her husband.

"So you know you're a theoretical professor?"

"The lawsuit our Yue is handling seems to involve the Lijia Village case. Why don't you offer her some theoretical guidance?"

Lin Guodong paused slightly.

He had a daughter named Lin Yue. She was also in the legal profession and had become a lawyer after graduation.

Recently, she had taken on the custody case for the child of the victim in the Lijia Village trafficking case. And custody would inevitably involve the family's attitude toward the defendant following Li Erniu's death...

Looking at it this way, Lin Yue had to be overwhelmed right now.

After all, she was still young. It was normal for her to find it tricky.

"But... she hasn't asked me about it these past few days."

Lin Guodong hesitated.

Su Xin replied, "The kid hasn't been out of school for long. She probably just doesn't want you to see her struggling."

Lin Guodong thought for a moment and found it made sense.

"Then I'll give it a try. Helping even a little is better than nothing."

Having made up his mind,

Lin Guodong didn't dawdle. He stood up and walked outside.

Watching his retreating back, Su Xin smiled. She unhurriedly sat down on her chair and began to eat her breakfast with slow, deliberate bites.

...

Guest room.

Knock, knock, knock.

Lin Guodong knocked on his daughter Lin Yue's door, but there was no answer from inside for a long time.

'Is she not home?'

He raised an eyebrow, questions popping up in his mind, and then applied a little force with his hands.

The next second...

Creak.

The door opened.

A simply decorated bedroom appeared before his eyes. Lin Yue was currently sitting at her desk, reading a book intently. As she read, her face displayed an expression of absolute existential doubt.

Seeing his daughter at home, hesitation flickered across Lin Guodong's face.

"What are you doing?"

He leaned in and asked softly.

"Why have you been looking so out of it these past two days?"

When he got closer and saw the book in Lin Yue's hands clearly, Lin Guodong's eyebrows shot up.

To his surprise, what she was reading was the supreme, ultimate manual of Dongguo: the Criminal Code!

If he remembered correctly, two days ago, after going out early in the morning, she came back and locked herself in her room, studying this book for several days straight.

Looking at her expression... she must have encountered a difficult problem!

"Ah?"

Hearing his voice, Lin Yue finally snapped out of her daze.

She turned her head, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing it was her father, and recalled the question he had just asked her...

Lin Yue hesitated for a moment. Finally, with a look of existential crisis on her face, she said, "Dad, I... I ran into a tricky problem, and I've been thinking about it for the past two days."

Sure enough.

She really did have a question!

Seeing this,

a smile appeared on Lin Guodong's face, and he mentally prepared himself to provide an answer.

After all, although his daughter wasn't a world-class lawyer, she was still a top student who had graduated from a premier domestic university!

Without a doubt, Lin Yue was a genius, yet even this genius had questions...

What kind of question could this be?!

"It's fine, you can ask Dad."

Lin Guodong pulled out a chair, sat down beside Lin Yue, and spoke softly.

Hearing this, Lin Yue displayed a rare, strange expression. She paused and asked, "Are you sure you can answer it?"

Lin Guodong was taken aback, but then he laughed.

"If it were anything else, I might not be, but when it comes to the legal field... in all of Dongguo, your dad is absolutely top-tier!"

Lin Guodong was very confident.

This confidence stemmed from his ability and status!

He was a law professor at a top-tier university, a man dedicated to the academic circle. He had mentored several PhDs himself!

The papers he published were featured by authoritative international institutions and cited by countless people!

Even when it came to amending judicial laws, he held the authority to offer his opinions. He was absolutely a titan in the academic legal field, standing at the very pinnacle of the profession's pyramid!

Now, it was merely a student's question. How could he not be able to answer it?

"Then I'll ask,"

Lin Yue spoke hesitantly.

Lin Guodong nodded. "Ask away."

At his words,

Lin Yue took a deep breath. She furrowed her brows, remained silent for a while, and finally spoke word by word:

"Dad, tell me..."

"Is stealing a child actually illegal?"

Lin Guodong: ?

Lin Guodong paused. He looked at his daughter, freezing on the spot.

This was something in the legal field... No, even an illiterate person would understand this. It was the most basic of basics, absolute common sense... How did such a question come out of the mouth of a Shuimu University graduate?!

She had even flipped through the Criminal Code for days without finding an answer, and came to ask a professor like him!

The next second, Lin Guodong's face filled with astonishment as he exclaimed, "Are you delirious?!"

Lin Guodong felt like the sky was falling.

He knew his daughter was an earnest, responsible, and independent person. She liked to solve problems on her own and wouldn't rest until she found an answer.

That kind of determination was good.

But she couldn't just obsess over something until she gave herself a high fever!

What did she mean by asking if stealing a child was illegal? Were those really the words of his straight-A daughter, Lin Yue?!

"No, Dad. I'm serious."

Lin Yue took a deep breath, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

A few days ago, the things Xu De had told her at the law firm had been nothing short of shocking.

She had tried to find loopholes in his argument using the Criminal Code, but after searching for days, she discovered... it actually seemed to be legal!

"Sweetheart, do you really have a fever?"

Lin Guodong was a bit worried. He even reached out and felt her forehead, only to find her temperature was completely normal.

Lin Yue shook her head and brushed his hand away. After a moment of thought, she asked:

"Dad."

"Tell me, if a lawyer steals a child to complete a commission... does that constitute a crime?"

Hearing this, Lin Guodong still had no idea what she was playing at, but he humored her and replied:

"Naturally, it's illegal."

"Abducting a child for profit absolutely constitutes the Crime of Child Abduction and Trafficking."

This was the most basic of basics. He only needed to quickly recall the law to find the answer.

However, the moment his words fell, Lin Yue spoke up again:

"Then what if the client is the child's biological mother?"

The person asking to steal the child is the mother?

Lin Guodong paused slightly. He rubbed his chin, a little hesitant, but still answered.

"That... is also illegal. Civilly, it infringes on the other party's custody rights."

"Criminally, it constitutes the Crime of Illegal Detention, robbery, and gathering a crowd to engage in a brawl."

It was as if she had been waiting for him to finish that sentence.

Lin Yue spoke up once more, her voice urgent:

"Then what if the child's father is dead, leaving only the mother, and the child is currently just staying in the home of nominal close relatives!?"

"Under those circumstances, is stealing the child... illegal?"

Lin Guodong: ?

"Hold... hold on."

Lin Guodong was stunned. Her rapid-fire questions had clearly caught him off guard, and his mind was reeling.

The father is dead? That meant... the custody rights rested solely with the mother?

Wait, if you have custody, why would you have nothing better to do than steal your own child!?

Hold on...

In a daze, Lin Guodong's eyes widened as something suddenly clicked. He looked up, staring at Lin Yue in shock.

"Yue, are you talking about Wang Mei's case!?"

His exclamation echoed in the small bedroom, his expression one of utter bewilderment.

The father is dead, the child is with close relatives, and only the mother is alive. Wasn't this exactly Wang Mei's custody dispute, which was deeply tied to the Lijia Village case!?

And his own daughter seemed to be the lawyer handling this case!

"It's that case."

Lin Yue nodded, not denying it.

The moment she confirmed it, Lin Guodong stared at her with wide eyes.

His daughter... wasn't she an idealist like him? Since when did she harbor such wicked thoughts like stealing a child!?

Thinking of this, Lin Guodong couldn't sit still anymore. He immediately stood up and urged Lin Yue:

"Yue, the case is difficult, and I know it's hard to get the child back."

"But... but we can't just go steal a child because enforcement is difficult! That is absolutely unacceptable!"

But Lin Yue shook her head. She sighed and pressed again:

"Dad, answer me first. Under these circumstances, is it illegal to steal the child?"

Lin Guodong was just about to reject the idea.

But the words caught in his throat, and he couldn't spit them out no matter how hard he tried.

He knew about Wang Mei's case. Since the biological father was dead, custody naturally belonged to Wang Mei alone. So the so-called grandparents...

"But... custody still requires a court ruling..."

Lin Guodong hesitated, about to voice his denial, but before he could finish, Lin Yue interrupted him.

"Custody has already been decided. Wang Mei won the case."

Lin Yue helpfully added, "Moreover, the child's biological mother would be brought along during the theft. The lawyer wouldn't go alone."

"Dad."

"Is this illegal?"

Lin Guodong opened his mouth to speak, then stopped, then tried again.

His face flushed red as his thoughts spiraled into chaos.

Was it illegal?

With both rearing and custody rights in hand, legally speaking, the child belonged to Wang Mei. Therefore, rather than calling it stealing... it was more like a fun little game between mother and son!

And what about the family whose rights were being infringed upon?

No, the other party had no rights.

Based on the conditions Lin Yue provided... as long as Wang Mei and the lawyer didn't go in with the intent to assault anyone, simply stealing the child carried absolutely no risk!

Neither civil nor criminal!

"This... this, this..."

Lin Guodong's face grew redder and redder, yet he couldn't utter a single word.

This wasn't right. This wasn't right at all.

The judicial system didn't work like this!

If you want a child, you should first fight a lawsuit for a year. After the lawsuit, you bicker with the other side for a few months, wait another few months for the compliance period, and then, after the other side fails to comply for two years, you apply to the police and the court for forced enforcement. Then you wait a few more months for the enforcement application to be approved before you can finally snatch the child back!

How could you not even wait for the compliance period right after the court ruling...

And just steal him outright!!!

And yet, it seemed they had actually threaded the needle through a bunch of legal loopholes!

Bastards, legal procedures and laws are not meant to be used like this!!!

"No..."

Lin Guodong's face was bright red. He looked at his daughter as if she were a stranger, his chest heaving violently.

"Who put this idea in your head!?"

Lin Yue didn't answer. Instead, she handed him the portion of the documents Xu De had compiled regarding the 'legality' of the plan.

She had asked Xu De about it too, and to ensure her peace of mind, Xu De had said she could have someone corroborate his words without leaking confidential information.

So her father was completely allowed to look at it.

Rustle.

Lin Guodong snatched the papers, the sheets making a crisp sound.

Immediately, his eyes locked onto the document, but the moment he clearly read the text upon it...

His eyes bulged, looking as if he wanted to glue his face to the black and white text.

The contents of the document were generally the same as what Lin Yue had just described.

But much more detailed!

Not only did it cite legal precedents, analyzing the original text of the law with strict precision to prove that their stealing of the child did not violate any laws.

It even left more than half a page free to list the evidence proving that Li Youcai and Liu Cui were the ones actually committing illegal acts!

When he finished reading...

Lin Guodong: ?

Lin Guodong was dumbfounded. As a leading figure in the legal field, this was the first time a document had ever made him feel this way.

Shocked.

Unprecedentedly shocked!

Decades of his worldview were being challenged like never before at this very moment. A massive earthquake was shaking his core beliefs!

He just stood there frozen, repeatedly scrutinizing the document up, down, left, and right, desperately trying to find a single flaw.

A long while passed.

Lin Yue finally couldn't take it anymore. Sitting in her chair, she looked up at him and carefully asked:

"Dad."

Lin Guodong snapped out of it, acting as if he were waking from a dream but hadn't fully shaken off sleep.

He looked at his daughter with bewildered eyes.

"Hm?"

Lin Yue asked, "Is this illegal?"

Lin Guodong: ...

Lin Guodong choked again.

Looking into her sincere eyes, he held his breath for a long time before finally replying:

"This is unethical!"

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow, asking suspiciously, "So, is it illegal?"

"This lacks professional ethics!"

Lin Guodong repeated loudly, his face turning an even deeper shade of red.

Stop asking if it's illegal. If you ask, it's just unethical!

But correspondingly, that meant...

"You can't find anything illegal about it, can you?" Lin Yue suddenly said.

Lin Guodong fell silent, unable to speak.

"It really isn't illegal!?"

Lin Yue was thoroughly surprised, even though she had expected as much.

But when even Lin Guodong was left speechless, she couldn't help but feel shocked.

Amidst her shock, Lin Yue also recalled Xu De's other ultimate weapon—namely, the matter of Wang Qiang being unarmed and acting bravely for a just cause to protect an armed police officer.

The corners of her mouth twitched involuntarily.

The trial was in two days.

With a lawyer like this in Greenwood City, the local prosecutors were in for a real treat.

Thinking of this, Lin Yue felt the urge to laugh. She could already picture the scene that would unfold in the courtroom.

Having resolved the burden of whether it was 'illegal' or not, Lin Yue seemed much more lively.

She stood up and cheerfully said:

"Alright, you should go eat. I'm going to change clothes."

With that, she pushed Lin Guodong out of the room.

With a click, the door shut.

Meanwhile, standing outside the door, Lin Guodong couldn't snap out of his daze for a long time.

His expression was deeply moved, his eyes bewildered.

Within that bewilderment lay a touch of shock, and within that shock, a trace of horror.

His entire person seemed to have lost its soul, wandering like a walking corpse.

In fact, Lin Guodong didn't even realize when he had returned to his bedroom or when he had sat down at the dining table!

"Old Lin, what are you thinking about? Why do you look so out of it?"

At the table.

His wife, Su Xin, looked at her husband, who had been absent-minded ever since returning from their daughter's room, a hint of confusion on her face.

Lin Guodong regained a bit of clarity.

He looked at his wife and parted his lips.

Then, this leading figure of the domestic legal world, a top-tier university law professor, a true heavyweight authority in academic circles, a man regarded as a founding grandmaster... asked a question that came straight from his soul.

"Tell me..."

"Is stealing a child illegal?"

Su Xin: ?

"Has your fever made you delirious!?"

"It's nothing. I'm just feeling a bit emotional."

Lin Guodong gathered his thoughts and didn't elaborate.

"Emotional about what?" Su Xin asked.

"The prosecutors in Greenwood City."

Lin Guodong raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of a sigh.

"The prosecutors and judges of Greenwood City... are probably in for a treat!"

A treat?

What kind of treat could prosecutors and judges possibly get?

Su Xin was confused, her face full of doubt, but she didn't press the issue.

Lin Guodong had no intention of explaining further, either. After all, once the trial began, she would naturally understand what he meant.

His appetite fully stimulated, he dropped one last sentence before digging into his meal.

"Anyway..."

"Just wait for the trial to begin in two days!"

......

That day.

November 8th, 8:00 PM.

The Greenwood City Intermediate People's Procuratorate had long since closed. The entire building was plunged into darkness and total silence.

Yet, one window still glowed with light.

Inside the office.

"Phew."

Prosecutor Hu Guang let out a long breath. Sitting at his desk, he reached up to massage his aching brow.

The desk lamp cast a warm yellow glow, illuminating the exhaustion etched on his face.

A voice came from beside him.

"You should clock out. Your health is more important, after all."

Hu Guang opened his eyes to see a cup of hot tea pushed in front of him.

Looking up, he saw his colleague Wang Wei and his apprentice Zhang Qing standing behind him. Both looked equally tired, showing obvious signs of fatigue.

Hu Guang didn't reply. He grasped the teacup and took a small sip.

Gulp.

The hot tea flowed down his throat and into his chest, a stream of warmth driving away the chill in his body.

Hu Guang felt his entire body relax. He let out a long sigh and looked up at the two men.

"Did the court say anything about the chain of evidence we submitted?"

Wang Wei pulled out a chair and sat down heavily.

He then replied in a mild tone:

"No. The prosecution's evidence corroborates with the police's findings, and it was submitted during the designated evidentiary period. Naturally, there won't be any issues."

Hu Guang nodded.

As the prosecutor in charge of the Wang Qiang case, he naturally had to double-check everything as the trial approached.

Then, Hu Guang looked up again, turning to Zhang Qing, who was sitting silently to the side. He frowned and asked:

"What about the victim's family?"

"Don't let them go missing when the trial starts."

Some people were completely unpredictable. They might skip a trial entirely just to sleep in a little longer, especially in remote areas where legal awareness was abysmally low.

Zhang Qing spoke up:

"I notified Chen Wei a few days ago."

Chen Wei was a shyster, but being a shyster only meant his character and methods were underhanded.

It didn't mean he was incompetent!

Ensuring that Li Youcai and Liu Cui appeared in court on time was a simple matter Chen Wei could definitely handle. Except...

"Chen Wei has been collecting testimonies in Lijia Village."

Zhang Qing hesitated for a moment before he finally couldn't hold back anymore. He frowned and said:

"Those testimonies of his..."

Before he could finish, Hu Guang cut him off.

"What? Are the testimonies illegal?"

Hu Guang pulled a cigarette from the pack on his desk, lit it, and took a slow drag.

Feeling the nicotine fill his chest, he exhaled a long puff of smoke and looked at the young prosecutor before him, his tone seemingly indifferent:

"Or are you saying Chen Wei fabricated evidence?"

Hearing this, Zhang Qing felt a lump in his throat. After a long pause, he shook his head and replied quietly,

"No."

Chen Wei was taking statements in Lijia Village, right near the scene of the crime. Was there anything wrong with that?

To be honest, from a judicial standpoint, there was no problem.

But one had to remember that testimonies came from people's mouths, and what people said wasn't determined by reality, but solely by what they wanted to say!

Faced with an outsider who had killed Li Erniu, what would the villagers of Lijia Village say?

They would naturally call black white and smear white as black!

Especially since the testimonies were provided by the dozens of people who had actively participated in the riot at the scene.

In a court of law, their testimonies held significant weight!

But this group of people couldn't possibly admit that Li Erniu deserved to die, or that they had also broken the law, right? No. Out of self-preservation, even their subconscious would lean toward supporting Li Youcai.

Even if these testimonies deviated from reality.

They could still be presented in court and used as evidence!

"What about the defense lawyer?" Hu Guang suddenly asked.

"I remember... the defendant has a defense lawyer named Xu De. Has he made any moves?"

Upon hearing this, the two men paused slightly.

After thinking for a moment, they shook their heads.

"None."

"There's no news from the court at all. No evidence was submitted during the evidentiary period," Wang Wei replied.

No evidence submitted at all.

That meant...

"He wants to fight the case purely on oral arguments."

Hu Guang was taken aback, his brow furrowing.

"What kind of track record does this lawyer have?"

Relying purely on oral arguments and impromptu performance in court... was simply too arrogant!

Even veteran lawyers wouldn't dare attempt such a thing. Anyone who could win based solely on that was, at the very least, a golden lawyer.

No... even a golden lawyer wouldn't dare pull a stunt like this!

"No track record."

Zhang Qing shook his head. "He's a young lawyer who just passed his internship a few months ago."

A young lawyer fresh out of his internship, lacking any evidence, planning to rely on impromptu oral arguments...

Meanwhile, the opposing side had a meticulously constructed chain of logic rigorously prepared by the police and the prosecution, and Chen Wei had even gathered testimonies from Lijia Village!

This...

"Enough. We're the prosecution, not the defense."

Hu Guang stubbed out his cigarette and took a deep breath. The exhaustion in his eyes faded, replaced by a sharp and steady gaze.

"We've followed all the required procedures. Now, all that's left is to... wait for the trial the day after tomorrow!"

However, the person worrying about the Lijia Village case...

Wasn't just him alone.

......

November 9th.

Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court.

"The defense still hasn't presented any evidence... This is bad. The prosecution submitted a massive amount of evidence before the trial."

"This..."

"Old Zhang, the nature of this case is too severe, and the public outcry is immense. The court has opted for an open trial. If the defense's position looks too pathetic during the hearing..."

In the office of the First Criminal Trial Court.

Judge Liu Jianguo held a newspaper, his face heavy with solemnity as he looked at the overwhelming public opinion plastered across the pages.

After a long while, he finally turned his head to look beside him.

Sitting next to him was a middle-aged man in judge's robes. He had a square face, weathered skin, and ordinary features, yet he radiated an imposing aura of natural authority.

Liu Jianguo spoke heavily:

"The trial starts tomorrow. Barring any accidents, there will be a massive number of people watching this case in person."

According to legal regulations.

In open trials, bystanders and journalists were allowed to attend and watch from the public gallery.

And if they saw the defense losing badly... it would probably spark mass outrage!

A father who searched for his daughter for ten years, committing a serious crime by causing the death of a human trafficker to save her...

Just picturing that scene gave Liu Jianguo goosebumps.

Yet, unfortunately...

"We will conduct the trial normally,"

Judge Zhang Bingxin said expressionlessly. He gripped the newspaper, his calm eyes showing not a single ripple of emotion.

Hearing this, Liu Jianguo hesitated, as if wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Zhang Bingxin was the judge in charge of the Wang Qiang case—in common terms, the presiding judge—and the presiding judge's attitude played a decisive role in the direction of the entire case!

Liu Jianguo knew what kind of personality he had.

Neutral, fair, and transparent!

Zhang Bingxin rarely exercised what was known as discretionary power. He only cared about evidence and the truth.

Therefore, this also indirectly meant it would come down to the personal abilities of the lawyers and representatives on both sides. And in this case, Wang Qiang's defense lawyer... had not even submitted a single piece of substantial evidence.

"Pack up."

Zhang Bingxin finished reading the newspaper, lowered his hand expressionlessly, and stood up.

"Prepare for tomorrow's trial!"

Watching his departing figure, Liu Jianguo fell silent for a moment before finally letting out a deep sigh.

He was just a judge in the court, not the police, not the prosecution, not even the presiding judge. The only thing he could do right now...

Was prepare for the trial!

Thinking of this, Liu Jianguo brushed aside his emotions. His expression turned solemn as he completely immersed himself back into his work.

On this day.

The passage of time throughout the entire afternoon seemed to slow down, making it feel incredibly long!

【Yangteng Law Firm.】

The victim's legal representative, Chen Wei, looked at the compiled string of informational documents in his hands, a sinister smile flashing in his eyes.

【Intermediate People's Procuratorate.】

Prosecutors Hu Guang and Wang Wei repeatedly double-checked the materials they needed, their expressions exceptionally stern.

【Jinmao Law Firm.】

Xu De finished writing the final document and looked at the words on the page with a smile.

Whether he lived or died would depend on whether he could single-handedly out-argue everyone else in court tomorrow!

Furthermore.

Even out in society...

The discussions regarding the Lijia Village case throughout all of Greenwood City grew increasingly heated!

The aunties at the vegetable market, the workers in the construction site canteens, the white-collar office workers, the factory laborers—spit flew everywhere as they passionately debated the case, their fiery emotions somewhat driving away the November chill.

Even the journalists were getting their pens and paper ready.

Everyone was waiting.

Waiting for the first trial tomorrow!!!

And under these anxious, highly active circumstances involving all parties, time quietly slipped away. In the blink of an eye...

......

......

November 10th.

The Lijia Village case: the first trial begins!

November 10.

Qingwu Province, Greenwood City, Intermediate People's Court.

Afternoon.

"Oh no, oh no, we're late! If we don't go in now, the trial will be over before we know it!"

Outside the main entrance to the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court.

A taxi hadn't even come to a complete stop before its door was rashly thrown open.

A slender female reporter wearing flat shoes scrambled out. Holding a microphone, she took a single glance at the towering steps leading to the main hall before anxiously racing up them.

"Clack, clack, clack..."

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the air, accompanied by loud bickering.

"Zhang Wang, you are dead meat! If we miss this scoop, I'll be the first to report you to the team leader when we get back!"

The female reporter, Zhang Xia, gritted her teeth and ran breathlessly up the steps, not forgetting to scold the person behind her as she moved.

Behind her, a slightly plump man with a press badge around his neck followed closely. Panting heavily and clenching his jaw, he lugged a tripod and a video camera.

Feeling extremely wronged, Zhang Wang howled as he chased after her.

"Sis, the company car broke down and we had to take a taxi! How is that my fault?!"

"All I did was forget the camera the first time we left, and then when I went back for it, I accidentally grabbed a broken one..."

Hearing this, Zhang Xia felt a surge of anger in her chest.

The two were siblings. After graduating, they joined the same company and just happened to be assigned as a team.

They hadn't managed to dig up any good material in the half-year since they graduated, causing the chief editor to look at them with increasingly dangerous eyes over the past couple of days. The Lijia Village case had finally blown up, and she wanted to seize this trending topic...

Unexpectedly, their plan to arrive at the courthouse at twelve o'clock to snag a good spot had been delayed by Zhang Wang until now!

"You still have the nerve to speak!" Zhang Xia scolded angrily, though her pace didn't slow.

Zhang Wang wanted to argue, but his ears suddenly twitched. He instinctively stopped in his tracks and looked back.

When he clearly saw the vehicle approaching from behind, his pupils shrank slightly, and he blurted out:

"It's the transport van! The prison transport is here!"

Hearing this, Zhang Xia stopped walking and looked back.

A white police van slowly pulled into the courthouse's main gate. It was the dedicated vehicle used by bailiffs to transport prisoners!

The two watched the vehicle intently until it turned a corner and disappeared from sight.

"It should be transporting Wang Qiang. The timing is right," Zhang Wang whispered.

The arrival of the defendant meant that court was about to be in session!

Zhang Xia said nothing more. She turned around and quickly ran toward the main hall, breathing rapidly with a few strands of hair sticking to her sweaty forehead.

Stepping past the final stair, Zhang Xia entered the lobby.

Looking up, she saw a large, gold-and-red national emblem hanging high above the hall, invisibly exuding an aura of solemnity!

Zhang Xia's mood instinctively sobered. She quickly checked the directory for the corridors, and after identifying the correct path, hurried into it without hesitation.

The Lijia Village case was being heard in Courtroom One.

She took the elevator and passed through a quiet, chilly hallway.

Finally, Zhang Xia stopped at the closed main doors of the courtroom. Standing at the entrance, she could faintly hear the sounds coming from inside.

She took a deep breath, placed her hand on the handle, and pushed.

"Click."

The heavy doors yielded, opening a narrow crack.

Through the gap, she could see the very front of the courtroom. The highest tier belonged to the judges' bench, behind which stood three armchairs. A gavel rested on the desk, and a national emblem hung high on the wall behind it, majestic and upright.

She pushed a bit harder, widening the gap.

In the center below the bench was the enclosed defendant's dock, overlooked by the judges. To the left were the seats for the public prosecution, and to the right was the defense counsel's desk.

Since the trial hadn't started yet, these seats were entirely empty.

At the back was a large, tiered public gallery. At a rough glance, it had at least four hundred seats.

Right now, all four hundred-plus seats were occupied, with over four hundred people looking down at the trial area.

A slight murmur filled her ears as people whispered amongst themselves.

'Made it. The trial hasn't started yet!'

Zhang Xia let out a long sigh of relief. Looking up again, she saw a figure in the front row waving at her.

"Over here, over here."

Zhang Wang didn't follow her in; he stayed in the back to set up the camera while Zhang Xia hurried over.

The female reporter who had waved pointed to an empty seat.

"Hurry up. Do you know how many dirty looks I got saving a seat, let alone one in the first three rows?"

"You're always so careless. It's a good thing you called me. Next time I'm not here, let's see where you manage to sit!"

"Thank you, Sister Liu. I'll treat you to a meal later," she replied.

Zhang Xia's face reddened, but she hurriedly sat down. Placing her bag on her lap, she pulled out a pen and paper, then looked up at the trial area.

Aside from the completely packed gallery, the trial area was empty, making it look starkly desolate.

Seeing her look, Sister Liu leaned over in her chair and whispered into Zhang Xia's ear:

"There are still twenty minutes until court starts. The key players haven't arrived yet."

Sister Liu paused and sighed emotionally.

"This case has definitely stirred up a lot of public opinion. I didn't expect even Courtroom One to be short on seats. This place can hold at least five hundred people!"

"They even brought in the judges from the First Group of the Criminal First Division!"

Courtroom One was the largest courtroom in the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court, yet there were still a bunch of people with nowhere to sit.

But as for the judges of the First Group of the Criminal First Division... Zhang Xia knew nothing about them.

"Sister Liu, what's the deal with the First Group judges?"

Zhang Xia asked quietly, glancing at the bench where the nameplates for Liu Jianguo, Zhang Bingxin, and Sun Dong were displayed.

Behind the three nameplates sat three empty armchairs.

"You just graduated, so it's normal that you don't know."

Sister Liu explained, "The judges in the First Group of the Criminal First Division are the most professional, impartial, and capable team of judges in the entire city."

"They exclusively handle major, crucial, and severe criminal cases!"

"Among them, Zhang Bingxin is the most prominent. He is the Chief Judge of the Criminal First Division, a high-ranking official at the deputy-director level in the Intermediate Court, and is famous for being strictly impartial and looking only at the evidence!"

Sister Liu paused and let out a sigh. "This man has a very stubborn temper. In the Lijia Village case, if the evidence is unfavorable to the defendant... there is a high probability he will just go strictly by the book!"

In other words... he would even ignore public opinion and forego his own 'discretionary power'?!

Zhang Xia looked at the nameplate bearing Zhang Bingxin's name at the middle armchair, and a sense of awe welled up in her heart.

A judge with that kind of unyielding character...

Wouldn't that just add fuel to the fire of this case?!

Just as Zhang Xia was thinking this, an abrupt sound echoed across the trial area below, and the crowd instantly fell silent.

"Creaaak."

The side door of the courtroom had been pushed open.

Several middle-aged men stood at the doorway. They wore black suits with white shirts, bright red ties, and red badges pinned to their chests.

The leading middle-aged man swept his gaze over the room without any change in expression. The moment he stepped forward, a powerful aura radiated from him.

He led his team to sit calmly at the public prosecution table, ignoring the hundreds of people behind him, and simply began organizing his materials.

"That is the team leader of the First Case Handling Group of the Second Prosecution Department, Hu Guang."

Sister Liu stared at Prosecutor Hu Guang and whispered, her eyes never leaving him, her tone serious:

"This guy is practically a case-handling machine. Just like Zhang Bingxin, he never mixes in personal emotions!"

"With these two presiding over the Lijia Village case... it's probably going to explode."

Two people who did everything strictly by the book, encountering a case dripping with human emotion—just thinking about it made one's scalp tingle!

After Hu Guang and his team took their seats, a few other people followed them in.

"See that? Sitting next to the public prosecution, in the civil plaintiff seats, are the victim's parents, Li Youcai and Liu Cui."

"Sitting in the victim's representative seat, the one wearing the suit is their legal agent, lawyer Chen Wei. This guy is a famous shyster in Greenwood City; he'll do anything as long as you pay him!" Sister Liu explained.

Zhang Xia followed her gaze and saw two elderly people with malicious expressions, muttering something under their breath.

Beside them was a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses who looked like a well-dressed beast. He was also organizing his documents, a smile hanging on his lips, but a trace of gloominess seeped from his eyes.

Not long after...

"The defendant and the defense are here!" Sister Liu suddenly blurted out.

Zhang Xia looked up and saw two stern, unsmiling bailiffs walking strictly toward the defendant's dock in the very center of the room.

Between them walked a man as thin as a rail, wearing a yellow vest. His eyes were muddy and dull, and his back was hunched.

This person was none other than Wang Qiang!

After taking his seat, he instinctively looked to his side.

There, a sharply dressed young man in a professional suit was slowly walking toward the defense counsel's desk.

Although he was young, his gaze was composed, and his expression showed no signs of nervousness. After sitting down, he merely sorted through his materials.

Looking at him, the gallery suddenly broke into whispers.

Sister Liu frowned and clicked her tongue. "The defense lawyer is named Xu De, from Jinmao Law Firm. He doesn't have a single criminal case on his resume yet; he's a rookie lawyer."

"A rookie lawyer?!"

Zhang Xia was somewhat stunned. Her pen stopped moving as she looked up at the defense in disbelief.

The defense consisted solely of Xu De, making their side look incredibly bare.

She then looked at the prosecution across the room.

Prosecutors Hu Guang, Wang Wei, and Zhang Qing...

The victim's legal agent, the notorious shyster Chen Wei...

Serving as both witnesses and civil plaintiffs, Li Youcai and Liu Cui...

This gap...

It was far too huge!

The disparity in their lineups was obvious. Most of the people in the gallery looked extremely surprised, bursting into hushed discussions as their gazes bounced back and forth between the two sides.

Zhang Xia's mind was also in a whirl, not knowing what to say.

Until...

"All rise!" the clerk suddenly called out.

The moment his voice dropped!

"Click!"

Several figures wearing long robes slowly walked out from the corridor.

The three individuals had calm, solemn faces. Their gazes were sharp and steady, without a hint of a smile. The moment they appeared, an invisible majesty instantly rolled over the room, and the entire gallery of over four hundred people fell completely silent.

It was the three judges adjudicating the case!

The lead judge, Zhang Bingxin, walked with steady steps toward the bench and sat at the focal point of the entire room: the high platform of the court, in the Chief Judge's seat!

After the three sat down, the clerk read out a few statements.

Sitting in the central seat, Chief Judge Zhang Bingxin suddenly raised his head. He swept his gaze across the room, taking in everyone in every seat, and then...

He picked up the gavel with his right hand and raised it high.

"Bang!"

The gavel fell with a sharp crack, followed immediately by a voice that resonated like a grand bell throughout Courtroom One.

"This case is regarding the murder of Li Erniu, a villager from Lijia Village, Yangcheng County, Greenwood City, Qingwu Province!"

As the voice echoed, an invisible aura seemed to radiate from Zhang Bingxin, who sat upright at the judge's bench, sweeping across the courtroom.

Inside Courtroom One, everyone held their breath. Their eyes fixed on Zhang Bingxin in the center, listening quietly.

"This case is brought forward by the public prosecution organ, the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Procuratorate, charging the defendant, Wang Qiang, with the Crime of Intentional Homicide, filed with this court on October 10, 2002."

"In accordance with relevant regulations, the First Criminal Trial Division of the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court is conducting a public trial."

"This case will be presided over by Judge Zhang Bingxin as the presiding judge, with the clerk..."

"The court is now in session!"

The court... the court was in session!

The moment those words fell, the hearts of the hundreds of people present jolted in unison.

Down below, in the public gallery, Zhang Xia's expression tightened. She quickly pulled out a pen and paper to take notes.

She wasn't the only one; the others were equally shaken, their emotions churning like stormy seas.

'The Crime of Intentional Homicide? The prosecutor is actually pressing charges for intentional homicide!'

'That is the gravest of all felonies...'

'Searching for his daughter for ten years, fighting back and accidentally killing the buyer to save her, only to be charged with intentional homicide by the procuratorate... I wouldn't even dare say it, let alone do it!'

'...'

Whispers rustled through the public gallery as people lowered their heads, clicking their tongues in disbelief.

Even though the bulletin board outside had announced the charges against Wang Qiang in advance, hearing the judge state it out loud still left the crowd stunned!

If something like this was published in the newspapers... they couldn't even imagine how explosive the public outcry would be!

At the prosecution's bench.

Prosecutor Hu Guang showed no trace of emotion. His gaze was sharp, like a machine devoid of feelings.

In contrast, the lawyer beside him, Chen Wei, turned slightly to cast a reassuring glance at Li Youcai and Liu Cui seated behind him.

Then, he shifted his eyes to Xu De, a playful glint flashing in his gaze.

"Heh, once intentional homicide is broken down and judged... this charge won't be so easy to dodge!"

A single charge could often be established through a variety of angles.

The same applied to intentional homicide, which could be divided into several types of "intent." No matter how you looked at it, Wang Qiang was bound to fit into one of them!

"I'd like to see how you defend this!" Chen Wei stared at Xu De across the room, a cold sneer appearing on his face.

Meanwhile, in the center of the courtroom, at the judge's bench on the high platform symbolizing justice.

Bang!

The gavel fell, and all noise in the room abruptly ceased.

Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin, his gaze seemingly capable of piercing through people's hearts, looked toward the prosecution's bench and slowly spoke.

"The prosecution may now read the indictment."

At the defendant's stand, seated in a chair surrounded by a railing, Wang Qiang tightened his iron-chained hands.

Prosecutor Hu Guang took a deep breath.

Holding a document, he slowly stood up and began to speak:

"Respected presiding judge, judges."

"The defendant, Wang Qiang, aged 52, born on April 17, 1950, was arrested on October 2, 2002, on suspicion of the Crime of Intentional Homicide."

"Through examination by this procuratorate, it has been ascertained that the defendant Wang Qiang's daughter was illegally controlled, imprisoned, and raped by the victim. Consequently, the defendant became excessively emotional and initiated a conflict with the victim."

"Subsequently, the defendant Wang Qiang took the initiative to commit violent acts against the victim, Li Erniu, and later used a lethal weapon, resulting in the victim's death on the spot!"

Hu Guang paused. His brows furrowed, and his tone grew stern.

He lifted his head slightly, his eyes crossing the distance to stare fixedly at Wang Qiang's frail figure.

A moment later, his resonant voice rang out!

"His actions have violated Article 232 of the Criminal Law of Dongguo, constituting the Crime of Intentional Homicide. The facts of the crime are clear, and the evidence is reliable and sufficient!"

"This procuratorate initiates public prosecution in accordance with the law and requests the court to sentence the defendant accordingly!"

His logic was meticulous and complete.

Every word felt like a heavy boulder pressing down on Wang Qiang's chest, suffocating him. He clenched his handcuffed hands tighter and tighter.

At the judge's bench, Zhang Bingxin nodded.

The trafficking case and the ensuing murder were inextricably linked, but in a trial setting, this could not completely absolve Wang Qiang; at most, it could only mitigate the sentence slightly.

"Will the 'legal representative of the victim' please present your opinion on this case."

Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin turned his serious gaze toward the prosecution's bench, landing on the lawyer, Chen Wei.

Prompted by his words, the dark mass of hundreds of people all turned their heads to look in that direction.

Chen Wei took a deep breath.

He stood up, scanned the expansive Courtroom One, then glanced at Xu De with a sinister smile.

"Respected presiding judge, judges, and members of the jury."

"I am the legal representative for the victim's incidental civil lawsuit, lawyer Chen Wei. Based on the circumstances of today's trial, I will now present the following opinion regarding the civil compensation portion of this case."

"The defendant Wang Qiang's act of intentional homicide is the direct and sole cause of the victim's death. According to the law, he should bear full civil compensation liability!"

Chen Wei suddenly shifted his tone, his loud voice echoing in everyone's ears.

"Presiding judge, here is the complete documentation regarding the financial situation of my client's family."

He held up a stack of documents and handed them to the clerk beside him.

"According to the clear provisions of the Civil Code of the People of Dongguo, the defendant should provide a death compensation of 49,700 yuan!"

"He must also compensate for maintenance costs. The victim's parents—father Li Youcai, 61, and mother Liu Cui, 61—are rural residents with no pension, no source of income, and no ability to work."

"The victim had no siblings."

"According to regulations, maintenance costs of 64,600 yuan should be compensated!"

"As well as covering the victim's funeral expenses of 4,043 yuan, along with transportation, accommodation, and medical expenses totaling 1,762 yuan..."

"Furthermore, since the elderly couple has no other children, have lost the support they needed for their twilight years, and are suffering immense mental anguish, my clients demand an additional compensation of 100,000 yuan, bringing the total to..."

Chen Wei paused. A second later, he spat out a number that shocked everyone present.

"218,343 yuan!"

Nearly 220,000?!

Paying 220,000 for a dead person? Was it a lot? It didn't sound like much.

But this was 2002!

In these times, the monthly income of a rural migrant worker was less than eight hundred yuan, and even eight hundred was something only highly skilled workers could earn!

How long would it take a migrant worker, saving every penny without eating or drinking, to amass 220,000 yuan?

272 months.

A full 22, nearly 23 years!!!

"220,000?! The family must be crazy. You wouldn't even pay that much if a normal person died. How dare they ask for 220,000 for a dead human trafficker?!"

In the public gallery, even reporters accustomed to grand spectacles couldn't help but look utterly astonished.

The public gallery, originally quieted by the start of the trial and a sense of decorum, now broke into a slight commotion and whispering, despite the national emblem hanging high above their heads.

"220,000? Why doesn't he just go rob a bank!"

"Shameless... shameless! Unbelievably shameless! They're bandits!"

"Where do they get the nerve to ask for that?!"

"That blatant shyster! The additional compensation was definitely something he actively cooked up for Li Youcai and Liu Cui. That bastard, that animal..."

"..."

Reporter Zhang Xia stopped writing. She looked up, her expression dreadful as she glared at the nonchalant Chen Wei.

It was obvious.

The lawyer had definitely had an unpleasant exchange with the defense, so he deliberately demanded 220,000 in compensation in court just to vent his anger!

But...

This money would have to be paid by Wang Qiang and Xu Hong!

Zhang Xia gritted her teeth. She glanced at the emaciated Wang Qiang—barely a meter and sixty centimeters tall, so thin he couldn't even fill out his prison uniform as he sat in the chair. Her emotions were like a churning sea.

"Bastard!" she cursed in a low voice, unable to hold it in.

Compared to the commotion in the public gallery, the order of the court remained unshaken, though it did cause a few people's expressions to change slightly.

Sitting in their chairs, Li Youcai and Liu Cui breathed heavily upon hearing the amount. Their eyes shone brightly, revealing an impatient look of greed. They were visibly thrilled.

Prosecutor Hu Guang frowned slightly. He cast a sidelong glance at Chen Wei but said nothing.

Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin frowned deeply. After a moment, he spoke up:

"Are the victim's parents present in court?"

Off to the side, the eyes of Li Youcai and Liu Cui lit up. The excitement on their faces immediately vanished as they quickly replied, "We're here, we're here!"

As if realizing their earlier excitement was inappropriate, they immediately put on a different expression. Liu Cui lowered her head and choked back tears, letting out a sob from time to time.

Zhang Bingxin remained entirely unmoved. He pondered for a long moment before asking,

"Plaintiffs, does what your legal representative just stated align with the facts?"

Li Youcai choked back tears. Sitting in his chair and wiping his eyes, he said,

"It is exactly as Lawyer Chen said."

"I was almost forty before I had my son. It took so much hard work farming to raise him, and just when he finally took a wife and had a child, ready to show us filial piety and care for us in our old age..."

"This kind of tragedy just had to happen!"

Liu Cui suddenly chimed in from the side:

"Our family raised that ungrateful wretch for ten years, and this is how she repays us... Ten whole years!"

"Eating our food, drinking our water, spending so much money over those ten-plus years. Even if she didn't want to repay our kindness, she colluded with outsiders to kill my son... There's no justice, no justice! You have to uphold justice for us!"

With that, she began to wail and sob loudly, tears streaming down her face.

Her wailing echoed throughout the courtroom.

However, the crowd gradually felt a sense of stifling irritation in their chests. As her crying went on, their frowns deepened.

A moment later, a wave of helplessness washed over them, and they sighed.

If the person killed had been a real human trafficker, there would be room to maneuver, and no amount of crying from Li Youcai and Liu Cui would have mattered.

But the victim wasn't legally considered a 'human trafficker', and wouldn't be defined as such in court!

Under the law, his offense was only a misdemeanor!!!

Although it was hard to believe, the victim, Li Erniu, had only committed a misdemeanor, and Wang Qiang had killed someone guilty of a mere misdemeanor.

Because of this, the fact that he was killed over a minor offense naturally allowed his family to demand compensation—even a massive payout!

But...

"Two hundred and twenty thousand..."

Someone muttered under their breath. Before long, the courtroom fell silent, leaving only a few faint sobs.

Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin exhaled deeply. With furrowed brows, he finally focused his gaze on the defense's side—the defendant's bench!

At the long defense table, a young man in a neat suit sat with his back perfectly straight.

"Defense, in response to the statements made by the prosecution, the victim's legal representative, and the plaintiffs..."

Zhang Bingxin looked down at Xu De and asked, "Do you have any objections?"

The moment those words hung in the air, the restless courtroom fell silent. Hundreds of people turned their heads in unison, focusing on Xu De, the sole figure at the defense bench.

It was quiet.

Deathly quiet.

Xu De slowly stood up. He glanced around, his expression completely neutral.

"Respected presiding judge, jurors. Regarding what the opposing parties have just stated..."

"The prosecution's claims are unsupported by any corroborating evidence and cannot be established! Their statements do not match the facts of this case! The court should not accept them; they are entirely baseless!"

"The victim's legal representative has engaged in exaggeration and subjective conjecture, completely deviating from objective facts!"

"Both parties' statements lack evidentiary support. They are purely subjective assumptions that do not align with reality and should be dismissed!"

"The truth is..."

Xu De paused slightly.

Then, his resonant voice rang out with absolute certainty.

"My client, the defendant Wang Qiang, never proactively committed murder at any point."

"The so-called murder was merely an act of acting bravely for a just cause. Forced by the situation, it was an action he had no choice but to take in order to protect the seven police officers present from harm!"

Judge's bench: ?

Public gallery: ?

At the prosecution's bench, Prosecutor Hu Guang, who had been deep in thought, froze. He raised his head and stared blankly at Xu De.

What... what the hell?

Protecting the police?

What did he mean, the 1.6-meter-tall, emaciated Wang Qiang was protecting the police at the scene?

As Xu De's words faded...

"Wait, defense attorney."

It was a rare occurrence.

From the judge's bench, Zhang Bingxin suddenly interrupted Xu De.

In principle, neither side was allowed to interrupt the other during their presentations, but he chose to do it anyway.

Zhang Bingxin felt as if he were getting old and his ears were failing him.

He stared blankly at Xu De, as if seeking confirmation, and spoke with a hint of hesitation.

"Are you saying... the defendant's actions at the time of the incident... were to protect others? Not to protect his daughter, but the police?"

At the defense table.

Xu De paused his presentation. He looked at Zhang Bingxin and replied without the slightest psychological burden,

"Yes and no. I haven't finished speaking yet, but generally speaking, yes."

"The defense argues that the defendant, Wang Qiang, exhibited the behavior and nature of acting bravely for a just cause. This absolutely does not constitute the Crime of Intentional Homicide as alleged in the prosecution's indictment!"

Zhang Bingxin pressed further.

"So, your side believes the defendant was acting bravely for a just cause, protecting seven police officers, and one of them was even armed?"

Xu De calmly replied once again.

"Yes, presiding judge."

Zhang Bingxin was speechless.

He was utterly stunned.

Not only him, but even the other two judges on the bench, Liu Jianguo and Sun Dong, froze in place.

The same was true at the prosecution table. The prosecutors exchanged glances for a long time, while Chen Wei frowned, completely bewildered by what Xu De was plotting.

After a long while.

Zhang Bingxin looked at Xu De. With his brow slightly furrowed and his attitude clearly much more serious, he said,

"Defense attorney, please continue."

"Understood."

Xu De nodded, paused briefly, and then picked up right where he left off.

"Respected presiding judge and jury members."

"According to the information, the defendant, Wang Qiang, went to Lijia Village on October 2nd, resulting in the death of Li Erniu."

"However, we cannot only look at Wang Qiang and Li Erniu in this incident!"

"Prosecution, may I ask who else was present at the scene during the incident, besides the deceased and the defendant!?"

The moment his words fell,

the crisp sound of a gavel echoed through the room.

"Bang!"

Zhang Bingxin picked up his gavel and lightly rapped it on the desk.

"We are now in the investigation phase. Prosecution, please answer the question."

At the prosecution table.

"What... what the hell is this lawyer doing?" Prosecutor Wang Wei frowned, turning to glance at Hu Guang, completely lost as to what the opposing counsel was up to.

Acting bravely for a just cause?

Let alone the reporters and bystanders in the gallery, even those from the Intermediate Prosecutor's Office nearly failed to process it!

He had lived for over forty years.

This was the very first time he had ever heard that getting red in the face, throwing the first punch, and subsequently killing someone could be considered acting bravely for a just cause!

Did this lawyer even know what he was saying?!

"Let's wait and see,"

Prosecutor Hu Guang replied with a frown. He then looked at Xu De and responded loudly,

"They can generally be divided into six categories."

"The police, the victim of the trafficking case, the defendant, the deceased, the family of the deceased, and the villagers of Lijia Village."

Hearing this,

Xu De nodded from the defense table and continued.

"Correct, a total of six categories of people. Let's set that aside for a moment."

"Then, I would like to ask the opposing counsel once more, under what circumstances is the Crime of Intentional Homicide, as stated in the indictment, constituted?"

This sort of thing might be difficult for an ordinary person to articulate clearly.

But not a single person present was a pushover!

Hu Guang answered,

"According to the explicit provisions of Article 14 of the Criminal Code, the original text states: An intentional crime is an act committed by a person who clearly knows that their action will produce socially harmful consequences, and who wishes or allows such consequences to occur, thereby constituting a crime!"

"This includes direct intent, indirect intent, and negligence."

At this point,

Hu Guang raised the document in his hand and pointed to the text on it.

"Regarding this case, the defendant, Wang Qiang, clearly knew that his proactive actions would cause the conflict between the two parties to erupt and result in casualties, yet he still did not stop."

"This subsequently led to the death of the victim, Li Erniu."

"Therefore, the defendant, Wang Qiang, fits the criteria of Article 14, indirect intentional homicide!"

Intentional homicide was also categorized. It was not just when you hated someone and took a knife to kill them that it counted as intentional homicide.

For example: 'I know this might kill someone, but I don't care, if they die, they die. I neither hope for it nor prevent it, and I accept the result if it happens.' This was also considered intentional homicide.

Wang Qiang's actions could be considered either direct or indirect. Connecting the testimony with the evidence, Hu Guang believed he fell into the latter category.

"Defense, do you have any further opinions to express?"

Hu Guang crossed his hands on the desk, leaned his upper body forward, and stared at him with a frown.

Upon hearing this,

Xu De seized the moment. He took a deep breath and declared,

"Prosecution, everything you just stated..."

"Is completely inconsistent with the facts!"

Inconsistent with the facts?

This was no joke. To a prosecutor, it practically bordered on a personal attack!

A look of anger had just begun to surface on Hu Guang's face.

But the opposing counsel did not give him a chance to speak.

Xu De suddenly turned his gaze to everyone present and proclaimed loudly,

"According to the prosecution, the defendant, Wang Qiang, became emotionally agitated due to the conflict over the trafficking. This led to hostility, and he threw the first punch, resulting in death."

"But..."

"According to the clues, the one who struck first was clearly the deceased, Li Erniu!"

The moment these words fell,

everyone at the scene was momentarily stunned. A second later, astonishment appeared on their faces, and a slight commotion rippled through the gallery.

"That doesn't seem right. Although I sympathize with the defendant... based on the information provided by the police, didn't the victim just get into the car and pull at the defendant's family member?"

"There was no extreme behavior, no verbal provocation..."

"Man... I really don't understand this lawyer."

"..."

Someone in the audience raised a hand to scratch their head, staring at Xu De for a long time without making heads or tails of his words.

Let alone the bystanders.

Even Hu Guang, Wang Wei, and the others facing him directly were frowning, clueless as to what tricks he was playing.

'Judging by his logical reasoning, this lawyer is definitely not some clueless greenhorn. In that case...'

'What exactly does he mean by these words? What is his purpose in saying this!?'

Hu Guang stared fixedly at Xu De, as if trying to see through his inner thoughts.

Presiding judge Zhang Bingxin was also dumbfounded for a long moment before he finally spoke with hesitation,

"Defense attorney, please elaborate on your previous statement."

Xu De nodded, a faint smile finally gracing his face.

Immediately after,

a rapid string of words echoed in the ears of the over four hundred people in Courtroom One.

"I ask the opposing counsel, prior to the fatal incident, regarding the other personnel present at the scene—namely the six categories of people I inquired about earlier:"

"The police, the trafficking victim, the family of the deceased, the villagers of Lijia Village..."

"What kind of relationship did these four categories of people hold toward each other?"

Xu De did not wait for anyone else to provide the answer; he immediately blurted it out.

"It was a standoff!"

"It was an illegal and criminal act where over forty people—including the two family members present at this trial—brandished weapons and forcibly besieged seven police officers and the trafficking victim, posing a severe threat to their personal safety!"

"And our defendant."

"Under such circumstances, in order to protect the people's police, our defendant was the very first to step in front of the crowd and fight against all the lawbreakers!!!"

Courtroom One, the largest courtroom in Greenwood City, fell deathly silent.

Over four hundred people stared with their mouths agape at the impassioned lawyer.

"In summary, according to Article Two of the Greenwood City Regulations on Rewarding and Protecting Individuals Acting Bravely for a Just Cause..."

Xu De declared,

"Our defendant was, in fact, acting bravely for a just cause!"

Prosecutor Hu Guang was speechless.

Presiding judge Zhang Bingxin was speechless.

The entire gallery was speechless.

As his voice faded, the entire courtroom descended into silence.

Words carry weight.

But...

The weight of his words was far too heavy!

The moment the defense attorney, Xu De, finished speaking, Courtroom One, despite holding over four hundred people, fell so silent that everyone could hear each other's heartbeats.

Everyone's minds short-circuited. They looked up, staring blankly at him, their heads completely empty.

They could understand the conflict, and that the two sides were at a standoff.

Based on that situation, it made sense for the defense attorney to push hard for a plea of legitimate self-defense or accidental death.

But... what did he mean by acting bravely for a just cause!?

At the defendant's seat.

Wang Qiang, who had been keeping his head down as he awaited judgment, also looked up. He stared at Xu De with a stunned expression, his mind equally blank.

'I... I was acting bravely for a just cause?'

"Honorable presiding judge, my client categorically rejects the charges leveled by the public prosecution."

"Furthermore, the victim's legal representative has absolutely no basis for their exorbitant demands. We will never agree to such extortionate claims!"

Having said his piece, Xu De felt a surge of relief in his chest as he slowly sat back down.

"The defense rests."

At the judge's bench.

A hint of astonishment appeared on Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin's stern face. He stared at Xu De for a long time before realizing that what he had just heard wasn't a hallucination.

Only then did he hesitantly look toward the public prosecution.

"Public prosecution, do you have any dissenting opinions regarding the defense's statement?"

Truthfully, this question was completely redundant.

As long as the person sitting in the prosecutor's chair was a human being, there was no way they wouldn't be anxious after hearing Xu De's angle.

Sure enough.

The moment those words fell, before Prosecutor Hu Guang could even speak, the victim's legal representative, Chen Wei, was already seeing red.

"Absurd! This is absolutely absurd!"

"Presiding judge, this is clearly a crime of passion triggered by the defendant's extreme emotional distress over the trafficking incident!"

On the side of the prosecution bench, blood rushed to Chen Wei's head, his face flushing crimson.

His tone was urgent, and he felt a spike in his blood pressure. He fixed his eyes on Xu De and roared:

"This so-called acting bravely for a just cause is completely preposterous! It's pure sophistry!"

Chen Wei had anticipated that the opposing counsel would fiercely question the prosecution, and he had even expected them to play the sympathy card.

But he never imagined that Xu De's opening statement would be so terrifying!

Acting bravely for a just cause?

If this was actually established, forget about compensation... Li Youcai and Liu Cui would be lucky if they didn't have to pay out of their own pockets!

Chen Wei slammed both hands on the table and demanded sharply, "I request that the opposing counsel's argument be dismissed!"

At the defense table, Xu De remained expressionless, refusing to yield an inch.

"Please present evidence to refute my claim!"

"You!"

Chen Wei felt a fresh surge of anger and was just about to retort.

Fortunately, Prosecutor Hu Guang noticed the situation deteriorating and immediately interrupted him.

"Opposing counsel."

"Are you aware that the essence of acting bravely for a just cause is to protect oneself or others by stopping an ongoing unlawful infringement?"

Hu Guang's eyes were dark, his tone carrying a heavy sense of oppression.

"According to the case file, during the course of the murder, the victim never initiated any unlawful infringement."

"It was the defendant who actively, prematurely, and emotionally instigated the conflict in the vehicle!"

The most crucial point of acting bravely for a just cause was that there must be an unlawful infringement.

It could be a fist, or it could be a knife, but no matter what, it had to exist and be present!

So-called 'suspicions' or 'beliefs' were purely attempts at exculpation driven by a bandit's logic.

"When the conflict escalated, no one at the scene faced any personal danger because of the victim!"

Hu Guang shook his head, stating nothing but the facts.

"The so-called danger entirely originated from the villagers at the scene and had nothing to do with the victim personally."

The danger came from the villagers, yet Wang Qiang had killed Li Erniu. This was obviously not legitimate self-defense, let alone acting bravely for a just cause.

However...

"Public prosecution."

"You claim the danger originated from the villagers, so I must ask..."

Xu De furrowed his brows. He took a deep breath, a hint of gunpowder slowly creeping into his tone.

"Why would the villagers endanger the seven police officers present at the scene!?"

Before the other side could even formulate an explanation, he pressed on.

"It was because of the trafficking case!"

"In other words, the root cause of the threat to the personal safety of the police and the defendant was the trafficking case!"

"And the central offender of that trafficking case was the deceased, Li Erniu."

"To summarize, we can definitively conclude: the villagers of Lijia Village and Li Erniu came into conflict with the police because of the trafficking case. To protect the police and the others present, the defendant, Wang Qiang, engaged in a struggle with the criminal, Li Erniu!"

"Ultimately, Li Erniu's attempted intentional murder inadvertently led to his own death, while my client acted in legitimate self-defense."

As soon as those words were spoken, the crowd finally grasped his meaning.

"That... actually seems to make sense."

"Hold on, my brain is still a little twisted. Wait a minute..."

"Why are they frowning over at the public prosecution's side? What are those prosecutors whispering about?"

"..."

In the public gallery.

The spectators widened their eyes, lowering their heads to whisper among themselves.

Even the reporter, Zhang Xia, put down her pen and paper to join the discussion.

"Sister Liu, why do I feel like something is off..."

Sister Liu, sitting beside her: ...

What a joke. Did she, a veteran reporter with over ten years of experience, really need to be asked if it felt off!?

"The case hasn't been concluded yet. Let's keep watching," Sister Liu said, shaking her head.

...

"What kind of nonsense is this kid spewing!?"

At the prosecution bench.

Prosecutor Wang Wei wore an expression like he had just seen a ghost. He stared at Xu De, then couldn't resist turning to Hu Guang.

"Doesn't he know that fulfilling a personal obligation doesn't constitute acting bravely for a just cause?"

Wang Qiang and Wang Mei were father and daughter.

From a legal standpoint, Wang Qiang protecting Wang Mei was an expectation. Even if he indirectly protected the others, the obligation was the primary factor, so it did not constitute an act of bravery for a just cause.

Could Xu De possibly be unaware of this rule!?

'This young man...'

Hu Guang furrowed his brow. He couldn't shake the feeling that Xu De's true objective lay elsewhere.

But if the opposing counsel never actually intended to fight for 'acting bravely for a just cause'... then why did he bring those words up?

Was he trying to...

In a daze, it felt as though a jolt of electricity raced through his mind.

Hu Guang's eyes widened, his pupils slightly contracting as a possibility surfaced in his brain!

He was just about to speak, but unexpectedly...

"Defense attorney, from a legal standpoint, Wang Qiang's protection of Wang Mei is an obligation, something he is supposed to do, not this so-called acting bravely for a just cause!"

"Therefore, although a coercive relationship existed at the crime scene, it has nothing to do with acting bravely for a just cause. At the same time, this coercion has absolutely no relation to the deceased, Li Erniu!"

Beside him.

When the victim's legal representative, Chen Wei, noticed that the prosecutor showed no intention of speaking, he stood up. His face was stern, his sharp eyes locked tightly onto Xu De.

"What you have stated completely fails to meet the criteria of Article 183 of the Civil Code!"

When those words landed, Hu Guang closed his eyes, his heart skipping a beat.

'Damn it, we fell for it...'

Fell for it... Chen Wei had been played. Or rather, the opposing counsel, that lone, audacious young man, had played the entire prosecution bench!

Why say that?

Because...

"So, what you are saying is that the defendant, Wang Qiang, does not meet the criteria for 'acting bravely for a just cause,' but..."

Almost the instant the other man's voice dropped, Xu De seized the opening. He let out a deep breath, a relaxed smile spreading across his face as he looked mildly at the opposing counsel.

"But you do not deny that when the conflict occurred, the danger faced by the police and others all stemmed from the trafficking case, correct?"

At this point, Xu De paused. He gave the more than four hundred people present zero time to react. Instantly, his expression changed, becoming solemn and grave. His tone was sonorous, his voice echoing throughout the entirety of Courtroom One.

"Honorable presiding judge."

"The facts of the case are now abundantly clear!"

"Through the evidence provided by the police, the danger felt by the officers at the time of the incident clearly demonstrates that the trafficking case involving the deceased, Li Erniu, had not yet ended!"

"Therefore, the opposing party's illegal act of imprisoning Wang Qiang's daughter, the victim Wang Mei, for ten long years had also not ended!"

"I would like to ask everyone seated here, especially the public prosecution..."

"Does this ten-year-long imprisonment and abuse count as initiating violence? Does it count as a threat to Wang Mei's personal safety!?"

At this moment, Xu De's dagger was revealed at the end of the scroll, entirely exposing his true intentions.

The case... could not be split into two!

If they only looked at Wang Qiang and Li Erniu, then it was a pure crime of passion, falling under the category of intentional homicide. If he argued down that path, it would be certain death!

Therefore, he only had one goal.

Consolidate the case facts, shifting the starting point of this trial from Wang Qiang committing murder to Li Erniu purchasing a human being!

First, use 'acting bravely for a just cause' to draw their attention, secretly gambling that the opposing side would overlook the detail of 'the villagers coercing the police due to the trafficking.'

As long as they overlooked it and subconsciously agreed...

Then he could perfectly ride that momentum to definitively conclude that the trafficking case had not ended!

And as long as the trafficking case was still ongoing at the time of the killing, Wang Qiang had a valid cause. There was no intentional homicide. The only one who could have initiated the violence was Li Erniu. As for the exact moment the opposing party initiated that violence...

It was the moment he imprisoned Wang Mei ten years ago!!!

Consequently, the moment those words fell, everyone in the entire courtroom gradually fell into a state of shock, their hearts leaping into their throats!

"Let me ask you."

"In this trafficking case."

"A father first has his daughter stolen, and then the daughter is imprisoned and tortured for ten years. When resisting under such circumstances, does this count as fulfilling a statutory obligation through legitimate self-defense, or..."

Saying this, Xu De paused. He reached out and slammed both hands forcefully onto the table. The

Bang! Bang!

sound echoed throughout the courtroom like war drums or rolling thunder, shaking the eardrums of everyone present until they went numb!

He then spat out two terrifying words!

"Intentional homicide!?"

Suddenly, the two words were like a violent gale, sweeping outward with him at the epicenter.

Everyone in the gallery widened their eyes, their hearts pounding wildly!

Why did the Wang Qiang case deter countless lawyers?

The reason lay in the fact that the human trafficking case and the murder case were treated as two separate incidents!

Regarding the murder case, if counted from the moment Wang Qiang initiated the attack, he could not escape the charge of intentional homicide no matter what. It would be a guaranteed exercise in futility that would only damage a lawyer's win rate and reputation, so naturally, no one was willing to take it.

However, if viewed as a single case, starting from when Li Erniu imprisoned Wang Mei ten years ago...

Then there would be room to maneuver!

Therefore.

After a series of rigorously logical arguments fell, the courtroom was plunged into momentary silence.

A moment later.

Murmurs gradually erupted from the public gallery.

"This... No matter how you look at it, this isn't intentional homicide. From this perspective... it's clearly legitimate self-defense, or at most, excessive defense!"

"Indeed. Although Li Erniu didn't make a move at the time, if the imprisonment hadn't stopped... then the so-called 'imprisonment' already constitutes an unlawful infringement."

"Which law firm is the defense lawyer from? This... Is this guy here to give a speech?!"

"His aura is too strong... Which firm is he from!?"

"......"

The people in the gallery only needed a moment of thought to immediately understand Xu De's point.

It was nothing more than returning to the perspective of the general public!

On the judges' bench.

"Should... should we contact the police about this?"

Judge Liu Jianguo felt a bit shaken. After taking a deep breath to steady his emotions, he turned sideways and asked Zhang Bingxin.

Sun Dong chimed in, "Do you think there might be some misunderstanding in the information?"

Liu Jianguo shook his head. "I don't know."

Zhang Bingxin pondered for a long time without rushing to answer. Instead, he looked up at the ongoing confrontation between Xu De and the prosecution. "There is no rush," he said. "Let's keep watching."

The two nodded, turning their attention back to the proceedings.

During the trial.

"Using the human trafficking case as the starting point to try Wang Qiang's murder case!?"

On the prosecution's side, Wang Wei's expression suddenly turned grave. His years of experience allowed him to keenly sense the defense's intentions.

If that were the case... then their current indictment would be overturned!

Prosecutor Zhang Qing also frowned and nodded. Although young, things had escalated to this point, and he naturally knew what was happening.

As for the shrewd Chen Wei...

When he realized he had been tricked and had fallen into the trap the other party had laid in advance...

"Slander! Fabrications out of thin air!"

Chen Wei's pupils abruptly shrank. As if every cell in his body were urging him on, he jumped to his feet, pointed at Xu De, and shouted, "Presiding judge, my side has never admitted that the human trafficking case hasn't concluded!"

"The opposing lawyer is fabricating testimony! I request that he be expelled from the courtroom!"

He had fallen for it...

At that moment, Chen Wei felt his undershirt soaked with sweat. Cold sweat poured down his forehead, and even his breathing grew ragged.

He had actually been outsmarted by a greenhorn!

The foundation for discussing whether acting bravely for a just cause was established rested on admitting the mutual confrontation between the police and the civilians at the scene.

Once that confrontation was confirmed to exist, the trafficking case was not yet over, and whatever happened between Wang Qiang and the deceased would be counted as part of the trafficking case!

The opponent used 'acting bravely for a just cause' as a distraction, making him overlook this crucial step!!!

'Damn it, damn Sun Hao!'

'Is this the guy you claimed had only been a full-time lawyer for three months? The Jinmao Law Firm set me up!'

Chen Wei cursed furiously in his heart, having entirely lost his composure from the start of the trial.

He saw it now. Sun Hao had colluded with this lawyer to set a trap for him!

Pretending to sell him out, but in reality, making him lower his guard. At the start of the trial, he had underestimated his opponent with a contemptuous attitude, seamlessly falling right into Xu De's trap. This tactic...

'Sun Hao, this isn't over!!!'

Chen Wei was furious, wishing he could skin the man alive.

But clearly, there wouldn't be an opportunity for that at present. He needed to continue paying the price for his mistake.

Sure enough.

A cold sneer immediately came from the defense.

"Heh, representative for the victim, do you need me to repeat what you just said to the presiding judge!?"

Xu De sneered, his eyes locked onto the man.

If the biggest variable for the defense in this case was himself, then for the prosecution, it was Chen Wei!

Why?

Because Hu Guang and the others acted according to the rules and the law.

But Chen Wei simply wanted Wang Qiang and him dead!!!

"You!" Chen Wei's blood boiled, the veins on his forehead bulging, yet he couldn't utter a single word.

In court, one had to be responsible for their words.

Since he had just admitted to the coercive relationship, retracting it now would be going back on his word, highly likely affecting the judge's discretionary power!

"Heh."

Seeing that the other party didn't continue pressing the issue, Xu De couldn't be bothered to keep targeting him.

His gaze flickered, sweeping across everyone in the courtroom before finally focusing on the presiding judge, Zhang Bingxin. "Presiding judge, my side insists on our stance," he continued. "During the time of the incident, the 'human trafficking case' had not concluded."

Almost seamlessly,

The moment his voice faded, a voice came from the prosecution.

"Defense, according to the clues provided by the police,"

"During the incident, the victim in the human trafficking case, Wang Mei, had already boarded the vehicle and was protected by seven police officers. No riot occurred at the scene, and there was no risk of continued confrontation."

Prosecutor Wang Wei stood up, his deep voice carrying over.

"Therefore, according to relevant laws and regulations, the arrest operation for the human trafficking case had already ended at that point!"

"The cause of the subsequent riot was not human trafficking, but the conflict between the defendant, Wang Qiang, and Li Erniu!"

Exactly. This was the main reason why they believed the case needed to be split into two.

The cause of the subsequent riot and the preceding confrontation were completely different.

Only...

"Absurd!"

Xu De did not give the prosecutor any face. He narrowed his eyes, shot a cold glare at Wang Wei, and shouted,

"Whether a case has concluded isn't for outsiders to say, but depends on what the parties involved do!"

"The fact is that the criminal, Li Erniu, still harbored evil intentions after boarding the vehicle, vainly attempting to continue inflicting unlawful harm upon the victim, Wang Mei!"

As he spoke,

he didn't hesitate, immediately holding up a document in his hand.

"Presiding judge, this is the evidence submitted by the prosecution."

"The evidence is the testimony of seven police officers. Among them, all seven uniformly stated that 'after the deceased Li Erniu boarded the vehicle, he grabbed the victim Wang Mei's hand, intending to drag her out.'"

"It is obvious from this testimony that the victim was still in potential danger and was not in a rescued state!"

"By the same logic, this illegal imprisonment had not concluded, and the human trafficking case had not ended as a result!"

Xu De hadn't submitted much evidence before the trial began, only handing over a pile of materials.

Why?

Because the evidence had already been submitted by the prosecution and Chen Wei long ago. He could just use theirs directly in court.

As for whether the other party was willing or not?

Who cared.

Anyway, the law stipulated that he could use it. It was legal and compliant. Even if they weren't willing, he could forcibly use it!

Therefore...

"According to Article 6 of the 'Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Implementation of the Criminal Procedure Law', it is explicitly stated that under the above circumstances, the cases can be consolidated!"

"Likewise."

"My client, Wang Qiang, falls under the Greenwood City regulation regarding 'acting bravely for a just cause', and furthermore, in the form of 'legitimate self-defense' under Article 20 of the Criminal Law!"

"Respected presiding judge, assessors, and members of the public gallery, I am the defense lawyer, Xu De."

"Everyone, I am here to plead..."

Xu De's eyes were stern. His tone was not impassioned, but rather carried a trace of solemnity.

"Not guilty for the defendant, Wang Qiang!"

A not-guilty defense...

Not a sentence reduction, not a mitigated penalty, but... not guilty!

The moment those words dropped.

It was as if an invisible hand gripped the hearts of all four hundred people in Courtroom One. Their spirits jolted, chests heaving intensely.

"Not guilty? The defense lawyer is pleading not guilty!?"

"How is that possible? As long as someone is killed in defense without their life being threatened, it's almost always considered excessive defense. Not to mention Li Erniu didn't use overly forceful methods to take her away at the time..."

"But the fact remains that the defense lawyer is pleading not guilty, and his logic is exceptionally rigorous."

"If the label of the instigator is truly pinned on Li Erniu... the direction of the case is really up in the air!"

"..."

The audience in the gallery was profoundly shaken.

Reporter Zhang Xia sat with her mouth slightly agape, staring in utter shock at the solitary, slender figure in the courtroom.

A not-guilty defense...

This wasn't a mere sentence reduction. To reduce a sentence, one only needed to wrangle with the prosecution and find some favorable information for the defendant.

But a not-guilty defense was entirely different.

You had to completely overturn every single indictment submitted by the prosecution from start to finish before the court would declare a not-guilty verdict!

Overturning it meant single-handedly refuting the information jointly verified by the police, the court, and the prosecutor's office!!!

Just hearing about it made the immense difficulty clear, let alone actually doing it.

Even some senior lawyers wouldn't dare attempt a not-guilty defense once in their entire lives!

Yet this young man before them... Was he even twenty-five? And he dared to plead not guilty for Wang Qiang!

"Sister Liu..."

Zhang Xia felt her blood boiling, her breathing growing ragged.

The middle-aged reporter beside her, however, had long since fixed her unblinking gaze on the trial, ignoring her completely.

"Don't speak."

"Keep watching!"

Zhang Xia nodded, her focused eyes returning to the scene.

...

During the trial.

"Prosecution, do you have any objections!?"

Xu De was like a warrior unleashing a special move in a game. His sharp gaze pierced the air, staring straight at the prosecutors.

"This..."

Wang Wei was left speechless; the opponent's angle was incredibly tricky.

By using the fact that Li Erniu had grabbed Wang Mei, Xu De deduced that the trafficking case was not over and that Wang Mei was still in danger.

This subsequently negated the indictment's claim that Wang Qiang killed out of emotional agitation, providing a basis for legitimate self-defense.

Wang Wei had no choice but to look toward Hu Guang.

Hu Guang furrowed his brow, his mind rapidly integrating all the clues in deep thought.

As for Chen Wei and Li Youcai...

"What? That ungrateful wretch was taken away by the police! Why is my son still considered guilty!?"

Upon understanding the meaning behind Xu De's words, Liu Cui immediately stomped her feet in anger.

She had seen Wang Mei being taken away with her own eyes.

She had left, even gotten into the car, and was protected by seven armed police officers. She had long since left that woodshed.

How could this still be considered imprisonment!?

"Chen Wei, Lawyer Chen, say something!"

Li Youcai, standing to the side, was also growing anxious. He turned to the legal representative, Chen Wei, and urged him in a frantic whisper.

Two hundred and twenty thousand!

If they won this case, they could make the other party pay two hundred and twenty thousand!

Setting aside whether the other party could afford it, they would absolutely secure a massive payout!

The case had seemed locked in, and the money was practically in their hands, but... why had the direction of the case suddenly changed?

What did he mean that even though Wang Mei was rescued, she was still in a state of imprisonment!?

"Say something!" Li Youcai hissed furiously.

But Chen Wei, sitting at the prosecution's side, acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, showing absolutely no reaction.

Did he really not hear?

No.

In the representative's seat.

Chen Wei's face was flushed the color of pig liver. The veins on his forehead throbbed violently, his bloodshot eyes glaring as if he wanted to chew Xu De alive. Both of his hands were clenched tightly into fists, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh.

Could he speak?

Yes.

But did he dare!?

That lawyer in the defense stand actually dared to play logic traps in a courtroom...

He knew he himself was called a shyster, yet even he had to honestly rely on evidence when facing people like Zhang Bingxin and Hu Guang. But this guy actually dared to bait him during the trial... This wasn't just bold, it was sheer audacity!

Most importantly...

He didn't dare to speak.

That's right, Chen Wei was somewhat afraid to open his mouth right now. After all, he had only said a few sentences just moments ago, but those very sentences had completely and unwittingly played right into the opponent's trap...

God knew if the opponent had more pitfalls waiting for him!

Therefore.

Listening to the urging and cursing from Li Youcai and Liu Cui behind him, Chen Wei could only play the ostrich and pretend not to hear.

'Damn you, Sun Hao, you teamed up with others to screw me!'

Chen Wei cursed viciously in his heart.

'I'm not done with you over this!!!'

But no matter what he thought internally, he ultimately did not speak up.

It was very sudden. The trial, which had been fiercely contested just moments ago, fell eerily silent, gradually permeated by a stalemated atmosphere.

On the judges' bench.

"Hu Guang has nothing to say. Is he... agreeing with the defense?"

"No, I lean more toward the defense's argument being too sudden, leaving him unable to find an angle to rebut for the moment."

"Heh, a breakthrough point isn't something you can find in a short time..."

"The trial is at a stalemate, differing from our expectations. What should we do?"

"..."

Judges Liu Jianguo and Sun Dong conversed briefly before finally turning their gazes to Zhang Bingxin.

Zhang Bingxin pondered for a moment and prepared to speak.

He picked up his gavel.

"Bang!"

The sound rang out as Zhang Bingxin opened his mouth.

"Now..."

Unexpectedly, after uttering only one word, a voice suddenly interrupted him.

"Presiding Judge, the defense still has more to say!"

From the defense stand, Xu De, seeing that the momentum was on his side, didn't hesitate. His brow tightened as he sternly interrupted Zhang Bingxin.

Zhang Bingxin paused, feeling a bit choked up, but he swallowed his words and set the gavel down.

"The defense may proceed."

Hearing this.

Xu De nodded. He rummaged through the table and finally held up a document.

Zhang Bingxin furrowed his brow and squinted at it, but couldn't recognize what it was, prompting him to ask:

"What is that?"

Xu De replied, "This is the evidence submitted to the court six days ago by the victim's legal representative, Lawyer Chen Wei!"

On the prosecution's side.

Chen Wei jerked his head up as if triggered upon hearing his name. He looked at Xu De with an unpredictable gaze, his expression rather ugly.

'What did he mean, evidence he submitted?'

'Damn it, couldn't he find his own evidence? Why is it that since the trial started, he's using either the prosecutor's evidence or mine!'

'And... what evidence is this?'

Chen Wei frowned.

Xu De continued, "It shows that the psychiatric evaluation conducted by the police on the trafficking victim, Wang Mei, assessed her as: Normal!"

Normal...

Wang Mei did have some mental issues, but that was before she was rescued.

The moment she was successfully rescued, it was as if she had been given a miracle cure. Her mental state completely recovered, leaving behind only psychological trauma!

Only...

Why was he bringing this up?

Just as everyone was pondering this, the next sentence echoed in their ears.

"Respected Presiding Judge, jurors."

"The defense maintains that while the defendant Wang Qiang's actions constitute legitimate self-defense, his behavior also aligns with Greenwood City's standard for acting bravely for a just cause!"

Xu De suddenly brought up the old topic, pulling out acting bravely for a just cause once again.

Only this time, the logic was even tighter!

"Civil representative Chen Wei previously stated that protection between a father and daughter is a statutory obligation."

"But..."

"According to Articles 17, 18, and 39 of the Civil Code: An adult aged eighteen or older with a normal mental state is a person with full capacity for civil conduct. The parents' statutory guardianship automatically terminates without the need for a court ruling!"

"At the time of the incident, the victim Wang Mei met the aforementioned criteria."

"In summary, my client, defendant Wang Qiang, stepped forward to help when he had no obligation to do so, fully complying with local regulations regarding acting bravely for a just cause!"

Xu De still hadn't forgotten about acting bravely for a just cause.

Even more...

"Furthermore, following the death of the deceased in this case, Li Erniu, my client Wang Qiang was not arrested."

"It was a self-surrender!"

Xu De's words were astonishing. The moment the phrase dropped.

Even Hu Guang, who had remained calm despite the indictment being torn apart, couldn't help but widen his eyes, staring at him with his mouth agape and brows furrowed.

Self-surrender?

Xu De didn't explain. Since he had seized the floor, he naturally wouldn't waste this opportunity to create every favorable condition for the defendant.

Therefore...

"At the same time, I would like to once again question the prosecution."

"Prosecution, on what basis do you determine that the deceased, Li Erniu, was killed by my client, Wang Qiang?"

Xu De's expression was grave. He rattled off a series of seemingly absurd statements without changing his expression.

His voice was loud, ringing in the ears of everyone at the prosecution bench.

"Is it the confessions provided by the police? Or the evidence left at the scene? Or perhaps the statements of eyewitnesses..."

"None!"

"At the time of the incident, there was no evidence to prove that my client, Wang Qiang, without being coerced or controlled by anyone, took the initiative to plunge the knife into the deceased's abdomen!"

"The only evidence available can only prove that the deceased, Li Erniu, attempted intentional homicide, which resulted in his own death!"

The scene at the time of the incident was exceptionally chaotic.

With dozens of people crowded together, nothing could be seen clearly. The police could only make a judgment based on the fingerprints on the knife handle.

But the problem arose...

In such a chaotic situation, it was hard to say whether someone had grabbed Wang Qiang's arm and forced the knife in his hand into Li Erniu!

So, without ironclad evidence...

What if someone wanted to use Wang Qiang's hand to get rid of Li Erniu?

What if someone deliberately held Li Erniu back and had Wang Qiang kill him?

"Respected Presiding Judge, jurors."

"The prosecution's charges lack sufficient evidence, the indictment does not match the facts, the deceased attempted intentional homicide..."

"And the defendant exhibits a series of good behaviors, including legitimate self-defense, acting bravely for a just cause, and self-surrender. In conclusion, the defense believes..."

Xu De took a deep breath. The rapid-fire bombardment had left his mouth dry, but he showed no intention of stopping.

Legitimate self-defense + self-surrender + lack of ironclad evidence + acting bravely for a just cause...

Several arguments combined to form Xu De's final statement.

"The defendant is not guilty!"

"I request the Presiding Judge to make a decision!"

Not guilty... Xu De was going to plead not guilty.

Could it be done?

It remained to be seen, but... if you didn't try, how would you ever know!?

Xu De never believed in fate. He only believed in himself. As long as he acted, there was a possibility, and there was hope!

The uninterrupted crime of human trafficking, plus legitimate self-defense, self-surrender, and a lack of concrete evidence...

These tricky angles were enough to tear a crack of hope into this bleak case!

"No one saw Wang Qiang actively murder Li Erniu with their own eyes..."

In the public gallery.

Zhang Xia repeated Xu De's words in her mind, finding more clarity the more she thought about it.

That was right.

The incident was too chaotic. Even with guns drawn, the police hadn't been able to control the scene. Furthermore, the seven officers never saw Wang Qiang kill anyone before the chaos subsided...

Then, considering Wang Qiang's muddled state of mind and the fact that he was surrounded by a crowd...

Anyone at the scene could be suspected of using Wang Qiang to commit the murder!

What? You say only Wang Qiang's fingerprints were on the murder weapon?

Actually, in a situation like that, the real killer wouldn't need to hold the knife themselves!

Put it this way.

You've arm-wrestled someone before, right?

If, while you were struggling against each other... someone suddenly poked the back of your hand with a finger... what would happen?

The stalemate would break. That slight bit of applied force would cause you to uncontrollably pin your opponent down!

At the crime scene, the knife struggle between the deceased and the defendant was exactly the same.

After figuring this out, everyone realized an even more terrifying fact based on the defense's angle...

"If this holds true, then it's completely unsolvable!"

"To prove it, they'd have to rely on testimonies from the witnesses at the scene."

"But as it happens, everyone at the scene is a murder suspect. In other words, the witnesses' testimonies can't be completely trusted!"

"Yet there's only witness testimony from the crime scene, and that testimony can't be trusted..."

"..."

The gallery immediately broke into animated discussion, their faces full of astonishment.

Even at the very back of the courtroom tiers.

Some cameramen who had only come to record video couldn't help but peek their heads out from behind their lenses to look at the judges' bench.

The defense had presented an impossible-to-prove angle, creating a dead loop.

Furthermore...

Just by speaking those words, without Xu De needing to prove anything himself, the credibility of the verbal and witness testimonies submitted by the prosecution plummeted by seventy percent!

Without those, what else could the prosecution use for corroboration?

So...

"Could it be... the prosecution is losing ground?" someone murmured.

Immediately, everyone's heartbeat seemed to skip a beat, and they quickly looked up, staring intently at the trial.

Good heavens, when had they ever seen a spectacle like this... Could you believe a defense lawyer was actually suppressing the prosecutors!?

...

On the prosecution's side.

At the victim's legal representative's desk.

'Sun Hao... you and I cannot share the same sky!'

Chen Wei was still cursing internally. His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white, and the veins on his forehead bulging so much they looked like they might burst.

To be honest, Chen Wei's state of mind was terrible right now.

He was almost certain he had been set up by Sun Hao and Xu De working together!

During their phone call back then, Sun Hao clearly stated that as long as he had enough testimonies, he could take the defense down. After all, the people providing those testimonies were villagers from Lijia Village, who would naturally cover for each other.

At the time, he actually believed that nonsense and only prepared testimonies.

But he never expected...

After the trial began, Xu De effortlessly destroyed his only prepared evidence with a single sentence!

Compared to Chen Wei's mental breakdown...

Although the prosecutors experienced some emotional fluctuations, they weren't entirely out of control.

Beside him.

"How... how could such evidence possibly be produced!"

Hearing the defense's angle, Wang Wei showed a look of astonishment. He sat in his chair for a long time, at a loss for how to refute it.

The rookie prosecutor, Zhang Qing, froze in his seat, staring blankly at Xu De with an eye-opening expression.

Hu Guang frowned, resting his right hand on the table and rubbing the bridge of his nose as he pondered how to search for new evidence.

While thinking, he glanced at the documents on his desk.

After this series of combo moves from the defense... the materials the prosecutor's office had collected were basically useless. They had to go find new ones.

"I misjudged him. This young lawyer... is a tough nut to crack."

Hu Guang exhaled and shot a deep look at Xu De.

Finally, he focused his gaze on the judges' bench.

As for the direction of the case...

It still depended on the three people sitting up there!

Of course, those three weren't exactly calm either. Visible ripples had formed in their composure.

At the judges' bench.

"Where did the defendant hire this lawyer?"

Sun Dong really couldn't hold back anymore. Furrowing his brows tightly, he spoke with urgency:

"His angles are tricky... and there's more than just one tricky point. Is this someone Wang Qiang could afford!?"

Truth be told, Sun Dong had served as a judge in Greenwood City for nearly ten years.

Yet he had never heard of a lawyer of this caliber in Greenwood City!

Let alone anything else, if the defendant were a wealthy person... that courtroom performance just now would be worth at least a million!

And what about Wang Qiang?

A man who had spent ten years searching for his daughter, who normally couldn't even bear to spend money on steamed buns and pickled vegetables, the absolute bottom of the working class. Where would he get the money to hire a lawyer like this?

"Don't ask. This is legal aid."

Judge Liu Jianguo only felt a headache coming on.

"Legal aid..." Sun Dong's temples throbbed, and he reached up to rub them.

Wasn't legal aid supposed to be a bunch of lawyers going through the motions without exerting any real effort, muddling along with no professional ethics? How did such an imposing figure sneak in...

"Let's figure out how to handle the case first," Liu Jianguo said, shaking his head and pulling the topic back on track.

"The angles that lawyer provided are incredibly tricky. His claims... must be investigated and verified. Otherwise, even if we close the case, the second-instance court will just send it back to us for a retrial."

But unfortunately...

Serious topics always brought silence. The three of them couldn't utter a word.

This kind of scene was extremely rare.

Why?

Because for criminal cases, the court had a set of unwritten rules.

Namely: 'You argue yours, and I'll judge mine!'

Usually, no matter how hard the defense lawyer tried, they couldn't shake the judge's determination. The judge might have even decided how to rule before the trial began, allowing the case to proceed smoothly without any awkward silences.

However... that was only when the defense lawyer wasn't formidable enough.

If the arguments coming out of their mouths could cause a dispute in an appellate trial, the judges had to treat it seriously!

Could Xu De's words do that?

They absolutely could. If this first-instance trial was concluded hastily, taking those words to the appellate court would be tantamount to detonating a nuclear bomb in a crowd...

Therefore...

The case had to be handled with the utmost caution.

After a long while, Zhang Bingxin spoke.

"Defense, do you have anything else to add?"

His brows were furrowed tightly, his fingers intertwined—a small habit of his when taking matters seriously.

At the defense desk.

Xu De sat in his chair and shook his head slightly. "Presiding Judge, we have finished our presentation and have nothing else to add."

Zhang Bingxin looked at the prosecution again.

"Prosecution, legal representative of the victim, do you have any objections to the defendant's aforementioned statements?"

The prosecutors were silent for a moment before Hu Guang finally spoke up:

"We... reserve our opinion."

Even though Chen Wei was extremely unwilling, having made a massive blunder during the trial, he also knew that being stubborn would only drag the case into an abyss.

He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his inner fury.

"We reserve our opinion."

"Alright."

Zhang Bingxin nodded.

To be honest, the court had initially planned to conclude the Wang Qiang case during this first hearing, provided there were no surprises.

After all, the case details had seemed so simple.

But a surprise had occurred...

The defense had single-handedly argued until everyone on the prosecution side was left speechless!

Therefore...

"Bang!"

The presiding judge, Zhang Bingxin, dressed in his judicial robe, raised his hand, lifted the gavel high, and struck it down. The crisp sound echoed throughout the enclosed courtroom.

The next second.

Zhang Bingxin's voice echoed in their ears.

"Given that there are still disputes over key facts in this case that require further investigation, I now announce..."

"Court is adjourned!"

Ad... adjourned?

Wang Qiang wasn't crushed by the prosecution's overwhelming superiority, but rather, the court was forced into an adjournment?

In other words... the defense lawyer had held his ground. One man had withstood multiple rounds of continuous bombardment and even turned the tables!

Suddenly.

The spirits of the over four hundred people in the gallery lifted collectively.

At the same time.

At the judges' bench.

Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin, feeling overwhelmingly mentally exhausted, cast a complex glance at Xu De. Then he shook his head and stood straight up, his judicial robe billowing slightly.

"The date for the resumption of the trial and the verdict will be announced separately."

"Court is adjourned!?"

"It really adjourned!"

In a surreal daze, the moment Zhang Bingxin announced the adjournment, the already restless gallery could no longer contain its emotions.

"Sister Liu, didn't the paper predict this case would wrap up after the first hearing!?"

Reporter Zhang Xia covered her gaping mouth. As she watched the judge and prosecutors slowly file out, the shock in her eyes was beyond words.

The Wang Qiang case was simple, so almost no one thought it would require multiple drawn-out sessions.

After all, both the prosecutor and the judge were strictly by the book. Without any personal emotions involved, going through the trial process once was enough to convict the defendant. It should have taken three hours at most.

But...

How was it that an unknown defense lawyer had appeared out of nowhere, forcefully disrupting the trial's trajectory and leaving the prosecution with no choice but to adjourn to search for more evidence?

How had this nameless lawyer single-handedly silenced three public prosecutors, even finding the time to set a trap for a top-tier shyster and shut him up completely!?

And the defense's momentum was still rising!

"Where did this guy come from?"

Sister Liu was just as shocked. She was an experienced reporter.

Having worked in Greenwood City for so long, this was the first time she had ever heard of a lawyer named Xu De.

But right now, there was no time for her to dwell on that question.

Waves of commotion reached her ears.

Sister Liu's ears twitched. She turned her head, and her expression instantly changed.

Seeing the court adjourn, dozens of reporters who had been packing up to leave suddenly stood up in unison, grabbing their microphones and swarming toward the aisle.

What else would they be doing after such a dramatic turn in the trial?

They were fighting for the best spots to interview the parties involved!

"Crap, I zoned out!"

Sister Liu panicked, wishing she could slap herself.

She frantically grabbed her microphone and hurried out, calling back to her colleague,

"Hurry up, Xia, or you won't even be able to squeeze in!"

Zhang Xia snapped out of it and scrambled to gather her things. She looked up at the various doors of the courtroom, feeling a bit disoriented.

"Sister Liu, who are we going to interview?"

Generally speaking, reporters mainly targeted two subjects.

First, the presiding judge. They were the ultimate decider of the case, and anything they said was crucial information.

Second, the prosecutors. They held the evidence that determined the nature and direction of the case!

But for this case...

"Do you even have to ask? The defense lawyer! Block Lawyer Xu!"

Sister Liu took a deep breath and plunged headfirst into the crowd.

Zhang Xia hurriedly followed.

......

Inside the courtroom.

"Ad... adjourned?"

At the defendant's seat, Wang Qiang's cloudy eyes flickered. He looked at the emptying courtroom before him, completely dazed.

It wasn't until the bailiffs beside him stepped forward to escort him away that he snapped back to reality.

He subconsciously followed them.

He saw Xu De quietly organizing his documents. As if noticing his gaze, the lawyer looked up and offered a reassuring smile.

Suddenly.

Wang Qiang felt his heart beat a little stronger at the sight.

He took a deep breath and stood between the two bailiffs, letting them lead him away.

His client had left the court.

Xu De didn't dawdle either. He packed up his defense materials, turned around, and prepared to head out.

Clack!

The doors to the corridor were pushed open.

The clear path he expected wasn't there. Instead, a dense sea of reporters formed a human wall right in front of him.

Seeing him emerge, everyone's eyes lit up. Without a second thought, countless microphones and cameras, accompanied by flashing lights, were thrust toward Xu De's face.

A chaotic barrage of questions followed.

"Lawyer Xu, what are your thoughts on this case!?"

"Excuse me, did you anticipate the mid-trial adjournment? What is your opinion of the prosecution?"

"Lawyer Xu, we're from Phoenix News Television. We'd like to do an exclusive interview with you. Do you have the time..."

"Could you tell us why you dared to enter a not-guilty plea!?"

...

Dozens of mouths fired off questions like a tidal wave, instantly drowning Xu De.

The fanatical atmosphere felt like a celebrity meet-and-greet.

But Xu De had no intention of being a star.

He looked back in the direction the prosecution had left.

He caught sight of the gloomy-faced Chen Wei, along with the furious, stomping figures of Li Youcai and Liu Cui heading out.

Xu De withdrew his gaze.

The first hearing was over, but that didn't mean he was going to rest.

He had to prepare an even bigger surprise gift for the public prosecutor!

At that thought, Xu De's expression faded, replaced by an unusual seriousness.

"Excuse me, coming through!"

He pushed aside the microphones shoved in his face and squeezed his way out of the crowd.

Seeing him refuse to communicate, the reporters grew visibly anxious.

"Mr. Xu, just one sentence is fine!"

"Please wait, we're willing to pay for an exclusive interview!"

"Lawyer Xu, just a moment..."

Despite their desperate pleas, Xu De acted as if he hadn't heard a thing. Before long, he broke through the crowd and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Seeing this, reporters Zhang Xia and Sister Liu dropped their hands in frustration.

"Sister Liu, what do we do?" Zhang Xia was at a loss.

The man hadn't said a single word, so how were they supposed to write their articles?

Sister Liu took a deep breath and said sternly, "Just write about what he did during the trial!"

Whether it was praise or criticism... as long as it was published, it would absolutely become the center of public attention!

As for the publication time...

Sister Liu glanced at the reporters from over a dozen other agencies beside her.

These people were old foxes. If she was even a step too slow... she wouldn't even get the scraps.

Sister Liu made up her mind.

"Once it's written today, I'll take it straight to the editor-in-chief for review. It must be published in tomorrow's morning edition!"

When the morning paper was released tomorrow...

That would be the moment public opinion boiled over again!

The two hurried away.

As for Xu De...

By this time, Xu De had already walked out of the courthouse. He enjoyed the tranquility of five o'clock in the afternoon and took a deep breath of fresh air.

Catching sight of him, a slender figure who had been waiting outside stepped forward.

"How did it go? How did the trial go!?"

The person who approached was none other than the 'Nine Heavens Flying Dragon Jade-Faced Thunder Prime Universal Transformation Living Beings Demon Subduer Longevity True Monarch!'

Of course, her real name was Lin Yue. She stood before Xu De with a nervous expression, her eyes constantly darting toward the courthouse.

Xu De smiled. Not rushing to answer, he asked instead, "What about the person you asked for help? Did you find them?"

There was no rush to talk about the trial.

Based on his experience... by tomorrow morning at the latest, all of Greenwood City would be covered in reports about him!

It could be considered an absolute nobody rising to fame overnight!

Hearing this, Lin Yue suppressed her inner curiosity and nodded. "Found them."

Hearing that, a sharp glint flashed in Xu De's eyes as he declared, "It's getting late. We're going straight to Lijia Village under the cover of darkness!"

Lin Yue was stunned, then asked in astonishment, "Wait... the trial just ended, and you're going to steal something without even eating first!?"

Xu De said, "Stop talking nonsense, we need to hurry!"

With that said, the two hurried off into the distance.

The national emblem of the courthouse hung on the high platform behind them, silently overlooking their retreating figures until they could be seen no more.

......

......

Half past five in the afternoon.

Chen Wei, a lawyer from Yangteng Law Firm, was completely silent.

He took a taxi back to the law firm alone. If one looked closely, they would notice that his collar was a mess, his hair looked like a bird's nest, and there were even a few bloody scratch marks on his face.

This was Liu Cui's handiwork.

And the reason for it was his disastrous performance during the trial...

He returned to Yangteng Law Firm sporting this disheveled appearance.

Squeak.

The door opened. In the firm's lobby, a few lawyers getting coffee turned their heads. Recognizing him, they smiled reflexively.

"How did it go, Lawyer Chen? Did you return in triumph?"

"Hah, I heard the public prosecutor was Hu Guang. With him there, I figured you wouldn't even need to... huh?"

The group had just started with pleasantries, but froze upon seeing Chen Wei's appearance.

Then, hesitation set in.

"Lawyer Chen, what... happened to you?"

Hearing this, Chen Wei took a deep breath, suppressing the heavy emotions in his chest, and replied expressionlessly, "It's nothing."

The lawyers exchanged glances and asked again.

"Lawyer Chen, how is the case going?"

"The firm values this case highly. Even though the reputation isn't great, if we can win, it'll completely prove the firm's strength."

The case?

The anger Chen Wei had just suppressed nearly exploded.

His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. Gritting his teeth, he squeezed out a sentence.

"The case... is nothing!"

What kind of answer was that?

His colleagues were baffled but didn't dare to press further, so they smiled and said, "Lawyer Chen, someone's waiting for you in the firm. I think it's an old classmate of yours. Have a good catch-up, we won't bother you."

An old classmate?

Chen Wei paused, his brows instinctively furrowing.

Just as he was trying to figure out who it could be, a voice suddenly rang out beside him.

"Haha, Old Chen, how did the case go!?"

This voice... sounded familiar.

Chen Wei froze, and then, his expressionless face slowly turned to the side.

What met his eyes was a face beaming with smiles.

This was...

Sun Hao!

That's right, the person was Sun Hao from Jinmao Law Firm, Xu De's team leader—the old classmate who had provided him with "crucial pre-battle intelligence" before the trial. Sun Hao!

Sun Hao chuckled as he stood up from the sofa and walked toward him.

"How was it? Old Chen, did you win the case?"

The moment those words dropped...

Chen Wei's relatively composed face flushed bright red and visibly darkened. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his features gradually twisted into a snarl.

His breathing grew increasingly rapid, and the emotions pent up in his chest could no longer be contained, causing his chest to heave violently!

His clenched fists cracked. His muscles tensed all over, his veins clearly defined!

Sun Hao... Sun Hao...

"Sun Hao!"

A furious roar echoed through the law firm.

The next second.

Reflected in Sun Hao's completely bewildered eyes, Chen Wei's face descended upon him—enraged and savage, followed by a rapidly expanding fist.

"How dare you come looking for me!!!"

"You animal... you absolute animal! I'll kill you, I'll fucking kill you!!!"

Inside Yangteng Law Firm.

Without warning, Chen Wei suddenly erupted, lunging at Sun Hao like a wild beast.

Sun Hao had just wanted to ask how the case went and whether Xu De had lost.

But a split second later, his vision went black.

"Bang!"

A fist the size of a sandbag slammed directly into his eye socket. Stars exploded in his vision as he staggered backward into darkness.

"Ugh!"

Sun Hao let out a choked groan and collapsed to the floor.

But Chen Wei wasn't finished. His eyes were bloodshot as he pinned the man down, raining punches down on him from left and right.

"You ganged up to set me up, didn't you?!"

"First you say you'll only use the confession, and then you completely destroy its credibility, right?!"

"Just an ordinary college grad fresh out of school, huh?!"

He gritted his teeth, punctuating every sentence with a heavy blow.

He was a lawyer. In theory, he shouldn't be resorting to physical violence.

But then again...

Even if he beat the living daylights out of him, Sun Hao would absolutely never dare call the police!

Because if even the slightest word got out about him secretly leaking information or setting a trap, the Justice Bureau would make him suffer the consequences. Even Jinmao would have to purge this parasite from their firm!

Sun Hao wanted to beg for mercy.

Although he had no idea why he was being beaten, he knew that if he didn't beg soon, he'd be spending at least half a month in the hospital.

But there was a problem.

Chen Wei's second punch had landed directly on his mouth. The agonizing pain of nearly losing his teeth made it hard to even open his mouth, let alone beg!

He could only wrap his arms around his head and whimper defensively.

"Stop... stop hitting me!"

Unfortunately.

Seeing him like this only fueled Chen Wei's fury, making it burn even hotter.

"Damn it, you even had the nerve to come mock me to my face after court adjourned! Sun Hao, and to think I actually treated you like a classmate!"

This roar instantly snapped their dumbfounded colleagues out of their daze. They hurriedly rushed over to pull them apart.

"Stop hitting him, Lawyer Chen, stop!"

"Can't we just sit down and talk about this?"

"..."

Several people frantically grabbed Chen Wei, hastily separating the two.

"Let go of me! I'm going to beat this animal to death today!"

Chen Wei struggled relentlessly. Even a three-year-old could hear the absolute rage seething in his voice.

After Chen Wei was dragged away...

Sun Hao staggered to his feet. Bruises were already forming on his face, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He reached up to touch it, immediately hissing and baring his teeth in pain as he sucked in a sharp breath.

He looked up at Chen Wei in utter disbelief.

"Are you crazy!?"

Chen Wei was furious, still thrashing against the people holding him back. "You know exactly what you did!"

What did he do?

He hadn't done anything!

Bewilderment washed over Sun Hao's face. He was just about to ask, but seeing Chen Wei on the verge of breaking free, he shuddered in terror and scrambled toward the exit.

In the blink of an eye, he fled out the front door.

Seeing him disappear, Chen Wei's anger finally began to subside. His expression remained incredibly dark and grim.

The surrounding lawyers let go of him with lingering apprehension. Looking at him in confusion, one of them asked,

"Lawyer Chen, what... what happened here?"

Chen Wei's humiliation quickly soured into anger.

"Ask, ask, ask, ask my ass!"

"Don't you have eyes? Just read tomorrow's morning paper!"

The mere thought of it made Chen Wei want to break down.

Without a doubt, all of Greenwood City would be talking about Xu De's performance in court by tomorrow morning.

And he, who had made a fatal error, would be reduced to a clown in the background...

A clown known to all of Greenwood City!

Lawyers valued their reputation above all else. Once that paper was published, Chen Wei's career would suffer a devastating blow!

After all, what client would want to spend a fortune hiring a lawyer who made such a glaring mistake and lost so miserably?

So, when he said he 'wanted to kill Sun Hao,' he wasn't just venting.

He truly wanted to murder the man!

"Tomorrow's morning paper?"

Inside the lobby.

The lawyers watched Chen Wei's retreating back after he threw down those words, glancing at each other in bewilderment.

It was just a morning paper... why would it make him completely abandon his professional image?

They weren't the only ones wondering. Sun Hao, beaten black and blue, was thinking the exact same thing.

"The morning paper? What morning paper?"

Standing outside the law firm's main entrance, Sun Hao frowned deeply, racking his brain to figure out why he had just been assaulted.

He felt deeply aggrieved. He had just taken a beating for absolutely no reason, and he couldn't even call the police...

"Why the hell is Chen Wei acting so crazy?"

"The morning paper will just report on Wang Qiang's case. Something couldn't possibly have gone wrong with the trial, right?"

"Impossible..."

Sun Hao muttered to himself as blood seeped from his mouth. "He's just an ordinary college graduate. How could he possibly have that kind of ability?"

"The prosecutor was Hu Guang, and the presiding judge was Zhang Bingxin... Impossible. Absolutely impossible!"

He babbled on, almost as if trying to hypnotize himself.

However, despite his internal disbelief...

He mentally made a note to check tomorrow's morning paper first thing to find out what exactly had happened.

"Wait."

In his daze, Sun Hao suddenly remembered something, and his expression froze.

"If Chen Wei is already back, then... where is Xu De?"

......

......

Where was Xu De?

Naturally, he was carrying out his plan: transporting a child from one place to another in a way no one would notice.

In layman's terms, kidnapping a child!

Eight-thirty in the evening.

Night had fallen. The sky was a deep, gloomy canvas dotted with a few scattered stars.

The silent wilderness was pitch-black, exuding a suffocatingly oppressive atmosphere. Along the bumpy dirt road, short burial mounds lined both sides. When the wind howled, it sounded like the wailing of wandering ghosts.

Suddenly.

"Vroom~!"

On the narrow, winding path, the dim headlights of a jolting minivan pierced the silence.

There were four people inside the vehicle.

Xu De was in the driver's seat, Lin Yue in the passenger seat, and Wang Mei in the back. Aside from them, there was also a young man.

The young man looked to be in his twenties, sporting a buzz cut. He was about 1.8 meters tall and robustly built, with ordinary features and a somewhat dense look about him.

Right then.

Watching the dark silhouettes of burial mounds constantly flashing by outside, the man couldn't help but look at Xu De in the driver's seat.

"Are you a lawyer?"

"I'm a lawyer," Xu De replied while stepping on the gas.

"Are you really a lawyer?" the man asked again.

Xu De glanced at the rearview mirror and nodded. "Genuine, guaranteed."

The man looked down at the minivan, then at the assorted sticks and clubs by his feet.

Then he looked at the pitch-black sky outside, unable to hold back any longer.

"Why do I get the feeling that what we're about to do might be illegal!"

He knew Lin Yue. They weren't incredibly close, but they could be considered friends.

Hearing there was work to do, money to be made, and meals covered, he had eagerly rushed over.

Except...

After getting into the car, he realized this job felt more than a little shady!

Hearing this...

Xu De showed no emotion. He glanced at the man in the rearview mirror again. While steering the wheel along the bumpy road, he countered with a question:

"You graduated from a top-tier university?"

The man put on a confident expression and patted his chest. "Genuine, guaranteed! A graduate of a Project 985 university!"

"What score did you get?" Xu De raised an eyebrow.

To be honest, the guy's demeanor and way of speaking... didn't quite match the academic credentials Lin Yue had presented.

"550," Wang Chao said.

Xu De: ?

"550?"

Xu De almost slammed on the brakes. He looked up, meeting the man's eyes in the rearview mirror with a hint of astonishment.

Based on the timeline of the guy's college entrance exams, that score would at best get him into a standard Tier-1 university.

Where did he get off calling himself a 985 graduate?!

"Hehe, honestly, if I had performed normally, my score would've only been enough for a Tier-2 school."

At this point, the man looked a little embarrassed. He scratched his head and said sheepishly:

"But the night before the exam, I had a dream. I dreamt I was taking the test. After I woke up and actually went to the exam—hey, some of the question types on the paper were exactly the same as in my dream!"

"Just like that, my score—which should've been around 500—was bumped up to 550, and I barely scraped into a solid Tier-1 school."

Xu De nodded, then frowned. "But that's still not enough."

He had worked his fingers to the bone back in the day, nearly dying on his way to school, managing to get into Yenching University despite extremely poor resources. Naturally, he was a bit sensitive to test scores.

"That's true."

"But guess what happened right after I enrolled?"

Saying this, the man clapped his hands together, producing a crisp

smack

.

"The school upgraded! It passed the evaluation and officially entered Project 211!"

"I figured since I was already there, a 211 is a 211. I wasn't losing out on anything, so I stayed. But who would've thought, just a few years after I graduated..."

"Hey, the school upgraded again!"

"It joined the ranks of the first batch of Project 985 key universities!"

He patted his chest proudly.

"So, I became a graduate of a 985 university!"

Xu De: ......

In the passenger seat, Lin Yue covered her face, not knowing what to say.

A 985 university graduate who usually scored a 500...

The man suddenly asked again, "Oh, right, my name is Wang Chao. What's your name, brother?"

"Just call me Xu De."

Xu De took a deep breath.

He hid his emotions well and furrowed his brow, dropping the discussion with Wang Chao. He lapsed into silence, with only the roar of the engine proving that time was still passing.

In the passenger seat, Lin Yue also restrained her expression, furrowing her brow slightly. Her gaze was unfocused as she stared into space, clearly lost in thought.

What were they going to do?

Steal a child back.

But... was a child really that easy to steal?

Lijia Village was practically a dragon's lair. The people in that godforsaken place weren't even afraid of the police. The entire village operated completely outside the law!

If they were exposed while snatching the child... the trouble would be massive.

This was also why, in addition to his identity as a civil litigation lawyer, Xu De needed an extra male helper.

Thinking of this, Lin Yue felt a surge of tension, her breathing quickening.

She was more than a little anxious.

After all, she was practically gambling her career and her safety to take this risk with a lawyer she barely knew.

But when she thought of Wang Mei and Xu Hong... Lin Yue's brow furrowed, and her resolve gradually firmed.

Just as her thoughts were racing...

Suddenly...

Lin Yue felt her whole body lurch, pitching forward involuntarily.

"Screech~!"

An ear-piercing screech of brakes tore through the dead silence.

"What happened!?" Lin Yue snapped back to reality, hastily asking.

Xu De sat in the driver's seat. He didn't answer directly, but just stared out the windshield and said,

"We're here."

Here... We're here? Here where?

Everyone in the car froze, then looked up in unison.

As they looked out, the dark silhouettes of countless buildings appeared on the distant hillside. There was no electricity, and at this hour, not a single glimmer of light could be seen. It looked like a dead city. Only the wind blew through the alleyways, entirely devoid of any sign of the living.

This was...

Lijia Village!

Lijia Village.

This was an extremely desolate and backward place. Even before arriving, Lin Yue had painted a picture of it in her mind.

But she never expected it to be

this

desolate!

It was ten-thirty at night.

Not a single glimmer of light shone from the cluster of houses making up Lijia Village on the mountainside. It looked like a solitary grave or a ruined temple deep in the old forest, exuding a chilling, eerie atmosphere.

"Is there no electricity here?" Lin Yue stepped out of the car, frowning as she looked into the distance.

Wang Chao also got out. He stood on the uneven dirt road and stomped his foot.

"They don't even have a paved road?"

Expanding the power grid and paving roads to every village were mandatory grassroots infrastructure plans laid out by the Dongguo government.

Yet this godforsaken Lijia Village had neither!

Finally, Wang Mei spoke up from the back seat in a quiet voice.

"Someone connected the power at first."

"But people kept cutting the wires to sell them. After it happened again and again, the power company had no choice but to temporarily bypass Lijia Village."

"As for the road... no one was willing to chip in when they tried to raise funds. The village secretary even tried to pay for it out of his own pocket, but people just caused trouble when the workers came to build it."

Hearing this, Lin Yue and Wang Chao didn't know what to say. They could only stare at the distant buildings and sigh.

Xu De, however, had no time to worry about such things. He got out of the car and got straight to the point.

"Ms. Wang, just wait in the car."

"Lawyer Lin, Wang Chao, let's go get the child back."

"Time waits for no one. We need to return within half an hour."

He checked his watch and took the lead, walking toward Lijia Village.

Wang Chao and Lin Yue hurried after him.

There was a reason they didn't let Wang Mei come along.

She had lived here for ten years. Even though she was held captive, ninety percent of the villagers recognized her.

With Li Youcai and Liu Cui currently away from the village, if Wang Mei sneaked back in the middle of the night... anyone with half a brain could figure out why she was there. It would highly likely spark an unnecessary conflict!

But if the three of them were discovered... it would arouse suspicion, but as long as they weren't caught red-handed, there wouldn't be any direct confrontation!

With this thought in mind, Xu De stepped into Lijia Village.

Tire tracks from the police minibus still lingered on the ground. Not far away, there was a dark brown stain. That was exactly where Li Erniu had died.

He glanced around, confirmed their direction, and carefully snuck forward.

On the way.

"Hey, Lawyer Xu, do you know where the kid is?"

Wang Chao was simply too excited. He felt his body burning and his blood boiling. Watching Xu De's back blend into the darkness, he couldn't help but lower his voice to ask.

Xu De didn't even turn his head as he replied, "I asked around before the trial."

"When Li Youcai and Liu Cui lived in the city, they would leave the child with a close family in the village to look after him. The location is..."

Wang Chao's expression grew a little strange.

What kind of lawyer asked around to find out where their opponent's child lived before a trial?

Shouldn't he be gathering evidence instead!

But he had no time to dwell on it.

Suddenly, Xu De stopped in his tracks. Wang Chao, still in a daze, crashed headlong into his back, stumbling a bit.

"Hey, why did you stop?"

Wang Chao rubbed his head, looked up, and grimaced in confusion.

Xu De didn't answer directly. Instead, he stared at the dilapidated tile-roofed house made of mud and straw in front of them, his gaze sharpening.

"This is it."

Hearing this, Wang Chao and Lin Yue finally noticed the house hidden in the darkness.

It looked much like the rural mud houses from the 1980s. Inside was a courtyard made of several thatched huts, surrounded by a thick mud wall. The iron gate was shut tight, and not a sound could be heard from within.

Wang Chao pressed his ear against the gate for a long time before finally turning back.

"No movement. They must have gone out."

Xu De placed his hand on the front gate, and the next second...

With a creak, the gate opened a sliver, just a finger's width, and refused to budge any further. Faintly, they could see a small padlock on the outside that Wang Chao had overlooked.

"Locked from the outside, and the inner latch isn't engaged. They definitely went out, but the child should still be inside," Xu De quickly concluded.

When adults in rural areas went out, they usually locked their children in the house. A locked door didn't necessarily mean the child was gone.

"Hey, let me go in and see if there are any keys."

Upon confirming no one was around, Wang Chao grew eager to try.

He looked around, found a good spot, stepped back a little, and then launched into a sprint.

He kicked off the wall twice in quick succession and vaulted over it. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared.

Watching this, Xu De, who had been dominating the courtroom just a while ago, was slightly dumbfounded. He instinctively looked at Lin Yue with a hint of hesitation.

"Has Lawyer Wang... always been this agile?"

It was so dark, and the wall wasn't short, yet he vaulted over it just like that? Even a thief wouldn't have such good moves!

"Don't ask," Lin Yue sighed, covering her face.

Xu De decided not to press the issue.

A moment later.

A rustling sound came from behind the gate.

Then...

clack!

A small square slot on the door was opened from the inside out, and a hand reached through.

The hand patted around the door, searching for something, and soon found the lock. The hand fiddled with the padlock, and then...

Click!

The lock popped open.

With a creak, the door swung open, and Wang Chao appeared inside, winking at the two outside.

Xu De was astonished and stared at him in surprise.

"You found the key that fast?"

Wang Chao shook his head. "Nope."

He smirked, opened his palm, and revealed... a piece of iron wire!

"But I found this."

Lockpicking... he had picked the lock!

Xu De's face was filled with shock as he stared at the elite university graduate standing before him.

"Lawyer Xu, you go ahead and do your thing, don't mind me," Wang Chao hurriedly added.

Then, he turned to look at the spot where he had vaulted over the wall.

He bounded over, climbed back over the wall exactly where he had come from, and returned to the outside.

Then, he casually walked back in through the open front gate.

Seeing Xu De and Lin Yue staring at him in a daze in the courtyard, he explained, "You have to use the front door when entering someone else's house. Jumping the wall is impolite."

Xu De was speechless.

"How... principled."

Xu De's lips twitched for a moment before he finally raised a thumb in approval.

"Alright, let's go find the child first."

He took a deep breath and steered the topic back on track, though it didn't require much effort because...

"No need to look," Lin Yue said suddenly.

She raised her hand, pointed to the window of one of the rooms, and said quietly, "He's right there."

The two men looked up toward the window.

Through the dark frame, a sturdy little head was pressed against the glass, his bright eyes quietly observing the outside.

Xu De paused, scanned their surroundings to make sure no one else was there, and then walked over.

Up close, the tall man and the little boy stared at each other, eyes wide.

Xu De hadn't seen the boy the last time he was here, but his features bore a seventy-percent resemblance to Wang Mei and Wang Qiang. The biological relationship was unmistakable.

His name was Li Yang.

He was six years old, dressed rather shabbily, but his eyes were incredibly clear.

Li Yang didn't cry or fuss. He didn't even look scared, only deeply curious.

A few seconds later, Xu De looked down at him and asked, "When did you see us?"

Li Yang tilted his head back and replied, "I saw you when that guy jumped over the wall."

Then, without waiting for Xu De to ask another question, Li Yang impatiently climbed out of the window, opened his arms, and said, "Let's go. Hurry."

Xu De asked, "Do you know what we're doing here?"

"It's so late, and you're jumping walls and picking locks, looking for a kid... It's so obvious, of course I know. You're here for me."

"I've seen you before. Last month, my mom went with you..."

Li Yang spoke like a little adult, but suddenly, he lowered his voice.

"Is my mom still crying? Does she have good food to eat? Mister, can you pass a message to my mom... Tell her that once I grow up, no one will dare hit her or bully her ever again."

Xu De felt a little strange hearing the first half; the kid made him sound like a human trafficker.

But he didn't mind. Looking at the boy's tender face, he said straightforwardly, "Stop asking questions and come with me. I'll take you to your mom."

Li Yang's eyes lit up, but he quickly said, "Wait a second, I hid a bunch of candy. I want to bring it to my mom to eat..."

Xu De didn't want to waste time.

"Forget it, I'll buy you more once we leave the village!"

He grabbed Li Yang just as the boy turned, scooped him up in his arms, and sprinted away, leaving the front gate in a few strides.

Lin Yue followed closely behind.

"Hey, hey, hey."

Wang Chao, who had stayed by the gate, grumbled as he busied himself, "Lock the door. It's impolite not to lock up!"

He clumsily fastened the padlock, thought for a moment, and then tossed the iron wire back through the crack in the door.

Wang Chao wasn't a party member, but he strictly adhered to the rule of

'not taking a single needle or thread from the masses!'

Only after finishing all this did he lower his head and sprint after Xu De and Lin Yue.

...

By this time, it was already 10:48 PM.

Most of the villagers in Lijia Village had gone to sleep. Whether on the village paths or in the alleys, only lonely, unpowered utility poles stood on either side. In the darkness, they looked like silent sentinels watching them leave.

The three of them walked briskly. The road was full of potholes, and with the poor visibility, they had to rely on luck to avoid stumbling.

Xu De almost fell several times but managed to steady himself.

Lin Yue tripped a few times and scraped herself, bleeding slightly, but she didn't make a sound and just kept following.

Huff... huff... huff...

In the dead of night, their breathing gradually faded down the silent road.

Xu De, carrying Li Yang, watched the village entrance drawing closer. His breathing grew heavier until...

Suddenly, his footsteps slowed, and he came to a halt right at the edge of the village.

There... two silhouettes carrying something had suddenly appeared from the side, standing right in their path. Seeing the three of them, the figures clearly froze.

Just then, the dark clouds obscuring the moon parted, and bright moonlight washed over both groups.

It was...

The villagers of Lijia Village, the couple looking after Li Yang—Li Sheng and Li Li!

Carrying hoes on their shoulders, they stood at the village entrance, staring at Xu De's group in shock. Finally, their gazes landed on Li Yang, who was in Xu De's arms.

"What are you doing?!"

Li Sheng's pupils contracted. He tightened his grip on his mud-stained hoe and glared at them warily.

'Crap!'

Behind Xu De, Lin Yue and Wang Chao's hearts sank.

They had been discovered. Even though they had reached the village entrance and could run, if a conflict broke out... who knew how the situation would be classified!

The two cursed inwardly.

'Damn it, we were just thinking about not getting caught red-handed... Why does everything we worry about actually happen!'

Fortunately... Li Sheng and Li Li hadn't grasped the full situation yet and didn't yell to attract the other villagers. They merely blocked the road like guardian deities, their eyes full of vigilance.

Xu De and his group didn't move either.

Both sides stood at an impasse in the dark night, with only the cold wind howling around them.

Just as everyone was trying to figure out what to do...

Xu De suddenly moved.

He took a deep breath, set the child down on the ground, and with a serious expression, walked toward them step by step.

Li Sheng and Li Li felt the hairs on their arms stand up, as if sensing danger.

"Stop!" Li Sheng shouted angrily.

Xu De took a few more steps forward.

Li Sheng stepped back half a pace, his muscles tense. He stared at Xu De and warned again, "Take one more step, and we'll call for help!"

Xu De kept advancing until they were just inches apart.

He suddenly reached into his jacket, acting as if he was going to pull something out.

Li Sheng was extremely anxious. His instincts screamed that he was in danger. Just as he opened his mouth to shout for help...

Xu De pulled the item out of his jacket. It was...

Under the moonlight, a stack of red-tinted bills appeared in his hand.

Hundred-yuan bills!

At a glance, it had to be at least several thousand yuan!

Li Sheng's attempt to call for help stopped abruptly. Beside him, Li Li also froze.

The standoff resumed, but this time, it didn't last long.

Smack!

Li Sheng took the money with a blank expression, pulled half of it out, and handed it to Li Li.

Then, the two stepped aside, stood on the edge of the road with their backs turned to the trio, and pretended they hadn't seen a thing.

Xu De let out a sigh of relief. He immediately flicked his hand behind his back, signaling the others to hurry.

Lin Yue and Wang Chao obviously hadn't expected the problem to be solved so quickly, but they didn't waste any time. They immediately picked up the child and hurried out.

As the two passed by Xu De, he was about to follow them, but he suddenly stopped and glanced at Li Sheng and Li Li out of the corner of his eye.

'They were bought off for just three thousand yuan... Since their moral bottom line is this low...'

His eyes suddenly gleamed, and he planted his foot back down.

Out of the blue, he spoke up, "Lawyer Wang, what do you think is the worst thing that can happen in a rural village?"

Wang Chao, who was walking ahead, slowed down when he heard the question. He looked back suspiciously. Although he didn't understand why Xu De was asking this, he replied, "Probably preying on vulnerable households."

Wang Chao casually added, "Usually, if a family has no children, or if the young and middle-aged men have died off, leaving only orphans, widows, or the elderly, it's very hard for them to resist having their assets seized."

The moment he said this, Li Sheng and Li Li, who were preparing to leave the village entrance, suddenly froze.

A family with no children, only the elderly...

Their eyes flickered, and they stopped in their tracks.

Xu De walked slowly forward, sighing as he spoke.

"Indeed. After all, that's an entire family's wealth with almost no one to guard it. If someone with ulterior motives targets them, two old people would have a really hard time defending it."

He suddenly changed the subject and added, "In the Wang Qiang case, the parents of the deceased Li Erniu—Li Youcai and Liu Cui—fit that description perfectly."

"Tsk, that family is really something. Their courtyard is twice the size of a normal one, and the land they were allocated is incredibly fertile. You haven't seen how rich the soil is; you could just scatter some seeds and get a bumper harvest!"

"It was fine when Li Erniu was alive, but now that he's dead..."

Li Erniu had been a burly, intimidating man. But now he was dead, his body long rotted away.

Only Li Youcai and Liu Cui were left in the house, and the only child who would eventually grow up—Li Yang—was about to be taken away. So...

On the side of the road, Li Sheng and Li Li's breathing grew faint. They exchanged a glance and caught the gleam in each other's eyes.

At this moment, Wang Chao shook his head and disagreed.

"Lawyer Xu, preying on vulnerable households can easily result in fatalities."

"Honestly, if Li Youcai and Liu Cui got locked up for committing a crime, that would be one thing. They wouldn't be able to get out, no one would be home to take care of things, and their property would become completely ownerless."

"Even if they wanted revenge after they got out, they'd be too old to do anything about it!"

"But the problem is..."

Wang Chao clapped his hands together helplessly. "These two aren't going to get locked up."

"If we had even a tiny shred of objective physical evidence, we could legally send them away, but the reality is we have nothing..."

It was true.

Li Youcai and Liu Cui couldn't be locked up. The police had no way of knowing whether those two old fogeys had a hand in it when Li Erniu bought Wang Mei all those years ago.

Relying solely on Wang Mei's word was nowhere near enough.

The people of Lijia Village could easily speak up for Li Youcai. They could claim that Li Erniu had forced the two elders to watch over Wang Mei, shifting the blame onto a dead man so that the elders' actions wouldn't constitute acting as accomplices or committing a crime.

"It's a pity," Xu De sighed deeply and shook his head.

The two of them said nothing more and continued walking away.

Behind them, Li Sheng and Li Li turned around, staring at their retreating backs. They hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back, their hearts burning with anxiety, their breathing growing increasingly rapid.

Until... seeing Xu De's back about to vanish into the shadows...

Li Li finally couldn't hold back anymore and called out repeatedly to stop them.

"Hey, wait, you guys hold on a minute!"

"Li Youcai and his wife owe us money. Ten years ago, they borrowed a thousand yuan from my mom, and they still haven't paid it back even though she's dead!"

In the distance, Xu De's footsteps slowed down slightly, then returned to normal. He sighed inwardly.

A financial dispute over an unpaid debt? The courts and police would only mediate. What did he need that for? It was completely useless.

Just as he was thinking this, he heard the woman call out again.

"I remember my mom telling me before she died that Li Youcai borrowed the money to buy a daughter-in-law."

Li Li called out from behind, "And it's written clearly in black and white on the promissory note that the money was borrowed to buy a daughter-in-law. They even signed it and put their fingerprints on it!"

The moment those words fell...

Xu De's footsteps stopped dead.

His normally calm heart now beat wildly out of control, thumping rapidly like a drum.

He turned around and stared at the anxiously waiting Li Sheng and Li Li. Breathing slightly faster, he froze for a moment before speaking.

"Are you saying..."

"You have a promissory note for buying a person, with an accurate date, and the fingerprints of Li Youcai and Liu Cui!?"

Li Li was just about to speak, but Li Sheng gave her a sharp tug.

Instead, Li Li shot him a fierce glare, broke free from his grasp, and trotted over to Xu De's side with a slightly fawning expression. "That's right, that's right. My mother said it before she died last year."

"At the time, they even found someone in the village who could read to teach them how to write their own names. After writing their names, they pressed their fingerprints."

"Those two sons of bitches have owed us for ten years and still haven't paid!"

Li Li muttered her curses, then stopped, looked at Xu De, and asked cautiously, "You said this kind of illegal thing of owing money and not paying... do the police care?"

Owing money and not paying was a trivial matter; it was of no use to Xu De.

But, if it was a promissory note personally written by Li Youcai and Liu Cui detailing where the money went, plus their fingerprints... then its use would be immense!

Eleven o'clock at night.

Xu De stood at the village entrance, swallowed by darkness. His throat bobbed, and a sharp glint shone in his eyes.

He had caught a big fish...

He knew that if a fellow villager like Li Li was willing, she could definitely provide some evidence...

But he truly never expected she could pull out something like this!

A promissory note. She actually had a promissory note signed and fingerprinted by Li Youcai and Liu Cui, with a detailed description of where the funds went!!!

Was this thing useful?

Looking at it in isolation, it was actually of little use, perhaps even negligible. Why?

Because it counted as isolated evidence. As long as Li Youcai and Liu Cui used the excuse that they hadn't bought anyone, or made up some other nonsense, the prosecutor and judge wouldn't accept it at all.

Just like Wang Mei. Even though she accused Li Youcai and Liu Cui, she still couldn't do anything to them, precisely because hers was also isolated evidence.

But here was the question...

Separately, they were indeed isolated pieces of evidence. But if added together... that would be a completely different story!

"Are you sure?"

Xu De's gaze was sharp, staring straight at her, but he softened his tone so as not to appear overly emotional.

"It's a promissory note from ten years ago, before Wang Mei was sold? Are you sure both of them left their fingerprints?"

"And the purpose of the loan was also clearly stated?"

Li Li did not dwell on the matter of borrowing money to buy a wife.

She cared more about the illegality of owing money and not paying it back. She nodded. "That's right. Three days after they borrowed the money, they bought the person back."

"A while ago, Li Youcai even told us that if the police came to ask if they were involved in buying a wife, we should tell them no..."

It really was true!

Xu De's heart grew burning hot, and several ideas instantly sprang up in his mind.

If the victim Wang Mei's own account and identification was isolated evidence without any corroboration...

Then with the appearance of this promissory note...

The isolated evidence would immediately turn into an unbreakable chain of evidence!

A chain of evidence.

This was an ironclad chain of evidence!

Some people might not have a concept of this, so let's put it this way.

Many people think that after committing a crime, as long as they don't confess and absolutely refuse to plead guilty in court, the judge cannot try them.

In fact, this idea is completely wrong.

As long as the chain of evidence is solid enough, even if you don't plead guilty, the presiding judge can forcefully convict and sentence you!!!

This was the credibility and value of a chain of evidence in court!

"The reason why Li Youcai and Liu Cui were able to escape punishment, and even dared to fight for custody, as well as demand an exorbitant 230,000 yuan in the incidental civil lawsuit..."

"Is because the police couldn't obtain a chain of evidence!"

Xu De's expression flickered as countless ideas surfaced in his mind.

"Now that the chain of evidence is in hand, that so-called 230,000 is a joke!"

In a civil lawsuit, you have to be a complete victim to be awarded huge compensation, and these two were not victims.

Rather, they were accomplices to the perpetrator Li Erniu in the trafficking case!

In this situation...

Let alone legitimate self-defense.

Even if Wang Qiang was truly judged to have exceeded the limits of self-defense, if Xu De let this compensation exceed 10,000 yuan, then all his years of studying law would have been for nothing!

Of course, the money wasn't the point. The point was...

"It can verify that Li Youcai and Liu Cui participated in the trafficking and caused Li Erniu's death!"

"If Li Li and the others are willing to step forward, we can even accuse them of abuse, assisting in the rape of a minor, intentional injury, and illegal imprisonment..."

Xu De's brain worked rapidly, making quick calculations.

The next moment, a string of numbers emerged in his mind.

'At least fifteen years in prison!'

'No... Their attitude is extremely vile, and they even assaulted the police, committed perjury, and obstructed the rescue multiple times...'

'Twenty years!'

'A minimum of twenty years in prison, and whether it becomes a life sentence depends entirely on the judge's personal discretion!'

Under the combined punishment for multiple crimes, the sentences brought by just these clear crimes would be at least twenty years, most likely twenty-five.

Although it might not reach life imprisonment.

But... Li Youcai and Liu Cui were already in their sixties!

Let alone life imprisonment, even if they were sentenced to ten or twenty years, they would basically have to stay in prison until they died. It was no different from a death sentence!

At this moment.

Xu De's conservative trial approach quietly began to change, becoming... aggressive!

Counterattack...

Counterattack, and more counterattack!

Xu De wanted to satisfy his client... no, he had to push client satisfaction to the absolute peak!

Exonerate Wang Qiang? Would the other party be satisfied just being spared from prison?

That was a given. It was how it should be.

He had to make Li Youcai and Liu Cui reap what they had sown, swallow the bitter fruit of their own making, and stay in prison until they died!!!

"Is there anything else?"

Xu De's eyes burned as he stared at Li Li and asked again.

"I mean, does anyone else know about this? If we could get two more people... that would be enough!"

A single person's accusation was still not entirely secure.

If they could get two or three independent neighbors to jointly testify, Li Youcai and Liu Cui would not escape his grasp!

Li Li originally wanted to shake her head.

After all, if others were involved, would she still be able to take it all for herself?

But on second thought, if there was no one else... she wouldn't even be able to get a bite. Besides, calling two more people would add another layer of security, lest someone else come to snatch things after Li Youcai went to prison.

"Old Zhang's family, and Li Erniu's second uncle's family."

Li Li thought for a moment and gave the names of a few acquaintances.

"Old Zhang saw the borrowing of money back then, and Li Erniu's second uncle also lent money that year, but there was no information about buying a wife on his promissory note, and the money was never returned."

Xu De immediately said, "That's enough."

He pondered for a moment, then added, "How about this. Apart from me, do not hand this promissory note over to anyone else in the short term."

"For now, just record a testimony for me regarding Wang Qiang's killing."

"You must be objective, accurate, and truthful. If the police come, don't be afraid. Just tell the truth!"

The matter of the promissory note could not be revealed just yet.

The primary task was to get Wang Qiang exempt from punishment, which would require Li Youcai and Liu Cui's cooperation in signing the letter of forgiveness and the Criminal Settlement Agreement.

Bringing up the promissory note now would push them into a corner and cost him those two massive trump cards.

Therefore...

'After Li Youcai signs the documents and Wang Qiang is exempt from punishment, I will immediately use the promissory note to complete the chain of evidence and have those two tried and dealt with on the spot!'

Xu De made up his mind.

He looked at Li Li, then took out his remaining four hundred yuan from his pocket and handed it over.

"After recording the testimony, give me the promissory note first."

"Consider three hundred of this as Li Yang's recent child support."

"You can use the other hundred for phone bills. Find someone to dial this number and contact me."

Xu De took out the pen and paper he carried with him and wrote down a string of numbers.

Then he recorded the witness testimonies with Li Li and Li Sheng.

After the couple went home to fetch the promissory note and returned, Xu De confirmed it was valid.

Only then did he secretly bid the two farewell.

Looking at his retreating back.

'Three thousand four hundred yuan. We couldn't earn this much from farming for two years!'

'Not to mention... Old Li's house and those fertile plots of land!!!'

Li Li and Li Sheng stood at the village entrance, thinking to themselves.

The two of them revealed enthusiastic expressions, waving goodbye. The look in their eyes made it seem as if they were close relatives!

As for Xu De.

After walking a good distance away, he joined Wang Chao, who had been waiting for him, and walked with him to where the van was parked.

In the van, Lin Yue, who had returned early with the child, breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the two return unscathed.

She immediately looked at Xu De in confusion and asked, "What did you go and do?"

"Nothing much, just got my hands on a few things."

A faint smile appeared on Xu De's face. He turned his head and narrowed his eyes at the dark, deathly silent Lijia Village.

This time...

He had reaped a bountiful harvest!

"Let's head back the way we came!"

"We'll submit Li Li's retraction of testimony as soon as the court opens."

"Let's increase the workload for the prosecutor and make him lose a few nights of sleep!"

November 10th.

7:00 AM.

Qingwu Province, Greenwood City.

Torch Street Commercial Street, Jinmao Law Firm.

Xu De walked out of the main entrance of the law firm. He crossed the street, heading straight for the breakfast stall opposite the building.

The breakfast stall was a porridge stand.

A few tables were scattered along the street in twos and threes, each set with disposable chopsticks and napkins. The stall owner stood guard by two bamboo steamers billowing white steam, sweating from his forehead as he frantically served the customers.

At one of the tables, a group of people sat together, sharing some breakfast.

It was Lin Yue, Wang Chao, and Wang Mei with her son. They had rushed over from Lijia Village and had not slept a wink.

Tap, tap, tap...

Xu De walked briskly through the morning light and plopped into an empty seat at the table. With a flick of his wrist, a thick envelope slapped onto the table in front of Wang Chao.

"As agreed, this is your payment."

"Yo?"

Wang Chao, who had been listlessly munching on his food, immediately raised an eyebrow.

He put down his sesame flatbread, grabbed the envelope, tore it open, and peeked inside.

Ten crisp, new hundred-yuan bills glared back at him!

"Yo ho!"

Wang Chao's eyebrows danced with delight. Abandoning his meal, he happily began counting the money.

Even though there were only ten bills, he flipped them over and over, counting them continuously with boundless joy.

Xu De withdrew his gaze. He walked over to the stall owner and looked hesitantly at the dazzling array of food. Ultimately, he only picked out some cheap pickled vegetables and a bowl of cheap plain porridge.

Then he sat back at the table and ate in silence.

Seeing this, Lin Yue suddenly paused.

She glanced at the bland porridge and vegetables in Xu De's bowl. After a moment's hesitation, she used her chopsticks to pick up two golden, oily meat pies, placed them on a bamboo saucer provided by the shop, and pushed it in front of him.

Xu De paused and looked up.

"Thank you for last night. Breakfast is on me today."

Lin Yue turned her head to the side.

"Otherwise... I definitely wouldn't have been able to handle this civil litigation case."

Without Xu De, even if she won the civil suit for custody, there would be no way to keep the child. Although it wouldn't leave a stain on her resume...

She didn't fight lawsuits just to 'beautify' her resume!

"Yeah, mutual assistance," Xu De replied casually. He needed to borrow her status to give himself a bit more legitimacy, so it could be considered mutual help. Neither owed the other.

Lin Yue, however, didn't focus on that. Instead, she asked, "Last night... did you give Li Li money?"

Xu De paused, but he didn't deny it. "A path that cannot be walked can be paved with money," he smiled casually.

"How much?" Lin Yue pressed.

"Three thousand four hundred," Xu De answered.

He didn't have much money on him. Including the money the law firm issued yesterday, he only had a total of five thousand three hundred yuan.

Last night, he had invested heavily, paying three thousand four hundred out of his own pocket. Deducting the payment for Wang Chao, he now had less than a thousand yuan left, and he still had to cover rent and utilities...

In fact, if the law firm hadn't paid out salaries yesterday, he wouldn't have even been able to settle Wang Chao's compensation!

To be honest, it was a very tight and awkward situation.

But he was used to it. During his student days, he couldn't even bear to eat a moldy steamed bun. Now, at least he could gorge himself on plain steamed buns and pickled vegetables.

However.

Hearing this, Lin Yue remained silent for a moment. She then pressed her legs together and pulled a wallet out of her bag.

She rummaged through it, simply took out all her cash, and handed it to Xu De.

"Ultimately, this case affects me the most... There's no reason for you to front this money."

"I don't have that much cash on me, just one thousand seven hundred."

Saying this, Lin Yue paused and turned her head to look at Wang Chao beside her.

"Yo, yo, yo..."

Wang Chao was still happily counting the money in his hands.

A thousand yuan. This was a thousand yuan!

Those crappy law firms had refused to hire him, claiming his professional skills were lacking... But who was he? He was Wang Chao! Wasn't this simple? He had earned a thousand yuan just by scaling a wall and picking a lock!?

It was much easier and far more lucrative than putting up with grief during legal consultations!

Just as he was tirelessly counting his money...

A hand suddenly descended from the heavens and snatched all thousand yuan away.

Wang Chao froze. Staring at his empty hands, a look of utter shock appeared on his face.

"Yo!!!"

In broad daylight, someone actually dared to rob him!

Unfortunately, when he looked up, he met Lin Yue's gaze.

Lin Yue said, "It's about time you paid back the three thousand yuan you borrowed from me last month. This thousand is useless to you anyway, so I'll take it first. You still owe me two thousand."

"Yo!"

A look of pure astonishment spread across Wang Chao's face.

He looked at his empty hands in disbelief, then looked up at the envelope in Xu De's hand, an envelope he hadn't even had the chance to warm up yet.

Wang Chao fell into deep thought.

Who exactly had made money? And who had lost money!?

Finally, a flash of irritation crossed his face, and he reached out to snatch the envelope back.

"You..."

Lin Yue was just about to frown. After all, he wasn't in urgent need of money, and he did indeed owe her a debt he hadn't repaid.

Who would have expected that in the next second...

Rustle!

Wang Chao pulled the ten bills out and shoved them back into Xu De's hand, keeping only the empty, wood-scented envelope for himself. Stiffening his neck, he insisted,

"I only owe her money, I don't owe her an envelope! This envelope is what I earned!"

Xu De was dumbfounded. He stared at him for a long time. His usually calm and intelligent brain experienced a rare short-circuit before he finally said,

"How principled!"

He didn't hand the money back.

After all, he really did need the cash right now. If he was broke, he would have to stay at Jinmao Law Firm after this case to earn enough before he could leave.

"Thank you, True Lord of Wealth," he said.

The corners of Lin Yue's lips curled up slightly, and she lifted her chin a bit. But then she snapped back to reality and hurriedly said with a serious expression,

"I am not a True Lord!"

"Mhm, yes, the True Lord of Longevity is right," Xu De nodded.

Lin Yue was just about to say something else when a loud discussion unexpectedly erupted nearby.

"Huh? Adjourned? The case wasn't decided in court!?"

She paused.

Lin Yue and Xu De subconsciously turned their heads to look at the neighboring tables.

Several passersby, who had been eating breakfast while reading the morning paper, were staring blankly at the news. Bewilderment washed over their faces.

Seeing this, the people beside them leaned over to look, their eyes full of curiosity.

"What wasn't decided?"

Hearing this, the man snapped back to reality. Ignoring his food, he let out a loud laugh, pointed at the newspaper, and said,

"That trafficking case from Lijia Village!"

"Come look at this! The morning paper says the trial started yesterday! They didn't even sentence the defendant, and all of the public prosecutor's evidence is being reinvestigated!"

All the public prosecution's evidence was rejected?

Then... how did they do it!?

"Let me see! Just two days ago I thought this case was hopeless!"

"How did they do it?"

"Did the presiding judge feel the defendant was not at fault and personally lean toward him?"

"Bullshit! The morning paper clearly states that a defense lawyer came out of nowhere and argued until the public prosecutor and the plaintiff's lawyer were left completely speechless!"

"What the hell? Left the prosecution speechless? Let me see!"

Upon hearing this, the others put down their bowls and quickly gathered around the person reading the newspaper.

Seven or eight people, strangers and acquaintances alike, crowded together in a tight circle.

"Look, it's written right here in the headline."

The man who bought the paper excitedly pointed at a headline and read aloud:

【Shocking! Case Reversal! In the Lijia Village case at Courtroom One of the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court, a defense lawyer debates the crowd for three hours! All public prosecution evidence rejected! Defense lawyer personally mounts a not-guilty defense!】

【An Astonishing Angle for Deconstructing a Case! Over forty people at the scene, yet not a single one could prove the defendant committed murder!】

【Three Hours Debating the Crowd! Who is this young defense lawyer? Refuses to be interviewed...】

【Turning the Tide! One man crushes the entire courtroom! Where did this lawyer who turned the defense into his personal stage come from!?】

【......】

Headline after headline, article after article.

The crowd's eyes gradually widened as they read, their breathing quickening. By the time they reached the end...

"One man suppressed the entire court in debate!?" someone exclaimed in astonishment.

"Wait, the Lijia Village case... there's hope!?"

At this point, the crowd finally understood.

If the prosecutor was backed into a corner during the debate, didn't that mean the prosecution's indictment was completely torn apart?

If the indictment fell through, Wang Qiang was definitely innocent!

That meant...

"Damn it!" a rough-looking man dressed like a migrant worker swore, his face and neck flushed red.

"A not-guilty defense, and even suppressing the public prosecution... this lawyer has guts!"

He didn't know how to read, but just listening and picturing the scene in his mind made his blood boil.

When others were hesitant and afraid to take the case, someone dared to step up. Not only did he take it, but he even mounted a not-guilty defense.

What did it mean to turn the tide?

This was turning the tide!

"Xu De? Never heard of this guy. Which law firm is he from?"

"I don't know... but after today, this lawyer has definitely made a name for himself. Fighting a case like this, it'd be hard not to become famous."

"Tsk, this really isn't something an ordinary person could do..."

...

It wasn't just the breakfast stall.

Government office buildings, wet markets, buses, intersections...

In short, wherever crowds gathered and people read the morning paper, they were left completely dumbfounded. They called out in praise, feeling their blood boil and their chests swell with satisfaction.

At this moment.

Even though the case hadn't been officially won yet.

The name Xu De had already become famous throughout Greenwood City!

Back at the breakfast stall.

"Tsk."

Lin Yue looked at the frantic crowd next to them, withdrew her gaze, and looked back at Xu De beside her. He was eating silently on the edge of the crowd, acting as if none of this concerned him.

The people reading the newspaper had no idea that the person they were excitedly discussing was right next to them.

He was quietly eating at a street stall right behind their backs.

"So, Lawyer Xu, do you have an acceptance speech prepared?" Lin Yue unconsciously revealed a smile.

Xu De smiled, not feeling particularly moved by it all. Seeing that everyone had finished eating, he wiped his mouth and said,

"Let's go."

"To the courthouse. Time to give the prosecutor some work to do!"

With that,

Xu De stood up and led the way out.

Looking at his back,

Lin Yue chuckled helplessly. She shook her head, put on her coat, and followed him with the others.

And just after the group hailed a taxi and got in...

By the roadside.

A person suddenly froze.

"Ah! What a coincidence, Lawyer Xu, you're also late..."

Accountant Li, who was running late for work, had spotted Xu De on the side of the road. She smiled, preparing to greet him, but before she could even finish her sentence, he got into a taxi and disappeared from sight.

The rest of her words instantly got stuck in her throat.

She was the accounting cashier at Jinmao Law Firm. When Zhang Hu settled his bill for the divorce case, she had handled it, so her relationship with Xu De was fairly good.

"Why did he leave in such a hurry?"

Accountant Li looked at the retreating taxi with a puzzled expression. Coincidentally, right at that moment...

"A hero emerges from the youth! Truly, a hero from the youth!"

"I think those veteran golden lawyers in Greenwood City have lived in vain. They're no match for this young lawyer named Xu De!"

Xu... Xu De?

What happened to Xu De?

Accountant Li paused.

She looked suspiciously at the group of passersby exclaiming over a newspaper next to her, her face filling with curiosity.

She craned her neck and peered over to look at the newspaper. It was fine before she looked, but the moment she did...

In an instant,

A look of utter shock washed over Accountant Li's face, and her mind was practically turned upside down.

"The indictment was re... rejected!?"

She knew exactly what kind of case Xu De had taken on.

Calling that case hell-level difficulty was an understatement!

Let alone a new lawyer, even if a golden lawyer went to court, they could only fight a gruelingly difficult battle based on the facts.

But from the glimpse she just caught... what did it mean by the public prosecution retreating step by step!?

And what did it mean by the defense displaying overwhelming momentum!?

Unfortunately, Accountant Li only caught a glimpse before her view was blocked, and by now, she was unable to contain her impatience.

"The newspaper rack. Right, there's a newspaper rack in the firm!"

A flash of inspiration struck Accountant Li's mind.

The law firm had a public newspaper rack, and they subscribed to both the morning and evening papers. This newspaper had to be on the rack!

Thinking of this,

She no longer dawdled or wasted time.

Her anxious heart urged her to sprint across the street toward Jinmao Law Firm.

Bang!

The glass door of the law firm was forcefully shoved open by the frantic Accountant Li. The loud noise attracted the attention of her colleagues at their desks in the lobby, who had just arrived for work and were still a bit sluggish.

Everyone turned to look and saw Accountant Li standing in front of the newspaper rack, reading a newspaper with her face full of shock.

"Yo, did Accountant Li buy a lottery ticket? Rushing to read the newspaper like that, did your numbers match up?"

Someone lounging in their chair jokingly teased.

"It's not me, it's Xu De," Accountant Li responded without taking her eyes off the page.

"What happened to Lawyer Xu?"

While the people in the lobby were still joking around, someone thought for a moment and said,

"Did something go wrong with Lawyer Xu's case?"

"To be honest, losing that case is totally normal. I heard the public prosecution team is led by Hu Guang... The last time I was in court acting as a proxy for the plaintiff, I was scared just looking at him. His aura is completely unlike an ordinary prosecutor, let alone facing him directly as the defense. Losing is totally normal."

"That's right. Even the Director, who always thinks highly of Lawyer Xu, never expected him to win."

"Lawyer Xu is still young and highly educated. Becoming a golden lawyer is only a matter of time. It's just that he still has a long way to go before then, and cases like these are his stepping stones."

...

Listening to their words,

Accountant Li lifted her head from the newspaper.

Her face was flushed red. Looking at the colleagues chattering confidently around her, she hesitated. She wanted to say something but was completely unable to find the right words to describe it.

Xu De still had a long way to go?

Losing to Hu Guang, a man even golden lawyers viewed as a formidable rival, was normal?

That was true.

But the problem was...

Why did the newspaper say that a rookie lawyer who had just left the beginner's village had defeated the game's final boss, Prosecutor Hu Guang, with overwhelming dominance?

Was she sure this wasn't some sort of fairy tale!?

Accountant Li looked at the people in the law firm's lobby.

Listening to the noisy chatter in her ears, her face grew even redder. Finally, she took a deep breath and shouted with a resounding voice:

"It's crazy... the courthouse has gone crazy!"

"You guys need to come look at the morning paper!!!"

"Look at the morning paper for yourselves!"

Accountant Li held up the newly delivered morning paper, the warmth of the printing press still lingering on its pages.

The sudden outburst instantly drew everyone's attention.

Several lawyers exchanged puzzled glances. Too curious to tidy their desks, they stood up and walked over to her.

"What's wrong with the morning paper?"

Generally speaking, lawyers made it a habit to read the morning paper every day.

But then again, having just arrived at the firm first thing in the morning, barely anyone could muster the energy to work, let alone read the news.

Right now, as they gathered around Accountant Li, reached out for the paper, and scanned its contents...

The casual smiles on their faces froze in an instant.

A second later...

Everyone's pupils shrank dramatically. Their hands gripped the newspaper so tightly that their knuckles whitened, crinkling and tearing the edges of the pages.

But no one cared about such minor details right now.

They practically glued their eyes to the newspaper, scrutinizing it word by word!

What was printed in the morning paper?

As expected, it covered Xu De's trial at the Intermediate Court yesterday.

But what was unexpected was...

"The... the indictment was rejected!?"

After a long silence, someone in the crowd suddenly exclaimed, their eyes wide with disbelief.

It was like a single stone stirring up a thousand ripples, instantly igniting the quiet crowd.

Everyone stared at the newspaper, drawing in sharp breaths. Their faces showed astonishment, shock, and deep confusion.

Heated discussions erupted.

"Wait, what do you mean the joint indictment from the prosecutors was single-handedly rejected by Lawyer Xu!?"

"What the hell is this about acting bravely for a just cause? How did he dare to say that in court, right in front of over four hundred people!?"

"Merging the two cases... using the trafficking case as the breakthrough point! Brilliant, this angle is absolutely brilliant!"

"..."

A few lawyers in the distance had originally just been watching the spectacle, eager for some drama. But listening in... it sounded completely different from what they had anticipated.

They quickly walked over, took the newspaper, and looked. A second later, the same shocked expressions appeared on their faces.

Their brows furrowed deeply as they carefully read every single word.

As the saying goes, the layman watches the spectacle, but the expert sees the technique.

Ordinary readers would only feel a sense of satisfaction and thrill, but to these legal peers, it felt simply... unimaginable!

To be able to organize the breakthrough point, arguments, legal logic, objective evidence, and loopholes into a cohesive framework, while simultaneously setting a massive trap for Chen Wei, was simply...

Terrifying!

It looked simple on paper, but executing it in practice was as difficult as ascending to the heavens, especially coming from the usually unassuming Xu De.

"Am I still dreaming!?"

Someone blinked, only to find the words on the newspaper hadn't changed at all, making them immediately doubt their own sanity.

"How old is Lawyer Xu this year? Does anyone remember!?"

Accountant Li, unable to hold it in any longer, immediately responded:

"Twenty-five this year, born in April. He's only had his license for exactly three years!"

"Twenty-five? He's only twenty-five!?"

The lawyer cried out in shock.

"He completely suppressed Hu Guang and Wang Wei in court!? Even the judge couldn't pick apart his legal logic, and you're telling me he's only twenty-five!?"

"That's the truth," Accountant Li said.

"What about before? Did he fight any other criminal murder cases before this?" another person couldn't help but ask.

Lawyers were similar to detectives.

They needed to digest a massive number of cases to build up their skills!

Normally, someone with this level of ability would have had to handle dozens of major cases at the very least.

This wasn't an exaggeration, but a fact. Without experience, you simply wouldn't know how to operate in court.

And Xu De...

"No criminal case history."

Accountant Li took a deep breath and said, "There's no way any firm would have assigned him a criminal murder case in his first two years of practice."

"And since coming to Jinmao... well, you guys know how it is."

After arriving at Jinmao, precisely because he was highly regarded by Director Han, he had drawn the hostility of Sun Hao.

He struggled to even get normal consultations, let alone criminal murder cases!

Even Wang Qiang's case was only approved by Sun Hao out of malicious intent, thinking Xu De was a moth flying into a flame.

Which meant...

"Are you saying..."

"He's twenty-five this year, has no track record, no famous mentor, no legal team behind him, and on his very first criminal murder case, he went up against Hu Guang from the Prosecutor's Office..."

"How on earth did he pull that off?"

Someone stared at the morning paper, questioning life itself as they felt their worldview crumbling.

The only possible explanation was...

"A genius... he is simply a genius among geniuses!"

"To suppress Hu Guang in his very first case... Xu De's future is completely immeasurable!"

What was the real difference between one lawyer and another?

After all, whether a lawyer graduated from a top-tier university's law department or a second-tier one, the laws they memorized were exactly the same.

Therefore, while the gap between schools was reflected in teaching resources, the personal ability that truly determined a lawyer's ceiling was...

Their way of thinking!

A unique, uncopyable perspective on understanding the law!

Clearly, Xu De possessed this trait in spades. Everyone present had to bow to his sheer brilliance.

None of them could have racked their brains and thought to use acting bravely for a just cause as bait to lure the prosecution into admitting the trafficking case wasn't over!

"Where's Sun Hao? Has he seen the morning paper?"

Someone suddenly spoke up, shifting the topic.

This single sentence instantly caused everyone to exchange peculiar looks.

Xu De was now thoroughly famous. If Sun Hao found out... how would he react?

Speak of the devil.

Creak—!

The main door of the law firm was suddenly pushed open.

Two figures walked in. The man leading the way was in formal wear, about fifty years old, with a thin build. He walked straight to the punch clock.

And the person behind him...

Everyone stared at that still-swollen face for a long moment before finally recognizing him, exclaiming in surprise:

"Oh, Group Leader Sun, what happened to your face!?"

Hearing this, Sun Hao, whose eyes had initially been a little evasive, instantly flew into a rage. Pointing at the crowd, he snapped in a dark tone:

"Is this law firm just a place for you all to chat? You're all gathered around here instead of going out to find some cases!"

He had been beaten up by Chen Wei yesterday, and his face still hurt terribly.

Seeing them mocking him now, he naturally couldn't hold back his temper. After all, he couldn't deal with Chen Wei, but surely he could deal with his own subordinates!?

Normally, the surrounding lawyers would be furious at the reprimand. But right now, their expressions only grew more peculiar as they stared at Sun Hao with furrowed brows.

"What are you all looking at?" he demanded.

Accountant Li waved the newspaper in her hand. "The morning paper."

The morning paper?

Sun Hao paused, recalling Chen Wei claiming that the beating was because of this so-called morning paper.

Hesitantly, he reached out a hand.

"Let me see."

Accountant Li didn't refuse. She silently handed the newspaper over, then retreated into the crowd, wearing an expression that said she was ready for a good show.

"The morning paper... what's so interesting about this..."

Sun Hao muttered, though his hands swiftly flattened out the pages.

His somewhat indifferent gaze swept over it. He had planned to skim it quickly, but when he saw the headline...

【Turning the Tide! Defense Lawyer Xu De Overpowers the Entire Prosecution, Court Enters Emergency Recess...】

As he read on, the expression on Sun Hao's face stiffened. His entire body turned to stone, completely motionless, even as stormy waves surged within his heart.

'Is this... Xu De? That sure-fire losing case... he actually got the prosecution's indictment rejected!?'

'No... impossible, how is this possible?'

'He's just a fledgling new lawyer, with no team and no track record. How could he possibly achieve this...'

He roared internally.

But the morning paper wouldn't lie!

Gulp.

Sun Hao swallowed hard, a sudden realization hitting him.

Ever since Xu De had been assigned to his team, Sun Hao's attitude toward him had been extremely harsh.

Refusing to give him cases, deliberately making things difficult for him at every turn...

In the past, it was fine. The young man had no voice in the firm, and Sun Hao could easily excuse it as "tempering" him. Xu De hadn't dared to complain.

But...

If Xu De had single-handedly overturned the Wang Qiang case... his status would instantly undergo an earth-shattering change, reaching a level no less than the firm's few golden lawyers!

After all, those star lawyers were on equal footing with Sun Hao's cousin, Director Han.

When that time came, if Xu De said even a single word against him to Director Han...

"It's over..."

Suddenly, Sun Hao's vision went dark. His mind went completely blank, his hands and feet turned ice cold, and his breathing grew rapid.

But the more one feared something, the faster it arrived.

"What are you all looking at?"

Director Han, having finished punching in, cheerfully walked over to the group and casually picked up a copy of the morning paper from the rack.

A single glance made him raise an eyebrow, followed quickly by an expression of pleasant surprise.

"Beautiful! Beautiful! This is exactly how it should be done!"

"A not-guilty defense... and one that actually gained the upper hand!!!"

"Haha, Little Xu really gave me a surprise! Tearing an opening in the Wang Qiang case... he truly is the prospect I favored!"

Director Han was overjoyed, exclaiming in pure delight.

He knew of Xu De's background.

Losing his mother at birth, losing his father at a young age, yet forcefully clawing his way from the very bottom all the way to Yan University...

He cherished this kind of talent immensely.

And as it happened, his relative Sun Hao had also joined the law firm. So, he had given Sun Hao full autonomy over Xu De, hoping to cultivate some camaraderie between the two. When the time came, he would have two highly capable lieutenants in the firm.

One would be Sun Hao, bound by blood, and the other would be Xu De, bound by exceptional ability!

With the three of them united, would he ever need to care about the opinions of the other partners again?

"Not bad, Lawyer Sun, you've done very well!"

Director Han had never laughed so heartily as he reached out to pat Sun Hao on the shoulder.

"I was originally conservative about you recommending Little Xu to take the case. I didn't expect that the two of you were planning to give me such a huge surprise!"

"When Little Xu gets back, I'll record a merit for you!"

Saying so, he walked toward his office with a confident stride, radiating a strong aura of success.

What he failed to notice, however, was...

Sun Hao standing completely frozen in place. Cold sweat streamed down his forehead, his fingertips were freezing, and his initially rapid breathing had now grown ragged and weak.

'Bad, bad, bad...'

Sun Hao's hands trembled. He didn't dare to imagine what would happen if Director Han found out the truth.

Meanwhile, the other lawyers standing around him just looked at each other, their eyes carrying a strange amusement.

'Heh... there's a good show to watch now.'

Morning, nine-thirty.

Inside the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court.

In the Deliberation Room of the Criminal First Division.

Creak—

Judge Liu Jianguo pushed open the door to the Deliberation Room. Inside, a middle-aged man in a judge's robe sat at a desk, holding several documents.

Liu Jianguo paused.

He walked over to the man. Catching sight of an unwashed, greasy instant noodle bowl out of the corner of his eye, he asked,

"You didn't leave last night?"

Zhang Bingxin looked up.

Seeing it was Liu Jianguo, he finally put down the documents. His eyes, heavy with dark circles, narrowed against the blinding daylight streaming through the window.

"What time is it?"

"Nine-thirty," Liu Jianguo replied.

"Tsk, I lost track of time." Zhang Bingxin shook his head.

After court adjourned yesterday, the defense's arguments had left him feeling uneasy. He had agonized over it all night, only to realize that their entire strategy boiled down to two words: 'In compliance'.

"Where is Sun Dong?"

Zhang Bingxin gathered his thoughts and glanced around, but didn't see the other judge.

"Shh—"

Liu Jianguo made a shushing gesture, then led Zhang Bingxin to the wall, signaling for him to press his ear against it.

Zhang Bingxin did as he was told, albeit skeptically.

A second later, a faint, angry voice filtered through the wall.

"What do you mean by that? So my son died for nothing, is that it!"

"Oh heavens, is there any justice left in this world? It was clearly my son who was killed, so why do you insist he started the fight..."

"You just wait, I'm going to the province to sue you all!"

...

Zhang Bingxin looked up at Liu Jianguo.

"Old Sun is suffering in the inquiry room. The plaintiffs, Li Youcai and Liu Cui, are in there." Liu Jianguo felt sympathetic toward Sun Dong.

Although he couldn't see Sun Dong through the wall,

it was obvious the man was suffering.

"Let's leave Old Sun be for now."

Liu Jianguo suddenly changed the subject.

"Let's take a trip to the Litigation Service Center. The defense lawyer is here."

'That Xu De?'

Zhang Bingxin was taken aback, his brow furrowing.

Going to the service center was normally fine...

After all, it was the place to submit evidence.

But court had only just adjourned yesterday. Why was he submitting new evidence now?

If he had evidence, couldn't he have just used it during the trial!?

He couldn't have found it at the last minute; it had only been one night. That was unrealistic.

He pondered the matter.

"Let's see what he's up to." Zhang Bingxin stood up.

The two men left the Deliberation Room and headed toward the Litigation Service Center.

The Litigation Service Center was located in the case filing hall.

Its overall appearance was much like a bank counter.

When the two arrived at the counter, they happened to see Xu De, who had been waiting for a while.

Seeing him clearly, Zhang Bingxin was slightly stunned.

'This guy... why does he have dark circles too?'

Zhang Bingxin frowned slightly.

It was one thing for him to have dark circles, having been kept awake all night by the defense's arguments.

But why did Xu De have them too!?

'He didn't sleep either? That's not right. If he wasn't sleeping, what was he doing?'

Xu De didn't think too much of their arrival. Without wasting words, he handed his materials straight through the window.

"This is a testimony submitted by the defense. Please verify it."

Testimony?

Someone was submitting testimony? Whose!?

Liu Jianguo was stunned. Skeptically, he flipped through a few pages, his astonishment growing with every line.

The materials clearly showed several villagers from Lijia Village collectively denouncing Li Youcai and Liu Cui. It seemed fine, but... if his memory served him right...

The 'testimonies' favoring Li Youcai had included these exact people!

They were changing their statements!?

"You..."

Liu Jianguo looked up, but Xu De looked exhausted and offered no further explanation. He left only one sentence behind before hurrying away.

"These are the testimonies of the eyewitnesses at the scene in Lijia Village. I ask the court to verify them."

With that, he vanished down the hall.

Liu Jianguo looked down at the multiple copies in his hands. He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, only to stop himself time and again.

"Aren't these two relatives of Li Youcai? Why did they suddenly change their statements?"

Changing a statement was no small matter.

If reckless words had a significant impact, the court could easily hand down a sentence for perjury!

Therefore, once ordinary people recorded their testimonies, they generally wouldn't retract them. Yet... Li Sheng and his wife had changed their statements.

They were even relatives of Li Youcai and Liu Cui!

"The dead man is Li Erniu. He was technically their junior, and they never had any dealings with Wang Mei or Xu De..."

"How did that lawyer get them to change their statements!?"

Liu Jianguo simply couldn't figure out the logic behind it.

"Forget it, let's find someone to verify this first."

Zhang Bingxin shook his head with a heavy sigh.

Great. After researching all night, his workload hadn't decreased—it had only piled up.

Just as the two were about to head back...

"Judge Zhang? Judge Liu?"

A somewhat familiar voice called out.

The two men stopped and turned to see a recognizable face.

It was...

The public prosecutor, Wang Wei!

Sporting deep dark circles of his own, Wang Wei stood before them looking utterly exhausted, clutching several documents.

"What a coincidence."

Wang Wei slid the evidence through the window. "This is the information the prosecution wishes to submit."

Liu Jianguo asked, "What is it?"

A relieved smile broke across Wang Wei's face.

"Testimonies."

"After court adjourned yesterday, I figured the recess wouldn't last long, so time was tight."

"I skipped sleep and reviewed all the testimonies again."

"In the end, I filtered out the more complete and credible ones, represented by Li Sheng."

Wang Wei felt miserable.

Yesterday, a single sentence from Xu De had slashed the credibility of their testimonies to near zero. But the prosecution couldn't possibly abandon testimonies altogether, leaving him no choice but to painstakingly review them all over again.

With over forty people at the crime scene and dozens of statements, this was all he had to show for an entire night's work.

Wang Wei figured he would submit it quickly and finally get a good night's sleep.

Unfortunately...

"From Li Sheng and Li Li?"

Liu Jianguo suddenly felt a lump in his throat. He looked at the documents in his own hand, then at the ones Wang Wei had just submitted.

Wang Wei noticed his expression. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, exactly. It's just..."

Liu Jianguo paused, gesturing slightly to the papers he held, and spoke in a subdued tone.

"The defense lawyer was just here. This is the new evidence he submitted..."

"Li Sheng and Li Li changed their statements."

"Your work last night..."

Liu Jianguo couldn't bear it, but he forced the words out anyway.

"Might have been for nothing."

Wang Wei: ?

The prosecutor's smile froze on his face.

...

...

At the same time.

Xu De was walking down the hallway to leave.

A nearby door was suddenly pushed open from the inside. He instinctively stepped aside, only to see two unexpected figures emerge.

Skinny as a rake, with unfriendly expressions and curses tumbling from their lips, Li Youcai and Liu Cui shoved their way out of the Deliberation Room.

Both sides were momentarily stunned when they bumped into each other. Then...

"It's you!"

Liu Cui erupted in a shrill shriek, her eyes instantly filling with malice.

"It's you, you son of a bitch!" Li Youcai also started cursing. "You heartless bastard, we've been bullied so terribly, and you're still defending that ungrateful wretch..."

"I get it... Did she sleep with you!"

The two were furious, rage boiling in their chests. Their glares looked as if they wanted to eat Xu De alive.

It was to be expected.

Everything had been going perfectly fine.

They were going to get Wang Qiang sentenced to prison and force that ungrateful wretch to serve them hand and foot for the rest of their lives.

But halfway through, this man had nearly ruined it all. How could they not hate him!

Xu De rolled his eyes, too lazy to pay them any mind. He simply brushed past them and continued toward the exit.

However...

"Hehe, just you wait! You just wait!"

Liu Cui muttered viciously, her venomous gaze fixed on his back like a jackal.

"We have the child... I refuse to believe that ungrateful wretch can be so ruthless as to abandon her own flesh and blood!"

The two had already made up their minds.

When they got back, they would use the child to blackmail her. There was no way that wouldn't force Wang Mei to submit!

Tap...

Xu De suddenly stopped in his tracks. He glanced back at the two old coots, a playful smile curling his lips.

Then, leaning against the wall with his back to them, he made a phone call.

Ring-ring-ring—

The call connected.

"Hello? I'm looking for Wang Mei, please put her on the line..."

"Buzz... Hello? Lawyer Xu, I'm here."

Liu Cui and Li Youcai stared at him, unbothered by the phone call. Just as they were turning to leave, calculating how to maximize their profits...

"Ms. Wang, is Xiaoyang with you?" Xu De asked as he strolled further down the hall.

Xiao... Xiaoyang?

Liu Cui paused, her gaunt face freezing in shock. She instinctively looked up at his retreating figure.

A moment later, a faint sound reached her ears...

"Hello~, I'm here."

A child's voice rang out.

This voice...

Why did it sound so familiar?

Liu Cui abruptly froze. Snapping back to her senses, she stood rooted to the spot, filled with bewilderment.

Why did that sound like her grandson's voice?

No, not 'like'—it was!

They had lived together for six years, doting on him endlessly. It was impossible for her to not recognize her own grandson's voice.

But that presented a glaring problem...

Their grandson was in Lijia Village. Even though the village shop had a phone, Xu De hadn't called the shop—he had called the place where Wang Mei was staying!

Why was their precious grandson's voice coming from Wang Mei's end of the line!?

"Old man, did I just hear our grandson's voice?"

For some reason, panic began to set into Liu Cui's eyes.

"Im... impossible."

Li Youcai had heard it too. His face was etched with disbelief. He wanted to chase after Xu De, but the lawyer was already long gone.

"Dahu is at Li Sheng's house, staying perfectly fine!"

"We handed him over to Li Sheng ourselves before we came to the city yesterday morning."

"How could that lawyer possibly..."

Li Youcai muttered under his breath, frantically trying to convince himself.

Unfortunately,

he only grew more restless and anxious, his heart burning with agitation.

No matter what, that voice had sounded exactly like his grandson!

It couldn't be... The boy should be staying safe and sound back in their hometown.

"How about we call the village and ask?"

Liu Cui stammered.

"Yes... a phone call. Let's make a phone call!" Li Youcai snapped out of his daze.

The two hurriedly rushed to a public phone, no longer caring about the coin fee. They dropped the money in and began to dial.

Ring-ring-ring—

"Hello?"

A familiar voice answered. It was Old Zhang from the village shop.

Burning with anxiety, Li Youcai frantically shouted,

"Old Zhang, can you go to Li Sheng's house and check on our Dahu?"

"Go see if our Dahu is still sleeping in the village!"

"Hurry! Hurry up!!!"

In the courthouse lobby.

Li Youcai stood guard by the public telephone, pacing back and forth anxiously.

His breathing was heavy and fraught with agitation. He seemed to have transformed into a powder keg, his forehead dripping with sweat.

'Impossible. When I left yesterday, the child was perfectly fine at home. How could he just disappear now...'

'That lawyer and Wang Mei were in court all afternoon, and today is the first day of adjournment... No matter how you figure it, they shouldn't have had the time to go to Lijia Village.'

'It can't be that the lawyer went straight there after the adjournment...'

Li Youcai felt an intense, burning anxiety. Every thought turned into a scalding chain, whipping mercilessly at his heart.

He wanted his grandson.

He needed his grandson to carry on the family line! He needed him to inherit his 'family business'!

If... if something terrible really happened to the child, he was afraid he might just roll his eyes back and faint from sheer anger.

At that thought, he was like a fish in a hot iron pan, frantically shifting from one foot to the other.

A long time passed...

"Ring, ring, ring~"

The phone rang again.

The sound pierced precisely through the taut string in Li Youcai's mind, making his heart clench as he subconsciously pressed the receiver to his ear.

"Hello!?"

"Youcai, I just went over to Erniu's second uncle's house."

On the other end of the line, Old Zhang's tone carried a hint of confusion. And it was exactly this hint of confusion that made Liu Cui and Li Youcai's hearts pound with dread.

"And then?" Li Youcai pressed on, burning with impatience. "Did you see our Dahu!?"

Liu Cui also urged anxiously from the side, "Is Dahu playing at home!?"

Logic told them the child should be at home. After all, the timeframe was simply too tight. It was impossible for the child to vanish overnight.

But the reality was...

"He isn't at Li Sheng's house. His second uncle said the child went looking for his mother," Old Zhang reported truthfully.

Not... not there?

The child had already gone to his biological mother!?

How could this be possible!!!

Li Youcai and Liu Cui felt as though they had been struck by lightning, freezing completely in place.

They had only arrived in the city yesterday afternoon.

Everything was fine before they left. Even counting the trial, not even twenty-four hours had passed... How could the child be gone in such a short amount of time!?

Unless...

That group of defendants had skipped their meals right after the court adjourned and driven straight to Lijia Village.

Even worse...

Li Sheng and Li Li absolutely must have received some sort of benefit to intentionally let the child go. Otherwise, they would never have spoken so decisively about it!

To think he had trusted them so much, often leaving the child in their care, only for them to 'sell' him out in a single night.

Li Youcai's face gradually flushed crimson. The veins on his forehead bulged, throbbing like wriggling earthworms.

Skipping meals just to run to his hometown and steal a child...

This was a lawyer!?

What kind of lawyer would do such a thing!!!

Li Youcai's face grew redder by the second. His breathing grew heavy, his chest heaved violently, and blood rushed to his head.

He was furious!

He was furious that the trial had ruined his dreams of getting rich in a hundred days!

He was furious at the sheer shamelessness! While he was still reflecting on the trial right after the adjournment, the other party had driven straight to his hometown to steal the child...

He was even more furious about the phone call in the hallway just now.

The other party had absolutely let him hear that voice on purpose!!!

"Animals..." Li Youcai trembled all over with rage, gritting his teeth as he squeezed the word out.

He could barely even catch his breath, gasping as he shook severely. Black spots gradually clouded his vision, and he began to stumble.

Beside him, Liu Cui noticed his abnormal state and was badly frightened.

"Grandpa! Grandpa! What's wrong with you? Don't scare me like this!"

Liu Cui wailed, but unfortunately, after Li Youcai used the last bit of his strength to roar out a single sentence, he fell stiffly to the ground.

"Animals!!!" he bellowed in rage.

The next second, his vision went black, and he slumped limply to the floor.

Liu Cui was terrified. She sat on the ground, her wailing becoming even more piercing.

"Someone! Someone come quickly!"

"Help! Help! Someone is going to die! Come save us..."

Her shrill voice echoed throughout the lobby, drawing everyone's attention.

In the distance.

Prosecutor Wang Wei, who was just about to leave, noticed the commotion. Seeing someone collapsed on the floor, the bitter expression on his face instantly shifted.

"What happened?"

He quickly walked over to Li Youcai's side and performed a brief physical check.

Finding no external injuries, he reached out and firmly pressed his thumb against the acupoint under the man's nose.

A few seconds later...

"Cough, cough!"

A violent fit of coughing erupted as Li Youcai slowly opened his eyes, gasping for air.

"What's the matter with you?" Wang Wei let out a breath and furrowed his brows.

Li Youcai ignored him. He simply sat blankly on the floor, staring vacantly at the wall.

Ten years ago, he had finally managed to scrape together his savings and borrow money to buy a daughter-in-law from human traffickers.

How could it be that in the blink of an eye...

His son was dead because the daughter-in-law wanted to run away? He had paid for her! A full five thousand yuan! They bought her, so what right did she have to run away!

And now, even his only grandson was lost...

On what grounds!?

Li Youcai felt that the heavens just couldn't stand to see him do well. The next second, an idea suddenly sparked in his mind.

"Prosecutor, you have to stand up for us peasants!"

Li Youcai burst into loud sobs. His recently recovered body lunged forward to hug Wang Wei's thighs, wiping his snot and tears all over the man's trouser legs.

On the other side.

Wang Wei was a bit anxious. Seeing the man ignore him earlier, he had wanted to leave, but the moment he stood up, he got entangled.

"Speak properly. Tell me exactly what happened first!"

Li Youcai covered his face and cried bitterly,

"My grandson was stolen! Tell me, how am I supposed to live now..."

His grandson was stolen?!

Wang Wei's expression changed, his spirit suddenly jolting. "Who stole him? Do you have a suspect?"

Li Youcai continued, "It's that defense lawyer! Isn't it enough that Wang Qiang killed my son? Now they even stole my grandson. Tell me, how am I supposed to live!"

As he spoke, he wept bitterly, but a ruthless resolve began to form in his heart.

Stealing his grandson?

Report him! He absolutely had to report him!

That was his own flesh and blood grandson! Plucked away just like being abducted by human traffickers... stolen the moment they weren't looking...

If someone else had taken him, what if the child got sold!?

So... Li Youcai had to make Xu De taste what it was like to go to prison!

Fighting a lawsuit for that ungrateful wretch, and even ruining his chances of getting compensation... And now stealing a child right from under him! Li Youcai was definitely going to make him eat prison food!

"Xu De?"

Wang Wei froze for a moment, his expression quickly turning severe.

During lawsuits, there had indeed been cases where defendants privately stole the plaintiff's child to use as leverage.

"Are you certain it's him!?" Wang Wei asked sternly.

"Yes, it's him! People in the village saw it!" Li Youcai didn't care about the truth; he desperately tried to smear them.

"Alright, I understand."

Wang Wei looked grave. He nodded and was just about to walk briskly outside, but he had barely taken two steps when...

He suddenly stopped.

At this moment, the expression on Wang Wei's face was somewhat... blank.

Wait a minute. The one who stole the child was Xu De? No, or rather... the defendant?

If it was the defendant, then it was Wang Mei doing the stealing. From a legal standpoint, a biological mother couldn't steal her own biological son from the father's house, but...

Then again, Li Erniu was dead, so sole custody rights lay entirely with Wang Mei!

Wang Mei and her lawyer had brought her own child to her side at night.

This...

Could this even be considered stealing? Could they be considered human traffickers?

Rarely did this happen.

Wang Wei's brain had actually stalled over a judicial question. He stood frozen in place for a long time.

Beside him, Li Youcai, who had been busy thinking about how to press charges once Xu De was arrested, looked a bit suspicious and asked:

"Officer Wang, what's wrong? Go catch them quickly!"

"If you go too late, what if they all run away!?"

Wang Wei snapped out of his daze and looked at him hesitantly. "Are you sure... the child was stolen by Wang Mei and Xu De?"

"It's the two of them!"

Li Youcai hopped in anxiety, repeatedly saying, "The child is definitely with them right now. Hurry up and bring him back!"

Wang Wei opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. He hesitated for a moment.

Finally, he took a deep breath and spoke a sentence that even he felt was a bit absurd.

"Mr. Li, although they may have stolen your grandson, they..."

"It might be completely legal."

"I have no jurisdiction over this matter."

Li Youcai, Liu Cui: ?

L...Legal!?

"How is that possible?"

"He stole my grandson! Isn't that obviously a crime!?"

Li Youcai exclaimed, immediately rejecting the notion.

Liu Cui was also panicking, hurriedly chiming in from the side, "That's right, sir. Have you misunderstood something?"

"How could stealing a child not be illegal? You just said my son broke the law, so how is it legal when he does it..."

Hearing this, Wang Wei suddenly felt a wave of speechlessness.

So they did know human trafficking was illegal. Why hadn't they thought of that when they were buying a person?

Now that it was their turn, they were right here emphasizing how illegal it was...

Furthermore, to think Xu De would actually go and steal a child... He was a lawyer, yet he had taken advantage of Li Youcai's absence to snatch the kid in the middle of the night!

Wang Wei thought his maneuvers during the trial were astonishing enough, but to think he had hidden this card up his sleeve. It had truly broadened his horizons.

However, he didn't voice these thoughts. Instead, he took a deep breath and slowly explained,

"I can't explain it clearly to you."

"But I can tell you this for certain."

"As long as the other party didn't get into an overt, physical conflict with you, then no law was broken."

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Youcai and Liu Cui were instantly dumbfounded.

He had thought about it for ages, only to tell them it wasn't illegal if there was no physical conflict!?

But last night, Xu De took advantage of the fact that he couldn't get home and drove straight there to steal the kid. The two parties were separated by dozens of kilometers; how could there possibly be any conflict!

"How is that possible? Are you looking down on us? Do you think you can just trick us because we're farmers!?"

Li Youcai was furious, even venting his anger on Wang Wei.

Wang Wei couldn't be bothered with him anymore and brushed him off.

"In any case, I have no jurisdiction over this. If you have any objections... go to the police."

With that, he turned to leave.

Before stepping out, however, Wang Wei suddenly paused. He looked back and dropped one more piece of information on the two of them.

"The court has confirmed that the trial will resume in three days. Don't forget to appear."

With that, he finally left.

Although the prosecution's indictment had been rebutted, the angles provided by the defense were easy to verify. They just needed to investigate the standoff between the police and the locals at the scene.

Once even a single point was confirmed, the entire logical chain would hold up.

And coincidentally, this single point... Xu De could directly verify with the testimonies of Li Sheng and Li Li!

Counting today, four days was more than enough time.

Li Youcai and Liu Cui, on the other hand, weren't thinking about this at all.

The two stared at Wang Wei's departing back, their faces flushed red and their fists clenched tight.

Legal...

"He definitely took a bribe!"

Li Youcai's eyes were venomous as he cursed, swearing at everything from Wang Wei's eighteenth-generation ancestors down to his unborn grandchildren.

Liu Cui's expression also shifted, her gaze turning incredibly gloomy.

But no matter how much they cursed, it couldn't change the fact that the child was gone. The two thought for a moment before finalizing their plan.

"Let's go home first. Maybe Dahu wasn't stolen!"

Making up their minds, the two prepared to head back to their village.

That afternoon.

Li Youcai returned to Lijia Village, only to find that Li Yang had indeed vanished, and he instantly flew into a raging fury.

......

The next day.

November 12th.

There were two days left until the trial resumed.

"The child was stolen? Are you sure!?"

At ten in the morning.

Inside the Greenwood City Police Department.

Two police officers looked at Li Youcai and Liu Cui, who had rushed over to report the crime, with solemn expressions.

"Yes, you have to help us get justice! He's my only grandson. If he's gone, how are we supposed to live..."

Liu Cui wailed, while Li Youcai stood to the side with a face full of sorrow.

"This..."

The two police officers were somewhat hesitant.

Normally, if someone reported a crime like this, they would definitely follow protocol and handle it swiftly.

But... they recognized them. These were the same two people who had thrown a massive tantrum at the police station back then. Forget about a stolen child, they had even accused the police of murder!

Fortunately, someone arrived to bail them out of their dilemma.

"What's going on?"

Holding a thermos, criminal police officer Li Xiang walked toward them with a frown.

Seeing him approach, the two young officers looked as if they had seen their savior and quickly recounted the situation.

"Your grandson was stolen?"

Li Xiang was taken aback. He looked at Li Youcai and Liu Cui with suspicion.

"Yes, they said it was someone named Xu De..." the officer added.

"Xu De..."

Li Xiang muttered the name, his expression turning strange.

If he remembered correctly, Wang Mei's custody case was already over, and the child had been awarded to Wang Mei.

Li Erniu was dead, so Wang Mei was the sole legal guardian... Seeing Li Youcai's state, the other party probably hadn't gotten into a physical conflict when they took the child away.

In that case...

At this moment, Li Xiang, a veteran detective with over twenty years of experience, hesitated. Not knowing how to process this, he finally said, "I understand."

"You two go home for now. Come back at two in the afternoon, and I'll inform you of the progress."

Hearing this, Li Youcai and Liu Cui left, overjoyed.

However, at two in the afternoon, when Li Youcai and Liu Cui arrived belatedly, they were told...

Li Xiang said, "The Legal Affairs Department stated that it is completely legal and compliant. It does not constitute a crime."

The moment he said this, the two were dumbfounded.

"How could this not be against the law?! I'm Dahu's grandfather! He stole my grandson! How is that not breaking the law!?" Li Youcai yelled anxiously.

Li Xiang puffed on a cigarette and shook his head. "The Legal Affairs Department contacted the other party. It truly isn't illegal, and the police will not file a case."

Upon hearing this, Li Youcai stomped his feet in anger and immediately started cursing:

"I see how it is! You're deliberately retaliating! You're doing this on purpose!"

Seeing him suddenly bring up the rescue of Wang Mei, Li Xiang felt somewhat speechless.

The contrast between their previous arrogance and their current deference was truly laughable!

He waved a hand, dismissing the two shrew-like people.

"If you can't accept it, go to the Procuratorate. Either way, the evidence on the police's side is very clear."

"We cannot file a case!"

Li Youcai fumed with anger, steam practically rising from his head. He cursed for a long time, but seeing that it was truly useless, he finally stormed off.

......

November 13th.

Only one day remained before the case's retrial.

After making a scene at the police station to no avail, Li Youcai and Liu Cui went straight to the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Procuratorate.

First thing in the morning, they got into a fierce argument with the staff.

"What's that noise outside?"

Inside the office, Prosecutor Hu Guang paused his work and looked at Wang Wei.

Wang Wei was a bit speechless. He finally sighed and explained the whole situation.

Hearing this, Hu Guang felt as if something was stuck in his throat... or rather, speechlessness had glued his mouth shut!

What did he mean the defense lawyer took advantage of the court adjournment while they were heading back to the procuratorate... skipped eating entirely, and rushed over to the plaintiff's house to steal a child!?

And to top it all off, the circumstances actually made his actions perfectly legal and compliant...

"This..."

Hu Guang fell silent.

It was his first time seeing a lawyer so bold in thought and action, walking a tightrope of risk, repeatedly jumping back and forth along the edges of the law!

Hu Guang shook his head and dismissed the matter, turning back to his documents.

Outside, Li Youcai and Liu Cui caused a scene for a long time. Seeing that it had no effect whatsoever, a sense of powerlessness welled up within them.

Until...

......

......

November 14th.

The day before the case went to court for the retrial!

At two in the afternoon.

Inside Jinmao Law Firm.

"Hey, Lawyer Xu. Lawyer Sun has been on sick leave these past two days. He hasn't come to the firm at all."

"Got any thoughts on that?"

In the firm's lobby, a few lawyers teased Xu De, joking around.

Xu De, who was pouring himself a cup of coffee, heard this and offered a completely nonchalant smile.

Sun Hao had taken a leave of absence.

Sick leave. On the 11th, the guy hadn't even dared to wait for Xu De to come back before requesting time off. He didn't even dare to face him.

Barring any surprises, he was likely hoping that Xu De would lose the retrial tomorrow, allowing him to return in triumph.

Xu De couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind.

Another lawyer sighed,

"It's a pity we don't know who beat that lump onto his face, forcing him to take sick leave and hide for a few days."

At these words, everyone revealed a knowing smile, and a roar of laughter echoed throughout the lobby.

Until...

Suddenly, a voice rang out, drawing the attention of Xu De.

"Lawyer Xu, someone is outside looking for you!"

'Someone is looking for me?'

Xu De raised an eyebrow, took a quiet sip of his coffee, and headed out.

"Alright, I'll go deal with it."

With that, he set down his cup and walked toward the entrance.

"Creak~"

Pushing open the firm's main doors, two somewhat familiar figures entered his field of vision. These two people... were none other than Li Youcai and Liu Cui!

Their faces were incredibly gloomy, their mouths drooping so low they almost hit the floor.

Their sinister eyes were dead set on Xu De, like venomous snakes ready to strike at any moment.

Judging by their tightly clenched fists, the two of them were furious.

"Oh, if it isn't Mr. Li and Ms. Liu."

Xu De put on a professional smile. He slowly approached the two of them before coming to a stop.

"What business do you have with me?"

Hearing this, anger welled up in Li Youcai's heart.

What was he here for? Didn't he know!?

Damn it! Over the past two days, he had run all over Greenwood City's government departments. He had gone to the Procuratorate, the police station, and even sought out the fire department.

But he received only one unified answer...

The other party was legal and compliant!

Li Youcai was so angry his chest was about to explode, but he had no other choice. He had gone everywhere he could. Getting revenge and sending Xu De to jail was impossible now.

He could only settle for the next best thing: seek out the culprit and demand the child back.

"Where is my Dahu!?"

Li Youcai suppressed his fury, his voice low and hoarse.

Xu De revealed an expression of sudden realization, then laughed,

"Dahu? Is that Li Yang's nickname? Not bad, just hearing the name makes one feel like he's healthy."

Listening to these completely off-topic words, Li Youcai grew even more infuriated.

"Where is my grandson!? Don't beat around the bush! Let me tell you, if I don't see my grandson today, I'm not done with you!"

Hearing this, Xu De repeatedly appeased him. "Mr. Li, I know you're in a rush, but listen to me."

He spoke slowly, "Don't be so anxious just yet."

For some reason, even though Xu De hadn't used any curse words, his phrasing made Li Youcai feel as if his entire chest was burning fiercely with rage. He was so angry his fists unconsciously clenched tight, and he gnashed his teeth in fury.

"Where is my Dahu!?" Li Youcai gritted his teeth, his expression hideous.

"You want your grandson? Sigh, you should have said so earlier. If you had just said it, I would have known that's why you came to me," Xu De said.

Hearing this, the flames of anger in Li Youcai's heart subsided slightly, but...

"But well, Mr. Li, you know there's no such thing as getting everything you wish for in this world."

A smile suddenly appeared on Xu De's face. He looked at him and slowly said,

"Just like how Wang Qiang's case goes to court tomorrow for the retrial."

"And I also want the letter of forgiveness and the Criminal Settlement Agreement."

"But do I have them? I do not."

A letter of forgiveness... Criminal Settlement Agreement?

Although the terminology sounded a bit strange, the moment those two terms dropped... Li Youcai still froze.

Immediately after, he furrowed his brows tightly, his eyes locked onto Xu De. He faintly seemed to grasp something and lowered his voice,

"You..."

"What do you mean!?"

"Exactly what I said."

Xu De narrowed his eyes.

Generally speaking, obtaining a letter of forgiveness through threats, clear coercive measures, false promises, or deception was illegal, and the document would be rendered invalid.

But then again, legally, if he didn't threaten, didn't coerce, and didn't propose a trade—if it was purely the other party's own imagination that led them to sign the letter of forgiveness...

Then even if his words employed a trace of linguistic artistry, as long as it didn't constitute fraud or affect the authenticity of their expressed intent, the letter of forgiveness would remain valid and legal.

No one knew what was illegal better than him!!!

Xu De smiled cheerfully, his tone slow and suggestive:

"You want the child but can't get him, and I want the letter of forgiveness but can't get it either. There's no such thing as getting everything you wish for in this world..."

"It's not as if you could just sign a letter of forgiveness for me right now."

"Mr. Li... wouldn't you agree?"

The moment those four words dropped, the entire scene abruptly fell quiet.

Were Li Youcai and Liu Cui idiots?

They certainly looked like it—stupid and illogical.

Back when criminal police officer Li Xiang brought a gun to Lijia Village to rescue someone, Li Youcai dared to surround him with over forty villagers and even threaten a police officer's life!

Even just two days ago, upon realizing that Wang Wei wouldn't help him, he had cursed the man out!

All these actions made the two of them seem like absolute fools, but in reality...

They weren't.

Li Youcai and Liu Cui were simply evil!

The kind of evil that festered deep within their bones.

He knew the police wouldn't dare kill anyone, which was why he dared to push his luck.

Even cursing at Wang Wei was purely an attempt to strong-arm the man into doing his bidding!

So...

He wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what Xu De was doing.

A threat.

A naked threat!!!

"That is my grandson!"

Li Youcai was furious. He looked like a bull in an arena, poised to charge.

Unfortunately, his thin, scrawny frame and sinister eyes made him look more like a venomous snake lurking in the rainforest.

"Mr. Li, don't get angry. I know you are the child's grandfather, a close blood relative."

Xu De maintained a professional smile.

Hearing this, the fury burning in Li Youcai's chest subsided slightly. However...

A second later, Xu De suddenly shifted gears, adding another sentence.

"Similarly."

"I also know that Wang Mei is Li Yang's mother... his biological mother. The birth mother who possesses sole and exclusive custody rights!"

The words dropped like a lead weight.

Li Youcai abruptly looked up, glaring at him. The fire that had just been extinguished flared up once more. He clenched his jaw, forcing out a curse from between his teeth.

"You hooligan!"

Hooligan...

Yes, Li Youcai didn't know the exact term 'shyster'.

But he could clearly feel that the man standing before him was no different from the common hooligans in his village.

"I'm flattered."

Xu De chuckled. He didn't mind the insult at all; in fact, it even brought a slight surge of joy to his heart.

Why?

The reason was simple.

Making a scoundrel like Li Youcai—who had zero regard for the law—curse him out as a hooligan only proved one thing... he truly had no other options left.

When dealing with this kind of rogue, playing the honest man and preaching the law was useless.

You had to out-rogue the rogue!!!

"You!"

Li Youcai felt a mouthful of stagnant blood caught in his throat, unable to spit it out.

It wasn't hard for someone like him, who frequently threatened others, to understand what the other man meant.

It was nothing more than a threat—trading the child for the letter of forgiveness!

"Old man, Dahu is only six years old..."

Off to the side, Liu Cui had also grasped the meaning behind Xu De's words. She lowered her head and spoke softly.

At this, Li Youcai's expression grew even uglier.

Seeing this, Xu De smiled and stepped aside.

"You two chat. I'm going to have a smoke."

With that, he gave them plenty of space, walking over to the other side, pulling out a cigarette, and slowly taking a drag.

Seeing him leave, Li Youcai grew irritable. He squatted on the ground, taking dry drags from his pipe, his heart filled with frustration.

Trading the child for the letter of forgiveness...

But did his son just die for nothing!?

And Wang Mei... that was five thousand yuan! A daughter-in-law bought for five thousand, and after only ten years, she just runs off!?

He spent money to buy her. What right did she have to run?!

Li Youcai was unwilling to accept it, but on the other hand, the image of his grandson Li Yang surfaced in his mind...

A conflicted expression crossed his face. Such a look on his deeply wrinkled visage made him appear somewhat hideous.

Until...

As he remained unable to make up his mind, Liu Cui spoke up beside him, her tone carrying a hint of aggressive blame.

"Whether Wang Qiang gets the death penalty or not won't change the fact that Erniu is already dead."

"But Dahu is still alive. We only have this one grandson. If we lose him... I'll never forgive you!"

It had been fine before. Even though they didn't have custody, the child was physically with them, so they didn't feel anxious.

But ever since Xu De had stolen the child away... Liu Cui was thoroughly panicked!

"Besides, didn't we want to use the case to exchange for the child in the first place?"

Seeing Li Youcai still hesitating, Liu Cui added.

"Trading now is the same thing!"

Hearing these words, the last trace of hesitation in Li Youcai's eyes completely dissipated, replaced by determination.

Right. Exactly.

From the very beginning, they had wanted to use the case to threaten Wang Mei in exchange for custody of the child.

Although they were the ones being threatened now, lacked the initiative, and couldn't set the terms...

As long as they could get the child back, it was a good thing!

At this thought, despite the sheer fury burning in his heart, Li Youcai had no choice but to grit his teeth, look at Xu De not far away, and say in a muffled voice:

"We're willing to sign the letter of forgiveness!"

Hearing this, Xu De raised an eyebrow. He stopped smoking, directly stubbed out the cigarette, and walked cheerfully over to Li Youcai.

"Mr. Li is truly magnanimous!"

Saying that, he pulled out a pre-drafted letter of forgiveness from his bag, smoothly took out a pen, and pointed to the signature line.

"Sign here. If you don't know how to sign, pressing your thumbprint is fine too."

Li Youcai looked down at the paper, pen, and inkpad, then looked up at Xu De, feeling increasingly stifled.

A letter of forgiveness wasn't a templated document. Every case was different; it was practically impossible to just whip one out at any given time. Yet, Xu De had done exactly that.

Unless...

He had calculated from the very beginning that they would submit, and had drafted it well in advance.

Animal!

Unfortunately, a man standing under someone else's eaves had no choice but to bow his head.

Li Youcai sulked, staining his finger with red ink. Just as he was about to press down on the signature spot... he suddenly paused and looked up at Xu De.

"You promise."

"As long as I sign this, you'll give Dahu to me?"

His voice faded.

"Mr. Li, you absolutely must not say that. I am stating here and now that a letter of forgiveness signed under the premise of a transaction, coercion, or threat is illegal. I firmly refuse to do anything illegal!"

A faint smile remained on Xu De's face.

Before the other man could lose his temper, he immediately continued:

"However."

"You absolutely have the right to spend time with the child!"

What kind of nonsense was this?

Li Youcai frowned. He had a nagging feeling that the man's words sounded weird, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

But it didn't matter.

He could still understand the last sentence.

He could see the child!

Thinking of this, Li Youcai moved to press his finger down again. At that moment, Xu De suddenly interrupted.

"Mr. Li, let me make this clear to you first."

"Custody rights generally only fall to close relatives when both of the child's parents have passed away."

Li Youcai frowned, feeling baffled. Displeased, he waved his hand and said:

"As long as I can be with the kid, that's all that matters. I don't care about any custody nonsense."

He didn't care in the slightest whether he had custody rights. The only reason he had fought for them previously was simply because without them, the police and the courts would forcibly take the child away!

Now that Xu De had guaranteed he could spend time with the child...

What did he need that useless title for?

At this thought.

Li Youcai prepared to finish signing.

But he was halted by Xu De once more.

"Mr. Li, you need to think this through carefully. I am recording this."

"I reiterate: generally, only if the parents die can you obtain custody of the child. Only in that way will the child legally belong to you."

Xu De reminded him once again.

"So long-winded!"

Li Youcai was getting irritated.

Legally not belonging to him?

He made it sound like the child had legally belonged to him before. Hadn't they lived just the same anyway? As long as the child was by his side, that was enough!

A second later, he hesitated no longer, pressing his hand fiercely onto the document in front of him.

"Ssk~!"

The pad of his finger met the white paper. When he lifted his hand again...

A bright red fingerprint with clear ridges was imprinted on the page.

Following that, Xu De pulled out a Settlement Agreement. Li Youcai pressed his fingerprint again, and Liu Cui repeated the action.

A moment later.

Looking at these two documents.

A smile blossomed on Xu De's face.

"Take care, I won't see you out."

At the main entrance of Jinmao Law Firm, Xu De smiled and waved at the somewhat lonely departing figures.

Li Youcai and Liu Cui snorted coldly, keeping their heads down as they walked away.

Once the two had disappeared, Xu De let out a long breath. He lowered his head, his gaze falling upon the letter of forgiveness and the Settlement Agreement in his hands.

What did these two documents do?

The former applied to criminal law and could reduce a sentence to a certain extent. The latter applied to civil law; with it, Chen Wei's demand for 230,000 yuan in compensation would be reduced to nothing but the impotent rage of a clown!

As for what would happen if the other party regretted signing it...

What if it was impossible for them to go back on their word?

Or rather, what if Li Youcai did not meet the conditions to revoke the letter of forgiveness and the Settlement Agreement!

The law clearly stipulated that a letter of forgiveness could only be revoked if it was obtained through 'inducement, threat, or coercion,' or if there was a 'significant misunderstanding.'

But Xu De had never used any verbal threats!

Secondly...

Inducement?

'I didn't induce him either.'

'On the contrary, I repeatedly emphasized and reminded him in plain language that he had no custody rights and could not obtain the child legally!'

'There is an eighty percent chance the judge will not rule that Li Youcai operated under a significant misunderstanding.'

'Even if they do, it doesn't matter.'

'I will naturally fulfill the promise I made!'

Looking at the two documents in his hands, Xu De muttered to himself.

What promise had he made?

Visitation rights!

In the recording, Li Youcai had explicitly stated that he wanted to 'see the child.'

As long as he fulfilled that promise.

Then ultimately, Li Youcai would not be at a disadvantage. The 'consideration' for the letter of forgiveness would be realized, and the defense would have legally fulfilled their end of the agreement.

The court would deem it unnecessary to overturn something that was already in effect, legally binding, and compliant.

As for his motive being 'to get full custody of the child, but only ending up with visitation rights...' Could this serve as a basis for revoking the agreement?

Useless.

A mistake in motive did not affect the validity of a contract!

"Everything is ready... All that's left is tomorrow's trial."

Xu De smiled and turned back into the law firm.

It was currently three o'clock in the afternoon.

With twenty-three hours left until the court session, he had quite a bit of free time.

Taking advantage of this window...

It was time to take care of some personal matters!

Tap, tap, tap...

Xu De walked back into the lobby. He poured out his cold coffee, refilled three cups, placed them on a tray, and headed for the reception room.

Upon reaching it, he shifted his weight and pushed the door open.

Creak.

The door swung open.

Through the gap, two somewhat familiar figures came into view.

"Coffee's here. Drink up and get some energy."

Xu De walked in with a smile and handed the coffee to the two of them.

The pair, one man and one woman, were none other than Wang Chao and Lin Yue.

The former took his cup, took a solemn sip to taste it, and then downed the rest in one gulp.

This was his unique method of appreciation.

A small sip to give this 'high-end' beverage the respect it deserved, and downing it in one gulp to respect his own stomach!

Lin Yue, on the other hand, took an elegant sip from the edge of her cup before looking at Xu De with a questioning gaze.

"What did you want to see us for?"

Xu De sat down across from them, smiled, and asked:

"Mainly, I wanted to ask you two... Do you have any interest in striking out on your own?"

Striking out on their own? Did that mean...

Starting their own law firm!?

Hearing this, Lin Yue and Wang Chao paused, their reactions completely different.

"Start a law firm? Attorney Xu, you really think highly of me!"

Wang Chao grew excited and immediately sat up straight.

He felt deeply moved. Other law firms looked down on him, calling him a fake graduate from a top university, and despised him for his inability to litigate or spout legal codes.

But Xu De was different; working with him was incredibly comfortable!

He would never forget the night of the 10th when they went to Lijia Village, and Xu De had praised him for his ability to scale walls and pick locks.

It was truly like finding a soulmate who understood his worth!

"If you do not abandon me, I am willing to undertake great endeavors with you!"

A smile appeared on Xu De's face as he nodded.

"If you're willing... I can give you a twenty percent share."

"That won't do. I only take what I earn; I know my own worth."

Wang Chao shook his head, speaking with utmost sincerity:

"You can insult me with words, but you cannot insult my character with money!"

Xu De gave him a thumbs up. "Principled!"

"But there's no room for negotiation on this. We must settle on a twenty percent share."

He turned his gaze to Lin Yue.

A law firm was different from a standard company. Establishing a general partnership law firm required three lawyers, making both of them essential.

"What about you, Attorney Lin?"

Hearing this.

Lin Yue was tempted; she had been harboring the idea of going independent for some time.

It was just that...

"How much in savings does Attorney Xu currently have?" Lin Yue inquired.

"A little over three thousand," Xu De replied calmly.

Lin Yue shook her head. "That is not enough."

To launch a law firm, the three of them would need to invest at least one hundred thousand; three thousand was far from adequate.

But before Xu De could speak, Lin Yue continued:

"However, I can contribute one hundred and fifty thousand, provided I receive twenty-nine percent of the shares."

"Furthermore... how do you plan to grow the firm?"

"Where will the cases and clients come from?"

Her mother was the founder of a boutique law firm in Beijing, so they were not short on funds. Therefore, compared to money, the mindset of the firm's leader was far more important.

In response.

Xu De was well-prepared. He casually passed a document over to her.

"By relying on this."

The two of them looked down and saw that it was...

"A letter of forgiveness?" Lin Yue frowned.

"A letter of forgiveness for the Wang Qiang case?"

She immediately understood but still shook her head.

"It's not enough. If you want to make a name for yourself with the Wang Qiang case, you can't just rely on the initial trial process; you need an overwhelming victory at the sentencing."

If a law firm wanted a steady stream of clients, the best approach was to win an unprecedented lawsuit!

Once everyone knew your capabilities, people would naturally seek you out.

For Xu De to become famous overnight with the Wang Qiang case, the first trial alone wasn't enough; the final verdict had to be widely considered a 'triumph'!

In the legal field, everyone cared only about the result, not the process!

And a letter of forgiveness alone simply could not determine the final verdict.

"Then what if we add this? Is this enough!?"

Xu De then handed over the Settlement Agreement.

Lin Yue looked at it, her eyebrows rising slightly.

A Settlement Agreement could indeed only affect civil litigation, but that brought up another issue.

If a case had special circumstances and both parties reached a civil settlement, the judge would often use these two points to exercise their 'discretionary power,' reducing or softening the penalty. There was a high probability that Wang Qiang would be pushed toward a not-guilty verdict.

It was just...

"Nine thousand yuan in compensation? To be paid off with joint interest within ten years?"

Lin Yue looked at the contract, hesitating as she saw the explicitly stated nine thousand yuan in compensation.

"Wang Mei has not yet adjusted to normal life, and Xu Hong is disabled. If they rely entirely on Wang Qiang to pay off nine thousand yuan, while he also has to support a family..."

Even if it was a victory, it would be a pyrrhic one.

Xu De had long anticipated this reaction. Without another word, he placed a yellowed sheet of paper on the table.

"Then what about this? Added together, is it enough!?"

The two of them looked down, shocked to discover that it was an IOU from ten years ago. It read...

【We, Li Youcai and Liu Cui of Lijia Village, Greenwood City, borrow one thousand yuan from Li Jianguo to purchase a daughter-in-law, promising to repay in full within three years...】

Looking further down...

It clearly bore the signed and thumbprinted signatures of Li Youcai and Liu Cui!

This was... irrefutable evidence that Li Youcai and Liu Cui were 'accomplices' in human trafficking!?

"Where did you get this!?"

Lin Yue snapped her head up, looking at him in disbelief.

This ironclad evidence... Even the prosecutors hadn't managed to obtain it!

"Don't worry about that. In short, on top of this, I have three witnesses who will appear in court tomorrow."

A smile graced Xu De's face; he had no intention of explaining.

Lin Yue's mind was churning with shock. Suppressing her emotions, she spoke objectively:

"Let's set aside the sentencing for a moment, but the nine thousand yuan compensation..."

"Attorney Lin, in life, we must learn to be flexible."

Xu De spoke without a care in the world.

He pointed at the Settlement Agreement, then at the IOU.

"It is true that we are paying Li Youcai."

"But hypothetically, what if right after using the Settlement Agreement, I immediately use the IOU to form a complete chain of evidence and have Li Youcai and Liu Cui put on trial right then and there!?"

The chain of evidence was ironclad; the court wouldn't even allow a second hearing before delivering a verdict.

Factoring in the string of crimes, just as Xu De expected, they would get at least twenty years!

"But, Attorney Lin, let me ask you a question!"

Xu De's voice suddenly rose, his tone turning serious.

"How many more years do you think Li Youcai and Liu Cui can live?"

At these words, Lin Yue paused.

The two were already in their sixties, living in harsh conditions, and their bodies were plagued with a series of ailments.

Forget twenty years or even ten years; it would be a miracle if they survived for eight!

"Li Youcai and Liu Cui won't be able to spend any money in prison. When they die of old age or illness in ten years, what happens to the nine thousand yuan Wang Qiang paid them?"

Xu De elaborated, and without waiting for her reply, answered his own question:

"It becomes an inheritance!"

"Since it's an inheritance, doesn't that mean someone has to inherit it?"

"If someone must inherit it, who will that be?"

As these words fell, Lin Yue unconsciously followed his line of reasoning. The moment she figured it out, she froze.

An heir to an estate was generally determined by blood relations.

But here was the catch...

There was only one person qualified to inherit their estate.

Li Yang!

"It will be Li Yang, Wang Mei's son. And ten years from now, Li Yang still won't be an adult, which means these funds will be managed by Wang Mei!"

Xu De laughed.

"In other words... this nine thousand yuan is Wang Qiang giving money to Wang Mei!"

With those words.

The entire reception room fell dead silent.

What did it mean for the compensation money Wang Qiang paid to the plaintiffs to go full circle over ten years, accumulating interest, only to ultimately return to his daughter, Wang Mei!?

"In fact, it won't just be this nine thousand yuan."

Xu De continued:

"Everything—Li Youcai's house, furniture, and savings—will all be considered part of the inheritance!"

"Wang Mei was imprisoned and abused for ten years... Heh, there's no way she won't get a little compensation out of this."

What?

As for Xu De mentioning 'preying on vulnerable households' to Li Sheng and Li Li?

He never explicitly said they were the ones who would do the preying!

If Li Sheng could exploit them, there was no reason the victim couldn't do the same!

In any case...

"Is this plus this enough!?"

Xu De stared intensely at Lin Yue.

Lin Yue opened her mouth but couldn't find the words.

Setting aside everything else, just this viable, almost bug-exploiting logic of inheritance succession was enough to prove how thoroughly Xu De had planned this out.

Not to mention his terrifying ability to improvise on the spot. Looking at it this way, maybe... this Wang Qiang case...

Could really make him famous overnight!

"It's enough!" Lin Yue took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.

The money was paid, yet it felt like it hadn't been.

He was willing to honor the visitation rights, but since Li Youcai would be sentenced and locked in prison, he wouldn't be able to exercise them anyway. Having them was no different from not having them.

What did it mean to catch a wolf bare-handed?

This was catching a wolf bare-handed!

"Welcome aboard."

A smile blossomed on Xu De's face, exuding a spirited and triumphant aura.

Now that the matter of the law firm was settled.

Everything else rested on tomorrow's trial!

Thinking of this, Xu De looked down at everything he had prepared over the last month, starting from absolute zero.

'Letter of forgiveness' + 'Settlement Agreement' + 'IOU evidence chain' + 'Witnesses' + 'Self-surrender'...

Either.

Tomorrow, the prosecutor and Chen Wei would crush him with a fierce offensive, his defense would fail, and his professional future would turn bleak and hit rock bottom.

Or.

He alone would face off against the prosecutor, Attorney Chen Wei, Li Youcai, and Liu Cui in court, executing a textbook, bloody slaughter to take all the spoils!!!

"Will I fall short at the final hurdle, or will I forge a legendary reputation..."

"It all depends on tomorrow's trial!"

...

...

The next day.

November 15. As a transport van slowly pulled into the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court.

The trial officially began!

November 15.

At nine o'clock in the morning, a transport van slowly drove into the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court from the Detention Center, disappearing from sight as it turned into the dedicated lane.

Several judges awaited the final hour.

......

Twelve o'clock noon.

At the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Procuratorate, several prosecutors donned black suits with red ties. Their expressions were exceptionally stern as they tightly guarded the documents in their hands.

Meanwhile, inside Yangteng Law Firm.

Lawyer Chen Wei looked incredibly grim. Being hung out to dry as a backdrop at the peak of public opinion over the past few days had pushed his mood to rock bottom.

He gathered his thoughts, determined to pursue the case relentlessly. Sneering, he got into his car and headed toward the courthouse.

At the same time.

Jinmao Law Firm.

Xu De, dressed in a suit, maintained a calm expression, acting as if what lay before him wasn't some terrifying beast.

He casually flagged down a taxi and spoke to the driver.

"Driver, to the Intermediate Court."

......

One-thirty in the afternoon.

The media reporters of Greenwood City, who had been quiet for a long time, gradually began to stir. Women touched up their makeup, men adjusted their clothes, and photographers constantly checked to ensure their equipment was operational.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Hundreds of people filed into Courtroom One of the Intermediate People's Court, scrambling for a good seat.

Reporter Zhang Xia was among the crowd, but this time she sat in the first row, closest to the trial area.

Zhang Xia glanced back at the public gallery.

Turning her head, a dense sea of people flooded her vision, an overwhelming sight full of oppressive weight.

'There are even more people attending this hearing than the first time!'

Zhang Xia thought to herself. She turned back to the trial area, staring at the empty chairs, a hint of nervousness suddenly welling up inside her.

The public opinion that had fermented after the results of the first trial...

Obviously, it had attracted even more people!

The four hundred-plus chairs were nowhere near enough. The extra attendees could only stand at the very back to watch, yet they showed no intention of leaving.

However, the number of people had no direct relation to the outcome of the case.

Life or death, and the direction the case would take... it all depended on today!

At the same time.

Next to Zhang Xia.

"It's two-thirty. When is someone going to show up?"

A man looked at the unusually quiet trial area, which resembled a static painting, a trace of confusion on his face.

This person was Wang Chao.

Indeed, Wang Chao had also come. As a future partner of the law firm, he needed to visit the scene in person to see if the firm's leader was truly worthy.

"Shh."

Lin Yue, sitting to the side, made a hushing gesture. Just before she could finish the motion...

She stared at the main door next to the trial area. Her heart skipped a beat, and her expression instantly turned solemn.

"They're here!"

The moment she spoke.

"Creak."

The squeak of the heavy doors being pushed open echoed throughout Courtroom One, reaching everyone's ears.

Suddenly.

The previously restless courtroom abruptly fell silent. Everyone held their breath and focused on the trial area.

At the side door of the trial area.

Several men wearing professional suits with bright red ties appeared in the doorway.

Prosecutor Hu Guang raised his head, his emotionless eyes sweeping over the hundreds of pairs of eyes staring back at him.

He then retracted his gaze.

"Tap, tap..."

Leather shoes clicked on the floor.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the three prosecutors walked toward the prosecution bench, followed closely by the plaintiffs, Li Youcai and Liu Cui.

As well as the victim's legal representative, Chen Wei.

The three of them took their seats.

'The prosecution is here.'

The crowd's hearts stirred, but before they could even dwell on it...

The door near the defense bench swung open, and a solitary figure appeared.

Xu De gave the prosecution a glance, his expression otherwise blank, and walked toward the defense bench alone.

Just like last time, he was the only one at the defense bench, appearing rather isolated.

'The defense is here too... and just like last time, it's only one person,' Zhang Xia thought to herself.

Following Xu De, the defendant, Wang Qiang, appeared in the courtroom.

The man was no different from last time. His figure was emaciated, and he wore a yellow uniform with his hands cuffed. Led in by two bailiffs, he eventually took a seat on the chair right in the center of the trial box.

The crowd watched in silence, silently speculating.

After a moment.

The clerk suddenly spoke, and the phrase "All rise" rang in everyone's ears.

Wearing judges' robes, Zhang Bingxin, Sun Dong, and Liu Jianguo slowly stepped into the room.

The three made no superfluous movements. Their expressions were stern and their eyes solemn, exuding a majesty that made everyone feel a wave of pressure.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Their footsteps headed toward the judge's bench.

Zhang Bingxin sat in the highest seat of the trial area, the chair of the presiding judge, with a gavel resting on the desk in front of him.

He looked up, checking the personnel on both sides. After confirming that both parties were ready, he reached out, grasped the gavel, and raised it.

"Bang!"

The gavel struck, emitting a crisp sound that made the crowd's hearts tremble, as if it had struck right in their chests.

A second later.

Zhang Bingxin stood up, his loud and serious voice echoing slowly.

"This case is prosecuted by the public prosecution organ, the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Procuratorate. The public prosecution organ has now amended the charges..."

At this point,

he paused slightly before his voice continued to ring out.

"The scope of the trial for this case is: the defendant is suspected of the Crime of Causing Death by Excessive Self-Defense, and the Crime of Intentional Harm..."

"Public prosecution was initiated before this court on October 10, 2002. In accordance with relevant regulations, the First Criminal Trial Division of the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court is conducting an open trial."

"This case will be presided over by Judge Zhang Bingxin as the presiding judge, with Liu Jianguo and Sun Dong serving as adjudicators..."

"Now, I declare..."

As he spoke,

Zhang Bingxin's voice suddenly gained a trace of firmness as he announced,

"Court is now in session!"

The trial... had begun!

Moreover, this second hearing was somewhat different from the first.

"The public prosecution amended the indictment!?"

"From intentional homicide, it changed to causing death by excessive self-defense..."

"Tsk, it seems the defense lawyer's impact during the last hearing was quite significant. Even the indictment has changed..."

......

As soon as the trial was declared open, a shockwave went through the public gallery.

The indictment had changed!

What did this mean?

It meant that the accusations made by the prosecution last time had been completely overturned!

The defense didn't even have any substantive evidence last time, yet they managed to achieve this...

"I wonder what he has up his sleeve this time..."

Zhang Xia stared at the man at the defense bench, clenching her hands tightly. She then shifted her gaze to the defendant's seat, looking at Wang Qiang's skinny back as she thought to herself.

The commotion from the audience was not loud.

It did not reach the trial area to affect the hearing. Zhang Bingxin kept a stony face, showing absolutely no expression.

He turned his head and looked at the prosecution.

"Now, will the prosecution please read the indictment."

The moment he finished speaking.

Prosecutor Hu Guang stood up. Holding a document in his hands, he slowly rose and began to speak.

"Respected presiding judge and adjudicators, I am the public prosecutor, Prosecutor Hu Guang."

"The defendant, Wang Qiang, age 52, born on April 17, 1950, was arrested on October 2, 2002."

"Through this procuratorate's re-investigation, the indictment is now corrected. Because the defendant Wang Qiang's daughter, Wang Mei, was illegally controlled, imprisoned, and raped by the deceased, the defendant reacted with extreme emotion. During the process of self-defense, a conflict ensued, resulting in death."

"In summary, the defendant Wang Qiang has violated Article 234 of the Criminal Law and is guilty of the Crime of Intentional Harm!"

"At the same time, his actions have violated Article 20 and Article 233 of the Criminal Law, constituting..."

At this point,

Hu Guang paused, his gaze immediately narrowing as he declared,

"Excessive self-defense, the Crime of Causing Death by Excessive Self-Defense!"

"The facts of the defendant's crime are clear, and the evidence is reliable and sufficient."

"This procuratorate initiates the public prosecution according to the law, and requests the court to pass judgment on the defendant in accordance with the law!"

The Crime of Intentional Homicide?

Excessive self-defense and the crime of negligent death!?

The people in the gallery nodded slightly, but their hearts sank. They furrowed their brows, unable to speak for a long time.

At the defense table, Xu De felt no more relaxed than they did.

Before the trial, he had prepared two strategies.

First, during the court debate, he would refute all of the prosecution's arguments, rewrite the defendant Wang Qiang's fate, and turn a guilty verdict into an acquittal!

However, this was a court of law.

No one could claim a guaranteed hundred percent chance of winning!

Therefore, he had made a backup plan.

Second, this involved the materials regarding the letter of forgiveness and the Settlement Agreement.

These documents could mitigate the defendant's sentence to a certain extent, preventing a situation where failing to achieve an acquittal resulted in leaving empty-handed.

So the question was, why did Xu De feel there was a possibility of losing and a need to use his backup plan?

The reason lay in...

"Intentional injury, excessive self-defense resulting in negligent death..."

At the defense table.

Xu De took a deep breath. His brows knit together, his eyes carrying an unprecedented solemnity.

The prosecution had altered the indictment, changing it from the Crime of Intentional Homicide to the current two charges.

To him, this was not good news.

Why?

Because an accusation needed to be supported by a theoretical foundation to become fact.

If the Crime of Intentional Homicide was a high-rise building and excessive self-defense was a single-story house, then the evidence in the prosecution's hands was a foundation one and a half meters deep.

It could not support a high-rise building.

But it was more than enough to support a single-story house!

And his goal was to ensure that not a single building was constructed on this courtroom's foundation!

Facing a high-rise building, he could just use his words, tearing it down on the grounds of an unstable foundation that would easily collapse. But facing a single-story house...

The only way was to completely smash the foundation to pieces.

Troublesome... very troublesome.

At the judge's bench.

"Alright."

Zhang Bingxin nodded and withdrew his gaze.

This trial was primarily to investigate the criminal case portion, so he was not prepared to let Chen Wei, who represented the civil litigation, speak until the criminal investigation was clear.

Presiding judge Zhang Bingxin turned to look at Xu De at the defense table and asked,

"Defense, does your side wish to raise an objection to the prosecution's aforementioned charges?"

As his voice fell, everyone present focused their gaze on Xu De.

Xu De took a deep breath, his tone serious as he spoke in a deep voice:

"Presiding judge, my side... has an objection!"

He paused and pulled out a piece of evidentiary material from the numerous documents on the table.

"Honorable presiding judge, this is the evidence submitted by the prosecution, namely: the murder weapon."

He handed the evidence to the clerk.

The clerk was clearly accustomed to his habit of using the opponent's evidence.

After a brief inspection, she handed it to the bench. The three judges glanced over and saw a photograph of a curved, blade-like object printed on the paper.

"This is a sickle, a tool for cutting wheat—an extremely sharp sickle."

"It is obvious that this does not belong to the defendant, Wang Qiang!"

Xu De stood up.

With his opening words, he completely distanced his client from the ownership of the murder weapon.

In a criminal case, whose weapon it was, how it appeared, and how it caused a loss of life—these three questions were crucial. As long as they distanced themselves from the murder weapon, their chances of winning the case would skyrocket!

"Presiding judge, judging from the test provided by the judicial appraisal institution, there are fingerprints from three people on this murder weapon."

"One, Li Erniu. Two, Wang Qiang. Three... a Lijia Village resident named Li Chunhua!"

"Li Chunhua is the owner of the murder weapon. During the incident, when the police and the villagers were confronting each other, he was standing in the crowd holding the sickle."

"Then, how did this sickle go from Li Chunhua's hands to Li Erniu's, only to end up disemboweling Li Erniu himself?"

"The reason is that during the incident, when the defendant, Wang Qiang, exercised his right to legitimate self-defense, he angered the deceased, Li Erniu."

"Subsequently, Li Erniu, in a state of fury and emotional agitation, snatched the sickle from Li Chunhua's hands with the intent to harm the defendant, Wang Qiang!"

Xu De's gaze grew sharp, his words cutting with sudden keenness.

"In such a moment, forced to protect himself, the defendant could only passively defend!"

"What followed was exactly what our side stated during the first court hearing. Namely... the defendant was submerged by the crowd, and when he was seen again, the victim, Li Erniu, was already dead!!!"

"Presiding judge, judges."

"Wang Qiang's actions fully comply with Article 20 of the Criminal Law, constituting legitimate self-defense. Our side moves to dismiss the prosecution's charges; the defendant is innocent!"

Xu De's words were clear and logical.

In just two or three sentences, he explained the course of events perfectly. Even listeners who had not read the case files could picture the entire process in their minds.

In the gallery, the hundreds of people in attendance nodded thoughtfully.

On the judges' bench, Judge Sun Dong also nodded, whispering,

"It is indeed so. It matches the testimonies of the seven police officers."

At the same time, Sun Dong felt a surge of admiration.

'Two or three sentences, arguments, defense points, evidence, and corroboration all perfectly complementing each other... Tsk, even if those top lawyers from Yanjing came, they would at most be at this level.'

Zhang Bingxin nodded, but his face remained completely expressionless.

He turned to look at the prosecution table.

The three prosecutors were not angry; they appeared completely calm and relaxed.

"Prosecution, does your side wish to raise an objection to the defense's statement?"

Prosecutor Hu Guang nodded. He turned to the defense table and met Xu De's eyes. After a brief stare-down, he spoke:

"Presiding judge, judges."

"What our side wishes to address is..."

Hu Guang paused, then delivered a highly specific point that made everyone furrow their brows.

"The excessive self-defense of the defendant, Wang Qiang, is not reflected in his counterattack against the knife wielder, but rather..."

"The defensive actions Wang Qiang took when Li Erniu first got into the police car!"

Beside him, Wang Wei immediately stood up, submitted several documents, and said,

"This is the police autopsy report."

"The report clearly notes that the deceased, Li Erniu, had a deep bite mark on the back of his hand!"

A bite mark?

Zhang Bingxin paused. His brows knit tightly as he pinched the document, falling into deep thought.

What did this case... have to do with a bite mark!?

"Presiding judge, according to the testimonies of the police officers present in the car,"

"When Li Erniu revealed his intent to forcibly take Wang Mei away, he was not immediately pushed out of the car by the defendant, Wang Qiang. Before that, Wang Qiang took another action."

"He bit him!"

Wang Wei spoke. His plump body did not make him look comical; instead, he appeared imposing, his expression solemn.

"The defendant first bit Li Erniu, causing him intense pain!"

"And this brings us to the crux of the matter."

"Because of the pain, Li Erniu let go..."

He submitted the police testimonies.

They clearly recorded that Wang Qiang forced the man to let go by biting him. Otherwise, relying merely on pushing and shoving, it would have been very difficult to break Li Erniu's grip.

But sudden pain can cause a person's muscles to subconsciously contract!

And because Li Erniu let go...

"At that moment, he had already ceased his assault and did not show any further aggressive actions. Furthermore, there were at least four police officers beside him who could have apprehended him on the spot!"

Wang Wei's expression was serious, his tone grave.

"However, under these circumstances, the defendant, Wang Qiang, took the initiative to launch a secondary attack, pushing Li Erniu out of the car!"

"In summary, our side believes that in a situation where there were better ways to handle it, and the deceased did not exhibit an intention to attack again..."

"Wang Qiang still chose to strike first."

Legitimate self-defense had a strict characteristic: the degree of the counterattack must depend on the severity of the threat, and one could not pursue the attacker once the threat ceased.

After Li Erniu felt pain, he let go.

Objectively, the threat had paused, and the police could have taken control. For Wang Qiang to strike again exceeded the scope of self-defense.

So, from this perspective... whether it was the severity or the timing of the counterattack, it had already skirted the boundaries of legitimate self-defense.

"This..."

In the gallery, the crowd furrowed their brows, hesitation in their eyes.

A commotion rippled through the spectators, and murmurs of discussion gradually filled the room.

"It's a bit tricky..."

Sitting in the crowd, Wang Chao rubbed his chin. He looked at the trial area and spoke thoughtfully.

He hadn't read the case files, nor had he witnessed the incident, but if the facts were truly as the prosecution stated... then legitimate self-defense really might not hold up.

Even if the actions inside the car were lawful, there would definitely be other 'suspected' excessive actions.

After all, Wang Qiang's personal emotions at the time had been far too intense. Objectively, they bordered closely on 'intentional,' making any counterattacking behavior highly debatable.

"Do we have to prematurely use that evidence prepared for a sentence reduction?" Wang Chao guessed.

Giving up the not-guilty defense right now could actually be a good choice.

They could pivot their energy toward using the evidence to reduce Wang Qiang's sentence, at the very least 'protecting their capital.'

"Let's keep watching,"

Lin Yue whispered.

However...

"In addition..."

In the trial area, Wang Wei was just preparing to continue speaking, but unexpectedly, before he could get the words out—

An angry voice instantly interrupted the proceedings.

"Fallacy! This is a fallacy!"

"In both legal precedent and practical reality, these are not two separate actions, but a single, continuous defensive action!"

"The prosecutor just ignored the continued existence of an 'emergency danger' within those three seconds. What you've stated is a fallacy completely divorced from reality, severing the continuous facts of the case!"

Xu De spoke up from the defense table. His tone was filled with anger, his eyes locked dead onto Wang Wei.

His mouth was like a machine gun, but what it fired wasn't bullets, but knives!

In the gallery, Wang Chao and Lin Yue raised their brows slightly.

He... wasn't going to give up? He was still fighting for an acquittal?

That's right.

Xu De's train of thought was incredibly clear. He didn't even need to think; his mind instantly constructed the arguments to refute the prosecution.

A not-guilty defense...

He was determined to fight for it!

"Slander! Slander!"

"Please observe courtroom order; our side has not finished our statement!"

At the prosecution table, Prosecutor Wang Wei reacted, immediately burning with anger as he tried to suppress his fury.

He hadn't finished speaking, and what he intended to express was entirely different from the defense's claims. He declared in a deep voice,

"Defense, you are quoting out of context!"

Unexpectedly, Xu De had absolutely no intention of engaging with him.

"Presiding judge."

Xu De ignored Wang Wei's angry glare and turned to look at presiding judge Zhang Bingxin.

"The prosecution's statements contain personal exaggeration, subjective assumptions, and non-objective information completely inconsistent with the facts!"

"In summary, our side moves..."

"To dismiss all of the prosecutor's charges against the defendant, Wang Qiang!"

Abruptly, the entire courtroom was permeated with an atmosphere of drawn swords—a fierce confrontation.

At the same time, a thick scent of gunpowder—exciting, adrenaline-pumping, and blood-boiling—instantly filled Courtroom One.

Diamond cut diamond!

Suddenly, an invisible pressure radiated from both sides, enveloping the entirety of Courtroom One. Everyone instinctively held their breath, eyes wide as they stared at the trial area, desperate not to miss a single detail.

'This man... is too bold!'

In the public gallery, reporter Zhang Xia swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest.

She watched the scene unfold on the stage.

The two sides were at each other's throats, a far cry from the atmosphere of the first hearing.

If the last session had been a debate of rationality and tricky angles, leaving the impression of a surgically precise incision...

Then this time...

It was a pure, head-on collision!

"Forcing his personal opinion..." Wang Chao muttered to the side.

This kind of behavior, which practically tested the judge's bottom line, was heavy with hostility.

As for why Xu De dared to do this...

It was because this was essentially the final hearing!

In the trial area, at the defendant's table, Xu De's expression was incredibly stern. He ignored Wang Wei's displeasure and stared straight at the presiding judge, Zhang Bingxin.

The prosecution had amended the indictment, and their evidence was sufficient. The judge would not grant another recess or a chance for a third hearing.

To win in this situation, you had to take a tough stance. Taking a single step back would be completely irresponsible to the client!

"Presiding Judge, the prosecution is using their subjective personal attitude to make assumptions about the defendant!"

"The so-called two actions were actually a single, continuous movement. From beginning to end, the defendant never exceeded the scope of legitimate self-defense, nor did he excessively pursue the attacker!" Xu De emphasized his stance.

At the prosecution's table, Wang Wei felt he wouldn't be able to suppress his rising anger.

Assumptions? Was the opposing counsel taking his words out of context before he even finished speaking not an assumption!?

"Presiding Judge, the defense counsel is disrupting order and ignoring courtroom rules. I request that he be issued a warning!" Wang Wei looked toward the judge.

On the bench, the three judges made no sudden movements; their expressions were meticulously composed.

That was until Zhang Bingxin raised the gavel on his desk.

"Bang!"

"Defense, it is not yet your turn to speak. Please respect courtroom order!"

"This is your first warning. If you violate the rules again, the court has the right to sanction you!"

The order of speaking in court was absolutely critical. If the disruption was severe enough, a judge could even expel a lawyer from the trial.

Xu De had no objections to this warning. On the contrary, he had already achieved his goal.

By refuting the opposing counsel's statement, he undermined the credibility of the latter half of Wang Wei's argument!

Zhang Bingxin said, "Prosecution, please continue your statement."

Wang Wei took a deep breath, extinguishing the burning fury in his chest. He looked back down at the documents in his hands and continued,

"The above was Wang Qiang's first suspected 'proactive' action."

"And following that, the defendant, Wang Qiang, completely met the criteria for the Crime of Intentional Harm under Article 234 of the Criminal Law!"

Wang Wei paused, reintroducing the second half of the sentence that Xu De had interrupted.

"After the defendant, Wang Qiang, pushed the victim out of the vehicle..."

"The victim, Li Erniu, fell to the ground. Only then did he snatch the murder weapon, a sickle, from the hands of the Lijia Village resident, Li Chunhua."

"Immediately after, Wang Qiang engaged in a struggle with him, ultimately resulting in the death of the victim, Li Erniu."

He paused, suddenly shifting his tone to pick out the crux of the issue.

"Please pay attention!"

"When this series of events occurred, from Li Erniu falling to the ground to grabbing the knife, there was a blank period of nearly half a minute!"

"During this half-minute, a full Thirty-Second Window..."

"There was no one behind Wang Qiang, no one blocking his way. He could have easily gotten into the vehicle to take shelter and handed the scene over to police control, thereby avoiding the immediate danger."

"There were several police officers remaining in the police car; he only needed to take a single step back to be completely safe."

Wang Wei's eyes grew heavy and his expression severe, radiating unquestionable authority as he declared:

"But he chose not to do so. Instead, he chose to step forward and grapple with Li Erniu."

"Ultimately causing the death of the victim, Li Erniu!"

"Combined with the push inside the police car, which is suspected to be an 'intentional' act, our side believes..."

"The defendant, Wang Qiang, was emotionally agitated and possessed a subjective 'intentional' attitude. His actions constitute the Crime of Intentional Harm under Article 234 of the Criminal Law!"

"Furthermore, the opposing party's actions exceeded the scope of legitimate self-defense."

"The circumstances entirely fit the definition of 'excessive defense' under Article 20 of the Criminal Law!"

As these words landed...

The courtroom erupted into an immediate uproar.

His theory was solid, his arguments were sharp and well-founded, and his logic was incredibly rigorous.

"The prosecution came prepared this time..."

"Indeed. Based on everything just said, it's almost enough to nail down the charge definitively."

"A Thirty-Second Window... An ordinary person could run over two hundred meters. If Usain Bolt were here, he could run three hundred meters. In a car, you could even travel nearly seven hundred meters..."

"But the defendant continued to fight with him... From what angle can this even be refuted?"

In the public gallery, the crowd truly couldn't hold back anymore. They began to exchange low whispers, muttering to themselves with furrowed brows.

At the defendant's seat, Wang Qiang kept his head down on that cold chair, his hands tightly clenched. His withered knuckles turned white as his breathing grew increasingly anxious.

Listening to the discussions from the gallery behind him, Wang Qiang's perception suddenly underwent an earth-shattering change. The surrounding judge's bench, the prosecution's table, and the defendant's seat began to expand infinitely. Hu Guang, Zhang Bingxin, and Xu De grew taller, looming like towering giants!

Meanwhile, he became a tiny ant, like a grain of sand, trapped in the center and awaiting the final judgment.

The sense of oppression and despair materialized into freezing water, submerging him, making him feel unimaginably suffocated!

Until...

"We have an objection!"

From the defense table, in just a few short seconds, Xu De had already organized his phrasing. His expression was stern and severe, yet a calm rationality hid within his eyes.

On the judge's bench, Zhang Bingxin hadn't even finished digesting Wang Wei's words. Hearing the commotion, he turned to look at Xu De, nodded, and said:

"The defense may state their objection."

Xu De nodded.

He took a deep breath and slowly stood up.

An impromptu rebuttal was an incredibly difficult task. Even ordinary corporate interviews were hard to handle on the spot, let alone the high-intensity, rapid-fire questioning in a courtroom that relied heavily on articulation and logic in such a short timeframe!

But the fact remained.

He was absolutely committed to this not-guilty defense!

"Presiding Judge, Judges."

"The 'intentional harm' mentioned by the prosecution is completely unfounded in reality, lacks any basis, and cannot stand firm!"

"First, the defendant Wang Qiang's actions inside the police car lacked subjective intent and were not driven by emotion. They were purely legitimate self-defense done out of acting bravely for a just cause, constituting a single, continuous defensive action!"

"Second, outside the vehicle..."

Xu De paused, and immediately after, a continuous string of words echoed through the courtroom.

"According to Paragraph 3 of Article 20 of the Criminal Law, besides General Self-Defense and excessive defense, there exists a third clause: Special Self-Defense!"

"Which means the Right to Unlimited Self-Defense!"

"The original text explicitly states: 'Taking defensive action against an ongoing assault, murder, robbery, rape, or any other violent crime that severely threatens personal safety, causing injury or death to the unlawful infringer...'"

"'Does not constitute excessive defense and shall not bear criminal responsibility!'"

"During the time of the incident."

"After Li Erniu seized the knife, his level of infringement escalated. It changed from an infringement targeting Wang Mei to a violent, life-threatening crime directed at Wang Qiang. This completely meets the legal provisions of the third clause!"

"That is to say, during this period, the defendant, Wang Qiang..."

Xu De's expression was icy cold. He knocked the knuckles of his right index finger firmly against the desktop, making a sharp rapping sound.

"Possessed the Right to Unlimited Self-Defense!"

"Therefore, even if the deceased, Li Erniu, died as a result of his defense, the defendant remains..."

"Not guilty!!!"

Suddenly, it was as if a tsunami had swept through the courtroom, crashing toward the crowd and submerging everyone in its wake.

That was right.

The concept of Special Self-Defense meant that when your life was threatened by a violent attack, you could completely disregard the condition of 'equal force'!

You could counterattack endlessly. As long as an objective threat still existed, you could take the initiative to strike even if the assailant wasn't fighting back. You wouldn't be held liable even if you beat them to death!

"The deceased Li Erniu's assault escalated into an act of violent murder, which constitutes the prerequisite for Special Self-Defense."

"Wang Qiang's actions fall under legitimate self-defense, and he should be declared innocent!"

Xu De took a deep breath and slowly sat down.

His argument was well-founded and heavily cited from the law, but unfortunately...

"Objection!"

At the prosecution's table, Hu Guang, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly revealed a cold and stern look in his eyes. He stood up, looked directly at the opposing side, and declared, "Defense, our argument focuses on the Thirty-Second Window after Wang Qiang exited the vehicle!"

"Not the moment after the victim snatched the knife!"

Thirty seconds...

It was those damn thirty seconds again!

Xu De felt a flash of irritation. The prosecutors in this second hearing had clearly shown a qualitative leap in their strategy after amending the indictment.

Difficult... This was going to be extremely difficult!

"Prosecution, there is absolutely no evidence that the defendant engaged in any intentional acts of verbal abuse, provocation, or pursuit within the thirty seconds after getting out of the car!"

Xu De argued strongly.

"Furthermore, the defendant is an older man who required time to process what had just happened!"

"Those thirty seconds were actually a cognitive pause, not a provocation!"

Chaos... The rhythm was completely thrown off.

Routine procedural speeches were a thing of the past. The trial had obviously defaulted into a stage of free debate.

Hu Guang refused to yield an inch, his fitted black suit seeming to radiate an oppressive aura.

"Emotions and subjective consciousness are inextricably linked to behavior!"

His booming voice echoed with a series of sharp questions.

"The defense just stated that the defendant needed time to process before acting."

"Yet in the testimonies, when the deceased Li Erniu approached with a knife, the defendant, after thirty seconds of subjective thinking, clearly assumed a fighting stance!"

"Moreover, a series of behaviors in a single case must be viewed with continuity."

"Combined with the suspected 'pursuit' behavior inside the police car..."

Emotions, subjective consciousness, and behavior were simply bound to each other.

To put it simply:

Even when the police investigated a case, they determined whether the suspect acted 'intentionally' based on the injuries inflicted upon the deceased.

If it was intentional, what kind of emotion drove it?

If it was anger, they would investigate the deceased's interpersonal relationships to find an acquaintance capable of producing that anger!

Therefore, deducing backward from the result...

"In summary, the defendant Wang Qiang's subjective intent during the incident clearly carried the nature of being 'intentional'!"

Hu Guang's words were sharp, striking directly at the vital points.

"Absurd!"

Xu De slapped the table heavily. A loud

bang

echoed in everyone's ears, venting his intense dissatisfaction.

He raised his head, his face flushed with anger, meeting the gaze of the two prosecutors without backing down.

"Prosecution, I want to emphasize..."

"Under Article 20 of the Dongguo Criminal Law, the legal provision for 'legitimate self-defense' does not include a 'duty to retreat'."

"There is no law that states Wang Qiang had to back away!"

The law did not stipulate that you must run away and hide.

If someone attacked you with a knife and you fought back reasonably, no one would accuse you of being wrong or say you should have fled instead.

"But it will affect the legal judgment!"

Hu Guang shot back directly. The two sides, separated by nearly ten meters, turned their words into sharp swords, fiercely clashing in the air above the courtroom.

"'Excessive defense' has rigid conditions: exceeding the necessary limits plus causing significant damage!"

"When determining necessity, 'if the party involved could easily escape and was in no immediate danger,' yet still chose to stay and strike viciously, then it exceeds necessity."

"The defendant Wang Qiang clearly fits the above description!"

His argument was complete.

The entirety of Courtroom One fell into an eerie silence.

Nearly five hundred people were present, yet... it was so quiet they could hear each other's breathing. Let alone speaking loudly, there wasn't even a trace of a whisper.

The crowd stared blankly at the trial area.

Their faces universally displayed a bewildered expression of

'Who am I, and where am I?'

As for why...

It could only be said that the clash between the prosecution and the defense attorney... all of this had actually unfolded in a mere five minutes!

Five minutes!

This wasn't simple one-plus-one math. It required memorizing various laws, adding personal interpretation, organizing it into a counterattack, and articulating it clearly!

If one had to make an analogy...

Two martial arts masters exchanging blows, countering every move, clashing hundreds of times within a few breaths!

And the bystanders couldn't even see the moves clearly; they could only catch the flashes of light and sparks reflecting off the cold steel blades.

Right now, let alone ordinary bystanders, even seasoned lawyers could only stare in dumbfounded awe.

"What... what school did Lawyer Xu graduate from?"

Wang Chao, a graduate of a top-tier university, felt his eyes twitch at the sight and couldn't help but swallow hard.

Did they really both graduate from domestic higher education institutions? Why hadn't he learned to litigate like this?

Did his school hold back on him!?

"Yan University."

Lin Yue took a deep breath. She reached out and supported her forehead, feeling as if her brain was overloading and running hot. Clearly, she was also finding it difficult to keep up.

But at least she could follow the train of thought.

After a moment, Lin Yue adjusted her state and returned her gaze to the trial area.

...

The trial area.

"Phew..."

Sitting at the defense table, Xu De exhaled a breath of stale air and rubbed the space between his eyebrows. He knew he couldn't keep dragging this out with the other side.

He was short on energy, while the prosecution could rotate out and wear him down all day.

He had to... attack from another angle!

"Your Honor."

"The prosecution clearly stated above that the defendant Wang Qiang engaged in an unnecessary act by not fleeing when he could have."

Xu De did not hesitate. Handing over a stack of materials, he shifted his angle of attack:

"In response to this... we would like to declare that the legal provision cited by the prosecution is completely unsubstantiated!"

"And what I hold in my hand are the medical examination materials regarding the defendant Wang Qiang, submitted by the prosecution themselves."

After the incident, Wang Qiang had been in a miserable state.

How miserable?

To put it simply: the reason the first hearing ended with the statement 'no one saw the deceased being actively killed by Wang Qiang' was because...

Someone at the scene had indeed beaten Wang Qiang!

The prosecution had no way to prove whether others had intervened during the 'arm wrestling', which led to the current retrial.

And correspondingly...

"According to the description in the medical report, the defendant Wang Qiang suffered severe injuries in multiple areas."

"Including but not limited to his elbows, back, the back of his thighs, and between his waist and hips... There are large areas of bruising and trauma!"

"And among them..."

Xu De's eyes narrowed, quickly launching his desperate counterattack.

"There is an obvious blunt force trauma mark on the back of Wang Qiang's head, which nearly killed him on the spot!"

"Based on this injury, we can reconstruct the scene after the defendant exited the car. It wasn't a situation with 'no one behind him' and 'no threat'. Instead, there was someone right behind him who nearly took his life!"

"In summary, the prosecution's accusations contradict reality. The defendant Wang Qiang was forced to stay and struggle with the deceased Li Erniu!"

An injury... an injury to the back of the head?

From the shape of the wound, the posture used to exert force could be determined. From that posture, it could be deduced that someone was behind him, making it impossible for him to return to the car 'quickly and safely'.

Thus, the prosecution's accusation collapsed on its own!

Obviously, Hu Guang and Wang Wei also realized this and simultaneously found the flaw!

"Objection!"

Wang Wei spoke up first, his expression stern as he reprimanded, "The existing evidence cannot prove that there was someone behind Wang Qiang during the 'Thirty-Second Window'."

"The injury on the back of his head was highly likely caused by someone else attacking him from behind while he was entangled with Li Erniu!"

"Connecting this to the 'attitude' and 'initiative' mentioned earlier... The defendant Wang Qiang clearly possessed the intent to deliberately cause harm!"

The injury did indeed exist, but the timing of it was a mystery.

No one knew if there was someone behind Wang Qiang cutting off his escape route at that exact moment. Without supporting evidence, it couldn't be substantiated. And without substantiation, the trial would lean back toward the prosecution.

Furthermore,

The case possessed continuity!

If a defense point was doubtful, it could be inferred through the various preceding behaviors of the party involved.

Whether it was the emotions, behaviors, the suspected 'pursuit' inside the police car, or the 'Thirty-Second Window'...

Combining multiple points of doubt could entirely constitute 'intent' in a judicial sense!

Most importantly...

Legitimate self-defense had an unspoken rule. The law effectively demanded 'equal action'—if someone slapped you, you could only slap them back in a turn-based manner.

But in reality, during court trials... absolute equality was impossible.

That is, if someone beat you to a mild injury, you could only beat them to a minor injury or no injury when fighting back. Only then would it constitute legitimate self-defense!

If you exceeded that, or even matched it equally, the verdict would basically come down to either excessive defense or mutual combat.

"Hoo... the leader of the First Handling Group of the Second Prosecution Department..."

Xu De watched Hu Guang's eyes flash. The opponent's abilities were indeed formidable. After that exchange of blows, he actually felt a slight mental fatigue.

In contrast, the opponents rotated, keeping their minds sharp and calm.

This was the disadvantage of being an individual without a team; the other side could drag out the time and wear you to death!

But... that didn't mean they could wear Xu De to death!

"May I ask the prosecution: can the defendant's personal attitude be corroborated through other continuous behaviors!?"

Xu De suddenly shifted tactics, throwing a question back at his opponents.

Wang Wei paused, furrowed his brows, thought for a moment, and still nodded, saying, "Yes."

If he denied it, the prosecution's basis would have no leg to stand on.

And if he agreed...

"Good!"

Xu De didn't hesitate. The dagger was revealed at the end of the scroll. He shifted the conversation, bringing up a tricky angle that no one had delved into during the first trial.

That was...

Using the prosecution's own methods to defeat them!

"Your Honor."

"According to what the prosecution said, if the case can be arbitrarily judged based on continuity..."

"Then, after the incident led to a fatal struggle, the defendant Wang Qiang suffered severe trauma, bruising, and abrasions!"

"In contrast, the deceased Li Erniu only sustained the fatal injury resulting from his own lethal assault on the defendant. There were no other bruises on his body!"

"So."

"Can this objective evidence prove that our client did not excessively 'pursue' to vent his emotions!?"

"Furthermore..."

A moment later, Xu De spoke, saying something incredibly counter-intuitive and illogical.

"The defendant Wang Qiang was not arrested after the incident. Instead, he..."

"Committed self-surrender!"

Self... self-surrender?

In an instant, the crowd fell silent.

Immediately after, astonishment appeared on everyone's faces as they began to whisper among themselves.

They remembered.

They recalled that during the first hearing, Xu De had indeed mentioned that the defendant had surrendered himself.

But at the time, all their attention had been stolen by the phrase 'acting bravely for a just cause,' so they hadn't paid it much mind, assuming he was just trying to cram in as many arguments as possible before time ran out.

But looking at it now, the other party seemed serious. But if so...

Self-surrender?

There had been seven police officers at the scene, and one had even fired a warning shot. How could this possibly count as self-surrender!?

"May I ask the prosecution, by combining these two objective pieces of information..."

Xu De's gaze deepened. His face was expressionless, but a trace of absolute rational calmness shone in his eyes.

"Can it prove that the defendant had no subjective malicious intent to harm, no deliberate intent to pursue, maintained a good attitude, and dispelled any suspicion of intent!?"

As his words fell,

The entire scene fell into an eerie silence. For a long time, no one could speak.

Until...

In a daze...

The two stunned men at the prosecution's table swallowed hard. They snapped back to reality, and a voice suddenly rang out.

"Objection!!!"

Prosecutor Hu Guang stood up abruptly. His eyes were fixed on Xu De, as if trying to see right through him.

He slammed his hands hard on the table, emitting a loud, resounding

bang

.

"Defense! After the incident, the scene was already under control, and there were at least seven police officers present. The distance between the defendant and the police was less than two meters. Therefore, the defendant Wang Qiang..."

"Absolutely did not surrender!"

Self-surrender? Seven cops plus a warning shot...

Hu Guang simply didn't believe that Xu De could actually find an angle that constituted self-surrender under such conditions!

Hu Guang had been a prosecutor for over twenty years. Working his way up from the grassroots level, he was only in his early forties—the prime of his life—yet he already sat as the team leader of the First Criminal Investigation Group under the Second Supervisory Department of the Municipal Prosecutor's Office.

What kind of cases hadn't he fought?

What kind of opponents hadn't he faced?

But in his entire life, this was the first time Hu Guang had ever heard of a suspect being considered as having engaged in a self-surrender after seven police officers fired warning shots and locked down the scene.

This was more than just arrogant.

This was absolute madness!

"Defense attorney, this is a court of law. Anything you say will become evidence presented in court," Hu Guang said, his tone grim. His voice echoed in the depths of everyone's hearts. "Please gather your thoughts before you speak!"

These words served as both a caution and a warning.

In a courtroom, words could be aggressive or misleading.

But spouting utter nonsense was a major taboo!

Not only would it fail to help the case, it would muddy clear logic and drag the trial into a quagmire.

Under these circumstances, any strict presiding judge would absolutely issue a warning.

And after the court adjourned, the lawyer would become a clown, scurrying like a rat across the street, their actions the laughingstock of others over dinner.

However...

"I am perfectly rational. There is no need for the prosecution to worry!"

Xu De flatly refused. Sitting at the defense table, he met the prosecutor's gaze without a shred of fear.

The year was 2002. This was a very special time period. What made it special?

By law, the principle of innocent until proven guilty was in effect. But in practice, the main bodies handling cases operated under the presumption of guilt.

Because of this, starting in a subsequent year, there would be an explosion of wrongful convictions. The number of people exonerated over the next few years would add up to a staggering figure, and nearly sixty percent of those wrongful convictions were sentenced right around this time in 2002...

Therefore, his attitude could not soften for even a moment!

"We are absolutely certain."

"In this case, the defendant, Wang Qiang, was not arrested by the police. Rather, he engaged in a self-surrender with a proactive attitude, completely free from external interference!"

He was... entirely serious.

Hu Guang's brows instantly twisted into a knot. He sat back in his seat, speechless for a long time.

On the judges' bench.

The three judges also frowned, though they did not rush to state their stance.

A moment later.

The presiding judge, Zhang Bingxin, struck the gavel once more.

"Bang!"

"Defense, please state the basis for your claim."

As he spoke, Zhang Bingxin fixed his gaze on the lawyer, refusing to miss a single detail.

Just as previously stated, if the defense was spewing nonsense to disrupt the prosecution's rhythm, then he... was fully entitled to issue a warning.

And if multiple warnings proved ineffective, what awaited Xu De would be...

Expulsion from the courtroom!

"Presiding Judge, Judges, our basis is very simple."

Xu De took a deep breath, briefly putting aside his animosity toward the prosecution to free up enough mental capacity to articulate his point.

"Just now, the prosecution submitted the testimonies provided by the seven police officers at the scene, along with the police file."

He gestured slightly toward the evidence placed before the judges' bench.

It was the very evidence submitted by the prosecution.

As for why he specifically singled out this file...

"May I ask, in this file, what is the exact original text of the police's concluding summary regarding the fatality in this case!?"

Xu De's gaze sharpened, his brain whirring to life like a computer's CPU.

On the judges' bench.

Judge Liu Jianguo paused slightly. He looked down, then picked up the file.

"This file was provided by the police for this case."

"The original text of the paragraph the defense refers to is..."

He paused, then began to read aloud:

"Original text: After the incident, the suspect remained at the scene without any attempt to flee, and was later brought back to the Greenwood City public security organ by the police. The suspect has now been brought to justice. After investigation, the facts of the case are clear, and the evidence is conclusive..."

This was the case file written by the police.

If one observed carefully, it was not hard to discover one detail, and that was...

"May I ask the prosecution and the Presiding Judge, regarding the original police text..."

Xu De paused before spitting out his next words.

"Did it ever state that the defendant, Wang Qiang, was arrested and brought to justice!?"

As these words fell.

Everyone went silent for a moment.

Immediately after.

Visibly, the prosecution and the judges' bench—a total of seven people—simultaneously lowered their heads to look at the case files in their hands.

Wang Wei wanted to say something, but the case file right before his eyes had indeed never once mentioned words like 'arrest' or 'captured'!

In other words...

"The police never said the killer was arrested and brought to justice!"

"This so-called concept of being captured..."

Xu De pursued relentlessly. Seeing the time was right, he immediately launched a counter-charge against the prosecution.

His gaze was piercingly sharp, like the glint of clashing swords slashing straight toward Hu Guang and the others.

"Is entirely a subjective conclusion drawn by the prosecution, clearly lacking objective facts and basis!"

As his voice fell.

The expressions of Hu Guang and Wang Wei changed drastically.

Immediately afterward, the reason for their sudden change in expression drifted over from the public gallery.

"So that means after killing someone... the police didn't say it was an arrest? Then how did the prosecution define it as an arrest!?"

"Prosecutors Hu Guang and Wang Wei? Could these two be trying to increase their chances of winning..."

"Why do I feel like something is off? Wouldn't the defendant know best whether he was arrested or not..."

"Wait, the defense says it wasn't an arrest, and the prosecution says it wasn't a self-surrender... then how did the defendant end up in the police station!? Can someone sort this out for me..."

"..."

The people in the gallery were stunned.

Their previously raised brows were now knitted together in confusion. Countless pairs of eyes filled with suspicion frequently swept through the crowd, landing on Hu Guang and Wang Wei seated at the prosecution table.

There weren't many details that could determine the winning outcome of a case.

But whether or not it was a self-surrender happened to be one of them!

At this moment.

Listening to the voices of doubt from the crowd below.

Wang Wei and Hu Guang frowned deeply at the prosecution table.

Mud... this was blatantly slinging mud at them!

Neither of them were overly obsessed with their pristine reputations, but they certainly didn't enjoy being cursed at by thousands of people either!

"The prosecution has something to say!"

Wang Wei hastily stood up. He did not wait for the presiding judge to respond, speaking directly upon rising:

"The Prosecutor's Office absolutely has no intention of deliberately approving a false arrest. Every application undergoes repeated deliberation before a conclusion is reached."

"Regarding this case, the prosecution's basis is: the threat at the scene had been temporarily paused, and the police had control of the scene!"

In the legal definition of self-surrender, surrendering on the spot was indeed a valid scenario.

But that was limited to situations where the scene was chaotic and the police had not yet brought everyone under control. Once control was established... even if you proactively confessed to seek leniency at that point, it would still be considered an arrest.

"Prosecution, I must correct you!"

"According to Article 67 of the Criminal Law, while referencing the 'Unified Textbook for National Judge Training'."

"'If the crime scene is chaotic and police forces have not yet established a perimeter, it falls under the category of on-scene pending-arrest self-surrender'."

Xu De shook his head, his tone steady, as if he were simply reading from a script.

He stated:

"After the incident occurred, the participants brawling at the scene were not brought under control. They were merely deterred by the warning shots. Some individuals still held weapons in their hands!"

"The so-called pause in the threat did not exist. Instead, the scene was still in a chaotic, uncontrolled state."

"The defendant and suspect, Wang Qiang, meets the criteria of the aforementioned laws and regulations, which clearly classifies as..."

"A self-surrender!"

Furthermore...

Xu De paused. He furrowed his brows, then took a deep breath.

"Regarding the prosecution's point about the Thirty-Second Window after the defendant Wang Qiang exited the vehicle..."

The above was the explanation for self-surrender. Relying solely on a self-surrender to form a united front based on attitude would, at best, result in a draw with the opposing side.

But it didn't matter. He had not played all his cards yet.

"The defense..."

"Has a witness!"

"A... a witness!?"

The moment those words echoed through the room, the reactions of the crowd varied wildly.

The presiding judge frowned in deep thought.

Hu Guang and Wang Wei, who had been prepared to speak for the prosecution, paused. As if suddenly realizing something, their lips moved, but they ultimately did not utter a single word.

As for the 'plaintiffs', Li Youcai and Liu Cui...

They had been listening from the gallery this entire time. A look of sheer bewilderment washed over their faces as they failed to comprehend who this witness could possibly be.

The public gallery also erupted into a flurry of murmurs.

"A witness? The defense actually has a witness? Didn't they say the crime scene was entirely filled with people from Lijia Village..."

"During the first trial, the credibility of the testimonies favoring the prosecution was less than twenty percent. And now, the defense pulls out a witness who favors their side..."

"Could it be one of those police officers..."

"Doesn't seem likely..."

"..."

Waves of commotion rippled through the courtroom.

Reporter Zhang Xia sat among the crowd, listening to the uproar around her with a deeply furrowed brow.

She had investigated this case herself. She had never heard of anyone else being present at the scene aside from the three involved parties. Theoretically, there shouldn't be a witness biased toward the defendant.

She continued to watch closely, remaining silent.

Up on the judge's bench.

Bang!

"Silence!"

Zhang Bingxin took a deep breath, taking a rare moment to personally enforce order in the courtroom.

The authority radiating from him instantly suppressed the unrest. The courtroom fell silent, and everyone directed their gaze toward the bench.

Zhang Bingxin spoke.

"Defense counsel, is the witness present?"

Xu De nodded. "The witness is already in the court's witness room, awaiting your summons."

Zhang Bingxin did not hesitate, immediately striking his gavel.

Crack!

"Summon the witness to the court!"

Every person present snapped their eyes toward the side entrance of the bench, staring at the door with furrowed brows, inwardly guessing the identity of the witness.

After a brief moment, the faint rustling of footsteps reached their ears.

Eyebrows raised across the room. A second later, the door was pulled open by two bailiffs.

Creak.

A slender woman wearing washed-out, faded clothing walked in, her eyes darting around with visible unease.

The judges and the prosecution observed her with scrutinizing gazes. The plaintiffs, however, suddenly flared with intense agitation.

"Li Li!!!"

From the prosecution's side, the 'plaintiffs' Li Youcai and Liu Cui let out piercing shrieks.

They stared at Li Li in utter disbelief, their faces plastered with shock and astonishment.

Who was Li Li?

That was their relative's daughter, someone they were usually on excellent terms with! Why on earth was she appearing in court to testify for the defense?

Of course, what they cared about wasn't really that, but something else entirely.

"You actually dare to show up in court!?"

"You cheap wench, see if I don't tear your wretched face right off!"

Li Youcai and Liu Cui wore savage expressions, looking ready to completely ignore courtroom order, leap from their seats, and charge straight at Li Li.

They hated her. They hated her so much they wanted her dead!

They had entrusted their grandson to her care, and the result... she had actually handed the child over to Wang Mei!

It was because of this that they were forced to sign the letter of forgiveness and received barely any compensation at all. Everything was her fault!

Li Li was guided to the witness stand. Hearing the commotion, a flash of guilt crossed her face.

But that guilt was quickly replaced by anger. She widened her eyes, glaring right back at them.

"Silence! Silence!"

Zhang Bingxin took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his rising anger.

"Plaintiffs, please control your emotions. If you disrupt the proceedings again, I have the right to expel you from this courtroom!"

Expelled from the courtroom...

Li Youcai and Liu Cui finally shut their mouths, their faces full of indignation. However, their fury-filled eyes never left Li Li for even a second.

"Witness, please verify your identity information. Are you Li Li, from Lijia Village, Greenwood City, ID number..."

Zhang Bingxin shifted his focus back to Li Li.

Li Li had initially been somewhat afraid of Li Youcai and Liu Cui.

But right now, her only desire was for the two of them to face judgment as quickly as possible. Her fear shifted into indignation, and she hastily replied,

"That's me!"

Zhang Bingxin nodded. After a brief moment of thought, he asked,

"Witness, during the incident, when Wang Qiang and Li Erniu were engaged in a physical struggle, where were you located?"

Li Li answered honestly, "I was just watching from the side... There were also folks smashing up the police cars, I saw all of that."

After confirming this, Zhang Bingxin cut straight to the chase.

"Witness."

"After Wang Qiang pushed Li Erniu out of the vehicle, did you see... someone standing behind Wang Qiang? And was that person holding a weapon, attempting to assault him!?"

The moment this question dropped, the courtroom fell into an absolute, dead calm once again.

Everyone held their breath, the silence so profound that they could hear each other's heartbeats clearly. All eyes were locked onto Li Li at the witness stand.

Xu De was no exception. His face remained completely devoid of expression, but his throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists.

Li Li was indeed a witness.

But that did not mean her testimony would perfectly align with what Xu De hoped she would say. The questions were spontaneous. Nobody knew if Li Li actually held the answers the defense needed.

And her response, if it could be linked with Xu De's defense, would dictate the final direction of this entire trial!

Hu Guang and Wang Wei were also staring intently at her.

In this state of extreme, oppressive silence...

"Was there someone behind him?"

Li Li spoke up, her voice reaching the ears of the more than four hundred people present. She furrowed her brow and said,

"This... I don't know, I didn't pay attention."

Didn't know?

Everyone's heartbeat missed half a beat. At the defense table, Xu De let out a quiet sigh, his mind already spinning to formulate a new countermeasure.

But then!

"However, I seem to remember that when that man first tried to leave, it looked like someone hit him."

Li Li suddenly spoke up again.

"Maybe I'm remembering it wrong, but I do remember him almost falling over, and that's what let Erniu tackle him."

"As for who hit him, or where they hit him, I don't know about that."

Her voice faded away.

Suddenly.

Xu De's head snapped up, his eyes locking onto Li Li at the witness stand.

'The defendant, Wang Qiang, when he wanted to leave, was hit... he was hit!'

This ordinary sentence spiraled and echoed wildly in everyone's minds.

He let out a long, deep exhale.

When he looked up again, a faint trace of a smile had already graced his face—a smile of pure, unadulterated relief.

An innocence defense might be common in movies and TV shows, but putting it into actual practice was incredibly difficult.

How difficult?

Put it this way: any case that actually makes it to court has already gone through the prosecutor's office, sifted and filtered step by step!

Therefore, after this preliminary screening, coupled with the judicial tendency toward the presumption of guilt and lenient sentencing in doubtful cases, the conviction rate in courts in 2002 stood at 99.4 percent.

In other words, out of a thousand cases, there was only a six-in-a-thousand chance that the court would declare a defendant not guilty. To say it was as difficult as ascending to the heavens was no exaggeration.

And this percentage even included cases with broken chains of evidence, questionable proof, or pure false accusations that easily fell apart in court!

Furthermore, this statistic applied to all criminal cases, not just outright homicides.

For a case involving a confirmed death, where the defendant unambiguously killed someone... the acquittal rate was infinitely close to zero!

It couldn't even be described as a probability; it was a rare, extreme, and unreplicable anomaly in the judicial system!

And right now.

Xu De might just... be able to hook his finger slightly around this probability that was infinitely close to zero, forcing it to fluctuate just a tiny bit.

"Presiding Judge."

Amidst the silence, a voice rang out from the defense table.

"The facts of the case are already exceptionally clear."

"The defendant, Wang Qiang, had no subjective intent to cause injury, nor did he engage in excessive pursuit..."

"The arguments presented by the prosecution are not based on objective facts, lack evidentiary support, and entirely contradict the truth of this case. They are purely subjective assumptions and should not be admitted!"

"Therefore, the defense now formally applies to..."

Xu De spoke. He raised his head, quietly staring at the three figures draped in judges' robes sitting high upon the bench.

There was no joy on his face, no anxiety, and no anger. There was only a tranquility as profound as a pool of stagnant water.

He spoke, his voice not overly loud, yet it pierced clearly into the ears of everyone present:

"Dismiss all charges brought forward by the prosecution!"

The moment those words dropped.

A physical jolt ran through the more than four hundred people in the courtroom. The previously deathly still trial had suddenly come 'alive'.

Burning hot blood surged through their veins once more, pumping into rapidly beating hearts.

At the defendant's seat.

Wang Qiang, who had been sitting with his head bowed, staring blankly at his handcuffed wrists, froze. A second later, his head jerked up, his eyes locking onto the figure standing at the defense table.

He saw Xu De.

Xu De's eyes burned with intensity as he stared down the numerous figures of the prosecution and the plaintiffs. He might be standing alone, but the aura radiating from him did not yield an inch.

With the charges fundamentally dismissed, and all perspectives and suspicions entirely negated, no matter how capable Hu Guang and Wang Wei were, they no longer had any angle left to exploit in this case.

And he, on the other hand, was still clutching a mountain of advantageous evidence.

Since that was the case, from this moment onward...

The offense and defense had switched sides!

Xu De raised his head, looking toward the three figures sitting high upon the judge's bench.

It was time... to dial up the pressure on the judges!!!

In the defendant's seat, Xu De looked straight at the judge on the bench.

He was refuting the charges...

He had to refute the charges!

Why?

Theoretically speaking, providing a mere 'explanation' for the prosecution's charges was enough. Why fight the prosecutors to the bitter end to completely invalidate their accusations?

Because merely explaining would only result in a reduced sentence!

Once the prosecutor's office initiated a public prosecution, they were perfectly willing to accept a reduced sentence for a defendant under special circumstances. They might even be happy to see a lenient punishment—even an exemption from criminal penalties for excessive defense.

But... this did not include a verdict of not guilty!

Both the prosecutor's office and the court found it incredibly difficult to accept the words 'not guilty'!

Because of this, 'legitimate self-defense' had essentially become a dormant clause in the law. A court might not see a single successful application of it in an entire year!

Yet here Xu De was, making a not-guilty defense...

The two sides were like repelling magnets, as incompatible as fire and water. There was no room for bargaining, let alone any possibility of coexistence. Every statement was a direct assault on the other party's bottom line!

"Presiding Judge, the evidence is sufficient."

At the defense bench, Xu De stood up, his back straight. He looked around the room and said:

"The two charges raised by the prosecution—'intentional injury' and 'excessive defense'—"

"Are completely untenable, whether viewed through objective evidence, subjective testimony, or practical experience..."

"The defendant Wang Qiang's actions fully constitute legitimate self-defense!"

As his words fell.

The thick, stagnant air in the courtroom finally began to circulate again.

Everyone's eyes flickered, their breathing growing increasingly anxious, as if a fire were roasting the oxygen out of the room.

The witness had just stated... 'It seemed like Wang Qiang was struck by a club.'

Isolated, this 'seemed like'—a detail so uncertain that the witness couldn't even specify where he was hit—would not have heavily impacted the prosecution.

But combined with everything Xu De had said since the trial began...

The implications were massive!

On the bench.

Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin's eyes shifted. His lips moved slightly before he raised his gavel.

Bang!

"Silence, silence in the court!"

Zhang Bingxin took a deep breath, forcefully maintaining order.

His brow furrowed. He looked at Xu De and said in a deep voice:

"The defense is instructed not to disrupt the order of the court."

Then, he looked toward the prosecution.

"Prosecution, do you have any questions for the witness?"

At the prosecution bench.

Wang Wei felt utterly exhausted. The air was stifling and suffocating, making him feel as though simply raising his hand would leave him panting.

Fighting through the fatigue, he initially wanted to shake his head. But after a moment of thought, he spoke up:

"Witness."

"During the incident at the crime scene, did the defendant exhibit any extreme behavior?"

"Such as verbal abuse, pursuing the victims, or an emotional loss of control?"

A look of doubt appeared on Li Li's face. She thought for a moment, then decisively shook her head. "I don't remember."

It had happened a month and a half ago. With a dead body commanding everyone's attention, such minor details were indeed difficult to recall.

Wang Wei asked again:

"At what point during the incident did the police fire warning shots?"

"While they were fighting," Li Li replied.

The police had strict standards for firing warning shots. Every bullet had to be clearly accounted for. Unless a riot occurred, they generally wouldn't open fire.

But by the same logic...

Since the shots were used to suppress a riot, their firing effectively confirmed that the scene had been brought under control.

"In other words, it was only after the warning shots were fired, the police had controlled the area, and the riot had stopped, that the defendant walked toward the police car?"

Wang Wei asked from a different angle.

Li Li thought for a moment before answering again:

"I don't remember."

Wang Wei fell silent. After a long pause, he looked at the presiding judge and said:

"Your Honor, I have no further questions."

With that, he slumped back into his chair and said nothing more.

It was exactly as he and Hu Guang had discussed earlier.

A case had continuity, and the subjective intent of an action could be inferred from the preceding one.

Although Li Li had said 'I don't remember' to this question...

One couldn't forget that in the previous question, her answer was, 'It seemed Wang Qiang couldn't pull away because he was hit.'

Based on that foundation, when evaluating her 'I don't remember' to the second question, the judge would lean toward 'Yes.'

Which meant...

The defendant Wang Qiang had initiated a self-surrender before the situation was under control!

In other words, they had just been defeated by their own logic...

It was as if the opposing counsel was practicing Tai Chi, deflecting a thousand pounds of force with a mere four ounces. Their attacks felt like they were landing on cotton.

Powerless... they were utterly powerless!

"Alright."

At the bench.

Zhang Bingxin nodded, just about to push the trial proceedings forward.

Unexpectedly, right at this moment...

"Wait."

"Presiding Judge, the plaintiff has something to say!"

An abrupt, highly urgent voice rang out, shattering the rhythm of the trial.

Everyone turned their heads. Hundreds of eyes snapped toward the side of the prosecution bench, landing on Chen Wei, the 'victim's litigation agent.'

Chen Wei was a little anxious.

No... he was incredibly anxious!

He wasn't the public prosecutor, but his own interests were entirely tied to the prosecution's success. That was why, during the first hearing, he had contested the criminal issues with Xu De—which had only resulted in him walking right into the other party's trap.

Now, during this second hearing, Chen Wei had learned his lesson. He was not about to speak rashly and remained extremely cautious.

So cautious that he hadn't spoken a single word since the trial began.

But... why did he feel that if he remained this cautious, they were going to lose the case!?

The defense lawyer was forcibly paving all the existing evidence into a direct path to an acquittal!

If the defendant was found not guilty... his civil suit would be a complete and utter failure. Combined with the public opinion surrounding the case, his career would plummet off a cliff!

Chen Wei's face was riddled with anxiety. Unable to wait a moment longer, he eagerly said:

"We have questions for the witness!"

Zhang Bingxin nodded.

"The plaintiff may ask."

Chen Wei took a deep breath, ignoring the pressuring gazes around him. He cast his eyes toward Li Li in the witness stand. After a moment of thought, he asked in a deep voice:

"Witness..."

"After the warning shots were fired, were there still people at the scene holding weapons?"

Holding weapons meant that the threat had only been paused, not eliminated. And if it wasn't eliminated, the situation hadn't been brought under control.

If he could prove that... then at the very least, he could strike down the claim of self-surrender!

As long as the self-surrender argument was gone, he could still fight this. At the very minimum, the defendant would be convicted of a lesser crime.

"Yes, I remember that very clearly!"

Li Li nodded.

Chen Wei's expression soured. Unwilling to give up, he posed a tricky question: "Do you remember exactly who those people were?"

Specific people?

Theoretically, it would be hard to know. Everyone's attention had been drawn to the police firing shots and the dead body. There was no reason to notice who else was holding a weapon.

This was a trap question.

Unfortunately...

The witness understood this question perfectly!

Li Li openly pointed a finger at herself.

"Me. I was still holding a hoe at the time, but I definitely didn't hit the police or that Wang Qiang fellow."

Chen Wei: "......"

Suddenly, Chen Wei felt like a mouthful of blood was rushing from his chest straight to his head. A lump formed in his throat, leaving him speechless.

As a bystander, she belonged to the non-liable group at the scene. Even if she was holding a weapon, she bore no responsibility and could still testify in court.

However...

"Presiding Judge, what I want to say is this:"

"Prior to this trial, the witness Li Li provided a completely different testimony to the prosecution and the plaintiff. Yet here in court, she has changed her story, denying her previous statements. Her testimony is inconsistent and wildly volatile!"

"We believe the witness's testimony..."

Chen Wei took a deep breath. Raising his head, he looked toward the bench and abandoned his questioning of the witness.

Instead, he chose to completely invalidate her!

"...is untrustworthy!"

Not far away.

At the defense bench.

Xu De watched Chen Wei's impassioned statement. After a moment, he suddenly broke into a grin.

He had been so focused on tangling with the two prosecutors.

He had almost forgotten...

He still had to deal with this bastard!

At the prosecution desk, Chen Wei gasped for air, his face unusually grim. His racing heart felt like it would burst from his chest and leap out of his throat.

As the words faded,

Chen Wei stared at Li Li, his expression incredibly ugly.

He knew about this witness, but he truly never expected Xu De to call her to the stand under those circumstances.

He certainly didn't anticipate that Li Li's simple 'suspected' and 'don't know' could so easily dictate the nature of the case!

Once the nature of the case was determined, what would happen to Chen Wei?

Would he be reprimanded?

No. Although he would definitely face a scolding, he didn't actually care about that.

Why?

Because, in the legal field, aside from the prosecutors, no one cared if you were a shyster. They didn't care if your reputation was good or bad, or if your methods were dirty. Clients only cared about one thing... whether you could win the case!

As long as you won, even if everyone despised you, you would still have an endless stream of cases.

And if you lost? You would naturally hit rock bottom and have to rely on consultations to get by. But consultations weren't based on ability; they relied almost entirely on reputation. If your reputation stunk, you wouldn't even get that...

"The plaintiff requests the witness be recused from this case!"

Chen Wei was extremely anxious. His hands subconsciously clenched tight as he lowered his voice.

He was trying to save his career, but unfortunately...

"Objection!"

From the defense desk, Xu De suddenly sneered, his falcon-like gaze locking firmly onto Chen Wei.

He stood up and looked at the witness.

"Witness, the plaintiff accuses you of repeatedly changing your statement, reducing your testimony's credibility to zero. May I ask why you changed your statement?"

When a witness changed their statement, their credibility would indeed plummet. But if a valid reason was brought to light, it could bounce back.

Chen Wei was also puzzled by this question.

He furrowed his brows, his anger stalling as he subconsciously looked at the witness, Li Li.

Chen Wei couldn't figure it out.

He genuinely couldn't understand why she would testify for the defendant and accuse her own relative, Li Youcai!

After all, she was still from Lijia Village, where they saw each other day in and day out.

What if Li Youcai and Liu Cui went home and made trouble for her family after the court adjourned!?

How... exactly how did the defense convince Li Li!?

It wasn't just Chen Wei.

At this moment, the three prosecutors, the hundreds of spectators in the gallery, and the three judges on the bench all cast questioning glances at Li Li.

But could she admit that she coveted Li Youcai's property?

Naturally not.

A moment later, Li Li slowly spoke...

"The two of them colluded in the village from the start and told us to lie to trick the police."

Li Li spoke casually, mercilessly tearing away the final fig leaf of the plaintiffs' statements.

"My conscience couldn't take it, so I came to testify. It's not just me; a few others are willing to testify too. But they're busy these two days, so they let me come alone."

Told to lie... conscience couldn't take it... came to testify...

These were plain, everyday words, completely different from the jargon-heavy speech of the prosecution and Xu De, but their lethality was no less devastating!

"Perjury? The plaintiffs colluded with the rest of the village, and the statements were all perjury!?"

"Wait, then that evidence in the prosecution's hands..."

"No wonder the defense lawyer relentlessly attacked the credibility of the statements during the first trial. He saw through it back then!?"

"Colluding with the entire village to commit perjury? Is... is that even possible?"

...

Perjury... the prosecution had used false testimony deliberately concocted by the plaintiffs!

Even though they hadn't used the testimony during this second trial due to the defense's questioning, it didn't change the fact that the prosecution had submitted false evidence!

This was highly sensitive in a criminal case, especially one involving an accusation of intentional homicide. For false evidence to appear in a case like this...

Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the gallery once more. This time, the unrest was incredibly difficult to suppress. The scene rapidly descended into chaos, with shocked expressions everywhere.

On the prosecution side, Prosecutors Hu Guang and Wang Wei's faces instantly turned ashen. They looked back at Li Youcai and Liu Cui, forced to swallow their shattered teeth and grievances.

They had genuinely doubted the testimony's credibility, which was why they hadn't used a single sentence of it this time.

But who could have expected they would still get screwed over by the plaintiffs...

Chen Wei's mood was no better. If anything, he was closer to having an aneurysm than Hu Guang, furiously cursing in his head.

'How the fuck could you ask people to do something so directly...'

Veins bulged on Chen Wei's forehead as he glared back at the guilty, uneasy Li Youcai and Liu Cui. He clenched his fists, holding himself back from screaming obscenities.

This kind of thing... was it something you could just explicitly order people to do?

Drop hints, act pitiful, find a relative to lobby on your behalf—couldn't you do that!?

But instead, you asked them yourselves... What, were our odds of winning too high for you!?

But he swallowed his surging anger, took a deep breath, and forced a change of subject.

"Presiding Judge."

"Regarding the civil compensation portion, compared to the first trial... my side can make some concessions."

Chen Wei bit the bullet and spoke.

Two hundred and thirty thousand yuan in compensation would have been a massive victory, but given how thoroughly the prosecution was being suppressed right now, securing that amount was clearly impossible.

Then... one hundred thousand!

Even if it was just eighty thousand, this case wouldn't be considered a loss for him. He could just shift the blame onto the prosecutors.

After all, this was an incidental civil lawsuit tied to a criminal case.

If the criminal case was lost, wasn't it perfectly normal for the civil outcome to suffer!?

It was all the prosecutors' fault for being incompetent!

As for whether the defense was willing to negotiate... he figured they would be.

Eighty thousand for a human life—who wouldn't think that was a bargain!?

Unfortunately...

Just as Zhang Bingxin prepared to speak, before he could even get a word out...

"Objection!"

Xu De suddenly spoke up, interrupting everyone's train of thought. He stood up once more and stated plainly,

"Presiding Judge, regarding the civil compensation portion of this case, my side has an objection!"

Another objection?

Wait, civil suits like this relied entirely on objective reality, with compensation paid according to the law. There was basically no room for argument, so what objection could there possibly be?

This time, it wasn't just the gallery that was somewhat baffled.

Even the three judges on the bench were thoroughly confused. They exchanged glances, each seeing the bewilderment in the others' eyes.

Finally, Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin couldn't hold back and asked,

"Defense, don't you want to... hear the plaintiffs' conditions first?"

They had just offered to make a concession. Shouldn't you let them pitch a number and negotiate from there?

"My side wishes to state an objection!"

Xu De repeated.

Hearing this, Zhang Bingxin fell silent for a moment before finally saying,

"The defense may state it."

Yet, Xu De didn't rush to speak. He lowered his head and searched for something on the desk.

Everyone watched in puzzlement, their gazes following his actions, until...

He raised a piece of paper.

This was...

Chen Wei narrowed his eyes. From nearly ten meters away, he couldn't see it clearly, but the formatting of that paper gave him a very familiar feeling, until...

"Presiding Judge, this is the Settlement Agreement signed by the plaintiffs after communicating with my side prior to the trial."

Xu De's face was expressionless. He looked at the presiding judge as if discussing a trivial matter.

"The plaintiffs, Li Youcai and Liu Cui..."

"...are willing to reach a settlement with the defendant, Wang Qiang, regarding the consequences of this case. The compensation amount has already been negotiated, and there is no need for secondary negotiations during the trial."

A... Settlement Agreement!?

Zhang Bingxin: ?

Hu Guang, Wang Wei: ?

The gallery: ?

The moment his voice faded, you could hear a pin drop in the massive Courtroom One.

Everyone's mouths hung open as they stared blankly at the raised document. Some even rubbed their ears, trying to confirm if they had misheard.

Are you saying... Li Youcai and Liu Cui, who just had such an atrocious attitude and looked ready to murder Wang Qiang... had forgiven the defendant?

Forgiven the suspect who killed their own biological son!?

Huh?

Huh??

Hu Qing, the rookie prosecutor who had been silently observing to learn, turned back to look at the guilty Li Youcai and Liu Cui, then at the document in Xu De's hand. His gaze darted back and forth between the two, his mind completely filled with question marks.

His seniors had told him that the pacing of a trial was highly volatile, and you never knew what rare occurrence might pop up.

But at this moment, Hu Qing really wanted to say...

Isn't this a bit too rare!?

"A Settlement Agreement?"

Compared to the rest of the room, Chen Wei's mind was completely blank. He stared at the document, a ringing sound filling his ears, before his bewildered gaze shifted to Li Youcai and Liu Cui.

The two of them still looked too guilty to meet his eyes. It was obvious the Settlement Agreement was real.

"You two!"

In a daze, it felt as if a mouthful of congested blood rushed straight to Chen Wei's brain.

His face flushed crimson, the bulging veins on his forehead starkly visible. His pulse throbbed wildly. He gritted his teeth, hands clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, completely oblivious to his fingernails digging into his flesh.

What was the meaning of this...

He was still up here fighting for their compensation money...

And the plaintiffs had surrendered and settled behind his back!?

Most importantly... if they were going to settle, they should have said so earlier! He could have played along, claiming he had persuaded them to settle, earning himself a good reputation... but why keep it a secret all this time!?

Waiting until they got to court, only to screw him over at the very end!?

Chen Wei's breathing grew increasingly rapid. He felt his vision blurring and his blood pressure steadily rising as he gasped heavily for air.

The others all had varying expressions.

Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin spoke up. While Chen Wei was deafened by his own ringing ears, the judge verified the document with Li Youcai. He confirmed that the Settlement Agreement was indeed signed by them, and that they had accepted a meager nine thousand yuan.

With this, all three judges on the bench fell silent.

Nine thousand yuan, and they were dropping the matter of their son's life...

After a long while, Zhang Bingxin finally spoke, preparing to say something else.

"Prosecution..."

But clearly, Xu De had no intention of letting anyone off the hook just yet. He spoke up once more.

"Presiding Judge, my side has not finished."

"In addition to this, the plaintiffs have also submitted a letter of forgiveness, expressing their willingness to forgive the harm our defendant caused them in this case."

He pulled out the letter of forgiveness as well.

This time, the already silent courtroom grew even more deathly quiet. Everyone was plunged into a prolonged state of shock.

Only Xu De's moderate, yet incredibly clear voice continued to echo.

"My side has finished our statement. If the prosecution and the plaintiffs still have objections, you may raise them. If there are no further objections in this case..."

Xu De paused before uttering his next words.

"Then, Presiding Judge, please..."

"Make your ruling!"

As those words fell,

Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin hesitated, swallowing back his words; it felt as if a fishbone was lodged in his throat.

With the case having reached this point, the trial phase was essentially over.

It was indeed time for the bench to announce the verdict.

But herein lay the problem...

How was he supposed to rule?

Rule it as 'Not Guilty'?

Theoretically, the procuratorate and the courts almost never permitted a 'Not Guilty' precedent in a clear case of homicide—especially one involving prior conflict and an emotional loss of control.

Out of a population of over a billion, the number of cases all year round where an adult committed a clear act of homicide and walked free numbered in the single digits. The ones made public likely didn't even exceed five!

No court or judge would dare casually hand down such a verdict.

Then rule it as 'Guilty'?

Thinking of this, he lowered his head and looked at the record on the desk, presented and verified by the defense and organized by the clerk. It read:

【'self-surrender + legitimate self-defense + acting bravely for a just cause + Special Self-Defense + testimony + witness + letter of forgiveness + Settlement Agreement + special circumstances...'】

On the bench, Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin, dressed in his robes—a man who was always stern, rigid, and whose gaze was usually devoid of ripples—stared at this long string of 'factors' before him...

His old-fashioned face actually showed a slight emotional stir; he hesitated, the words once again caught in his throat.

The corner of Zhang Bingxin's eye twitched.

How... how was he supposed to rule on this? With a stack of factors like this...

Even a death sentence could be reduced to zero punishment and an acquittal right there in court!!!

How do judges decide a case? What exactly do they base their rulings on?

To be completely honest, nearly ninety percent of people believe that judges pass sentences based solely on morally driven laws or the prevailing tide of public opinion.

That is true, but not entirely.

Let us look at some examples.

In later generations, the internet was often flooded with extreme court cases. The most common involved dowries, the division of marital assets, and the handling of extramarital affairs.

These cases left the majority of people feeling uncomfortable and outraged, often leading them to curse the courts and the judges.

But herein lies the problem.

While some problematic judges might exist, many had absolutely no vested interest in either party, and their personal values might even completely contradict those of the people involved!

If so, why would they risk the wrath of public opinion to hand down rulings that seemed almost 'anti-social'?

It was simply because politics, public opinion, morality, and the law—these four pillars of judgment—could sometimes...

Clash!

"Thorny. How incredibly thorny."

Up on the judge's bench.

Zhang Bingxin stared down at the trial area. It felt as though a cat was furiously scratching at the inside of his chest, making him burn with anxiety.

The current case had practically turned into a cactus. No matter which angle he grabbed it from, he was going to walk away with a hand full of needles.

After a long moment, he took a deep breath and turned toward the prosecution.

He still had to go through the final procedures.

"Prosecution, in light of the statements made by the aforementioned witnesses, the victim's legal representative, and the defense... do you have any further objections to raise?"

Over at the prosecution's desk.

What else could the prosecutors possibly say?

Obviously, nothing.

"Presiding Judge, we..."

Wang Wei glanced at Hu Guang beside him, his lips moving soundlessly for a moment.

With the case at this stage, the two of them had completely lost their temper to fight.

The man on the other side didn't even seem human. He was like an 'AI robot' from a foreign movie. No matter the angle, he countered them flawlessly.

How could you possibly debate a robot equipped with a computer brain!?

"We have no objections."

After saying that, Wang Wei fell silent, his body weighed down by a profound exhaustion seeping from the very marrow of his bones.

No objections...

Their stance was clear.

An uproar washed over the gallery.

It was to be expected. Those three words carried immense weight in a trial. They meant...

"No objections? Does that mean they surrender? They were debated into submission!?"

"That's Hu Guang from the Second Prosecutorial Department of the City Prosecutor's Office! Is he not even going to struggle a little!?"

"Seriously, what is there left to struggle against? Forget Hu Guang, just putting myself in his shoes makes it hard to breathe. Where would the energy to struggle even come from..."

"Before you talk about struggling, look at that massive pile of evidence the defense submitted!"

"..."

In the public gallery, the previously quiet tiered seating area was now buzzing with whispers, the spectators' faces painted with disbelief.

No objections... the prosecution had surrendered!

Faced with the mountain of legal theory the defense had presented, they didn't even try to haggle. They simply yielded!

"My god."

Reporter Zhang Xia's face was etched with shock. She covered her mouth, looking at the equally stunned veteran, Sister Liu, beside her.

If laymen were reacting this way, then Lin Yue, the legal expert watching live, and Wang Chao, the top university graduate, were even more astounded.

"Is this... a win!?"

Wang Chao clutched his head, staring at the trial area with wide eyes.

A second ago, he had been wondering if they should settle for a draw during the intense tug-of-war, and the next second... Xu De had unleashed an unsolvable barrage of attacks.

The tide of battle turned instantly, rendering all of the prosecution's charges pale and powerless!

Lin Yue was faring no better. Emotions surged within her as her gaze fell upon Xu De's back.

Her mind wandered to the 'partnership law firm' he had mentioned yesterday, and her breathing grew slightly heavier.

This three-person team seemed to have produced a monster with heaven-defying abilities!

...

In the trial area.

Zhang Bingxin was completely powerless to control the commotion in the gallery.

He inhaled deeply and looked toward the plaintiffs.

"Plaintiffs... do you have any objections regarding this case?"

Li Youcai and Liu Cui immediately shook their heads. They were almost impatient for the verdict to be announced so they could go find their grandson.

As for Chen Wei...

Chen Wei was entirely drained. He slumped in his chair, even his breathing seemingly weak.

Listening to the judge's inquiry, a bitter smile crept onto his face.

Objections?

What objections could he possibly have? Leaving aside the fact that he had none, even if he did...

In the face of the mountain of 'materials' the other side had pulled out, it all seemed completely insignificant.

What were those materials for? Sentence reduction!

How much of a reduction would make someone feel so helpless?

Put it this way. Under normal circumstances...

Self-surrender (under 40% reduction), excessive defense (60% to 80% reduction), a letter of forgiveness (40% reduction), a Settlement Agreement (under 50% reduction), special circumstances (50% reduction to exemption from punishment), legitimate self-defense (not guilty)...

Looking at these figures, Chen Wei felt a profound despair.

Never mind anything else, just looking at the numerical values attached to these legal definitions, even a death sentence with immediate execution would end up owing two lives with all these stacked together!

Therefore...

"We..."

"We have no objections. We will abide by the court's arrangement."

After forcing those words out, Chen Wei seemed to exhaust his last ounce of strength, staring blankly up at the ceiling.

And with that.

The ball was thrown back into the court's court.

Everyone's burning gazes converged on the three figures sitting high upon the bench.

On the judge's bench.

"Both the prosecution and the plaintiffs have surrendered..."

Judge Sun Dong murmured, his expression incredibly stern.

Hearing this, Liu Jianguo also furrowed his brow, his mind racing.

The plaintiffs had surrendered, which meant the defense should win. But the defense was pleading not guilty...

Not guilty. This was an outright not guilty verdict for someone who had unequivocally killed a man!

Out of a population of over a billion, across countless courts, over 365 days a year, you could count the number of judges willing to hand down such a verdict on one hand!

Why?

Because the rule of law was paramount. If the law encouraged fighting back to the point of death, people would copy it, and what society needed above all else was stability.

In other words, the law sought stability, while morality demanded justice!

If you actively promoted legitimate self-defense based purely on 'evidence', countless murders and brawls would follow, plunging society into chaos!

Because of this, legitimate self-defense had practically become a sleeping clause, almost impossibly difficult to awaken.

"If absolutely necessary... what about excessive defense?"

Liu Jianguo felt as if he were being roasted on a hot grill. He scowled, keeping his voice low.

"We avoid triggering the sleeping clause and convict on excessive defense, but given the 'evidence' submitted by the defense counsel, we rule for no punishment at our discretion."

"The defendant Wang Qiang is guilty but exempted from criminal punishment, and released immediately. It's virtually no different from being found not guilty!"

Exempted from punishment?

That was indeed the primary choice for most judges facing this kind of situation. Both sides could accept it, and it maintained the deterrent power of the law.

But...

"Phew."

Zhang Bingxin remained silent for a long moment. When he finally lifted his solemn face, he met the eyes of Liu Jianguo and Sun Dong.

In this case...

That unknown lawyer had not even left the court the angle of excessive defense, a light sentence, or an exemption from punishment!

Unless they were willing to throw away all face and force a guilty verdict.

The other two paused slightly, grasping his meaning. They looked as if they wanted to say something but held back.

Ultimately... Liu Jianguo fell silent, offering no words of obstruction.

The three reached a consensus, their eyes gradually hardening with resolve.

Zhang Bingxin took a deep breath. His chest swelled beneath his judicial robe, making his posture appear exceptionally imposing. He picked up the gavel resting on the bench and held it high in the air.

"Bang!!!"

A crisp, sharp sound echoed through the silent Courtroom One, bouncing off the walls and ringing in everyone's ears.

Looking up, everyone saw the three judges on the bench rise in unison.

"The verdict will now be pronounced."

Zhang Bingxin looked down at the documents in his hands with a solemn expression, like a majestic statue. He spoke:

"This court, having conducted an open trial in accordance with the law, has concluded the proceedings encompassing the presentation of evidence, cross-examination, courtroom debate, and final statements by both the prosecution and the defense."

"Upon trial, it has been established that..."

"The victim, Li Erniu, initiated an unlawful infringement that was real, imminent, and continuous; the defendant, Wang Qiang, remained in the position of the infringed party throughout, exhibiting no intent to provoke, retaliate, or engage in a mutual brawl..."

"The defendant, Wang Qiang, in acting to protect his own lawful rights and interests, as well as those of others, employed a counterattack whose means and intensity did not exceed the necessary limits..."

"The prosecution's charge that the defendant committed the crime of excessive defense and intentional injury resulting in death is based on unclear facts and insufficient evidence, and applies the law incorrectly. This court does not support the charge..."

"The judgment is hereby pronounced as follows."

"In accordance with Paragraph 1, Article 20 of the Criminal Law of the Dongguo Republic..."

"In accordance with Item 2, Article 162 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the Dongguo Republic..."

"The defendant, Wang Qiang, is..."

At this point, Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin paused.

In that moment.

Everyone suppressed the wild pounding in their chests, staring wide-eyed at the judge's bench. They even held their breath, terrified that the slightest sound might interfere with the pronouncement of the verdict.

Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin raised his head, and two words burst forth from his lips, his voice resonant and piercing.

"Not guilty!!!"

Instantly, a shockwave tore through everyone present in Courtroom One!

Not guilty...

A not guilty verdict!!!

The moment those words fell, a deathly silence descended upon the courtroom.

Everyone was stunned.

Dongguo was a populous nation, occupying nearly half a continent with a vast territory of 9.6 million square kilometers. With a population of 1.28 billion, it accounted for a massive proportion of the global population.

A large population naturally meant more conflicts.

In a single year, across 365 days, the national public security bureaus registered 4.33 million criminal cases.

Meanwhile, the thousands of courts across the country tried 730,000 criminal cases annually. Among those...

Only five criminal cases involving confirmed homicides would result in an acquittal!

No, that was incorrect.

It was less than five. Throughout the entire year of 2002, out of those 730,000 cases, there was a high probability that only three criminal cases involving clear-cut homicide would end in a not guilty verdict!

And the defense attorneys standing before the defendants in those three cases...

They either hailed from the prestigious Red Circle law firms in the capital or were part of top-tier legal teams with international ties, profound backgrounds, ruthless tactics, and incredibly formidable collaborative abilities!

It required over a dozen figures at the absolute pinnacle of the legal world, individuals who could call the wind and summon the rain, working around the defendant for an entire year to achieve such a result!

But in 2002, for a defendant who had undeniably committed homicide to be defended by a lawyer without a team, relying purely on individual ability to ruthlessly shatter the principles of the prosecution and the judge, ultimately achieving a not guilty verdict for a killer...

Forget about seeing it.

No one had even heard of such a thing!

Yet, right now, they were witnessing it... seeing it with their own two eyes!!!

"Not... not guilty..."

In a daze, someone in the public gallery swallowed hard, subconsciously murmuring those two words.

It was like a single stone kicking up a thousand ripples. The previously dead silent room gradually began to stir, and the commotion grew increasingly chaotic, becoming completely uncontrollable!

"Not guilty? Truly not guilty? Am I dreaming!?"

"It's real... This is unbelievable... It's an absolute miracle! A probability of one in several hundred thousand is happening right before our eyes!"

"When was the last time we had an acquittal in a case like this?"

"The Huang Xin case. A rape and murder case, acquitted in court..."

"In that case, the sperm residue found in the victim didn't even belong to him! But in the Lijia Village case... it was definitively established that the killer was Wang Qiang!!!"

"..."

Suddenly, as if a specific tipping point had been reached.

An uproar erupted within Courtroom One. A cacophony of noise flooded the venue like a raging beast.

Some were shocked, some bewildered, and others covered their mouths, their faces full of sheer disbelief.

There were acquittals in criminal cases, yes.

But an acquittal fundamentally relied on only one approach.

Puncturing the chain of evidence the prosecutor relied on for the accusation!

In other words, a judge would only pronounce a not guilty verdict if you couldn't prove the victim was killed by the defendant.

To achieve a not guilty verdict when the chain of evidence was complete and it was certain that the defendant was the killer... one could look back an entire decade and not find a single reference case. It was simply unheard of!

At that thought, the crowd grew increasingly excited. Their blood boiled, and the uproar gradually evolved into a clamorous riot, turning the courtroom into a chaotic mess.

"When I came to court, I was hoping the defendant might be exempted from punishment... but even an exemption seemed impossible!"

"That's aiming high. I came here just hoping he'd get a suspended sentence..."

"Damn it, you can't be blamed. Judging by the first trial, even a suspended sentence was out of reach. He would have been sentenced to a few years no matter what. But in this session... that defense lawyer was as fierce as a burning engine!"

At this point, the crowd paused to think, their breathing turning ragged as their spirits surged.

It was true.

Based on his performance in the previous trial, a light sentence was entirely possible and generally acceptable.

But who could have expected... the moment the trial began, the defense attorney directly exploded against the prosecution. With a crushing posture, he tore down every single basis for their accusation!

He even submitted a mountain of favorable evidence. Added together...

The harshest possible penalty would merely be an exemption from punishment!

What was an exemption from punishment? It meant saying you were guilty, but you didn't need to serve time. You wouldn't spend a single day in jail, nor would you even need to issue a verbal apology. It was practically indistinguishable from being released in court.

Realizing this, the crowd's gazes grew increasingly fervent, subconsciously shifting toward the defendant's side, toward that young, upright figure.

Just seeing him stand there thrilled them with excitement.

It felt as though they possessed an endless supply of energy with nowhere to vent it.

On the judges' bench.

"Order! Order!!!"

Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin repeatedly slammed his gavel, sternly reprimanding the room in an attempt to stabilize the situation.

Unfortunately, his voice was like a raindrop falling into the vast ocean, failing to stir even the slightest ripple and perhaps even fueling the noise.

Zhang Bingxin immediately felt exhausted. A look of helplessness washed over his face, and he finally gave up on maintaining order.

He decided to just state his piece directly:

"If you do not accept this verdict, you may appeal through this court or directly to the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court within ten days from the day following the receipt of the written judgment."

"I now declare..."

"Court adjourned!"

With that said, Zhang Bingxin didn't want to stay a second longer. He walked straight out, with Liu Guojian and Sun Dong closely following behind.

At the defendant's desk...

The moment the verdict was announced, the taut string in Xu De's mind finally relaxed completely. His readiness to continue battling fiercely through an appeal vanished into thin air.

"Phew."

He slumped into his chair, exhaling a long, deep breath of stale air from the bottom of his lungs. His energy and spirit were completely drained in that instant, leaving him feeling utterly exhausted.

He won...

The moment the verdict was declared, the curtain fell on this case.

The High Court and the Supreme Court would not overturn this reasonable defense. Wang Qiang was completely cleared of the charges. Naturally, the prosecution would not file for a second trial, and the plaintiff's side lacked the evidence to request one.

Therefore...

It was an absolute victory!

"That was quite a bit of pressure."

As Xu De recovered his senses, he realized that his previously sharp, tailored suit was now thoroughly soaked in sweat. He couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle.

A not guilty defense in 2002 and a not guilty defense in the future of 2026 were on completely different levels of difficulty.

Or rather, it was the emergence of the 'Brother Long Case' eighteen years later that indirectly awakened the dormant clauses of 'not guilty' defenses, causing their difficulty to plummet.

In 2002, it was incredibly difficult. Especially for someone like Wang Qiang, who had genuinely killed a man. Cases of acquittal for such circumstances wouldn't appear for years.

It was difficult.

But...

He had finally done it!

Of course, to a certain extent, Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin had also handed down the verdict while bearing the pressure of 'political factors'. After all, in this day and age...

There really was a chance he could take the fall for this.

At that thought, Xu De raised his head, discarding his previous seriousness and caution. He puffed out his chest, straightened his back, and glanced at the prosecution's desk not far away.

At the prosecution's desk.

Wang Wei looked like a defeated rooster. He sighed, packed up his belongings, and silently left the court alongside Hu Guang.

Xu De withdrew his gaze.

A smile touched his face.

He then stood up, walked over to the defendant's desk, and addressed the two stunned bailiffs standing beside Wang Qiang.

"Please unlock the handcuffs."

Hearing this, the two bailiffs finally snapped out of their daze.

"Oh, right!"

The two of them hurriedly scrambled to unlock the cuffs.

With a not guilty verdict declared, a release in court meant he no longer needed to wear handcuffs. The defendant was innocent; once the paperwork was finished, he could head straight home.

"Click!"

With the crisp sound of a spring releasing, the shackles binding Wang Qiang's withered wrists fell away.

Wang Qiang felt his hands lighten. He looked down at his empty hands, his eyes completely blank. His mind was a void, entirely unaware of what had just happened.

"Pat!"

Xu De patted him on the shoulder and said softly, "Come with me to go through the procedures."

Wang Qiang felt as though he were in a dream.

He had no idea when court had adjourned, nor did he register what this greatly benevolent 'savior' beside him had just said.

As if he had lost his soul, he followed the other man's lead in a daze, going through the motions to process the release paperwork.

Just an hour later...

"Whoosh!"

When Wang Qiang came back to his senses, he found himself standing on the high platform at the main entrance of the courthouse, dressed in his simple clothes.

He looked up.

The glaring sunlight hit his face, prompting him to subconsciously shield his eyes, but the rays slipped through his fingers, making him squint.

He looked down.

He watched the bustling traffic outside the courthouse and felt an incredibly gentle breeze caress his skin as it swept past.

Wang Qiang was spellbound.

He felt like he was dreaming, as if he were trapped in an illusion. It was all too incredible. Just two days ago in the Detention Center, the other 'suspects' had told him to prepare himself to serve ten years in prison.

Wang Qiang turned his head, staring blankly at Xu De beside him, who looked as calm as a gentle breeze.

But right now...

The shackles... were gone.

The crime... was gone.

His daughter, whom he had searched for over ten years... was reunited with him.

If this was a dream... then he never wanted to wake up. It would be too cruel.

The very next second...

Countless dark figures holding microphones suddenly surged toward them from the courthouse entrance. Accompanied by the flashing lights of countless cameras, the shadowy figures surrounded the two of them in the blink of an eye.

"Lawyer Xu, Lawyer Xu, please grant us an interview!"

"Lawyer Xu, I'm a reporter from Phoenix Press. Our editor-in-chief would love to invite you for an exclusive interview, what do you think..."

"Lawyer Xu, could you discuss your inner journey throughout this case!?"

"May I ask, what mindset did you have when you chose to take on this case, back when no one else had faith in it and no one dared to touch it!?"

"Mr. Wang, is there anything you would like to say right at this moment?"

"We are from Zhulang News Network..."

"..."

Waves of overwhelming, frantic, yet feverish clamor completely submerged the two of them in a deep sea of noise.

The four greatest joys in life were said to be: sweet rain after a long drought, meeting an old friend in a distant land, the wedding night in the bridal chamber, and seeing one's name on the golden scroll of successful exam candidates.

But... achieving fame and riding in glory at a young age was no less thrilling!

At the entrance of the courthouse.

Countless reporters, both established and aspiring, had completely surrounded the two figures who had just emerged from the main hall. It was a chaotic sea of people pushing, bumping shoulders, and stepping on toes!

Within the clamoring crowd, quite a few familiar faces could be spotted.

There were renowned reporters from local television stations.

There were also senior journalists from authoritative newspapers, industry veterans who were far ahead of their peers.

There were even... representatives from the official state television network!

However, it was glaringly obvious that despite their official status, the veteran journalists weren't giving the state TV crew any face at all. In fact, they were pushing them the hardest!

The reason was simple...

A case like this was a once-in-a-decade occurrence. If they backed down and missed out just because the other party was from the official station...

When they returned to the office, their chief editors and managing editors would probably want to wring their necks!

So what if they were from the official television network? My microphone is just as sharp!

At that thought, the crowd pushed even harder. The people in the back were practically swimming over each other just to squeeze to the front of Xu De and Wang Qiang.

"Excuse me, do you have any remaining grievances regarding this case!?"

Someone shouted anxiously.

Unfortunately, he was shoved to the back in the blink of an eye.

And the one who shoved him...

Was none other than the reporter, Zhang Xia!

The slender female reporter had forcefully squeezed her way from the back to the innermost circle. Panting heavily, she stood right in front of Xu De and thrust her microphone toward his mouth.

"Lawyer Xu, hello. I am Zhang Xia, a reporter from Phoenix Press."

"From what I understand, when this case first began, multiple law firms in Greenwood City refused to take it."

"May I ask what your mindset was when you initially accepted this case!?"

After asking her question, Zhang Xia stared at him intently, terrified of missing a single detail.

The others around them softened their movements; they were also waiting for the answer to this question.

There was always a possibility of overturning a murder conviction, but it generally revolved around two points.

'First, a lack of clear evidence proving the defendant committed the murder, coupled with a strong chain of evidence to the contrary.'

'Second, the presence of suspicion or fact of extorting a confession through torture among the trial evidence.'

However, Wang Qiang's case didn't fit into either of these categories.

First, the evidence of his killing was conclusive. The only point of contention lay in the fact that 'no one saw him commit the murder voluntarily and without external interference with their own eyes,' but this could be dismissed by his own confession.

Second, Wang Qiang was not subjected to a forced confession, so...

This was an almost open-and-shut case!

The death penalty or a suspended death sentence were unlikely, but there was a ninety percent chance of a ten-year sentence. This outcome was definitely not what anyone hoped for, which was why no law firm was willing to touch this hot potato.

But...

Xu De took it.

He even won!

A single person, without a team, had managed to win an extreme edge case that occurred fewer than five times a year nationwide!!!

"Could you tell us?" Zhang Xia stared at Xu De, her words entirely sincere.

Xu De, who had been about to break free from the crowd, paused. He considered it for a moment, then suddenly opened his mouth.

He uttered two words.

"Professional ethics."

With that, Xu De led Wang Qiang outward, squeezing through the gaps in the crowd.

"Coming through, coming through."

In no time, he squeezed out of the mob of reporters.

Zhang Xia and the other journalists remained rooted to the spot. They didn't relentlessly pursue him to the bitter end; after all, even without an interview, the trial process of this case alone provided enough material for them to report extensively!

They stared at Xu De's back until he disappeared completely.

"Professional ethics, huh..."

Several of them murmured, chewing on the phrase in their minds.

Professional ethics wasn't an obscure term; it was frequently discussed by the general public, but...

Who actually put it into practice?

In the food industry, vendors constantly guaranteed their professional ethics—no shortchanging on weight, and ensuring food safety.

Yet, if you picked a random vegetable market, it wouldn't take long to find a few stall owners with 'rigged scales.' Or these days, if you went to a few roadside eateries, you'd find buckets of gutter oil!

These people turned professional ethics into certificates to hang on the wall, but did they actually possess them?

No.

As for this case, Xu De might not necessarily possess professional ethics. After all, the case had massive public opinion behind it, and there were plenty of opportunistic lawyers who fantasized about taking it just to get famous.

But then again.

If judged by intentions, there were no perfect people in this world!

At the very least...

When Wang Qiang was backed into a corner, suffering injustice, and every other lawyer was too afraid to act, he was the one who stepped up. He took on the case alone, risking the destruction of his career.

Especially since he managed to turn the tide and win such an extreme, outlier case!

Given his capabilities and academic background, his future was boundless even if he hadn't taken this risk. Yet, he specifically chose to handle this case...

A gentleman judges by actions, not by intentions!

At least in terms of his actions, he was qualified to stand at the moral pinnacle of Greenwood City's legal circles and look down on everyone else.

"Sigh, where have my professional ethics gone..."

Zhang Xia felt a twinge of inferiority, but her gaze quickly sharpened.

He was a gentleman, true, but...

She wasn't a villain either!

'This kind of person... shouldn't remain obscure!'

In that moment, it wasn't just Zhang Xia; all the reporters present silently made up their minds, preparing to lavish him with praise in their newspapers and news programs.

Hmph, thinking you can just hide in a law firm and stay unknown?

Go and become famous!

......

At the same time.

Intermediate Court parking lot.

"Amazing, truly amazing, Lawyer Xu. Can I really work with you?"

Wang Chao had been waiting in the parking lot early on. Beside him were Wang Mei and Xu Hong. Looking at Xu De returning with Wang Qiang, his face revealed both emotion and disbelief.

To the side, Lin Yue also felt deep admiration, simultaneously calculating how much more money she could scrape together to increase her investment.

If, after seeing the first hearing, Wang Chao thought he had followed the right person...

Then after this second trial...

He realized the man wasn't just a person. He was practically a god!

"I've never heard of a Magic Circle law firm in Beijing turning down a top student from a prestigious university."

Xu De chuckled, making a light joke.

Then, ignoring Wang Qiang, who was reuniting with Xu Hong and Wang Mei beside him, he looked up and gazed into the distance.

Far away, several figures were standing.

Very familiar figures.

It was the three prosecutors: Hu Guang, Wang Wei, and Zhang Qing.

The three men, dressed in their uniforms, were currently sitting on some steps in a secluded corner, holding boxed lunches and eating in silence. They occasionally glanced up toward Xu De's group before burying their heads back in their food.

They had come by car, so it was inevitable they would run into Xu De and the others.

The trial had severely drained their energy, not to mention having to spar with Xu De in court.

The two sides had battled fiercely for hours... this strategy of exhausting the old men was practically a dimensional strike against two guys who weren't in the best of health.

Right now, they urgently needed to replenish themselves with food!

It was just...

Xu De paused.

The next second, he turned around and walked slowly toward Hu Guang and Wang Wei in the distance.

Before long, he stood in front of the three men.

Hu Guang felt a shadow fall over his head. Looking up, he was met with Xu De's face.

Hu Guang suddenly felt speechless.

Seriously, the trial is over... why are you still chasing us down, right to our faces!?

"What do you want? Got something to say?"

"You can't possibly deny us the right to even eat, can you?"

Hu Guang spoke, exasperated. They had been relentlessly hounded during the trial, argued down until neither of them had any temper left. And now that court was adjourned, he wasn't even going to let them eat?

Even the most notorious shyster in Greenwood City wouldn't go that far!

"Nothing major, just dropping something off."

Xu De smiled, casually pulling out a carefully preserved, somewhat worn and yellowing slip of paper.

"What is it?"

Hu Guang asked, taking it absentmindedly as he kept eating.

"Just a piece of evidence related to this case, though not directly connected to Wang Qiang. As for your boxed lunches, gentlemen..."

Xu De paused, looking at the meals the three had barely started.

A smile broke across his face.

"I'm afraid you won't have time to eat them."

Confused, Hu Guang looked down and unfolded the paper. And this slip of paper was, unmistakably...

A promissory note.

"A promissory note?"

He was well-informed and experienced; even without reading the text, his veteran instincts already told him what it was.

"Why are you giving me this?"

Hu Guang stuffed a large mouthful of boxed lunch into his mouth before setting it on the ground. He unfolded the paper with both hands and mumbled as he read:

"I, Li Youcai and Liu Cui of Lijia Village, Greenwood City..."

As he read on...

Hu Guang suddenly froze. Even his chewing stopped as he fell into a long, dead silence.

Beside him, Wang Wei, still gorging on his food, noticed this and curiously leaned over.

"What are you looking at?"

Wang Wei leaned his head close to Hu Guang and glanced at the paper. That single look made his pupils violently contract. Written clearly on the page was...

"I, Li Youcai and Liu Cui of Lijia Village, Greenwood City, borrow one thousand yuan from Li Jianguo to buy a daughter-in-law, promising to repay the debt within three years."

This was...

Li Youcai's promissory note.

The one-thousand-yuan promissory note used to buy Wang Mei ten years ago! The signatures at the bottom featured crooked handwriting, accompanied by their fingerprints!

"Gasp!"

Hu Guang and Wang Wei snapped their heads up, their expressions stern. They stared fixedly at Xu De, their breathing growing ragged.

This was... irrefutable proof of Li Youcai and Liu Cui's crimes!

The Prosecutor's Office already believed that Li Youcai and Liu Cui were guilty. After all, the five thousand yuan used to buy Wang Mei ten years ago was not a small sum.

However... Li Erniu was dead.

Dead men tell no tales!

Aside from Wang Mei's isolated testimony, there was absolutely no evidence to prove their guilt from a decade ago!

But right now...

Gulp.

Hu Guang swallowed hard. When he finally spoke again, his voice was hoarse.

"Where did you get this?"

"I found it in Lijia Village."

Xu De offered a mild smile. He casually lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, letting the nicotine fill his lungs.

With his exhale, his breath steadied slightly. He looked at Hu Guang and said,

"There are two promissory notes in total, and one eyewitness."

"You just need to find the witness, Li Li..."

With just one glance, a complete chain of evidence formed in the two prosecutors' minds. It was no exaggeration to say that this piece of paper... could put Li Youcai and Liu Cui behind bars for the rest of their lives!

"You found this in Lijia Village?"

Hu Guang was stunned. "How long did it take you?"

"Half an hour," Xu De replied casually.

Half an hour...

Hu Guang and Wang Wei opened their mouths, hesitating for a long time, but no words came out. Ultimately, they fell into a stunned silence.

Was this something that could be found in just half an hour!?

If the villagers had hidden it even slightly and verbally denied it, there would be absolutely nothing anyone could do. The prosecutors and police had investigated Lijia Village for nearly two months without finding a single clue!

Yet he just strolled over, claiming to have found two promissory notes and an eyewitness in half an hour, involving three completely unconnected parties...

Hu Guang wanted to say something.

However, after deliberating for a long time, he couldn't think of anything appropriate. In the end, he only took a deep breath.

"Alright."

At that thought.

Hu Guang stood up. His face had turned incredibly gloomy, his eyes brimming with anger.

He didn't actually want to prosecute Wang Qiang, but a prosecutor's duty was to bring public charges; there was no way around it. The only reason his relationship with Xu De had been so tense in court was purely because the man had pushed for a 'not guilty' verdict.

If the defense had instead argued for excessive self-defense and aimed for an 'exemption from criminal punishment', Hu Guang and Wang Wei wouldn't have had much to say. But it just had to be an outright 'not guilty' plea—an incredibly delicate and difficult verdict to achieve in the extremely cautious judicial environment of 2002...

And the man had actually won the case!

Returning to the Prosecutor's Office now, their year-end performance appraisals were likely ruined.

And all of this...

...was entirely caused by Li Youcai and Liu Cui!

Whether it was their initial crime of buying a victim, committing perjury, or even attempting to absolve themselves of guilt... every single conflict stemmed from those two!

"Lawyer Xu, is it? I owe you a favor."

Hu Guang stated seriously, his left hand clenched into a fist. He clearly couldn't suppress his fury any longer.

Xu De simply smiled.

Just look at this. He had beaten them in court and interrupted their meal, yet here they were, thanking him!

"No need. Just leave the position of civil litigation agent open for me,"

Xu De said offhandedly.

Calculating the time, the trial for Li Youcai and Liu Cui would perfectly align with his law firm's opening day. Keeping this case as his inaugural success would be the perfect opportunity for his firm to take over and build its reputation.

With those words spoken,

Xu De turned and left without the slightest hesitation. In a few steps, he returned to Wang Chao and Lin Yue's side.

"Director, why did you seek out the prosecution?"

Wang Chao asked suspiciously, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two parties.

"It was nothing."

Xu De dismissed the question casually. He then paused and looked over at Lin Yue.

"Lawyer Lin, how are the preparations for the law firm coming along?"

Hearing this, Lin Yue paused slightly before pulling the prepared materials out from her bag.

"I officially resigned from my firm last night and transferred my files out. Lawyer Wang has always been drifting around, so he didn't belong to a firm to begin with."

"Now, we're just waiting on you. Once your files are transferred... we can go register tomorrow."

She was the firm's major financial backer and primary source of networking resources.

Things like the hundreds of thousands in registration capital and the location for the firm—she had sorted all that out in a single night. They didn't even have to wait for renovations; there was a ready-made space.

All that was left... was for Xu De to resign from his current firm.

Upon hearing this.

Xu De nodded and turned to get into the car.

"Alright, I'll return to my firm today and terminate my employment contract."

He had signed a short-term employment contract with the firm—a strict three-month limit, no more, no less. It conveniently expired today, so handling the file transfer would be a simple errand on the way.

Their minds made up, the group took Wang Qiang's family of three and left the courthouse.

As for the three prosecutors.

Hu Guang stared at their retreating figures until they were completely out of sight. He then took a deep breath.

"Let's get to work!"

As his voice rang out.

The three men abandoned the boxed lunches they had just bought. With dark expressions, they walked away while simultaneously making phone calls.

...

4:30 PM.

Inside the Municipal People's Procuratorate of Greenwood City.

In the Interrogation Room.

"What's the meaning of this? Didn't you say we were just coming back to process some paperwork? Why did you bring us here!?"

"I'm in a hurry to get home and see my grandson! Why are you making us sit around here doing nothing!"

...

A flurry of noisy, vulgar cursing echoed through the room.

Li Youcai and Liu Cui were currently seated in the suspect chairs of the Interrogation Room, incessantly cursing at everything around them, their eyes filled with utter fury.

They were extremely anxious.

The verdict of the case had been announced! Since that was the case, Xu De had to honor his agreement and hand the child over to them!

Yet now, these government officials had forcefully brought them here...

Wasn't this just delaying their business!?

Creak!

The heavy door of the Interrogation Room was suddenly pushed open.

Hu Guang strode in with long, commanding steps. His expression was so dark it looked as though it might drip water. He walked over in two strides and sat down at the interrogation desk, a mere three meters away from Li Youcai.

"What are you trying to do!?"

Li Youcai bellowed angrily, his slanted, furious eyes sweeping across his surroundings.

Liu Cui also muttered under her breath, "I'm still waiting to go home and hold my grandson..."

Grandson?

Hearing this word.

Hu Guang laughed.

It was a cold, mirthless smile that didn't reach his eyes!

His gaze turned frosty. Without uttering a single word, he immediately threw a photocopied piece of paper down in front of the two.

"Do you recognize this!?"

This was...

Li Youcai and Liu Cui were bewildered. They looked down, picked up the paper, and swept their eyes over it.

"I, Li Youcai and Liu Cui of Lijia Village, Greenwood City..."

This was...

In a flash.

It was as if something snapped in their minds. Their pupils violently constricted to the size of pinpricks, trembling uncontrollably.

This was... the promissory note from all those years ago!?

Where did they get this!

Li Youcai's heart seized with panic. He was just about to open his mouth to deny it, but unfortunately...

"Where did you find this!?" Liu Cui suddenly shrieked, her eyes brimming with sheer terror.

Hearing those words.

Li Youcai's heart skipped a beat, and his face instantly turned ghastly pale, drained of all color.

"Heh, so you admit this belongs to you. That makes things a lot easier."

Hu Guang let out a chuckle before his expression abruptly vanished. His face became terrifyingly dark as he glared fixedly at the two people before him, enunciating every single word:

"Are you going to talk, or... should we speak for you?"

...

...

Meanwhile.

Torch Road.

Jinmao Law Firm.

Creak.

The main doors of the law firm opened.

Standing by the coffee machine, Director Han glanced over his shoulder while pouring a cup of coffee. He happened to spot Xu De walking toward him, and his eyes immediately lit up.

He straightened his back and looked at the young lawyer with a beaming smile, his tone full of delight.

Director Han spoke up:

"Lawyer Xu, you're back?"

"How did the trial go!?"

He thought highly of Xu De, but the difficulty of the case was obvious to everyone. Never mind a full exemption from punishment; as long as Xu De could keep the defendant's sentence under five years, it would be considered a major victory!

If he managed to get it down to just three years, or even probation... that could be hailed as an absolute triumph!

Thinking that he would have such a capable right-hand man in the future... Director Han's heart gradually filled with warmth and excitement.

It was just a pity that...

"Director."

Looking at the head of the law firm, Xu De offered a polite smile and said:

"I came to the firm today to discuss... terminating my contract."

"I don't intend to renew with the firm."

Terminating the contract...

Director Han's expression froze. A second later, confusion spread across his face, and his tone became somewhat anxious:

"Little Xu, is it an issue with your compensation? The short-term contract was just an observation period; the current benefits aren't your final compensation package. If you're dissatisfied, you can bring it up and we can negotiate!"

Xu De shook his head.

Other than lacking the ability to properly utilize talent and being a poor judge of character, the man wasn't too bad. However, that was precisely the issue.

Ultimately, the man just didn't know how to recognize true talent.

Xu De shook his head and replied, "There's no need. My contract has already expired; I'm just here to inform you."

"Director Han, your prestigious firm... simply isn't a good fit for me."

Director Han paused.

The younger man's words... had a hidden meaning!

Immediately, Director Han furrowed his brows and his face darkened. A hint of seriousness entered his eyes as he asked gravely:

"Not a good fit?"

"Lawyer Xu, what exactly are you... dissatisfied with regarding our firm!?"

Director Han understood exactly what was happening.

The other party was clearly hinting at something deeper.

“Are there areas in the firm you aren't satisfied with?” Director Han asked immediately, his tone laced with anxiety.

He was very satisfied with the young man. He was youthful, capable, and had a good character. If he really wanted to leave the firm over some issues... the problem definitely originated from within the law firm itself!

At that thought, Director Han frowned. He looked up and swept his gaze across the hall, examining everyone present.

Finally, he looked back at Xu De.

“Dissatisfied, huh...”

Xu De paused.

In his three months at Jinmao Law Firm, he had only received 3,700 yuan. And out of that, a significant portion was only thanks to his divorce consultation client, Zhang Hu, seeking him out multiple times.

This might be considered a great income for a migrant worker, but he was a lawyer. He had no family to support him; he was an independent lawyer relying entirely on his own efforts!

After deducting rent, utilities, and commuting expenses... if Lin Yue hadn't reimbursed him for the trip to Lijia Village, he would have needed to move out and find a roommate to split the rent!

A smile broke out on Xu De's face. With a teasing tone, he said,

“Director Han, I'm sorry. I don't have parents or relatives, as you know. I simply don't have the money to come to work anymore.”

“I have no choice but to leave the firm and find somewhere else to make a living. Otherwise... I'm afraid I'll starve to death.”

No money to come to work?

What did that mean!?

This unconventional phrasing made Director Han zone out for a moment.

But he was a smart man, and he instantly grasped the meaning behind those words.

Director Han frowned and said in a deep voice,

“Impossible!”

“Although our firm is a boutique law firm, we never bully our own. The contract split for our lawyers is higher than the general market average. As long as someone takes cases, the income from four cases here is equal to the fees of five cases elsewhere!”

“Little Xu, is the finance department withholding your commission fees?”

Jinmao Law Firm was the only boutique law firm in Greenwood City.

But that didn't mean there were no other large law firms around. Those competitors were constantly plotting to poach the golden lawyers from his firm. If Director Han hadn't relied on his shares and advantageous contract splits, those top lawyers would have run off long ago...

“Director Han, my money has already been settled.”

Xu De maintained his faint smile as he pulled a ledger out of his bag.

“This is the ledger of all my financial transactions during my three months at the firm. You can cross-check it with the company accounts. If there are no issues, I'm not planning to renew my contract.”

Financial transactions?

Director Han frowned, reached out to take it, and subconsciously opened it. The moment he flipped it open...

He froze, a look of astonishment washing over his face. He looked up at Xu De in shock.

Was the ledger too complex? No, quite the contrary.

It was far too clean. There were only a few short lines, readable at a single glance!

“Three thousand seven!?”

Shocked, Director Han abruptly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief as he exclaimed,

“This... Lawyer Xu, how did you only take four cases in three months? And three of those were just consultations? Your only trial case was the Lijia Village case!”

An income of 3,700 wasn't considered low, but...

Lawyers often had to put their own money into fighting a lawsuit!

Especially for the Lijia Village case. Xu De's commission fee was only two hundred yuan, provided by the institution, and the money he had to invest out of pocket... transportation alone cost more than two hundred!

This wasn't even counting rent and food. Looking at it this way, him saying he had 'no money to come to work'... was no exaggeration!

“This... how could this happen?”

“What about the two thousand in bonuses!?”

Amidst his shock, a sliver of suspicion arose in Director Han's eyes.

Xu De blinked. “What bonuses?”

“Every month, I gave you an additional seven hundred yuan as a support benefit,” Director Han stated.

This money didn't go through the company's books. It was his personal money, passed on by Sun Hao on his behalf.

Xu De chuckled. Shaking his head, he said,

“Well, I've never seen this seven hundred yuan.”

“Director Han, it seems your esteemed firm is indeed not quite suitable for me. If there are no other objections... I'll be unilaterally terminating the contract on my end.”

Director Han's face flushed red. He opened his mouth, hesitating to speak for a long time.

It was obvious the firm could not retain him anymore. And someone within the firm... had been targeting the young man without his knowledge.

After a long silence,

He took a deep breath, suppressing his internal anger, and shifted his focus back to the man in front of him.

“Lawyer Xu, after you leave... are you planning to start your own business?”

The young man was highly capable. It made no sense for him to work under someone else after leaving.

Knowing he couldn't hide it, Xu De nodded.

Director Han pondered for a moment before speaking:

“How about this? Lawyer Xu, you're young, you might not necessarily have savings on hand.”

“I will personally invest two hundred thousand in cash into your new venture. At the same time, you can pick any golden lawyer in the firm to take with you, and I will also share some case sources with you later on...”

Two hundred thousand, a golden lawyer, and case sources.

Any one of these three was enough to make one's heart race!

Especially a golden lawyer. They were walking wallets. No one knew exactly how many resources they held, and their abilities alone were enough to breathe life into an entire law firm.

Director Han figured that since he couldn't keep him, showing goodwill and investing in him was an acceptable alternative.

Making friends was always better than forcing him to stay and causing a bitter fallout.

Unfortunately...

“Director Han, you don't need to trouble yourself with this.”

Xu De smiled faintly. Without waiting for a response, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

Ring, ring, ring~

“Hello? Boss Zhang Hu...”

...

“Haha, it's me, it's me. Don't worry, Lawyer Xu, my case has been fully settled. Right now...”

“Hm... hm? You terminated your contract with the firm? Do you want to come to my company... Oh, you're opening your own law firm.”

“Lawyer Xu, are you short on money? I can invest four hundred thousand. If you lack case sources, I... you don't? Good, good, good, I'll pay you a visit another day!”

Greenwood City.

At a construction site beneath a large shed.

Zhang Hu, wearing a white hard hat out in the open, hung up his phone.

A dark-skinned man around 1.7 meters tall—slightly shorter than him—leaned closer.

“What four hundred thousand? Old Zhang, did you get another contract?” Sun Zhigang asked.

“No, it's that lawyer I met recently. I'm telling you, my assessment of him is... he's no ordinary person!” Zhang Hu said.

“Heh, four hundred thousand, and you don't even blink!?” Sun Zhigang asked in shock.

“Four hundred thousand is nothing!”

Zhang Hu sighed with emotion. He was willing to build a good relationship with Xu De, even if it meant spending a fortune.

But the money would definitely be worth spending!

Unfortunately, the man didn't want it... He wouldn't even accept free cash. Zhang Hu could only build a relationship with him through legal commissions.

At that thought, he turned to Sun Zhigang beside him.

“Old Sun, how about I introduce this lawyer to you?”

Sun Zhigang let out a boisterous laugh.

“Come on, I work on construction sites. We only need lawyers when something goes wrong.”

“You punk, you really don't wish me well!”

He and Zhang Hu were childhood friends. But Zhang Hu, with his family's help, had opened a company in college, while he had chosen to work on construction sites right after graduating from middle school.

He was 1.7 meters tall, weighed over a hundred kilograms, and had a bloated figure with rough, dark skin. He was a complete middle-aged brute and wasn't good-looking either.

But working for so many years had allowed him to establish a foothold in Greenwood City. He now owned a company even larger in scale than Zhang Hu's!

However, this also gave him the aura of a nouveau riche landlord.

“Heh, biting the hand that feeds you.”

The two joked around.

Just then...

Crash!

A loud noise startled them.

Sun Zhigang frowned, looked around, and strode toward the source of the sound, where a few figures had gathered.

“Make way, make way!”

Sun Zhigang aggressively pushed through the crowd.

He saw a bloated woman lying on the ground, gasping for breath. Beside her was a tricycle cart, and the mixed cement it originally contained was spilled all over the ground.

This woman looked to be in her forties, with ordinary looks and graying hair. She was 1.57 meters tall, bloated, and exuded the distinct vibe of a peasant woman. She wore a worker's camouflage uniform covered in cement dust, and her hands were thick with calluses.

If one looked closely, the posture of one of her legs was a bit strange; she clearly had a limp.

Seeing this, anger flared on Sun Zhigang's face.

“Cripply, how many times is this this month!?”

“How can you not even push a cart to deliver materials properly? Are you purposely trying to piss me off!?”

He showed absolutely no mercy, scolding her angrily right in front of everyone.

“Is your back acting up again? What's the worst that could happen if you take half a month off to treat it!? Are you going to compensate me for delaying my work?”

Panic filled Zhao Li's tanned, peeling face. She scrambled up, forcing a cautious and restrained smile as she said,

“Foreman, the kid is in her third year of high school and taking exams next year. I want to buy an air conditioner for her, so she won't be cold doing her homework in the winter, and won't be hot in the summer...”

An air conditioner?

The anger on Sun Zhigang's face only intensified. He pointed at her nose, cursing,

“Air condition my ass!”

“She needs an air conditioner just to do homework? Do your damn mother! Just burn some coal...”

Zhao Li shrank her neck. A middle-aged woman in her forties was being pointed at and scolded in the middle of a crowd.

A long moment passed.

Sun Zhigang finally glared at the onlookers and yelled angrily, “Get lost! What are you looking at? Are you all done with your work!?”

“A bunch of lazy slackers!”

The crowd dispersed, leaving only Zhao Li.

“You get lost too! Are you just standing there waiting to die!?”

Sun Zhigang glared at Zhao Li, spit flying from his mouth.

Zhao Li opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything. She lowered her head and walked out of the construction site with a limp.

But before she could take two steps, a voice rang out from behind her again.

“Is your brain filled with shit!?”

She looked back.

She saw Sun Zhigang, his face full of even deeper anger, his chest heaving violently as he glared at her, cursing,

“Where are you going? Go find Foreman Liu and ask him to assign you to clean the construction site. Your wages will remain the same.”

“Damn it, you're so stupid.”

Zhao Li was slightly taken aback. Hope surged in her heart again, and the wrinkles on her face squeezed out an awkward yet cautious smile as she hurriedly replied,

“Oh, oh, I'll go do it, I'll go...”

Saying that, she awkwardly turned to go look for the man.

But...

“Did I fucking tell you to go right now!?”

Sun Zhigang shouted angrily once more.

A reluctant expression crossed his face as he pulled a wallet from his pocket.

Zip!

He unzipped the wallet, revealing the cash inside.

Sun Zhigang glanced at her, reluctantly pulled out a few large-denomination bills, and threw them at her.

“Today's wages are paid out to you as full attendance.”

“Consider the rest of the money as me having the worst luck in eight lifetimes, like I owed it to you in my past life. Take it to get your damn back checked out! Don't get into an accident and blame my construction site again!”

“If something happens again... I'll fucking hang you from a crane and parade you through the streets!”

Zhao Li let out an embarrassed chuckle. Her rough, dark face was smeared with corrosive cement, making her look incredibly timid.

She didn't know what to say. She squatted down, picked up the money, then looked at Sun Zhigang and whispered a soft 'Thank you' before limping away, leaving behind only her 1.57-meter, bloated back.

Sun Zhigang let out a deep breath and turned around.

He saw Zhang Hu sitting in the shadows, looking at him with a half-smile.

Sun Zhigang cursed and grumbled as he walked toward him, muttering as he went,

“Damn, these brain-dead idiots won't get a single thing done right if you don't cuss them out...”

Meanwhile, Zhao Li...

Zhao Li didn't go to the hospital with the money. After a brief hesitation, she mentally calculated her funds, went to a roadside clinic, and bought some medicated patches to stick on her back.

Then she went to the wet market, bought some beef ribs, and returned to the entrance of her home. She reached out, and the door opened.

Creak~

The door opened, revealing a simple two-bedroom rental apartment. The inside was a bit messy.

In the small living room stood a thin girl, 1.6 meters tall, wearing a school uniform.

The girl had a pretty face but gave off a solitary vibe. With her head lowered and her short hair covering her face, she appeared very withdrawn.

Noticing the sound, she looked up and was just about to say something.

But the next second...

“Lele, tell me if this isn't a coincidence. The foreman paid Mom a little extra today, and you happen to just get home from school.”

A hint of tenderness unconsciously appeared on Zhao Li's normally timid face.

With her bloated body, she limped toward the kitchen, carrying the plastic bags, and said as she walked,

“Today you and your brother are going to have ribs to eat. Eat more so you can grow strong. When the time comes, Mom will buy you an air conditioner, and after the college entrance exams, you won't have to be like Mom...”

Looking at her back,

Yang Jiale, who had been about to speak, moved her lips slightly but ultimately lowered her head in silence.

Meanwhile.

...

...

Torch Road, Jinmao Law Firm.

Beep, beep, beep~

Xu De hung up the phone. He looked up at Director Han in front of him and smiled,

“You see, Director, you don't need to worry about the registered capital. You are overthinking it...”

“My funds are very abundant.”

"Funds are abundant..."

As his words fell, a heavy silence descended upon the law firm.

Director Han looked at Xu De with a complicated expression, his emotions in turmoil.

Where did the true value of a law firm lie? Not in the firm itself.

But in the lawyers!

From their very first consultation, once a lawyer resolved a case for a wealthy client and earned their favor... it triggered a positive snowball effect.

Short on cases? Those company bosses would dump a massive load of cases onto your desk!

Short on funds? They would give you money, no strings attached!

What's that? You think if a lawyer leaves a well-known firm, those people would stop investing in them and just find someone else at the firm instead?

No.

They would follow the lawyer!

Just like a company's top salesperson, a lawyer held a vast network of resources and connections, earned through genuine skill and the ability to solve problems!

And Xu De...

He had only taken a single-digit number of cases, yet he was already inciting such fervent devotion from these kinds of people...

It was hard to imagine exactly what level of service he was providing to his clients!

"Director Han?"

"If there are no objections, I'll unilaterally terminate the contract on my end."

Still wearing his polite smile, Xu De spoke up to remind him.

Director Han hesitated, opening his mouth only to close it again. After a long silence, he finally let out a sigh.

"This is Jinmao's problem. Lawyer Xu... I wish you a smooth and prosperous future."

Destroy someone with a contract just because you couldn't keep them?

This was the legal world! The other party was clearly a highly capable lawyer with powerful methods. Pulling a stunt like that was like an old man hanging himself—a complete death wish!

"To you as well."

Xu De smiled. He packed up his things in the office and headed for the main entrance.

Standing at the doorway, he glanced back at the only boutique law firm in Greenwood City before turning away without a shred of lingering attachment.

He had signed a short-term employment contract with the firm. Terminating it when the time came was a simple, hassle-free process.

As for Director Han...

His heart was practically bleeding right now!

A golden lawyer... He had lost a golden lawyer for absolutely nothing!

No... that wasn't right. The man wasn't just a golden lawyer.

The so-called 'golden' title wasn't even fit to be his stepping stone!

Even someone as formidable as Chen Wei was currently facing the ruin of his career, dealing with a crisis of trust from the very network backing him.

Although he didn't know the exact outcome of the Lijia Village case, judging by Xu De's mood... it was a one hundred percent victory.

For all he knew, the defendant might have even been given a three-year suspended sentence, which, as long as they didn't reoffend during those three years, was practically the same as being exempt from punishment!

This kind of talent... even in the capital, with its incredibly abundant political resources, he would be heavily headhunted by those top eight elite firms. And yet, he had slipped right through his fingers...

It wasn't even that he had wanted to leave.

The firm had screwed up first!

At that thought, an inextinguishable fury surged from Director Han's chest.

He turned around and glared at the crowd of lawyers watching the spectacle. Suppressing his anger, his eyes darkened as he picked out a random person near the front and said in a low, heavy voice:

"Where are Accountant Li and the heads of the criminal and civil departments?"

"Tell them to wait for me in my office tomorrow morning!"

He was going to investigate thoroughly. He needed to know exactly what had happened with Xu De!

...

The next day.

November 16th.

Morning, ten-thirty.

Greenwood City was completely tranquil, as if yesterday's case had never happened. But every reporter knew this was merely an illusion.

Why?

Because everyone was fighting for exposure during the seven-thirty prime-time slot that evening!

Releasing the news during that window, even without saying anything and merely mentioning the name 'Xu De', would guarantee an overwhelming flood of views!

Calling it the calm before the storm would not be an exaggeration.

Meanwhile, Xu De, Lin Yue, and Wang Chao...

The three of them hadn't been idle either.

They first fed the 'wild man' living near Xu De's place. During this time, Xu De routinely checked the man's general health by asking him to 'spin around', 'speak', and 'shake hands'.

Once he was certain there were no major issues, he took his documents and headed to the Greenwood City Bureau of Justice to register his law firm.

At the same time...

...

Greenwood City, inside the Bureau of Justice.

"Damn it all, this massive political achievement... it's absolutely massive. It was practically handed out for free, so how did that old geezer end up snagging it..."

Inside the Deputy Director's office at the Bureau of Justice.

Wearing an administrative jacket, Yang Guotao sat in his chair, muttering to himself as he reviewed documents.

He was fifty-three this year, with a proper appearance. His figure was slightly plump but not bloated, and he had a righteous look about him. Reaching this position at his age could still be considered young and promising.

As for what he was talking about...

Naturally, it was the case that had concluded yesterday.

The Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court had just announced the verdict on a case... a major case with significant impact, entirely swept up by public opinion!

The case wasn't particularly unique at first; the only difficulty was the massive public outrage it could trigger.

But here was the problem: what made this case truly special was that it had been... resolved flawlessly!

The victim was acquitted, public opinion was pacified, and barring any surprises, the citizens of Greenwood City would see their approval of the government soar. The judicial environment appeared excellent, and society was cheering...

What was this?

A political achievement!

An incredibly solid political achievement!

Except...

"Do those guys even have the face to claim it? Every single one of them did absolutely nothing..."

"A pie dropped from the sky, handing them a free achievement..."

Yang Guotao cursed under his breath. He had been complaining for hours since he arrived at work.

That's right.

Although it was just a criminal case, and it was a defense lawyer defeating a prosecutor, it was still a political achievement!

First, there was the matter of public opinion.

High social satisfaction and immense praise from the masses—this stuff was extremely useful for the top leader of Greenwood City. After all, promotions depended on governance. If citizens were highly satisfied with the judicial environment during your tenure, wouldn't that be a highlight?

With the silent approval of the High Court and the Supreme Court, the court judges and even the Political and Legal Affairs Commission all received merit!

Secondly, Xu De's victory proved that Greenwood City's judicial environment was relatively fair and wouldn't just silence people. What did that bring?

Investment!

Exactly. This also brought economic benefits. Investors and entrepreneurs valued a region's judicial environment above all else.

As depicted in that future television drama In the Name of the People, a turbulent judicial environment would scare off hordes of investors.

And the Lijia Village case had effectively solidified Greenwood City's judicial environment!

Consequently, other departments would also reap the dividends later on. Yet, inexplicably...

"A whole string of people gets credit."

Yang Guotao fell silent for a moment before suddenly slamming his pen heavily onto the desk.

"So why don't I get any?!"

Indeed, although the Bureau of Justice seemed related to the law, they had almost zero credit in this case.

Could he say he supported the law firm? Sorry, Jinmao Law Firm was already huge.

Could he say Xu De was cultivated by Greenwood City?

The man had come back from the capital and had only been here for three months!

The only thing Yang Guotao could do was compile the case and use it for public legal education...

Unless he could start from scratch, personally support the defense lawyer handling the case, and personally contribute to legal stability.

But... the man's law firm would definitely offer him a highly lucrative contract. Why would he give all that up to willingly start his own firm?

Directors and colleagues had come and gone, batch after batch, but he had remained stuck in this Deputy Director seat year after year.

Finally, a good thing like this happened, and yet everyone else got to bask in the glory except him.

Thinking about how explosive the news and public opinion would be tonight, and how he would be the only one completely left out...

Yang Guotao really wanted to advance, too!

"Sigh, I just don't have the luck for pies dropping from the sky."

Yang Guotao shook his head and took a sip of plain water, then smacked his lips.

He felt the water tasted a bit sour; maybe the delivered water had gone bad.

Deciding against drinking more, he put the cup down, left his office, and prepared to grab a casual lunch.

Tap-tap-tap...

Yang Guotao descended the stairs and slowly walked outside.

Until...

When he reached the first floor, a voice suddenly drifted into his ears.

"Um... comrade, we're just getting off work now and heading to eat. You should come back this afternoon to handle this."

"I might be busy this afternoon. Can I just submit the documents first?"

"I'm sorry, but we're already off work. Please come back at two o'clock..."

"Well... alright then."

Yang Guotao glanced toward the source of the voice. It came from the Lawyers' Management Section.

Immediately after.

Creak.

The door opened, and three young people—two men and a woman—walked out. They glanced at him before turning to leave.

After they left.

The staff member inside the section office also stepped out, only...

"Director Yang?"

The staff member was startled upon walking out, immediately straightening their back to greet him.

Yang Guotao nodded, replying casually as if making small talk:

"What happened? What were you arguing about just now?"

The staff member replied, "We weren't arguing. It was just a lawyer named Xu De who came to submit application documents to register a law firm."

"But the section is closed for the day, so..."

Closed for the day?

"Oh, go on and get your lunch then."

Yang Guotao nodded, preparing to head outside.

Getting off work on time was the rule. The person dropping off materials wasn't in an emergency, so it was fine to follow the rules and process it during working hours.

This was perfectly normal, and he didn't mind. After all, nobody liked working overtime.

However...

Suddenly.

Tap...

Yang Guotao's footsteps came to an abrupt halt. He paused, turned back to look at the staff member, and asked out of nowhere.

"What did you say... that person's name was just now?"

The staff member replied, "Xu De."

Xu De...

Yang Guotao fell silent. The next second... a frantic voice exploded next to the staff member's ear, the tone sounding as if he wished he could grow two extra legs to chase the person down and drag him back.

"Call him back!"

"He wasn't late! He didn't come late, I just got hungry too fast and got off work too early!"

His voice was extremely urgent, completely devoid of the maturity and steadiness expected of his position.

"Hurry up and call him back! I will personally accept his documents and file his application!!!"

Yang Guotao really, really wanted to advance.

Meanwhile.

Stepping out of the Justice Bureau's lobby and heading into the courtyard toward the main gates, Xu De suddenly paused, sensing something. He stopped in his tracks.

A second later.

A translucent blue screen materialized out of thin air in front of him.

【Congratulations on completing Criminal Trial x1】

【The client is highly satisfied with your service. Satisfaction rate: 98%. Extremely high evaluation received!】

【"Lijia Village Case" has been recorded.】

【Case Log:】

【(Ten years, 120 calendar months. I walked 1,000 kilometers, tens of millions of steps, for over four thousand days. This road was far too long—so long that I grew numb, becoming a walking corpse.)】

【(This road was also far too crowded. I was swept up in the surging tides of humanity. Countless faces dazzled and dizzying me. I stared at them, examining every single visage in the crowd with absolute clarity.)】

【(Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, desire, fear, shock... I tried to see past those grotesquely exaggerated fleshy masks to find the bone physiognomy I remembered.)】

This was...

The system had judged the case complete?

A 98% satisfaction rate? Not 100%?

It made sense, though. After all, this case shouldn't have happened in the first place. A 100% satisfaction rate would mean Wang Mei had never been abducted ten years ago!

Xu De hesitated. He came to a complete halt, lowered his head, and watched silently.

Lines of notifications began to surface on the pale blue screen.

【Client satisfaction rate: 98%. Distributing rewards based on satisfaction...】

【Congratulations. You have acquired the Talent Skill: "Bone Physiognomy" lv1 (0/10)】

【Bone Physiognomy: When you look at a person, the bones they cannot hide become more apparent than their flesh! Perhaps, you can try using the most basic ability of determining bone age...】

【(Note: This talent can be upgraded through personal study!)】

【Congratulations. You have received Gratitude Coins x10】

(Current Status)

【Name: Xu De】

【Age: 25】

【Gratitude Coins: 10】

【Win Rate: 100%】

【Recorded Cases: "Lijia Village Case"】

【Talent Skills: Chef lv2 (0/20), Bone Physiognomy lv1 (0/10)】

Xu De's head spun as an influx of unfamiliar knowledge was forcibly crammed into his brain!

He furrowed his brows, his breathing growing slightly ragged.

His mind began to process the obscure and complex information, comprehending and assimilating it at a breakneck pace!

A long moment passed...

"Phew."

Xu De's brow relaxed. His complexion gradually returned to normal, and his breathing steadied.

The panel had granted him a skill related to bone physiognomy, but... it wasn't an active skill like in a video game. It was pure knowledge!

Indeed, he had been treated like a flash drive. Without his consent, the system had brutally forced the knowledge of bone physiognomy directly into his mind!

However...

"This... if it were someone with a weaker mind, the sheer impact of this knowledge might have turned them into a babbling fool."

Xu De took a deep breath, feeling a twinge of awe.

It was too crude. It felt like being violently forced to split his consciousness in two, tearing his very awareness apart.

Seeing him like this, the two people beside him couldn't help but look worried.

"Lawyer Xu, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"

Xu De reflexively looked up. The first person he saw was Lin Yue, but his perspective...

It was as if he were seeing her exterior flesh and her underlying bone structure simultaneously. She looked like a skeleton clad in rosy skin!

Startled, he blinked. The bizarre sensation vanished, and his normal vision returned. He let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm fine, just a little low blood sugar."

Xu De casually tossed out an excuse to brush it off.

He had been exhausted all day yesterday. After returning home, he had barely managed a few bites of food before falling into a deep sleep.

He slept straight through to this morning and had only eaten a single steamed bun to line his stomach. He was already starving.

The three of them made up their minds and headed toward the Justice Bureau's exit.

However.

"Wait, wait!"

"Lawyer Xu, please wait a moment!"

They had barely taken a few steps when a hurried, anxious shout echoed from behind them.

Xu De turned around to see a middle-aged man rushing out of the lobby, a look of mild confusion crossing his face.

The man was wearing a jacket and carried the aura of someone in a position of authority, though right now, he was panting heavily.

"May I ask who you are..."

Xu De inquired politely, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

After catching his breath, Yang Guotao cracked a smile and gestured for them to head back inside.

"I'm Yang Guotao. You might not know me, Lawyer Xu, but we know each other now."

Xu De thought for a moment and instantly understood what the man meant.

This person was likely a leader within the Justice Bureau. Guessing the man's intentions, Xu De decided to play along and followed him back inside.

"I heard earlier that you're here to... submit the registration documents for a law firm?"

They returned to the lobby, welcomed by the cool air conditioning.

Yang Guotao turned to look at Xu De, discreetly sizing him up.

Working at the Justice Bureau, he naturally dealt with lawyers all day long. He had seen countless young attorneys, but...

He had never seen a lawyer this young achieve the kind of results Xu De had on the 15th at the courthouse.

It wasn't just rare; it was unprecedented. He had simply never seen anything like it!

"That's right. I'm planning to register a local partnership law firm," Xu De replied. "But... hasn't everyone gotten off work? I figured I'd go grab a bite to eat first and submit it later. There's still time."

"Ah, what's a little delay for a meal?"

Yang Guotao casually took the documents directly from Xu De's hands.

"We're here to serve the people, after all. How could we delay your business, Lawyer Xu? It's just eating lunch a few minutes late, anyway."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Yang."

Xu De chuckled, seamlessly seizing the opportunity to build a connection.

'Tsk, this kid...'

Yang Guotao felt like laughing. The young man certainly knew how to climb the pole, closing the distance between them with a single sentence.

But it didn't matter.

Building a good relationship with a capable lawyer was beneficial to anyone!

"Lawyer Xu, are your... funds a bit tight right now?" Yang Guotao asked.

Xu De paused slightly before answering, "It is a bit tight, yes."

He wasn't lacking money, but that didn't mean he couldn't say he was.

The man was clearly offering a friendly olive branch, and he had no reason to push it away.

Most importantly, getting on the Justice Bureau's good side... the benefits for him would be immense!

Sure enough.

Yang Guotao pondered for a moment, then spoke.

"How about this."

"Greenwood City has been discussing local policy support for university student entrepreneurship over the past few years. We're running a pilot program this year, and the support is quite substantial. Regarding funding, there are several interest-free loans available with very lenient repayment terms."

"I can help coordinate things for you from the inside and try to secure a higher limit."

"As for the Justice Bureau... there are some unnecessary procedures that you won't have to...

ahem

, you understand."

"A lot of new companies have popped up in Greenwood City recently, and some of the more successful ones don't have a dedicated legal department... I can try asking around for you."

"The Legal Aid Office here can also respond to local policies and give you a little extra care..."

"..."

This was... securing funding and a source of cases all in one go!?

Well, maybe not all in one go, but it would definitely solve his most pressing problems!

Xu De didn't lack money, but that didn't mean he had actual cash on hand.

Lin Yue was funding the law firm out of her own pocket. It was great that she was a partner, but he couldn't expect her to foot the entire bill.

She had already put up over a hundred thousand plus the rent for the firm. To ask for more... Lin Yue might not mind acting as his personal God of Wealth, but Xu De didn't have the face to ask for it!

Alternatively, he could shamelessly have Zhang Hu 'give' him the money, but Zhang Hu wasn't getting any 'direct benefits' at this stage, so using that money would always feel a bit awkward.

Therefore...

If the government provided him with ample funding, he could instantly resolve all those headache-inducing expenses: transportation, office hardware, travel, appraisals, mailing, and material costs!

After all, the law firm wouldn't officially open for another month. It would be hard for him to generate income during that time, and by then, the buzz around the Lijia Village case might have died down... In short, it was going to be troublesome.

Especially regarding the source of cases.

Legal aid cases varied wildly in quality, and who got the good ones depended entirely on the Justice Bureau...

Not to mention those hidden perks, like getting a 'green light' in certain areas!

And the price for all this?

What was the price? Or rather, what did Yang Guotao want?

He wanted nothing at all.

Or perhaps... Yang Guotao just wanted one thing: the opportunity to personally do something for Xu De!

For Xu De, this was a business deal requiring zero capital, yet yielding massive returns!

"Brother Yang, since that's the case... I'll have to trouble you then!" Xu De didn't act coy and spoke frankly.

A genuine smile blossomed on Yang Guotao's face as he repeatedly said, "No trouble, no trouble at all!"

"Actually, no, it should be... if you run into any trouble, just let me know anytime!"

He said it, and he truly meant it.

He was thoroughly sick of sitting in the deputy director's seat and genuinely wanted to advance his career!

But there was nothing he could do. The judicial environment in Greenwood City was what it was...

Truth be told, the smaller the city, the more rigid its judicial environment. The courts and the prosecutor's office were afraid to stick their necks out and break the status quo.

Take the Lijia Village case, for example. The Intermediate Court hadn't dared to hand down a not-guilty verdict; they preferred to play it safe!

But the law always needed to move forward. If they remained this conservative, how could the environment ever improve?

It wouldn't. And if the environment was poor, the importance of a lawyer's role would plummet. In criminal cases, a phenomenon of 'you argue your side, I'll rule my way' would emerge, almost turning the courtroom into a dictatorship.

While this meant no major mistakes would be made overall, a problem still remained.

What about public opinion!?

And how would the role of a lawyer be reflected!?

If public opinion turned negative, Yang Guotao at the Bureau of Justice would be the one taking the blame and getting scolded.

The latter issue was even more fatal.

The Bureau of Justice managed the lawyers. If lawyers had absolutely no voice during trials and couldn't demonstrate their value, how could the Bureau of Justice ever achieve any merit!?

Caught in this negative cycle, Yang Guotao had sat in his position year after year.

Until... he received a piece of news yesterday.

The vicious cycle of Greenwood City...

Had been brutally shattered by a single punch from a young man!

"Little... haha, I'll take advantage of my age and call you Little Brother Xu!"

Yang Guotao felt a surge of comfort in his heart. It had been a long time since he'd laughed so heartily.

The collective unspoken rules that had trapped him for so long, making him a scapegoat for years, were gone. And it was all because of the young man sitting right in front of him!

To be honest, even if Xu De never took on another case after this, the environment in Greenwood City would never be as rigid as it was before.

Why?

Because the first step was always the hardest.

And Xu De had already forced Hu Guang and Zhang Bingxin to take that most crucial and important first step forward!

"Little Brother Xu, are you in a rush to register your law firm?"

Yang Guotao was in an excellent mood, and his words carried a hint of suggestion.

Xu De didn't mind the form of address.

Are you kidding? Greenwood City was a prefecture-level city, and Yang Guotao was a solid senior leader, at least a deputy division head. Building a good relationship with someone like him through legitimate, mutually beneficial means would make his peers so jealous they'd lose sleep!

"I am in a bit of a rush. My funds are quite tight right now," Xu De replied.

"Is that so... rest assured, our Bureau of Justice has never mistreated those who make contributions."

Yang Guotao thought for a moment and took it upon himself to handle this minor issue.

"I'll take your documents and expedite the registration of your law firm."

"The loan will be even easier to handle. I'll just need to make a phone call for you when the time comes."

When he said expedite, he truly meant expedite.

And this was perfectly within standard procedures. Even if the bureau director found out... he would only be upset that he hadn't acted faster than Yang Guotao, rather than blame him.

After all, local policies explicitly stated that preferential treatment should be given to attract special talents.

For a talent like Xu De... delaying a recruitment offer by even a single second would be a dereliction of duty!

As for the registration time...

"Half a month. It should be done in about fifteen days," Yang Guotao said.

"Then thank you so much, Brother Yang!"

Xu De smiled, and the two promptly exchanged personal phone numbers.

They chatted for a little while longer before Xu De finally took his leave.

Although Xu De had always believed that a 'win-win' situation meant he won twice—like his win-win with Li Youcai, where he wanted everything and won twice over!

But it was clear that the current situation fit the more common understanding: both parties were highly satisfied.

Xu De gained a pile of useful resources. A process that would normally take at least forty days was forcibly compressed into fifteen, allowing him to start his business twenty-five days early.

Yang Guotao profited as well. He represented the Bureau of Justice in investing in and recruiting talent. If Xu De developed well... this would be a massive achievement on his resume!

"Little Liu, I am specially approving this document for expedited processing. Stamp it, and send it to the province immediately."

Yang Guotao smiled as he looked at his subordinate, who hadn't eaten anything yet.

Hearing the instruction, the subordinate snapped back to reality and quickly took the document.

"Yes, sir!"

He hurried to get it done.

Watching him, Yang Guotao sat back in his chair and chuckled. "Are you wondering who that lawyer is?"

Little Liu, who was processing the paperwork, paused, an awkward expression crossing his face.

He had indeed been zoning out precisely because of that.

He couldn't help it.

Yang Guotao was a deputy division head. It was safe to say he was the top management figure in Greenwood City's legal circles, holding a great deal of real power!

In the past, whether it was those long-established golden lawyers or the directors of major law firms looking for him, he would give them the cold shoulder. So why was he so happy chatting with a young lawyer today...?

"Heh, this is where you're out of the loop!"

Yang Guotao was in a fantastic mood today and decided to build some suspense. Changing the subject, he said, "Tonight at seven-thirty, you should tune in to the official Greenwood City television channel."

"Once you watch it, you'll know exactly who he is."

Seven-thirty? The prime-time slot on the official television station?

He could learn about a young lawyer from

there

!?

Little Liu was stunned. He looked up, only to see that Yang Guotao had already left. He had no choice but to bury his doubts in his heart, silently making a mental note to watch the television news tonight.

......

......

Creak.

"You're here? Explain this to me. What exactly is going on!?"

Seven o'clock in the evening.

Torch Road, Jinmao Law Firm. All the lawyers had gotten off work, leaving only one office brightly lit.

Three people were gathered inside.

The television mounted on the wall played quietly, its clear, steady voice reporting the news.

Director Han sat at the head of the table. He capped his pen and looked up, his face dark as he stared at the lawyer who had just walked through the door.

The man was Chief Zhang, the head of the criminal division and a senior executive right below the firm's director.

The original plan had been to meet him in the morning to get to the bottom of things, but a client's case couldn't be delayed, so they had to wait until court was adjourned to see him.

"What exactly is going on with Lawyer Xu!?" Director Han's expression was grim, his voice thick with suppressed anger.

Seeing him like this, Chief Zhang subconsciously glanced at Chief Jin, the head of the civil division, who had already arrived.

Chief Jin let out a soft sigh and nodded at him.

"Xu De?"

Chief Zhang was a bit dazed. He looked at Director Han, realizing that this situation was somewhat different from what he'd expected.

Seeing that he didn't answer, Director Han pressed further. "Lawyer Xu terminated his contract."

"He left!?" Chief Zhang blurted out, clearly caught off guard.

"Hah, with things like this happening in the firm... if it were you, wouldn't you leave!?"

Director Han could barely contain the anger brewing in his chest, his tone explosive.

He glared intently at the other man and demanded bluntly, "Chief Zhang, tell me. The fact that Lawyer Xu only received three thousand seven hundred in consultation fees over three months... does that have something to do with Sun Hao!?"

Chief Zhang's heart skipped a beat. He hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.

"Yes."

Director Han took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair.

Before Zhang arrived, he had already asked Chief Jin, and the answer he got was... Sun Hao had been making things difficult for Xu De!

That absolute fool! He had handed him a talent to build a relationship with, someone to lean on, and instead, he'd made things difficult for him!!!

And the reason?

Chief Jin guessed it was jealousy born from an inferiority complex... what a laughable, utterly absurd answer!

At the time, Director Han even thought Chief Jin was playing a joke on him.

Why would anyone be jealous of a talent like that? Wouldn't it be better to build a good relationship and reap the actual benefits!?

But the truth was just that.

Furthermore, because Sun Hao was his relative, Chief Jin and Chief Zhang hadn't dared to make assumptions. They'd indirectly assumed this was done under his orders, so they never dared to report it upward...

He even deduced...

That the bonus he had privately given Sun Hao to pass on to Xu De to 'build their relationship' had all been completely pocketed by Sun Hao!

He'd even embezzled the seven hundred bucks! He didn't leave a single cent! When he figured this out, Director Han almost spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot!

Three months. Consultation fees of three thousand seven hundred, and even losing money on criminal cases. Now he completely understood why Xu De left without even wanting the two hundred thousand...

"Fool..."

Director Han's body trembled with rage. The veins on his forehead popped, and his chest heaved violently.

He roared furiously, "What an absolute fool!!!"

The two men around him were startled and quickly tried to soothe him.

"Director, please don't get too angry. Sun Hao was indeed a bit foolish, but... it's not like he caused a massive disaster, right?"

"Lawyer Xu is ultimately young and doesn't have many resources on hand. We haven't sunk any costs into him either. Moreover, that case of his might not have ended perfectly. Otherwise, the morning papers would have been reporting it everywhere."

"Perhaps the client was sentenced to six years, or three, leading the authorities to restrict the spread of such negative news."

Hearing these words, Director Han's anger subsided slightly, though he was still furious.

It was true.

The case Xu De handled might have been a victory, but it most likely wasn't a landslide win. Otherwise, given the nature of those journalists, they would have broadcast it everywhere by now.

So, even though his departure was a significant loss for the firm...

It was not a loss painful enough to suffocate them.

"Tell Sun Hao to roll his ass into my office tomorrow."

Director Han suppressed his anger. With that said, he stood up to leave, prompting Chief Jin and Chief Zhang to breathe a sigh of relief.

However.

Just as the three of them were packing their things to leave...

The color television hanging on the office wall suddenly emitted a clear and familiar voice.

"Welcome to today's broadcast of Greenwood News. I am your host, Wang Zhen..."

"Just yesterday afternoon at 5:30 PM, the Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court handed down a verdict on the Lijia Village case. In this case, the defense attorney secured a victory relying purely on professional competence."

"This lawyer demonstrated a solid foundation in jurisprudence, unique insights, and meticulous logic, coupled with outstanding debate skills. He balanced human ethics while simultaneously upholding fairness and justice."

"......"

For a moment...

The office fell dead silent.

The three men who were about to leave stopped dead in their tracks. It was as if time had frozen, the room so quiet they could clearly hear each other's breathing.

Director Han turned his head, staring blankly at the news broadcast on the television screen.

This was...

Xu De's case?

Didn't they say the result might have been unsatisfactory? That the morning papers wouldn't report it and there wouldn't be a single peep about it in the news...?

But... why was it on television!?

The look in Director Han's eyes as he stared at the TV gradually turned to shock.

Through the television set, the host's voice reached every corner of Greenwood City, ringing clearly in everyone's ears.

"As soon as this case emerged, it quickly sparked widespread discussion among the public."

"Regarding this case, the cadres of the Greenwood City Political and Legal Affairs Commission have offered their praise, and judicial institutions have called it an unreplicable precedent!"

It wasn't just him.

At this moment.

Right now, in every household, all the residents who had finished their dinner and were sitting on their sofas watching television froze in unison.

"Regarding this case, officials from the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of Greenwood City have expressed their high praise, and the judiciary has deemed it an unreplicable precedent!"

"From an initial charge of intentional homicide to a secondary trial for intentional injury, this lawyer ultimately pulled off three stunning reversals. Relying on sheer personal ability, he secured a 'not guilty' verdict, and the defendant, Wang Qiang, was released in court!"

"Industry professionals claim that there are no more than three such cases nationwide each year!"

"After the trial concluded, reporters from major newspapers scrambled to interview the defense attorney. During the interviews, he was asked an incredibly tricky question: Why did he choose to represent the defendant, Wang Qiang, in a case that seemed impossible to win?"

"His answer was deeply thought-provoking!"

On the television screen.

The anchor of Greenwood News paused slightly. Then, his clear articulation carried through the speakers, reaching the ears of everyone in every corner of Greenwood City.

"He only said..."

"Professional ethics!"

Those two words landed heavily.

At that moment.

Everyone following the case felt as if they had collectively been put on pause. They stared blankly at their television screens, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

After a long while...

Snapping out of their daze, people's eyes widened, shock written all over their faces.

"Won the case? Wait, the defendant in that case won!?"

"Not guilty... did I hear that right, or is the news script written wrong? How could this godforsaken case end with a not guilty verdict!?"

"Didn't the defendant kill someone? Even though I sympathize with him, shouldn't you get sentenced for killing someone no matter what? What's the deal with him being not guilty!?"

"The Political and Legal Affairs Commission gave it a high evaluation... what did the defense attorney do? How did he even attract their attention..."

"..."

Exclamations of shock echoed from every corner.

People who watched the news generally only followed two broadcasts: Yanjing News and the local news.

The Lijia Village case had long been reported on the local news, so a massive number of people knew about it.

However, most people had followed it with a pessimistic attitude.

After all, once someone killed another person, there was a ninety-nine percent chance they would be convicted. Let alone when the prosecutors handling the case were Hu Guang and Wang Wei, making it virtually impossible to turn things around.

But...

What did it mean that an unheard-of lawyer had steamrolled Hu Guang and Wang Wei?

And what did they mean by an unreplicable precedent!?

"Are these anchors drunk? Is the Greenwood City TV station so lax that they can broadcast after drinking?"

Someone who had been burying their head in their meal stared blankly at the TV upon hearing this, forgetting to chew.

Full of suspicion, they reached out and changed the channel to another local news station.

But as the screen switched, two new anchors appeared, only to say...

"Why is the Lijia Village case considered an unreplicable precedent?"

"For this program, we have invited a professor from the Law Department of Greenwood University. Next, let's have Professor Wu analyze this not-guilty defense for us..."

"..."

Staring at the other live news broadcast, the viewers fell into deep thought.

They hadn't heard wrong.

It really was a not-guilty verdict.

And unlike the people who were simply shocked in front of their televisions, the internet was already boiling over with discussions about the case!

On all the newly emerging social platforms of 2002, as everyone following the case saw the official news and the announcements issued by the court, the number of comments skyrocketed at an astonishing pace!

[Cat Who Loves Spinach: I'm dumbfounded. Just yesterday I was thinking that if worse came to worst, we could crowdfund to get Wang Qiang a good lawyer for the second trial. How was he declared not guilty today!?]

[Waterfalls Flying Down: Are fake news reports really this rampant nowadays?]

[Collecting Second-Hand Wives: Am I still asleep? Since when do Dongguo lawyers have any say in criminal trials!?]

[Big Brother: Wasn't this case untouchable, leaving him with only legal aid?]

[I Am Li Hei: Wait, what do you mean a lawyer popped out from a pile of trash legal aid lawyers who could go head-to-head with the prosecutors and the judge? Is he really just a legal aid lawyer!!!]

[Tickling Your Soles: Secretary, I'll give you three minutes. I want all the background information on this defense attorney!]

[...]

The year 2002 was an era of wild internet development, where major software platforms were racing to stake their claims and carve up traffic.

In the past, trending searches were always dominated by celebrity gossip or entertainment news, but today...

Across several different platforms, a criminal trial surged into the trending searches!

Now things were getting interesting.

The netizens who had been bored late at night and on the verge of falling asleep took one look and instantly woke up, leaning closer to their computers with faces full of shock.

They began frantically typing on their keyboards, passionately exchanging thoughts in the comment sections. The topic's popularity continued to rise at a visible rate.

It couldn't be helped.

No matter what angle you looked at it from, this case shattered people's worldviews. Especially that lawyer—everyone was simply left staring in disbelief.

And the top-voted comment was from a netizen who felt entirely mind-blown.

[I'm Not a Muggle: Can someone explain to me... what do you mean the defense attorney had to fight nine people in a murder trial!?]

[I'm Not a Muggle: And what do you mean he won!? And won so thoroughly!?]

[I'm Not a Muggle: And what the hell do you mean this is a legal aid lawyer? Do all the legal aid lawyers in Greenwood City have this level of skill!!!]

...

Inside Jinmao Law Firm.

In an office where you could hear a pin drop, only the anchor's voice from the television quietly echoed.

"Finally, let us thank these lawyers who silently uphold their professional ethics."

"Next, we will broadcast another piece of news. Recently..."

The anchor's flat voice floated past their ears.

Inside the office.

Three figures sat in deathly silence. They seemed to have turned into stone statues, not making even the slightest movement.

Until...

Gulp.

Chief Jin, who had been staring fixedly at the screen, swallowed hard. He snapped back to his senses, horror immediately flooding his eyes.

He jerked his head around and looked at Chief Zhang of the Criminal Business Department beside him.

The other man was also wearing an expression of absolute shock, his face filled with disbelief.

"Not... not guilty!?"

Chief Zhang clutched his head with both hands as if he had just heard some impossible fantasy. He muttered to himself, looking as though he were doubting his entire existence.

He was a veteran in legal circles.

He naturally knew just how difficult the Lijia Village case was. And precisely because he knew it so well...

That was why he had previously guessed that Xu De winning the case probably meant Wang Qiang getting a five- or three-year sentence. If he won even more decisively, maybe a suspended sentence.

This wasn't him being conservative or looking down on people.

It was purely because the judicial environment was just like that. The severity of a sentence depended entirely on the judge's personal attitude.

But he truly never expected...

"How could it be not guilty!?"

Chief Zhang clutched his head, racking his brains but completely unable to figure out what had actually happened.

Never mind everything else.

Just the letter of forgiveness and the Settlement Agreement mentioned in the news broadcast—he had absolutely no idea what methods Xu De had used to get Li Youcai and Liu Cui to sign them!

"Wait..."

Chief Zhang and Chief Jin both suddenly realized something. Reining in their thoughts, their expressions slowly turned ugly.

They were starting to get angry now, too.

If a lawyer like Xu De stayed at the firm, as long as he maintained even half of his current ability in the future, and they cultivated a good relationship with him, the resources that slipped through his fingers would be enough to keep them well-fed. But he had actually been infuriated into leaving by Sun Hao...

Was it just Xu De who had been chased away?

It was their future!!!

If it was like this for them, then what about Director Han, the boss of the law firm...

The two men paused and instinctively turned to look at Director Han.

And Director Han right now...

Crack!

A sharp, crisp sound echoed from his hand. It was the sound of a pen being snapped completely in half.

Director Han's expression was currently ugly to the extreme. The fury in his eyes seemed tangible. His chest heaved violently, and his teeth looked ready to shatter from clenching so hard.

"Director..." Chief Jin swallowed hard.

"Where... is Sun Hao?"

Director Han asked in a dark, heavy voice.

"He's... on sick leave." Chief Jin twitched his lips.

"Until when?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Tomorrow morning, huh...

Bloodshot lines surfaced in Director Han's eyes, and the veins on his forehead bulged. His face flushed bright red, his expression turning increasingly ferocious as he could no longer suppress his rage.

Crack!

The broken black pen dug straight into his palm, blood flowing out mixed with ink, yet he seemed completely oblivious to the pain.

"Tell him to get his ass here to see me!!!"

Nighttime.

It wasn't the peak hour for internet traffic, but it was the most lively and active period.

Generally speaking, people have an excitement threshold. A single incident quickly loses its dopamine-inducing effect.

But... this news was like a shot of adrenaline.

Injected forcefully into your veins, it left you unable to resist the overwhelming thrill!

There was no way around it; the news was simply too absurd no matter how you looked at it. If it hadn't been endorsed by multiple authoritative media outlets and accompanied by an official court announcement... anyone reading it would have cursed it as fake news.

Some people were already suffering the fallout!

The next day.

November 17th.

Eight o'clock in the morning.

"This is bad! This is really bad!"

"Editor-in-Chief, the public opinion feedback on the local Greenwood City apps is still fine."

"But on the provincial news network, a bunch of people from other provinces are cursing us out!"

Greenwood City, Phoenix Press.

Inside the Director's office.

Editor-in-Chief Qian stared at the backend data, looking absolutely dumbfounded. He raised his head and glanced at Director Zhou of Phoenix Press, who had stayed up all night with him keeping an eye on the news metrics.

Hearing this, Director Zhou, who usually couldn't handle late nights and had been nodding off, instantly shuddered, his drowsiness vanishing completely.

Under normal circumstances, as the upper management of the newspaper, the editor-in-chief and the director wouldn't easily pull an all-nighter unless there was explosive breaking news.

But as luck would have it, the case the court announced yesterday... fell exactly into that category!

In an era where newspapers were gradually being replaced by the internet, every single piece of news was enough to tug at the director's nerves. Director Zhou had stubbornly stayed up all night. And the result? Now he was being told the backend was full of people cursing him out!?

"What's going on!?" Director Zhou's haggard face was plastered with shock as he quickly walked over to the computer.

"Exactly what it sounds like." Editor-in-Chief Qian, who was forty years old, took a deep breath. He pointed at the various comments on the monitor, which was densely packed with text.

[Ugly Duckling: Unscrupulous media! If you're going to make up fake news, at least try to make it sound believable!]

[Goji Berry Tea: Are you kidding me? I admit some legal aid lawyers are impressive, but... let alone a legal aid lawyer, even if a golden lawyer managed to get a suspended sentence for this case, they could brag about it for a lifetime. And you're telling me a legal aid lawyer got an acquittal?]

[Goji Berry Tea: I suggest the journalist thoroughly understand Dongguo's judicial environment and the overall quality of legal aid lawyers before writing this kind of garbage!]

[Captain Don't Shoot: Seriously, Dongguo's public opinion environment has been ruined by you foul journalists!]

[......]

Looking at the wave of mud-slinging comments, Director Zhou was stunned. He sat in his chair, leaning close to the screen, his index finger continuously scrolling the mouse wheel. He flipped through several pages, but positive reviews were few and far between.

After a long time, a look of bewilderment appeared on Director Zhou's face. He snapped his head up, unable to stop himself from looking at Editor-in-Chief Qian.

"What do they mean, made-up news!?" he asked anxiously. "We didn't make up a single word! To prevent the news from looking too fake, we even omitted a lot of details!"

Director Zhou had anticipated that publishing this news would stir up public opinion, but he truly never expected that the filtered and reviewed article would still get them cursed at.

He hadn't even dared to write that the defense lawyer had won a one-versus-nine battle in the online article. He had only written about the case, the lawyer's trial process, and the defendant's acquittal!

How could it still be called fake news after watering it down so much!?

"If this is still considered making things up, then Greenwood News..." Director Zhou felt a stifling frustration in his chest, unsure of what to do.

Greenwood News was the official television station of Greenwood City. During their prime-time broadcast last night, the host's words had been far more exaggerated than his.

If his watered-down version was considered made up, then they...

"Wouldn't they be the biggest rumor-mongers in Greenwood City!?" Director Zhou couldn't help but say.

Editor-in-Chief Qian also felt like a fishbone was stuck in his throat.

The news they broadcasted in the past was usually nine parts truth and one part fiction, slightly exaggerated. This was normal—a recognized perk of being in the media—and generally, no one doubted it.

But... this time, they hadn't embellished it at all!

Considering it was too unbelievable, they had even toned it down slightly, writing something that was one hundred percent true... yet it was exactly this time that they were being blasted for being fake!

Seriously, was there any justice left in the world?!

"Director, the main issue is that the truth of the news is still only circulating within Greenwood City. People in other places don't know about the case," Editor-in-Chief Qian comforted him. "Coupled with that lawyer... well, it really is a bit exaggerated."

Forget ordinary netizens; if Editor-in-Chief Qian hadn't known about this case, he would have cursed the black-hearted journalist too upon suddenly seeing an article like this.

"Should we... take the news down now?" Editor-in-Chief Qian asked.

Hearing this, Director Zhou hesitated, the words dying on his tongue.

To be honest, newspapers were established by the government and were part of the state system; he was a civil servant.

For the operation of an internet news website, page views didn't count as a hard political achievement. Even if the daily views were only in the tens or hundreds, as long as the ideological direction was correct, it was fine.

But then again...

While page views weren't a hard metric, operating a highly trafficked site was a huge bonus—a soft political achievement!

His news hadn't been reported incorrectly, and the page views were dozens of times higher than usual. It was a viral hit even on the provincial network. He absolutely had a chance to win an award; it was a major achievement!

But these were all curses...

Just as Director Zhou was hesitating, a loud knocking came from the office door.

Bang, bang, bang!

"Director, something happened! Something happened!"

Inside the room, the two executives had their thoughts interrupted and hurriedly looked toward the front door.

"Come in," Director Zhou said.

The door was pushed open from the outside.

A woman in her thirties walked in, covered in sweat. Seeing her state, Director Zhou's heart skipped a beat.

"Director Zhao, what happened? Why are you in such a rush?" Director Zhou quickly asked.

The newcomer was Director Zhao from the newspaper's circulation department.

"The circulation, the circulation..." Director Zhao gasped for air, unable to speak steadily.

"What about the circulation?" Director Zhou frowned, his mind racing.

Their newspaper was considered medium-to-large in scale, with the daily circulation of the morning paper standing at 100,000 copies.

The day before yesterday, after receiving the news, they had held a meeting and made a bold decision.

Print 30,000 extra copies!

That meant, today alone, the morning paper had a circulation of 130,000 copies!

This was a very bold decision because newspapers were hard to sell. They were mostly ordered by corporate units. If no one pre-ordered them, printing excess would result in a pure loss, and revenue was tied to political achievements. It was incredibly risky...

But...

"It's not cancellations!" Director Zhao blurted out frantically. "They're sold out! The extra 30,000 copies we printed are completely sold out!"

"Now the retail vendors, newsstand owners, and bookstore managers are calling to order more!"

At those words, the two men suddenly showed expressions of astonishment, crying out in unison.

"Sold out!?"

"Are you sure?"

Editor-in-Chief Qian was in disbelief. "That's 30,000 copies! We printed a third more than usual!"

Circulation for the newspaper was hard to fight for, especially the morning paper. Every 10,000-copy increase brought tangible benefits that could go on a resume.

In fact, the past circulation of 100,000 copies was a bit inflated.

Units like police stations and courts might order 50,000, but in reality, perhaps only ten thousand people, or even just a few thousand, actually read them. When things were dire, the newspaper could only survive on subsidies.

Therefore, gritting their teeth and printing an extra 30,000 copies for retail yesterday was truly a decision made with immense courage!

"They're really sold out!" Director Zhao stated. "As soon as the news was released last night, public opinion exploded this morning. People are buying it on every street and alley!"

"Within an hour and a half of publication, all 130,000 copies of the newspaper were bought. Now those stall owners are desperately calling to order more stock! We need to print at least another 40,000 copies!"

Print another 40,000 copies!?

Director Zhou's eye twitched, his heart leaping in surprise.

That would mean an extra 70,000 copies printed for the whole day. His previous daily average for the morning paper was only 100,000, and today it was surging by two-thirds!?

"Wait, at this hour, where would we get the inventory to give them?!" Editor-in-Chief Qian was also anxious, shooting the director a look of exasperation.

Printing an extra 40,000 would likely take until noon. There simply wasn't enough time. This was the director's fault; he hadn't been bold enough. Too conservative!

That was an extra 40,000 copies for the morning paper! The opportunity to boost the newspaper's circulation by two-thirds had been missed just like that. He was so frustrated he wanted to slap his thigh!

"The evening paper! There's still the evening paper!" Director Zhao hurriedly spoke up.

Hearing this, Director Zhou and Editor-in-Chief Qian snapped back to reality. That was right. The evening paper was the main force; it sold even more than the morning paper!

It was just...

"How many should we print?" Director Zhao asked.

The usual daily average for the evening paper was 160,000 copies. For today...

Director Zhou remained silent for a long moment. Finally, he made a very bold decision. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Print an extra 100,000 for the evening paper!"

If 30,000 wasn't enough, then... he refused to believe the market could swallow 100,000 copies!

Director Zhou felt a sense of trepidation at his own daring choice.

"Also, don't take down the reports on the provincial network... Our reporting is completely factual. On what grounds are they calling it fake news?!"

......

......

Meanwhile.

Seven-forty.

Greenwood City, at various street stalls.

"Professional ethics... Yes, this is true professional ethics!"

"Doing what others dare not do, stepping up when others won't, taking on what others fear... fighting one against nine... This is what a real lawyer is!"

"Boss, two more baskets of steamed buns. Today, I'm eating at the stall while I read..."

"This defendant really had incredible luck."

......

Sun Hao was walking down the street, and every few hundred meters, similar voices drifted into his ears.

Sun Hao's breathing gradually accelerated. Cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and his palms were slick with moisture. He forced himself to keep walking down the road.

Ever since figuring out why Chen Wei had beaten him up, Sun Hao had been feigning illness for the past two days.

He had no choice; he was terrified that Xu De would report what he had done to him, and then he would definitely be in deep trouble!

He had originally thought that once Xu De's case was over, perhaps with an unsatisfactory outcome, he could return and everything would be fine, but...

He never in a million years imagined that Xu De would fight this case to an acquittal!

Criminal, murder, explicitly clear killing, acquittal...

Sun Hao wracked his brain but still couldn't figure out how these elements had somehow combined!

But the one thing he could figure out was...

'It's over, it's all over...'

Sun Hao swallowed hard. As he got closer and closer to the law firm, his heart burned with increasing anxiety.

He had already received the news of Xu De resigning from the firm, and right at this critical juncture, he was summoned back to the firm by Director Han...

He didn't even need to think to know what was waiting for him!

After all, Director Han had lost such a talent for nothing... According to common sense, Director Han would have been a benefactor who recognized Xu De's worth, and in the future, the two sides would absolutely be bound together.

But after his string of manipulations...

Forget strategic partners.

If Xu De didn't hold a grudge and refrained from stabbing Director Han in the back, he would already be considered incredibly magnanimous!

With such a massive loss, what would Director Han think, and what would he do...

Gulp.

Sun Hao's eyes glazed over as he swallowed hard. Without realizing it, he had arrived at the main entrance of Jinmao Law Firm.

He was trembling slightly, his body feeling weak, his breathing erratic. This door, which he had pushed open countless times, now brought him a crushing sense of oppression.

But what couldn't be avoided had to be faced. He took a deep breath, braced himself, and pushed the door open.

Creak...

The door opened.

Sun Hao walked into Jinmao Law Firm. Just as he stepped inside, he noticed a mass of shadows looming in front of him in the main hall.

Sun Hao forced himself to look up, only to see a dense crowd of figures standing silently in the lobby...

Civil Department Head Jin He, Criminal Department Head Zhang Youguo, Economic Department Head Wang Cai, Law Firm Deputy Director Sha Jian, invited lawyer Zhao Jiaqi...

Law firm shareholder partners: golden lawyer Wang Guowei, golden lawyer Cui Yong, golden lawyer Tu Yan...

Astonishingly, several of the core and highest-ranking individuals of the law firm, whom one rarely saw on ordinary days, were all gathered in the main hall!

Suddenly!

Everyone turned their heads in unison. Their chilling gazes carried a bone-piercing oppression, layering upon him. The atmosphere in the room instantly became heavy, suffocating.

Every single gaze felt like a massive mountain pressing down on Sun Hao, making it hard for him to breathe.

Amidst the crowd, Director Han's face was grim as he stared fixedly at him.

"You're here?"

The next second, the director threw the item in his hand at him.

Smack!

A book fell in front of him.

Sun Hao looked down and discovered that it was a ledger... a ledger recording that in these three months, Xu De had 'impressively' taken on three consultations and one case, totaling three thousand seven hundred bucks!

Suppressing his fury, Director Han looked at him coldly and spoke:

"Explain yourself."

Instantly.

Sun Hao's back was drenched in cold sweat, his face pale, his hands and feet as cold as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

It was over... completely over.

In the stiflingly silent law firm, it felt as though an invisible hand was firmly wrapped around his throat, choking the life out of him.

Sun Hao gasped for air, cold sweat beading across his forehead.

"I..."

The words reached his lips, but he had no idea what to say.

The ledger in front of him felt like a literal mountain, crushing him down so completely that any struggle seemed powerless.

"You what?"

Director Han's fury surged. He clenched his fist, eyes wide with rage.

"Give me a good explanation. Why is it that a heavily groomed lawyer, placed in your hands for three whole months, only handled three consultations and a single criminal case!?"

Judging by his tone, his temper had hit the ceiling.

And indeed, it had.

Director Han was nearly mad with anger. He snatched up the morning newspaper beside him and hurled it at a pale-faced Sun Hao.

"Look at what you've done!!!"

Sun Hao ducked and raised an arm to defend himself, his fingers instinctively snatching the newspaper.

He glanced down without thinking, and lines of bold, striking black headlines instantly filled his vision.

【Outrage! The phenomenon of deadwood has even infected the legal circle! In the Lijia Village case, investigative journalists report that the defense lawyer suffered workplace bullying, earning only 3,700 yuan over three months...】

【Greenwood City's only boutique law firm? In name only! The final shield before the law relies on connections to advance...】

【Exposed: A rising star lawyer forced to live on steamed buns and pickled vegetables. Pictures attached as proof, captured personally by our reporter...】

【...】

In a split second.

Every word struck him like a massive sledgehammer, making his legs give out. Sun Hao slumped onto the floor. Panic overtook his face as he looked up at Director Han.

"Thud!"

"Cousin... Cousin, I..."

"I didn't do it on purpose, I really didn't..."

Director Han had been angry yesterday.

But that was nothing compared to this morning. When he read the paper, he had nearly spat blood.

Workplace bullying exposed, Xu De forced to leave...

The entire law firm, along with its painstakingly built reputation and prestige, had taken a catastrophic hit!

Even the star lawyers within the firm were affected. Several institutions and companies had unilaterally terminated their honorary advisory contracts...

On top of that.

Recruiting new talent for the firm would become a massive problem!

Put it this way: imagine you were a lawyer looking for a firm to join.

You interview at Jinmao Law Firm, only to discover that even the top-tier lawyer who won the Lijia Village case faced workplace bullying here and had to survive on steamed buns and pickled vegetables for three months... If it were you.

Wouldn't you run?

"I was wrong... Cousin, I know I was wrong..."

Sun Hao knew there was no escaping this. He immediately burst into tears. "I'll go find Lawyer Xu, I'll apologize to him..."

Apologize?

If apologies worked, what would we need the law for!?

Besides, could a simple apology really make up for the direct financial losses suffered by so many people in the firm?

Director Han stared at him, his gaze shifting unpredictably, his mind churning. Chief Zhang, Chief Jin, and the others waited for his decision.

After a long silence...

Director Han suddenly spoke, his voice bizarrely calm.

"How brave of you. You even dared to embezzle the firm's public funds!"

Public funds?

Sun Hao froze.

What public funds had he embezzled? At most, he had intercepted the seven hundred yuan a month the other party gave to Xu De, keeping every penny for himself, but those were private funds...

Wait.

In a daze, Sun Hao seemed to realize something. Disbelief washed over his face as he looked up at Director Han.

Director Han continued.

"You even dared to take the 2,100 yuan in public funds the firm allocated to Lawyer Xu. Heh, breaking the law while knowing the law!"

"No... that's not..." Sun Hao tried to argue.

But Director Han clearly had no intention of letting him explain. He turned directly to the people behind him.

"Chief Zhang, immediately suspend Sun Hao from all positions within the firm."

"At the same time, draft an accountability contract and go to court in the firm's name..."

"File a lawsuit."

He paused, staring at the ghastly pale Sun Hao before coldly adding one final blow.

"Pursue both criminal and civil liability!!!"

As the words fell.

Sun Hao's face drained of all color, leaving him looking like a corpse.

As for whether Xu De was angry and wanted revenge...

One could only say.

Xu De did not care.

...

Eight o'clock in the morning.

Inside the VIP reception room of a bank in Greenwood City.

Three men and one woman sat together.

"I didn't expect Lawyer Xu to take out a loan to open a firm because of this incident."

One of the men, sitting behind a desk, looked at Xu De across from him with a face full of lament.

He was the bank manager, Dong Jianxiao.

Yesterday afternoon, he had received a call from Yang Guotao of the Justice Bureau. The man had personally acted as a middleman to introduce someone who needed a loan.

To be honest, Dong Jianxiao had been reluctant.

Because in this day and age, loans given out based on connections were notoriously difficult to collect, not to mention this was an interest-free loan. But when he learned who the borrower was... Dong Jianxiao instantly did a 180-degree flip.

"Here is the situation, Lawyer Xu. According to standard procedure, we still need to understand your plans for the law firm."

Dong Jianxiao looked at Xu De, forcing back his eager desire to simply befriend the man, and began following protocol.

"Understood."

Xu De nodded, pulling out a pre-prepared business plan and handing it over.

Dong Jianxiao nodded and read through it carefully.

A long while later.

"Phew."

Dong Jianxiao let out a long breath. After a moment of thought, he smiled.

"Lawyer Xu, you completely meet all the necessary requirements for the bank and local policies... You are eligible for an interest-free loan... of fifty thousand."

Fifty thousand?

Xu De raised an eyebrow. Fifty thousand in this era was vastly different from later years; you could accomplish a tremendous amount with it.

He had not expected Yang Guotao to act so quickly, arranging everything for him in a single night.

"Furthermore, since you are a premium client, Lawyer Xu, the credit limit can be increased further. I can personally raise it to 120,000 for you," Dong Jianxiao added.

For an ordinary person, getting a twenty-thousand interest-free loan was unrealistic, but this man was different.

He was a lawyer, one who had already demonstrated top-tier capabilities. He was the absolute definition of a premium client. The bank was practically begging to lend him money to establish a connection, treating it as an investment for the future.

"If you have no objections... you can sign the contract. The loan will be transferred directly to your card afterward."

Dong Jianxiao pushed the contract toward Xu De.

There were no hidden traps in the contract, and the repayment period was set within three years.

Xu De scanned it and confirmed there were no issues.

Swish.

Ink flowed onto the paper as he signed his name. Once he set the pen down, the two shook hands.

Before they left, looking at the group standing by the bank entrance, Dong Jianxiao handed his business card to Xu De.

"Lawyer Xu, it was a pleasure doing business with you. Here is my card. If you ever need anything in the future, please look out for me."

"Definitely."

Xu De accepted it and waved goodbye. Seeing this, Dong Jianxiao finally turned and left.

Watching him go, Wang Chao, who had been lingering nearby, could not help but speak up.

"Lawyer Xu, paying off 120,000 in three years... that means paying back 40,000 a year!"

Wang Chao was slightly alarmed.

Forty thousand a year meant a monthly surplus of over 3,300. Factoring in food, drinks, and other expenses, they would need to make at least 5,000 a month just to sustain their growth!

In this era, let alone 5,000, an ordinary person earning 500 a month was considered doing well...

"I am a lawyer," Xu De said, stopping in his tracks to look at him.

"Even for a lawyer, six thousand is tough," Wang Chao clicked his tongue.

Lawyers could make money easily, but the risks were directly proportional to the rewards!

A single case could drag on for months. If they lost, all their efforts would be wasted, and they might even end up paying out of pocket for years. Moreover, there was always the chance that the three-year repayment period would arrive before a case was even concluded...

But then again.

"What if I can handle any case, and I dare to handle any case?" Xu De asked suddenly.

Wang Chao and Lin Yue froze.

His words clearly did not just mean he wasn't picky; the emphasis was on 'dare to handle.'

They knew that a lawyer's earning potential was directly tied to the difficulty of a case. Countless star lawyers had made their names off a single massive case.

But there was a difference between a big case and a truly monumental one!

If Xu De genuinely dared to take on seemingly impossible cases and even win them, then paying back 120,000 in three years... would be child's play!

It was just...

"Lawyer Xu, are you serious!?"

Wang Chao's eyes widened slightly. He had originally thought the man would slowly expand by riding the residual prestige of the Wang Qiang case. He hadn't expected him to target massive cases the moment he opened his firm...

Xu De nodded, his expression calm.

He was incredibly bold, daring to do what ordinary people would never attempt!

However...

Xu De paused, a frown creasing his brow as he spoke in a low voice.

"The only problem is... major cases are hard to come by."

Major cases were rare. There were hardly that many across the entire country in a year. The Lijia Village case involving Wang Qiang was a complete anomaly, and it was hard to say when another case of that magnitude would appear.

Yet, those words.

Still made Wang Chao and Lin Yue pause simultaneously.

The two of them realized that they had somehow boarded a pirate ship... no, a Caribbean pirate ship.

Arrogant, far too arrogant. It was as if he was steering this pirate ship through the judicial seas, ignoring all hidden reefs and brutally smashing through any enemies in his path!

Still...

If a lawyer wasn't arrogant, what kind of lawyer were they!?

Lin Yue suddenly felt her heartbeat quicken. His tone and expression were clearly flat...

Yet he exuded an aura that treated star lawyers and major murder cases like insignificant rabble.

The corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily. After a moment of thought, she spoke.

"I believe you... but, great lawyer, shouldn't we go fill our stomachs first?"

"My treat!"

The three of them laughed, then took long strides toward the exit.

Meanwhile...

...

...

Morning, 8:30 AM.

Greenwood City, Green Forest 18th Academy.

Ring-ring-ring!

The school bell rang, and students ambled back to their classrooms in twos and threes.

Right up until class was about to start, a seat in Class 4 of the senior year remained empty, until...

In a daze.

A figure appeared at the classroom door. The people inside looked up, their expressions gradually turning peculiar as they recognized the person.

It was Yang Jiale, wearing her tacky school uniform. Her jet-black hair was completely soaked, the strands sticking to her face, hiding her features.

Her jacket was drenched, emitting a musty, foul odor.

Feeling the stares of everyone around her.

Yang Jiale lowered her head, letting her long hair cover her face, and walked back to her seat under the watchful eyes of the class.

Sniff, sniff.

Several students nearby wrinkled their noses, frowning with suspicious looks.

Yang Jiale buried her head even lower, shrinking into her seat and pulling out a textbook to hide behind.

Not long after, the teacher walked in. He glanced around the room and immediately started his lecture.

Yang Jiale did not dare look up. The gloomy curtain of hair covered her head, making it impossible for anyone to see her expression or sense her emotions.

Until...

【'The Greenwood City Intermediate People's Court states...'】

A newspaper folded into a paper airplane suddenly landed on the floor nearby. After reading the words on it, Yang Jiale paused slightly.

It was the newspaper the school mandated them to subscribe to.

Yang Jiale stared at the words emphasizing 'justice' from the court. She stared at it for a long time, sitting as still as a wooden doll.

So long that she did not even snap out of it when the teacher announced the end of class.

Ding!

The loudspeaker blared, and Yang Jiale finally came back to reality.

But she continued to stare blankly at the newspaper. A long time later...

Yang Jiale stood up. She walked out of the classroom and headed toward the administration building, soon pushing open an office door.

...

Noon, 11:40 AM.

As the bell signaling the end of the final morning class rang.

Yang Jiale stood up, preparing to head to the cafeteria. However, just as she stepped out of the classroom, the next second.

Three figures suddenly appeared in front of her.

The three girls wore hostile expressions. The one in the lead looked at her with pure mockery, then waved her hand. The other two grabbed her and dragged her toward a deserted stairwell, pulling her up to the rooftop.

"What are you doing!?"

Yang Jiale struggled desperately, causing them to stop in their tracks.

The lead girl turned her head, disdain written all over her face. She looked Yang Jiale up and down, sneering.

"So, it was you who went to the office to look for Lü Guangjun, wasn't it?"

Instantly.

Yang Jiale stared at her in disbelief, shock filling her features.

'How... did she know?'

In the next second, the mocking look on the girl's face twisted into something vicious, revealing a ruthlessness that did not seem to belong to her.

"You slut!"

At noon, the sun hung high.

Greenwood City. The construction site of a future food processing plant.

As a shout to "Break for lunch!" rang out, workers set down their tools in twos and threes, gathering under the shade of the trees to eat.

Ordinary construction sites did not provide meals, and the food at the canteen was expensive, so most workers brought their own lunches from home.

Today, however, was different.

"Whoa, what's that smell? Why is it so fragrant!?"

"What kind of meat is this? Why is it so red? Smells mighty good."

"Braised pork! And so much of it!"

...

Under the shade of the trees.

Dozens of workers surrounded a few stainless steel buckets, staring eagerly at the tantalizing meat inside.

"Shut the hell up, all of you! Keep yapping, and see if I don't feed it to the dogs instead of giving you bastards a single bite!"

In front of the crowd.

Wearing a white hard hat, the foreman and company boss, Sun Zhigang, stood with his large belly sticking out. He postured arrogantly in front of the buckets of braised pork, pointing his finger around at the men.

At his words, the surroundings quieted down.

Seeing this, Sun Zhigang cleared his throat. A look of dissatisfaction flashed across his face before he spoke:

"I'm in a good mood today, so the site is handing out free meat. Line up! One scoop per person!"

Free braised pork!?

A commotion instantly broke out among the dozens of workers, their faces lighting up with pleasant surprise.

In 2002, although poverty was gradually being left behind and most people had enough to eat, their three daily meals were mostly vegetarian. Meat was seen, but it was neither common nor plentiful.

As for migrant workers on construction sites, let alone now, even in 2026, many would still choose to eat mostly cheap staples with no meat for lunch just to save money.

Not to mention braised pork—some of them did not even know what braised pork was!

Right now...

"All-you-can-drink braised pork!" Sun Zhigang declared with his hands on his hips, clearly in high spirits.

Below him, a young worker couldn't hold back and corrected, "Boss, you mean all-you-can-eat."

Sun Zhigang paused, then glared at him in humiliation and anger. "I fucking know that, do I need you to remind me!?"

He didn't dawdle any further and said bluntly:

"But!"

"After you eat my meat, you all better work hard for me this afternoon. Don't make me go beg for a deadline extension again! Make sure the quality is up to standard, and absolutely no fucking slacking off!"

The crowd was already famished, and they chorused in agreement, "We know, we know!"

"Then serve the food!"

With a wave of Sun Zhigang's hand, he personally took up the iron ladle, and the dozens of workers swarmed around in a noisy uproar.

In the corner.

Having just finished her cleaning duties, a short, heavy-set woman with dark, rough skin and rubber boots gulped. Zhao Li stood on her tiptoes, peering into the crowd.

It took a long while before it was her turn to get food.

Sun Zhigang glanced at the woman he had just cursed out yesterday, then sank the ladle to the bottom of the bucket and scooped it up with a forceful motion.

Plop!

A massive spoonful of meat landed in her simple lunchbox.

"Once you're full, work properly. Don't think that just because you have a limp, I won't smack you!" Sun Zhigang scolded. "Hurry up and get lost, don't block the people behind you."

Zhao Li looked at the meat in her box and pursed her lips, a sense of satisfaction washing over her. She said nothing despite the scolding.

She stepped to the side but didn't eat right away. Instead, she put the lid on her lunchbox and turned to leave.

Someone noticed the direction she was heading, their eyes lighting up as they chased after her.

"Sister Zhao, are you going to see your kid too?" a scrawny female worker walked up beside her and smiled.

"My son forgot his lunch money yesterday. It's the middle of the day, so I have to take it to him. Want to go together?"

Zhao Li smiled. "Sure, let's go together."

The school wasn't far from here. It took less than twenty minutes on foot, so the two silently left the site.

Meanwhile, at the food distribution area.

Dozens of workers now had braised pork in their hands, squatting in corners and swallowing huge mouthfuls.

Manual labor exhausted a person quickly.

And when a person was exhausted, the body felt extreme hunger, every cell screaming to be fed.

Under these circumstances, when a piece of perfectly marbled braised pork filled the mouth, followed by a bite of fluffy, tender white steamed bun... chewed vigorously and swallowed down, the feeling of fullness spreading from the stomach was unmatched.

Everyone on the construction site felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

"Boss, why are you in such a good mood today?" a worker asked with a smile while eating.

Sun Zhigang, who was sitting to the side eating the same meal, cursed in response:

"Why do you care so much?"

"Just eat your food. You all act like reincarnated starving ghosts, talking while you eat... careful you don't choke to death!"

"If you die on my site, I'll feed your corpses to the dogs!"

The young worker from before couldn't help himself again. He swallowed his food and retorted.

"Boss, that's called choking, not croaking."

Sun Zhigang fell silent. A moment later, he flew into a rage out of sheer embarrassment, pointing his chopsticks at him.

"You just have too much to fucking say, don't you! I know it's called choking!"

......

......

"Sister Zhao, you refuse to eat well and dress well every day... What are you hoping for, spending all the money you make on your kids? At the very least, you should get your leg and back treated..."

"They can't be cured. They're old problems. I've had them checked everywhere, but there's nothing they can do."

"This is just how my life is going to be. As long as my kids can do better than me, that's enough..."

At the same time, walking side-by-side along the road, the scrawny female worker Wang Fen and Zhao Li chatted.

As she spoke, a sense of relief washed over Zhao Li. A smile unconsciously formed on her face, and she spoke gently:

"Lele gives me peace of mind. She doesn't spend money recklessly, gets good grades, and doesn't get into trouble. Whatever I do now, I have hope."

"Right now, I'm just thinking about buying an air conditioner so her hands won't be cold when she writes in the winter, and she won't be covered in sweat while studying in the summer."

"When the time comes and she gets into a good university, she won't be uneducated like me, forced to sell her physical labor on a construction site..."

Women were not the first choice for foremen on a construction site.

Biologically speaking, women generally had less strength and stamina than men, and construction sites were all heavy manual labor.

For the same price, hiring men was more cost-effective.

Unless it was for the role of a 'site cleaner', which paid less and required less physical exertion, women were rarely prioritized.

Let alone someone like Zhao Li, who was physically handicapped; it was nearly impossible for her to find a site that wanted her.

"How much is an air conditioner? How much have you saved up, Sister Zhao?" Wang Fen asked in surprise.

"A brand-name one costs over three thousand, but a durable second-hand one only costs eight hundred."

Zhao Li calculated carefully, clearly having visited many appliance stores.

Wang Fen said, "Your daily wage is so small, and you still have to provide food and drinks for two kids... Can you save that much in half a year?"

"We'll live a good life eventually."

Zhao Li didn't overthink it and was quite content.

She had no grand ambitions; as long as her children could grow up safely and healthily, that was enough.

An air conditioner was expensive, but if she saved a few bucks a day, she would eventually have enough.

The path was difficult, but as long as she was willing to work hard and endure the hardship, she could reach the end.

She had done the math. By next month, she would have saved enough money. Then she would quietly install the air conditioner. When her daughter came home for the holidays and saw that thing hanging on the wall...

At that thought, a smile naturally graced Zhao Li's face. She and Wang Fen came to a stop.

They had arrived.

In front of them was the Greenwood City Eighteenth Academy.

The gate was a retractable iron fence with a security booth on the left side. Looking through the main gate, the front entrance of the main building sat directly ahead, a flagpole soaring in the center with its flag fluttering high.

Countless energetic young figures in uniform were scattered along the paths, walking and chatting.

Zhao Li stood in front of the security booth, got on her tiptoes, and knocked on the window.

Tap-tap~

Screech!

The window slid open, and the security guard popped his head out. "Who are you looking for?" he asked in confusion.

Zhao Li began, "I'm looking for..."

Before she could finish her sentence—

BANG!!!

Without any warning, a loud noise abruptly echoed right beside her ears.

Zhao Li froze. She turned her head, her gaze locking onto the front hall beyond the retractable gate.

There, a person had smashed into the ground.

She had fallen from the building like a slab of pork... yes, like a slab of pork dropping onto a chopping board. She didn't bounce, just smashed directly into a splattered mess.

Blood dyed her clothes dark red before seeping out, blossoming outward with her at the center.

The side of her face had slammed into the ground, completely mangled.

The other half of her face was covered in bruises and bloodstains. That single visible eye was vacant and dull. Her mouth hung open, facing the main gate like a dead fish on a cutting board.

In an instant, everyone froze. Those nearby hadn't even reacted yet, maintaining their conversational postures as if time had stopped.

At the main gate, Zhao Li watched this scene, rooted to the spot, staring blankly.

Clatter!

The cheap plastic lunchbox fell to the ground, the lid popping open. The now-cold braised pork rolled onto the pavement, coated in grit and gravel.

......

......

Afternoon, 1:00 PM.

At the construction site.

The workers had gradually finished resting and were preparing to start work.

Sun Zhigang turned his head and glanced around, only to realize that two figures were missing, causing him to frown.

"Where are Wang Fen and Zhao Li?"

"Where did they go? Did anyone see them?"

The surrounding workers looked at each other in dismay, exchanging glances before shaking their heads.

"Didn't see them."

Sun Zhigang's frown deepened.

Even though the environment these days was better than it was twenty years ago, accidents still happened frequently on construction sites. Not seeing someone put him on edge.

"Go look for them first."

The crowd began searching every corner, but after a long while, they couldn't even find a shadow.

Just as Sun Zhigang's face flushed with anger...

"Boss... Boss..."

A voice tinged with sobs approached from a distance. That voice... it was Wang Fen's!

Sun Zhigang was about to explode with anger, but when he turned his head, he saw Wang Fen in her work clothes, wiping away tears and sobbing as she stumbled toward the site.

He stopped, and as she drew near, he demanded answers.

"What are you crying for!? What happened!?"

"Someone died... someone is dead..."

Wang Fen spoke through her tears, her voice choked with sobs, making Sun Zhigang anxious.

"Think carefully before you fucking speak!"

"Where is Zhao Li? Where did she go? Why is she missing!?"

Wang Fen cried, "Sister Zhao and I went to find her kid, but her... her child died!"

"It looked like she was pushed off a building! She fell to her death... half her head was smashed open!!!"

Dead...

Someone was dead!?

Sun Zhigang's heart lurched.

"Where is Zhao Li? Where is she!?"

Wang Fen cried even more sorrowfully, speaking in a rush.

"Sister Zhao... Sister Zhao collapsed too. I don't know what happened. She suddenly clutched her chest, turned pale, and then fell to the ground."

"I wanted to leave, but the security guard blocked me and wouldn't let me go. I ran back while he was making a phone call..."

"Are you sure someone pushed the kid?" Sun Zhigang demanded.

"I saw a few heads peeking down from the roof. Someone was definitely up there," Wang Fen cried.

Dead... someone was dead.

Pushed off a building, smashed into a bloody mess...

And it fucking happened inside the Eighteenth Academy. Zhao Li had followed him for years, and now her fate was unknown...

They were bullying people right under his nose!

Instantly, Sun Zhigang's face turned livid. His expression was utterly terrifying, veins bulging on his forehead. His hands clenched into tight fists, knuckles turning white, as his chest heaved violently.

A furious roar suddenly erupted across the construction site, ringing loudly enough to numb everyone's eardrums.

"Everyone who's still fucking breathing, grab your tools and follow me!"

"Don't let those bastards get away!!!"

Afternoon.

1:06 PM.

November temperatures were low, and the biting autumn wind left people shivering even on a sunny day.

However, at Green Forest 18th Academy, Principal Feng Yi was sweating profusely.

Sweat soaked his shirt. He stood before the main hall, staring at the dark brown stains remaining on the ground, his breathing growing increasingly ragged.

Bits of minced flesh remained in the crevices of the floor...

A few minutes ago, someone had plunged from above, smashing into a pulp on the spot.

By the time the ambulance arrived, the person had already been dead for quite some time.

Someone had also fainted over by the guardhouse. Everyone assumed she had passed out from fright, but after a quick examination, the doctor's expression instantly changed, and the ambulance sped off.

"How could this happen? How could something like this happen..."

Feng Yi muttered, his glazed eyes sweeping across the faces around him.

The Dean of Students, the Vice Dean, the grade coordinators...

All the management personnel were gathered here, their faces showing shock, disbelief, panic, and unease.

In the corner.

'Pick up... hurry up and pick up...'

Lü Guangjun's forehead was beaded with sweat. With his back to the crowd, he stared at his dialing phone, burning with anxiety.

Finally, with a beep, the call connected, and a woman's full-bodied voice came through the speaker.

"Hello? Teacher Wang, what's wrong? Is that color TV from last time not working out, or..."

Before she could finish, Lü Guangjun's face scrunched up. He lowered his voice and said, "Something happened to Liu Jingqi!"

There was a moment of silence on the other end before a piercing voice rang out.

"What happened to her? Did someone hit her!? Our family gave you so many gifts—"

Lü Guangjun gritted his teeth. "Liu Jingqi killed someone!"

"The person died on the spot. There was no saving her. The police will be here soon, so just get over here first!"

With that, Lü Guangjun hung up the phone.

He turned around, looking at the leaders gathered together. His heart pounded in a panic, and his hands and feet trembled.

Someone died...

Yang Jiale, the girl who had come to him to complain, was dead!

He truly never expected Liu Jingqi to cause such a massive disaster, or that his attempts to curry favor with her family would lead to this...

Suddenly, a trembling, furious roar rang out.

"Lü Guangjun! Where is Lü Guangjun!?"

In the crowd, the Dean of Students glared with wide, angry eyes, looking around as he shouted.

"I... I'm right here."

Lü Guangjun snapped back to reality and walked over to the group, trembling inwardly.

Seeing him appear, Feng Yi was enraged beyond belief. He closed the distance in two quick strides and grabbed Lü Guangjun by the collar.

"Is this how you fucking run a class!?"

"Tell me, what the hell is going on here!!!"

Lü Guangjun's legs went weak, but he still put on a pitiful, innocent expression. He looked at the principal and said in a trembling voice, "I... I don't know."

"You don't know!?"

Blood rushed to Feng Yi's head. His blood pressure spiked, and his expression turned somewhat ferocious.

The people beside him immediately stepped in to restrain him.

"Don't be impulsive!" the Dean said, holding Feng Yi back.

"Tell me how I'm not supposed to be impulsive!? Someone fucking died, and this bastard says he doesn't know!"

Feng Yi was forced backward by several people.

The Dean gritted his teeth and said, "The most urgent task right now isn't assigning blame."

"First, secure the scene. Don't let the impact spread, and we need to cooperate with the investigation!"

Hearing this, Feng Yi clenched his jaw tightly. He looked at Lü Guangjun, who was covering his face and crying innocently, nearly shattering his molars in anger.

Right at that moment—

"The police are here! The police are here!"

The voice acted like a shot of adrenaline for everyone.

"Where?" Feng Yi anxiously turned to look.

A young man ran anxiously toward them from outside, shouting as he approached: "They're at the gate!"

Without hesitation, Feng Yi left a few management personnel behind and led the remaining key staff briskly toward the school gate.

The police were here.

Except...

It wasn't just the police who had arrived.

...

At the gate of Green Forest 18th Academy.

A blue-and-white police car slowly cut its engine, parking at the entrance.

"Greenwood City is really getting more and more unsettled, especially these past few years."

In the police car, Li Xiang murmured to himself.

Currently, anti-crime and anti-gang operations were being carried out all over the country, so a spike in incidents was normal, but... the cases popping up in Greenwood City were entirely different from the rest.

The nature of the cases was different; they simply couldn't be compared!

"Let's just hope nobody died."

Li Xiang took a deep breath, preparing to step out once the car steadied.

Unfortunately...

Suddenly, Detective Old Zhang in the driver's seat looked into the distance and exclaimed, "Old Li, we have a situation outside!"

A situation? What situation?

Li Xiang was taken aback and looked up.

He saw...

On the road directly in front of the car, a massive, imposing crowd was marching toward them.

At first, they were just blurry dark silhouettes. Soon, their cement-stained clothes, along with the shovels, rebar, and iron pipes in their hands, came into clear view.

At a glance, there were at least a dozen people.

The man leading them was Sun Zhigang, his face dark and gloomy. Beside him stood Wang Fen, sobbing and choking back tears.

"This is bad!"

Li Xiang's heart skipped a beat. He quickly got out of the car.

By the security booth.

The group of construction workers stopped at the entrance.

Wang Fen pointed at the dumbfounded security guards and tearfully accused, "Foreman, it's right here. He's the one who wouldn't let me leave, and Sister Zhao also fainted right here..."

When the incident happened, the security guards received a call and subsequently refused to let her leave.

If she hadn't run away while they were on the phone again... Sun Zhigang probably still wouldn't know about this.

Sun Zhigang suppressed his fury, fixing eyes that looked ready to eat someone alive onto the guards.

"Tell the person in charge here to come out!"

The security guard looked at the line of workers. They engaged in heavy manual labor year-round and were armed with various clubs and sticks. His legs went weak.

Fortunately, before he could answer—

"Make way, make way!"

Li Xiang led his men out of the car and pushed through the crowd, immediately splitting into two groups—one heading into the academy, and the other standing beside the workers.

He squeezed into the center, looking at the dense crowd, feeling a wave of pressure.

Finally, he rested his gaze on the fiercely glaring Sun Zhigang.

"Let's talk this out calmly. We can talk this out."

"Fuck you! How the hell am I supposed to talk calmly!?"

Sun Zhigang cursed right in his face, taking the rebar in his hand and smashing it directly into the window of the security booth.

Crash!

The glass shattered.

"Someone died! Someone fucking died and you're telling me to talk calmly!?"

Sun Zhigang pointed toward the buildings inside the main gate. His body shook uncontrollably as he roared at Li Xiang,

"Someone fucking died right here!"

"And they had the fucking nerve to block two women from leaving! They specifically target the weak, huh!?"

"They saw that we're bottom-rung construction workers and thought we'd be easy to bully, right!!!"

His voice rolled like thunder, echoing in everyone's ears.

The expressions of the construction crew grew increasingly grim. Their fists clenched tightly, looking ready to erupt into violence at any second.

Li Xiang's face turned green again. His tone softened slightly as he repeated, "The situation isn't clear yet. Let's calm down and explain things clearly..."

"Otherwise, you're putting us in a difficult spot."

This kind of mobbing was already breaking the law.

Not to mention armed mobbing!

Alas, Sun Zhigang gave him absolutely no face. His eyes were icy.

"Your name is Li Xiang, right?"

"I'm telling you, even if your Detachment Leader Wu Kang came looking for me today, it'd be useless!!!"

Well then. Being able to name-drop meant the man had backing.

And indeed, these days, you couldn't run a construction site without some backing.

Li Xiang was completely out of options.

Fortunately, at this moment, several figures walked out to bail him out.

"Let's talk calmly, let's talk calmly!"

Seeing the crowd gathered outside, Feng Yi realized things were bad, but he still braced himself and stepped forward, quickly trying to pacify them.

Seeing the principal, Sun Zhigang's fury flared, his emotions boiling over.

"Fuck your mother! Where did you hide her!?"

Feng Yi wore a bitter expression and hurriedly explained, "We didn't hide anyone, we didn't hide anyone!"

"That female worker has been sent to the hospital. If she had her ID on her, the hospital will likely contact you. The child... an accident really did happen to the child, and the body has already been taken away."

Without waiting for the man to react violently, he quickly added, "But blocking the entrance like this isn't a solution either."

"We still aren't clear on how the accident happened. Brother, blocking the gate like this prevents the police from getting in. Isn't that even more harmful to the family?"

"Rest assured, I absolutely will not show favoritism to anyone!"

Sun Zhigang stared squarely at Feng Yi, falling into deep thought.

Seeing this, Li Xiang let out a sigh of relief.

He knew everything had happened too fast, and the construction workers probably didn't know anything.

Rather than cause a riot, these people just wanted the truth and an explanation.

"I..."

After a long while, Sun Zhigang slowly spoke.

But right as he opened his mouth...

Ring-ring-ring-ring~

An abrupt ringtone echoed from Sun Zhigang's pocket.

Sun Zhigang frowned, reaching in and pulling out his phone. Then, in front of everyone, he pressed answer.

Beep~

"Hello?" Sun Zhigang said.

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a young, crisp woman's voice.

"Hello, may I ask if this is Mr. Sun Zhigang?"

"We are from Green Forest City First People's Hospital, calling the emergency contact number left on Zhao Li's medical records."

Was this a nurse?

"I'm her—"

Before Sun Zhigang could finish his sentence, the voice spoke again.

"I am very sorry, Mr. Sun."

"Zhao Li suffered from a heart condition called cardiogenic thrombosis, and her leg deformity and limp were also caused by her heart condition."

"Twenty minutes ago, Zhao Li's blood clot suddenly dislodged. Three minutes later, she passed away. After being sent to the hospital... we are very sorry, but the resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful."

"We would now like to ask."

"Before the patient passed away... did she experience any intense emotional stimulation?"

The words transmitted clearly into the ears of everyone present.

Someone... died? Zhao Li also died?

Two lives!

In that instant, across the entire scene, not a single person spoke. The silence was eerie.

The phone slipped from his hand, crashing onto the ground.

Clack!

From the dropped phone, the voice continued through the speaker.

"Hello? Mr. Sun, are you listening?"

"Hello?"

Li Xiang closed his eyes, his heart giving a violent lurch.

'We are done for.'

The very next second...

"I'll fuck your mother!!!"

Two days later.

November 19, 12:17 PM.

"Sun Zhigang, your actions were minor, the damage was slight, and the overall danger was low. Given that there was clear provocation, a loss of emotional control, no premeditation, and no injuries."

"The school has shown understanding and will not press charges. Furthermore, you have no prior criminal record."

"A criminal case will not be filed. The matter has been downgraded to a public security offense, and you are penalized with ten days of administrative detention."

"However, considering other factors, the administrative detention is temporarily suspended."

Greenwood City, inside the Criminal Investigation Detachment.

Detachment Leader Wu Kang stood in the temporary detention room, looking at the expressionless middle-aged man.

Wu Kang spoke. "You can go. Head out."

Hearing this, Sun Zhigang, who had been detained for two days, stood up wordlessly. He grabbed his jacket and walked toward the door.

As he passed, Wu Kang suddenly reached out and gripped his shoulder.

"Old Sun..."

"The culprits in this case have already been caught. If you really want to vent your anger... find a decent lawyer and get some compensation for the family."

"Don't make things too ugly for the brothers here. It leaves us in a difficult position."

Sun Zhigang gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment, then brushed past him and walked out.

Watching his retreating back, Wu Kang let out a sigh.

Sun Zhigang had smashed the school's main gate.

That was right, he had even leveled the security room to the ground.

Gathering a crowd to cause trouble—if the police had strictly applied the law and escalated the issue, it could have been classified as a serious crime, potentially carrying a sentence of three to seven years in prison!

But fortunately.

In 2002, very few people who ran construction sites were simple.

Combined with the fact that there was genuine provocation, and Principal Feng Yi did not want to blow the matter up further, they decided to minimize the issue, handling it with a ten-day administrative detention.

In the end, the administrative detention was suspended, and he was released on the third day.

"Sigh."

Wu Kang thought back to the case involving two lost lives. He silently pulled a cigarette from his chest pocket and took a deep drag.

From his perspective as a Detachment Leader with decades of experience, this case...

"It's a tragedy."

With those words, Wu Kang walked outside.

Being a criminal investigator was a high-risk, depressing profession, so he had grown accustomed to such things.

But...

Sun Zhigang had not.

...

Outside the temporary detention room.

Seeing Sun Zhigang emerge with his jacket draped over his shoulders, Tang Xiaohu, a young worker sitting on the steps, quickly stood up to greet him.

"Foreman."

Sun Zhigang nodded. He stayed silent for a moment before asking, "How many from the site got locked up?"

Tang Xiaohu replied, "Not counting you, Foreman, there were nine others. Two got seven days, and the other seven got three days."

Sun Zhigang stated without hesitation, "Pay those seven a full month's perfect attendance wage based on a mechanic's salary, as compensation for poor management at the site."

Tang Xiaohu asked, "What about the other two?"

"Pay them for three months."

Sun Zhigang instructed, "Pay the rest who showed up seven days' wages based on their specific job roles."

Tang Xiaohu nodded, inwardly clicking his tongue.

Most of the nine who went in were general laborers. A mechanic's monthly salary was more than double theirs!

As for the two with seven-day detentions, getting locked up to rest for a week without working, only to come out and immediately collect half a year's wages...

He figured they wouldn't have a single complaint.

"What about the tasks I asked you to handle?" Sun Zhigang asked as he walked toward a black sedan in the parking lot.

Tang Xiaohu quickly followed. "All taken care of. I've gathered most of the case details from the police, and I've got the law firms in Greenwood City memorized."

Sun Zhigang got into the back seat. Tang Xiaohu opened the driver's side door, sat down, and buckled his seatbelt.

"Take me to a reliable one," Sun Zhigang said.

Tang Xiaohu thought for a moment. "There are quite a few famous law firms in Greenwood City.

"For example, Jinmao, Maosheng, Zhenghe, Yang Teng, Rude..."

"Which one is the best?" Sun Zhigang asked.

Tang Xiaohu answered, "Jinmao. It's the only boutique law firm in Greenwood City, and they have seven golden lawyers. However, they announced an internal reorganization over the past two days."

"Next is Rude Law Firm. They only have four golden lawyers... but all four specialize exclusively in criminal law."

"Then let's go to Rude."

"Alright."

With that, Tang Xiaohu turned the key in the ignition.

Vroom!

...

...

1:30 PM, Greenwood City.

A black sedan pulled up at the Rude Law Firm.

Screech!

"Hello, how can I help you?"

Inside the firm, seeing Sun Zhigang and Tang Xiaohu walk in, an intern lawyer hurriedly stood up to greet them.

"We need to file a lawsuit," Sun Zhigang said with a dark expression.

"Do you have an appointment?" the intern asked.

"No," Sun Zhigang replied.

The intern's eyes lit up.

A walk-in case... Could this be his chance to make a name for himself!?

"Please, come this way with me."

He enthusiastically led the two men to the reception hall. After getting them seated, he poured two cups of hot tea.

"May I ask... what kind of case you are looking to file?"

Tang Xiaohu smoothly got straight to the point. "A murder case."

The intern was momentarily stunned, feeling out of his depth.

A criminal murder case... this was a major offense. Even senior lawyers wouldn't take one on recklessly...

He suppressed his swirling thoughts and asked, "Could you be more specific?"

"A lawsuit involving two lives. One deceased is a middle-aged woman, and the other wasn't even eighteen yet," Tang Xiaohu explained. "We are the plaintiffs."

"The main defendant is named Liu Jingqi, along with two others named Jiang Yu and Qiao Wang. They are all girls, aged sixteen, seventeen, and seventeen."

Hearing the first part, the intern was already shrinking back.

But the second half... made him unable to stop himself from speaking out.

"This... will be very difficult to secure massive compensation for."

With three parties involved, the responsibility would be pushed back and forth. During this process, it was highly likely each party would only be liable for a minimum amount of compensation. After all, being under eighteen meant they had to be given leniency or reduced sentences.

But...

"I don't want any fucking compensation."

Sun Zhigang suddenly roared in anger. He took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "I want that animal Liu Jingqi to pay in blood!"

Pay in blood...

Did that mean a life for a life?

The intern's smile froze, and he instinctively shook his head. "That's impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Sun Zhigang frowned, raising his voice. "I'll pay two hundred thousand! As long as you can make that animal die, I'll give your law firm two hundred thousand!"

The intern shook his head. "This isn't a matter of money..."

"Three hundred thousand!" Sun Zhigang offered again.

In 2002, three hundred thousand was a massive sum, equivalent to sudden wealth. If taken to Haicheng, it could even buy a nearly 100-square-meter apartment in the central district.

But the problem was...

"This really isn't about the money."

The intern felt somewhat helpless.

Not far away, a senior lawyer noticed the commotion, frowned, and strode over.

"What's going on?"

The intern hurriedly stood up and explained, "A criminal murder case, two lives lost. They want a life for a life from one of the defendants..."

The plaintiffs in a double homicide?

The senior lawyer's eyes brightened. This was a massive advantage!

The intern added, "There are three defendants... none of them are eighteen."

Suddenly, the senior lawyer froze.

"I apologize, but our Rude Law Firm cannot accept this case."

This... could never result in a death sentence.

It wasn't that the probability was low.

It was that even if they died trying, they absolutely could not meet the demand!

Let alone an immediate execution, they couldn't even secure a suspended death sentence, which in this era might just mean getting out after twenty years.

"We can offer more money," Tang Xiaohu said, standing up.

"It's not about the money. Your demand truly cannot be fulfilled."

"Not to mention, you can only entrust a lawyer to act as a civil representative, at most assisting the public prosecution," the senior lawyer explained.

"If you do not plan to change your demands... then it's not just Rude. No law firm in the entire country can take your case."

The two men fell silent.

A long time passed.

"Sorry for the intrusion."

Sun Zhigang turned and walked out.

After exiting the law firm, he got straight into the car.

He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, his mind weary.

Tang Xiaohu remained quiet.

The car was so silent that they could hear each other breathing.

A long while later.

Buzz!

A phone vibrated.

Sun Zhigang opened his eyes, glanced at the glowing screen, and answered.

"Hello?"

A voice came through the speaker. "Are you out?"

"I'm out," Sun Zhigang replied, his eyes closed.

"Where are you?"

"Outside the Rude Law Firm."

"Alright."

Beep!

The call disconnected.

Sun Zhigang showed no intention of leaving.

After a long wait.

Someone opened the back door and sat down heavily. It was none other than the food company boss, Zhang Hu.

Zhang Hu looked at his childhood friend sitting next to him, smacked his lips, and sighed. "Be more level-headed from now on."

Sun Zhigang didn't reply, simply leaning back quietly in his seat.

Zhang Hu paused, then looked at Tang Xiaohu. "Xiaohu, what happened?"

Tang Xiaohu answered, "No lawyer is willing to take the case..."

Sun Zhigang refused to accept this.

Zhao Li had worked with him for so long, following him from the countryside to the city, only to drop dead without any warning.

Yang Jiale was gone too. This child, whom he had watched grow up over the past ten years, died in just two seconds—snuffed out so lightly, so incredibly unreal.

And... the police actually told him that if the other side found a decent lawyer, it was highly likely they would get a light sentence of seven years.

With good behavior, they might even be out in under five years!

Two lives, for just five years... Motherfucker, he could get seven years just for smashing a gate!

Sun Zhigang felt like it was a sick fucking joke!

"Because of the lawyers?"

Zhang Hu paused, understanding the situation.

He too fell silent. There really was nothing that could be done about this kind of thing.

Until...

"What if I recommend someone to you?" Zhang Hu suddenly offered.

"Someone?"

Sun Zhigang paused. He opened his eyes and frowned at him.

"Who?"

"A lawyer," Zhang Hu stated. "A... very formidable lawyer."

...

...

3:00 PM.

Greenwood City, Shangzhu Courtyard Teahouse.

Sun Zhigang, Tang Xiaohu, and Zhang Hu sat together in a simply decorated private room bathed in warm yellow light.

Creak.

The door to the room opened.

A neatly dressed young man in a suit walked in.

Sun Zhigang looked up. Upon seeing the man's appearance, he paused briefly and frowned, but still stood up and extended his hand.

"Hello, I am the client for this case.

"You can just call me Sun Zhigang."

The young man nodded and reached out to shake his hand.

"Hello.

"I am the lawyer recommended by Mr. Zhang. It will be another ten days before my law firm receives its practicing certificate, but it won't affect the commission."

"By the way, allow me to introduce myself."

He paused, then continued. "My name is Xu De.

Xu

with the double-person radical, and

De

as in morality and law."

A faint, almost imperceptible professional smile appeared on Xu De's face. He looked at the man and said, "It seems...

"You might be in need of some rather rare assistance."

Sun Zhigang asked, "Do you know what I want?"

Xu De nodded without any shift in expression. "I do. The death penalty."

Sun Zhigang froze. He stared at the young face in front of him, his frown deepening.

Could this guy... actually pull it off?

Honestly, when it comes to professions like doctors and lawyers, the very first thing most people look at is age.

Sun Zhigang couldn't be blamed for feeling uncertain; the person sitting in front of him was simply too young!

"Since everyone is here, let's sit down first. There's no rush,"

Zhang Hu said from the tea table.

Hearing this, Sun Zhigang snapped back to his senses and invited Xu De to take a seat.

He looked at the young lawyer, hesitating. He wanted to speak, then stopped, only to want to speak again. Finally, unable to hold back his emotions any longer, he blurted out:

"The defendants are three girls, and none of them are even eighteen!"

"Are you absolutely sure... you can meet our demands?"

This time, Xu De paused.

He pondered for a moment and, rather than answering directly, asked a question of his own:

"Do you have the defendants' files? Including, but not limited to, their photographs and identification."

Sun Zhigang glanced at Tang Xiaohu beside him.

Tang Xiaohu quickly unzipped his briefcase and pulled out a stack of documents. Inside were photographs of three girls, each with distinct features.

Xu De took the files. Upon seeing the three photos, his brows furrowed slightly.

He picked up the picture labeled 'Liu Jingqi' and stared at it for a long time.

Liu Jingqi was 1.65 meters tall and weighed 60 kilograms. Her appearance was ordinary, but there was a certain... arrogance in her eyes?

More importantly... she looked a bit too mature.

"How old is she?" Xu De asked, his frown deepening.

"Sixteen," Tang Xiaohu replied.

"A senior in high school? Are you sure she's sixteen?" Xu De pressed.

Tang Xiaohu shook his head. Liu Jingqi's age was indeed suspicious.

Although Sun Zhigang didn't understand the law, he knew the death penalty was impossible for a minor. The only reason he was still pushing for it was because of the very point Xu De had just raised.

"I said the same thing, and you aren't the first person to ask,"

Tang Xiaohu shook his head and continued. "But the police went to the hospital, and forensic institutions even conducted bone age assessments. After multiple investigations from various parties... the verified data is exactly what you see in front of you."

If the police provided it, it meant these details had been verified multiple times.

However...

"Alright, I understand,"

Xu De said, though, much like Tang Xiaohu, he didn't completely buy into the files.

In this world, when it came to anything related to the judicial system, there were no absolutes. The only thing that mattered was whether you could find the right angle, and what words you could use to expand upon that angle!

As for the current case...

Xu De would only place a hundred percent of his trust in what he investigated himself!

"It won't be too late to make a decision after I fully understand the basic information of the case."

"So... Mr. Sun, Mr. Tang, apart from this... what other information is there regarding the case right now?"

He looked up at the two men in front of him.

As long as he dared to take it...

Sun Zhigang breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to those timid lawyers who refused to even try the moment they heard the defendants were minors, the young man in front of him was much more impressive.

Tang Xiaohu spoke up.

"The current news from the police is this:

"The case will be handed over to the Greenwood City Prosecutor's Office for public prosecution in half a week. The prosecutor is a thirty-five-year-old man named Huang Shi."

"As for the defendants... their families hired a boutique law firm. Aside from that, I don't know much else."

Theoretically, a case like this should be handled by experienced veterans like Hu Guang or Wang Wei.

But... veterans were exactly that—veterans, not nuclear-powered mules. Hu Guang had just wrapped up the Lijia Village case and was currently focused on prosecuting Li Youcai and Liu Cui; he had absolutely no energy to spare.

Thus, it fell to Huang Shi, a prosecutor who was a tier lower.

'A second-tier prosecutor and a boutique law firm...'

Xu De fell deep into thought.

His teammate's ability was slightly lacking, while the opponent was highly likely a team composed of golden lawyers. Looking at it this way...

"The defendants' families are very wealthy?" Xu De narrowed his eyes, intertwining his fingers.

Tang Xiaohu sighed and nodded.

"They can't be considered truly wealthy, but their homes were demolished for redevelopment, leaving them with about a million in cash. Still, that's more than enough for this case."

"And it's exactly because of this that Liu Jingqi was spoiled into having such an arrogant attitude."

Xu De nodded, getting a rough idea of the opposing party's financial background.

After a moment of consideration, he felt that this case...

Was fightable!

"This case... I can give it a try,"

Xu De declared, before suddenly changing his tone.

"Mr. Sun, I won't give you an absolute guarantee right now that I can fulfill all your demands. That would be irresponsible."

"But what I can guarantee is that I will fight this lawsuit for my client to the best of my abilities!"

"If you're willing, we can sign the contract in ten days."

Was he willing?

Sun Zhigang paused, falling silent.

Other lawyers didn't even bother to look into the details of the case; the moment they heard the basic information, they outright rejected it. There was no room for discussion. Since this young man was willing...

"Deal!"

"I trust you."

Sun Zhigang took a deep breath. His eyes narrowed, and he spoke with the confidence of someone with deep pockets.

"Once the case is completed, I will give you a three hundred thousand commission. Even if you fail, you'll still get a hundred and fifty thousand for your hard work!"

"Alright, in that case..."

Xu De nodded, a smile appearing on his face.

Then, he paused and suddenly asked a question that caught the others off guard.

"Can you take me to see the client now?"

The client?

Sun Zhigang froze for a moment before nodding.

...

...

Zhao Li was dead, and Yang Jiale was dead.

But Zhao Li had two children, not just Yang Jiale. Out of a family of three, only the youngest son was left alive.

"The child's name is Yang Huan. He's fourteen years old this year."

"He's still in middle school. His mood... hasn't been very good these past two days."

"Don't worry, he'll be your client, but I'm the one paying. As long as you can get things done, you won't be shortchanged!"

"Mr. Sun, you worry too much. I'm not thinking about the money, but the case itself."

"..."

Greenwood City, suburbs.

A black sedan weaved through the residential area.

This was the outskirts of the city, three kilometers away from the nearest commercial street. Most of the buildings were self-built single-story houses, and the overall atmosphere was not much different from a rural village.

A moment later.

Screech!

The car rolled to a halt in front of a somewhat dilapidated single-story house.

Click.

Xu De opened the door and stepped out, looking up at the house before him.

This was where Zhao Li had rented a place for a hundred and fifty a month. The environment was poor, and transportation was inconvenient.

Yang Huan hadn't gone to school. After the construction site management and the police briefed him on the case, he had asked for a leave of absence. If he hadn't gone out, he should be home.

Xu De walked up to the door and reached out his hand...

Knock.

"Is anyone..."

Just as he knocked and was about to call out... the door unexpectedly swung open under the slight force of his hand.

At the same time, Xu De's ears twitched. He caught a sound and narrowed his eyes.

Sun Zhigang stepped up from behind, looking confused at Xu De's expression.

"What's wrong?"

"Shh."

Xu De made a hushing gesture, signaling the man to lean in close and listen carefully.

Although suspicious, Sun Zhigang complied. The next second...

Faint, intermittent voices drifted into his ears.

"Our client is very sorry. She has been tossing and turning these past few days, feeling immense guilt. She is willing to offer compensation..."

"She's also a victim. She was friends with your sister, and she never expected that just playing around would lead to your sister's tragic accident."

"As for your mother, she passed away unexpectedly due to a heart attack caused by exhaustion. Mr. Yang, I know you're an understanding child, you..."

This...

Suddenly, Sun Zhigang's pupils shrank. Without a word, he kicked the iron door wide open.

Bang!

"Who is talking in there!"

"We are willing to compensate..."

Inside the room, the two men in suits hadn't even finished their sentence under the watchful eye of a notary.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, the side door was kicked open.

Lawyer Zhang Wei paused, frowned, and turned toward the door.

Xu De and Sun Zhigang strode into the room.

Sun Zhigang was furious, his expression dark as he surveyed the room.

There were four people inside: two lawyers, a woman in uniform, and finally, fourteen-year-old Yang Huan, who sat on the sofa with his head bowed, looking utterly gloomy.

"Who the hell let you in?!" Sun Zhigang barked at the two lawyers.

The words he had just heard through the door...

They were clearly trying to coax Yang Huan into signing the letter of forgiveness!

"You must be Mr. Sun."

Zhang Wei showed no intense reaction. Instead, he smiled faintly, stood up, and said,

"Hello, I am Zhang Wei, a lawyer from Zhenghe Law Firm and the defense counsel for the defendant, Liu Jingqi."

"You might have misunderstood. We didn't come here privately..."

Saying that, Zhang Wei pointed to the silent woman in uniform next to him.

"This is a staff member from the Civil Affairs Bureau, serving as Yang Huan's state guardian. We are having a normal conversation in the presence of a notary."

Sun Zhigang looked at the civil servant acting as the state guardian.

The woman shook her head with a worried expression, but she didn't deny it.

State law clearly stipulated that if parents died leaving a minor without a guardian, the Civil Affairs Bureau would appoint someone to act as a state guardian. Lawyers negotiating with the minor needed to do so under their supervision, meaning no rules were being broken.

Sun Zhigang's face instantly turned livid. He held back his temper for a long moment before roaring,

"Get out!"

Zhang Wei smiled. Showing no anger, he simply stood up.

"I hope the client will carefully consider our offer. We'll take our leave first."

With that, Zhang Wei left with his assistant, casting a glance at Xu De before departing.

Only Yang Huan's state guardian, He Miao, remained behind.

"You get out too!" Sun Zhigang bellowed.

He Miao first ushered Yang Huan silently into the bedroom.

Then she turned to Sun Zhigang with a stern face and declared, "I am the state guardian. By law, my authority is higher than yours!"

"Mr. Sun, control your emotions. You are only... Zhao Li's boss, not her relative."

"You!"

Sun Zhigang flushed with anger, but unable to retort, he could only speak through gritted teeth.

"Are you even fit to be a guardian? What was that man doing just now? He was trying to make Yang Huan sign the letter of forgiveness!"

"I know!"

He Miao also flared up. She clenched her hands tightly, her voice rising in pitch.

"I know that Zhao Li and Yang Jiale are... gone."

"Yang Huan has the right to be angry. He needs to be furious, and even more so, he needs to seek justice. He should fight Liu Jingqi to the bitter end!"

"You keep talking about morality, ethics, emotions, and fairness, but..."

He Miao took a deep breath, relaxed her hands, and looked deeply troubled.

"We have to be realistic."

"Even if you pursue criminal liability, Liu Jingqi will get fifteen years at most. It's more than likely to be reduced to twelve years, or it's highly probable her actual time served won't even reach ten!"

"And what about Yang Huan? Zhao Li is gone, and Yang Jiale is gone too."

"He's only fourteen. Without compensation, tell me how he's supposed to live from now on?!"

Sun Zhigang felt a lump in his throat, rendered speechless.

She saw things clearly enough. Under the current circumstances, pursuing criminal liability to the bitter end was meaningless, and Yang Huan still had to face the reality of living.

Zhang Wei was willing to offer massive compensation in exchange for the letter of forgiveness. Allowing Liu Jingqi to receive a negligible two-year reduction on her sentence would provide far more substantial help to Yang Huan.

In other words, survival took priority over emotional desires.

Most importantly, from He Miao's perspective, those emotional desires couldn't be fulfilled anyway!

"I'll raise him," Sun Zhigang retorted. "I have money!"

"Can you raise him for a lifetime? Can you take full responsibility? No! Only Yang Huan himself can bear that responsibility."

"And I refuse to entrust Yang Huan's future to an empty verbal promise that carries zero accountability!"

He Miao shook her head.

The two argued relentlessly, yet both had their own valid points.

Xu De ignored them both.

He shifted his gaze to the bedroom, then walked slowly past the quarreling duo.

"Creak~"

The door opened.

Yang Huan sat at the foot of the bed, expressionless. He stared blankly at the wall in front of him, looking somewhat dazed.

Xu De stood beside him, looking down. After a long while, he finally spoke:

"Yang Huan, I am your proxy for the civil lawsuit."

Hearing his voice, Yang Huan snapped back to reality. He looked up, staring blankly at Xu De.

"Zhao Li is gone, and Yang Jiale is gone too,"

Xu De stated, presenting the grim reality in the briefest of words while maintaining an emotionless gaze at the boy.

"You can demand compensation, or you can seek to hold them accountable. Whichever you choose, I will support you."

"Now, tell me what you want to do."

Yang Huan opened his mouth, his lips trembling slightly. His throat bobbed as he tried to say something.

A second later, he felt a dampness at the corners of his lips. Yang Huan reached up, only to realize that two trails of hot tears were silently slipping down his cheeks.

Over the past three days, he had been treated like a ball, a marionette huddled in a corner, kicked around at will by others.

This was the first time anyone had asked for his opinion.

At that moment, fourteen-year-old Yang Huan could no longer hold back. His hot tears poured down like a broken dam in a crashing, surging flood.

"I... I want her dead..."

Yang Huan pressed his forehead against Xu De's stomach, wailing as if trying to vomit out his very soul. He cried out hysterically,

"I don't want money..."

"I'm begging you... I just want her to die!!!"

Yang Huan wailed in a complete breakdown, crying so hard his snot and tears soaked through Xu De's only suit.

Xu De didn't mind. He patted the boy's head with his left hand, and with his right, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

The call connected.

Xu De spoke slowly:

"We've got work..."

"Hard work!"

......

......

"So what you're saying is..."

Four o'clock in the afternoon.

At the residential area where Yang Huan lived.

Wang Chao, who had hurried over, stood at the main gate. He pointed at himself, a look of astonishment on his face.

"Me? Fight a minor?"

Wang Chao himself laughed.

Xu De shook his head and corrected him, "It's

us

."

Lin Yue, standing to the side, rubbed her forehead and sighed, "Close enough."

She knew he was bold.

But she truly hadn't expected him to be

this

bold!

Daring to take this case... a case involving three minors sharing liability!

However... it was quite obvious that he wasn't reckless.

Lin Yue looked up and frowned.

"You didn't call us over just to chat, did you?"

"How are you planning to fight this?"

Xu De nodded and explained his train of thought.

"There's something suspicious about Yang Jiale's death."

Wang Chao looked confused. "Wasn't she killed by Liu Jingqi? There are traces of bullying on the rooftop..."

"No, what I mean is, the underlying cause that led to the bullying is suspicious!"

Xu De shook his head, correcting him once again.

"I've asked Yang Huan and Sun Zhigang."

"Yang Jiale was a normal girl. She wasn't weak-willed, nor was she unsociable. Under normal circumstances... she might not have told Zhao Li, but she absolutely would have gone to a teacher!"

"And on the day of the incident, looking at the police interviews, it's not hard to see."

"The defendant Liu Jingqi's behavior was different from before. It was more extreme, and this extreme behavior was specifically targeted at Yang Jiale, not just a simple emotional outburst."

"This is highly irregular."

Looking at countless bullying cases, perpetrators acted fearlessly because of the victim's cowardice, but... a victim's resistance was even more likely to cause the bullying to escalate!

"Are you saying... Yang Jiale fought back?" Wang Chao asked, still puzzled.

"Yes, but also no. At the very least, it's highly probable she didn't fight back directly against the perpetrator, Liu Jingqi. In that case, there's only one answer left."

Looking at the two of them, Xu De's expression was grave, his thoughts clear as he stated,

"The homeroom teacher of Class 4, Lü Guangjun... has a problem!"

With a long-term bullying situation, it was impossible for Lü Guangjun not to realize it.

Yet he never stopped it.

Combined with our speculation regarding the reason for the conflict's eruption, then...

Lin Yue instantly realized what he meant, but the realization left her momentarily stunned.

"Lü Guangjun has a problem? The fact that Yang Jiale snitched was told to Liu Jingqi by him, her own teacher?!"

"It's highly probable!" Xu De said.

For this case, Zhang Wei's side would without a doubt aim to clear Liu Jingqi of the crime and frame the case as 'accidental death'.

Let alone intentional homicide, they would likely fully deny even intentional injury, spouting excuses like 'just playing around' or 'an accident'.

Therefore.

His first step had to be...

"Convicting Liu Jingqi!"

Securing a conviction would be difficult because there were no other eyewitnesses at the scene. Aside from the victim's body, there wasn't much evidence on the rooftop pointing to intentional homicide.

So, if the homeroom teacher, Lü Guangjun, truly had a problem...

He was the perfect breakthrough point!

And so...

At that thought, Xu De's mind flashed back to Yang Huan. His expression gradually hardened as he declared coldly,

"We start the slaughter with him!!!"

Lin Yue shuddered, her demeanor turning serious.

"How do we slaughter?"

'How to kill...' Xu De thought for a moment before asking, "How much longer will it take to get the practicing certificate at the earliest?"

Lin Yue gave him a rough estimate. "About eight days."

'Eight days...'

"That's enough."

"We'll wait for the police to transfer the case to the procuratorate."

"Then, we'll meet with Liu Jingqi as the victim's legal representatives to feel out her attitude. If her attitude is unrepentant, we'll seize the opportunity..."

"And immediately move against Lü Guangjun!"

......

November 20th.

The police investigation into the Green Forest 18th Academy case was gradually wrapping up.

It was determined that Yang Jiale's death was closely connected to Liu Jingqi, Qiao Wang, and Jiang Yu.

After a formal discussion, the criminal investigation team finally decided to transfer the case to the Greenwood City People's Procuratorate.

......

November 21st.

The court accepted the case.

This was the 18th Academy case.

The procuratorate initiated a public prosecution with the Intermediate People's Court according to the law. The prosecutor in charge was named Huang Shi.

Huang Shi officially intervened and began to corroborate the police's evidence.

At the same time, prosecutors began to frequently appear at the 18th Academy, and some of Yang Jiale's schoolmates underwent interviews and investigations.

Until...

......

December 5th.

Xu De's practicing certificate, which normally would have taken one to three months to process, was approved in just a little over ten days!

That day.

Under the witness of the state guardian, Xu De signed an entrustment contract with Yang Huan.

With this, he officially and legally became the victim's legal representative for the plaintiff in the 18th Academy case!

Subsequently.

Xu De launched his operation without delay.

His first target was Lü Guangjun, but the first person he needed to see was...

Liu Jingqi!

......

......

That day, at twelve-thirty in the afternoon.

Inside the Greenwood City Detention Center.

Tap, tap...

A woman wearing a yellow prison uniform, her hands cuffed, was flanked by two police officers and led toward the lawyer's meeting room.

The meeting room was barely two meters wide, smaller than a bathroom, and separated by a wire mesh fence.

Clack!

A police officer opened the fence, and another pushed Liu Jingqi inside.

"Speak properly and don't do anything drastic."

Smack!

Liu Jingqi didn't get angry. She walked in, sat down at the interrogation desk, and looked around with a playful, curious gaze, showing not a hint of nervousness.

A moment later.

"Liu Jingqi, right?"

A figure suddenly sat down in front of her, separated by the fence.

The person who arrived was none other than Xu De, with Wang Chao and Lin Yue standing behind him. He stared at her.

Looking purely at her appearance, it was difficult to associate the girl in front of them with the vicious, ruthless face of someone who bullied others and even committed murder.

But the truth was...

This seemingly harmless girl really had killed someone.

Looking at Liu Jingqi across the table, Xu De quickly scanned her nose, cheekbones, forehead, and other features before retracting his gaze. He asked indifferently, "Do you know who I am?"

Liu Jingqi looked him up and down, then lowered her head uncaringly and started picking at her fingernails, acting entirely dismissive.

Seeing this, Wang Chao frowned and snapped, "He's asking you a question!"

Hearing this, Liu Jingqi grew a bit impatient.

"You know who I am, yet you still ask. Are you sick in the head?"

Wang Chao instantly flared up with anger, pointing a finger at her. "You!"

Xu De reached out to stop him. He then returned his gaze to Liu Jingqi and declared, "Yang Jiale is dead."

Liu Jingqi continued picking at her fingers and replied casually, "So?"

Xu De frowned slightly.

"Do you... not regret it? Do you feel no remorse at all?"

"Not only Yang Jiale, but her mother Zhao Li is also dead. Do you have nothing to say?"

At those words, Liu Jingqi paused.

She slowly raised her head, a conflicted look appearing on her face. After a moment of silence, she whispered, "I... I'm sorry to her..."

"I shouldn't have..."

With that.

Liu Jingqi fell silent.

But a few seconds later.

"Ha, you didn't really think I'd say that, did you?"

Suddenly, a mocking sneer appeared on Liu Jingqi's face. She leaned back in her chair, looked at the three people in front of her, and said dismissively, "What do dead people have to do with me?"

"And that... that brick-mover. What does her death have to do with me?"

"Did I kill her? Dead is dead, don't just accuse people blindly."

As her words fell.

Wang Chao and Lin Yue's expressions turned exceedingly grim.

This person in front of them... she wasn't just talking big.

She genuinely felt that those dead people had nothing to do with her!

"Let me tell you, the police can deduce from the impact marks on the corpse whether she was pushed or fell accidentally."

"Furthermore, there are wounds and bruises on multiple parts of Yang Jiale's body, and your fingerprints were left on the murder weapon at the scene."

Xu De continued to speak expressionlessly.

"You can't escape."

As he finished.

A trace of disdain appeared on Liu Jingqi's face.

"Who are you trying to scare?"

"Do you really think I was raised on threats!?"

She didn't even bother pretending anymore. She straightened her back, raised her chin, and glared with contempt in her eyes.

"Lawyer Zhang already told my mom."

"I didn't kill anyone. At most, it's intentional injury resulting in death."

With that.

Liu Jingqi leaned forward slightly, unable to hold back a smile, chuckling as she spoke.

"Do you know how old I am? Do you know what it says on my household register?"

"The maximum sentence they can give me is ten years. Besides, I wasn't the only one there. The responsibility can't entirely be on me, right?"

"Lawyer Zhang said."

"Even if I'm convicted and they think I'm guilty, I'll only get a few years. I'll just pretend to have 'good behavior' inside, and I'll be out in three years!"

She seemed to be laying out her trump cards, completely uncaring about the people in front of her.

And the truth was exactly as she said.

Given her circumstances, it was difficult to give her a severe sentence.

Not to mention, with only injury marks at the scene, it would be hard to convict her of murder.

"Anyway, the worst-case scenario is just three years."

"I'll only be 19 after three years. My criminal record will be sealed, and it won't show up in my files. Besides, Yang Jiale and her mom were just bottom-feeders. Give it half a year and no one will even remember them."

"I can even still go to college."

"So..."

Liu Jingqi spread her hands, her tone somewhat innocent, and casually said, "Why should I apologize? I didn't kill her anyway."

Wang Chao's face darkened completely. Unable to hold back any longer, he fiercely reached out his hand.

"You!"

Fortunately, Xu De stood up and stopped him.

He turned his head, glanced at Liu Jingqi, and slowly declared, "This meeting concludes here."

"I hope you can maintain this attitude of yours."

Liu Jingqi rolled her eyes, scoffed, and smugly stated, "Do you know Zhang Wei? He's a golden lawyer!"

"My mom spent two hundred thousand to hire a whole team."

Xu De replied indifferently, "See you in court."

After speaking.

He turned around and left with Wang Chao. Before leaving, Lin Yue also deeply carved Liu Jingqi's appearance into her mind.

Once out the door of the Detention Center.

Wang Chao truly couldn't hold it in anymore and immediately cursed, "Animal! This absolute animal!"

"Damn it, Zhang Wei isn't any good either. Two human lives, and he's actually thinking of doing a not-guilty plea. That fucking scumbag!"

Lin Yue didn't speak, but her gaze was equally grim.

Obviously, if she could, she even wanted to perform a Daoist ritual to expiate Liu Jingqi's soul.

Xu De, however, didn't have much of an emotional fluctuation. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and took a fierce drag.

He remarked, "This attitude is good... this is exactly the right attitude."

Saying that, he actually laughed.

It was good that she didn't plead guilty.

It was good that she was so arrogant and domineering!

Only like this... could they secure a heavy sentence!!!

Right now.

Having confirmed through her attitude that she had committed the bullying and the murder, then...

"We make an example out of Lü Guangjun!!!"

As soon as Xu De finished speaking, without any hesitation, he pulled out his phone.

Over these past few days, he had already collected everyone's contact numbers. Now, he instantly found the number for Lü Guangjun in his contacts.

He pressed the dial button.

Ring, ring, ring...

A moment later, the call connected.

"Hello?"

A somewhat exhausted voice came through the speaker.

Hearing this, Xu De's tone suddenly changed, softening quite a bit. As if chatting with a friend, he smiled and asked, "Hello... is this Teacher Lü?"

Afternoon, six o'clock.

Inside the twelfth-grade teachers' office at the 18th High School.

The entire office was empty. Only Lü Guangjun remained, sitting there in restless anxiety.

After a long while, he stood up and pulled the door open.

Two figures stepped inside.

"Hello, Mr. Lü. We finally meet."

Xu De looked at Lü Guangjun with a gentle smile.

He placed a messenger bag on the teacher's desk to his left. The bag had a gap about the length of a finger, and looking through it, one could see the gleam of a glass lens.

"H-hello." Lü Guangjun forced himself to reply, then added, "Please, have a seat."

Xu De nodded and sat down across from him.

Wang Chao also walked in. He stood next to the bag, holding a voice recorder.

"Don't be nervous, Mr. Lü."

"Our audio and video recording equipment is right here."

Xu De pointed at Wang Chao and the bag, stating, "I will make this clear upfront."

"From this moment on, for the next hour in this office, any form of recording or conversation is valid."

"Furthermore, if one party leaves halfway through, such as to use the restroom, any private communication the remaining party engages in regarding individuals involved in this case—including phone calls—will also be valid."

"Until my side declares it over, the entire process is not considered finished."

"Mr. Lü, if you agree, please sign this contract."

As soon as he opened his mouth, he unleashed a dizzying string of conditions.

Lü Guangjun looked at the contract handed to him and took a deep breath. "Do we... really need to sign a contract just for collecting evidence?"

Xu De smiled. "This is to ensure credibility. If you have concerns, you may refuse."

The next second.

"What could I possibly have to be concerned about!" Lü Guangjun exclaimed, reacting as if his tail had been stepped on.

He snatched the pen from Xu De and briskly signed his name.

"Ask away!" Lü Guangjun declared with feigned ease.

"Alright. Our visit today primarily concerns the conflict between Yang Jiale and the defendant."

Xu De nodded, and his next words caused Lü Guangjun's pupils to shrink sharply.

"The outbreak of conflict between the two parties on the day of her death was somewhat suspicious. We suspect a third party might have provoked the defendant into losing control of her emotions, directly leading to the incident."

"Mr. Lü, do you have any thoughts on this matter?"

Instantly, the hairs on the back of Lü Guangjun's neck stood up. His chest tightened, and his breathing grew strained.

"I... I'm not too sure."

He forced the words out, then stammered an addition, "They had conflicts frequently. Who's to say it wasn't just an accident..."

As he spoke, his palms grew sweaty, and he unconsciously clenched them into fists.

"That's truly a pity. Under these circumstances, if such a person existed, they could be classified as an accomplice."

"If they are an adult and the circumstances are severe, criminal liability starts at ten years."

Xu De sighed with apparent regret.

Cold sweat broke out on Lü Guangjun's forehead. "That... that truly is a pity."

Xu De shifted his line of questioning.

"Before the incident, the deceased also suffered multiple injuries. May I ask if you ever saw her report this to any of the other teachers?"

"If she did..."

"We can absolutely hold them accountable."

Lü Guangjun was drenched in sweat. He swallowed hard and offered a weak smile. "I... I really don't know much about that."

Xu De continued, "Then..."

He asked several more questions related to the case in rapid succession.

Unfortunately, Lü Guangjun either claimed ignorance or gave vague, evasive answers.

Just as Xu De patiently prepared to continue questioning...

Ring, ring, ring!

A phone rang. He answered it, then stood up and gave Lü Guangjun an apologetic look.

"My apologies, Mr. Lü. An urgent work matter just came up."

With that, Xu De prepared to walk out with Wang Chao.

"It's fine, it's fine," Lü Guangjun said, standing up hastily. He waited until the two of them left and disappeared from sight before finally letting out a long breath.

Slump!

His body went limp in his chair, but his mind kept replaying the words the lawyer had just spoken.

'An accomplice to murder... How could there be an accomplice?!'

Lü Guangjun paced back and forth, consumed by anxiety.

After a long while.

He glanced at the surveillance camera in the office, then peeked out into the hallway to ensure no one was around.

Finally... he gritted his teeth, turned his back to the camera, and dialed the number for Liu Jingqi's parents.

Liu Jingqi's mother's voice came through the phone.

"Hello?"

Lü Guangjun spoke urgently. "The victim's family hired a lawyer. It looks like they are going to pursue criminal liability. Are you unable to get the letter of forgiveness?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a shrill voice.

"Criminal liability?!"

"Lü Guangjun, this is all your fault! Why did you have to tell Qiqi she couldn't bully her classmates when you had nothing better to do?"

"If you hadn't said anything, Qiqi wouldn't have killed anyone! And if Qiqi didn't kill anyone, she wouldn't be sentenced..."

"It's all because of you! Let me tell you, if anything happens to my child, you won't get away with it either!"

"After all the gifts our family gave you, this is how you repay us..."

Lü Guangjun had felt somewhat guilty at first, but now he exploded in anger.

"Can you be reasonable?!"

"It was Liu Jingqi who forced her to stand on the roof! And she was the one who deliberately shook Yang Jiale's leg to scare her, which caused her to fall to her death!"

The voice through the speaker shrieked back, "I don't care! If anything happens to Qiqi, you won't get away with it!"

"If you don't get your story straight with us, when the time comes..."

Lü Guangjun's chest heaved. After a long moment, he furiously hung up the phone.

He sat in his chair, feeling utterly exhausted.

If he had known this would happen, he never would have meddled in the first place.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be in danger of becoming an accomplice to murder...

The mere thought of what that lawyer had said left Lü Guangjun terrified.

A long while later.

A sudden knock sounded at the office door.

Knock-knock-knock!

The sound struck his frayed nerves like a hammer. Lü Guangjun's eyes snapped open. "Who is it?!"

"Mr. Lü, it's me."

Xu De pushed the door open and casually walked back inside. He turned around, picked up the signed contract from the desk, and covered the bag.

"I forgot the contract and my bag. Sorry to take up more of your time."

With that, he headed back toward the door.

"Mr. Lü, I have emergency work to attend to, so under these circumstances, our audio and video recording session..."

"Is considered concluded as of right now."

"If you agree that the video and audio recordings are credible and have no objections..."

Looking at Lü Guangjun, Xu De flashed a warm smile and said, "Then we will take our leave."

Lü Guangjun felt a bizarre sense of unease, but right now, all he wanted was for the man to leave quickly. He agreed, "No objections. Everything I said was the truth."

"It's good that there are no objections... I remember you will be appearing in court as a witness, Mr. Lü..."

"Since that is the case, then..."

Xu De nodded, the smile remaining on his face.

"See you in court."

Lü Guangjun breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "See you in court."

...

...

Evening, 7:20 PM.

Inside a car parked outside the gates of the 18th High School.

"See you in court..."

Xu De turned on the camera, and the lingering sound from the speaker echoed in their ears. Complete silence filled the car, but the next second...

"Holy crap!"

Wang Chao, who was leaning forward from the backseat, wore a look of absolute shock.

What had he just witnessed?

A suicide bomber!

That's right, Lü Guangjun had turned into a suicide bomber, explaining the cause of the incident in excruciating detail!

"It really was him... Damn it, no wonder Liu Jingqi went looking for trouble with Yang Jiale that very day!"

Wang Chao muttered.

The contents of this recording... Never mind anything else, just that one phrase 'deliberately shook her leg' was enough to nail Liu Jingqi for intentional homicide!

It was just...

Wang Chao pondered for a moment, then looked at Xu De.

"Doesn't this... count as an illegal gathering of evidence?"

He was worried that they had the evidence but wouldn't be able to use it. After all, from every angle, this seemed highly 'irregular'...

"Heh, don't worry about it."

"Why do you think I said all that to Lü Guangjun right at the start?"

Xu De didn't seem to care in the slightest.

He understood secret recordings and illegal evidence gathering very well, which was why...

The meticulously logical words he had spoken right out of the gate, along with that contract... were designed specifically to bypass the 'illegal evidence' classification!

Of course, there were still risks involved, but then again... there was no such thing as evidence without risks.

So...

Wang Chao's eye twitched as he blurted out, "Legalizing illegal evidence collection?!"

He recalled it briefly and realized that Xu De's short opening speech... actually bypassed ninety percent of the conditions that constituted illegal evidence gathering!

"What illegal collection? It's all legalized, which means it is absolutely legal and compliant!"

Xu De shook his head.

Wang Chao praised from the side, "Brother, you're even more meticulous than I am."

Then, he asked excitedly, "So we submit this evidence to the procuratorate and the court?"

Although the trial for this case was approaching, they were still in the evidence submission phase, so there was still time.

But...

"Why submit it?" Xu De asked, puzzled.

Wang Chao replied, "How can we use it if we don't submit it? You can't just ambush them with..."

Halfway through his sentence, Wang Chao suddenly froze.

"You're going for an evidence ambush?!" Wang Chao nearly jumped out of his seat.

"Is there any explicit law stating that lawyers cannot use an evidence ambush?" Xu De countered.

Wang Chao paused. His brilliant mind, honed at a top-tier university, supplied the answer. He turned his gaze toward Lin Yue.

Lin Yue sighed and answered for him, "The law does not forbid it."

Exactly. The law did not forbid evidence ambushes. Doing so merely lowered the judge's favorable impression and required cross-examination.

Therefore...

"I didn't break the law."

"As for whether this counts as perjury, secret recording, maliciously manufactured evidence, or illegally obtained evidence..."

Xu De paused here.

Then, a smile spread across his face.

"Remember, if we were the defense and pulled this out, the judge, prosecutor, plaintiff, and legal representatives would all be furious."

"But we represent the plaintiff. We have allies."

Public prosecutors and civil litigation representatives were natural allies, bound by shared interests.

So...

"As long as we pull this out in court, the ones who will be more anxious and desperate to 'legalize' this evidence won't be us..."

"It will be the public prosecutor!!!"

Exactly. Once the evidence was presented, as long as everyone knew in their hearts that the evidence was real...

Even if the judge declared the evidence illegal, the first person to panic and argue would be the prosecutor! They would bend over backwards to prove the evidence was as legal as could be!

Wang Chao was dumbfounded. He held his head in his hands, utterly amazed. He had never imagined a case could be fought like this!

What was this called?

Using the opponent's strength against them? Driving a tiger to swallow a wolf?

Or perhaps locking the door and letting the dog loose? With Xu De locking the door and Huang Shi playing the dog?

They didn't teach this in law school! Damn it, those old law professors at his top-tier university had hidden this trick from him!!!

Anyway...

Xu De looked at Lin Yue.

"How long until the trial begins?"

Lin Yue was still savoring the terrifying strategy he had laid out, but she replied, "Soon. I expect the summons will be issued within the next few days."

Xu De nodded.

Illegal evidence? A fifty percent chance of it being rejected?

First of all, this meant a case that originally had no breakthrough now had a fifty percent chance of securing a conviction.

Secondly, even if it got struck down, it would still influence the judge's 'discretionary sentencing power'.

But the most crucial part was...

"Just use it with peace of mind."

"When the time comes, a prosecutor will naturally step up and carry the burden forward for us."

Xu De said coolly, "We must trust in the wisdom of our seniors!!!"

December 13th.

3:30 PM.

"Is anyone there? Package delivery."

Outside Zhenghe Law Firm—where the defense attorney for Liu Jingqi in the 18th Academy case worked—a postal worker knocked on the doors.

An assistant approached and opened the package handed to him.

Inside was a court summons.

The assistant briefly scanned the contents of the summons. His expression shifted, and he quickly hurried toward a special project conference room.

Inside the conference room.

"The trial should be starting soon."

"Let's confirm our advantages one last time. There are no surveillance cameras on the rooftop where the incident occurred..."

"Also, the deceased had no suspected fatal wounds inflicted during the period of bullying."

"As of now."

"The testimonies of the three defendants and the homeroom teacher, Lu Guangjun, are all consistent. We can eliminate the charge of intentional homicide and reduce it to intentional injury at most..."

"For this case, we need to push for insufficient evidence and an acquittal. We have a very high probability of achieving that!"

Seven lawyers were gathered around a portable whiteboard, deep in discussion.

The person leading them was none other than attorney Zhang Wei.

Just as Liu Jingqi had said.

The defendant had hired an entire team of golden lawyers to serve her, consisting of two golden lawyers and five senior lawyers!

Until...

"Bang!"

The assistant shoved the door open without even knocking, instantly interrupting the meeting.

Zhang Wei and the others looked up, frowning.

"Assistant Xue, is there an urgent matter?"

Assistant Xue looked serious as he spoke in a low voice:

"A summons arrived from the court, but... there's a slight unexpected development."

Zhang Wei asked, "What development?"

"The plaintiff hired a civil litigation lawyer."

The seven lawyers paid it no mind.

A civil litigation lawyer was nothing to fear. In a criminal trial, the public prosecutor took the lead.

"That lawyer's surname is Xu. His name is Xu De," Assistant Xue added heavily.

This time...

Everyone in the conference room subconsciously raised their heads, their brows furrowing.

"Xu De?"

"The Xu De from the human trafficking case?"

"..."

The conference room broke into a heated discussion, losing its previous indifference.

Assistant Xue nodded. "Attorney Zhang, it's him. A month ago, when we were at the deceased's family's home... he must be the one who looked familiar."

At those words,

Everyone began to think seriously.

They had a general understanding of all the lawyers in Greenwood City, but this Xu De was the sole exception. Their knowledge of him was a complete blank.

He wasn't a golden lawyer, and he had only ever fought a single case.

Yet, it was precisely in that one case... that he displayed a terrifying level of skill.

"Immediately create a six-dimensional chart to analyze his abilities."

Zhang Wei suddenly spoke with utmost seriousness. "Analyze his personal abilities and find his flaws!"

Studying an opponent and creating a six-dimensional chart based on their abilities was a very effective method of pinpointing weaknesses. It clearly visualized a person's capabilities!

Not just now, but even in future generations, it would be the same.

"But he only has one case..."

Someone hesitated.

"Then we will solely review that one case!" Zhang Wei said firmly.

With that said,

The other lawyers did not object. The remaining six lawyers each took responsibility for evaluating a different aspect of their opponent's abilities.

In any criminal case, every legal team would study their opponent before contemplating the case details prior to the trial.

Sometimes, using an opponent's flaws as a breakthrough point... was even more useful than objective evidence!

Before long.

In the eyes of the six lawyers, the six-dimensional chart for the Lijia Village case was drafted individually on pieces of paper.

The dimensions were: Trial Performance, Legal Theory, Connections, Negotiation and Game Theory, Evidence Deconstruction and Search, and professional ethics.

Zhang Wei picked one at random. It was "Legal Theory."

He paused, then immediately maxed out the corner symbolizing the "Legal Theory" stat on the six-dimensional chart drawn on the whiteboard.

The lawyer who gave that rating spoke up:

"This man's grasp of legal theory is bottomless. I don't know if you noticed a specific detail in the news."

"Without any prior preparation, relying purely on his on-the-spot reactions, he actually cited the 'National Judge Training Unified Teaching Materials' to argue his case, and was precise down to the exact article and example!"

"But that is material meant for judges."

"Why would a lawyer memorize that? And he could even apply it perfectly!"

Zhang Wei nodded. He pulled out another slip of paper symbolizing "Negotiation and Game Theory." After reading it, he paused, and once again maxed out this stat on the six-dimensional chart.

That lawyer said:

"Not to mention how he dug a trap for Chen Wei during the trial."

"Just talking about the letter of forgiveness alone."

"Even now, I have no idea how he managed to obtain it... and later on, he even sent the person who signed it to jail."

The seven of them thought about it, agreed, and offered no rebuttals.

Zhang Wei drew another slip, stayed silent for a moment, and then maxed out the third dimension.