Zhou Kai sneered, then said, "Listen up, everyone, we're going to hash out tomorrow's plan right now. Our Unity Hall will be responsible for distracting the opposing security forces, while the brothers from Jvyi Gang will take the opportunity to rescue the target. Huang Bo, your brothers from Ren Yi Hall will cover our retreat by creating chaos and aiding the Jvyi Gang's withdrawal."
"Don't worry." Huang Bo nodded.
The next day dawned bright and early, with fine weather.
At 8 a.m., the police officers from the station escorted Lin Chuan out of the detention cell, shackling his wrists and ankles and dressing him in prison garb. As a suspect virtually convicted already, Lin Chuan was no longer able to extricate himself. His prison uniform was donned well ahead of ti, awaiting only the final judgnt. Once the verdict was delivered, he would likely face execution within half a month, and there would be no changing the outco.
A strange smile crept across the corner of the police officer's mouth.
"Brother, today's your day in court," the officer chuckled.
Lin Chuan glanced at him, and the officer suddenly felt a chill pour from his head down to his feet. The sweltering heat of sumr gave way to an icy feeling reminiscent of December's cold. Lin Chuan said with a smile, "Good people don't live long, the wicked live for a thousand years."
The officer did not respond but simply continued escorting Lin Chuan outside.
Outside, two ard special forces officers stood by the entrance, and a specially designed, heavily guarded armored vehicle had been waiting at the door for so ti. Two officers pushed Lin Chuan into the vehicle, whereupon the special forces imdiately locked the doors from the outside.
Once aboard the vehicle, an officer fastened Lin Chuan's handcuffs to a fixed bar inside.
"You're very likely facing the death penalty with this move," one officer said with a laugh. "Don't you have any thoughts on that?"
In the past week, Lin Chuan had been kept in the detention cell and remained eerily quiet, so much so that it was hard to believe this guy was a murderer. Uninford observers might think he was just a habitual thief. Yet, no one would dare to believe he was the widely publicized murderer at the heart of the current dia frenzy.
"Give a cigarette, and I'll tell you," Lin Chuan smiled.
"Fine," the officer nodded, promptly took a cigarette from the pack, handed it to Lin Chuan, and lit it for him.
Lin Chuan took a deep drag of the cigarette and then laughed, "This is a really good smoke."
"So, share your thoughts," the officer pressed with a smile.
"My thought is that I have no thoughts," Lin Chuan laughed heartily.
The officer's face fell, realizing he had been played.
After a mont's silence, Lin Chuan smiled and said, "Having had my turn in this world, I have no regrets left. So, you ask for my thoughts—I don't have any. But if I must say sothing, it's that I don't have a single ounce of regret about killing Song Hao."
"Quite the hero," the officer suddenly laughed.
Soon, the armored vehicle transporting Lin Chuan arrived at the Jiangbei City Interdiate People's Court.
Over a hundred dia journalists had already staked out the entrance; the scene was even more spectacular than a star's arrival. A swarm of reporters had practically blockaded the court's doorstep. Security at the court entrance linked arms to form a human wall, keeping the journalists at bay.
"Lin Chuan, did you really kill Song Hao?"
"Lin Chuan, it's said that Song Hao killed your mother, is that true?"
......
The throng of journalists pushed forward frantically, as if trying to penetrate through the barricade of security guards to secure an exclusive interview with Lin Chuan. Anybody who managed to get firsthand information could expect a hefty year-end bonus.
Lin Chuan wore a smile, handcuffed at both wrists and ankles, with a cigarette between his lips, as he was escorted by two police officers and two special forces officers into the courtroom.
Inside the courtroom, there was no shortage of public attendees listening to the trial. Although these attendees were supposedly selected, they were just students from nearby law schools in reality. The school had arranged this excellent hearing opportunity for the students to expand their horizons and accumulate so experience with legal proceedings.
Lin Chuan walked slowly toward the stairway leading down to the courtroom, which was large and imposing. More than five hundred mbers of the audience had already taken their seats, each with a listening permit hanging around their neck. Additionally, two dia outlets had gained access to cover the trial live.
Approaching the bench, the first thing Lin Chuan saw was the large national flag and the party flag hanging behind the judge's seat, with a massive national emblem suspended overhead. This symbolized that the judge bore the weighty responsibilities of the party and nation, tasked with upholding justice and fairness on behalf of the country and its people.
On either side of the judge sat the people's assessors, with the court clerk seated below. Arrays of tables and chairs were arranged on either side of the clerk, designated for the plaintiff's and defendant's attorneys, respectively.
To the back and left of the defendant's area was a small, fenced-off area, a confinent zone for the detained criminal suspects.
At that mont, Lin Chuan, wearing handcuffs and leg irons, made his way slowly toward the detention area. Upon entering the confinent zone, his restraints were finally removed. Escorted by the special forces into the zone, Lin Chuan walked in and took a seat with a thud.
The scene was bustling with various discussions.
Tang Yung and the others were seated in the courtroom, anxiously looking around.
"Sis Tang, is Lin Chuan really going to be sentenced?" Zhou Rui asked.
"I don't know either." Tang Yung shook her head and said, "I don't know if there's any room for maneuver, but if there isn't, I'm afraid he's really going to be sentenced. And..."
"And what?" Zhou Rui hurriedly asked.
"And it might be the death penalty." Tang Yung's eyes were red.
"Ah!" Several girls were startled.
Nuo Xiaoxi even fainted on the spot.
Instantly, the scene descended into chaos, but fortunately, there were dical staff at the courtroom. The dical staff imdiately administered ergency treatnt to Nuo Xiaoxi. Luckily, Nuo Xiaoxi was not in any serious trouble, just suddenly overwheld.
"Brother Lin..." Nuo Xiaoxi said helplessly, "Will Brother Lin be sentenced to death? How could this happen, how could it be?"
Nuo Xiaoxi was stamring, not knowing what to do.
Tang Yung closed her eyes, letting the tears flow down. Zhou Rui also had red eyes, but only Song Xiaojia was still holding strong. She appeared in court in her police uniform, a cap on her head. If Lin Chuan was sentenced to death, she would take off her uniform on the spot and quit being a police officer, as a form of farewell.
Mu Bai hurriedly comforted Nuo Xiaoxi: "Don't worry, it's not over until it's over, no one can say for certain."
"Yes." Nuo Xiaoxi could only comfort herself with that thought.
Before long, Zhang Tianhua ca out in standard judge's robes and took his place as the presiding judge, and everyone else also appeared. The court clerk then loudly announced, "All rise."
Rustle...
The several hundred people in the venue stood up.
Laws are supre and sacred, not to be desecrated by anyone. A courtroom trial is the fairest execution and interpretation of the law. When the judge, representing the dignity of the law, announces the verdict, the law cos into effect. Thus, all present must comply unconditionally. On the other hand, this is also an evolution from Western practices, which serves to maintain the dignity of the law and the solemnity of the courtroom.
After everyone stood up, the court clerk said again, "Please be seated."
The audience sat down again, and the venue beca very quiet. Everyone was curiously looking at the judge's bench.
Tap...
The presiding judge lightly struck the gavel and then spoke: "We will now comnce the trial of the Lin Chuan murder case. Please keep silent during the trial."
Following that, the judicial proceedings began according to the law. The judge read the indictnt and recounted the entire saga of the case. In the end, he spoke loudly: "This case has caused severe social consequences and public opinion, the nature of the case is extrely heinous."
Next ca the defense phase for both sides.
In this phase, although Song Ming had invited a well-known lawyer from abroad, Zhong Wenyi still rebutted brilliantly. He repeatedly asked the judge to let him speak on the case of Song Hao killing Lin Chuan's mother, but the presiding judge rejected it each ti, deeming it irrelevant to the case at hand.
However, Zhong Wenyi still did not miss any opportunity and, with his eloquence, cited classics, and spoke unceasingly, rendering the others speechless and unable to rebut. Although the opposing lawyer tried several tis to overco Zhong Wenyi, the latter had investigated the case nearly perfectly. The various testimonies and physical evidence took center stage, making people lose interest in the Lin Chuan murder case and beco instead particularly interested in the case of Song Hao killing Lin Chuan's mother.
Zhong Wenyi deliberately lightened the emphasis and shifted everyone's focus to the Song Hao murder case.
Tap...
At this mont, Zhang Tianhua struck the gavel and said, "Defense attorney, please refrain from repeating content not related to this case. Otherwise, I will have the bailiffs escort you out."
Zhong Wenyi smiled, shrugged, and said, "I've said what I needed to say. Lastly, I want to express, law is without passion, but people are empathetic. Although Lin Chuan killed Song Hao, it was certainly not intentional murder, but a cri of passion. Therefore, I ask the judge to deliberate carefully."
In fact, most people knew that this trial was just a formality, and the judge had already made a decision in his heart, not just the judge, but also the lawyers, plaintiffs, and defendants below were almost certain of the outco.
Zhong Wenyi knew that all of this was just a procedure, and no matter how eloquently he spoke, he couldn't change the final judgnt.
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