MWC – Chapter 112 Judicial Demon (Part 2)

I AM DROPPING THIS NOVEL. IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONTINUE THEY CAN. IF POSSIBLE PLEASE SHARE THE LINK SO I CAN BINGE READ TOO.

“Didn’t this Silov ask for a lawyer?” Lu Ming suddenly asked.

Zhang Xianhe was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, “It seems he did, but when he was first brought in, he mumbled something about a lawyer, but it wasn’t clear. We probably just heard ‘lawyer’ from his babbling.”

However, Lu Ming didn’t let him off the hook, smiling as he asked, “When he asked for a lawyer, did he specify one?”

Zhang Xianhe hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

“Then call the Legal Aid Office and have them send a lawyer immediately,” Lu Ming smiled. “We need to ensure the suspect’s legal rights.”

Zhang Xianhe sighed, “Alright, I’ll arrange it.”

Lu Ming nodded. Even in the 21st century of his previous life, under the Western system, if a suspect under interrogation didn’t explicitly ask for a lawyer, the police wouldn’t arrange one proactively, which wasn’t against the rules. Even if the suspect asked for a lawyer, the police would try to delay as much as possible to obtain a satisfactory confession before the lawyer arrived. This current world was even more lenient in such matters.

“Lottery ticket, lottery ticket, I lost it… No, no, I found it! I found a package of money in the trash…” Silov finally broke down.

Lu Ming smiled. Failing to report found items was considered a crime in some regions of the Empire, and Donghai happened to be one of them. In his previous life, Western countries had varied laws on this matter, depending on the specific region. Ultimately, in Donghai, failing to report found items could be prosecuted as illegal possession.

Wang Xiaohu immediately sneered, “According to your spending records over the past two years, the amount of money you found was at least ten thousand yuan. You’ve been living in a luxury apartment and spending lavishly. Just the gifts for your girlfriend were worth two or three thousand yuan.”

“In Donghai, you’ve already committed a crime of illegal possession, and it’s a serious offense, classified as first-degree illegal possession, which carries the death penalty!”

Silov’s face turned pale, “How could that be? How could that be?”

Lu Ming smiled, knowing they were exaggerating to intimidate him. In the interrogation room, Liu Yannan sighed, “Mr. Silov, it seems I can’t help you anymore.”

He and Wang Xiaohu got up, gathered their notes, and prepared to leave.

“No, I’ll talk, I’ll talk! Someone gave me the money; it was my salary…” Seeing the two about to leave, Silov shouted desperately.

With the situation under control, Lu Ming smiled, stepped back a bit, and sat on the sofa. He gestured to the seat beside him, “Annie, come sit, don’t tire yourself out.”

Zhang Xianhe, who had just returned from calling the Legal Aid Office, saw this scene and hesitated but felt it would be inappropriate to leave.

Han Annie looked at Lu Ming helplessly. This guy always pretended to be very caring, probably because they had a history in Wu’an. Back then, she was supposed to send him to the gallows, but now she was his subordinate. He seemed a bit smug and enjoyed pretending to be concerned about her, but it made others think he was a lecherous boss.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll stand,” Han Annie replied expressionlessly.

Zhang Xianhe sighed with relief and stood by the glass wall.

Meanwhile, Silov was babbling, saying that he met a mysterious man in a casino who gave him money to pursue the assistant of the big star Nicole and report her movements in detail. He claimed the man always wore a mask, and he suspected he was a tabloid journalist.

“You expect us to believe that nonsense?! Which tabloid would give you such a large sum? Those paparazzi would spend the money on their own stakeouts rather than give it to you! And wearing a mask and a black robe?! Are you filming a movie?!” Wang Xiaohu shouted.

Silov stammered, “Why can’t a tabloid have money? Maybe it was a reporter from ‘New Life’!”

Wang Xiaohu was taken aback, “What the heck is ‘New Life’?!”

Lu Ming nearly laughed out loud but stayed silent. Han Annie gently knocked on the glass.

Liu Yannan stepped out and closed the interrogation room door tightly.

“Prosecutor Liu, ‘New Life’ is a high-end women’s magazine. I bought a copy this afternoon because the cover looked interesting. It’s expensive but not a tabloid. He probably saw it and thought it was a gossip magazine because it has lots of colorful pages and pretty women,” Han Annie explained.

Lu Ming nodded, understanding that Han Annie was trying to save time. If she had asked for instructions and explained everything, it could have delayed the interrogation and disrupted the atmosphere needed to pressure the suspect. She was showing potential as an independent prosecutor.

“Annie, well done, very impressive!” Lu Ming praised, feeling somewhat amused by her competence.

Han Annie sighed inwardly.

Zhang Xianhe couldn’t help but admire her.

Liu Yannan returned to the interrogation room and whispered to Wang Xiaohu.

Wang Xiaohu stood up, “Alright, we’re done talking. ‘New Life’ is a lifestyle magazine and doesn’t care about celebrity gossip! Silov, you’re now formally notified that the prosecution will charge you with first-degree illegal possession! The maximum penalty is death!”

Liu Yannan and Wang Xiaohu left the room, closing the door tightly behind them.

Inside, Silov was pale, clutching his hair in panic. He was chained to the table and couldn’t move much.

“I’ll talk, I’ll talk!” Silov shouted.

“We need a bit more pressure,” Lu Ming smiled. “Let’s play cards!”

Han Annie left and returned with a deck of cards.

Lu Ming set up the table, “We’ll play a game I know. Annie and I will be a team, and the losers will buy supper!”

Wang Xiaohu suddenly stood up, “Look at him!”

Inside, Silov had picked up the pen and was frantically writing after seeing no one respond to his confessions.

“He’s too easy to crack,” Lu Ming shook his head.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door, “Commissioner Lu, a lawyer named Li Daguo is here. He says he was called by the Legal Aid Office to see the suspect.”

Zhang Xianhe immediately said, “Delay him!”

Lu Ming waved his hand, “Bring him in!”

Soon, a young assistant prosecutor knocked and entered, followed by a plump, short man.

Lu Ming smiled at him, “Lawyer Li Daguo from Tang-Li Law Firm, I’ve heard of you!”

He then turned to Zhang Xianhe and smiled, “The Legal Aid Office is quite serious about this. They’ve sent a second-tier lawyer, Li Daguo.”

Zhang Xianhe’s eyes flashed with worry.

Indeed, most legal aid lawyers were first-tier and often mediocre. This time, the Legal Aid Office, seeing it was a special investigation, assigned a higher-ranking lawyer to ensure the suspect’s rights were protected.

Li Daguo, the chubby man, seemed to have been interrupted from a meal, as his face was flushed. He was unhappy about being dragged away from dinner and was complaining to the assistant prosecutor, “If my client isn’t here, I’ll leave immediately and file a complaint against you. I’ll also request the court to invalidate all today’s evidence!”

Clearly, he was annoyed at being called away in the middle of a meal.

When he saw Lu Ming, he froze, his drunken eyes suddenly sober, “Lu… Lawyer Lu, what are you doing here? Do you also have a client being investigated?”

Lu Ming smiled, “I’ve heard good things about you from my trainees.”

“You’re too kind!” Li Daguo smiled obsequiously.

Lu Ming then said, “Go see your client. My team is handling this case.”

Li Daguo hesitated, then said, “Oh, I heard you’re working on a case for the Grand Prosecutor’s Office?”

Lu Ming smiled, “Yes, it’s this case. Go see your client now.” He stepped aside, making a gesture of invitation.

Li Daguo’s face turned pale, and he suddenly clutched his stomach, “Oh no, too much seafood and beer, I need to find a bathroom!” He grabbed his bag and rushed out.

Lu Ming sighed, shaking his head. He hadn’t meant to scare him. He thought handling the suspect’s lawyer wouldn’t be a problem. At worst, he’d conduct the interrogation with the lawyer present and still get the important confession.

“Escort Lawyer Li to the restroom,” Lu Ming instructed the bewildered assistant prosecutor.

The young prosecutor quickly followed Li Daguo to the bathroom.

Lu Ming shook his head, turning back to see Zhang Xianhe smiling, impressed, “I see, no wonder. I’m truly impressed.”

Lu Ming felt helpless. “I really didn’t mean to scare him.”

Han Annie bit her lip. This guy had only been here for less than a year, and he had already terrified the local legal community. He was still as mischievous as when they were in Wu’an, even if he hadn’t killed anyone.