MWC – Chapter 118 The Strongest Opponent

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

Several newly constructed apartment buildings, about twenty stories high, stood along the Beiguan coastline.

At this moment, Lu Ming was wandering around the top floor of the 22nd floor of Building 1, accompanied by Wen Liangyu.

These buildings, named “Left Bank Garden,” were the latest luxury apartments in Beiguan, setting new records for both height and price.

The top floor had a duplex structure and was extremely luxurious. Large floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides provided a 360-degree panoramic view, with the external scenery ingeniously becoming part of the interior décor. Pressing the electric curtains would ensure complete privacy.

Moreover, Building 1 had the best views. To the south, there was the endless blue horizon of the sea and sky, and to the north, the giant Ferris wheel of Bolna Amusement Park. At night, the Ferris wheel’s colorful lights would create an excellent visual effect.

The exterior also featured a very secure open balcony, including a small blue swimming pool.

This was the concept of a “penthouse apartment” in the rising trend of luxury apartments in Donghai.

Wen Liangyu smiled and said, “I know you’re busy, but I insisted you come to see if you like it here. This place feels entirely different from the villa on Hupu Road. I just feel like you’re missing a penthouse like this.”

Lu Ming smiled, “Are you giving it to me?”

Wen Liangyu laughed joyfully, “Of course, otherwise why would I bring you here?”

Lu Ming immediately waved his hand, “I really like it here, but considering the projects I introduced you to, Fourth Brother, I doubt all your earnings could afford this penthouse. Wouldn’t that be a waste of effort? You might even end up losing money…”

Left Bank Garden was developed by a major client of Baoyin Bank, who was also one of the investors in Lu Ming’s Han Dynasty private equity fund.

Some of the projects here were given to Wen Liangyu, mainly the later-stage exterior and interior decorations.

After all, by the time Lu Ming became acquainted with that major client, construction here had already begun. For example, Building 1 was initially built by a city construction company with better qualifications.

Lu Ming was thinking that Wen Liangyu might have a significant internal discount and wanted to offer him one. Moreover, the penthouse apartments in Left Bank Garden were limited, and securing one wasn’t just about having money.

His business partner had actually reserved one for him, but Lu Ming hadn’t come to see it and casually said he didn’t want it.

Now, after Wen Liangyu brought him here, he felt a bit regretful.

However, Wen Liangyu probably didn’t earn enough from this project to buy the top-floor penthouse in Building 1, as it was the largest and most luxurious compared to the other buildings’ penthouses. This floor, actually considered the 23rd, was conceptually different from the apartments on the 22 floors below.

The money Wen Liangyu made from this project, after various expenses, likely wasn’t much.

After all, it was his first time collaborating with Lu Ming’s business partner, and they used premium materials at a low quote.

“Money isn’t the issue!” Wen Liangyu smiled, “Entering this circle you introduced me to, I’ve spent far more than this without even getting close to the door!”

He smiled again, “Besides, your current status is like a nemesis to me, Brother!” He laughed as he spoke.

Inwardly, he smiled bitterly. This younger brother’s connections were beyond his grasp, and considering his current official status, befriending him was already an achievement.

Fortunately, they met when Lu Ming was still struggling, and he knew Lu Ming’s character, which valued loyalty.

For the Zhao family’s mess, any other person would have let them fall.

Hearing Wen Liangyu’s words, Lu Ming smiled, walking to the west floor-to-ceiling window to enjoy the view. Suddenly, he exclaimed, “Is that Fernard Academy? It’s quite close!”

Wen Liangyu laughed, “Yes, it’s convenient for you to go to school too, isn’t it?”

Lu Ming felt helpless but thought that he originally planned to go once every two weeks. However, apart from the initial registration, he hadn’t gone at all.

Too busy.

Maybe he should wait until the end-of-year exams to go and take the tests. His foreign language might be weak, but he was confident in other subjects.

Of course, he didn’t need to give his all in the exams, just enough to get by.

The exam results should at least ensure he wouldn’t have to repeat a grade.

He was a bit of a specialist, but not a complete academic failure.

Lost in thought, Lu Ming said, “Alright, Fourth Brother, I won’t refuse. However, it’s difficult for me to come here often, especially now when I’m busy. An unoccupied place lacks liveliness. Could you find someone to help clean the place daily to maintain some vitality? The property fees here must be high, and there should be a housekeeper, right?”

Wen Liangyu smiled, “No problem. I’ll ask Xiaoling to come daily. I’m not comfortable hiring a maid; they might mess around and even lie on your bed. How dirty would that be?”

“How can I trouble Sister-in-law?” Lu Ming felt helpless. He had met Jia Xiaoling, Wen Liangyu’s lover, who liked wearing qipaos and was a gentle woman.

“Don’t worry about it!” Wen Liangyu waved his hand and added, “Are we done? You seem quite busy.”

Lu Ming checked his watch and nodded, “Yes, I should be heading back!”

Fourth Brother Wen was indeed very understanding.

Inside the Husky Inn, prosecutors and police officers were bustling in and out, extremely busy.

In Lu Ming’s room, he was discussing the closure of an evidence chain with several team leaders.

Starting from Jordan, these prosecutors could only listen. Commissioner Lu scrutinized the evidence chain so meticulously, considering every possible loophole the opposing lawyers might exploit. His expertise as a top criminal defense lawyer was undeniable and admirable.

The red hotline phone on the table rang. Lu Ming picked it up, listened, and then turned to the others, “Just now, Booker appeared and turned himself in at the Third Police Station.” The Third Police Station was in the western district.

Everyone was stunned.

After some thought, Lu Ming waved his hand, “Also, arrest young Renault.”

The team leaders immediately stood up and started to take action.

Lu Ming paced, deep in thought.

“Will the court give them heavy sentences?” came a clear, crisp voice beside him—Han Annie.

Han Annie had always been dutiful as a secretary, never asking much. This was her first time inquiring about a case.

“I don’t think there will be a problem. The variables are Booker and young Renault. I want to charge them as dual principal offenders,” Lu Ming pondered. “Let’s see what Booker says in his statement.”

He returned to the desk and picked up the case files and numerous statements to review them again.

Behind the screen, Han Annie watched Lu Ming, fully immersed in the case, with furrowed brows. She blinked her big eyes, thinking this bad guy was completely different now compared to usual.

“Annie, is the mattress I got you comfortable? I recently found something good for foot massages, very relaxing. I’ll get you one later,” Lu Ming suddenly stretched and said, as if he had reached a certain stage in his notes and decided to take a break.

Han Annie was speechless, turning to her notes, pretending not to hear.

Lu Ming didn’t say anything more until more than two hours later.

The phone suddenly rang urgently. Lu Ming immediately picked up the receiver.

It was Zhang Xianhe’s excited voice, “Commissioner, this is great! In Booker’s statement, he mentioned that young Renault is a pervert who likes to collect victims’ brain matter. In young Renault’s bedroom, there are bottles in the fridge containing lots of victims’ brain matter. Young Renault likes to sleep with these brain matters! This pervert, let’s see how he can deny it now!”

Lu Ming acknowledged with a hum, hung up the phone, and started pondering.

The phone rang again.

It was from Cantona, “Commissioner, young Renault seems to have been prepared. He’s accompanied by a top lawyer named Richard Hansen from the Imperial Capital, but he’s very cooperative and says his client is willing to cooperate with our investigation and will come with us.”

After hanging up, Lu Ming thought for a moment, then pulled out a drawer. Inside was the Imperial Bar Association’s Yearbook for 949, last year’s yearbook.

He flipped through a few pages and found Richard Hansen’s name. No wonder it sounded familiar.

He was a very famous criminal defense lawyer from the Imperial Capital. The yearbook highlighted his impressive track record. At the end of last year, he represented a defendant sentenced to death, appealing to the Supreme Court. He managed to criticize the police’s coercive and misleading methods in front of the justices.

Ultimately, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that before interrogation, police must clearly inform detainees of their right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.

This was similar to the Miranda warning from his previous life, but in this world, it was called the Richard Silence Right.

Currently, many police departments across the Empire were implementing the Richard Silence Right.

Of course, in autonomous regions like the Donghai Metropolitan Area, there were their own legal standards. The Federal Supreme Court’s ruling could be referenced but wasn’t mandatory.

Nonetheless, this Richard lawyer was among the top-tier criminal defense lawyers in the Empire.

The yearbook also mentioned that the Imperial Bar Association, recognizing Richard’s outstanding contributions, was preparing to grant him the title of Senior Barrister next year, after a year of assessment.

Richard was a Tier Six barrister. Above that was Senior Barrister, then Royal Barrister.

Royal Barristers were rare, with only about a dozen living. If excluding retired ones, you could count them on one hand.

Senior Barristers no longer needed points for assessment. The title was awarded by the Imperial Bar Association to the most outstanding barristers. Each year, only ten slots were available, and there were just a few dozen Senior Barristers across the Empire.

Richard was on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of the legal profession.

This Richard was several levels above the top lawyers Lu Ming had previously encountered.

The Renault family had invested heavily, not just with money but also with connections and lineage.

Otherwise, Richard wouldn’t have even bothered.