MWC – Chapter 78 First Experience in a Small Dark Room (Part 1)

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

Katsura Ayaka was evidently a very intelligent woman.

Ten minutes later, Pu Xiuna returned, conveying a message from Katsura Ayaka. She said that she had completely calmed down and had made up her mind. She was willing to hire Lawyer Lu as her attorney to handle her late husband’s inheritance matters.

She had clearly weighed the pros and cons quickly, realizing that this might be her only chance. She was almost penniless and couldn’t afford the legal fees. If she lost the case, her situation wouldn’t be any worse, but if she won and received twenty percent of the inheritance, she could still return to a comfortable life as a wealthy widow.

Moreover, at least until the case was resolved, she wouldn’t have to live in fear and would have a place to stay.

“Let’s sign the agreement with her tomorrow,” Lu Ming said with a smile.

“Sir, she also mentioned that she could stay in Room 408, so you wouldn’t have to spend extra money to book a separate room for her.”

Lu Ming waved his hand, “This place isn’t for just anyone to stay in!”

Hearing this, Pu Xiuna felt warm inside. After all, she had her small servant’s room here where she could stay.

Lu Ming thought for a moment, “Tell the service staff to keep an extra eye on her room.”

Considering the methods of the Japanese, he added, “Make a call and ask Second Madam to bring Luo One and Luo Two here to stay with her.”

This was Wen Liangu’s territory, and the area Lu Ming was in was the high-end members’ area. People who weren’t members couldn’t even get to this floor. Although security was generally not a concern here, he felt more at ease with additional precautions.

…

As night fell, Lu Ming sat in the study, looking at a sheet of paper in his hand.

Katsura Ayaka truly saw him as her lifeline. The paper was a list of her late husband Kato Sanri’s assets.

This woman likely spent her time at home counting the wealth she inherited. Although she fled with nothing, she remembered everything she owned clearly.

There were over 110,000 in the Imperial Bank.

Stocks and bonds from more than a dozen companies, including Derrida Oil, worth over 600,000.

Three properties, all in the Eastern District of Donghai, in the Japanese community.

The Bairei Hot Spring Inn, located in a mountainous hot spring area in a satellite town of Donghai.

These were the main assets, along with various smaller items like cars and loans.

Additionally, there was a small island chain called Pearl Island, which her late husband had inherited the title deed to. However, this title deed was more of a historical artifact as its legal validity was not recognized, with several parties claiming ownership.

After thinking for a while, Lu Ming resumed reading the case files of the Baoyin Bank case.

…

In the first courtroom of the Ninth Circuit Court.

Lu Ming and Wei Baozeng sat at the defendant’s table. At the plaintiff’s table were Lawyer Smith, whom Lu Ming had met before, and a chubby old man who seemed to be the plaintiff, Wei’s old friend Bi Hanting, chairman of the Western Coal Union.

When entering the courtroom, Wei Baozeng greeted him as “Second Uncle,” but Bi Hanting just snorted and ignored him.

Judge Christine entered the courtroom, and everyone stood.

The audience was packed, full of depositors and reporters with cameras.

Originally, this case had dragged on so long that the media had lost interest. Suddenly, it became hot news again.

Firstly, because Baoyin Bank’s representative lawyer switched from Reed Law Firm to a second-level lawyer, the young lawyer who recently gained fame from the Japanese Demon case. This change itself was sensational, suggesting that this second-level lawyer was more trustworthy than Reed Law Firm’s senior team, especially since this was an economic case.

Secondly, the previous evening’s news reported that this second-level lawyer’s female apprentice had smashed a bottle over a clerk from the plaintiff’s law firm in the chief judge’s office. This added even more drama, hinting that this case might involve some sensational developments, potentially even mob-like violence. Given that many successful people have some connections to organized crime, this aspect was intriguing.

Therefore, reporters from both major and minor newspapers flocked to the courtroom.

Sitting on the judge’s bench, Judge Christine looked at the chaotic scene and banged her gavel, “Quiet! From now on, anyone disrupting the court will be removed!”

The courtroom immediately fell silent.

Judge Christine looked at Lu Ming, “Defendant’s attorney, in your motion…”

The courtroom doors suddenly opened, causing a stir among the outermost reporters, with some depositors in the gallery standing up and cursing, ready to rush towards the entrance.

There were flashes of cameras.

Court officers quickly gathered to quiet the gallery, and two reporters taking photos were expelled.

This trial was exceptionally open to the media, allowing reporters to bring cameras into the courtroom, but photos were only permitted before the trial and during recess, with all photography and filming strictly forbidden during the proceedings.

An elderly man in a black trench coat and hat entered through the doors. When Bi Hanting at the plaintiff’s table looked over, his eyes immediately narrowed, and his expression became complicated.

The old man was Wei Baozeng’s father, the former chairman.

He was very old, the trench coat and hat only partially concealing his age. When he removed his hat, revealing his aged face, his hands were covered in age spots. Seeing this, Bi Hanting’s gaze became even more complex.

Lu Ming stood up, “Your Honor, my client has received special permission from his doctor to attend today. I hope you will allow him to testify.”

Judge Christine’s green eyes fixed on Lu Ming, probably unsure of what he was up to, but she nodded, “Permission granted for the defendant to testify.”

Supported by Lu Ming, the elder Wei wobbled to the witness stand.

After just sitting down, he stood up again, bowing deeply to Bi Hanting, then to the depositors in the gallery, his voice heavy, “Hanting, and all my friends who trusted me with your money at Baoyin Bank, I solemnly apologize to you.”

Bi Hanting frowned but, seeing his old friend’s trembling body, averted his gaze.

Lawyer Smith was slightly taken aback, thinking this was an admission of defeat, a way to end the long case. If they conceded now, Baoyin Bank might still have a slim chance of survival.

“Hanting, I apologize because I had no idea such a thing would happen. I only tried to help you as a friend.”

“But you cost me over a million!” Bi Hanting snorted.

“That’s why I’m saying sorry.”

“But more than that, I let down my depositors!” The elderly Wei looked at the gallery, “Because I betrayed your trust, revealing the information of one of you to my good friend, leading to our current predicament. I’ve been lying in bed these past few days, haunted by this, feeling guilty and remorseful. I’m really worried about losing your trust! Although Baoyin Bank has ample funds, it’s useless if we don’t have your trust. I never anticipated this, I was wrong! Really wrong! After painful reflection, I’ve made the following decision to regain your trust. After this case, Baoyin Bank will strictly enforce client confidentiality, committing to absolute silence on all client matters. These principles will be written into every account contract, becoming a basic clause of Baoyin Bank’s contracts. Violating this clause will allow clients to file high compensation claims against Baoyin Bank.”

“Client confidentiality will be Baoyin Bank’s first rule!”

“Regarding this, I will also issue an official statement after this trial.”