37: Chapter 37 Desperate Counterattack: Live Broadcast of the Seizure Scene

The video call connected; Jason was sitting in the back seat of a luxury car with a cold and hard expression.

"Wang, how is the handling going on your end?"

Jason asked in stiff Chinese.

"Rest assured, Mr. Jason. The label of pyramid scheme fraud I've pinned on Lu Chen is something he won't be able to take off for the rest of his life."

Wang Teng raised his wine glass toward the camera.

Jason nodded.

"Don't let your guard down. We must find out exactly what is going on with that physical battery. The S-Class Kill Order only gives us three days."

"He won't last another two hours."

Wang Teng glanced at his watch. "Mr. Jason, I have already submitted the complete real-name report materials to the Municipal Joint Inspection Bureau.

This includes their illegal detention and restriction of personal freedom, illegal fundraising, and forging business licenses for special equipment. Every single charge is enough to put Lu Chen in jail for ten years."

"Very good. Official action is the safest bet. Remember, no matter what, I want to get all the technical blueprints for that underground laboratory of his."

Jason hung up the phone.

Wang Teng slammed his wine glass down on the table.

"PR Director Sun Zhi, tell the internet trolls to add more fuel to the fire. Push their live stream to five million viewers for me."

Wang Teng's gaze was malicious. "After today, there will be no more Chenguang Electronics in Jiangcheng."

At the Jiangcheng Municipal Joint Inspection Bureau building, the atmosphere in the conference room was heavy.

The Director sat at the head of the table, his face ashen.

A thick stack of materials was piled on the table, stamped with a bright red report seal.

"This is simply lawless!"

The Director slammed the table, causing the teacups to clatter.

The Section Chief of Industry and Commerce handed over a report.

"Director, the public opinion online is boiling. Hundreds of thousands of netizens have left comments under our official account, demanding the immediate closure of Chenguang Electronics Factory. The illegal fundraising and control of fresh graduates for forced labor mentioned in this real-name report are extremely egregious."

The head of the Labor Bureau added.

"According to the materials, they have locked over four hundred students from Hongxing Vocational College inside the factory, refusing to let them out, which is suspected to be serious labor exploitation.

Combined with the large number of unemployed drifters they recruited online a few days ago.

That factory is now a hornet's nest ready to explode at any moment."

The Director stood up and put on his police cap.

"This involves a mass incident and the personal safety of fresh graduates. There is no time to delay."

The Director issued an order, "Notify the SWAT team to assist. The four major departments—Industry and Commerce, Taxation, Labor, and Fire—are all to be deployed."

The Director walked to the door of the conference room and looked back at everyone.

"Today, regardless of what backing this Factory Director Lu has, and regardless of whether he has received any municipal pilot subsidies, as long as the problems in the materials are verified, we will seal the premises and make arrests on the spot. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" everyone replied in unison.

There were only two hours left until the opening of the Chenguang Electronics Factory new product launch.

In the wide open space outside the factory gate.

The main stage had already been set up.

The huge LED screen was dark.

Eight ultra-high-definition cameras were arranged around it, their red lights blinking, already streaming to the entire web and all platforms.

Several heavy-duty drones hovered fifty meters above the factory, emitting a low buzzing sound, filming the entire factory from above.

In the major live streaming rooms online, the total number of viewers had already exceeded three million.

The screen was densely packed with bullet comments, all frantically scrolling with insults.

"Pyramid scheme leader, get out here and die!"

"Brother A-Wei is arriving at the scene soon. Let's see how he smashes all your crappy fake batteries!"

"Why haven't the authorities come to seal this pyramid scheme den yet? Are they saving it for the New Year?"

"Vocational students creating black technology? It's laughable. I've seen this kind of money-scam script way too many times!"

The factory gate was tightly closed.

Da Biao, leading one hundred and fifty fully armed security guards, divided them into three rows and blocked the area behind the retractable gate.

Everyone's hands were tightly gripping the handles of their rubber batons.

Old Zhou was inside the gate, sweating profusely from anxiety, constantly checking his watch.

Lu Chen moved a chair and sat right in the center of the stage.

He closed his eyes and let the wind blow.

He completely ignored the insults and filthy language of millions of haters.

He was waiting, waiting for a momentum that could pierce the sky.

Just at this moment.

On the road circling the factory in the distance, a piercing siren cut through the sky.

It wasn't just one vehicle; it was a full dozen or more.

The red and blue flashing police lights were still incredibly dazzling under the daylight.

Over a dozen joint enforcement vehicles painted with the logos of different departments were leading the way, with two pitch-black SWAT anti-riot armored vehicles at the front.

The convoy blared sirens at the highest level, kicking up clouds of dust.

They charged aggressively straight toward the retractable gate of Chenguang Electronics Factory.

Before the vehicles had even fully stopped, the doors of the anti-riot vehicles were pushed open instantly.

Dozens of law enforcement officers, all in uniform, swarmed out and immediately blocked all entry and exit points of the gate.

The Director pushed open the car door and stepped out, holding a document with a red seal for the closure and investigation.

He looked up at the aerial drone hovering in the sky, his eyes cold and sharp.

Da Biao immediately raised his hand, and the one hundred and fifty security guards instantly stepped forward.

A battle was on the verge of breaking out.

Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes.

He stood up and flicked the cigarette butt in his hand onto the ground casually.

"The main players have arrived." Lu Chen adjusted his collar.

"Open the gate, let's receive our guests."

The gate slowly opened.

The two anti-riot armored vehicles let out a low roar and rolled directly into the open space of the factory.

Over thirty fully armed SWAT officers, holding anti-riot shields, quickly dispersed and surrounded the entire main stage area, leaving no way out.

Director Li, wearing black combat boots, strode out from the crowd.

He was holding a document with a bright red official seal in his hand.

"Are you the person in charge of Chenguang Electronics Factory, Lu Chen?"

Director Li showed the law enforcement camera on his chest, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

"I am." Lu Chen nodded.

Da Biao gritted his teeth, holding a half-meter-long rubber baton, and stepped in front of Lu Chen.

The one hundred and fifty security guards moved in perfect unison, all stepping forward, their rubber batons creaking in their grips.

The SWAT officers immediately raised their anti-riot shields, the sound of them pulling the bolts of their weapons ringing out clearly in the empty factory grounds.

The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.

Director Li's face darkened, and he shouted sternly, "What? You want to resist law enforcement with violence? Gathering a crowd with weapons—is your factory trying to rebel?"

Lu Chen reached out and placed his hand on Da Biao's shoulder.

"Da Biao, drop what's in your hand and have the brothers step back." Lu Chen's tone was very calm.

Da Biao's eyes were bloodshot, and he stiffened his neck, not moving.

"Brother! They're here to smash our rice bowls! Our people haven't broken any laws!"

"Step back! Let them investigate."

Lu Chen emphasized his tone, his gaze pressing down on him.

Da Biao's chest heaved violently.

He glared fiercely at the SWAT officers opposite him and loosened his hand.

With a "clack," the rubber baton hit the concrete floor.

"Attention everyone! Drop your things, take five steps back!" Da Biao roared.

Although the one hundred and fifty security guards looked aggrieved, they neatly dropped their batons and retreated to the side.

Director Li snorted coldly and shook open the official document in his hand.

"Following a real-name report from the public, Chenguang Electronics Factory is suspected of illegal fundraising of a massive amount, forcing fresh graduates to work overtime, illegally restricting personal freedom, and being suspected of pyramid scheme activities."

Director Li pointed at Lu Chen.

"Now, the four major departments are handling this case jointly. Immediately stop all production activities in the factory, seal all equipment and facilities, and all personnel are to remain in place for questioning."

The section chief from the Labor Bureau stepped forward and waved his hand.

"Go to the workshop! Let all the locked-up students out!"

"Hold on."

Lu Chen raised his hand.

The few SWAT officers who were about to rush to the workshop stopped.

Director Li's gaze turned cold. "What, do you want to confess now?"

Lu Chen didn't even look at the closure order in his hand. He turned and pointed to the eight-axis heavy-duty aerial drone buzzing above his head, then pointed to the eight 8K ultra-high-definition cameras set up around the venue.

"Director Li, I can confess, but I have a request."

Lu Chen looked into Director Li's eyes.

"I want this joint seizure today to be live-streamed from start to finish."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire law enforcement team was stunned.

Old Zhou was in the back, slapping his thigh in anxiety, shouting in a low voice, "Factory Director, are you crazy! Why are you still streaming at a time like this! Isn't this just letting the whole country watch us make a fool of ourselves!"

Da Zui was also sweating profusely from anxiety.

"Brother! Cut the feed! We can't lose face in front of the whole country!"

Director Li frowned. "Nonsense! This is a serious joint law enforcement scene. Immediately cut off all network signals! Confiscate the camera equipment!"