67: Chapter 67 Public Trial

The scorching noon sun baked the marble ground of the Jianghai City central square until it was piping hot.

A restless heatwave permeated the air.

In the center of the square, a massive holographic projection screen on a hastily constructed platform faced in all directions.

Thousands of onlookers crowded outside the cordon, while even further out, countless drones hovered, their red-flashing cameras like innumerable prying eyes.

A citywide broadcast.

Not just the big screen in the square; at this moment, every outdoor billboard, shopping mall television, and even the backseat screens in taxis across Jianghai City had their feeds forcibly switched to this scene.

In the center of the screen, there was only a bloodied person, tightly bound and kneeling on the ground.

Wang Tianba.

The once arrogant head of the Wang family now looked like a dead dog with a broken spine, his head hanging limply, with only the faint rise and fall of his chest proving he was still alive.

Lin Fan stood opposite him, holding a microphone in one hand and toying with a syringe filled with blue liquid in the other.

No opening remarks, no pleasantries.

Lin Fan faced the camera, wearing that trademark Shrewd Merchant smile.

Good afternoon, fellow citizens of Jianghai City.

Today, Myriad Treasures Pavilion isn't selling any blind boxes; instead, we're putting on a free show for everyone.

The show is called 'Who is the Traitor?'

As soon as he finished speaking, the syringe in Lin Fan's hand plunged into Wang Tianba's carotid artery.

The blue liquid was injected instantly.

Ah! Ah!

The previously unconscious Wang Tianba suddenly threw his head back, letting out a shrill, miserable scream.

His cloudy eyes were instantly bloodshot, and his body convulsed violently.

[Item: Neural Developer (Modified Truth Serum)]

[Effect: Destroys cerebral cortex defense mechanisms, forcibly guiding the subconscious to release information. Side effect: Irreversible brain damage.]

This serum was contraband even on the black market, but in Lin Fan's hands, it was merely a tool to pry open a mouth.

Wang Tianba, look at me.

Lin Fan's voice echoed over the square through the loudspeaker, carrying a strange, penetrating power.

Wang Tianba's pupils dilated, his mouth hung open uncontrollably, and saliva dripped down the corners of his lips.

I am... Wang Tianba...

Very good.

Did you use the Wang family's influence to commercially exploit the common people? And did you bribe assassins to kill competing business peers?

Under the influence of the serum, Wang Tianba spilled all the dirty deeds he had committed in business over the years.

The crowd instantly erupted.

Lin Fan remained expressionless and continued to ask questions.

Second question. Last month, a batch of military healing serums was hijacked during transport, leading to heavy casualties on the front lines. Where did this shipment go?

As soon as this question was asked, the teacup in Thunder Tiger's hand, who was watching the live broadcast, shattered instantly.

Wang Tianba's body trembled even more violently; he was resisting, but under the overbearing erosion of the serum's effects, his subconscious was unable to lie.

Sold... sold to the... black market...

The buyer was... the Beast God Cult...

The Beast God Cult!

As soon as those three words were uttered, the temperature in the square seemed to drop to freezing.

They were humanity's mortal enemies, a group of lunatics who worshipped alien races and opposed humanity.

Selling military medicine to the Beast God Cult was like handing a knife to the enemy to stab one's own people in the heart!

Traitor!!

Kill him! Kill this national traitor!

A few rotten eggs and vegetable leaves flew over the cordon, accurately hitting Wang Tianba in the face.

Public indignation was high; if not for the soldiers blocking them, the angry crowd would have rushed up to tear him to pieces long ago.

Lin Fan did not stop them, just watched quietly.

Can't take it anymore?

The big one is still to come.

Last question.

Lin Fan bent down and leaned close to Wang Tianba's ear, but his voice was transmitted throughout the Jianghai via the microphone.

Who gave you that pill last night that turned you into a monster?

A trace of extreme fear flashed in Wang Tianba's eyes.

He was terrified.

That fear even overpowered the effects of the drug, causing him to convulse all over and foam at the mouth.

It... it was the Lord...

Alien... envoy...

They promised... as long as I controlled the economy of Jianghai City... they would give me... eternal life...

Boom!

This sentence completely ignited the powder keg.

Colluding with alien races, plotting against Jianghai City.

This was no longer commercial crime, nor was it a criminal case.

This was an act of war! This was trying to drag millions of people in the Jianghai to become slaves to alien races!

The comments on the screen scrolled crazily, densely packed with red exclamation marks and curses.

Kill him! He must receive the death penalty!

Everyone in the Wang family must be investigated! Not a single one can be let go!

This kind of family is a cancer to humanity! Get out of Jianghai City!

Public anger had reached its peak.

If the first question was just ordinary illegal activity, the second was treason, and the last was actually colluding with alien races—this was a betrayal of the human race.

Lin Fan straightened his body and looked at the big screen on one side of the square.

The time had come.

Almost at the same time, the official account of the Jianghai City Lord's Mansion issued a top-level red notice.

The image on the big screen flashed, and a document stamped with the bright red seal of the Jianghai Lord's Mansion appeared before everyone.

[Notice regarding the sealing of assets of the Wang Group and affiliated enterprises]

[Upon investigation, the Wang Group is suspected of serious treason and crimes against humanity. Effective immediately, all assets of the Wang family are frozen, and all direct members of the Wang family are to be arrested.]

[Depriving Wang Tianba of all political rights, to be executed on a selected date.]

Official confirmation, the case was ironclad.

Lin Fan turned around and looked at the sub-screen behind him that originally displayed stock market trends.

There, it showed the stock code for Wang Group.

A few minutes ago, it was still hitting the limit down crazily due to the news of the Wang family's arrest.

And now.

That red code suddenly flickered.

It turned gray.

Pfft!

Wang Tianba was overwhelmed by anger and anxiety, spitting out a mouthful of black blood that sprayed three meters away.

His whole person seemed to have his soul extracted, collapsing limply to the ground.

This time, he was truly finished.

His heart was dead.

Lin Fan let go, wiped his hands on Wang Tianba's tattered suit in disgust.

He turned around.

Facing the camera.

Lin Fan straightened his school uniform collar, the ruthlessness on his face disappeared, and he turned back into that sunny and cheerful high school student.

Today's show ends here.

Additionally, a brief advertisement.

Myriad Treasures Pavilion will have new arrivals tomorrow, launching a 'Home Raiding Series' special blind box.

All raw materials come from... well, you understand.

Quantities are limited, first come, first served.

Thanks to Boss Wang for his heartfelt sponsorship.

Lin Fan waved at the camera and jumped off the high platform with swagger.

...

The crowd was speechless. Is this the right time to advertise?

In the backstage lounge.

Thunder Tiger was sitting on the sofa smoking, with cigarette butts piled up at his feet.

Seeing Lin Fan come in, this burly man, like a giant bear, stood up abruptly, his expression complex.

Ruthless.

Thunder Tiger held it in for a long time before spitting out one word, "Killing the heart. This move of yours is ten thousand times more ruthless than just chopping him."

Making a person lose all reputation in front of the whole Jianghai, and watching his family foundation collapse before his eyes.

For someone like Wang Tianba, this was torture more painful than being sliced to death.

When dealing with enemies, being kind to them is being cruel to yourself.

Lin Fan unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, tilted his head, and took a big gulp.

Brother Thunder, I'll leave the remaining cleanup work to you. Those collateral branches of the Wang family, and any fish that slipped through the net, don't let a single one go.

Rest assured.

A murderous glint flashed in Thunder Tiger's eyes.

The Special Operations Battalion has already sealed off the Jianghai. Those few playboys of the Wang family who were fooling around outside have already been caught and brought back.

They are currently crying for their fathers and mothers in the interrogation room.

Alright, you've been tired all day, go back and rest. We'll handle the rest of the arrests of the Wang family's collateral branches.

However, the Wang family's properties are to be raided tonight. My men are fine on the battlefield, but for this kind of meticulous work, we need Brother Lin's help!

Lin Fan thought for a moment; this was Thunder Tiger trying to befriend him, letting him participate in a lucrative job like raiding a house.

He nodded and turned to walk out.

After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned his back to Thunder Tiger.

Brother Thunder, that alien envoy...

Still investigating.

Thunder Tiger's voice turned cold instantly.

Wang Tianba was just a puppet. That so-called 'Lord' is hiding very deeply.

But rest assured, as long as he is in Jianghai City, I will dig him out even if I have to dig three feet into the ground.

Mm.

Lin Fan didn't say anything else and pushed the door open to walk out.

The sun outside was still blinding.

The crowd in the square hadn't dispersed yet; everyone was still excitedly discussing the public trial just now.

Lin Fan lowered the brim of his hat and merged into the crowd. He returned to Myriad Treasures Pavilion silently.

Fatty was directing a few employees to renovate the storefront.

The original sign had been taken down and replaced with a more impressive black gold plaque.

Brother Fan, you're back.

Fatty had sharp eyes; he dropped the renovation plans and ran over, his face glowing, "I watched the live broadcast just now, it was so satisfying! You didn't see how many people were surrounding our shop just now, all asking when tomorrow's blind boxes will go on sale."

Lin Fan knocked on Fatty's head.

The goods haven't even been stocked yet!

Tonight, we'll assist the military in raiding the Wang family. Find some employees who are quick with their hands and fast at calculating accounts.