45: Chapter 45 Trial

Director Sun led Su Fan and his group out of the studio and headed toward the conference hall.

Wang Weiwei followed with her filming team. Seeing Section Chief Qin walk over, she smiled and explained, "We're just going to film a little more."

Oh, filming a little more?

You're probably just trying every trick in the book to spend more time with Su Fan!

Section Chief Qin sneered inwardly; she had already noticed the strangeness when Wang Weiwei shook hands with Su Fan earlier...

Section Chief Qin leaned into her ear and whispered, "Beautiful Wang, what do you think of Su Fan?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Weiwei detected a hint of jealousy, but she still replied solemnly, "Section Chief Qin, Su Fan is indeed an outstanding subordinate of yours. His cultivation level has probably already surpassed yours, hasn't it? Though, we Mortals don't understand your Cultivation Realms and such..."

As the two beauties were chatting...

"What are you two chatting about! Section Chief Qin, Host Wang!"

Chen Qian suddenly walked up to the two women. Looking at Su Fan's tall, straight back ahead, she wore an infatuated expression: "Senior Brother Su must still be single, right? Section Chief Qin, give me his contact information."

"I don't have it."

Section Chief Qin crossed her arms, looking speechless.

"Please! I'm begging you!"

Like a child, Chen Qian shook Section Chief Qin's arm vigorously.

"Oh my, why don't you go ask him yourself!"

Section Chief Qin was truly speechless and rolled her eyes at her in mock annoyance.

Chen Qian's face flushed red instantly. Looking bashful, she stammered, "I... I'm afraid he'll reject me..."

Hearing this, Section Chief Qin and Wang Weiwei exchanged glances and nearly burst out laughing.

...

The group arrived at the conference hall, and Su Fan was invited onto the podium; he needed to receive commendations and deliver a speech.

The hall was filled with hundreds of people, all of whom were Cultivators. Among them were many officials like Bureau Chiefs, Deputy Bureau Chiefs, Section Chiefs, Deputy Section Chiefs, and quite a few Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators.

Facing so many people, Su Fan was completely unprepared mentally and didn't even have a speech draft. But the arrow was on the string and had to be fired. With the encouragement of Section Chief Qin, Wang Weiwei, and Chen Qian, who were clenching their fists in support, he nervously took the stage.

Fortunately, the Cultivators in the audience were very well-mannered. Even when he occasionally stumbled over his words, no one made a sound.

It took about fifteen minutes for Su Fan to finish recounting the entire process of repelling the Mutated Wild Boar and capturing Deputy Bureau Chief Liu Yang and Huang Lang. As for the part about being stunned and hallucinating from the Mecha Lightning Sable, he naturally omitted it.

Furthermore, Section Chief Qin had told him not to make a fuss about this matter.

After all, a mecha mutated beast like the Mecha Lightning Sable was comparable to a rare Spirit Beast. If it were exposed, it might attract a large group of high-level Cultivators to capture it, bringing turmoil to the region.

After Su Fan's speech concluded, some Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators asked questions, seeking advice on cultivation insights and combat techniques.

Su Fan taught them everything he knew, sharing his experience without reservation—such as how to dodge Spells, how to cast Spells at the fastest speed, as well as combat and escape experience, like running in an "S" pattern to avoid Spells... and so on.

The crowd of Cultivators listened, completely enthralled. After hearing him out, they all expressed that they had benefited greatly. The Section Chief of the First Security Division even wanted to poach him, offering him the position of Deputy Section Chief in the First Security Division.

"Senior Brother Kuang! Don't go too far!"

Section Chief Qin saw this, and without another word, she hooked her arm through Su Fan's and walked away.

"Hahahaha!"

The group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the First Security Division laughed heartily when they saw Section Chief Qin getting anxious.

Section Chief Qin dragged Su Fan out of the conference hall and ran into an acquaintance. The man shouted loudly, "Section Chief Qin! Junior Brother Su! Come sit with our section for a while longer!"

"No thanks. If we sit any longer, he'll be poached by your First Security Division. By the way, Senior Brother Zhang, I'll treat you to a meal another day!"

That person was Zhang Xin, who had helped Section Chief Qin escort the bandits back to the bureau.

After speaking with him, Section Chief Qin dragged Su Fan back to the 13th Security Section.

In the section, all his comrades had already prepared a welcome ceremony.

Bang!

With the sound of a balloon popping, colorful confetti rained down!

"Senior Brother Su!"

"Senior Brother Su!"

Everyone laughed and lifted Su Fan up, tossing him into the air like a beanbag.

"Hey! My hat! My hat!"

"Handou, where are you grabbing! Watch it, you brat! You're trying to pull a 'monkey steals the peach'!"

"Hey, hey, Senior Sister Wu, have you never touched pectoral muscles before..."

"..."

Watching this joyful scene, Section Chief Qin also laughed happily.

...

Happy times are always short-lived. The day after Su Fan accepted the interviews and commendations, Section Chief Qin suddenly brought him some bad news.

"Huang Lang committed suicide."

"What!?"

Su Fan was drinking tea and spat a mouthful of it right out.

"How could he commit suicide?"

"Just last night, he severed his own Meridians, dug out his own Spiritual Root, and destroyed his own Dantian. He is dead as can be."

"This... this is truly lamentable!"

Su Fan let out a long sigh, his mood becoming somewhat heavy.

Huang Lang's suicide was definitely not a good thing. "Cracking down on supernatural crimes and ensuring the safety of citizens" had always been an inescapable responsibility of the Justice Bureau and even the Ministry of State Security. His suicide was undoubtedly an attempt to evade judgment, casting a shadow over the work of the Justice Bureau.

Seeming to have seen what was on Su Fan's mind, Section Chief Qin continued, "Therefore, to ensure no more mistakes occur in this trial work, the bureau has decided, in accordance with the 'Special Law on Dealing with Supernatural Affairs', and following the principles of speedy trial and speedy judgment for major crimes, to try the remaining 22 suspects today!"

"That's good. It will save the rest of those bandits from committing suicide too."

After Su Fan finished speaking, Section Chief Qin handed him a photo. The photo showed the scene after Huang Lang's death; he was lying in a pool of blood, and on the greyish-white wall, three words were written in his blood: "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"This guy must have an anti-social personality."

Su Fan remarked.

"He doesn't fit the criteria for an anti-social personality. It's a twisted personality born from being in the bottom rungs of society for a long time, leading to extreme hatred of the wealthy and hostility toward public authority. Originally, when he had his Awakening of supernatural powers, it was a perfect opportunity to change his fate—he could have joined the Justice Bureau or joined a large company to act as a bodyguard for the wealthy. But he chose to flee the Safe Zone and become a bandit..."

While listening to Section Chief Qin, Su Fan nodded. "Right, that belongs to his cognitive limitations... By the way, will that Deputy Bureau Chief Liu Yang get the death penalty?"

Section Chief Qin shook her head. "You'd better ask less about the business of Deputy Bureau Chief Liu Yang. It seems to involve quite a lot of secrets. Whether he'll be sentenced to death, I don't know..."

"Alright."

Su Fan slowly took a sip of tea, turned on his computer, and began watching the live stream of the trial...

...

Evening News.

"Huang Yansheng, nicknamed Huang Lang, born in 2009, graduated from a technical secondary school. After graduation, he did not engage in legitimate social work, instead repeatedly engaging in theft, fraud, prostitution, and gambling. Since the resurgence of Spiritual Qi, relying on his Foundation Establishment cultivation, he became a bandit leader in the Wannan area, repeatedly murdering entrepreneurs and artists. He committed as many as 17 criminal cases, with debts of blood that are too numerous to recount. Today, our Justice Bureau has sentenced him to death in accordance with the law! After being captured, Huang committed suicide out of fear of punishment early this morning. The verdict will be delivered to his relatives at his registered place of residence."

"Deputy Bureau Chief Liu Yang, born in 1999, formerly the Deputy Bureau Chief of the Justice Bureau. During his tenure, he was tempted by the outside world, lost his conviction, degenerated, joined the bandit gang, and harmed the innocent. His crimes are heinous. After being arrested, he became a cooperating witness, exposing the crimes of other suspects. In accordance with relevant laws, our Justice Bureau has sentenced him to death with a two-year reprieve."

"Zheng Dahai, nicknamed Baldy... sentenced to death in accordance with the law!"

"Qiu Mingming, nicknamed A-Ming, Old Ming... sentenced to death in accordance with the law!"

"..."

"Jiang Chengjian... sentenced to death in accordance with the law!"

"Liu Junqing, nicknamed Skinny Monkey, Monkey, repeatedly delivered intelligence for the bandits, aided the evildoers, and committed heinous crimes. Sentenced to twenty years of imprisonment!"

"Hao Qiu, repeatedly participated in tailing and delivering intelligence... sentenced to fifteen years of imprisonment!"

"..."