689: Chapter 689 The Final Judgment

The Secretary of the General Discipline Inspection Commission quickly scanned the opening summary. His previously relaxed expression instantly brightened, and he couldn't help but praise in a low voice.

"Heh, the results are all out... Li Yang really didn't disappoint us. In less than half a month, from extending the inspection and cutting into clues, to a full-scale roundup and solidifying evidence, the entire process was done cleanly, flawlessly, and with astonishing efficiency."

He continued to read, initially with a hint of appreciation and satisfaction. But as the ranks of the personnel involved in the case climbed higher and higher, and the details of the case unfolded one by one, the smile on his face gradually faded. His brows furrowed deeper and deeper, his expression changing from calm to solemn, and then from solemn to ashen.

When he saw the complete chain of corruption, embezzlement, judicial interference, and harboring criminals, with former Speaker Rowan at its core, and Commander of the Guard Division Kova and Deputy Commander Haran as its military backing, the Secretary of the General Discipline Inspection Commission's face completely darkened. His knuckles turned slightly white, and he let out a cold snort, his tone filled with rage and disgust.

"Absolutely audacious! A bunch of Woodworms sucking the Empire's blood! The highest administrative Official of an entire Galaxy Cluster, along with the entire Guard Division, completely fell. The Speaker, the Commander, and Deputy Commander led the corruption, colluding from top to bottom, treating public power as a tool for personal gain, and Galaxy defense as a protective umbrella. It's utterly absurd!"

This furious roar broke the calm in the office. The supervision director, who was nearby, instantly changed his expression and quickly leaned closer to the light screen, carefully examining the key content.

He had originally estimated that this Xiapu inspection would at most reach the level of departmental ministers, and that uncovering a few mid-level interest chains would already be a major achievement.

However, he never expected that Li Yang's investigation would directly dig to the very top of the Galaxy Cluster's power structure, unearthing giants at the level of the Speaker and the highest Commander of the Guard Division, who were also the instigators and organizers of the entire corruption network.

Such a high-level, widespread, and systemic corruption case is rare in the Xili Empire's recent history of governance.

Even the supervision director, who had seen many major cases, couldn't help but be full of shock, unable to speak for a long time.

Having calmed down, the Secretary of the General Discipline Inspection Commission then pointed and clicked on the light screen, directly issuing his instructions.

These Empire Woodworms must be dealt with seriously.

"Alright, looking at it from another perspective, this matter also proves that our comprehensive inspection is correct and beneficial."

The supervision director also quickly stated his opinion.

"Hmm, you're right about that. This inspection must be carried out seriously and thoroughly, and every Star Domain must be completely scrutinized!"

It was precisely because of the incidents in the Xiapu Star Cluster that the intensity of subsequent inspections was further strengthened, sweeping away more and deeper Empire Woodworms.

...

Meanwhile, in the Thirty-Third Inspection Team, Li Yang also received the General Commission for Discipline Inspection's directives regarding the handling of those Officials.

Inside the highest Imperial Court of the Xiapu Star Cluster, the dome hung high, with the Imperial emblem suspended in the center, exuding the inviolable judicial majesty of the Empire.

The entire courtroom was constructed of high-strength alloy, with law statutes and the Imperial star map inlaid on the walls. The public gallery was filled with Inspection Team members, Security Assurance Division representatives, and Imperial media recorders. The entire hall was silent, the atmosphere solemn to the point of near-freezing.

In the defendant's dock, dozens of core high-ranking Officials from the Xiapu Star Cluster, led by former Speaker Rowan, wore unified detention uniforms, their hands bound by standard shackles. Their faces were ashen, long devoid of the spirited demeanor they once held in high positions.

They, who once wielded the power of life and death over the entire Galaxy Cluster, now resembled prisoners awaiting slaughter, their eyes vacant, their expressions forlorn, leaving only utter desolation and despair.

Rowan lowered his head slightly, his eyes devoid of any ripples. From the moment he resigned himself to the law, he knew his ultimate fate was already sealed.

Above the high platform, the Chief Justice of the highest Imperial Court of the Xiapu Star Cluster solemnly took his seat.

Leading them was the Chief Justice of the Court, dressed in a black Chief Justice robe embroidered with golden legal patterns, his face solemn, his gaze steady as iron.

Beside him were Senior Jurors and Legal Specialists, all with grave expressions, strictly exercising the final judgment power in accordance with Xili Empire imperial law.

The trial officially began. The court Secretary first stood up and loudly read out the entire trial process and the key points of the case files.

Subsequently, the prosecution's representative presented in court the complete chain of evidence submitted by The 33rd Inspection Team.

Millions of pieces of evidence, including corruption accounts, records of illicit transfers, confessions, testimonies from co-conspirators, evidence of administrative abuse of power, and military collusion documents, were all projected onto the giant light screen in the center of the courtroom, clear and irrefutable.

Facing the undeniable facts, all the Officials in the defendant's dock remained silent. No one raised objections, no one requested a defense; all pleaded guilty and submitted to the law.

With the presentation of evidence concluded, the chief justice slowly rose, his gaze sternly sweeping over the high-ranking Officials involved in the case below. His voice was steady and powerful, resounding throughout the entire courtroom.

"According to the Xili Empire Official Management Law, Anti-Corruption Law, Dereliction of Duty Accountability Law, and Imperial Military Security Law, and following joint review by the collegial panel and the Central General Discipline Inspection Commission, this court finds that the defendants Rowan, as well as the former Vice Speaker, various departmental ministers, directors, and other core leadership of the Xiapu Star Cluster,

As Advanced Imperial Officials holding important positions, they used their authority to amass wealth, form factions for personal gain, abuse public power, disrupt administrative order, and collude with the military to embezzle military funds, causing extremely severe political impact and incalculable economic losses to the Empire. The facts of the crime are clear, the evidence is conclusive and sufficient, and the charges are established."

After a pause, the chief justice's voice deepened, and he formally delivered the verdict.

"This court sentences the defendants Rowan, Sig, Wei Lai... and others to death, to be executed immediately!"

As the words fell, a few suppressed tremors came from the defendant's dock. Some felt weak, some turned pale, but no one dared to utter a sound of protest.

Rowan gently closed his eyes, a hint of relieved desolation on his face. This decades-long carnival of corruption finally ended in utter destruction.

Immediately after, the Chief Justice's gaze turned to Haran, the former Deputy Commander of the Guard Division, who stood to one side, separately detained.

Haran's posture was taut, his expression uneasy, as he quietly awaited his final outcome.

The Chief Justice continued to pronounce judgment, his tone reflecting the strictness of sentencing according to law.

"Defendant Haran, as the Deputy Commander of the Galaxy Guard Division, his involvement in corruption and dereliction of duty is confirmed, and he should have been punished with the same crime. However, in view of his decisive action during the Inspection Team's arrest mission, at the critical moment when General Commander Kova attempted to incite armed rebellion and resist the Imperial Inspection Team, he resolutely stopped the rebellion and killed the mastermind, effectively avoiding large-scale bloodshed and internal attrition of Imperial military strength. He has shown significant meritorious service, and after his arrest, he truthfully confessed and fully cooperated with the investigation."

"In accordance with the imperial law's commutation clauses, this court will, at its discretion, impose a lenient sentence. Defendant Haran is sentenced to life imprisonment, lifelong incarceration, without commutation or parole!"

Upon hearing the verdict, Haran let out a long sigh of relief, his body slightly slumping, then he deeply bowed his head.

Although he would lose his freedom for life, he ultimately saved his life, which, for him, was the best possible outcome.

After the two verdicts were read, the courtroom remained silent.

Everyone deeply felt that this thunderous anti-corruption storm, initiated by the Inspection Team led by Li Yang, concluded with the gavel falling in the most majestic, thorough, and unquestionable manner.

The powerful group of high Officials who once dominated Xiapu collapsed, and the light of imperial law once again illuminated every corner of this Star Domain.

As for the lower-ranking Officials, a small portion was sentenced to death, while most received life imprisonment or fixed-term sentences, with the lowest being thirty years.

At this point, the affairs of the Xiapu Star Cluster were completely settled, and Li Yang immediately set off to prepare for the next inspection Star Domain.

...