Chapter 1 The Trial
The next day, the courtroom.
Tang Geng and his lawyer sat at the seats on the right side of the court.
Facing them were the eldest young master of the Zhao family, Zhao Wei, and his defense lawyer.
Han Lang and Ma Long, as witnesses, sat in the witness stand in the front left of the spectator seats.
As the Director of the Special Investigation Department Branch and the two jurors entered, the final trial regarding the Zhao family's collusion with ability users to commit treason and sell out the country officially commenced.
"Director Chen, esteemed friends!"
At the beginning of the trial, the clerk, seated below the judge's bench, bowed slightly to the Director and everyone present before stating expressionlessly.
"Given the results of the preliminary trial, the Star City Zhao family, concerning Zhao Wei, the person in charge of the Le City Support Plan, has confessed to supporting the Wang family of Le City and the Jin Chunfeng forces, as ordered by the family."
"However, according to the report from the Tang family of Star City, the special task force of the Special Investigation Department's Southern China Branch, after a thorough investigation, has confirmed that Wang Shan, the head of the Wang family of Le City, whom the Zhao family supported, colluded with ability users to commit treason and sell out the country!"
"Therefore, based on this, today's final trial is to confirm whether the Zhao family also colluded with ability users and to make a final judgment."
"Next, please have both legal counsels present their arguments!"
After the clerk finished speaking, he gestured towards Tang Geng, indicating for them to begin.
The lawyer beside Tang Geng did not hesitate, smoothly adjusted the microphone in front of him, and then said indifferently.
"The Zhao and Tang families have worked together in Star City for many years. In a sense, the two families can be considered comrades-in-arms. Therefore, regarding whether the Zhao family colluded with ability users, our Tang family's stance is merely to confirm the facts. As long as the Zhao family can provide relevant evidence to dispel everyone's speculation and doubts, then naturally no one will delve deeper. I have finished, thank you!"
As soon as this was said, the defense lawyer sitting beside Zhao Wei immediately stood up and asked.
"During the preliminary trial, we have already provided relevant explanations for the questions raised by the Tang family. It is true that our Zhao family supported the Wang family of Le City and the Jin Chunfeng forces. However, Le City and Star City are quite far apart. The Zhao family did issue orders to the two, but they did not restrict their actions. Therefore, the Zhao family was indeed unaware of their unauthorized collusion with ability users."
"Furthermore, regarding the Tang family's accusation that my client, Mr. Zhao Wei, repeatedly and intentionally disrupted the battle against Wang Shan, the mutated S-class ability user and head of the Wang family of Le City, putting his comrades in danger, and even maliciously killed the already subdued Wang Shan to achieve the purpose of no witnesses, we believe it is pure fabrication and utterly baseless."
Upon hearing this, the lawyer beside Tang Geng stood up unhurriedly and replied.
"The defense's statement is flawed. The various ability user incidents that occurred in Le City have already been reported by Tang Qin, the Director of the Le City Special Investigation Bureau, to the Branch Special Investigation Department, with conclusive evidence. In addition, regarding the killing of the S-class ability user Wang Shan, we have specifically invited participants and witnesses from that time to testify in court. If the defense has any doubts, please present corresponding evidence to refute the testimony of our witnesses!"
As the lawyer spoke, all eyes in the courtroom instantly focused on Han Lang and Ma Long.
The defense lawyer beside Zhao Wei walked directly out of the defense seats and approached them. After a brief appraisal, he bowed slightly and then asked Ma Long.
"Greetings, esteemed friend. May I ask your name? Did you personally participate in the battle against the S-class ability user Wang Shan? And what is your accusation against the Zhao family?"
After the previous discussion, Ma Long no longer needed to conceal anything and truthfully replied, "My name is Ma Long! I am a cultivator at the tenth level of Qi Refining. I did not personally participate in the battle against the S-class ability user, but I did participate in the battles to capture three ability user bases. I can responsibly tell everyone that both Jin Chunfeng and Wang Shan, whom the Zhao family supported, funded the construction of their respective ability user bases! As for whether this was under the Zhao family's orders, I believe the Zhao family should provide relevant evidence for that!"
After Ma Long finished speaking, he noticed that the defense lawyer completely ignored his question. Instead, he symbolically thanked him and then turned to ask Han Lang.
"Sir, may I ask your name? Did you participate in the battle against the S-class ability user?"
Han Lang nodded, "My name is Han Lang! I personally participated in the battle against the S-class ability user!"
"May I be so bold as to ask your cultivation level?"
"Early Foundation Establishment!"
"Thank you!" While thanking Han Lang, the defense lawyer loudly addressed Director Chen and everyone in the spectator seats.
"To my knowledge, a mutated S-class ability user possesses strength comparable to the late stage of Foundation Establishment. The gap between you and him spans two entire stages! Without assistance, how could you subdue an S-class ability user?"
Han Lang replied without hesitation, "That's why I needed assistance! During the battle, Tang Geng of the Tang family was assisting from the side. Because of our good coordination, we eventually subdued Wang Shan. During this process, we clearly felt that young master Zhao Wei of the Zhao family deliberately struck the ability user, causing him to evade a fatal attack. Moreover, during the battle, Zhao Wei intentionally or unintentionally created openings for the ability user, otherwise, he would not have been injured! Finally, after the S-class ability user was subdued and determined to be no longer a threat, it was only when he made this move that Zhao Wei unhesitatingly struck and killed him, completely eliminating the target for trial! I believe the Zhao family should provide a detailed explanation for these matters!"
"Haha..." After hearing this, the defense lawyer burst into laughter. He ignored Han Lang and directly turned to Director Chen on the judge's bench and said.
"Director, to answer this colleague's question, I would like to play a video recording!"
"Granted!"
Upon receiving affirmation, he unhurriedly signaled his assistant to start playing the video.
The video was recorded by the camera at the entrance of the Wang family villa, and the scene of Han Lang and Tang Geng fighting Wang Shan that day was almost entirely displayed within it.
However, what Han Lang did not expect was that Zhao Wei in the video had never stopped moving during the battle. At first glance, it truly appeared as if the three of them were continuously assisting in attacking Wang Shan.
"That's not right, young sir!" Ma Long also noticed something amiss and whispered to Han Lang, "Didn't you say that during the battle that day, Zhao Wei was merely watching from the side, not participating? And that he only made a move to save Wang Shan when you were about to succeed? How come the video shows nothing of the sort!"
Han Lang was also puzzled. Could it be that he was too focused on dealing with the enemy at the time and overlooked Zhao Wei's presence?
As he was lost in thought, the defense lawyer paused the video and then asked again, "Mr. Han, could you please point out where in the video my client, Mr. Zhao Wei, intentionally struck Wang Shan, causing your attacks to miss?"