Chapter 230: The Tribunal

Early morning.

Wen Shilin, sporting two massive dark circles under his eyes, pushed open the doors of the newspaper office, looking rather haggard.

He hadn't slept a wink last night, busy organizing evidence of the Star Chamber of Commerce's organ trafficking and drafting his article. Five or six years ago, pulling an all-nighter wouldn't have been a big deal, but now that he was approaching middle age, his stamina just couldn't keep up.

He had just reached his desk, ready to start the day's writing, when a figure walked up to him.

"Mr. Wen, you don't seem to be looking very well."

Wen Shilin looked up to see Chen Ling and gave a helpless smile. "I'm alright, just a bit sleepy... I'll be fine after drinking some water in a bit."

Before he could finish, Chen Ling placed a steaming cup of coffee on his desk. The rich, aromatic scent wafted over, making Wen Shilin's eyes brighten slightly.

He looked up at Chen Ling, who was smiling silently, his expression complex.

"Coffee isn't cheap. You shouldn't have spent your money on me."

Having been a reporter for so many years, Wen Shilin hadn't saved much money. Coffee was a luxury for the bourgeoisie that he usually couldn't bring himself to buy, so Chen Ling's gesture was undoubtedly very moving.

"It's nothing." Chen Ling smiled and sat down across from him quite naturally, then got straight to the point.

"By the way, I heard that the law enforcer from the Third District, Han Meng, is having his trial today? Did you know about that?"

"I know, the notice was posted yesterday." Wen Shilin nodded while sipping his coffee. "Why? Are you interested in this case too?"

"I was there when that train crashed into the city, so I saw the whole process. That's why I have an impression of this law enforcer."

"No wonder... What do you think of him?"

Chen Ling pondered for a moment. "From a personal perspective, I feel he did the right thing, at least by saving the remaining survivors of the Third District."

"That's true." Wen Shilin sighed deeply, as if remembering something. "However, he did defy orders in public and got into a fight with other law enforcers to open the gates and let people in... While he won't be sentenced to death, I doubt he'll escape thirty to fifty years, or even life imprisonment."

"Is the sentence that long?" Chen Ling frowned involuntarily.

"I'm only guessing. The specifics depend on the defense in court and the intentions of the higher-ups in the law enforcement agency."

Chen Ling fell into deep thought.

Han Meng had risked betraying the Aurora City law enforcers to protect Chen Ling and the others at the time. Chen Ling naturally wouldn't forget this favor, but it was difficult for him to do anything about it now... After all, the Black Prison at the Law Enforcer Headquarters was on a completely different level than the dungeon of the Star Chamber of Commerce. With his strength of only Tier 2, trying to break into a prison guarded by Tier 6 or even Tier 7 guards was no different from a pipe dream.

Fortunately, Han Meng wouldn't be sentenced to death. As long as he was still alive, there would always be a way to save him... Chen Ling thought to himself.

"If you're interested in this case, why not go to the Tribunal and listen in?" Wen Shilin suddenly suggested.

Chen Ling was taken aback. "I can listen in?"

"Of course. All court verdicts in Aurora City are open to the public; even ordinary people can attend... let alone you, a reporter."

Wen Shilin glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's almost time for the trial to start. Let's go, I'll take you. Once you're familiar with the process, you can go on your own next time you're interested in a case."

Without waiting for Chen Ling to say anything more, Wen Shilin picked up his coffee, shouldered his camera and notebook, and headed straight for the door.

Seeing this, Chen Ling quickly followed.

The Aurora City Tribunal wasn't too far from the newspaper office; the two walked for twenty minutes and arrived at the entrance.

At this moment, quite a few people were already standing scattered around the entrance. The buzz surrounding the train incident hadn't completely faded, and Han Meng's case still held social interest. They registered their information at the court entrance one after another and headed toward the public gallery.

To Chen Ling's surprise, he encountered an acquaintance here.

In a corner by the court entrance, several reporters with cameras were gathered together, seemingly from different media outlets. Among them, Zhuo Shuqing was jotting something down while looking thoughtful.

Just then, he felt someone tap him on the shoulder from behind.

He turned around in confusion and saw Chen Ling's smiling face. He nearly jumped out of his skin, his face turning deathly pale as he took two steps back.

"You... why are you here??"

"I'm here to listen in." Chen Ling's gaze swept over the people around Zhuo Shuqing, his eyebrows raising slightly. "And you... why are you here?"

"I..." Zhuo Shuqing swallowed hard. "I'm here to listen in too, representing the 'Aurora Daily'."

"Oh? Since when can you represent the 'Aurora Daily'?"

As Chen Ling narrowed his eyes, Zhuo Shuqing felt a chill surge into his heart. He opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

"Lin Yan, I've registered for you, let's go in." Wen Shilin walked over from the side at the right moment. Seeing Zhuo Shuqing there, he was also surprised. "You're here too? What, who paid you to write fake reports this time?"

Zhuo Shuqing's face turned red to the roots of his ears. He bit the bullet and cursed:

"Wen Shilin, what kind of bullshit are you spouting?"

Chen Ling seemed to think of something. He stared at Zhuo Shuqing, his expression turning cold instantly, and a faint murderous intent locked onto the other man through his gaze.

"Little Zhuo..." Chen Ling said slowly. "You should know that I hate people who write fake news the most. If you dare to pull any tricks this time, it won't be as simple as that punch from last time..."

Chen Ling took a half-step forward, his cheek almost touching Zhuo Shuqing's ear, and a bone-chilling voice drilled into his skull.

"Do you believe that I'll kill you?"

Zhuo Shuqing felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar!

He stood there, pale as paper, the fear of being dominated by Chen Ling surging back into his heart. He saw Chen Ling give him a deep look before turning to follow Wen Shilin into the court. Even so, that icy murderous intent lingered in his heart, unable to dissipate for a long time...

"Zhuo Shuqing, what are you waiting for?" Another reporter frowned and waved his hand. "Let's go, the trial is about to start."

"Oh... oh."

Zhuo Shuqing snapped out of it and stiffly walked inside.

……

Chen Ling followed Wen Shilin and found a seat in the first row of the public gallery.

The scale of this courtroom was not small. The walls were decorated with dark marble, solemn and elegant. Massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows were located on both sides, refracting sunlight into countless magnificent spots that fell in the center of the courtroom.

A tall and magnificent judge's bench, like a throne in the clouds, stood at the highest point of the courtroom.