Ding Bowen knelt at the entrance to Luo Yong's office, crying miserably, his body emitting an unpleasant urine odor.
Inside the room, a woman was making a loud fuss.
"My son is not that kind of person! I've watched over him since he was little, how could I not know him?
"He's a good kid, ah! Respectful to his parents, united with his classmates!
"He only made a small mistake, why do you have to bully him like this!
"Traitor, is that a label that can be randomly slapped onto someone!
"I see that you just want to drive him to death, to drive us, mother and son, to our graves!
"Oh, Lord in heavens, open your eyes and look!
"In this world, is there no justice left!
"If you want to drive us to death, then I'll just die right here for you to see!"
The woman was clad in garishly branded clothes, with a chunky platinum necklace clinking around her neck.
Her hair was disheveled, her face covered in tears, makeup smeared all over, reds and whites blending together like a poorly painted white wall.
She was clutching Wang Weiguo's arm, wailing and acting as if she were seeking death, her fingernails digging deeply into Wang Weiguo's skin.
Luo Yong, Wang Weiguo, and Chu Feng did not get angry, they only watched her performance with expressionless faces.
It took a long while, but the woman seemed to tire of her solo drama, gradually quieting down.
She merely covered her face with her sleeve, sobbing and sniffing.
Only then did Luo Yong slowly and methodically say, "Ms. Liu Rong, I understand how you feel.
"The following is a notice I'm conveying on behalf of the Academy Alliance to you and Mr. Ding Bowen:
"Your son, Mr. Ding Bowen, colluded with the fugitive criminal Jia Ren.
"He participated in crafting an intricate criminal plan against our school's exemplary student, Chu Feng, and took active steps to implement it!
"Within this plan, Ding Bowen was responsible for gathering detailed intelligence on Chu Feng's progress in strength, his school commuting times, and routes.
"He passed on the intelligence through holographic calls, text messages, and other methods to Jia Ren, severely threatening Chu Feng's life safety!
"This is not a mistake, it is a crime!
"We have gathered ample relevant testimonies and physical evidence, the proof is irrefutable and cannot be denied!
"The above contents have been simultaneously reported to the relevant public security departments in Ninghe City, please patiently wait for the investigation and handling results.
"During the waiting period, it is forbidden to leave the premises of Ninghe No.1 Middle School, those who violate this will be considered to be evading the law due to guilt.
"I have the right, on behalf of the Academy Alliance's Ninghe No.1 Middle School Council, to pursue and capture fugitive criminals.
"And am permitted, after encountering resistance, to kill them on the spot!"
Seeing that Ms. Liu was about to fly into further hysteria, Luo Yong suddenly emitted the pressure from an Everlasting Martial Artist, suppressing Ms. Liu, who showed a look of terror:
"That's all there is to the notice!
"Save your energy!
"What you can do now is to seek forgiveness from the victim, and strive to mitigate Ding Bowen's sentence.
"This exhausts my points, do as you please."
Having said this, he began to close his eyes in meditation, ignoring the strange look Chu Feng gave him.
...
'Great, so it's all on me now?'
Chu Feng watched speechlessly as the flashy woman, Liu Rong, seemed to have found a savior and eagerly rushed towards him.
He immediately stepped back, stopping the woman: "Ms. Liu, stop!
"If you take one more step forward, I will take it as you threatening or attacking me! I will defend myself!"
Liu Rong hesitated for a moment, stopping in her tracks, and desperately pleaded with Chu Feng.
She said their lives were hard, hoping he could show mercy and spare them, mother and son.
"He's still a child, ah!"
Chu Feng, thoroughly vexed by listening, remained silent.
However, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of Ding Bowen's face filled with rancor!
Upon seeing Chu Feng's gaze, the latter quickly lowered his head, continuing to sob and sniffle.
A chill went through Chu Feng's heart as he remembered his conversation with Wang Weiguo.
Subsequently, he made a decision in his heart.
Just as Liu Rong stopped nagging and he was about to speak, a commotion suddenly arose outside the door.
"Stop!"
"You can't go in!"
"Security! Security!"
Amidst the angry shouts, a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and dressed in a suit strode arrogantly into the principal's office.
Two young men followed him, blocking the doorway.
Luo Yong was instantly furious, "What fool is this! Who let you in without permission!"
The man, feeling intimidated by Luo Yong's imposing manner, changed his expression slightly, but nevertheless lifted his chin proudly and announced himself:
"I am Che Yongyuan, a Level 2 researcher from the Academy Alliance's Eastern Region Strategic Research Institute!
"Is this how Ninghe No. 1 Middle School treats visitors from superior departments?"
Wang Weiguo waved his hand, indicating for the pursuing security guards to leave, and smiled:
"Ah, Director Che, I am Wang Weiguo, Grade 3 Director at Ninghe No. 1 Middle School. What brings you to our humble school?"
Upon hearing Wang Weiguo's polite tone, Che Yongyuan's expression improved a bit, and he commanded:
"I'm here to convey Director Chen Fei's directive:
"After high-level research and decision, the investigation related to the fugitive Jia Ren is to be suspended.
"All related materials and evidence must be transferred to the superior department, and the warrant is to be put on hold!"
Wang Weiguo and Chu Feng exchanged glances, their hearts sinking.
The implication behind this directive was somewhat ominous!
If all the evidence was to be handed over, how could Jia Ren and Ding Bowen's criminal facts continue to be investigated? How could they be convicted?
Overhearing this, Luo Yong laughed out of extreme anger, "This case has already been reported to headquarters and has invited cooperation from the Ning River Public Security Bureau.
"Where does a mere deputy director of a regional branch get the right and audacity to obstruct the investigation!"
Che Yongyuan sneered, "Director Chen said this is also an order from the Alliance headquarters.
"The official documents will be issued shortly, and the Ning River Public Security Bureau will also receive the directive. Please comply immediately!"
"Beep beep beep—"
Luo Yong picked up the information terminal and looked at it, his face darkening.
Che Yongyuan laughed, "Look, the document has been issued. Please, Principal Luo, seal the relevant documents and hand them over to us!"
At this moment, Luo Yong's expression became surprisingly calm, as if he were deep in thought.
After a long silence, just when Che Yongyuan began to show impatience and frequently checked his watch,
Luo Yong finally picked up the terminal, activated the holographic call, and said gravely to the other side:
"Seal all documents related to Jia Ren and bring them to me, prepare the transfer proof."
A somewhat astonished response came from the other side, "Ah, okay, Principal."
Upon hearing this, Che Yongyuan's face immediately displayed a smug smile:
"Thank you for your cooperation, Principal Luo!
"I had heard before that Principal Luo is a very imaginative leader, and seeing you today, your reputation is indeed well-deserved!"
Luo Yong gave a cold smile, the insinuation in his words clear as day:
"I had thought you were someone who doesn't comply with upper management, but it turns out you kneel quite readily!"
Wang Weiguo's expression turned cold, "Director Che, some remarks are fine to think to oneself, but voicing them out loud turns them into a joke.
"Be careful not to be misunderstood as someone intentionally disrupting organizational harmony."
Che Yongyuan chuckled, "Director Wang is right, I will definitely be more careful in the future."
At this point, Liu Rong interrupted the two men's conversation, stepping forward with a hopeful look and asked Che Yongyuan:
"Director Che, I am a student's parent.
"May I ask, are all cases related to Jia Ren suspended?"
The expressions on Luo Yong and Wang Weiguo's faces immediately turned grim.
Che Yongyuan originally didn't want to pay attention to Liu Rong, but after seeing the expressions of Luo Yong and others, his interest was piqued.
He inquired with interest, "Oh, you know about the matters concerning Jia Ren?"