I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Aftermath and Interrogation

The Branch Director’s Office.

Zhang Qiming cheerfully saw Gao Zhen out of his office. The two of them chatted idly in the hallway for a while before he returned, still smiling. By the time he reached the window, however, the sincere smile had vanished from his face.

After a long moment, he saw the Operations Division’s Flying Shuttle return and murmured in a low voice, ”What a shame.”

A short while later, Zhou Yong entered Zhang Qiming’s office and gave a brief report on the situation at the scene. He highlighted Yang Wenqing’s cooperation with the East City Public Security Office and the state of affairs after the Liu family and Lady Sun arrived.

Zhang Qiming stood by the window with his back to Zhou Yong, his face showing little surprise or anger.

When Zhou Yong finished, he turned around, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips. ”That’s enough,” he said casually. ”You don’t need to worry about it. This whole thing was just a little trap I dug on the fly when I got the report from West City. It would have been nice if it worked, but it’s no big deal that it didn’t. It was a shallow pit; it’s only natural someone would jump over it.”

He walked over to Zhou Yong and patted his shoulder, his tone calm and reassuring. ”Go to Vice Director Gao’s office now and report the situation to him as well. He’s bound to chew you out a bit. Just listen and don’t take it to heart.”

Hearing this, the resentment on Zhou Yong’s face eased slightly. He nodded. ”Yes, Director.”

Zhang Qiming paced over to his desk and sat down, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface. His gaze held a trace of both appreciation and regret. ”This Yang Wenqing is rather interesting,” he continued. ”He’s quick on his feet, knows how to leverage others, and isn’t afraid to swallow his pride when it counts. He’s a promising talent worth cultivating. A pity Gao Zhen got to him first.”

He shook his head, the regret in his voice sounding genuine. ”If he were working for me, with a bit of polishing, he could become a key player in the future. But it’s too late to talk about that now. Go on, do as I said. Be patient. There will be other opportunities.”

”Yes, Director.” Zhou Yong bowed, exited the office, and made his way to Vice Director Gao’s office in the Major Case Team. Not long after he went inside, the sound of the Vice Director scolding him could be heard.

And whether intentionally or not, Vice Director Gao hadn’t even closed his office door while he was dressing down Zhou Yong.

Yang Wenqing had already escorted the suspect to the interrogation room to take his statement, a necessary piece of evidence for the prosecution. Meanwhile, the West City Public Security Office was responsible for collecting the ambient energy signatures at the scene. Lady Sun, who seemed to have seen through the fishy aspects of the case, had sent her own people to supervise, so there likely wouldn’t be any problems on that front.

Inside the interrogation room, the lights were a bit harsh. The seals on Liu Sheng had been partially removed, at least enough for him to speak normally. But he seemed completely drained of spirit, slumped in the specially designed chair, his hollow gaze fixed on the tabletop.

Yang Wenqing sat across from him, with Wu Yan taking notes to the side. There was no harsh, aggressive questioning; Yang Wenqing simply asked him in a calm voice to state the course of events.

Liu Sheng was silent for a long time before he began to speak, his voice dry and hoarse as he recounted the story in fits and starts.

The story itself was a cliché, but one filled with lamentable tragedy.

Liu Sheng had known the deceased, Sun Yi, and the others for some time; they were what you might call drinking buddies. That night at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the two groups had started out drinking and carousing together in high spirits.

The conflict started over a single joke.

Liu Sheng was showing off a new Magical Artifact his family had acquired, bragging about its incredible power. Sun Yi, perhaps because he was drunk, or perhaps venting some long-held resentment, took the opportunity to mock him. ”It’s just a cheap knockoff that’s not even fit to be seen. Is that really worth showing off?”

Those words struck a nerve in Liu Sheng’s heart, which had been made exceptionally sensitive and proud by the alcohol.

Young, hot-blooded, and fueled by alcohol, Liu Sheng felt a wicked fire rush to his head, burning away all reason in an instant. He shot to his feet, stormed out of the private room with Sun Yi and the others, and postured as if to duel in the street.

Arguing all the way to the entrance of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, they were both eager to make a move. Liu Sheng directly summoned his Magical Artifact, and a crimson light instantly illuminated the area inside and outside the main door.

Perhaps he only meant to scare the other man, or perhaps he just wanted to prove himself and had no real intention of killing anyone. But once the Magical Artifact was activated, the consequences were beyond his control.

The flames that erupted from the Magical Artifact lacked precision, instantly engulfing the area inside and outside the entrance. Zhou Ming, who was closest, bore the brunt of it. He died before he could even let out more than a few screams.

A nearby waiter who came forward to intervene was also consumed by the violent Spiritual Qi and flames. A few of Sun Yi’s guards tried to subdue Liu Sheng, and in the chaos, the Magical Artifact was activated again...

And just like that, a sudden magical duel had, in the space of a few dozen breaths, resulted in a tragedy that claimed five lives.

When it was all over, the sight of Sun Yi’s body, pierced through by the flames, was like a bucket of ice water poured over Liu Sheng’s head. He was instantly overwhelmed by immense fear and remorse. He fled in a panic and remained in a dazed, stupefied state until he was captured by Xiao Liang.

”I really... didn’t mean to kill them... I just... I just lost my head for a moment...” Liu Sheng buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking violently. ”Back then... how could I... how could I have...”

His voice was choked with sobs, filled with endless regret.

Yang Wenqing listened quietly, a complex mix of emotions stirring within him. ’This is the price of youthful recklessness,’ he thought. ’One moment of lost control, one argument born of pride, and not only are five lives and their families instantly destroyed, but he’s also completely ruined his own bright future.’

Wu Yan was unmoved by the story. He stared coldly at the suspect and said, ”It’s a good story. Unfortunately, it’s full of holes.”

Liu Sheng’s body trembled. He lifted his tear-streaked face and looked at Wu Yan in a daze.

Wu Yan gave him no time to react, his speaking pace steady but carrying an immense pressure. ”You say you were dazed and panicked? Then how do you explain the fact that when we captured you, you were carrying enough cash to support a long-distance escape, forged identification documents, and even a sea chart marked with a secret route? That’s not something a panicked person could prepare in such a short time.”

The color drained from Liu Sheng’s face in an instant. He wanted to argue but was at a loss for words.

Wu Yan leaned forward, his gaze locked onto Liu Sheng’s shifting eyes, and pressed his attack. ”Furthermore, after you fled the scene, your first stop wasn’t just anywhere. It was a secret warehouse belonging to your family in the Port District. Who did you meet there? Did you meet your father, Liu Hong?”

”N-no! My father, he doesn’t know...” Liu Sheng frantically shook his head in denial.

”He doesn’t know?” Wu Yan sneered.

Questioned into silence, cold sweat trickled down Liu Sheng’s temples.

Wu Yan pressed his advantage, throwing out a sharper accusation. ”I suspect you didn’t attack Sun Yi on impulse at all. Were you acting under someone’s orders, deliberately using the alcohol as an excuse to provoke him? Was your goal to eliminate Sun Yi, that stumbling block? What you call an accidental killing was perhaps a meticulously planned murder!”

”No! I didn’t!” Liu Sheng shot up from his chair as if someone had stepped on his tail, only to be yanked back down by the Spirit-Banning Lock. He shouted frantically, ”No one ordered me to do it! Don’t you dare make baseless accusations!”

PS: To all my dear readers, the new book rankings are stuck around thirtieth place. If you have any recommendation tickets, please send some my way! And leave some comments, too! If you can spare a two-point Chapter donation, that would be great. I’m begging all of you. I can’t do mass releases during the new book period, but I will once the book goes premium.