"What evidence?"
"Before the court opened, we received a handwritten letter from the Deputy Director-General of Aurora City's Enforcers. Chief Tan Xin explained in the letter that the [Defendant] Han Meng's action of releasing the train into the city that day, was secretly signaled by him..."
When the defense lawyer took out the Envelope from his bag, a burst of whispering sounds instantly rang out within the court.
"Han Meng opening the gate, was instigated by Chief Tan Xin?? What is this situation?"
"Don't know ah... If it really is like this, then this verdict is fundamentally a misunderstanding from the start? But why didn't Tan Xin directly order to open the gate, and instead let Han Meng let the train in through that kind of method? This doesn't make sense right?"
"Could there be some other misgivings? For example, discord within the Enforcers?"
"No matter how you say it, Tan Xin stepping up to testify for Han Meng proves that he is indeed innocent... Accusing him of being a Dusk Society member is simply baseless nonsense."
"I already felt something was amiss earlier. Finding a Playing Card from under the bed makes one a Dusk Society member? Then my house still has two decks of cards... That Fang Lichang, as expected has a big problem ah!"
"..."
"The [Defendant]'s refutation statement has already concluded." After finishing all this, the defense lawyer raised his head to look at the judgment platform. "The accusing party has already left the venue, and facts prove that all his accusations were deliberate framing... Regarding the final verdict of the [Defendant] Han Meng, how should it be handled?"
Sitting on the judge's seat, Gu Yuan slowly flipped through the documents in his hands, not answering immediately. The surrounding jury also whispered in low voices, as if discussing something.
At the same time, a burst of noisy commotion transmitted from outside the court's main doors.
Through the glazed Glass windows, one could see figures of residents holding newspapers currently gathering outside, looking inside... Moreover, as time passed, the people outside became more and more numerous. After a moment, unknown who it was, someone suddenly shouted a sentence:
"Release Han Meng! Enforcer Han Meng is Not Guilty!"
The moment this voice rang out, the District Three crowd in the spectator seats were all stunned. They blankly looked out the window, not knowing what had happened.
"Boycott judgment Inside Story! Boycott deliberate suppression! Enforcer Han Meng fought for a sliver of survival for the survivors, fully fulfilling his duties! He should rightfully be Not Guilty!!"
"Enforcer Han Meng is a true man! If you guys even frame him, are you still human?"
"We demand that all details of this case be made completely public! Return a clean slate to Enforcer Han Meng!"
"Release Han Meng! Han Meng is Not Guilty!!"
"..."
More and more figures shouted outside. Their voices passed through the open doorways of the court, constantly echoing within the interior... Standing in the [Defendant]'s seat, Han Meng was slightly stunned, bewilderment and confusion emerging in his eyes.
Xu Chongguo in the spectator seats seemed to have thought of something. He bent over and picked up the newspaper Fang Lichang dropped on the ground just now. On the front page was precisely the article exposing the Stars Chamber of Commerce's organ trading, and when he flipped the newspaper back to the second page, his whole person was stunned on the spot.
"This is..."
"Han Meng is Not Guilty!!" Perhaps influenced by the voices outside, the District Three crowd who were originally dispirited due to not having banners and megaphones, instantly seemed to have been injected with chicken blood. One after another, they stood up from the spectator seats, their eyes bright as stars!
"Han Meng is Not Guilty!!"
"Han Meng is Not Guilty!!!"
Zhao Yi clenched his fists, leading the crowd in shouting loudly one voice after another. Even Ling'er at the side stood up. With one hand pulling Zhao Yi's shirt corner, the other hand forcefully waved following their rhythm, her small face full of seriousness.
The noise inside and outside the court made the Law Enforcers maintaining order momentarily flustered and panicky. Even the passersby on the opposite spectator seats began shouting for Han Meng. With so many people disrupting the court, they fundamentally couldn't manage it all. The scene was incomparably chaotic.
Among the crowd of District Three people waving fists and shouting, Chen Ling was the only existence quietly sitting in his seat. His gaze swept over the entire court, the corner of his mouth hooking up slightly;
He gently pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose and stood up lightly. Amidst the chaos and shouting filling the venue, he walked outside the court alone...
The brown overcoat swayed lightly with the wind, like a person behind the scenes stepping down to the backstage amidst the warm applause of The Audience after personally creating a wonderful performance.
This performance has already ended. Perhaps no one will know what happened behind all this, nor will anyone know the truth, but Chen Ling didn't care... What he cared about, was only one thing——
Today, the victory is already decided!
The moment Chen Ling's footsteps stepped out the court's main doors, a crisp sound of the gavel transmitted from behind.
Thud——!
"Through the final trial decision of Aurora City's Court of Judgment..."
"Defendant Han Meng, is released Not Guilty!"
The moment the last four words were spoken, a burst of cheers resounded throughout the court. Amidst this warm applause, Han Meng standing in the [Defendant]'s seat seemed to have felt something, slightly turning his head to look behind him...
On the long path sprinkled with glazed radiance behind him, a figure draped in a brown overcoat turned his head back and glanced here, before turning around and disappearing at the court doorway.
"Chief Han Meng is really released Not Guilty!"
"I just knew it, good people have good karma! Now we can get a good sleep!"
"Later when going out remember to take the banners and megaphones. Don't forget, those playthings still cost quite a bit of money..."
Amidst the joyful conversation of the District Three crowd, Zhao Yi seemed to remember something, his gaze slightly freezing.
He turned around and walked straight outside the court.
"Little Yi, where are you going?" Xu Chongguo holding Ling'er, seeing this scene, asked in confusion.
"I have some matters. You guys go back first later."
After Zhao Yi finished speaking, not waiting for Xu Chongguo to speak again, his figure disappeared outside the court door...
On the judgment platform, Gu Yuan and the crowd of judgment officials stood up, preparing to leave. When his gaze landed on Han Meng below the platform, he still spoke:
"Han Meng, you may leave."
Several Law Enforcers carrying Han Meng's clothes and personal belongings stepped forward. Han Meng was silent for a moment, receiving them all. "Many thanks, Senior Gu Yuan."
"No need to thank me, I merely did what I should do." Gu Yuan answered indifferently. "However, if it weren't for someone secretly helping you, this verdict also wouldn't have been this smooth... To a certain degree, both you and I, should thank him."
Voice falling, Gu Yuan draped in a black windbreaker, turned around and left.
Han Meng's observation and reasoning abilities were never weak. Even without Gu Yuan's hint, he had long felt the anomalies on today's court. This continuous string of reversals and the retaliation against Fang Lichang, if there was no one pushing the waves behind the scenes, he definitely wouldn't believe it... But from entering Aurora City until now, he almost didn't know anyone. Who else would help him like this?