Chà Chà Novel

Chapter 79: Damn, You Make It Sound So Impressive

Ji Shileng turned to Minister Zhou and answered with an equally pleasant smile.

“Anything is fine. The Empire is hosting the Interstellar Military Competition. Sentence him however your laws dictate”

Su Ke had mentioned that Mr. Bai seemed to have a network of connections in the Empire.

It made sense. Anyone arrogant enough to openly sabotage the Interstellar Military Competition had to have some backing.

Ji Shiyun and Ji Shifeng raised their eyebrows simultaneously. Why was their youngest suddenly so agreeable today?

Shang Jianli instinctively felt something was wrong. He suspected Ji Shileng was saving something explosive for later.

Sure enough, Ji Shileng continued lightly, “If Mr. Bai gets out later, I recall Imperial law has a provision automatically declaring someone dead after they’ve been missing for four years. Correct?”

Shang Jianli lowered his head and wrote a few words in his booklet. He had known Ji Shileng would say something startling.

The Imperial judge slammed the table and sprang to his feet, pointing at Ji Shileng.

“Are you threatening us?”

The tabletop shook. Ji Shileng calmly took a sip of water, entirely unconcerned by the rebuke.

“Your Honor, I’m merely expressing my views”

Even with a finger pointed in his face, he smiled pleasantly.

His audacity was astonishing.

The judge grew more aggressive, his face flushing with anger.

“You’re questioning the impartiality of Imperial justice! What do you mean, if he gets out?!”

Ji Shileng leisurely opened his booklet.

“Aren’t I justified? Under Imperial law, as this document also states, ordinary criminal offenses that endanger public safety through dangerous means, with exceptionally serious circumstances, warrant the death penalty”

“Why does Mr. Bai receive a suspended death sentence instead?”

“Is the next step after that acquittal and release?”

The judge was furious.

“Are you the judge, or am I? Who gave an ignorant brat like you the right to speak?”

“I didn’t want to speak in the first place”

Now Ji Shileng truly looked innocent. He turned toward Minister Zhou.

“But Minister Zhou was so open-minded that he wanted to hear my suggestions”

Minister Zhou had no words.

Damn. He certainly made it sound impressive.

Ji Shileng had never seemed this eloquent before.

Even their most silver-tongued judge could not hold his own against him.

“Enough. It was only a suggestion, wasn’t it?”

Shang Jianli intervened before the argument descended further.

Ji Shileng gave the judge an even more impudent grin.

The man was so furious he could barely breathe.

“Don’t lose your composure, Your Honor”

Ji Shileng raised his glass toward him.

“Don’t tell me they’re about to uncover the bribes you took from Mr. Bai”

The judge braced himself against the table and began panting, his breaths growing increasingly short and frantic.

“You… I… I’ll sue you… Slander… slander!”

As he seemed about to collapse, still muttering, the medical team stationed outside rushed in and lifted him onto a stretcher.

Before the ambulance left, Ji Shileng waved and offered his “heartfelt” wishes.

“Your Honor, I look forward to our next meeting. Do take care of your health”

Su Ke watched in amazement, his mouth open for a long moment before he recovered.

“Brother Shi, that last line was maximum sarcasm. How did you know he’d taken bribes?”

Ji Shileng walked slowly back to the meeting room with the others.

Those nearby pricked up their ears at Su Ke’s question.

“I was bluffing”

Ji Shileng was perfectly frank.

“He was defending Mr. Bai so fiercely. Without any other apparent reason, bribery was the only explanation I could think of”

They had not even had time to investigate before the judge gave himself away.

“Should we look into it afterward?”

Su Ke asked casually, paying no heed to the people around them.

Ji Shileng slipped one hand into his pocket.

“Go ahead. An honest man has nothing to fear”

A shiver passed through the surrounding listeners. They began reviewing whether they had ever offended Ji Shileng.

After the commotion, Shang Jianli accepted the Federation justice minister’s suggestion and transferred Mr. Bai directly to the Interstellar Court.

The Interstellar Military Competition concerned everyone across the stars, after all. There was nothing inappropriate about letting that court pass judgment.

Besides, even suspects emerged from the Interstellar Court thoroughly the worse for wear.

Mr. Bai was already a proven offender.

With that matter provisionally settled, they moved on to the second issue: Imperial Capital News’s false reporting had caused serious harm to Ji Shileng and Joker Studio.

Now they were on the publicity minister’s home ground, but he had already learned to fear Ji Shileng’s tongue.

He worried another shocking remark might send him to the hospital too.

Since Imperial Capital News was involved, Su Ke straightened his back and became entirely serious.

Ji Shiyun spoke first.

“Yesterday, we presented our demand: every employee of Imperial Capital News must apologize to our Xiaoshi and Joker Studio. What is your response?”

Shang Jianli nodded.

“I have no objection. Minister, what do you think?”

Naturally, Minister Zhou had none either.

“Nor do I. However, Imperial Capital News separated from our department some time ago. You’ll need to ask its director about recording the apology”

Everyone passed responsibility around until the ball finally landed in the hands of Imperial Capital News’s director.

He adjusted his glasses, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

“I don’t believe that would be entirely appropriate”

He wore the familiar, insincere smile everyone knew.

“We have already disciplined the employees involved internally. Implicating the others would hardly be fair”

Shang Jianli’s cool gaze settled on him. He was determined to straighten out Imperial Capital News.

“So you’re saying the other employees who knew these reports were false are innocent?”

To make himself perfectly clear, he added, “They knew false reports would be published and did nothing to stop them. That means they did nothing wrong?”

The two pointed questions brought the pressure to its peak.

The director was speechless. He clenched his teeth, having never expected Shang Jianli to be serious.

“General, surely you must give people a chance to reform? Isn’t condemning everyone indiscriminately excessive?”

He refused to give up.

“A chance to reform?”

Ji Shileng repeated the words, his voice overflowing with mockery.

“Let me ask one question. Of all the reports about the general’s former spouse, how many were true?”

No one had expected him to address it so openly. The room fell utterly silent.

Cold sweat broke out down the director’s back. He avoided Ji Shileng’s gaze.

Ji Shileng asked softly, “If we start settling accounts from the beginning, how many chances to reform would you need?”

The director’s hands clenched together on the conference table, veins standing out.

Under the table, Su Ke gave Ji Shileng a thumbs-up.

“I don’t think this is right”

Someone raised a hand to speak.

“We should address the matter at hand. There’s no reason to drag earlier reports into this”

He was clearly siding with Imperial Capital News’s director.

Murmurs began to spread around the room.