69novels Chapter 130 Makes the Foreigners Suffer a Big Loss
Chapter 130 Makes the Foreigners Suffer a Big Loss
Chapter 130 Makes the Foreigners Suffer a Big Loss
Song Zhaowen and Richard were locked in a fierce battle, neither willing to back down.
Especially after Song Zhaowen added fuel to the fire, Richard, that foreigner, became extremely angry.
"Officer, I've had my coffee. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Seeing that Song Zhaowen was about to get up and leave, he patted his butt and stood up.
Richard was completely enraged and slammed his fist on the table: "Song Zhaowen, don't be so arrogant! I have the right to detain you for forty-eight hours for investigation. During these forty-eight hours, you can stay in the detention room and enjoy the air conditioning in our police station."
Song Zhaowen laughed: "Chief Prosecutor, are you sure you want to do this? No evidence, no procedures, just suspicion," and you want to illegally detain a legitimate businessman and philanthropist for forty-eight hours? I'll make sure you're in the newspapers tomorrow."
"Oh, how should I write it in the newspaper?"
"How about writing something like, 'A new broom sweeps clean, elites parachuted into Scotland Yard, abusing their power to suppress conscientious local entrepreneurs!' Or—'West Kowloon Police Station becomes an independent kingdom? The commissioner runs the place unilaterally; where is the spirit of the rule of law in Hong Kong?'"
"Are you threatening me? Threatening the police?" Richard gritted his teeth.
"I wouldn't dare," Song Zhaowen shrugged. "I was just stating the facts and reminding the Commissioner that Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law, and that we must follow the rules. I understand you want to gain merit, but you've chosen the wrong target by making an example of me."
Just then, there was a knock on the interrogation room door, and a police officer poked his head in, looking somewhat flustered: "Chief—outside—"
Richard, already furious, snapped, "Can't you see I'm asking you a question? Get out!"
The officer, steeling himself, said in a hoarse voice, "Chief, there are so many people outside! They've surrounded the police station! And there are so many reporters!"
"What?!" Richard turned around abruptly, rushed to the one-way glass window of the interrogation room, and looked out.
Outside the police station, the street was a sea of black, hundreds or even thousands of people had gathered there at some unknown time! Although these people were dressed plainly, carried no weapons, and did not make a loud noise, they just stood there quietly. But the silent and focused aura made even Richard, who was used to seeing big scenes, feel a shock.
Even more glaring were the banners and placards they held, their white backgrounds and black lettering standing out starkly in the sunlight: "Protest against the police's unwarranted detention of law-abiding citizen Mr. Song Zhaowen!"
"Mr. Song is a patriotic entrepreneur who pays taxes according to the law and creates jobs!"
"We demand that the police be open and transparent, and handle the case in accordance with the law!"
"Release Song Zhaowen and safeguard Hong Kong's business environment!"
In addition to the crowd, there were more than a dozen video cameras and still cameras set up in front of them, with reporters constantly taking pictures of the police station and the crowd, creating a continuous barrage of flashes.
Richard's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He whirled around, glaring at Song Zhaowen: "Did you do this?!"
Song Zhaowen shrugged, looking completely innocent. "Chief Inspector, what did you say? I don't understand. Those people outside are probably citizens who came spontaneously to support me, right? After all, everyone has witnessed how much I've contributed to Hong Kong. The reporters probably heard something and came to interview me. What does that have to do with me?"
Richard was furious at Song Zhaowen's calm and even smug expression.
Before he could even think of a solution, another officer rushed in, this time forgetting to knock: "Chief, a guy named 'Rotten Life Hua' has come to turn himself in. He says—he led his men to raid Li Tianyi and Big Brother Guang's brothels! He also says Li Tianyi and his friends owe him hundreds of thousands in mahjong debts, and he was so angry that he led his men to cause trouble! As for where Li Tianyi and Big Brother Guang are, the three of them fled to South Africa to escape their debts."
Richard snatched the preliminary statement record from the officer's hand and quickly glanced at it. The statement was convincingly fabricated, including the time, place, people, and motive, but everyone knew that this was clearly a scapegoat.
"Fuck!" Richard couldn't help but swear in English, slamming the statement record onto the table. He felt his temples throbbing.
Public pressure and his underling taking the blame—these two tactics struck at his Achilles' heel. He currently lacks conclusive evidence to definitively convict Song Zhaowen. If he forcibly detains him, public opinion is already exploding, reporters are watching closely, and with this scapegoat stepping forward—if he can't produce anything more compelling within 48 hours, he will not only have to release him but may also be accused of abusing his power and fabricating a false case! At that point, his prestige as the new director will be completely destroyed, and he might even face investigation!
Song Zhaowen leisurely picked up the now-cold coffee on the table, took a small sip, and then frowned. "Tsk, the coffee in your police station really isn't very good. Chief Prosecutor, it seems I can't enjoy your 48 hours of air conditioning." My time is precious, worth hundreds of thousands per minute, and I don't have time to sit here with you enjoying the air conditioning. Unless you have new evidence or legal documents—"
He deliberately dragged out his words, then abruptly stopped smiling, his eyes sharp as knives: "Please step aside, I'm leaving."
But Richard's men blocked the doorway, and Deng Weitao asked, without thinking, "If we just let him go like this, people will laugh at us."
Richard opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat dry and unable to utter a single word. He was in a dilemma! Detain him? Public opinion was exploding, pressure from higher-ups was mounting, and there were even scapegoats within the police force—detaining him was impossible! Release him? What would become of his reputation as commissioner? How could he maintain his authority within the police department afterward?
Of course, he also hated Deng Weitao. If that guy hadn't been so clever as to block the door, he could have just left, saving him from being stuck in this predicament and not knowing what to do.
Chen Jiaqi, who had been observing the situation calmly, stepped forward and said to Richard in a steady voice, "Chief, given the complexity of the current situation, the immense external pressure, and the attention from higher-ups, and considering that Mr. Song is only assisting in the investigation and there is currently no direct evidence linking him to the case, I suggest that, for the sake of the overall situation, we allow Mr. Song to leave. Further investigation can be conducted through his lawyer, or we can summon him according to the law once we have more evidence."
These words gave Richard a way out, so he didn't lose too much face.
After a few seconds of thought, Richard practically spat out three words through gritted teeth: "—Let him go."
Song Zhaowen chuckled softly. As he passed Richard, he even patted the foreign superintendent on the shoulder and whispered in English, "Good luck, Inspector."
Then, under Richard's almost murderous gaze and the complex stares of numerous police officers, Song Zhaowen, accompanied by Chen Jiaqi, walked out of the West Kowloon Police Station like a triumphant general.
As he stepped out of the police station, the "enthusiastic citizens" (his underlings) outside erupted in even louder cheers. Reporters swarmed around him, their cameras and microphones aimed at Song Zhaowen.
"Mr. Song! Why is the police detaining you without cause?"
"Mr. Song, what would you like to say about what happened today?"
"Mr. Song, are these citizens outside supporting you a spontaneously organized group?"
Song Zhaowen stopped and faced the camera with a calm yet slightly helpless smile: "Thank you for your concern, fellow citizens and media friends. Today was just a misunderstanding. I have already clarified the situation with the Commissioner of Police and Inspector Chan. I, Song Zhaowen, have always been law-abiding and supportive of the police's work, and I believe that the police are acting in accordance with the law."
As for the friends outside—" He pointed to the dense crowd: "They probably still remember the little acts of charity I do and came to cheer me on. Thank you everyone, please disperse and don't disrupt the normal work of the police station."
Under the protection of Wu Zhaoyong and Luo Tianhong, Song Zhaowen made his way through the crowd and got into the waiting Mercedes-Benz.
The car started and slowly drove away from the still bustling West Kowloon Police Station.
Inside the car, Song Zhaowen's smile faded, and his eyes returned to their icy expression.
"Ah Yong, tell Tony to disperse the brothers. Send that scoundrel Hua's family a settlement of HK$500,000 and tell him to keep his mouth shut while he's in there; the triad won't treat him badly. Also, have Ah Xiao contact our friends in the Legislative Council and the media to expose what happened today. Tomorrow's newspapers will say—'The new Commissioner Richard acts recklessly, without evidence, impacting Hong Kong's business environment.'"
"Understood, Brother Wen!" Wu Zhaoyong replied immediately.
"By the way, do you still want to see Ah Lok from Wo Shing?"
"Go, why don't you go?"
Lu Yu Tea House, Tingyu Pavilion.
Ah Le was getting impatient. He had been drinking tea in front of him, but he hadn't touched the snacks on the table much.
Since driving away the gambling ship, Song Zhaowen seems to have forgotten about it. Ah Le has long coveted that gambling ship; sailing around the high seas would be faster than printing money.
The purpose of today's meeting is to finalize this matter.
The door to the private room was pushed open, and Song Zhaowen walked in with Xiao Zhuoxiao, looking quite composed.
"Young Master Le, I'm sorry, I was taken to the police station by the cops and was delayed for a while." Song Zhaowen smiled and sat down opposite him.
Ah Le feigned concern and asked, "I know a few top lawyers; would you mind introducing me to some?"
Song Zhaowen waved his hand, poured himself a cup of tea, and blew on it to cool it down: "Thank you for your concern, Young Master Le. It was just a small misunderstanding, but it's been resolved."
Ah Le chuckled twice, thinking to himself: A small misunderstanding? Such a big commotion, with thousands of people surrounding the police station and even making the news, and you call this a small misunderstanding? Of course, he wouldn't say that out loud.
"That's good, that's good." Ah Le rubbed his hands together, finally unable to contain himself, and got to the point: "Mr. Song, about that gambling ship we talked about last time—look, the matter with Big D is completely settled, and my brothers have put in a lot of effort. As for the shares—"
Song Zhaowen slowly sipped his tea, put down his teacup, and looked at Ah Le, holding up five fingers.
Ah Le was overjoyed: "Fifty percent, haha, Mr. Song is indeed generous."
"Young Master Le, you must have misunderstood. It's five percent."
"Huh?" Ah Le's smile instantly froze.