Director Zhou could no longer muster the strength to manage it.

He collapsed in his seat at the defendant's table, resembling a corpse, devoid of any motion.

Director Zhou's mind was blank now, his gaze vacant, his entire body weak, like a sick cat.

He had lost...

Even though Zhao Yi announced a recess, Director Zhou knew he had lost... miserably!

As for resisting?

Director Zhou's eyes suddenly shifted, instinctively glancing at the crazed Duan Feipeng nearby.

Those who break the law often understand it better than ordinary people.

Let alone the fact that he was a lawyer!

Xu Liang was ruthless, leaving him no chance; he... had no chance of turning the tables.

As for why he said this...

"Tap!"

In a daze.

A figure approached Director Zhou's side.

Director Zhou hesitated, instinctively looking up, only to see the person in front dressed in a police uniform.

"Lawyer Zhou, you are now temporarily detained for 24 hours due to suspected fabrication of evidence."

The bailiff was expressionless but looked at him with a vigilant gaze.

"Ha."

Director Zhou laughed bitterly.

Once taken away by the bailiffs... he wouldn't be getting out anytime soon.

The things he did for Duan Feipeng, the dirty deeds for Duan Group, kidnapping, even private threats...

Even with a light sentence, these were enough for life imprisonment.

Losing the trial... it meant throwing away his entire life.

"Let's go."

Director Zhou said, intending to stand up and follow them.

But just as he was about to step forward, he paused and turned to look at the plaintiff's side.

A tall figure stood there, coldly observing, as if looking at ants.

He involuntarily recalled the words he spoke at Xu Liang's firm, 'The deceased are nothing but ants...'

Director Zhou fell silent, lowered his head, no longer proud, and quietly followed the bailiff away.

And he wasn't the only one to be taken away!

Several other bailiffs approached Duan Feipeng.

Duan Feipeng, who had been venting his emotions, suddenly felt panicked as the bailiffs entered his peripheral vision.

A great panic arose in his heart.

"Tap..." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Duan Feipeng trembled and took a step back.

The police stepped forward, faces cold, ready to press him down with their rough hands.

"What... what are you doing!?"

"Don't touch me!"

Duan Feipeng struggled desperately.

He was scared.

He was truly scared!

The reason he was angry earlier was because of fear; when fear reaches a peak, reason is lost, leading to anger!

Likewise, the angrier he got... the more frightened he became.

Unfortunately, the officers had no time for his nonsense; they had seen it all before.

"Duan Feipeng, under temporary detention for 24 hours."

The police issued the final notice, then approached to subdue him.

Duan Feipeng wanted to resist.

But being pampered, how could his strength compare to that of working police officers?

His negligible resistance didn't even make a splash!

The journalists present made way, silently watching as the bailiffs took him away.

As he left, his gaze kept returning to the hearing audience.

"Save me! Dad, Mom, you have to save me!!!"

"I don't want to die... I'm 17, I'm really just 17, I don't want to die..."

"Sob... Please, I don't want to die, save me..."

"..."

The final image left for everyone was Duan Feipeng's face, streaked with tears and snot.

Zhang Li on the hearing bench felt her heart being torn by ants, indescribably painful, and couldn't help but burst into tears!

"Feipeng!"

She shouted and tried to follow.

But regrettably, she was pulled back by Duan Jianhao.

Duan Jianhao's face was iron blue; he ignored the surrounding cameras, covered his face, and led Zhang Li out.

He knew what was most important right now.

Self-preservation!

Indeed, self-preservation was the most crucial!

This trial, the fake evidence proposed by Director Zhou might not implicate them.

But...

Their identities and ages were bound to be dragged in!

Once discovered... both would end up directly in prison!

And the group wasn't a family company; once they were imprisoned, there would surely be greed for attack against them, eliminating any chance at redemption!

Only self-preservation.

Only now with all their effort, can they clear all evidence, giving them enough space to think of ways to protect Duan Feipeng!

Unfortunately.....

When Duan Jianhao swiftly ran to the courthouse entrance...

Several figures suddenly appeared in front of him, causing him to gradually halt.

These people were wearing blue uniforms, they were police!

"We've received a report that Duan Jianhao, chairman of Duan Group, and his wife, are involved in the cement buried body case at the construction site four years ago."

Chen Changchun said with a smile, he had been waiting a long time at the courthouse entrance.

Re...reported!?

The buried body case at the construction site four years ago!?

A flood of long-forgotten memories swept into Duan Jianhao's mind, causing his face color to change.

It's always the same.

These days, in physical industries, especially construction sites, among ten, there are nine whose hands are stained with blood!

Whether they can continue depends merely on how well they hide it.

As for what happened four years ago...

That involved forced demolition, which initially caused bleeding, and a lawyer subsequently investigated it, holding a lot of unfavorable evidence. Duan Jianhao decided to go all the way and threw the victim and the lawyer into a deep pit, filling it with cement!

But...

But he did it extremely secretly, how could anyone report!?

Unless... someone from his own side had already become disloyal, wanting to speed up his demise and carve out a chunk of flesh from his corpse!

"Damn it, that lawyer took so long during the hearing..."

Duan Jianhao's face turned green.

His mind immediately flashed back to Xu Liang's dilatory behavior while presenting evidence in court.

The opponent's evidence could have been presented within ten minutes.

Yet it was dragged out for a few hours!

Now that he's been betrayed... the opponent surely wants the rest of the Group to see the disadvantage to Duan Jianhao, thus internally disintegrating, and giving time to target him...

"Master, why are you wasting words with these two!?"

Wang Chao, who was beside him, couldn't hold back, he shouted and moved to apprehend.

Duan Jianhao's face changed and immediately resisted, speaking quietly:

"I am the chairman of Duan Group!"

"Give me an hour and a half, give me an hour and a half to return to the Group!"

"After an hour and a half, you're free to deal with me, as long, as you're willing, to give, I'm willing to give five hundred to each person on the scene..."

He hadn't even finished his last word.

Wang Chao's angrily filled, sandbag-sized fist had already swung.

"Bang!"

Duan Jianhao was hit on the jaw, immediately fainting.

"Five hundred bucks!?"

"You think I'm foolish!?"

Wang Chao was furious, he immediately pinned Duan Jianhao down, simultaneously pulling out handcuffs to cuff his hands.

"Clack!"

The crisp sound of handcuffs echoed.

Duan Jianhao was temporarily detained, and Zhang Li naturally couldn't escape.

Not to mention she was wearing high heels, Wang Chao took her down in just a few steps.

Although the evidence they possessed couldn't convict, it was enough for temporary detention.

As long as subsequent investigation follows through, the two are bound to be convicted sooner or later.

Once the others took the two into the car, only then did Wang Chao scoff with disdain on his face:

"Still claiming to be the chairman of the Group."

"Thinking he can bribe me with five hundred!"

Chen Changchun: ...

Chen Changchun's lips moved for a moment, finally falling silent.

"Back to the station!"

With those words, all the officers packed up and left.

The entire hearing was broadcasted by the cameras.

Even though it was already adjourned, the discussion hadn't ceased.

Inside Chengen Law Firm.

"Lost... lost."

"Lost miserably..."

Zhang Cheng, Liu Xun, Qian Li, the three stared blankly at the TV, their minds replaying the moment Director Zhou was taken away.

Director Zhou was taken away...

This case, Xu Liang sent the opposing lawyer in...

The three stayed silent for a moment.

Then suddenly.

Their whole bodies were struck with horror, a chill down their backs.

They were different from ordinary citizens.

The others who saw it might just think Xu Liang found evidence revealing fake evidence, and then Director Zhou was taken away.

But it's different for them,

After continually replaying events since the hearing ended.

They finally understood how Director Zhou lost the case...

Where did he start losing from?

From the beginning of taking the case!

Indeed, from taking the case, intending to defend Duan Feipeng as innocent, they had already lost!