「The next morning at eight.」

Armored patrol cars led the way as a motorcade drove directly out of the Patrol Bureau Headquarters, heading toward the Yangzhi City Judgement Court.

The Wuyi Students had received news in advance. They were all deeply concerned about the matter, so they had arrived early in front of the Judgement Court on Canglin Avenue in South City.

Among them were not only new students but also graduates from many years past. They were all uniformly dressed in the formal attire of the Wuyi Academy, standing silently on the plaza in front of the Judgement Court. They formed a dense, dark crowd, and the intangible aura emanating from these Fighters created immense pressure.

The scene also attracted a large crowd of spectating citizens. They didn’t dare get too close, watching only from a distance. Patrol Officers from the Patrol Bureau had also arrived ahead of time. They not only set up barricade ropes but also posted a Patrol Officer on guard every few meters along both sides of the street, all the way to the end of the road.

「At 8:15 AM, as the sun rose high in the sky.」

The Patrol Bureau’s motorcade arrived in front of the Judgement Court.

After one of the armored special-purpose vehicles came to a stop, the door opened, and Chen Chuan stepped out. He was still wearing the same formal suit. This time, he hadn’t brought the Snow Monarch Blade.

Although he had a Weapon Permit and could theoretically carry it anywhere except for administrative government departments, considering the reputation he currently had, it was better not to provoke certain people.

He looked at the Judgement Court before him. The building appeared solemn and dignified in the sunlight. ’However, this case involves too many people and factions, pulling in nearly the entire Upper Layer of Yangzhi City. The Judgement Court itself won’t be able to play a decisive role.’

’Its main purpose is to provide a venue, act as an observer, and announce the final verdict—to go through the motions of a procedure that appears lawful on the surface.’

Just then, he noticed the Wuyi Students who had gathered spontaneously in the plaza. At that moment, the deputy sent by Guan Yuming said, "Brother Chen, let’s go."

Chen Chuan nodded. Escorted by a group of Patrol Officers, he ascended the steps and entered the Judgement Court’s foyer. There, he straightened his clothes in a mirror before walking into the main adjudication hall.

As he walked inside, in a nearby building, a telegraph operator was transmitting a message. It was ultimately sent to a certain region, where a receiving operator translated it and delivered it to Specialist Cao. After reading it, he said, "Understood. Keep monitoring the situation."

"Yes, sir!"

He glanced outside. The surrounding scenery was rapidly receding. On the National Path, the entire motorcade was heading straight for Yangzhi City.

Inside the Judgement Court, after entering the main adjudication hall, Chen Chuan walked up an ascending ramp, passing through the spectator seating area as he headed to the front. He could see that many of the seats on both sides were already filled. The occupants were currently staring at him with looks of hostility, disgust, and hatred, mixed with a few gazes of caution and scrutiny.

According to Gao Ming, it wasn’t just the families of the thirty-seven students who would be attending. There would also be council members from the Administrative Affairs Hall, the Wuyi Academy’s board of directors, and officials from the Administrative Affairs Hall. In addition, some prominent members of society—reputable and influential people unrelated to the case—were also present as observers.

In the center of the Judgement Court sat the Judge. He wore a black-and-red judicial robe, his hair was neatly combed, and he wore a pair of round-lensed glasses attached to a thin gold chain. He had a very refined and scholarly air.

Chen Chuan walked directly to the respondent’s position, located to the judge’s right. It was a raised platform, empty and isolated, placing him at a distance from everyone else, but it also allowed him to see most of the people present. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

His gaze swept across the room, and he saw Director Lei and Vice Director Guan, whom he hadn’t noticed earlier. He also spotted the Wuyi teachers, Bian Feng and Yue Hong. Sitting with them were several other people with solemn expressions and a heavy, disciplined aura. They were clearly well-trained Fighters, likely from the Processing Bureau.

Because all the attendees were prominent figures and dignitaries of Yangzhi City, the various tedious procedures were all dispensed with. The Judge waited until everyone had arrived and taken their seats. Then, he picked up a small bronze gavel and struck the base beneath the xiezhi statue in front of him, producing a CLANG that resounded throughout the hall.

When all eyes were on him, he announced, "This court will now adjudicate the case of the Li’an Machinery Old Factory. The appellant and respondent will please read their statements."

The Patrol Bureau and the Esoteric Review Bureau had already submitted the materials they had gathered. The evidence this time was substantial, especially since Tan Wang was still alive and could provide a great deal of testimony and proof.

This was the benefit of having secured the scene immediately: the materials were extremely detailed, and many facts were simply undeniable.

The powerful families were also aware of this. They had made many preparations in advance and had reached a consensus: if they couldn’t secure a complete acquittal, they would sacrifice a few unimportant individuals. However, they had to frame the scions of their families present at the incident as victims who had been deceived.

If things went smoothly, they could even turn the tables and accuse Chen Chuan of being the one colluding with Esoteric Buddhism, transforming the perpetrator into the victim.

Representatives for the respondent and the appellant took the stand one after another to present their viewpoints and reasoning. Neither of these individuals was a Litigation Master; they were staff from the Judgement Court, tasked only with reading the statements, not with making any arguments.

Those seated below listened in silence. The focal point of the case was Chen Chuan, but the interests of the various factions were all different. For the Patrol Bureau and the Esoteric Review Bureau, it was a matter of whether they could use Chen Chuan as a lead to investigate the case further.