Free Web NovelChapter 469: Chapter 469
Frank York was in his bedroom on the phone, arguing with customer service from the video platform.
He just couldn’t understand why his "Temporary Shelter series" of videos had been taken down from the entire internet. Nothing like this had ever happened before!
Most of his account’s content centered on conflict and controversy. To stir up drama and attract views, he had posted many risqué videos that pushed the boundaries, yet none had ever been removed.
Compared to his previous posts, the "Temporary Shelter series" wasn’t even that risqué. But now they were gone from every platform, and Frank York had no idea which powerhouse he had offended!
It wasn’t until the moment he saw Tristan Tanner and Melody Summers show up at his door that he slowly realized what had gone wrong...
Officer Tristan Tanner had Frank York and Chloe Sharp rewatch the video, then said with a grim expression, "This is slander and defamation. You’re smearing a public official!"
Hearing this, Chloe Sharp’s eyes flickered, her expression shifting uncertainly.
Then, under Officer Tanner’s stern gaze, she lowered her head guiltily and muttered, "Officer, the account is registered under my boyfriend’s name, and he’s the one who actually controls it... I didn’t know about the things he posted... This has nothing to do with me..."
Melody Summers snorted. "So much for being a happy couple," she muttered sarcastically. "When things get rough, you just fly your separate ways."
Beside her, Frank York’s face flushed red as he instinctively tried to argue, "How is that slander? Did you even investigate? Everything I said is true! That woman really did kill two innocent people!"
Officer Tanner frowned at him and said gravely, "We’ve already questioned the people who were present at the time. They all said the two individuals who were killed were attempting to attack someone with a knife. They were hardly the ’innocent people’ you claim they were!"
A whole crowd of building residents were there. They could all testify for Winnie Summers. Frank couldn’t just twist the facts with a few words.
Frank still wouldn’t give up. He mumbled, "...Maybe they’re all in on it together... Maybe that woman bribed them all..."
Frank was banking on the fact that there were no surveillance cameras at the scene and that his video was the only recording. He was trying to muddy the waters again.
But Officer Tanner wasn’t buying it. He slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Enough! Stop this shameless arguing! Do you really think that’s going to work? You used an edited video to smear a public official and stir up social conflict. If it weren’t for the current special circumstances, you’d already be locked up!"
Frank seemed a little frightened, but he remained stubborn. "...B-But I didn’t fabricate anything... The videos aren’t AI-generated... It all really happened..."
As he said this, he started to lose his own confidence. He snuck a glance at Officer Tanner’s darkening expression and didn’t dare say another word.
Officer Tanner snorted coldly. "The video might be real," he said in a low voice, "but you deliberately edited it and paired it with text that severely distorts the facts. You tried to mislead the public and intentionally manipulate public opinion. Your actions are illegal. What more is there to argue about!"
Hearing Officer Tanner’s reprimand, Frank knew he was in the wrong. He hung his head and fell silent.
He never expected things to escalate this far. His account had gotten its start by creating controversial content. He had attacked many popular celebrities. After his account pivoted, he attacked many other famous people. He had smeared so many individuals, but the police had never come knocking on his door before. He hadn’t expected this time to be different.
’Could it be because the target of my slander this time was a public official?’ Frank wondered.
But in Frank’s eyes, an employee from the Emergency Management Office like Winnie Summers wasn’t a real civil servant. She was just temporary labor brought in during the disaster.
Now that the disaster was over, this temporary workforce would either be disbanded or assigned to menial positions in some public institution, earning a base salary of just over a thousand yuan. Powerless and without connections, they were nothing to be afraid of.
He had banked on Winnie Summers having no background, no power, and no connections, which was why he had dared to post that video.
But he never imagined things would turn out so differently from what he’d expected!
Officer Tanner listed, one by one, the laws and regulations Frank had violated. The more Frank listened, the paler his face became, until beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
At that moment, although Frank was sitting in his own home, he felt as if he were in an interrogation room’s "regret chair." An endless wave of remorse washed over him.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he said in a small voice, "...I know I was wrong, Officer. I’m willing to cooperate with the police. Please, go easy on me. Don’t let this go on my permanent record..."
Hearing this, Officer Tanner replied, "First, post the original, unedited video. Then, post an apology video explaining the full story and clarifying what happened. Do everything you can to eliminate the negative impact of your rumor!"
Frank nodded in resignation. He then took out his camera, lowered his head, and began to record:
"Hello everyone, this is Frank York. I’m here to clarify something. The ’Temporary Shelter series’ videos I posted previously were edited and paired with false text to deliberately distort the facts and mislead the public..."
"The truth of the situation was that the two deceased individuals were armed with knives and attempting to harm someone. The female staff member only opened fire to protect the other residents..."
"I had a personal grudge against that woman, so I deliberately edited the video to direct public outrage and online harassment toward her. I want to offer her my sincerest apologies..."
After Frank finished recording the apology, at Officer Tanner’s behest, he posted both the apology and the original, unedited video to his account to set the record straight.
Officer Tanner reposted the videos to the official police social media account he managed, along with an official notice on a blue background with white text that explained the entire incident.
After all this was handled, under Frank’s anxious gaze, Officer Tanner said gravely, "Given your relatively cooperative attitude in admitting your mistake, we will not be detaining you this time."
Hearing Officer Tanner’s words, Melody Summers couldn’t help but frown slightly. ’Not even a few days in a cell? They’re getting off way too easy!’
However, Melody also knew that both detention centers and prisons were currently overflowing. An offense of Frank’s level wasn’t serious enough to compete for a spot with the truly vicious criminals.
Frank breathed a sigh of relief. Although the apology video was a form of social suicide, he knew that netizens have short memories.
He just needed to hire some paid commenters to manage the comment section and retain some of his fans. Once he put out a few more viral videos and attracted new followers, the impact of this incident would be next to nothing.
However, in the very next second, Officer Tanner’s words shattered his beautiful dream.
Tristan Tanner said, "Now, for the official consequences of this matter: your eligibility to receive supplies is revoked, and all of your social media accounts on all platforms will be permanently banned. Do you have any objections?"
