Free Web NovelChapter 440: Chapter 327: Spy Identity! Young Master Sauce No. 1! Appeal for Second Trial!
To be honest, this isn’t the first time Zhu Haoyi has worked for Number One, nor is it the first time he’s contacted someone for a handover; over his ten-year career, he’s stolen countless secret documents, the estimated value of which easily exceeds hundreds of millions.
But...
He’s never tried a handover like the one before him!
Is this really the kind of handoff method someone like him, a shadowy rat, should have?
Zhu Haoyi was stunned, and so was Li Yang, who was standing nearby.
"Take it... don’t you want it?"
Si Hong looked suspicious, and shook the USB drive in her hand for emphasis.
Seeing this, Zhu Haoyi’s face instantly showed shock. He hurriedly collected the item, immediately feeling a sense of fear and continuously scanned his surroundings.
A long time passed...
When he realized there was no one following him, and even the surrounding shoppers weren’t paying him any attention, Zhu Haoyi finally let out a sigh of relief, followed by a surge of anger.
"Who are you?!"
He glared at Si Hong, incredulously that she would dare to act like this.
He even felt a sense of relief inside.
Relieved he didn’t try to meet while Yang Ruoxi was watching him but chose after the first trial, otherwise, with how this turns out... there’s no doubt they would have been discovered!
"I’m Si Hong. Don’t you know my gentleman?"
Si Hong was puzzled, showing it on her face.
Zhu Haoyi felt a rage brewing in his chest, wanted to yell but couldn’t get the words out.
Si Hong added:
"Do you have anything else? If not, I’ll be going."
Zhu Haoyi hesitated to speak, then refrained, and finally took a deep breath, turned with an angry face, and quickly left with Li Yang.
Seeing this, Si Hong frowned and muttered:
"No manners..."
After saying that, she went on to buy some more groceries.
Yes, she still paid in US Dollar, and then walked out of the market.
Meanwhile, Zhu Haoyi and Li Yang, all the while observing the market surroundings, finally relaxed after leaving the market.
"No one should be watching, Number One should be prepared, even though this woman is a little stupid... National Security wouldn’t waste resources on such an idiot."
Li Yang took a deep breath.
However...
"We have the technology, about Number One..." Li Yang started hesitating again.
The different teams aren’t really united, after all, they’re here for the credit.
Now that Zhu Haoyi has the technology in hand, he could keep it for himself, and head back home to submit it, the only one he’d offend would be Number One.
But Number One still has to stay in the Eastern Country, so even offending wouldn’t matter.
"Should we keep it to ourselves?" Li Yang frowned, tempted.
Zhu Haoyi remained silent.
After a long time, taking a deep breath, he spoke:
"Find a way to hand it to Number One."
"This information is... too hot to handle now."
Originally, he thought the contact would be a professional, at the very least an elite, but Si Hong shattered his expectations of a contact person.
Who knows if the other side has already been discovered!
Better to hand the trouble off to Number One.
"Use it as leverage, have Number One cooperate to transfer mineral resources."
Zhu Haoyi said slowly.
The credit might not bring him tens of millions in money, but with Number One’s cooperation, these assets could be laundered and moved overseas!
Li Yang nodded, favoring the prospect of money more.
The two made up their minds and started working on the process.
Inside the market...
After a long pause.
A vendor selling apples hesitated as he exchanged glances with a customer buying apples.
"These two... are they really the targets?"
Haozi hesitated a little; he had been working in National Security for decades, yet this was the first time he had seen something like this.
The other person wasn’t sure either, afraid of making a mistake with the situation.
Both decided to report the matter directly to Zhang Tian.
...
...
August 2nd.
Zhang Tian kept watch for a day, zeroing in on the location of the USB drive handed over by Si Hong.
It remained in Zhu Haoyi’s possession, seemingly with no rush to act.
The mysterious Number One didn’t make contact; the whole affair was elusive and fleeting, as if they didn’t need the USB at all.
Zhang Tian understood that these people were waiting, waiting for National Security’s reaction!
Zhang Tian calmed his mind, and continued to wait.
...
August 3rd.
Zhang Tian leaked a piece of information to Xu Liang.
Long ago, National Security was aware of an outsider within their ranks, even knowing the individual’s codename.
’Young Master Sauce One!’
Phonetically translated, it became Young Master Sauce One.
Where there’s a Number One, naturally, there’s a Number Two, and it seemed Zhu Haoyi might be Number Two, but the two likely wouldn’t contact each other; if Zhu Haoyi chose to keep the technology for himself, rather than point to Number One...
Then National Security would only be able to extract Number One’s identity from Zhu Haoyi through interrogation!
,.,,,
August 5th.
The tracker moved.
This information excited everyone, meaning Zhu Haoyi chose to hand the technology to Number One, and conversely, Number One’s identity would also be exposed to them!
However...
As the tracker was carried by an unknown entity, moving towards a certain location...
Even Zhang Tian, used to much chaos, couldn’t help but feel a splash of cold water extinguishing his excitement, replaced by a cold chill.
The reason was simple.
The tracker went to a vast compound...
A place belonging to the military...
And when the identity information was thoroughly investigated in secret, everyone was stunned on the spot, unable to recover for a long time.
Even Xu Liang, who was somewhat mentally prepared, couldn’t help but feel chills thinking about the other person’s identity and the information leaked over the past ten years.
Meanwhile.
He couldn’t believe that a simple mineral rights dispute, which only involved Liu Jinshui launching the case, could uncover something so large...
...
...
Eventually....
August 8th.
In Upper City, inside the Middle Court.
"Phew, Chief Judge Liu, you can head back, it’s only a few meters, I can walk on my own."
"Director Zhao, come to Upper City when you have time... haha, next time we meet, you might be at the Supreme Court!"
"By then, I’ll still have to call you Director Zhao."
In the corridor.
Zhao Yi was dressed casually, holding a thermos cup, with Chief Judge Liu by his side, chatting leisurely as they walked.
"Oh, I’m over fifty now, what potential for promotion do I still have..."
Zhao Yi’s face showed a sighing expression, as if he was self-deprecating.
Chief Judge Liu beside him then spoke:
"Judge Zhao, don’t underestimate yourself; I still see a lot of potential in you."
Chief Judge Liu smiled, then paused for a moment, looked around carefully, and whispered to him:
"By the way, let me tell you something...
The High Court over there might take a special interest in grooming you. You’re already a judge at the High Court, and in less than six months, you’re already handling a ’Supreme Court Lead Complaint Case’ and a ’Human Experiment Case.’"
These two cases are not simple.
If an ordinary judge had even one of them, they’d certainly be on next year’s promotion list!
But Zhao Yi, in just six short months, is handling two cases...
Though the Human Experiment Case hasn’t concluded, everyone with a discerning eye knows it’s just a matter of time!
So...
"At worst, you’ll be transferred to the Upper City High Court!" Chief Judge Liu said.
From a local High Court, being transferred to the Upper City High Court.
This can be considered a promotion!
It can be said, no matter which path is chosen, Zhao Yi’s future is very bright and spacious!
"Chief Judge Liu, please don’t tease me; my greatest wish is to end my years peacefully,"
Zhao Yi sighed and said.
"I’d be content with handling fewer cases."
Zhao Yi is an idealist.
But ever since reality spun him like a colorful spinning top, Zhao Yi has fallen into a phase of indifference.
Otherwise, with his ability, he could have been promoted to the High Court in his forties.
Anyway, no one is forcing him to climb the ladder, so he goes at his own pace.
Until he met Xu Liang.
The man actually brought out a whip, and it even had barbs...
Zhao Yi suspected Xu Liang had a hobby of tormenting old men.
Like himself, and like Wu Chengjun, who was once a top academic, now reduced to a mere worker.
Even the old professors in the academic circle now fear their students, afraid of becoming the next Wu Chengjun!
Even his late career is somewhat jeopardized...
"Alright, I won’t say more; Chief Judge Liu, please head back."
At the courthouse entrance.
Zhao Yi turned back, looking at Chief Judge Liu with a hearty laugh.
Upon hearing this.
Chief Judge Liu helplessly shook his head, then watched Zhao Yi for a while before leaving.
As for Zhao Yi, he slowly walked down the steps.
But before long...
A shadow brushed past him.
Zhao Yi halted, and the shadow stopped too.
They both simultaneously paused and turned to look.
"Judge Zhao!?"
"So... Lawyer Xu?"
Zhao Yi almost blurted out his stereotype, but quickly corrected himself.
Xu Liang seemed not to notice anything, showing a face full of joy, looked up and down at Zhao Yi, then asked.
"Judge Zhao, are you heading home!?"
Zhao Yi couldn’t be bothered to respond.
He’s already over fifty, not some twenty or thirty-year-old guy; he’s exhausted. Qingshi City was already taxing enough, not to mention the tricky cases in Upper City, so going home is a must.
But...
"Wasn’t the first trial concluded? Why are you back at the courthouse?"
Zhao Yi’s face showed confusion.
Is there another case?
Something seems off....
"Oh, wasn’t there a misunderstanding with President Zhu."
Xu Liang suddenly sighed and said.
A misunderstanding... with Zhu Haoyi!?
Zhao Yi’s mind buzzed, not quite understanding these words, his eyes vacant.
"So, you’re here to...."
"Naturally, to appeal," Xu Liang explained considerately.
Appeal?
After awarding forty-seven million in compensation, he still wants to appeal!?
Zhao Yi’s eyes widened in disbelief, having no clue what Xu Liang was up to.
But indeed, just as Xu Liang said.
He’s here to clear Zhu Haoyi’s name.
Now the entire Eastern Country is saying Zhu Haoyi killed Zhang Shan for the mine, for money, and that the project manager was just a scapegoat.
This is slander, defamation, and rumors!
Xu Liang has to clear his name, loudly tell everyone that Zhu Haoyi is just a spy and not a criminal who killed for the mine!
"Alright, I’m done talking; I’m heading to the complaints court to appeal."
Xu Liang smiled, then turned and left.
"Take care."
With that, he disappeared from Zhao Yi’s sight.
Zhao Yi’s expression grew strange, but it didn’t matter, he couldn’t be involved in the second trial, it was none of his concern.
"Heh, this kid’s planned appeal case... probably difficult for the High Court to handle, they’ll likely need someone from the Supreme Court."
He mused happily as he walked.
As for who the Supreme Court will send....
As Zhao Yi walked, he suddenly paused, a peculiar habit of Xu Liang torturing old men flashed in his mind.
He thought briefly about the Supreme Court, then his eyes widened, and he slapped his forehead.
"Oh no."
"Wang Yao, Judge Wang!!!"
...
...
In the Supreme Court.
"Chief Judge Wang, news from the Middle Court, someone’s appealing the lead complaint case."
"Appeal? Didn’t the first trial grant forty-seven million in compensation? Why appeal?"
"Not sure, but colleagues at the Middle Court mentioned... the plaintiff wants to clear the defendant’s name!"
In the office.
Looking at the files in his hand, Wang Yao tilted his head, falling into deep thought.
