"Secretary... Secretary Chen... this is all a misunderstanding!" Chief Lin's previously strictly business demeanor vanished without a trace in an instant.
If he had obtained any substantial evidence of crimes committed by Liu Yutong and her people, he might still have been able to defend himself. But the reality was that he had nothing in his hands. Instead, the other party possessed evidence of his nephew's group fighting with the thugs, as well as the criminal facts of that Qin Ziang.
Under such circumstances, he had actually put handcuffs on her, especially when she was an esteemed guest specifically requested by the top leader. Now, he definitely wouldn't be able to escape a harsh punishment.
However, he wasn't a complete fool. He hurriedly pulled the keys from his pocket. Perhaps due to nervousness, it took him several tries before he finally unlocked the handcuffs on Liu Yutong's wrists.
"President Liu, it's a misunderstanding! I was just following procedure..."
As soon as the handcuffs were off, Liu Yutong gently rolled her wrists. Before she could even speak, Secretary Chen angrily rebuked him.
"Following procedure? Chief Lin, your officers responded to a dispute and handcuffed a distinguished guest invited by the leader without distinguishing right from wrong. Is this what you call procedure? The leader is still waiting to meet President Liu. How do you expect me to report this now? Should I say that the person has already been detained by you and put in restraints?"
"I wouldn't dare! Secretary Chen, I absolutely wouldn't dare!" A patch of the police uniform on Chief Lin's back was already soaked with cold sweat.
"My working methods were too simple and crude, and my investigation was not thorough enough. I will reflect on my mistakes! I offer my sincere apologies to President Liu!"
Liu Yutong said, "Chief Lin, there is no need for this. Cooperating with police investigations is the duty of every citizen."
"My personal grievance is but a trivial matter. I also believe that once Chief Lin gains a deeper understanding of the situation, you will naturally return justice to me."
As soon as she said this, not only was Chief Lin stunned, but even Secretary Chen beside them felt slightly surprised.
This President Liu, despite her young age, handled matters with a great sense of propriety.
Not bad at all!
In fact, even if she had made some slightly excessive demands at this moment, Secretary Chen probably wouldn't have refused, but that would have made people feel she was being unforgiving despite being in the right. To put it bluntly, some matters could only be handled internally. If an outsider made too many demands, it would instead provoke dissatisfaction from higher-ups.
She didn't dwell on it, which was very good.
Hearing her words, Chief Lin breathed a sigh of relief. Although he would still inevitably face punishment, having the victim's forgiveness was a good thing for him; at the very least, he would receive a lighter penalty.
Just as he was about to express his stance and say something more.
"However..."
Liu Yutong's tone took a turn. "Secretary Chen, I came to the Magic City this time at the gracious invitation of the leader, originally harboring great sincerity to inspect the investment environment and cooperation prospects here. Yet, right after arriving in the Magic City, I encountered a planned and organized violent interception and threat on the road..."
She truly did not intend to continue pursuing Chief Lin; giving him a little warning earlier was enough. She believed a formal self-criticism was unavoidable for him. Although a self-criticism might seem harmless, anyone with ambition knew that a single blemish could cause their political career to suffer setbacks, or even stagnate until retirement.
That was why she decisively gave up pursuing the matter and appeared magnanimous. This would not only win the leader's favor but also give Chief Lin a way out. Although it might not have much practical use, it was still better than making an enemy who hated her.
Chief Lin's matter was considered over, but the other matters were not.
Qin Ziang and Cross-eye along with that group of thugs wouldn't be able to escape. Since they dared to do it, they had to be prepared to pay the price. The criminal law would tell them what price they had to pay.
After listening to Liu Yutong's account and reviewing the evidence and witness statements she provided, Secretary Chen's recently softened expression darkened once again, even darker than when he saw the previous scene.
Because the nature of this incident was much more severe.
Chief Lin's issue, at its absolute worst, was a procedural violation, but this was an actual crime. On a larger scale, with such a security environment, who would dare come to the Magic City to invest in the future?
"Lawless! Simply lawless!"
"Chief Lin, how do you do your jobs? The evidence is sufficient, and the facts are clear. Detain all the individuals involved immediately, especially the primary suspects! Furthermore, you must interrogate them overnight and deal with them strictly and swiftly according to the law! I will report this matter directly to the leader to give President Liu, as well as society, a clear and transparent explanation!"
"Yes, sir!"
Chief Lin did not dare to say more or refuse. He turned around and directed his subordinate officers to formally arrest Qin Ziang and the others, including his own nephew.
Although his nephew had not participated in the incident of hiring thugs to block Liu Yutong's path, he had been involved in the group brawl and still needed to be taken back and locked up for a few days. Of course, there was a high probability he would be bailed out the same day, but at least it showed the proper attitude.
As for Qin Ziang and Cross-eye's group of thugs, it was a different story. They were going to spend actual years in prison.
Qin Ziang, the rich second-generation heir nicknamed the Emperor of the Magic City, was now completely ruined. After Secretary Chen walked in, he had a premonition that this time, even if his father stepped in, he probably wouldn't be able to save him.
In the end, he was practically crying and begging for mercy, but no one paid him any attention. He was handcuffed and taken away directly.
Once everything was handled, Secretary Chen asked, "President Liu, are you satisfied with this resolution?"
Liu Yutong replied, "Secretary Chen, you flatter me. I acknowledge and appreciate the determination and efficiency of the Magic City authorities in handling this matter."
A heavy stone finally dropped from Secretary Chen's heart, and his appraisal of Liu Yutong rose to an even higher level.
This young female CEO not only had a deep background and acted decisively, but more importantly, she knew when to advance and retreat, and understood the bounds of propriety. If such a person entered politics, her achievements would certainly not be low.
"President Liu, you are too polite. This is what we ought to do," Secretary Chen said. "The leader has set aside time. Shall we head over to the municipal government building now?"
"Alright, then I will have to trouble Secretary Chen," Liu Yutong said.
She turned to Zhao Tianyi and gave a few instructions in a low voice. Zhao Tianyi immediately understood and began arranging the subsequent legal follow-ups and evidence preservation matters.
The group left the clubhouse.
Liu Yutong rode in the official car driven by Secretary Chen, while Zhao Tianyi and Lan Die took other cars.
After arriving at the destination, Secretary Chen led her to the leader's small conference room.
Not long after Liu Yutong sat down, the leader arrived.
The two sides exchanged pleasantries for a moment, took their respective seats, and a secretary served clear tea.
This meeting leaned more towards a private nature, mostly for mutual understanding. The leader would not discuss specific conditions; the specific cooperation details would be followed up by the investment promotion office later, which would be the formal negotiation.
The meeting lasted for about thirty minutes, and both parties happily concluded their conversation.
