Chapter 171.2 – Key (14)
◎ S7 attended the trial with two family members ◎
The trial continued, and He Qiuhong’s crimes were exposed one by one. When the charge of intentional murder was pronounced, Tian Wenli activated her ability again. The scene of Chen Xuerou’s death emerged, revealing He Qiuhong not only ignoring her life and death but also displaying jealousy and malice towards Chen Xuerou in the reconstructed psychological activities, intense to the point of pitch black.
“Chen… Commissioner Chen!” Even some senior officials from the Awakener Department couldn’t sit still this time, tears streaming down their faces. Chen Xuerou, once the widely anticipated successor to Ye Zheng!
The clamor echoed from all directions, and the condemnation against He Qiuhong escalated.
Tian Wenli pounded the gavel, “Order, please maintain order.”
“Criminal He Qiuhong, do you have anything to refute?”
He Qiuhong’s gaze was numb, but she persisted, “I do not admit guilt.”
After a moment of contemplation, Tian Wenli, mindful of her ability’s three uses per day limit, decided to use her last opportunity.
Disordered images alternated, revealing He Qiuhong’s dark life like a fast-forwarded movie, displayed in front of everyone. Unfortunately, there were no additional discoveries.
In the spectator seats, Zhuang Qingyan caught a fleeting shadow among the chaotic images, subtly furrowing his brow.
He turned his head, and Lu Xiaoyu happened to look at him. They locked eyes for a second, and Lu Xiaoyu leaned closer to Song Ke, passing the terminal to Zhuang Qingyan.
In the adjacent “Northern Base Legal Daily,” the reporter, sneakingly perusing “Crooked Anecdotes of Awakeners,” was caught off guard by this scene.
Quickly averting his gaze, he whispered to himself: “Oh my, this S7 is not ordinary, not ordinary at all. Harmony in both main and side rooms, quite impressive.”
The court proceedings prohibited recording, but Lu Xiaoyu, using special means, saved all the records of the “Truth Reconstruction,” including a startling conversation between He Qiuhong and a Central Court official.
Zhuang Qingyan’s raven-like eyelashes drooped, concealing the cold brilliance in his eyes.
— Park Jae-woo.
Because it wasn’t crucial evidence, this part didn’t attract much attention. Zhuang Qingyan played it frame by frame, deciphering the conversation based on their lip movements. From the timing, this call occurred shortly after Song Ke announced the news of S7. Park Jae-woo, representing the Central Court, called the Northern Base, seemingly interested in Song Ke’s background. He Qiuhong casually explained that Song Ke came from the low-level district and joined voluntarily in response to her recruitment order.
Park Jae-woo repeated with a meaningful tone, “Oh? The low-level district? That’s quite rare.”
Then, he smoothly shifted the topic, exchanged a few pleasantries with He Qiuhong, and terminated the communication.
If Park Jae-woo didn’t know Song Ke, had never seen V587, everything would seem reasonable. However, the reality was quite the opposite. They had clashed violently during the Mu City incident. In front of Park Jae-woo, Song Ke killed the magistrate Nai Kang and S-level dual-system awakener Punk, and if it weren’t for Zhuang Qingyan’s efforts, the situation at that time would have been irreparable.
Given this context, Park Jae-woo’s phone call became intriguing. He didn’t disclose anything about his past with Song Ke, nor did he attempt to expel or recruit V587. It seemed like he only wanted to confirm their presence in the Northern Base. What exactly was he up to?
Zhuang Qingyan subtly glanced at the adjacent Song Ke. The majestic S7, seemingly attentive to the legal proceedings, had her chin resting on Lin Youyou’s shoulder. However, in reality, her right hand subtly moved as she discreetly stuffed a piece of preserved fruit into her mouth, squinting her eyes contentedly.
Zhuang Qingyan’s eyes carried a smile, but his grip on the terminal gradually tightened.
No matter what Park Jae-woo intended to do with Song Ke, as long as he was around, his plans wouldn’t succeed.
After nearly two hours of the lengthy trial, Tian Wenli solemnly stood up, “Now, I declare that the defendant, He Qiuhong, is found guilty of the thirteen charges brought against her. She is sentenced to life imprisonment, with the deprivation of citizenship and the revocation of ability usage rights. She will be confined and monitored at a maximum-security facility.”
As a first-degree offender, He Qiuhong was required to undergo compulsory rehabilitation with a minimum of 100 hours of labor per week. Coincidentally, the Northern Base was expanding by one-third, intending to accommodate more residents from the Qianzhan City, and He Qiuhong would undoubtedly be assigned to perform laborious tasks.
Upon hearing that it wasn’t a death penalty, there was a murmur of private conversations among the audience, expressing some dissatisfaction. Only Zhuang Qingyan understood and smiled knowingly, “This Judge Tian is very wise and insightful.”
“How so?” Lin Youyou and the others in the front row turned curiously.
“Based on my superficial understanding of her, death penalty wouldn’t be a punishment for He Qiuhong; instead, it would be a kind of disguised relief. Her twisted thoughts would make her believe that she was not wrong; it was the others who didn’t understand her. She died for the Northern Base.”
After Zhuang Qingyan explained, the others shivered, realizing that, with He Qiuhong’s distorted personality, she might indeed think this way.
“So, the most severe punishment is not the death penalty, but the day-to-day despair, making her aware that she’s an awakener but can only lower her arrogant head, surviving like the ordinary people she once looked down upon, using the rest of her life for redemption.”
Indeed, after hearing the verdict, He Qiuhong’s calm expression shattered. She struggled frantically, and the sound of the ability shackles echoed.
“I don’t admit guilt! I want to see my teacher! I demand to see General Ye!”
“Rejected,” Tian Wenli decisively announced.
…
The trial concluded.
When Song Ke left, she coincidentally encountered Zhao Yuqing outside. The indifferent water-type awakener lit a cigarette and took a long time before inhaling a puff.
“Hey, isn’t that Zhao Yuqing? I’ve never heard that she smokes.”
Someone nearby nudged their companion’s shoulder, silently indicating with their lips—Lei Zhao.
“…They used to be in the same team before, probably that kind of relationship.”
“What kind? Seriously?”
“Don’t stare. Let’s go.”
Suddenly, Song Ke remembered the beach mission where Yin Xiao asked for her help, and Zhao Yuqing mentioned that Lei Zhao was her partner.
A slender figure stopped in front of her. Zhao Yuqing looked up and saw Song Ke.
“Smoking is harmful to health,” Song Ke advised with sincerity, taking out a lollipop with a happy pistachio flavor from her spatial storage.
“Alright, I won’t smoke.” Zhao Yuqing obediently extinguished the cigarette.
“You seem upset. Is it because of Lei Zhao?”
“Yes, but we don’t have ‘that kind of relationship,'” Zhao Yuqing replied calmly, apparently aware of the recent discussions. She smiled faintly, “Who says men and women must have emotional entanglements? I just feel guilty. As his captain, if I had paid more attention to him at that time, he wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
Betraying the Northern Base, assassinating the District B magistrate, and then betraying Tokushima, Lei Zhao was ultimately sentenced to twenty years in prison. Fortunately, due to his voluntary confession, his family was safely escorted back and settled in the Central Antique Street, where ordinary people lived. Currently, their lives were good.
“Don’t be sad; the sun will come out again.”
Song Ke earnestly comforted Zhao Yuqing. Turning around, she took Zhuang Qingyan to visit Lei Zhao. With his keen insight into people, if Lei Zhao wasn’t as bad as he seemed, there might be a chance for him to redeem himself and seek a reduced sentence.
“Yeah, the sandstorm has ended, and everything will pass. I believe I can find a way.”
Zhao Yuqing tore open the lollipop wrapper, put it in her mouth, and, along with Song Ke, looked up at the sky. The massive three-dimensional city was bustling as usual, with various flying terminals shuttling back and forth, and the bright sunlight was blinding.
Summer was in full swing.
…
Two days later, Utopia issued a global announcement that they would officially host the first Awakener Challenge in a year. Based on this, they would distribute passes and select new residents for the floating cities. The news caused a sensation in the New Asia Alliance, the Cario Empire, and the Luce Federation.
As Zhuang Qingyan expected, people on the ground erupted with great enthusiasm and eagerness. They geared up for the challenge, and conflicts between various regions even decreased.
As days passed, peace gradually settled in, and time seemed to fast forward. V587 continued to focus on accumulating points, striving to become the top of the Alliance leaderboard.
The notable difference was that one person was absent from their actions—Zhuang Qingyan no longer went on field missions. He immersed himself entirely in the genetic project with Ning Rong, working tirelessly. With abundant funds, sufficient data, and the support of a team of nearly a hundred people, the organ regeneration project made significant progress. Ye Zheng actively volunteered to be their first clinical trial subject.
In the midst of a dense zombie wave, Song Ke danced with dual blades, swiftly beheading 3rd-level zombies, while Fang Zhixu followed closely behind, skillfully extracting crystals. The surrounding teams sighed in resignation, helpless against the norm. Everywhere V587 went, it was as if a bandit had passed through – no grass grew, or rather, no zombies remained.
Blood splattered on Song Ke’s cheek as she lowered her head to glance at the terminal, and her points skyrocketed significantly. “You guys clean up; I’ll head back first.”
“Song Ke’er~ remember to take a shower, or Princess Zhuang will throw a tantrum again,” Lin Youyou called out with a teasing tone.
Song Ke paused, sniffed herself, and said grudgingly, “Understood.”
…
As the night fell, Zhuang Qingyan had just stepped out of the laboratory when he saw Song Ke sitting cross-legged on a floating supercar, holding a large bottle of honey and scooping it up with a spoon. The deadly amount of sweetness, which would be lethal for ordinary people, seemed to satisfy her.
Addicted to sweets as if it were her life, a lingering side effect of the brown bear gene.
Zhuang Qingyan shook his head inwardly, stopped in front of her, and saw Song Ke looking up at him, with golden remnants on the corner of her mouth.
A faint, almost imperceptible laughter echoed as Zhuang Qingyan’s slender fingertips wiped it away. After a few strokes in his palm, even though he hadn’t tasted it, the sweet nectar seemed to soak into his heart. “Why is it just you? What about the others?”
“I’m here to pick you up,” Song Ke replied confidently.
“Is that so? Then, let’s go home quickly.” Zhuang Qingyan smiled teasingly, joking with her, “This car is quite expensive; the owner might ask you to compensate when they come.”
Upon hearing the mention of compensation, Song Ke’s eyes widened. Like a feline creature, she lightly pushed him from behind. “Run!”
Zhuang Qingyan laughed heartily, and the long-lost tranquility gradually filled his chest.
Suddenly, he felt that this ordinary and warm life was quite good. Song Ke was responsible for slaying monsters and supporting the family, while he went to work as an ordinary researcher. Every evening, as the sun set, they would return home hand in hand, discussing what to eat for dinner.
It was a life that Zhuang Qingyan had never imagined, but surprisingly, he didn’t feel any rejection towards it.
