Qin Xiao’s face changed between shades of light and shadow, but he ultimately sighed, "I never expected things to come to this point; actually, Secretary General Fan, you have misunderstood."
"Oh?" Fan Xiaosu sneered, eager to see how Qin Xiao would defend himself in face of these irrefutable pieces of evidence.
"I don’t know where you got this information from, but I can only say, these were necessary sacrifices," declared Qin Xiao solemnly.
Everyone had a question mark floating over their head.
Sacrifices? Accepting bribes and living in luxury count as sacrifice?
Only Li Ming, who was also slightly stunned, soon connected all that Qin Xiao had said.
His doubts cleared up, Li Ming finally understood why Qin Xiao had also gathered his own criminal information.
Interesting... he curved a smile on his lips, clever fox indeed, always thinking three steps ahead.
"As everyone knows, I won’t elaborate much about the situation on Silver Grey Star," said Qin Xiao as he paced, his face mournful. "Criminal forces are deeply entrenched, with even Silver Grey City’s upper echelons colluding with them. When I first came here, it was indeed to eradicate all of this."
"But the challenge was greater than I anticipated. They stood united, nearly unshakeable. The only thing I could do was to bend and blend in with them," Qin Xiao continued.
"All the while, I collected their criminal information in secret. In such circumstances, it was unavoidable for me to be tainted with their blood, but I can assure you, every incident recorded here was documented, and I reported them to the headquarters in Blue Star City."
Qin Xiao spoke with resonance and emphasis; as his voice fell, everyone exchanged looks.
Yang Peng’s expression drastically changed, his heart sinking. Had Qin Xiao turned himself into an undercover agent?
Lin Yaoxian’s eyes widened, his respect for Qin Xiao reaching its peak at that moment.
"I don’t know who provided you with the information, or what their intentions were, but I can give you a more complete version," said Qin Xiao as he walked past Li Ming, taking out a quantum-encrypted USB drive, and holding it in his hand.
"Inside, it contains dealings of the City Management Committee, collusions between the outer city’s three major gangs and Star Creation Company, along with the criminal evidence of seventeen senior government officials!"
The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop, while some guards outside were still confused.
Yang Peng couldn’t help but glance at Li Ming, suspecting that these were all Qin Xiao’s tactics.
If it were just the rant from before, it would seem too weak; but with this evidence, the situation was different.
Qin Xiao looked around at everyone, his heart only filled with disdain.
He had foresaw this scene long ago; whether it was Star Creation Company or the three gangs, they all held his leverage.
He had been setting up this plan for at least five years, all to ensure he could retire unscathed one day.
"Of course, this is all my personal statement, perhaps too broad. I will immediately contact Commissioner Chen, and he will corroborate for me," continued Qin Xiao, as he opened his smart terminal in front of everyone.
Fighting with me, you’re too young, Qin Xiao thought as he looked at Li Ming, his heart unaffected, satisfied by the trouble he had caused, but unfortunately...
Killing these people, it’s never just about the evidence.
The smart terminal vibrated slightly, and Qin Xiao impatiently said, "Commissioner Chen..."
But before he could finish, he was interrupted, "Is Secretary General Fan present?"
This Commissioner Chen from the headquarters, even though far away on Capital Star, had a good grasp of the situation here.
"Commissioner, I am here," Fan Xiaosu spoke up.
Qin Xiao remained unconcerned, his face carrying a smile like everything was in his control.
"I do not endorse anything Qin Xiao has just said. Whatever crimes he has committed and whatever punishment he deserves, you can handle it at your discretion," said the Commissioner.
As the words dropped, Qin Xiao’s face froze, as if thunder had exploded beside his ear, he stared blankly at the smart terminal in his hand, his face suddenly distorted, a vast fury mixed with despair surging forth.
So many years of investment, more than half his fortune gambled, how could it end !?
Just moments ago, filled with pride and confidence, now turned into sharp daggers, piercing into his chest, stirring.
The others were also stunned, just having seen Qin Xiao in a definitely triumphant pose, actually believing in his unbeatable contingency, and now this?
Has the situation reversed again?
Yang Peng took a deep breath, looking towards Li Ming with a hint of pleasure, only then noting that his expression had remained calm all along, displaying no surprise at the outcome.
The Commissioner did not say anything more and ended the communication.
"Qin Xiao, any other questions?" Fan Xiaosu asked blandly, Li Ming noticed even her expressions hadn’t changed much, as if she had anticipated this outcome all along.
Qin Xiao raised his head, everyone was shocked; at that moment, his eyes were bloodshot as he coldly stared at Li Ming, grinding his teeth: "Is it... you!?"
He couldn’t understand how, after years of hard work and network building, the web he had woven could so easily collapse.
How could he sway such forces, and who could make Commissioner Chen abandon him without hesitation.
"As Minister Qin just said, when you are powerless, you endure. And when you are powerful?" Li Ming leaned against the glass wall, speaking placidly.
All eyes fell on him, their expressions subtly shifting.
Although unclear why, it seemed Minister Qin believed that his downfall was inextricably linked to Li Ming.
"Take him away," instructed Fan Xiaosu, as her bodyguards, who had been prepared all along, held up two heavy metal blocks.