Turning out of the Liufengpojiao Gate, walking through a path hidden behind the winter forest, we came to Charter Square, which only took a minute and a half to walk. No one was following Xu Le in the clubhouse, and there were no prominent figures around the lawn covered in thin snow. The matter had developed to this point, Xu Le knew very well that Mrs. Tai had no need to worry that she would walk away lightly.
There are benches beside the lawn, and the iron armrests made of rust-proof technology have been carved into complex patterns. In the past, these benches were the favorite leisure places of the capital people. Today, it is cold, but there are countless empty chairs waiting for you. With Xu Le. He picked one at random, brushed off the remaining snow on it, sat down extremely heavy, pursed his lips hard, and kept sipping on the cigarette. After a while, the cigarette burned out, and he lit another one.
The architectural style and urban layout of the Capital District are always on the road to the vicissitudes of history, the solemnity and beauty, whether it is the Presidential Palace, the Parliament Hill Building, the Ministry of Finance Building, or this empty Charter Square, the postmodernist style is It is rare, and naturally it is not like any crossroads in Hong Kong. The light signs are towering into the sky, and the three-dimensional light curtain flashes the night into the day. The bustling is dizzying.
The line of sight crossed the corner of the majestic statue of the group of five in the center of Charter Square. At the far corner of the street, there was the only two-dimensional light curtain hanging in the air. This light curtain gathered in the air was about 70 meters wide and had a huge area , Federal Television took great pains to obtain a license from the Federal Board of Management many years ago.
At this time, the winter has been sinking towards Mochou Mountain, the sky is gradually darkening, and the news picture on the super large sky light screen in the distance is much clearer. Today's news is still concerned with the news that Ross and Medellin have announced their withdrawal from the election. Reporters are reporting the reactions of the people on various planets in the federation. The supporters of the Medellin Congressman are disappointed and even angry at the beginning. After that, I gradually accepted this fact, because the Medellin Congressman did not withdraw from the word out of anger, either in front of the Ministry of Justice building or in front of the parliament building, but made a very sincere act of justice and brilliance. A big hat was put on his head.
In the news footage, the Medellin Congressman sincerely praised Congressman Pabble, the people who went on strike in the four states around the mountain were crying and praised the Medellin Congressman, and the parliamentary spokesman was heavily praising the maturity and rationality of the federal people. The Federation of Industry and Commerce is praising the wiseness of the federal parliament to terminate the hearing, some experts and scholars are praising the position of the federal business community in this dispute, and a ministry of the federal government is praising the objective performance of academics in this turmoil...
Everyone is praising and blessing each other. This is a united federation, a perfect federation. Some people win, but no one loses. Some people quit, but no one retreats. But no one remembers the editorial department of Capital Daily that set off this turmoil. Detectives from the Medellin Task Force of the Ministry of Justice, as well as those anti-government military witnesses who came from S2 Qinglong Mountain and became clowns.
Xu Le lit another cigarette and looked back subconsciously. The winter forest was hidden, and in the depths of the lawn, there were cornices and Uwa snow looming. However, it is Charter Square, the most familiar place to the federal people. The two places are very close to each other, and the classes or worlds they represent are completely different.
Going forward, he is the second of the youngest lieutenant colonels in the Federation, the youngest first-level technical director of Nutshell, and is destined to become the close partner and subordinate of the president's Tai Zhiyuan in the future. It is unimaginable to have an orphan in Donglin. bright future. Going forward, he is a federal fugitive, a wanted target of the Charter Bureau, or hidden in the dark for a lifetime, or immediately killed by a gun, a lonely man, how can he not see the dangerous road in the future.
Xu Le is a rock. For him, this choice is not a difficult task. In fact, before he came to Liufengpo today, he had already made his own decision, even though the folder handed by Butler Jin was so heavy. , it was so shocking that he dug out his biggest secret, but he still wouldn't have the slightest timidity, the big deal was to change the chip on the back of his neck, run away, kill him, and continue his persistence as a small person.
However... Vigor is in the faraway Bermuda, under the control of the other party, this alone is doomed that he can only smoke silently on the bench after the snow at this time, and can't make a more direct response.
The cigarette butts were put into the snow and extinguished. Six or seven cigarette butts were neatly inserted at his feet. He still didn't think clearly. If he smoked too much, there would be no taste. There was only a disturbing smell. He narrowed his eyes. , Looking at the small crowd in the square, I occasionally thought: That's all, in the face of the huge shadow of the federal society, it really doesn't make much sense to do any resistance.
In fact, after knowing that Zhang Xiaomeng was still alive, after a year of deceiving himself, he was already tired and didn't want to worry about anything. Under the collective unconsciousness that yearns for peace and stability, no one cares about the truth of the Medellin project anymore, and no one wants to remember the innocent dead and injured in the Linhaizhou assassination incident and the horrific incident at the concert in the four states around the mountain. Since this society is so Forgetting, why should he remember
However, a group of people came over from Charter Square. The group of people were of different ages, men and women, wearing thick clothes, holding candles in their hands, and holding up several photos about half a meter square. The number of people was very small. It looks sparse and lacks any momentum. Compared with the George Carlin Youth Army who besieged the Ministry of Justice building a few days ago, these demonstrators seem to be very lonely.
The demonstration team with a small number of people is very silent. They probably know that in the current social environment, what they insist on believing is not what most people want to see. The pictures they hold are very small and far away. It looks a little blurry from a distance, but Xu Le can see it clearly. The name of the deceased in the concert terrorist attack is written on the picture.
The rest of the pictures show the faces of children. These children who went to the idol concert died under the collapsed stands. After their cold bodies were dug out, their tender faces with closed eyes were covered in black. Gray dust, long eyelashes resting quietly, some of them are broken, some are dead blue, some are pale, but not as rosy as a child should be, because they are all dead.
The silent parade came over, Xu Le watched silently, then stood up, took out the cash on his body, put it in the fundraising box, and said a few words to the leader of the team.
After the Medellin Congressman announced his withdrawal from the general election, the crowds who originally supported the Pabble Congressman and stood on the opposite side of the George Kalin Youth Army dispersed. This is probably because the people's simple sympathy for the weak and unwilling to beat the relationship between the underdogs, so they are still accusing Very few people in Medellín are baby killers.
"I believe the report of the Capital Daily, but the people in the four states around the mountains do not believe it, although they are the biggest victims of this terrorist attack."
The organizer of the parade was a middle-aged man. He took Xu Le's cigarette and took two puffs. He said sadly, "The relatives of the deceased children have no money to fly over from S2, so they just chose a representative. , but what worries me even more is that some family members of the deceased still think that the incident was done by the anti-government army and has nothing to do with Medellin, the old bastard."
Xu Le didn't say anything, the middle-aged man patted him on the shoulder to express his gratitude, and then took Liao Liao's countless companions and started another detour along the Charter Square after the snow.
Xu Le sat back on the bench and inserted the burnt cigarette butt into the snowdrift beside his feet. It was the ninth one, and he hadn't figured it out yet.
After thinking for a while with his head lowered, he raised his head and said to Magnolia beside him, "I'm out of cigarettes, do you still have any?"
I don't know when, the white magnolia, who had been waiting for him at the main entrance of Liufengpo, had come to his side. Bai Yulan lifted the black hair on her face with one finger, shook her head, and said after a moment of silence, "I have already heard some of the things you asked me to inquire about. The specific situation on the Ministry of Justice is not clear. Withdrawal is withdrawn, but no one knows how the evidence was handled."
Xu Le scratched his head and took out a cigarette butt from the snowdrift at his feet, but found that it was impossible to light it again, so he had to tear the material in the filter in a daze. Secretary Bai is good at killing people, but after all, he is in a different class, and it is indeed difficult to find out these things.
"I have no way of knowing what's going on with the Capital Daily." Bai Yulan stood aside and looked at Xu Le's head lowered. Although she didn't quite understand what happened before, she roughly understood that Xu Le was confused at this time. , must have something to do with the Medellin project.
At this moment, Xu Lehuai's phone rang. He didn't look at the caller ID above, and asked directly, "What's the news?"
"Bob, the editor-in-chief of the Capital Daily, was dismissed. The board of directors quoted the super clause and compensated him ten times his salary. Believe me, it will be difficult for the editor-in-chief to find a suitable job within five years." On the other end of the phone, the seventh young master of the Li family Li Xiaotong sighed and said, "As for the chief reporter Mr. Wood you are concerned about, unfortunately, he was involved in a car accident today. No one died, but he was admitted to the hospital."
Xu Le held the phone, motionless.
"Under the current environment, any attempt to undermine the stability and reconciliation of the Federation will suffer a powerful blow from countless parties. In fact, you also know that in this blow, the family I belong to should contribute the most." Li Xiaotong continued to say calmly: "According to the news I got here, you have passed the assessment of your wife. As long as you are willing, you can enter our circle with the corresponding identity. In this case, I advise you to remain calm. Some."
"Thank you." Xu Le said seriously, he and Master Li Qi should not be friends, but stakeholders. He is Li Xiaotong's key investment target, but at this moment, the other party is still willing to help him in these aspects , it should be said to be sincere.
Li Xiaotong said nothing, hung up the phone, and sat on the sofa for a long time in silence. At the beginning, he mainly wanted to invest in the relationship between Xu Le and the Tai family, but later he mainly wanted to invest in Xu Le, because he was optimistic about this person, like Lin Banshan back then, who had the ability to break the rules. At that time, he had some bad omens - even Lin Banshan himself, facing the current federation from top to bottom, from the powerful to the collective consciousness of the people, must not dare to try the edge, but Xu Le seems to have something else. idea.
A person, no matter how powerful, is only one person in the face of the entire Federation.
The editorial department of Capital Daily was gloomy and gloomy. Editor-in-chief Bob took a last look at his office and smiled bitterly. Accompanied by the sad eyes of many subordinates, he left the building on Carbin Street.
Walking out of the main entrance of the newspaper office, editor-in-chief Bob glanced back at the eclipse sign on the side of the building. Thinking about the past in these days, he did not have much regret in his heart, but just calmed down. As a media practitioner, he did Do what you should do, so that you can feel at ease and have a clear conscience.
It's a pity that I still overestimate the power of the news and underestimate the power of the ubiquitous network in the federal society. A few days ago, I and the media were able to spare no effort to attack the Medellin Congressman. If you do this yourself, when the two of them have reached an agreement to distribute the benefits, they will be abandoned.
The power of news lies in revealing facts and informing the public, but unfortunately, in this regard, the old guy from Medellin has enough incitement ability. The dismissal of the newspaper itself is a matter of course, and it is probably the means that the government must resort to in order to appease those fanatical Medellin supporters.
It's a pity Wood, this guy wanted to continue his reports on the Internet, but he was hit by a flying car and broke his legs...
Editor-in-chief Bob had a slight pain in his forehead and a chill in his heart. With a wry smile, he got into the car and said to the driver, "Go to the hospital."
The Ministry of Justice building not far from Charter Square was in a similar bleak mood at this time. The orders issued by the Presidential Palace and the Federal Parliament at the same time forced the Medellin task force to suspend the investigation. After that, the independent prosecutor had to move out of his office.
Xiao Wenjing and Xu Songzi walked out of the Ministry of Justice building, almost shuddered by the cold wind blowing at them. He glanced at Xu Songzi's blushing face, and with a wry smile tied the collar of her windbreaker for her. Through this period of work day and night, this pair of seniors and juniors from the First Military Academy has become more familiar and more trusting than before.
"I should be transferred back to the Ministry of National Defense, how about you?" Xu Songzi looked at him with a hint of worry, thinking of the things that Xiao Wenjing hid in secret after the order of the Presidential Palace was issued the day before yesterday, his heart became a little heavy.
"You should go back to the local prosecutor's office." Xiao Wenjing lowered her head slightly, looked at the slush under her feet, and suddenly frowned, and said, "The departure of this important witness, Zhang Xiaomeng, is obviously something that someone has done. If If we can find her again, things may turn around."
"All the case files have been handed over to the Presidential Palace, and then handed over to the central database for archiving. This case is over." Xu Songzi clasped his arms and said softly, "No one can find Zhang Xiaomeng now. If so, it's probably a corpse."
"But in fact, there is already a lot of evidence." Xiao Wenjing frowned and said, "I want to continue the investigation."
Xu Songzi followed him and walked forward. After a long silence, he said, "If you need me, find me anytime."
A sharp braking sound rang out beside the pair of young inspectors, and two black official cars drove fast, stopped on the snow, and blocked their way. Several state investigator officers in dark suits got out of the car, and one of them looked at Xiao Wenjing and said coldly, "Inspector Xiao, you are involved in a vicious case at the end of November in the 60th year of the constitutional calendar. Please You cooperate with our investigation."
Xiao Wenjing's face paled, and she looked at Xu Songzi, knowing that something was wrong, but she didn't know what was going on.
"I don't understand." Xiao Wenjing looked at the officials of the FBI, frowned and reprimanded: "What case? Even if there is a case, it should be the matter of the police department. What's your FBI's business?"
"You are a federal judicial officer, and the case is extremely bad, so this case is taken over by the FBI." The official said coldly: "I think we don't need to discuss it on the street, right?"
Xu Songzi glanced at Xiao Wenjing in amazement. Of course, she would not believe this matter, and vaguely guessed that this matter was definitely related to the Medellin project, but why did the other party make this ridiculous accusation
"Adulting a young girl?" Xiao Wenjing's face was pale, but there was a trace of anger and excitement. He quickly thought of the poor little girl who asked for a ride when he returned home last night, but... Is there still someone in the federation? To do such a disgusting and shameless trap? He said angrily: "Shameless! What evidence do you have!"
"You can make your own opinions, I just ask you to go back and be investigated." The FBI official said mockingly: "Although your semen was not collected, it may be an attempt. I can remind you that the victim's fingernails were found in the your skin tissue."
Xiao Wenjing took a deep breath and didn't want to say anything. In this snowy evening, he thought of the sunny autumn when he investigated the Hushan Road murder case.
He is a prosecutor who highly respects federal law. Although the revocation of the Medellin project has made him begin to doubt the legal system of this society, he still has confidence after all. He naturally thought of that young officer named Xu Le once told him in the sunny autumn that something like the law, in the hands of many big men, was like a toy.
"The latest news is that Wood had a car accident, and Xiao Wenjing in the task force was charged with a crime. The situation is very clear. The two of them are the most persistent people, so they must be suppressed. If you still insist, you will too. It's bound to be suppressed like this." On the other end of the phone, Zou Yu's voice was not as calm and indifferent as usual, but with a slight anxiety, because she knew Xu Le's character better than anyone, and knew that This stinky stone is really unusual.
Xu Le's eyes looked at the nine cigarette butts like plum blossoms in the snowdrift at his feet, and he heard the latest news from Zou Yu in his ears, and his heart was heavy and lonely. Mr. Shi was not around, and neither was Tai Zhiyuan. In a sea of tens of billions of people in the Federation, he could only trust Zou Yu, but even so, he still didn't tell the other party that he was a fugitive from the Federation, and the handle had been firmly held by Mrs. Tai. in the hand.
"Lin Banshan can't be reached." Zou Yu said quickly: "I asked someone to find Zhang Xiaohua from Nanke Prefecture, but even he doesn't know where Lin Banshan went after missing for a month. I don't know you There's something urgent over there in Bermuda, but since I can't get in touch with this person, there's really nothing I can do."
Xu Le asked seriously: "Besides Lin Banshan, what other forces on the Federation side can penetrate deep into Bermuda? I want to find someone, to be precise, I want to save someone."
"Lin Banshan is very strong in the Bermuda Triangle, but the influence of the Federation is extremely weak there. He is an outlier. I really can't think of anyone other than him." Zou Yu was suddenly silent on the other end of the phone for a long time. , then said slowly: "Of course, if you can find someone from the Xilin Military Region, that's another matter."
The Xilin Military Region, the Fourth Military Region of the Federation, the front line of the Federation and the Empire, controls the space channel for the Federation to enter Bermuda, and has been controlled by the Zhong family, one of the seven great families of the Federation, for countless years. In Haohan's universe, three major forces occupy each side in the galaxy. The Bermuda triangle is undoubtedly the weakest link, but it is the most free and crazy world. With the resources of the triangle. In addition to proving the extremely strong survivability of the people there, there must be a deeper reason.
When facing the Bermuda star field, whether it is a federation or an empire, it can be extremely powerful, but no one can truly influence it, let alone control it. The only exception is Lin Banshan, this prodigal son from the Seven Great Families of the Federation, relying on life and death, long sleeves and good dance, spent six years in Bermuda's underground society, has his own special status and powerful strength.
Knowing that Li Wei was in faraway Bermuda, Xu Le's first thought was to rescue this friend who grew up with him since childhood, so he thought of seeking help from Lin Banshan through Zou Yu, although he also thought about it, After all, Lin Banshan belonged to the Lin family, but the hurried encounter on the high-speed railway, for some unknown reason, always made him feel that the man whose shoulders were as sharp as a knife cutting a mountain was worthy of his expectation.
However, Lin Banshan has been missing for a month. What other methods does Xu Le have now? There is also the Xilin Military Region. Since even Lin Banshan can find it, why not look for the people from the Xilin Military Region? Xu Le knew that he was desperately ill and went to the doctor, but he couldn't care less.
He raised his head, grabbed a handful of snow from his side and smeared it on his face, calming his hot face a little, took a deep breath, and drove the little girl in a white nightdress away from his mind. Reaching into the underwear pocket of the military uniform, after fumbling for a long time, he found a card that was already somewhat depreciated.
After receiving this card at the Capital Airport, he kept it carefully and kept it close to him. Even when he was seriously injured and comatose, the card did not leave his side. To this day, he can only pray that this card can summon a god with infinite mana just like the legendary magic card.
He dialed the number on the card, and after waiting for a long time, Xu Le said softly in a slightly hoarse voice, "Hello, I'm looking for Mrs. Zhong."