Chapter 20

The courtroom air turned to ice.

Old Man Ding's words detonated like a bomb, sending shockwaves through the gallery. Prosecutor Fang's face drained of color, his lips trembling soundlessly.

"Order!" Judge Guyuan slammed his gavel, his gaze sharp as a hawk's. "Old Man Ding, are you certain of your testimony?"

"Every word is true!" The old man dropped to his knees, his forehead striking the cold tiles. "Prosecutor Fang paid my family five hundred thousand to frame Commander Han... He threatened to kill us all if we spoke out!"

Gasps erupted from the spectators.

Fang shot to his feet, his chair screeching across the floor. "Lies! This senile fool is delusional!" Veins bulged on his forehead as he turned to the judge. "Your Honor, this is a blatant setup!"

The courtroom doors burst open. A bailiff hurried to Judge Guyuan's side, whispering urgently and handing him a stack of photographs.

The judge's frown deepened as he examined the images. Slowly, he lifted one for all to see—Fang standing atop the Grand Meridian Hotel, dozens of Six of Spades playing cards scattered at his feet.

"Impossible!" Fang staggered back. "These are doctored! I've never been there!"

"Seven journalists have also come forward," Judge Guyuan continued. "Each witnessed you using the Six of Spades' abilities on separate occasions."

The murmurs swelled. Fang clawed at his collar—and a single card fluttered free.

Six of Spades.

Time froze.

"Arrest him!" Judge Guyuan barked. Bailiffs lunged forward.

"This is a trap!" Fang shrieked, thrashing wildly. "Han Meng is the real Six of Spades! You're all being played!"

Xu Chongguo rose with a cold smile. "Sound familiar, Prosecutor Fang? Weren't those your exact words yesterday?"

The gavel fell.

"In light of new evidence, court is adjourned for thirty minutes." Judge Guyuan's voice was grave. "Detain Fang Lichang pending trial."

Fang's screams echoed down the hallway until the heavy doors sealed shut behind him.

The defense attorney straightened his papers, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Your Honor, perhaps we might revisit the matter of Commander Han's bail?"

In the back row, a figure in a baseball cap slipped away unnoticed. Beneath the brim, a smile flickered and vanished.