Chapter 228: If apologies were useful, what would we need the law for?

"If apologies were useful, what would we need the law for?"

At Chen Family Zhuangyuan, Chen Jiajun picked up the remote control and turned off the sixty-inch television.

"Indeed, if a mere apology were enough, what would you need us lawyers for?" Owens said in agreement, swirling the wine glass in his hand. "Sir Chen, let me introduce you. These individuals are all legal assistants from the offices of renowned Queen's Counsel at our Tianbo Law Firm. The first is a legal assistant to the current chairman of the Independent Commission Against Corruption's advisory committee."

"The second is a legal assistant to the current chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission."

"The third is a legal assistant to the current Prosecutor of the Department of Justice."

"The fourth is a legal assistant to the former Chief Justice of the Court of First Instance of the Hong Kong High Court."

"The fifth is the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Hong Kong High Court, who will be presiding over this case."

"The sixth is a legal assistant to a member of the Hong Kong Judicial Committee of the England Privy Council."

Even though Chen Jiajun was accustomed to grand scenes, he couldn't help but draw a sharp breath at this moment.

If one followed the theory of the separation of powers, the situation at this moment was equivalent to having the spokespeople for all the bigwigs of Hong Kong's judicial authorities sitting right there in front of him, exposed and bare.

No wonder Tianbo Law Firm was undefeated in every battle.

The current situation meant that the defendant, the ICAC advisory committee, was their person; the judge was their person; the Securities and Futures Commission responsible for providing testimony was their person; and the last one was even more outrageous—the one with the final say, the one who would deliver the definitive verdict, was also their person.

With a lineup like this, let alone just using this case as a pretext to extort a sum of compensation from the Independent Commission Against Corruption, even if the Governor had offended this group, if they caught him in a scandal or someone was willing to pay a sky-high price, they might even be able to send him to prison.

To describe it in one sentence.

In a football match, the referee, the opposing goalkeeper, and the opposing players are all my people—how are you going to play against me?

Carson, the butler dressed in a handmade suit, walked into the living room and said softly, "Young Master, and gentlemen, dinner is served."

"Everyone, please move with me to the restaurant, please." Chen Jiajun stood up.

The various Queen's Counsel in professional attire, who could eat people without spitting out the bones, stood up one after another.

While having dinner, everyone flipped through the documents. Owens spoke up, "I have finished reviewing the case. If it weren't for the barbaric and crude actions of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the market value of Bar Group would be 4.232 billion, and the market value of Zhongba Group would be 2.251 billion."

"However, when the Independent Commission Against Corruption invited Sir Chen back for questioning, they allowed many media outlets to participate, and they filmed a video lasting one minute in front of Chen Family Zhuangyuan. This caused the market value of Bar Group to fall to 2.1 billion, and the market value of Zhongba Group to fall to 1.1 billion."

"I suggest we also sue TVB, Asia Television, and the media that reported on it that day. We can just group it into the same case as the defamation lawsuit of Ms. Zhao Yazhi. What do you all think?"

Lawyer Owens, fearing that this compensation amount wouldn't satisfy their appetite, gave some sharp advice after finishing the documents.

This was exactly what Chen Jiajun wanted, but Chen Jiajun thought for a moment and said, "Exclude TVB. Sir Shao and I are friends."

"If we exclude them, it will appear that the law is unfair. However, given that you and Sir Shao are friends, we will reach an out-of-court settlement agreement with Sir Shao's TVB. Everyone, please share your thoughts."

Owens nodded and said.

The representative for the judge of the Court of First Instance spoke first: "Let's talk about the ICAC side first. The previous highest compensation record for the Hong Kong disciplined services was 17 million Hong Kong dollars, for a father and daughter who accidentally died in a crossfire between police and robbers... I think the amount for Sir Chen's case should be set at 12 million."

The representative for the judge of the Court of Appeal followed: "12 million is too low. The ICAC's brutal law enforcement has had an irreversible impact on the reputations of Bar Group, Zhongba Group, and Tesla Group. I propose 15 million."

The third to speak was the legal assistant to the chairman of the advisory committee: "Indeed, I believe that an excessively high claim amount will cause a backlash from the Independent Commission Against Corruption. I agree with 15 million."

The legal assistant to the chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission looked around at his companions and gave his opinion: "An excessively high claim amount in this case might put pressure on the Securities and Futures Commission. I agree with 15 million, but with an additional five-year prison sentence for Commissioner Ban Naixin."

After everyone had given their respective figures, Owens sipped his red wine and looked at Chen Jiajun, asking in an inquiring tone, "Sir Chen, what do you think?"

Chen Jiajun said readily, "Everything is to be decided by Lawyer Owens."

Money didn't matter to Chen Jiajun; what was important was that he wanted to establish a persona for himself.

What kind of persona?

That is, from now on, if any department wants to use him to make a name for themselves, they had better weigh how much they are worth.

Owens nodded: "Then we will tentatively set the claim amount at 15 million, and additionally add a five-year prison sentence for Ban Naixin. I will represent this case, with Li Junxuan serving as the assistant lawyer, as well as the initiator for subsequent internal meetings."

"The agency fee for this case is a semi-contingency fee arrangement, meaning Tianbo Law Firm will collect 40% of the compensation amount, plus a certain consultation agency fee. You currently only need to settle the consultation fees for the eight Queen's Counsel present today, with a minimum of four hours, totaling..." Owens paused for two seconds, quickly calculated the total, and said to Chen Jiajun: "500,000 Hong Kong dollars."

Lawyer Owens meant that if the Independent Commission Against Corruption paid 15 million, then 6 million of that would go to Tianbo Law Firm, plus an additional 500,000 Hong Kong dollars in consultation agency fees.

No wonder everyone in Hong Kong wants to be a lawyer.

Chen Jiajun nodded with a warm expression: "No problem. The relevant fees will be settled all at once when the time comes. Don't forget there are three cases in total."

"I understand. Regarding the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Association..." Owens continued to nod.

Chen Jiajun took over the conversation: "It will be established in the next few days. After it is established, we will invite Tianbo Law Firm to join the Artists Association as our legal counsel."

"OK."

Owens snapped his fingers: "Pleasure doing business. We still have some preparatory work to do."

Chen Jiajun stood up, straightened his suit, and shook hands with Owens: "Pleasure doing business. If you need any cooperation, call me anytime."

After seeing Owens and his group off, Chen Jiajun looked toward Taipingshan and shook his head with a bitter smile.

In this city, the poor have no right to justice, and rich people with too little net worth have no right to it either.

Not long after the group from Tianbo Law Firm left, Dumu returned to the manor with his brothers to report, and incidentally brought Chen Jiajun a guard dog.

"Big Brother, I have already followed your instructions and spread some news to those dealers who move powder and ice, and I have also greeted the brothers. What if these people start a gang war fighting over territory for moving powder and ice?"

Lao Yu voiced the concerns in his heart.

"As long as it doesn't affect our business, let them play however they want. If it affects our business, then call the Serious Crimes Unit and the Anti-Triad Unit; they will protect us good citizens," Chen Jiajun said with a smile.

"Should we send someone to secretly monitor Feilao Li's subordinates? Once we catch relevant evidence of their crimes, should we make it public?" Lao Yu nodded.

"Good."

Tsim Sha Tsui Shangri-La Hotel, first-floor Japanese restaurant.

The door to the business private room was pushed open from the outside by a waitress wearing a kimono. The waitress bowed to Chen Jiajun, who was already waiting inside, and said, "Sir Chen, your guest has arrived."

Chen Jiajun stood up and looked toward the door. A young woman with a noble and generous temperament and exquisite features walked in. She was wearing a dark blue dress with a slit at the hem reaching her calf, revealing smooth, flesh-colored stockings. She gave Chen Jiajun a polite and appropriate smile and took the initiative to reach out her hand: "Sir Chen."

"Lin Qingxia, sit."

Chen Jiajun shook hands with Lin Qingxia, then signaled for her to sit down, while he looked at the waitress and said, "You may serve the food."

Lin Qingxia placed her designer bag aside, sat down, and observed Chen Jiajun.

After Chen Jiajun finished instructing the waitress, he also looked at her. Their eyes met, and both smiled naturally. Chen Jiajun took the initiative to speak:

"I asked Director Xu Ke what you like to eat, and he said he had treated you to Japanese cuisine before, so I specifically chose this place."

"Sir Chen, friends all call me Lin Qingxia." Facing the Big Boss, Lin Qingxia said with a smile, "I am not a picky eater."

"My friends all call me A Jun; calling me Sir Chen feels too distant." Chen Jiajun also corrected Lin Qingxia's form of address: "How is it? You have been in Hong Kong for a year now, are you used to it yet?"

"I am very used to it, it's just that after such a long time, I still find the Hong Kong dialect a bit of a mouthful."

Chen Jiajun observed Lin Qingxia's face and said kindly, "If you find it a mouthful, you can communicate with me in Mandarin."

Lin Qingxia was born in Taiwan, but her ancestral home is actually in Dongshan Province in the Mainland.

Hearing Chen Jiajun's authentic Mandarin, Lin Qingxia was slightly surprised and said, "Your Mandarin..."

"I studied it specifically; I have quite a few businesses in the Mainland." Chen Jiajun casually found an excuse to explain.

At this moment, a waitress pushed a food cart over, but before she could approach the door, she was stopped by a young demon slave in a suit and leather shoes at the entrance.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Ya Qi took the food cart, personally pushed it into the private room, and placed the plates on the table.

Two plates of thinly sliced fish were neatly arranged among brightly colored lemon, perilla leaves, and orchids, like two small fishing boats; beside them were prepared wasabi paste, soy sauce, grated radish, and seasoned sake.

"The pufferfish at this restaurant is praised even by the Japanese; come, have a taste."

Chen Jiajun picked up the serving chopsticks, picked up a slice of pufferfish, smeared it with soy sauce, dipped it in wasabi paste, and then placed it into Lin Qingxia's plate.

The two chatted while eating, and the private room was filled with laughter.

Until the lunch banquet ended, Chen Jiajun took out a Cigar, clipped the cap, and said, "Qingxia, I believe you have seen the rumors in the media during this time, right?"

"You are referring to?" Lin Qingxia asked after taking a sip of tea.

"The scandals involving Zhao Yazhi." Chen Jiajun pointed out lightly.

Lin Qingxia looked at Chen Jiajun, and a blush could not help but appear on her face: "I believe those related rumors are all false; the innocent remain innocent."

When she first joined Hongxing Film, Lin Qingxia was also a bit uneasy.

Although the Big Boss was a few years younger than her and had a handsome appearance, the Big Boss did have several girlfriends after all.

But facts proved that these things were all rumors.

In this year, she occasionally had contact with Chen Jiajun, and he always behaved quite generously and appropriately; apart from his concern when she first joined the group, he didn't ask about anything else for the rest of the time. Sometimes when Lin Qingxia looked in the mirror, she even wondered if her charm had declined.

Chen Jiajun waved his hand and said, "The innocent remain innocent is actually just deceiving oneself; have you ever heard the saying that a lie repeated three times becomes the truth..."

"I believe in you, Qingxia; you have also been plagued by gossip and rumors these past few years."

Chen Jiajun smoked his Cigar and exhaled a cloud of thick smoke.

In the early eighties, Lin Qingxia was already popular across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Mainland, and was the most famous star in the Chinese film and television circle.

Lin Qingxia's face turned slightly pale, and she nodded.

Chen Jiajun continued, "We have many signed stars under Hongxing, and many stars, just like you and Zhao Yazhi, are plagued by media gossip and rumors."

As the boss, I have an obligation to protect you from harassment, so I plan to establish an Artists Association, with Hong Jingbao serving as the chairman and you as the vice chairman, to initiate a joint lawsuit against the major media in Hong Kong."

"Are you really going to sue all the media in Hong Kong?"

Lin Qingxia was shocked by Chen Jiajun's grand gesture.

Chen Jiajun nodded and said, "Yes, we must give these unscrupulous media outlets a taste of their own medicine. Are you willing?"

Lin Qingxia nodded firmly and said, "Okay."

(End of this chapter)