Chapter 697: Ironclad Evidence Crushes Arrogance

Coincidentally, I happen to have invited a 'guest' over here, who might have a somewhat different 'view' of what happened in that alley that day.

Lin Dongfan's words were like splashing a ladle of cold water into a boiling oil pot, instantly causing the entire memorial hall to erupt!

Everyone's gaze, including Li Zhenyang's unfathomable eyes, was firmly fixed on the ordinary mobile phone in Lao Ba's hand.

Li Hengbo's complexion turned deathly pale as paper in an instant, cold sweat practically seeping from his forehead and sliding down his temples.

His head buzzed, and he frantically thought:

"A guest? What guest?! He was certain the two desperadoes who acted that day had already been sent out of the country via special channels, absolutely impossible to find!"

Could it be…

Are there hidden cameras?

Or was there a third person present at the time?!

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

I arranged it perfectly!

"There's no way something could go wrong!"

In terms of self-consolation, Li Hengbo's skill was still quite successful.

Yet Lin Dongfan's calm, composed demeanor, as if everything were under his control, remained like a poisoned thorn deeply embedded in his heart, making him anxious and flustered.

"Lin Dongfan! Stop playing mysterious here! In the memorial hall, how can we allow you to play tricks? If you have the ability, summon the person! I want to see which blind-eyed dare to slander me, Li Hengbo, and slander the judicial order of Wu Zhou!"

He tried to overwhelm the opponent with aura, but the slight tremor in his trailing tone exposed his inner panic.

Li Zhenyang's brows furrowed tighter; he said nothing, merely using his sharp eyes to scrutinize Lin Dongfan, as if reassessing the young man's energy and methods.

He faintly sensed that the situation was slipping out of his control.

Faced with Li Hengbo's shouting, Lin Dongfan merely gave a light smile, his expression full of pity and mockery.

"Secretary Li, you are Wu Zhou's parent-official, virtuous and prestigious. Today please you and the fellow villagers present act as witnesses to see whether I, Lin Dongfan, am truly playing mysterious and slandering the innocent."

With those words, he first placed Li Zhenyang in the position of a 'notary,' making it hard for him to show bias.

Having said that, Lin Dongfan nodded at Lao Ba.

Lao Ba understood, and instead of making a call, he fiddled with the phone; immediately, a clear recording played through the phone's external speaker, echoing in the silent memorial hall——

"……Target confirmed, it is Duan Xinhua's son, Duan Xiaobin……"

"……Ensure it is clean and neat, made to look like a botched robbery……"

"……Boss Li ordered, he must not be allowed to speak……to eliminate future trouble……"

"……Understood, after finishing this job, immediately head out south, the money will be deposited into an overseas account……"

Although the voices in the recording had been lightly processed, the coldness, professionalism, and killing intent still came through the speaker clearly into everyone's ears!

"Especially the line 'Boss (Li Hengbo) ordered, he must not be allowed to speak……to eliminate future trouble!'—it was like a thunderclap, exploding in the memorial hall!"

"Whoa——!"

The memorial hall instantly erupted in an uproar!

The Duan family's relatives and friends were filled with indignation, their previously suppressed anger and grief bursting forth completely!

"It really is him! Li Hengbo! You beast! Murderer! Return my son's life!" Duan's mother let out an extremely mournful wail; if not for someone supporting her, she would have nearly fainted.

Even some originally neutral locals of Wu Zhou looked at Li Hengbo with eyes full of shock and fear! Killing in the street, silencing!

This is no longer an ordinary brawl; it is lawlessness!

Li Hengbo, as if struck by lightning, froze in place, his complexion turning from white to blue, then to purple, as if his throat were being choked!

He stared at Lin Dongfan in disbelief, his lips trembling, yet unable to utter a word!

This recording……

Where did this recording come from?!

He was clearly using an encrypted channel to contact overseas mercenaries! How could Lin Dongfan possibly obtain it?!

"No! This is fake! It's forged!" Li Hengbo, as if grasping a lifeline, screamed hysterically, waving his golden cane wildly: "Lin Dongfan! You fabricated evidence! You framed me! Uncle Li! You must believe me! This is absolutely fake!"

Yet his uncontrolled reaction, before the ironclad recording, appeared so pale and powerless, like a clown's performance.

Li Zhenyang's complexion also turned extremely grim; he stared fixedly at Lin Dongfan, his eyes complex to the extreme.

There was shock, there was anger, and moreover a barely perceptible……apprehension.

Lin Dongfan being able to obtain such high-level evidence, the power and means behind it far exceeded his expectations! Once this recording spreads, not only Li Hengbo, but even Li Zhenyang himself will bring trouble upon himself!

"Comrade Dongfan……" Li Zhenyang took a deep breath, trying to steady the situation, his tone carrying a hint of suppressed anger: "Is the source of this recording legal? Its authenticity needs verification! Based solely on a segment of unknown origin, perhaps……"

"Secretary Li, rest assured." Lin Dongfan directly interrupted him, his tone calm and unhurried: "The source of the recording is absolutely legal; the technical department has already done a preliminary appraisal, confirming it is not forged. As for a more detailed appraisal report, and the follow-up tracking of the relevant personnel involved in the case, I think someone will soon report to you and to higher-level leadership in a special briefing."

His words lightly brushed aside Li Zhenyang's doubts, and also implied that this matter was no longer just a Wu Zhou affair; it likely had already attracted attention from above.

Li Zhenyang's heart sank sharply; he knew Lin Dongfan was intent on blowing the matter wide open.

Lin Dongfan no longer looked at the ashen-faced Li Zhenyang.

He turned his gaze to the completely collapsed, slumped Li Hengbo on the ground, stepping forward to stand before him, looking down upon him, his eyes like those observing a struggling ant beneath one's feet.

"Li Hengbo."

Lin Dongfan's voice was not loud, yet it carried the force of a thousand jin; each word struck like a heavy hammer on Li Hengbo's heart and in the ears of everyone present:

"Now, what else do you have to say?"

"You think you did it flawlessly?"

"You think clinging to a powerful thigh lets you do as you please?"

"You think having money and power lets you treat lives as grass and trample on law and dignity?"

With each question Lin Dongfan asked, his tone grew colder by a degree, that invisible pressure making the temperature of the entire memorial hall seem to drop to freezing point:

"I tell you!"

「This world belongs to the people! 」

「This law is the shield protecting every law-abiding citizen, and also the sword hanging over the head of every lawbreaker! 」

「No matter how cunning like a fox, how vicious like a snake, under this bright heaven and earth, you will eventually reveal your true form and face justice's judgment! 」

Speaking lofty words, Fan Ye is never vague; he just opens his mouth and they come out.

Having said that.

Fan Ye suddenly turned around, facing the indignant crowd inside the memorial hall, his voice resonant, launching a declaration like an oath: "Duan Xiaobin will not die in vain! Comrade Duan Xinhua's disappearance will surely be brought to light! Every evildoer, one by one, none shall escape! This is my promise, Lin Dongfan, to the departed, and also to everyone present, to all on this land who long for fairness and justice!"

「Well said! 」

「Mr. Lin is mighty! 」

「Punish the culprit severely! Give society justice! 」

Inside the memorial hall, the long-suppressed anger and grievance finally found an outlet; the crowd's emotions ran high, and their cries shook the heavens!

Everyone looked at Lin Dongfan with eyes full of gratitude and hope.

It was as if he were the beam of light piercing the darkness!

In contrast, Li Hengbo lay slumped on the ground, bloodless, eyes vacant, as if his soul had been sucked out, his mind full of thoughts on how to wrap things up next.

Li Zhenyang stood there, face ashen, not uttering a word.

He looked at Lin Dongfan, surrounded by the crowd like an embodiment of justice, then at Li Hengbo collapsed like mud, knowing he must make a decision immediately—to protect or to abandon?

And Lin Dongfan, amidst the chorus of support, merely calmly adjusted his collar.

He knew that slapping faces was just the beginning; crushing Li Hengbo and the forces behind him, this tough battle had only just entered its most intense stage! But each of his steps would tread on the enemies' bones, marching toward ultimate victory! This satisfaction is merely an appetizer served before the final feast!

At that moment, Li Hengbo seemed to have found a breakthrough point.

He glared at Lin Dongfan, coldly spitting out: "Although this recording mentions Li Boss, there are so many people with the surname Li; how can you determine that I, Li Hengbo, am the mastermind?!"