Two police officers stood at the room's door and exchanged a glance. The officer who had been recording some information put away his notebook and pen. "There's good news. We've already caught the guy who took your things, but you'll need to go identify him. Do you understand what I mean?"
He had avoided words like "steal" and "burglary," using "take" instead. He was downplaying the nature of the case to Lin Qi while putting pressure on him.
Not everyone had the nerve to identify a criminal at the scene. A survey conducted the previous year showed that approximately 61.94 percent of witnesses were unwilling to identify criminals, while more than 77.53 percent were unwilling to testify in court.
That already explained a lot. It could be regarded as the consequence of the Bayer Federation's poor public security, or as the reason criminal forces remained so brazen.
In any case, asking someone to identify a criminal was undoubtedly a way to increase the pressure on a witness. But they had chosen the wrong person. Lin Qi immediately changed his clothes. "What are we waiting for?"
The two police officers were somewhat unable to figure out what was going on with Lin Qi, but they truly hoped the matter could be resolved "satisfactorily."
On the way to the Police Station, the officer sitting in the passenger seat brought up the "criminal" they had arrested.
"He's a young man who's still in school. He refuses to admit he did these things, and we really don't have enough evidence to nail him completely..."
That statement was both right and wrong. They were treating Lin Qi as an outsider. In the Police Station, once they decided someone was a criminal and deemed it necessary, they could tamper with the evidence a little and nail the criminal. Clearly, that was not their plan this time.
The officer turned sideways and glanced back at Lin Qi. "I think we should give the kid a chance. A case with insufficient evidence could ruin the rest of his life."
He paused before continuing, "You weren't hurt, and your losses were limited. If he's willing to compensate you, I think you two can have a talk."
After saying this, the officer turned back around. He had said everything he needed to say. As for the outcome, that was not something a frontline police officer like him could decide.
To the two officers in the car, Lin Qi's choice actually didn't matter at all. Even if the sky fell, it wouldn't land on their heads. They were merely doing their best to carry out their superiors' orders.
They didn't say anything else to Lin Qi during the rest of the drive, until the car stopped inside the Police Station.
"Have you made up your mind, young man?" one of the officers asked as he led him toward the Police Station's office building and pushed open the lobby door.
Lin Qi calmly nodded. "Perhaps I really should talk to him."
"Smart choice!" The officer patted him on the shoulder and led him toward the Interrogation Room. A relaxed smile appeared on his face as he whispered, "You can open your jaws like a lion and tear a chunk of flesh off him. He's a rich bastard, at least richer than us. You understand what I mean?"
Lin Qi nodded. The officer pursed his lips in satisfaction, opened the door to the Interrogation Room, and whispered another reminder. "We've turned off the recording system. Remember to knock when you come out. I'll be waiting right outside!"
There were too few good people like this. Lin Qi nodded forcefully before entering the room.
Actually, by this point, the entire Police Station's procedure had been thoroughly botched. Before the case went to court, the victim and perpetrator—or, more accurately, the plaintiff and defendant—were not supposed to meet. But some things were simply like that.
Rules were rules, and reality was reality.
The Interrogation Room contained only one table and four chairs. Everything was bolted to the floor. Little Michael sat dejectedly on one side of the table.
Lin Qi's arrival made him raise his head and look at Lin Qi. He still couldn't understand how the ring from his father's drawer could possibly be stolen property. This made him breathe a sigh of relief, but it also made his heart seize up.
The ring was not evidence that Michael had betrayed his family, but its questionable origins meant that his father might be involved in a crime. An indescribable struggle and pain welled up inside him. He didn't know what to do, and at the same time, he felt that Michael had it terribly hard.
The police had spoken with him as well. They would bring in the person who had reported the crime. If he could persuade that person to drop the case, then he could pay bail and leave immediately.
This matter would not become a stain on his record. After the case was dropped, if he committed no further crimes for a certain period of time, all the information would be placed in another file. Ordinary people would never see it.
When Little Michael saw Lin Qi, he opened his mouth, then closed it again. He didn't know how to begin.
Children of this age often had an extremely clear sense of right and wrong. He regarded Lin Qi as the "victim," and suddenly realized how filthy he was. He was trying to destroy justice and fairness just like certain people he despised.
The feeling of shame left him unable to speak. He could only lower his head and remain silent, waiting for Lin Qi to name his conditions.
Whatever conditions Lin Qi proposed, so long as they weren't too excessive, he would agree to them. This wasn't really his fault, but he still wanted to atone for his father's sins.
He didn't know why Michael had broken into Lin Qi's home and taken his ring, but it had happened. There was no point dwelling on it anymore. He needed to offer Lin Qi sufficient compensation while protecting his father.
But sometimes, young people refused to admit they were young, and reality would eventually slap them hard across the face.
After sitting down, Lin Qi paused for a moment. "I didn't come here to discuss how much money you can pay to settle this..." Little Michael raised his head in surprise, while Lin Qi continued, "Don't think that having a little money means you can control the fairness of the judicial system. Even if this case goes all the way to the State Court, I will not compromise!"
Lin Qi's declaration made Little Michael realize that things were not developing as he had imagined. Truly, some people were so hypocritical. A moment ago, he had been drowning in self-loathing over his supposed moral degradation, but now Lin Qi's refusal to compromise had frightened him so badly that his knees began to tremble! Before he could speak, Lin Qi continued, "Everyone has to take responsibility for their actions. Whether you're a student or anything else—even if you're a government official—you must face the judgment of justice."
"The court, the judge, and the public will give you a fair trial. No matter how high you stand, when the judge's gavel falls, you'll be dragged down. The higher you stand, the harder you'll fall."
Sweat began to bead on Little Michael's face. He hadn't truly placed himself in the role of the criminal suspect. Instead, he had placed his father, Michael, in that role.
This left him with a struggle, conflict, and pain he could not describe. He could already imagine everything that would happen when Michael appeared in the defendant's seat in court and was found guilty. This family would be finished in an instant.
"Is there... no room for negotiation?" His voice was filled with bitterness, but also carried a trace of hope.
Lin Qi shook his head. "If I broke into your home, took the thing most important to you, then threw a stack of bills in your face and told you to forget the whole matter, would you accept that?"
Little Michael fell silent. His mood was extremely low. The corners of Lin Qi's lips curved slightly, and then he stood up.
"I came here only to tell you my position. There will be no compromise. I don't want your filthy money, and don't look down on other people!" As he spoke, he walked to the door and knocked. Then he left beneath the police officer's bewildered gaze.
The officer soon entered as well. He put his hands on his hips and looked at the dejected Little Michael, still completely confused. "Did you two reach an agreement?"
Little Michael let out a heavy sigh. He knew perfectly well that his current life, family, and social status all came from Michael's work.
Once Michael was reported and sentenced, even if he didn't go to prison, his career would be over.
The Federal Revenue Service would never let someone with a stain on his record remain in management. Once Michael lost his job, their family would have to move out of the Middle Class neighborhood and relocate to the Lower District.
The future would be shrouded in gloomy darkness. Only by keeping Michael's job could the family avoid suffering major problems.
Little Michael had even imagined that Michael might somehow get him out at that point, give him a new identity, and send him somewhere else to start over.
Rather than implicate Michael, Little Michael made his decision. He took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked at the police officer. "I plead guilty. I admit that I committed burglary..."
At that moment, Lin Qi stood outside the Police Station and glanced back at the imposing police precinct. A faint smile appeared on his face.
He would ask certain people to take good care of Little Michael in prison, just as Michael had threatened him.