Jinhsi Woke Up

One vote in favor, three votes against; the motion to remove him from office failed.

Luca did not show any surprise.

"Then, the second motion: a new vote on the position of head of the family."

Carlotta's face darkened.

"Grand-uncle," she stood up, placing her hands on the table, her voice low, "Are you sure you want to go this far?"

"Carlotta, I'm saving this family," Luca said. "If you protect Kexi, the Order press the attack, Montelli won't be able to hold on. By then, it will be too late for you to step down."

"You keep talking about family interests." Carlotta's voice was calm, but Enzo could hear the anger she was suppressing. "Kexi is a child my grandfather brought back. He raised him, taught him, and gave him his surname. Now you want to disown my grandfather's child and oust the head of the family whom he personally chose. Luca, how can you face Francis?"

Upon hearing the name, Luca's fingers paused slightly on the table before he spoke, his tone still somber.

"Carlotta, it is precisely because I respect the old patriarch that I cannot allow his family to be destroyed in your hands."

"Coppola is his own son, and you personally took action against him, so why are you being so lenient now?"

Carlotta was left speechless.

Luca pushed the votes for the second motion in front of everyone.

"Let's vote," Luca said. "The position of head of the family will be decided by a simple majority, and it will take effect immediately."

Carlotta didn't look at the ticket; she looked at Luca.

"Grand Uncle, I'll ask you one more time. Are you sure?"

"Carlotta, I'm sure."

"Alright." Carlotta pushed her chair back and stood up. "Since you want to vote, listen to me first. Then you can vote."

Luca gestured for him to proceed.

"The Order warrant for Kexi's arrest for the assassination of the Prefect of Jinzhou. Of everyone present today, who witnessed Kexi commit the murder?" Carlotta's gaze swept over everyone. "No. Changli saw it with his own eyes, but has anyone verified whether the person Changli saw is the same person as Kexi?"

Marta said, "No. The arrest warrant was issued directly by the Ordo; Montelli wasn't notified beforehand, and we weren't asked to verify anything."

"In other words, the Order didn't even complete the most basic investigation procedures before issuing an arrest warrant." Carlotta turned to Luca. "Grand-uncle, you've been at sea for forty years, have you ever been wrongly accused?"

Luca remained silent.

When you are wrongly accused, is your first reaction to accept defeat or to find out the truth?

"Carlotta, don't try to trick me." Luca's voice turned serious. "I don't need anyone to tell me what it means to be wronged. But whether I'm wronged or not, you need to provide evidence. Do you have any?"

Carlotta opened her mouth.

Just then, the conference room door was pushed open.

Selina stood in the doorway, clutching a terminal in her hand.

"Second Miss."

Carlotta frowned. "Selina, I'm in a meeting."

"I know, but—" Selina glanced at Luca, then at Carlotta, and took a deep breath, "The Magistrate Jin has awakened."

The atmosphere in the meeting room changed.

"When did this happen?" Carlotta asked.

"A message from Baizhi five minutes ago." Selina handed over the terminal. "Baizhi said that Magistrate Jin is conscious and can speak, but is still weak. Sanhua is guarding him and is not letting anyone near him for the time being."

Carlotta stared at the message on the terminal screen, a slow smile curving her lips. She looked up at Luca.

"Grand Uncle, you said I have no evidence. Now Jinhsi is awake. She was there; she saw the person who tried to assassinate her with her own eyes. Now that she's awake, she can clearly say whether that person was Kexi or not."

Luca's expression didn't change much, but Carlotta noticed that his fingers on the table twitched slightly.

"That won't be considered valid until the Magistrate Jin says so himself," Luca said.

"Of course." Carlotta placed the terminal back on the table. "Therefore, I suggest postponing the re-vote for the position of family head. Let Jinhsi finish speaking, let the truth come out. If it is proven that Kexi is indeed guilty, I will be the first to arrest him and hand him over to the Order. But before that, no one can make me hand him over. No one can make me step down."

Sera finally spoke up, "Carlotta, if we postpone the vote, what about the three-day deadline Order?"

"I 'Order deal with the order," Carlotta said. "Alex wants an explanation. Jinhsi is awake, and that's the first step in that. I'll talk to Alex and ask him for a few more days until Jinhsi can speak."

Luca was silent for a moment. Then he collected the tickets in front of him, folded them neatly, and placed them on the table.

"Carlotta, I'm giving you face. The vote is postponed. But remember, you have a maximum of five days. If Jinhsi's words prove Kexi guilty within five days, you'll have to step down from your position as head of the family."

"What if Kexi is proven innocent within five days?" Carlotta countered.

Luca looked at her, his old eyes revealing no warmth. "We'll talk about it later."

He stood up, nodded to everyone present, and turned to leave. Sera followed suit, pausing briefly as she passed Carlotta.

"Carlotta, if the Order truly conducts a full investigation of the Montelli, it will affect the Montelli's foundation in Ragunna. If the issue is resolved within five days, I'm on your side. After five days, I have no choice but to vote for Luca."

She finished speaking and left. Vito walked over, patted Carlotta on the shoulder, and said, "Carlotta, I'll keep an eye on the terminal lab for you. If the Order to investigate, I'll hold them off." Then he left too.

Marta was the last to get up. As she passed Carlotta, she whispered something.

"Second Miss, I will let you know if there is any movement Order the guild."

Carlotta nodded. "Thank you."

Enzo was the last to leave.

He put away the meeting minutes, walked up to Carlotta, and gave her a slight bow.

"Second Miss, the old patriarch once said something..."

Carlotta looked at him.

He said, "The ship of Montelli was never held together by bloodlines. It was held together by people willing to stand at the bow in the storm."

Carlotta understood Enzo's meaning and nodded.

Enzo took his leave.

She was the only one left in the conference room.

She clutched her aching head, rubbed her temples, and murmured, "Kexi, you've really given me a huge problem."

Hopefully, this idiot can resolve things quickly, just like he said.

On one hand, there's the mess Kexi made, and on the other hand, there's the trouble the Fractsidus cause at the carnival the day after tomorrow.

Carlotta was really overwhelmed.

Selina stood behind Carlotta and waited until everyone had left before speaking softly, "Second Miss, the young master just asked me to tell you not to worry too much; he will handle this."

Carlotta didn't turn around, but just snorted, "He'll solve it? What will he use to solve it? His mouth?"

Selina didn't dare to reply.