Chapter 115 The Public Trial

Three days later, Su Tianyu sat in the conference room of the Blackwater Legion headquarters, eating breakfast while discussing with An Qiqi and Yu Mingyuan how to deal with the Chinese Workers' Association.

Yu Mingyuan put down his steamed bun and said to Su Tianyu, "Xiao Yu, shouldn't we consider holding a public trial for Huo Dongsheng and his senior executives? Use our channels to spread the word in various regions. Make him a typical example, a model, and completely ruin his reputation!"

Su Tianyu held his bowl of porridge and responded softly, "Sure, the worse his reputation, the better! Don't worry about the First District's reaction. We've already fought, and we've already formed a military and political confrontation with them. There's no point in holding back. Broadcast it on all channels! Maximize the impact of this public trial!"

"Also," Su Tianyu thought for a moment and then said, "Don't mention the First District. Just say that Huo Dongsheng is a major traitor who betrayed the interests of the Chinese, maliciously split Chinese social groups, and deliberately provoked war!"

"Okay, that works too." Yu Mingyuan stuffed a small steamed bun into his mouth and said as he ate, "Don't worry, leave this to me."

"Oh, right, there's something else!" Su Tianyu took a sip of porridge and continued, "The Wang family still has some grievances. How about this, let's organize our resources, like the First District's intelligence personnel from St. Paul, and some we've recently captured… especially people from the Qingyi Bureau and the Central Fifth Division. Let's put together some bargaining chips and talk to the First District about secretly exchanging them for Wang An. That way, we can give Wang Xiao an explanation."

Yu Mingyuan was stunned. "Heh, you've really thought this through!"

An Qiqi immediately interjected, "He's trying to smooth things over for you."

"I know," Yu Mingyuan replied flatly, "What's done is done. I don't care what they think…!"

Su Tianyu patted him on the shoulder and gently interrupted, "Okay, don't be so stubborn! The matter is already over. We'll all have to work together from now on, so we should try to make amends. Otherwise, if things get too tense, it will be difficult for everyone to handle."

Yu Mingyuan nodded.

An Qiqi took over the conversation, "Okay, I'll communicate with them. I'll see what we can do and what chips we have. If the First District is willing to exchange Wang An, great. If not… we'll have to think of other ways. Anyway, we have to show that we're willing to work things out…!"

"Okay, you have experience in this area, so I'll leave it to you," Su Tianyu nodded.

The three of them ate and chatted, discussing the specific plan. Just then, the door of the conference room was gently pushed open.

Gu Baishun walked in, glanced at Yu Mingyuan sitting next to him, then focused his gaze on Su Tianyu and said, "Director Su, Huo Dongsheng wants to see you."

Su Tianyu was a little surprised. "See me? What does he want to see me for?"

Gu Baishun shook his head. "I'm not too sure. He just said he wanted to see you, but he didn't tell us why."

Su Tianyu paused for a moment, then said, "Okay, I'll go see him in a bit."

…

In the First District, Kang Dinghuang had just left the headquarters of the Chinese Army Corps and got into the car back to the Qingyi Bureau.

On the way back, Kang Dinghuang was still busy, sitting in the back seat of the car, his face gloomy as he flipped through various detailed reports on the St. Paul battlefield.

The secretary next to him couldn't help but lean over and ask softly, "Director, the war is already over. There's no point in looking at these materials anymore, is there? I heard that Gustav and Su Tianyu have negotiated a peace. It seems they're maintaining a balance through hostage exchanges."

Kang Dinghuang looked down at the data and snorted softly, "Maintaining a balance, my ass. They're not just talking, they've already finished negotiating. Gustav sent his entire family to Panama City, even his two-year-old grandson and his illegitimate children. Not only that, but he also paid them ten billion in compensation."

"Where did he get so much money?" The secretary was puzzled. "I heard that Xin Xiaodong emptied the two treasuries in St. Paul. They were completely cleaned out, not even a hair left."

Kang Dinghuang said slowly, "The Gustav family has been in St. Paul for many years, after all. Besides the local treasuries, they also have some assets abroad, which added up to four billion. The remaining six billion, with interest, will be paid off within three years. After emptying out almost his entire fortune, Gustav was released, but his prestige in St. Paul has plummeted, especially among the people in the city, who have deep-seated resentment. I estimate there will be a rebellion."

"Since that's the case, why are you still looking at this?" The secretary was even more puzzled.

"You're still too young," Kang Dinghuang said without looking up. "Sometimes when you do things, you lack a little bit of experience. The war is over, and Gustav has lost everything. But there are still many details in this war that we need to uncover!"

The secretary nodded repeatedly, while Kang Dinghuang continued to look at the data. A few minutes later, he turned to the report on the Chinese Workers' Association, carefully examining the combat information recorded on it.

Soon, a record stating "Suspected killing of more than four hundred hostages" caught Kang Dinghuang's attention, so he took a pen and circled it, then turned to ask, "What about the bargaining chip that Huo Dongsheng sent over earlier?"

The secretary recalled for a moment, then asked, "Are you talking about Wang An?"

Kang Dinghuang nodded. "Yes, him."

The secretary immediately said, "He's still being held at the Fifth Division. I'm not too sure about the current situation."

Kang Dinghuang was silent for a moment, then asked, "What about Gwen? Has she been found?"

The secretary shook his head. "No, she's still missing. The Central Bureau has sent a lot of intelligence personnel into St. Paul to search for her, but there's still no clue. Now she's neither alive nor dead."

Kang Dinghuang crossed his arms, pondered for a while, and then instructed, "Okay, I'll approve a procedure for you, and then you do this…"

The two of them sat in the back seat of the car, secretly discussing their plan…

…

That night, Su Tianyu, accompanied by two guards, came to the underground prison built by Bernardo again. They went straight to the second basement level and stopped in front of a door at the deepest part.

The guard saluted Su Tianyu, then took out the key and opened the iron door of the prison cell.

*Squeak*

The door opened, revealing the dark and damp interior of the prison cell. Huo Dongsheng was sitting on the bed, his hair disheveled. Although he looked disheveled, his clothes were neatly arranged, as if it was his only dignity.

Seeing Su Tianyu, Huo Dongsheng looked calm and said slowly, "You've come?"

Su Tianyu stepped into the prison cell, stared at Huo Dongsheng, and asked directly, "What do you want to see me for? Is there anything else for us to talk about?"