Chapter 4

On his own turf at city hall, Leonard Hale was used to getting whatever he wanted.

His subordinates and the security guards rushed forward, surrounding me from every side.

The relatives all backed away in fear.

Not one of them stepped forward to say a word for me.

Finn stood behind Leonard, watching me get trapped. This time, he couldn’t even hide the smile tugging at his mouth.

He picked up a red ink pad and walked over to me.

On the surface, he was still playing the kind, reasonable cousin.

“Ethan, stop making Uncle angry. Just sign it already. We’re family.”

But when he leaned close, his voice dropped so only the two of us could hear.

“Ethan, so what if you ranked first on the exam? So what if you always act like you’re better than everyone else?”

“As long as you take the fall for leaking classified information today, you’ll never work in government again. You won’t even be able to find a decent job.”

“Everything you have, your future, even your woman, will all end up mine. Tell me, what do you have to beat me with?”

I looked coldly at his face, twisted with jealousy and triumph.

I felt nothing.

“Finn, do you really think this department belongs to your family?”

He sneered.

“You’re about to find out.”

Then he turned and shouted to Claire, “Deputy Director Lawson, Ethan still won’t admit it. Hurry and help Uncle!”

Claire, desperate to cut off every possible loose end, rushed forward without hesitation.

With so many people backing her up, she grabbed my shoulder and tried to force me down onto the table.

“Ethan, don’t blame me for being cruel. Blame yourself for not knowing when to take the way out.”

Finn immediately seized my right hand and tried to force my thumb into the ink pad.

“Press it down!”

While I struggled against Claire’s grip, I quietly slipped my left hand into my pocket.

My fingers found the encrypted emergency communicator issued by the State Office of Ethics and Oversight.

Without looking, I pressed the emergency location button.

A faint vibration buzzed against my palm.

The signal had gone out.

The floating comments exploded across my vision.

[Ahhh, he pressed it! He called for backup!]

[The uncle and that trash woman are still digging their own graves. They’re practically putting their heads on the chopping block.]

[I hope they can still laugh when the tactical team breaks through the door.]

With Claire using brute force and Finn trying to pin me down, I stopped holding back.

I dropped my shoulder and slammed sideways, using her own weight against her.

Claire stumbled back several steps and crashed into a chair.

Then I swung my hand back and slapped Finn hard across the face.

Smack.

The sharp sound cracked through the private room.

The blow left Finn seeing stars. The ink pad flew out of his hand, and he hit the carpet hard, clutching his face as he screamed.

“You hit me!”

Everyone froze.

No one had expected me to fight back while surrounded by Leonard’s men and hotel security.

Leonard shook with rage and roared, “How dare you! Tie him up! Beat him if you have to. I’ll take responsibility!”

The security guards and his subordinates were just about to charge at me.

I said coldly, “Let’s see who dares to touch me.”

As I spoke, I reached into the inside pocket of my jacket and pulled out a dark red ID booklet.

I held it high.

My gaze swept across the room, sharp and steady. Every word landed with force.

“I am Ethan Hale, Director of the Special Investigations Unit under the State Office of Ethics and Oversight. I am currently carrying out a special anti-corruption investigation.”

“Leonard Hale, you are suspected of serious corruption and abuse of office. An investigation has already been opened against you.”

“Anyone who interferes with this investigation today will be treated as an accomplice.”