The Lawyer's Loyalty
Having worked as a criminal defense attorney for a long time, one inevitably comes into contact with confidential information unknown to the average person—for instance, the Young Master Shaw of Coast City.
The name Young Master Shaw resonated through North Coast City. Almost everyone had heard of him, heard of the things he did, the rules he established, and his unusual, almost legendary experiences. Yet, few knew his real name, and Osman was one of those few.
Therefore, when Luke came to his office and asked him to serve as an attorney for a certain individual, Osman agreed without hesitation. Even though the young man standing before him was vastly different from the "Young Master Shaw" he had imagined, he offered his most sincere respect.
As expected, the Young Master did not disappoint. He was as cunning, ruthless, cold-blooded, meticulously organized, and deadly as the rumors claimed.
Only a man like this deserves the name Young Master Shaw.
Osman was thankful for his choice. He loved money, and Young Master Shaw was notoriously generous. The two were bound to have many opportunities for cooperation. As for the FBI...
Osman shrugged indifferently. As the Metropolis underworld's top-tier defense attorney, how many FBI agents disliked him already?
The Irrefutable Video
Inside the office, the atmosphere instantly grew tense following Luke's simple statement.
Everyone glanced back and forth between the two men, eyes flickering.
They weren't fools; they could clearly see the situation: these two were determined to fight to the bitter end. But they couldn't understand why Luke Shaw dared to provoke a high-ranking FBI executive with absolute power. Was he not afraid of death?
Even Charlie felt uneasy. What is the Young Master plotting?
He's not actually going to kill someone, is he?
The terrifying thought surfaced, and Charlie involuntarily shivered. A month away, and the Young Master has become this reckless?
Luke glanced at the report in the trash bin, his tone cool.
"It seems, sir, you do not intend to acknowledge the injuries on Charlie's body."
Mike Gray narrowed his eyes, his expression icy and iron-cold. An aura stemming from his superior position emanated outwards.
"I am unaware of how he sustained his injuries. However, I can very seriously tell you that the FBI absolutely does not use private torture. If you have doubts, you are free to investigate. I will not impede you."
"You are quite good at sophistry, sir. This entire building is your territory, and all the agents in it are your subordinates. How can I investigate?"
"That is your problem, not mine." Having said that, he stood up to usher them out. "If there is nothing else, please leave. We are very busy and do not have time for idle chatter."
Luke smiled and shook his head. "I can understand your eagerness to see me go. Unfortunately, you'll be disappointed. I came here today to get justice for Charlie. Until this matter is concluded, I cannot leave!"
"Play the video. Let's give our Mr. Gray a good look."
Osman opened his laptop and played the second video.
The video showed a small, dimly lit room. Charlie Wills, restrained hand and foot, sat in a chair, apparently dozing. Suddenly, the door was kicked open, and a vicious-looking man in an exquisite suit—Elijah Field—rushed in. After a stream of foul verbal abuse, he began to punch and kick Charlie.
This process lasted a full three minutes, only ending when another uniformed agent walked in.
The video ended there, but the resulting impact was just beginning.
Everyone was stunned, their minds buzzing, unable to utter a word.
The silence was terrifying; the sound of a pin dropping could have been heard clearly. The FBI agent who appeared in the video covered his face, afraid of being noticed.
Mike Gray staggered backward, nearly falling. The cold, hard look on his face seemed to drain of blood, leaving it a terrifying, deathly pale.
Luke picked up the crumpled report from the trash bin and placed it back near him.
"Elijah Field, former Special Forces member, discharged from the military for shooting an innocent civilian, later recruited by the FBI and became a field agent. He has been working directly under you."
"Your man used private torture and beat my friend. You owe me an explanation."
The low voice echoed clearly in the room.
Everyone shivered involuntarily, an unspeakable sense of fear rising within them, as if a terrifying creature was growling in their ears.
Mike Gray collapsed onto the sofa, his mind blank.
Why did the FBI's internal surveillance video end up in Luke Shaw's hands? Who is helping him? Or is this whole thing a setup, a trap specifically designed for him?
Thousands of thoughts raced through his mind, yet he couldn't grasp a single thread of reason.
This matter was extremely serious. He could imagine the devastating impact this video would have on him once it leaked.
These days, with endless infighting in the White House, the FBI itself was split into factions, constantly exposing each other's dirt. Coupled with rising crime rates and the constant emergence of supernatural events, the public's image of the FBI was at an all-time low.
If a scandal involving the use of private torture were to leak now, the higher-ups would undoubtedly use him as a scapegoat to deflect public anger.
"No, I absolutely cannot be implicated. This has nothing to do with me. It was that maniac Elijah who did it. He chose to use torture on his own. It has nothing to do with me."
"Yes, it has nothing to do with me."
In a single second, Mike formulated his escape plan. His expression instantly shifted. He furrowed his brows, looked straight ahead, and exuded an air of profound righteousness.
"Mr. Shaw, I must apologize to you and your friend. I was remiss. I never imagined that maniac Elijah would commit such an atrocity. Rest assured, I promise you, in the name of God, that I will do everything in my power to find him."
"The FBI does not permit private torture. We will not spare a single person who knowingly violates the law."
"Furthermore, I will issue an official statement clarifying the whole drug smuggling case and offer the most sincere apology to the victim, Mr. Wills. If possible, I will use my authority to offer the maximum compensation to both individuals and your company, ShowMe."
"Please rest assured, I will provide you with a satisfactory answer."
After delivering this high-minded speech, those who didn't know the full story felt a surge of respect, believing him to be an honest official who took responsibility. Those who knew the truth wanted to spit in his face.
Subordinates fear nothing more than a boss like this—the first to take credit, the last to take blame, and when things go south, they won't hesitate to kick a scapegoat out the door.
At this moment, the agents in the room completely saw their superior's true colors.
Such a contemptible man becoming a high-ranking Federal Bureau of Investigation official. The FBI is rotten to the core.
Mike didn't care about his subordinates' opinions. His single-minded goal was to extricate himself. Everything else could wait.
Luke chuckled. "I've heard that Mr. Gray is a stickler for the law and a rare man of justice. I'm glad I finally witnessed it today." He then changed the subject. "But one thing must be clarified: were you truly unaware of Elijah Field's use of private torture?"
"I was genuinely unaware. Had I known, I would have severely punished him."
"But Elijah Field is your man!"
"Mr. Shaw, allow me to explain."
Mike's expression was grave, even solemn. "Elijah Field is employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and works for the government, not for me. You must understand this clearly. He is subordinate to me, yes, but his actions are carried out according to directives sent from Headquarters. Strictly speaking, he is the Headquarters' man, working in Metropolis but not under my direct authority. Do you understand?"
Luke was amused. Having lived two lives, he had seen people shirk responsibility, but he had never seen anyone as shameless as Mike Gray. Truly worthy of being a high-ranking official in the DC universe. What an eye-opener.
"Since Mr. Gray claims he has no connection to him, that makes things easy."
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