At the scene, John's actions made Nick Fury's expression turn grim beyond measure.
Anyone who had witnessed the sheer terror of Android 18 would never dare to underestimate the man standing before them.
Even just standing there, he exuded an oppressive presence.
Nick Fury felt a sinking unease deep in his chest—a premonition of disaster.
He had never expected that John, a prominent businessman, would crumble so utterly in Renjie's presence.
To ensure that this trial proceeded smoothly, the SHIELD director decided to inject John with a heart-strengthening serum.
"Renjie, do you really think what you did to the John family could escape notice?"
"Your ambitions are doomed to fail because John's family has already been placed under our protection."
Nick Fury spoke firmly, addressing John but also signaling to Renjie the strength of his position.
Through his Bluetooth earpiece, he ordered the SHIELD agents to project a live feed onto the large screen.
On the display, a fragile, frightened girl clung to a woman in terror. Two SHIELD agents stood silently behind them.
"Come on, Mary, say hello to your dad," the female agent broadcasting live said gently to the girl.
The girl's terrified eyes glanced toward the camera; her pale, delicate face was both weak and helpless.
No one could know what suffering she had endured.
Yet what happened next exceeded everyone's expectations.
"Father! Come save me!"
"They are abusing me and trying to harm my mother and me!"
The girl wailed at the camera, lifting her shirt to reveal her emaciated body—covered in swollen, purplish bruises.
The courtroom erupted in chaos.
Official journalists from multiple countries whispered to one another, some standing in outrage, denouncing the perpetrators.
In Western countries especially, any harm against children is an untouchable taboo.
Nick Fury froze for a moment before hastily switching the feed—but his actions only confirmed his guilt in the eyes of the onlookers.
"Fury! You lied to me!"
"This is nothing like what you promised!"
"You swore you would never hurt them!"
Seeing his wife and daughter abused, John could no longer remain silent.
As a man, as a father, his eyes reddened with fury.
He shoved aside the two agents restraining him and lunged at Nick Fury.
They immediately pinned him to the ground, pressing their knees against his neck to immobilize him. He struggled for breath but could not move.
"Bastard! Nick Fury!"
"You won't get away with this!"
Even restrained, he spat curses in pain, which were recorded by the attending journalists.
An international SHIELD agency publicly threatening a witness—it was a scandal in the making.
At that moment, Fury finally realized the shocking truth.
The witness he had brought in was conspiring with the defendant.
"Renjie… you've outsmarted me!"
Fury glared in Renjie's direction, enraged.
"Director, I'm a good person," Renjie said calmly.
"I cannot stand by while you mistreat this 'friend.' That is why, before you even arrived, I dispatched No. 18 to rescue his family."
"I also have a recording from a drone showing the events in real time."
Renjie produced his smartphone and, with No. 21's assistance, projected the footage onto the courtroom screen for the world's media to see.
The video revealed a beautiful blonde woman crashing through a window. She arrived just as the SHIELD agents—who had cut the live feed—were abusing the hostages.
With effortless precision, she neutralized every agent on site.
Cradling John's wife and daughter like a superhero, she flew them to safety.
Thunderous applause echoed throughout the military courtroom.
Renjie spread his arms casually and closed his eyes, soaking in the ovation.
Security personnel arrived, ordering the agents to step back.
John, now able to move, was helped to his feet and escorted to his seat to continue his testimony.
Regaining his composure, John raised his hand.
"Your Honor, I wish to accuse Nick Fury!"
"This despicable man used my family as leverage to force me into cooperating with his charade!"
"His goal was to frame Mr. Renjie, to steal his scientific achievements and expand his own armed forces!"
"I was blind to follow his lies!"
Pointing at Fury, John's reddened eyes blazed as he shouted, his voice hoarse with fury.
At this moment, the tide of the trial completely turned.
"Enough with your slander! Remove this lunatic from the courtroom!"
Fury barked at the agents, trying to eject the "spy" from the trial.
But John was firmly protected by the security personnel.
A tense struggle ensued between the agents and security staff.
"Your Honor, I have a recording proving my words are true!"
John pulled a phone from his pocket and pressed play.
Fury's voice echoed through the room:
[John… I've already sent someone to protect your family.]
[As long as you cooperate from now on, I guarantee their safety.]
The recording played on a loop.
Now the evidence was indisputable.
Fury, enraged, laughed bitterly.
His seemingly flawless plan had been turned against him!
But he had not yet lost.
He slammed down the contract signed earlier that morning between Hammer and the merchants.
"Renjie!"
"No matter how cunning your schemes, how do you explain—"
"Your unlawful acquisition of vast quantities of rare metals and the private construction of dangerous weapons?!"