Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 672 - 664: Recognize Relatives? In the End, It’s Declaring War!

Chapter 672: Chapter 664: Recognize Relatives? In the End, It’s Declaring War!

"Zhang Tianlong, they are your third brother’s biological children!"

Zhang Wei gave Zhang Tianlong a slight smile, then looked towards Zhang Xinwu and her brother with a complex expression in his eyes.

"So Sister Xiao Wu, your surnames are not actually Zhang, but Zhang. Your real names should be Zhang Xinwu and Zhang Xinyan!"

As he spoke, he even looked at the Zhang family members and teased, "If you inherit the headship of the Zhang family, according to the Zhang family’s rules, you should be called Zhang Tianwu or..."

The remaining name, Zhang Wei did not say, but Zhang Tianlong and the others had all already reacted.

Zhang Xinyan’s birth name should be Zhang Xinyan, and once he inherits the Zhang family headship, his name would change to Zhang Tianyan!

Zhang Tianyan was the name of Zhang Tianlong’s father, who was the previous head of the Zhang family!

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Zhang Tianlong was the first to stand up in opposition, pointing at Zhang Xinwu and her brother, "You say they are..."

Originally, Zhang Tianlong did not want to reveal these things, but seeing Zhang Wei’s attitude, it was clear that he understood the full sequence of events from that year, so he did not hold back any longer.

"They are the third brother’s children, how could this be possible?"

"How could it not be possible?"

Zhang Wei spread his hands, once again smiling slightly, "Actually, there are quite a few people who know about this matter, such as President Hua’s father, Old Master Hua."

Hua Chaofan was somewhat surprised. What about his father?

"Why could Old Master Hua almost give away the ancestral home on a half-rent half-giveaway basis? Do you think Old Master Hua is a fool?"

"He knew that Sister Xiao Wu was of your Zhang family’s bloodline, so he considered it a good deed!"

Hearing Zhang Wei’s explanation, Zhang Tianlong frowned.

"Why Old Master Hua could rent out the Hua family’s ancestral home is, of course, because he knew something: the more dangerous a place is, the safer it is!"

"Exactly because the ancestral homes of your Five Great Families are right under your noses, you would not expect that the third son of the Zhang family, who left years ago, would let his children return to Dongfang Capital and settle right under your noses, right?"

Hearing Zhang Wei’s explanation, including Lin Xiangtian and Hua Chaofan, everyone turned to look at Zhang Tianlong.

"Are you saying that they really are the third brother’s children?"

Zhang Tianlong looked at Zhang Xinwu and her brother, finally seeming somewhat unable to restrain himself.

"Of course, guaranteed genuine!"

Zhang Wei naturally answered with a smile.

"Sister Xiao Wu, stinky little brother, come, meet your eldest uncle!"

Zhang Wei then brought Zhang Xinwu and her brother to his side and introduced them to Zhang Tianlong.

But this meeting between niece and nephew and their uncle was completely devoid of any familial warmth.

"Hmph, Zhang Wei, you can’t just bring in any tom, dick, or harry and claim to have a relationship with our Zhang family!"

Zhang Tianlong didn’t speak, but Zhang Youlin beside him couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Oh, does Young Master Zhang disagree?"

"How could I possibly agree? Empty talk is useless. Do you have any evidence?"

"I have evidence, and plenty of it, but I know you, Young Master Zhang, won’t acknowledge it. After all, if we calculate it this way, don’t you now have two more direct competitors for the family headship?"

Zhang Wei smiled slightly, clearly piercing through Zhang Youlin’s little schemes.

The previous generation’s old head of the Zhang family, Zhang Tianyan, had four sons: Zhang Tianlong, Zhang Dihu, Zhang Lang, and Zhang Renbao, the father of Zhang Xinwu and her brother!

Zhang Dihu and Zhang Lang had no offspring, and Zhang Tianlong only had one son, so it was inevitable that the heir to the Zhang family would be Zhang Youlin.

But if this generation of the Zhang family had two more young legitimate bloodline heirs, then the situation would be different.

The heir to the Zhang family can only be a legitimate direct descendant, and Zhang Xinwu and her brother both count as legitimate.

So, Zhang Youlin’s reaction was so intense because when he looked at Zhang Xinwu and her brother, there was not a hint of familial affection, only extreme coldness and hostility.

Of course, the look Zhang Tianlong gave Zhang Xinwu and her brother was also devoid of any warmth.

"Hmph, my son Youlin is right. Not just any riff-raff is worthy of associating with our Zhang family!"

"So, you and your son are disowning these niece and nephew?"

Zhang Wei pulled Zhang Xinwu and Zhang Xinyan closer, then let out a long sigh.

"Sorry, Sister Xiao Wu, for letting you witness such a farce. I had intended to have you acknowledge your ancestors and return to the family, but they refused to recognize you!"

Zhang Xinwu looked at Zhang Tianlong with a complex expression, but then, similarly disillusioned, shook her head.

"If they don’t recognize us, so be it. I don’t need relatives like these!"

After saying this, Zhang Xinwu took Zhang Xinyan by the hand, "Xiao Yan, let’s go. We shouldn’t sully their esteemed eyes by staying here any longer!"

This self-deprecation and mockery were actually loaded with satirical undertones.

Zhang Xinwu, holding Zhang Xinyan’s hand, left briskly without any sign of hesitation.

"My, my, this is really..."

Although Zhang Wei felt a bit emotional, he still smacked his lips.

What should have been a simple family acknowledgment had turned into this mess.

"What a pity, such a pity, Zhang Tianlong, with the Zhang Family not having many descendants, wouldn’t it have been good to have two more younger generations?"

"Hmph, as if I don’t know that they might be spies that you, Zhang Wei, want to plant in the Zhang Family. Do you think I’m foolish?"

"Not at all, not at all. I genuinely wanted to help Sister Xiao Wu and them to acknowledge their ancestry, but your Zhang Family doesn’t want them!"

Zhang Wei shook his head, then leaned in close to Zhang Tianlong, "As for whether they’re truly related, why don’t you go home and ask your father? You’ll soon have your answer."

Having said this, Zhang Wei took out an old photograph and handed it to Zhang Tianlong.

The photo was black and white, set against a pale grey background, showing a young couple with a little girl and a baby cradled in the arms of the wife.

"Take this photo, along with the current appearance of Sister Xiao Wu and the two of them, and ask your father. You’ll quickly get an answer."

Zhang Tianlong didn’t take the photo, but he gestured to a subordinate beside him, who picked up the photo and put it away.

"Zhang Wei, is this your purpose today?"

"Oh, I almost forgot about the main matter. Helping Sister Xiao Wu and them was just incidental!"

Zhang Wei said, giving a slight smile to Zhang Tianlong and his group.

Then, he left the second floor and went down to the hall.

"Ahem, esteemed guests, I, Zhang Someone, have another matter to address!"

At this moment, many of the guests had finished eating and drinking, and upon hearing that Zhang Wei had something important to say, they all turned their attention to him.

"You may all be aware of it, the attack on the Dongfang Star two years ago?"

Many people nodded subconsciously.

The incident had created such a stir at the time that many who weren’t directly involved had still heard about it.

However...

Interestingly enough, Zhang Wei was a direct participant in that event, and to this day, there were rumors that Zhang Wei had colluded with pirates in the attack, with many believing that he was the mastermind.

Among those attending the banquet, aside from some local magnates, there were quite a few people from Dongfang Capital.

Although they were here for the banquet, they also felt that Zhang Wei couldn’t be unconnected to the incident.

Zhang Tianlong’s group, including Lin Xiangtian and Zhang Youlin, also bore strange expressions.

They were curious why Zhang Wei would suddenly bring up the matter; wasn’t it tantamount to seeking trouble for himself?

All eyes in the hall were trained on the man who had begun to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I know that among you, many still consider me a participant in the case, even the mastermind behind the pirate attack, am I right?"

No one made a sound, but indeed, some were thinking exactly that.

"Moreover, the captured pirate ringleader, who was put to death, implicated me before his execution, correct?"

This time, many people nodded involuntarily; that was what they had heard.

"But what if I told you that the pirate leader was just an ordinary leader, he knew nothing, and was merely made a scapegoat by the real culprit, would you think that’s possible?"

"This..."

Many people in the audience were shocked and then looked at each other in confusion, turning their gaze toward the vicinity.

"In fact, the truth about the attack on the Dongfang Star some years ago has been hidden. Firstly, I did not participate in planning the attack, and secondly, the real culprit is still at large!"

Zhang Wei said, casting his gaze toward Zhang Tianlong on the second floor.

The latter’s eyes darkened; he knew Zhang Wei would definitely use this incident as leverage.

But what of it? The cleanup of the incident was handled neatly, and Zhang Wei would never be able to find any leads.

Because the participants from that year had all fled to places he couldn’t reach.

"I know the person behind the scenes is thinking that all the participants from that year have fled, and he believes I won’t be able to find them, right?"

After saying this, he snapped his fingers again.

A projection once again appeared on the white wall behind him, this time a video.

In the video, a man dressed in a naval officer’s uniform, who clearly looked to be of high rank, appeared.

Zhang Tianlong, Lin Xiangtian, and others, upon seeing the man, were all taken aback.

"I... I was the first mate on the Dongfang Star. Two years ago... I embarked on a 15-day voyage on the Dongfang Star... But my real task was to cooperate... with the pirates and attack the Dongfang Star... I was the inside man on the ship, I..."

In the video, the first mate’s face was sallow, his eye sockets deep, and he confessed his crimes with a pained expression. He was actually one of the pirates.

The entire audience was in an uproar, unable to believe it.

"Impossible, the first mate is already dead, he..."

Lin Xiangtian pointed at the man in the projection from the second floor, loudly denying it.

"President Lin, don’t be hasty, you thought the first mate was dead, but he was actually faking his death. Do you believe it?"

Zhang Wei had already anticipated that Zhang Tianlong and the others would come out in opposition and immediately retorted.

"That year I was ambushed, so I simply decided to feign death, because it was only by being thought dead by everyone that I could escape..."

The first mate in the video indeed admitted to this, which rendered Lin Xiangtian’s question moot.

"After faking my death, I went abroad, concealed my identity, and planned to start a new life... But I was shot and didn’t dare seek medical help at a hospital, so I had to resort to an underground doctor, ending up with a chronic illness. My health worsened day by day. I know I don’t have long to live, I know I don’t have much time left, I confess here, I should not have... cough cough cough..."

"... I should not have conspired with the pirate Bashalo, I should not have sold my conscience for that money. I truly regret it, regret doing this. I plead guilty, I repent, if heaven could grant me a little more time, I would certainly..."

In the video, the first mate confessed to the camera with tears in his eyes, the sincerity on his face unmistakable.

As the saying goes, a dying man’s words are good; perhaps this was the case.

With a blackout, the video ended.

"You all saw it, the first mate has confessed. He was a direct participant in the attack back then, and in his confession video, he mentioned someone, the pirate leader Bashalo. I wonder if anyone here has heard of him?"

The audience looked at each other, and indeed many involved in maritime trade nodded in understanding.

Pirate Bashalo had been a notorious figure on the high seas these past two years. They not only dominated several important sea routes but also specialized in attacking passing ships, causing deep resentment among many.

But each time the Blue Star Alliance organized fleets to eradicate them, Bashalo’s group seemed to get advance notice, going into hiding in time, making each operation fruitless.

It’s fair to say, this guy was very difficult to deal with, more slippery than an eel.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you might find it strange, why was it so easy to catch the mastermind behind the attack two years ago? He had attacked the Dongfang Star, committing a heinous crime!"

"And yet, when Dragon Country’s special combat unit took action, they apprehended the suspect immediately, who then promptly confessed. The efficiency was simply impeccable, wasn’t it?"

Zhang Wei glanced at the second floor once more, but this time his gaze settled on Zhang Youlin.

Because he was the one in charge of the capture operation.

Zhang Youlin’s international capture operation was "successful"; not only did they catch the pirate leader, but they also got him to confess.

"What if I told you, that pirate never actually attacked the Dongfang Star at all, and the whole thing was a performance directed and staged by some people?"

With this statement, it was like a bomb dropped into calm waters, sending up a huge splash.

"In fact, the mastermind of the attack was the pirate leader Bashalo, and I, Zhang Wei, have found this first mate, who confessed everything before his death!"

Zhang Wei continued, as the projection behind him started up again.

This time, the person who appeared on the camera was no longer the first mate but the pirate Bashalo!

"How is this possible!"

Zhang Tianlong and the others were shocked to see the person in the footage.

The pirate Bashalo, the notorious islander Bashalo, was actually controlled by Zhang Wei?

"Impossible, I contacted him just the other day, he..."

In the projection, Bashalo had already begun speaking.

"I am the pirate leader Bashalo, the real mastermind behind the Dongfang Star attack case, no, I am not really the mastermind. I was also paid to do a job. Mobilizing so many brothers was all to help that person complete their plan."

"That year, after I received the money, I sent my brothers to board the Dongfang Star, and then we kidnapped the entire ship’s crew. Following a list given to me by that person, we carried out targeted killings on board."

"So, in fact, I can only be considered an accomplice, not the mastermind, and I was really just paid to do a job. The actual criminal is someone else!"

Bashalo’s confession suddenly stopped, and then he looked at the camera.

"So tell us, who is the mastermind behind the attack case, are you willing to disclose that?"

Off-camera, someone posed the question.

But Bashalo shook his head: "The mastermind behind that attack operation, of course, I have to tell everyone. However, not now. When I go to Dongfang Capital, I will reveal the truth to all the people of this city!"

"Then what can you tell us?"

"I can say that the mastermind behind the attack case isn’t Zhang Wei. He had nothing to do with the matter, merely happened to board the ship and became the person who was made the scapegoat."

"Mr. Bashalo, we don’t want to know who isn’t the mastermind, we want to know who is. We hope you will cooperate with us!"

"Sorry, but I can’t tell you. I must go to Dongfang Capital before I can fully explain everything!"

The video ended once again, and the last scene of the footage showed Bashalo with a determined gaze.

"This video came from the international investigation department of the Blue Star Alliance. Pirate Bashalo has confessed, and he has told the international investigators some details about the Dongfang Star attack case, one of which is that the pirate caught two years ago was actually a scapegoat. The real culprit is him!"

As soon as these words came out, they echoed throughout the room.

In that case, the pirate caught back then wasn’t the real culprit at all.

Did the special forces team catch the wrong person?

But wasn’t it reported extensively by the media back then that the real culprit had been caught?

So the question arises, how much of the event from two years ago is true?

"Gentlemen, I know that some of you here find it hard to digest these matters, and some of you don’t want the truth to come out. But I’m sorry to say, Bashalo will be extradited by the international investigators next week. When the truth is revealed, whoever the mastermind is behind the scenes will have nowhere to hide!"

With these words, Zhang Tianlong and the others were completely unsettled.

And the others were all surprised, with many people thinking that Zhang Wei must be joking. How could he know the movements of the international investigators?

"How come we didn’t know about this, didn’t hear anything about it?"

Zhang Tianlong took out his phone, intending to call Bashalo, but then he thought better of it and gave up.

Now that Bashalo had been controlled, if he called, it could be discovered and tracked by the international investigators. He would have to try later using an encrypted or disposable number when he got back. That was the only way forward.

"Gentlemen, the attack on the Dongfang Star made me, Zhang Someone, unfairly take the blame. The person behind the scenes is really quite malicious. Although I possess diplomatic immunity and the law enforcement agencies of Dragon Country can’t arrest me, I, Zhang Someone, will not be a soft persimmon for others to squeeze. I’m going to seek justice for myself!"

"After Bashalo discloses the identity of the real culprit, I’m not sure whether the procuratorate of Dragon Country will prosecute him again, but I, Zhang Wei, will initiate a civil lawsuit for the damage to my reputation caused by the person behind the scenes, claiming for defamation!"

After Zhang Wei finished speaking, he looked provocatively towards Zhang Tianlong’s side.

"Let’s go!"

At this moment, Zhang Tianlong also knew that Zhang Wei had indeed declared war on him.

There was no way he could eat this meal then.

After all, with Bashalo caught, how could they be in the mood to eat? They had to think quickly about countermeasures.

Otherwise, once the other party actually arrived in Dongfang Capital and the investigative department had made all their disclosures, wouldn’t they be condemned by everyone?

However, Zhang Tianlong was somewhat puzzled at the moment.

Bashalo was the leader of pirates with hundreds of underlings, and in recent years, he had grown even richer and expanded his forces through the exclusive shipping routes he controlled.

With such a strong force, how could anyone have wiped him out?

Who could have such power?