The Favored Heiress
Chapter 711: Li Qiao Defends Her Own

Chapter 711: Chapter 711: Li Qiao Defends Her Own

At that moment, Captain Qin, standing in front of the audience, pointed at the slide and spoke in an official tone, "The serial numbers of all firearms found in Paibo Manor have been categorized and matched. We can confirm that the source of these firearms is the Parma Armament Factory."

Director Ho from the Customs Enforcement, looking at the screen with a smirk, said, "The armament factory, which is subordinate to the Tribal Chief’s Council, and whose weapons are exclusively for use by the Parma Military, how could the Young Master of the Shang Family have possession of the factory’s weapons in his home? Surely they can’t have been stolen."

He was over thirty-five years old, with a square facial structure, exuding a sense of resolute determination, and his uniform made him appear imposing and majestic.

His words drew the attention of everyone present.

Director Ho stroked his thick eyebrows, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he flipped through the dossier, "Why are you looking at me? These past few days, the Customs Enforcement has found quite a bit of evidence of smuggling in the Yan Emperor Subsidiary, not to mention tax evasion and illegal firearms possession. With so many charges combined, to say there’s no one covering for him, gentlemen... do you believe that?"

The others remained silent, each preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Director Ho, backed by the Ho Family, could be considered a legitimate political aristocrat.

His open questioning of the Tribal Chief’s Council may have been because he was privy to some insider information.

Although He Bonan had stepped down for many years, his influence still remained.

Within the Tribal Chief’s Council, there were still many officials whom he had personally appointed to key positions, and besides, Director Ho was He Bonan’s own son and had secured the high-ranking position of Deputy Director of the Customs Enforcement at a young age.

Clutching his laser pointer, Captain Qin looked at Director Ho with a retort, "The Tribal Chief’s Council has always been impartial, and not just anyone can enter the Parma Armament Factory. At the moment, the key is not to question authority but to clarify why Shaoyan has so many firearms in his possession."

At those words, Director Ho fixed his gaze on Captain Qin, the pen in his hand clattering onto the table with a "clack," "Captain Qin, no need to be so cautious, or is it that because the head of the Tribal Chief’s Council is your maternal uncle, you dare not even have doubts?"

Some let out a low chuckle, while others pretended to examine their dossiers, not wanting to get involved in this partisan dispute.

The Ho Family, represented by Director Ho, had always been at loggerheads with Ning Yuanhang, the current Tribal Chief.

Glancing out the window, Captain Qin turned back to face Director Ho with a cool response, "To convict, one must rely on evidence. Both skepticism and questioning must be based on facts. To speculate wildly about a case with unclear details, Director Ho seems inexperienced in handling cases, wouldn’t you say?"

"Of course, I can’t compare to the wealth of experience Captain Qin has," replied Director Ho with a laugh that wasn’t angry, "However, the Customs Enforcement has already found evidence of smuggling by Shaoyan. Has the Criminal Investigation Team found anything other than a house full of illegal military weapons?"

Just as Captain Qin opened his mouth to rebut, someone knocked on the meeting room door, and an officer peeked in, cautiously saying, "Captain Qin, someone from the Shang’s has come, perhaps seeking bail pending investigation."

Director Ho turned his wheelchair towards the door, preempting, "Bail pending investigation? We don’t have such a practice in Parma."

The officer looked troubled, while Captain Qin asked sternly, "Who is it?"

"The Great Elder of the Shang’s, Hu Ying."

Captain Qin nodded, setting down his laser pointer, "Have him wait for me in the reception room."

"Yes, Captain Qin."

Director Ho’s breath hitched, his eyes narrowing as he watched Captain Qin with a sarcastic gaze, "Captain Qin, the special task force isn’t something you can decide on alone."

"Director Ho is right of course, but bail pending investigation is within the police station’s authority. You all discuss amongst yourselves, I’ll be right back."

With a slight smile to Director Ho, Captain Qin swiftly left the meeting room.

...

That afternoon, Shang Yu and Li Qiao were released on bail pending investigation, while Wei Lang chose to stay at the police station, claiming he liked the food in the cafeteria.

Qin Song almost passed out from frustration.

Stepping out of the headquarters, Li Qiao sighed dejectedly. She had been hoping to experience a night in a couple’s cell this evening.

But the meddlesome Great Elder Hu Ying, took the initiative to release them on bail awaiting trial.

It was said that since Shang Zonghai found it inconvenient to show his face, he let Hu Ying handle everything.

After all, being the Great Elder was only a matter of keeping up appearances.

At this moment, Hu Ying was following them closely. When they reached the parking lot, he stopped Li Qiao and spoke with heartfelt sincerity, "Miss Li, I hope you will carefully consider what I told you earlier. There’s not much time left."

Li Qiao, with her back to him, responded coolly, "Hmm."

Hu Ying frowned displeasingly at her back, then seemingly thought of something, a cold light flickered in his eyes.

At the roadside, the bodyguards opened the car door for them. The two got in and headed straight for Paibo Manor.

In the rearview mirror, Hu Ying’s figure shrank gradually. Li Qiao curled her lips, looking at the man beside her, "He wants me to take you back to Myanmar."

Shang Yu, looking down to adjust his cuffs, glanced at her, his dark eyes filled with cold frost.

Seeing this, Li Qiao shrugged, found a familiar spot to lean on him, and remarked, "Normally, this method would work, since you’re not a Parma citizen, you naturally wouldn’t need to face legal sanctions. But if I do it now, you’ll become a fugitive, forever without a foothold in Parma."

Shang Yu curled his thin lips, his features softened slightly, "You don’t like Parma. Whether I can settle there is irrelevant anyway."

"I know," Li Qiao chuckled, intertwining her fingers tightly with his, "but this is a blame you cannot bear."

The amusement in Shang Yu’s eyes deepened, "So sure I’m taking the blame?"

Li Qiao lifted her eyebrows, fiercely protective as she said, "Do you need to smuggle? As for tax evasion... the yearly rights to use the FA001 flight route is worth more than the amount of tax evasion they have in their hands. Elders’ Hall thinks they have a clear calculation, but unfortunately, they don’t understand the extent of your financial power."

Speaking of which, the identity of Young Master of the Shang Family, Shang Shaoyan, is probably the least noteworthy.

Yet the people of the Elders’ Hall can only see within the confines of the Shang family.

Having never seen the ocean, they think a mere pond is the extent of the world.

...

Three days later, the efficiency of the joint investigation was faster than ever, and the evidence held by all parties was believed to be fully sufficient.

Aside from Captain Qin’s hesitation, the Customs Enforcement, Customs Administration, and Security Bureau had already submitted all materials to the Tribal Chief’s Council and proposed a thorough investigation into the leak of equipment from the Parma Armament Factory.

However, in the past few days, due to being out on bail, the activities of Li Qiao and Shang Yu were largely confined to the vicinity of the manor.

While the outside world was in turmoil, they, on the other hand, enjoyed several days of rare leisure time.

At this moment, it wasn’t even nine in the morning. Li Qiao strolled into the living room leisurely, grabbed a can of beer from under the coffee table, opened it with one hand, and spoke into the phone, "At ten-thirty, release all the information."

After that, she ended the call and logged into the stock market page on her phone. The shares of Yan Emperor Group were still falling but had improved a lot from before, thanks to her boosting the closing price consecutively for three days before the market closed.

On the other hand, the Elders’ Hall was also taking the opportunity to arrange an emergency clan meeting to decisively oust Shang Shaoyan from the Shang family’s influence.