Chapter 163: Chapter 59: His name is Xu Mo, my student
Ming Group.
These past few days had been fraught with anxiety for Ming Hui, as a formidable power was gathering historical data and criminal records on the Ming Group.
He knew the academy had mobilized its resources.
The Ming Group stood no chance against the academy.
But the outcome of that day’s events seemed to have been predetermined.
All they could do was make a desperate move, cooperating with the company, switching from defense to offense.
If the academy faced difficulties, it wouldn’t dare to deal with the Ming Group openly, for that would be seen as retaliation.
Unless the academy could reverse public opinion.
All surveillance in the bar had been destroyed, and the assassins were dead.
He had been waiting for the academy’s counterstrike, which hadn’t come even after several days, and this made him uneasy.
The communicator vibrated, and Ming Hui answered it.
“The academy has announced that it will accept media interviews, with a city-wide live broadcast,” came the message through the communicator.
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Ming Hui paused, then said in a low voice, “Understood.”
After putting down the communicator, his unease intensified.
The academy had been silent for days, enduring public slander without any retaliation.
Today, there would be a city-wide live broadcast.
He had a foreboding feeling.
At the same time, media outlets throughout Steel Dome City were also shaken.
Countless media professionals rushed towards Noah Academy, all eager for first-hand information.
The citizens of Steel Dome City quickly received the news as well.
Suddenly, there was a storm throughout the city.
Everyone was waiting for the academy’s statement.
Outside Noah Academy, the crowd was massive, as countless people surged towards the academy.
Even within the academy itself, there was ferment.
Over the past few days, the students of Noah Academy had been equally puzzled, awaiting news.
Had the moment finally arrived?
What would the outcome be?
Everyone was nervous.
They were somewhat afraid the academy wouldn’t be able to satisfy the public with its response.
Three days had passed since the incident, and even if the academy were to hand over the culprit now, it likely wouldn’t be enough to stem the tide of public censure.
In the central square of Noah Academy.
Crowds surrounded on all sides, with many media reporters in place, and civilians who had come as well.
Around them, and atop the distant buildings, students gathered, all focused on the central square.
The impact of this incident on Noah Academy was profound.
They all wanted to see the outcome.
On the streets of Steel Dome City, countless citizens looked up at the screens on the buildings.
At that moment, every screen displayed the same scene.
The scene from Noah Academy.
They could feel the tension within Noah Academy.
On Triumph Street, it was even more crowded.
The shops on the street were empty, as even the staff had come out.
Looking up at the big screens, they were waiting.
Outside of Noah Academy, students from other Extraordinary Academies gathered together, looking up at the screens on their academy’s buildings.
They, too, were waiting.
Meanwhile, many elite figures from politics, business, and other sectors turned on their electronic devices at home.
The city-wide live broadcast.
An earthquake in Steel Dome City.
It had been many years since an event in Steel Dome City had attracted so much attention.
A flying device landed in the parking lot of Noah Academy.
Uncle Sun stepped out from inside.
He could have watched from home, but he wanted to see the scene for himself.
Uncle Sun had a hunch.
Something big was going to happen today!
Old Dean Lin Qingze had kept his mouth shut, giving no indication of what was to come, so Uncle Sun had to come and see for himself.
He moved to the central square.
Uncle Sun was a bit disgruntled.
There were too many people.
He squeezed his portly body through the crowd, pushing his way to a spot near the front.
People were maintaining order.
“Dad, what are you doing here?” Sun Xiaoxiao called out, spotting Uncle Sun in the crowd.
“Xiao Xiao,” Uncle Sun approached Sun Xiaoxiao and started to speak, “How have you been these days?”
“Fine, Dean Lin gave me leave to rest, and I’ve been careful not to speak out of turn. I’m being obedient,” replied Sun Xiaoxiao.
“Good,” Uncle Sun nodded.
“Uncle Sun,” Xiao Qi popped his head out from beside Xiao Xiao.
“Xiao Qi, isn’t it?” Uncle Sun asked.
“Yes, Uncle Sun has a great memory,” responded Xiao Qi.
“You’re such a lively kid, it would be hard to forget you,” Uncle Sun said, patting Xiao Qi’s shoulder with a slap that nearly knocked him over.
Ah, Uncle Sun was always so casual with his own family, never quite aware of his own strength.
“Uncle Sun.”
Su Rou, Benjamin, and a few others were there, as well as the recovered Lin Xi.
As the people involved, they naturally had to be there.
The camera lingered on them for a while, clearly recognizing them as the participants from the event that night.
But they didn’t seem to care, continuing to chat among themselves.
“Teacher Lin Xi, are your injuries okay?” Uncle Sun inquired.
“I’m fine now, Uncle Sun. You don’t have to be so formal, just call me Lin Xi,” said Lin Xi. He was younger and thus a junior, addressing Uncle Sun respectfully.
“Alright, from now on, we are all one of us,” nodded Uncle Sun.
Although the incident hadn’t had a good impact, Uncle Sun had seen a positive side.
Their relationship had grown closer immediately.
He knew well enough that money, although useful, couldn’t buy affection.
Only by sharing hardships and facing dangers together, and standing united, could relationships truly deepen.
And to think media alone could move the academy?
That was wishful thinking.
This time, he was looking forward to watching the drama unfold.
His gaze shifted as if searching for Xu Mo’s figure, but he didn’t see him.
Li Man and Jiang Tong were also in the crowd, spotting Sun Xiaoxiao and Benjamin’s group.
Li Man’s gaze was somewhat complex.
Everyone could see her feelings for Benjamin, but after that day, it was as if everything had changed.
Between them and the group inclusive of Sun Xiaoxiao and Benjamin, an irreparable rift had formed.
She didn’t understand what had caused it.
Was it because of Xu Mo?
How would this incident end up?
Would Xu Mo be sent away by the academy?
She, for one, hoped so.
Jiang Tong of course felt the same, his looks at Sun Xiaoxiao had even turned sour.
That foolish woman.
Time ticked away.
Everyone was waiting.
Finally, Lin Qingze approached from a distance, and the crowd automatically parted to create a path.
There was a stir among the surrounding crowd.
Under everyone’s gaze, Lin Qingze ascended to the platform in the central plaza.
In an instant, all media focused on Lin Qingze.
“Dean Lin, with Noah Academy’s response this time, are you prepared to hand over the murderer?” a reporter began, “I see that the participants at the time are standing right by your side, has Noah Academy not taken any disciplinary action against them?”
Lin Qingze glanced at that reporter and said, “Get out.”
Someone stepped forward and dragged the reporter out by the arm.
“Dean Lin, are you afraid to respond directly…” the reporter kept shouting, only to be silenced by a karate chop to the neck.
The people around instantly fell silent.
This was a live broadcast for the entire city.
Noah Academy was bold indeed.
“I hope that everyone present will not take a strong personal stance, and avoid subjecting Noah Academy to public trial without first understanding the true nature of the incident,” he continued. “These past few days, many media outlets deliberately used this to attract attention, and Noah Academy has taken note of all of them.”
Many reporters trembled.
Did Noah Academy really have the confidence to turn the tide of public opinion?
“Behind me are the causes of the incident collected by the academy over the past few days. Take a look for yourselves,” said Lin Qingze, pointing behind him.
There stood a towering steel building, and on it, a massive screen.
At that moment, the screen lit up.
The screen played a video, which had been filmed by someone.
The complete gunfight that took place outside the Black Night Voice Bar.
The video was shaky throughout, the person filming must have been an eyewitness.
Through the video, it was possible to see four fierce killers going directly for the kill.
And three innocent people were murdered.
One of Xu Mo’s companions fought desperately, killing one assailant, but got hit and was critically injured.
All four killers were killed.
Then, footage of a sports car driving away followed.
Someone recognized it as Ming Yu’s car.
So, was this the cause of the incident?
The footage switched, showing scenes inside the bar with many gene-enhanced killers cornering and attacking Xu Mo and his companions.
Next were photos of Ming Yu and his group entering the bar with a bunch of women, among whom two were evidently forced in.
Following that were several videos, with female victims accusing Ming Yu.
Steel Dome City was in an uproar.
The citizens felt they might have been misled by public opinion.
Ming Yu was scum.
“Are these all real? If Noah Academy had this information, why the delay in making it public?” a reporter challenged.
Lin Qingze gave the person a cold glance.
His gaze shifted to the crowd as he continued, “According to Noah Academy’s investigation, the Black Night Voice Bar has shares owned by Ming Group, and Zebei Security Branch has been in close contact with Ming Group. For the protection of our students, Noah Academy brought them back to the academy.”
“So, Noah Academy obstructed the Security Bureau’s law enforcement and forcefully took away the culprits, is it true?” another reporter asked sharply, “Was it an order given by you, Dean Lin?”
“It was me.”
A voice came through the crowd.
People made way, revealing a path.
Under countless watchful eyes, an elder made his way onto the platform.
Lin Qingze stepped aside to make room, standing off to one side.
The elder looked quite ordinary, and indeed, many people didn’t recognize him.
But many citizens of Steel Dome City felt their hearts pounding.
Some recognized the elder’s identity.
How many years had it been since he had made a public appearance?
And today, he had come out.
“I am Tan Taiming,” the elder spoke, and in that instant, the entire Steel Dome City seemed to hush.
The Dean of Noah Academy.
The God of War Tantai.
The Mechanical King.
Even those who had never seen him had heard his legendary name.
A heroic figure who had once fought for Steel Dome City in a time of crisis.
On the streets of Steel Dome City, countless people looked up at the elder, who had not appeared in many years.
To think they had put even an elder under pressure to come forward.
Under their gaze, the elder bowed his head to the public.
“For the incident that occurred a few days ago, which led to widespread dissatisfaction with Noah Academy, I offer an apology on behalf of Noah Academy,” he said, and as the citizens of Steel Dome City saw the elder bowing, a sense of melancholy filled their hearts.
They had made a hero bow.
Because a student from Noah Academy had killed a miscreant, a hero who once saved Steel Dome City had to apologize in front of all its citizens.
Filled with self-reproach, countless people cursed themselves inwardly.
Especially after seeing what Ming Yu had done.
The people of Steel Dome City bowed their heads, feeling unworthy of the elder.
They were accomplices of the media.
Noah Academy too was silent, with everyone lost in complex emotions.
“Come up here,” the elder called, turning his head.
Xu Mo stepped onto the platform, standing by the elder’s side.
All recognized him as the ‘murderer’ Noah Academy refused to turn over.
But was he truly a reprehensible murderer?
After viewing the previous evidence, everyone believed that Ming Yu deserved his fate.
Because of such a miscreant, the Old Dean, who ought to have been enjoying his twilight years in peace, had to bow in apology before the entire city.
What a sorrowful scene.
“You have seen the video just now, and now I will submit him to the public’s open judgment,” said the elder, looking out at the crowd, “If the students are at fault, it’s the teacher’s error. If the public still deems him guilty, I will resign from the position of Dean of Noah Academy and withdraw from public life.”
Hearts pounded fiercely among the people.
The elder rested his hand on Xu Mo’s shoulder and said, “His name is Xu Mo.”
“My student!”