Chapter 50:
"He's starting to panic..." Somewhere unseen by the group, someone was observing the situation inside the room. The moment Lin Qi entered the room, Mr. Fox's eyes showed evident signs of panic. Their plan was working.
Most criminals, when caught alone, wouldn't tend to be excessively afraid. They would choose what to confess, divert attention, or shift blame onto others to mitigate their own guilt.
However, when two or more accomplices were apprehended, an uncontrollable panic would spread among them. They would start considering whether others have confessed, what they confessed, how they confessed, and if it aligns with their own statements or thoughts.
In such circumstances, two scenarios would arise. The first would be complete silence, a rarity seen maybe once in three to five years. The other scenario would involve excessive talking, where there would be nothing left to hide, and they would spill everything.
The Financial Crime Investigation Division was just a small department, but it was, after all, an agency under the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Dealing with various criminals every day, they knew how to exert pressure on suspects and also knew how to obtain what they wanted.
As Lin Qi entered the room, he saw Mr. Fox attempting to stand but refraining from doing so. The situation was delicate. After giving the other a reassuring glance, Lin Qi calmly sat on the sofa.
His composed demeanor calmed Mr. Fox down. Some thoughts that hadn't occurred to him before started surfacingsuch as Lin Qi's instructions, strictly not accepting any change from others.
Lin Qi might have foreseen this. He had made preparations. With this thought, Mr. Fox, who had been tensed, began to relax, both in expression and physically.
The expert in the room frowned, observing Mr. Fox's changes. Although unclear why Lin Qi's presence didn't increase Mr. Fox's stress but rather relaxed him, it was evidently not a good sign.
He immediately instructed the members of the task force in the room to proceed without waiting for the lawyer. Simultaneously, a somewhat unbelievable assumption formed in the expert's mind: in this whole case, the true mastermind wasn't Mr. Fox, the old fox, but the seemingly unremarkable young man, Lin Qi.
Thus, a sense of impending disaster brewed within him. Mistakenly identifying the primary and secondary targets, and employing different strategies, the outcome would inevitably be unpredictable.
It was akin to torturing a soldier that wouldn't shake a kingdom. Misidentifying priorities meant they couldn't apprehend the pivotal figures!
The task force member in the office was taken aback for a moment. Clearing his throat, he glanced at Lin Qi and spoke, "You Mr. Lin Qi has just arrived and may not be aware of why we've invited you all here..."
As he spoke, Mr. Fox suddenly interjected, "Until the lawyer arrives, we refuse to answer any questions!"
The agent who was initially a bit casual sneered, pointing rudely at Mr. Fox, and retorted, "You can shut up. I wasn't talking to you!" After a brief stare-down, he turned to Lin Qi. "We've received a tip-off alleging that you've been involved in criminal activities such as money laundering through a laundry shop. Do you admit to it?"
This question seemed like child's play. Asking someone to admit to a crime - how could a real criminal possibly confess?
Well, truth be told, the agent thought Lin Qi seemed young and thought he'd take a chance to bluff a bit. No harm in trying, right? But what if it actually worked? Thing was, there were a bunch of recording devices and cameras in the room. No matter what face he put on, even a smirk hinting at something, or just a playful nod, they could all be used as evidence.
Evidence relied on objective facts. No matter what Lin Qi thought internally, if he admitted or made any action implying admission, the court would consider it a confession.
This tactic was highly effective against young people. Their desire and impulse to challenge authority due to their young age could lead them into trouble if unchecked.
In the agent's expectations, Lin Qi's expression and actions seemed deliberate. He initially furrowed his brow, then looked thoroughly confused, as if saying, "What a load of crap."
Of course, Lin Qi was a well-educated young man. He wouldn't be so rude. After a few seconds, as if following a script, he continued, "Where's the evidence?" He spoke, leaning back, allowing his back to rest against the sofa's backrest, slightly spreading his hands. "Though I don't have a lawyer, I still know that any accusation requires evidence, including questioning and interrogation..." He glanced at Mr. Fox, and after a brief eye contact, Mr. Fox stood up.
Lin Qi nodded slightly, tilting his head, watching Mr. Fox's next move as if enjoying a show.
"If Mr. Lin Qi hadn't reminded me, I would've forgotten. You've forcibly detained me here. Do you have a summons? Do you have an arrest warrant?" Mr. Fox immediately protested.
From a judicial process perspective, whether it was the Bureau of Investigation or the Tax Bureau, appropriate authorizations were necessary for enforcement actions. For instance, the Bureau of Investigation needed summonses to question individuals or arrest warrants to apprehend someone.
Even the Federal Bureau of Investigation needed to present legal justifications; otherwise, the entire process would be illegitimate.
The young agent's eyelid twitched. Unexpected things began unfolding. In less than three minutes since Lin Qi's arrival, the situation had started slipping out of control. This made the young agent feel a bit anxious.
In another room, another expert immediately contacted the agent via microphone, "Tell them we've apprehended them at the scene. According to Baylor Federation Act No. 43, enforcement during the commission of a crime can delay the application for relevant legal documents..."
Inside the room, the young agent reiterated in a steady tone, "According to Baylor Federation Act No. 43..."
Before he could finish, Lin Qi, with a half-smile, asked, "So, you don't have any evidence to prove that Mr. Fox and I are involved in illegal activities?"
This question implied that if there were evidence, they wouldn't be having a conversation here; they would've been apprehended earlier.
The young agent pursed his lips, taking about ten seconds before responding, "We've been tracking money laundering activities in Sabin City and noticed your involvement. We possess legal documents proving our actions are lawful, and this money is evidence of your crime!"
It seemed the Bureau of Investigation didn't intend to continue playing word games with Lin Qi and Mr. Fox. The expressions of everyone in the room were somewhat... grim. They all understood that due to the misunderstanding of the relationship between Mr. Fox and Lin Qi, this operation might face unexpected twists or even failure.
The only hope now lay in this money. If they could confirm Lin Qi's involvement in laundering money for Mr. Fox, even if the entire procedure was legitimate, it would incriminate them.
Sometimes, just because the law doesn't prohibit certain actions doesn't mean they're inherently legal. Even if legal, due to procedural issues, they might still be illegal, like the difference between bribery and donations.
The determination depended on procedures. As long as the judge was willing to accept the Investigation Bureau's perspective and nail Mr. Fox for laundering money through the laundry shop, then Lin Qi, who supplied the change, would be deemed an accomplice. This was their initial idea.
Mr. Fox's complexion didn't improve. "My lawyer hasn't arrived yet..."
However, Lin Qi raised his hand to interrupt him. "Let them present it." Lin Qi's statement made Mr. Fox forego his demands, further convincing the Investigation Bureau expert that Lin Qi was the true orchestrator.
The young agent stared at Lin Qi for a while before nodding slightly. "We shall wait and see!"
Soon, an employee brought in a handheld ultraviolet lamp. The agent held it and ordered the employee to draw the curtains and turn off the lights in the room. "We've marked this money. You can't escape!" He stated it firmly.
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