Chapter 224: Law-Abiding Behavior Is Every Citizen’s Duty

Things moved much faster than expected. According to procedure, from a tip-off to investigation, case filing, and applying for judicial permissions, the process takes time—and it’s unavoidable.

Sometimes, even if the police know someone is guilty, they have to watch helplessly as the suspect escapes or destroys evidence, because everything must follow the process.

This is the free federation—where even criminals enjoy freedom.

But what happened today smelled different.

Gap thought he might still have a chance to fix some problems. He had just left the Liston Building, hadn’t even driven past the street corner when another car lightly collided with his.

In Eminence, this would be common—half the wealthy live there, and the streets are packed with cars, both intimidating and oddly thrilling.

But this was Sabin City. Cars weren’t dense enough for such collisions to be normal.

Gap wasn’t sure if it was his own driving error; his attention was elsewhere, holding the wheel but distracted, unaware of the car merging from the side.

The other party claimed Gap caused the accident and that they were driving normally.

If this had happened 24 hours earlier, Gap wouldn’t have settled quietly like a coward. He wouldn’t have paid a few dozen Sol to fix the car; he would have called the police and let lawyers handle it.

Compared to potential lawyer fees higher than compensation, the other party would have shut up and vanished, leaving Gap with a victorious smile.

But this time, he paid willingly—only to find the other party refused the money and called the police.

Because of the police report, Gap couldn’t leave, fearing worse trouble.

After checking his car and documents, the mounted police claimed his license had issues and took him to the station.

When the backup officers arrived, he realized this wasn’t just about his license—the real reason involved his secretary.

It was a strange experience, one he’d never had before.

His heart raced, blood pressure rose, a hollow whistle filled his head, and focus wavered.

A common fear of state machinery grew inside him and took hold.

When Gap was arrested, Neo immediately learned the details. After cursing, he ordered the chief legal counsel to arrange bail.

At the same time, Neo summoned Gap’s direct superior to his office.

The finance manager carefully closed the door, keeping his head low, afraid to meet Neo’s eyes. But Neo wouldn’t let him off.

“Look up, meet my eyes, and tell me what that woman knows that made the investigation start now!” Neo kept his composure in the first half, but his voice roared by the end.

Of course, Neo would complain about the investigation team’s abuse of power, though it would only pressure them slightly. He understood they were determined to catch Gap.

They wouldn’t let him disappear. They saw Gap as the key man in this case, and that certainty related to the woman.

But his subordinates, including Gap, lied about this, making Neo feel everything was spiraling out of control.

With less than half a month until moving out of Sabin City, all handover procedures almost done, and the chance to start fresh without heavy labor burdens, everything suddenly became dangerous.

An unplanned mistake shattered the company’s and his preparations. He hated this loss of control—it made him feel weak, unable to command his own fate.

The finance manager wiped sweat from his forehead and temples in the cold winter, probably due to overheating indoors, feeling like inside a furnace.

Facing the CEO’s questioning, he didn’t know how to answer.

Neo stared him down, then suddenly sighed, “You don’t have to say anything—it doesn’t matter to me.”

“I’ve cashed out most of my shares. Even if Liston collapses, I don’t care. The ones who’ll suffer are you, the junior accountant, and everyone involved.”

“Before things get out of control, tell me everything—maybe we can still turn this around. But if you just want to hide the secrets already exposed to the police, I’ll watch you and your damn secrets fall into the abyss!”

Neo’s sudden shift terrified the manager even more. If the company—or Neo and the shareholders—gave up, everything these middle managers owned would vanish.

The police would ruthlessly go after them, and they couldn’t resist.

The finance manager immediately confessed. Neo expected minor offenses, like forcing the secretary into sexual acts, but the truth was far worse.

When he heard they even wrote humiliating words on the girl’s thigh—and signed their names—Neo laughed bitterly.

“Who gave them the guts?” Neo couldn’t understand these people—little power, few assets, yet doing this.

He knew about the harassment inside the company but had never intervened or restrained it.

First, those women weren’t exactly innocent—older women don’t attract interest; only the girls catch men’s eyes.

Second, top-down exploitation was a hidden culture in many large companies, not just Liston. People were used to it.

But they shouldn’t have gone too far or neglected handling the aftermath.

After hearing everything, Neo coldly said, “Buy a boat ticket immediately and escape the country before the police come knocking, understand?”

The manager trembled, pained, “Is there no way to fix this?”

Neo ignored the question as if unheard. “Need help?”

The manager shook his head repeatedly, but Neo didn’t let him off.

He called a young male employee without a specific title, assigned him tasks for the next days, and told him to help the manager leave Baylor and flee abroad quickly.

It seemed foolish but was effective and direct.

The investigation team tried to intimidate these people using certain issues, but they made a mistake: they alerted Neo too soon, giving him a chance to respond.

In fact, the investigation team hadn’t secured direct evidence of Liston’s criminal or illegal activities. They only targeted a few individuals inside the company.Who can guarantee all their employees are good people? Liston certainly can’t. As long as these people escape, the case won’t be solved anytime soon, and Liston can proceed with the relocation.

Once they arrive at the new location, local protection policies will kick in again. Even if the investigation team has evidence, they won’t be able to touch Liston.

With local protection, they can drag the investigation on for ten, twenty years, or even indefinitely—until the investigation ends on its own. What he needs to do now is silence some people before the police and investigators act.

Soon, two lawyers of considerable federal reputation appeared at the police station to arrange Gap’s bail.

Gap was temporarily detained on suspicion of forging documents—a minor charge. The lawyers obtained court permission, and the police had no choice but to agree to bail.

At this point, discussing bail money was pointless, but it showed the federal judiciary’s advanced system—everything proceeded orderly and by the book.

Not long after leaving the station, Gap glanced back. The police station, which had terrified him moments ago, now strangely felt safe.

It was the car waiting on the roadside that made his heart race.

“Get in. The CEO is waiting,” one lawyer urged. He glanced at his watch, annoyed the insignificant man had wasted so much time.

Gap looked at the two lawyers, seeing no other expressions on their faces, and nervously got into the car.

Over twenty minutes later, Gap met Neo in the CEO’s office. Before he could speak, Neo raised his hand to stop him.

“Listen carefully,” Neo said after a shared glance. “I’ll arrange for you to leave the federation immediately. You’ll adapt to life abroad quickly. Once this is over and resolved, I’ll arrange for your return. Understand?”

Gap couldn’t help but speak up: “Mr. Neo, the court has issued an order forbidding me from leaving Sabin City. It’s difficult for me to leave here, even harder to leave the federation.”

Neo laughed, a hint of mockery in his voice. “Does the law allow you to humiliate, harm, and enslave those girls?” He spread his hands. “What they forbid you to do, you still did.”

“And now you tell me about legal orders?”