Chapter 981: The Final Negotiation

A week later, news of Hai Group stealing user data was all over the media. Several of their social apps were forced to shut down, and the company’s stock hit an all-time low.

Chen Shi had worked tirelessly, gathering a mountain of evidence to bring about this outcome.

This devastating blow was fatal to Hai Guoyang. Overnight, his company was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Creditors were knocking on his door, but Chen Shi felt it was deserved. Users had no idea that a self-proclaimed Human Observer was spying on their private communications.

Today marked the twentieth day of the investigation. Chen Shi arrived at Hai Guoyang’s company, now a ghost town. Employees had either jumped ship or stayed home, with the empty lobby attended only by a janitor still sweeping the floors.

Chen Shi took the elevator straight to the top floor. The CEO’s office was in disarray, papers scattered everywhere. Hai Guoyang, leaning on his desk, was gazing out the window. Hearing footsteps, he didn’t turn around. “Does it make you happy to destroy someone else’s company?”

“You should ask yourself that question. You did this to yourself. You hired an entire team to monitor chat logs around the clock, sifting through useful information for your own gain. Were you running a company or just indulging yourself?”

Hai Guoyang turned, his expression shifting from vicious to mild. His face was pale, clearly from lack of sleep. “Are you here to mock me?”

“I think it’s time we had a serious talk, Human Observer.”

Hai Guoyang walked over to the liquor cabinet, grabbed a bottle, and took a swig straight from it.

Chen Shi’s phone in his pocket was recording. This private meeting was to gather more intel on the Human Observer.

“I’ve dealt with many criminals—they’re cunning, ruthless, and secretive. In comparison, you’re not a competent criminal. You see your actions as noble, not even bothering to hide them. Your downfall is due to your arrogance.”

With a crash, Hai Guoyang smashed the bottle, his face contorted with rage. “Don’t compare me to those criminals! They kill for money, revenge, or base instincts. I trained operatives to reduce crime in Long’an to the lowest levels, protecting more people than the police ever could. Yet you want to stop me, letting Long’an revert to its old ways. You’re short-sighted and stuck in the present, refusing to see the future!”

Chen Shi approached calmly. “Why are you so fixated on this? I’ve looked into your background. Your parents were intellectuals, you received a top-notch education, and your life has been smooth sailing. Why this sudden focus on crime rates?”

Hai Guoyang laughed manically. “You want to find some traumatic reason from my past? Sorry to disappoint, but no criminal killed my family. It’s simple: Long’an is rife with crime. I live here and want it to be better. Song Lang, you’ve solved countless cases, but has the city improved before or after your involvement? You couldn’t do it. I did. You’re jealous!”

“Attempting quick fixes only leads to negative consequences.”

“You’re just resisting change. The Life Function is infallible, and I’ve proven that to you.”

“Yes, at first I didn’t believe it, but now I do. It’s incredible! The Life Function isn’t the problem—you are!”

“Me?” Hai Guoyang’s eyes widened.

“Yes, you. You seek a quick and brutal way to reduce crime, a one-size-fits-all solution. History is full of people with grand ideals like yours. They held noble visions of paradise but ended up creating hell. Humanity is complex, and there is no quick fix for its problems. Change must be gradual, one step back for two steps forward. Overpopulation? Snap your fingers and wipe out half of humanity. Men cheat? Make infidelity punishable by death. These draconian methods sound appealing but eliminate the potential for individuals to change. Even those you deem irredeemable might have turned their lives around if given a chance. You never gave them that opportunity.

“What’s more frightening is this one-size-fits-all solution is in your hands. Even if you were a saint, people would fear you. It took humanity centuries to build laws and systems that, while imperfect, can be improved. Millions are protected by them. Who are you to think you know better? When one person holds the power of life and death, it becomes a weapon that endangers everyone. The threat of punishment by law already serves as a deterrent when someone contemplates a crime. But you see people as apes, acting purely on instinct, culling the bad ones. Violence begets violence; killing is never justified.”

Hai Guoyang, breathing heavily, glared at Chen Shi. “You can talk all you want, but I’m the Human Observer. I’m objective and impartial, while you just set up crime scenes, investigate bodies, and solve cases if you’re lucky. Otherwise, the criminal roams free! You’re trying to justify the law to me, but remember, you enforce it through violence! The essence of law and order is violence. My methods are not wrong. Once people accept them, they’ll become as accepted as law and common sense, creating a crime-free utopia!”

Chen Shi shook his head. “You can’t achieve that.”

“I can!!!” Hai Guoyang shouted, his pride wounded.

Chen Shi sighed and walked a few steps before turning back. “I came alone today to negotiate. We don’t have concrete evidence of your crimes or a list of your operatives. Lu Dahai is dead, and the copycat is in custody. The immediate threat is neutralized. As long as you cease any criminal activity, we can’t pursue further investigation. The task force will disband, and you’ll avoid legal repercussions. Without evidence, we can’t prosecute. That’s the fairness of the law, even if everyone knows the truth.”

Hai Guoyang spread his hands. “Escape unscathed? In this mess?”

“Your company deserves to go bankrupt for invading privacy. You can continue being the Human Observer as long as you don’t push people onto the road. We can coexist.”

Hai Guoyang laughed, “Forget it! I’ll order all my operatives to activate immediately!”