Final Chapter
"Jesse, are you aware that what you are about to say will be the basis of your judgment, and that you will be responsible for the truthfulness of those words?"
Cool white LED light strips extend from the ceiling to the wall. Jesse sits in a chair covered in magnetic sheets. A curved screen embedded under the transparent acrylic tabletop displays various curves in real time.
Jesse looked up and stared directly at the hidden camera in the corner: "Clear."
"Are you and Milo close friends?"
“Yes,” Jesse replied calmly.
"You quit your job that could have led to a promotion for him, and since coming to Wanyang, you've been closely monitoring his activities?"
"yes."
"Did you use your father's authority to interfere in this investigation against Milo?"
Jesse remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Yes."
"Are you sure that Milo has always planned to kill Miles?"
Jesse slowly raised his eyes: "I've already said it, Miles committed suicide. The shooting distance, the trajectory of the bullet, and the muzzle characteristics all prove that there is a 60% chance that Miles died by suicide."
"That means there's still a 40% chance it was homicide. Were both bodies on the cruise ship suicides? You should know what the consequences are for a police officer who gives false testimony."
“I know better than anyone else.” Jesse looked calmly at the camera. “Can’t your all-powerful lie detector officer tell whether I’m lying or not?”
A faint light appeared on the opposite wall, and Ji Xuan, a special inspector from the Skynet Operations Bureau, and his deputy observed the people behind the one-way glass.
Is he telling the truth?
Ji Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly: "It's the truth."
"But how could Miles have committed suicide? All the psychological profiling and investigative analysis prove that his profile does not match the appearance of a suicidal person at all, while Milo's profile is almost a perfect match for the killer. In addition, given the circumstances and the timing, the conclusion of suicide is far too far-fetched."
Ji Xuan lowered his eyes slightly and said, "The profile says that Miles is an extremely rational person, so there is a possibility. In that situation, suicide was the best solution after weighing the gains and losses."
"What's the meaning?"
“What I mean is, even if Miles hadn’t committed suicide, Milo would have definitely shot him. He just seized the initiative before Milo could make a decision. That way, his death would be a thorn in Milo’s heart, and that way, his death would be more valuable.” Ji Xuan calmly shifted his gaze. “Perhaps my view is very heartless. Of course, there’s also a cliché possibility that Miles really regretted it and wanted to atone for his sins with his death.”
"So, we're just going to let Milo go like that?"
Ji Xuan turned around: "Strictly speaking, there is no such person as Milo in this world. He is Theo Green, the heir of the Mist Forest Medical Association, and the president of Green Contract Company. His net worth is there. Without solid evidence, no one can catch him, let alone you and me. Besides, he has already been released and is no longer in the country."
Do you know where he is?
Ji Xuan glanced at Jesse behind the glass partition: "Where else could he be?"
*
Tengbang Gangu, International Press Center.
The crystal chandelier illuminated the spacious banquet hall, and cameras focused on the podium. Nonay Akayara, dressed in a well-tailored white suit, wore a perfectly appropriate smile.
Facing a pointed question from a renowned international journalist, Nonae's clear and steady voice resonated throughout the room via microphone: "Regarding the so-called controversy of the past few days, I believe it is the result of a combination of information asymmetry and market sentiment fluctuations. Gan Valley has always adhered to the principles of transparency and compliance in its operations and has maintained a constructive cooperative relationship with the Tengbang government. As for the decline in General Zowin's approval rating, we also express our regret, but we firmly believe that this is part of Tengbang's democratic process. We respect the choice of every voter and believe that the people of Tengbang are capable of making decisions that are in the long-term interests of the country."
The press conference moved into the Q&A session, and the atmosphere became slightly noisy. Nonae politely gestured for a short break and gracefully turned to walk towards the backstage corridor.
The heavy curtain blocked out the noise in front, and the light dimmed instantly, revealing Jesse's figure from the shadows.
“Officer Jesse?” Nona stopped, his formulaic smile fading. “The police from Lanman come to this kind of boring press conference with the media?”
Jesse took a sealed, unmarked manila envelope from his briefcase and handed it over: "All the paperwork for restoring Theo Green's original identity is in here. It's clean, compliant, and can withstand any inspection."
Nonai took the file bag, its weight causing her eyes to flicker slightly. She nodded solemnly, without asking a single question: "I will personally deliver it to him."
A brief silence hung in the shadows backstage, the distant clamor of the press conference seeming like another world. Nonai looked at Jesse, as if trying to read something from his face: "He just arrived in Gan Valley today. Shall we meet him?"
Jesse's Adam's apple bobbed. The devastating explosion at sea flashed through his mind, Milo's madness in risking his life to kidnap Miles, and finally, on the beach, Milo's frantic screams at the rescuers while cradling the blood-soaked Blaise. That was a Milo he'd never seen before. Before that, he'd always thought Milo was a frighteningly emotionally stable person; it turned out, it was just the object of his emotions…
Finally, Jesse slowly shook his head, his eyes returning to calm: "No need, just deliver the goods and wish him well for me."
Nona looked in the direction where Jesse had disappeared, her gaze lingering for a complicated moment before she quickly composed herself and carefully put the file folder into her briefcase.
As the press conference drew to a close, several representatives from multinational corporations, dressed in suits, immediately surrounded him, their faces beaming with warm smiles.
“Your speech was excellent!” The speaker was a businessman with gray hair and shrewd eyes. “Regarding the patents for those new environmentally friendly materials used in the Aplin reconstruction project in the Gangu region that we discussed earlier… now the ownership of these materials is clearly under the name of the Natawa Group, right? After all, Mr. Sigon’s health… now, only…” He deliberately left his sentence unfinished.
Following the massive explosion and fire, Blaise Natawa's fate remained unknown, and personnel changes within the Gan Valley were rapid. No one expected that an unknown young woman would take the lead. Strangely, this young woman managed to pull the precarious Gan Valley back to a delicate neutral stance within three months. It's absolutely impossible that no one was secretly supporting her behind the scenes.
The others echoed this sentiment, their eyes fixed intently on Nona, eager to hear from her whether Blaise was alive or dead.
Nonai's smile remained unchanged: "The legal ownership of all intellectual property of the Natawa Group, including the patents applied to the Gan Valley project, has always been clear and unambiguous, and has never changed. The Group is currently operated efficiently by management authorized by the board of directors, and all business operations, including our cooperation intentions with you, are progressing steadily in accordance with laws and regulations. As for Mr. Blaise, whether he is here or not, this will not change." She paused slightly, "As for the specific details of this cooperation, we can arrange for a professional legal and business team to discuss them with you later."
A light drizzle was falling outside the window.
"It's raining again. It always seems to rain at this time of year." Nonai smiled slightly. "Gentlemen, the buffet area after the reception has prepared some specialties from Jiangxi. Why don't you move over and enjoy them while we chat?"
*
In the heart of the Gan Valley, a light drizzle falls.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of plant sap and a faint smell of burning. Three months ago, a devastating warehouse fire turned this area almost into a wasteland. Although it has been rebuilt, only a few patches of green have returned to the dark blue-green soil.
Milo stood on the edge of a fire wreckage site that had been deliberately preserved and had not yet undergone extensive cleanup. Beneath an ancient tree that had survived with careful tending lay a handful of fresh, dew-kissed wildflowers. Tree burial allows one to entrust their grief to the ever-renewing nature and let their soul return to the embrace of the forest.
The mist from Aplin soaked through his suit as Milo crouched down and used his sleeve to wipe the fresh moss from the tombstone's inscription.
Richard Green and Frieda Green, these two names are written side by side.
Even though he knew there was no one lying under the tree, looking at the scene before him, Milo felt that his heart could finally calm down.
Footsteps, neither too light nor too heavy, approached, and the scent of incense arrived before the person. Soon, a large black umbrella blocked his view, and a hand covered with calluses from gunshots covered Milo's palm, then naturally stroked his knuckle nails.
This guy seems to have taken to doing this a lot lately; it's almost become a habit.
Milo thought to himself, but did not resist. Instead, he gently bent his fingers and squeezed back.
A small, yellow and white mongrel nuzzled affectionately against Milo's ankle. Milo was slightly surprised, half-squatting down to pick it up. It was tiny, with drooping ears and soft, dense fur. He had almost forgotten what that feeling was like.
After quitting smoking and drinking and receiving regular treatment, he gradually became able to interact closely with animals and has begun to try to have a pet of his own.
“Although Nonai is in charge now, you still have to work for Gan Gu. But actually, you didn’t want to leave, did you? Now that things have come to this point, Gan Gu is a responsibility you can’t shirk.” As he spoke, Milo seemed to have thought of something. “Although Jesse restored my identity, I still plan to stay in Frostraven for a while. After spending time with Old Ruan and taking care of things at headquarters, I will return to Lanman.”
Before he could reply, Milo continued, "If I had known, I wouldn't have given you the villa on White Sand Island. It's just a waste to leave it there. Maybe I'll go back there someday. Anyway, Wanyang's company needs to be dealt with."
The person holding his hand turned his palm outward from his temple, and then his palm faced down.
Milo understood the sign language gesture. He looked away, his words contradicting his true feelings, and his tone carried a hint of disdain: "How did you know about something I just decided on?"
But as soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them.
Language is the most beautiful invention in the world. Sign language doesn't convey tone, so signers need to express themselves with much more emotion to convey the meaning accurately. If even mute people strive to express themselves accurately, then those who can speak should certainly not be ambiguous.
He seems to have forgotten such a simple principle as speaking his mind since he turned eighteen.
Life is short; the past is gone, and the future is yet to come. He should cherish every moment.
Milo stroked the puppy's head, pursed his lips slightly, and spoke after a long while: "Then do you know, I actually love you very much too?"
His response was still the same sign language gesture.
"I know."
—The End—
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