A madman in France? How come he's always at crime scenes!

Chapter 26 Legal Advisor to the Criminal Investigation Team?

"Does he want Jiang Cuilan's test results?"

Zhao Anmin placed the teacup on the table with a muffled thud.

Fang Lue stood in front of his desk, his back ramrod straight.

"...Attorney Wu said that if we follow the normal application process, all we need to do is get your signature—"

"He's dreaming."

Zhao Anmin interrupted decisively, picked up his teacup and took another sip.

"Team Leader Zhao," Fang Lue took half a step forward and lowered his voice, "I think Attorney Wu, although he's a bit sharp-tongued, is indeed very capable—"

"Strategy".

Zhao Anmin put down his teacup and leaned back in his chair.

"How long have you known Wu Liang?"

Fang Lue calculated: "...about a month."

"One month." Zhao Anmin nodded. "How many times has he been to the criminal investigation team in this month?"

Fang Lue started counting on his fingers.

"The first time was when they took my statement, the second time was before they arrested Ni Dayong, the third time..."

"Alright, alright." Zhao Anmin raised his hand to stop him, his expression showing a pained look. "If you keep counting, I'll start to wonder if he's an unofficial member of our team."

"Team Leader Zhao, I think Xiao Fang is right too."

Sun Jin's voice came from the doorway.

He had just returned from outside, and he hadn't even taken off his police uniform yet.

"You've seen the situation with Shen Xuejun too. That old fox was all polite words, but he didn't actually reveal any information."

Zhao Anmin didn't respond, but gestured for him to continue.

"But this confirms everything Wu Liang said that day: Jiang Cuilan's abduction is no simple matter."

Sun Jin moved a chair and sat down.

"Moreover, look at the case of Ni Dayong; he was the one who first pointed out many of the clues."

"So?" Zhao Anmin raised an eyebrow.

"So I think it's a waste to leave someone like that out there."

Fang Lue's eyes lit up, and he quickly chimed in, "Captain Sun is right! If Attorney Wu could help us—"

"Help us?" Zhao Anmin scoffed. "Do you think this guy's motives are simple? Have you ever seen a lawyer who's constantly running to the police station?"

The strategy has lost its luster.

Sun Jin chuckled:

"Captain Zhao, I have a way to test Wu Liang."

"What?"

"Get him the title of legal advisor." Sun Jin took out a cigarette case from his pocket and calmly lit a cigarette.

"Go through the proper procedures and sign an agreement. This way, if he gets involved in a case again, there will be rules to follow. Secondly, he will also have to abide by the confidentiality obligation and will not use internal information to handle private cases."

Hearing this, Zhao Anmin looked puzzled.

"Isn't he representing Ni Dayong in his case? The procedures don't seem to be right."

"That's more like it," Sun Jin laughed. "Old Zhao, think about it, what's the motivation behind a lawyer being this dedicated to a case?"

"You mean?"

After a moment's thought, Zhao Anmin understood what Sun Jin meant.

"What if it's not what you think?"

Sun Jin exhaled a puff of smoke.

"That means this guy is indeed a trustworthy person. With someone like that, we can be more flexible in our cooperation methods."

Fang Lue raised his head, not understanding what the two captains were talking about.

Zhao Anmin reached out and picked up the landline phone on the table.

"Connect me to Yuanda Law Firm."

……

"Hello, who is this?"

"Zhao Anmin".

Wu Liang raised an eyebrow and switched the microphone to the other ear.

"Hey, Captain Zhao. You called personally, is it because the commendation has been approved or the evaluation report has been signed?"

Zhao Anmin ignored Wu Liang's nonsensical tone and spoke concisely.

"The Criminal Investigation Brigade of Chuanhe District plans to hire external legal experts to provide consultation services. After discussion at the brigade meeting, Yuanda Law Firm was selected as a candidate. They will come for an interview tomorrow."

After saying that, he hung up.

Wu Liang held the microphone, listening to the dial tone, and for a moment he couldn't figure out what Zhao Anmin was up to.

Zhang Jiajing approached with a long face: "Boss, another order? Shouldn't you hire another one...?"

"No." Wu Liang hung up the phone, crossed his legs, and said, "It was the criminal investigation team calling."

"what?"

"They want to hire me as their legal counsel."

Zhang Jiajing's eyes widened.

"The criminal investigation team? Didn't you say they almost kicked you out?"

Wu Liang shrugged.

"Haven't you heard of the 'law of true fragrance'?"

At nine o'clock the next morning, Wu Liang appeared on time at the entrance of the Criminal Investigation Brigade of Chuanhe District.

He wore a new shirt today, the collar was neatly pressed, adding to his air of a legal elite.

Fang Lue was waiting at the door and came up to greet him as soon as he saw him.

"Attorney Wu! Team Leader Zhao is waiting for you in the conference room."

"Officer Fang, you look good." Wu Liang said, looking him over as they walked. "Any progress on Shen Xuejun's side?"

Fang Lue was about to speak when he suddenly remembered something and swallowed his words back.

"Well... Captain Zhao will tell you later."

Wu Liang glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions.

The conference room door opened, and Zhao Anmin sat in the main seat, with Sun Jin sitting next to him. Two documents were placed on the table.

The atmosphere was made quite formal.

Wu Liang sat down opposite him.

"Captain Zhao, with this entourage, anyone who didn't know better would think I'm here to apply for a job as an auxiliary police officer."

Zhao Anmin ignored the question and instead pushed a document over to him.

Please take a look at the "Expert Consultation Cooperation Agreement".

Wu Liang picked up the document and flipped through it page by page.

The agreement was short, but the terms were quite attractive.

"Consultation fee is 1500 per day?"

Wu Liang was somewhat surprised and glanced at the light bulb that was about to fall from the ceiling of the conference room.

"Ahem, Attorney Wu, don't worry, we will apply for a special talent subsidy for you."

Zhao Anmin was a little embarrassed.

Wu Liang hadn't expected Zhao Anmin to offer such a high reward. In addition to the consultation fee, Zhao would also provide Yuanda Law Firm with the title of "Criminal Investigation Cooperation Contribution Unit" and recommend it for the city-level "Excellent Legal Service Unit" qualification.

This is not only a great benefit to Wu Liang himself, but also to Yuanda Law Firm. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it will make them famous in the local industry.

But when he saw the last one, Wu Liang's eyes darkened.

During the term of this agreement, the employee shall not act as an agent for any entrusted matters that would create a conflict of interest with the criminal investigation team in handling any cases.

Can I not represent clients in cases involving conflicts of interest?

Doesn't this mean that if he signs this agreement, he can no longer act as a defense lawyer in Ni Dayong and Jiang Cuilan's cases?

Zhao Anmin looked at him from the opposite side, his eyes filled with amusement.

"So, Attorney Wu? Any comments?"

Wu Liang closed the agreement and pushed it back in front of Zhao Anmin.

"Team Leader Zhao, can we discuss this conflict of interest clause?"

Zhao Anmin put down his teacup: "How do we plan to discuss this?"

"Delete it."

"No," Zhao Anmin replied decisively. "This is a strict rule. Once you become the team's legal counsel, you can no longer represent clients who have a conflict of interest with cases the team is currently investigating. This isn't something I set up; it's a requirement of the system."

Wu Liang nodded and said nothing more.

Fang Lue watched nervously from the side. He didn't quite understand these rules and regulations, but he could tell that Wu Liang was genuinely hesitant.

Zhao Anmin also noticed it.

This surprised him a bit. He had thought Wu Liang would take the opportunity to raise the price, but at this moment, the lawyer's face showed no sign of calculation.

"Attorney Wu," Zhao Anmin spoke, his tone softer than before, "what are you worried about?"

Wu Liang raised his head, his expression serious.

"Team Leader Zhao, although I wouldn't call myself a particularly sentimental person, I can't just abandon someone halfway through a promise I've made."

Zhao Anmin remained silent, while Sun Jin raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Of course," Wu Liang turned around, his face regaining its usual relaxed expression, "You can also wait until Ni Dayong's case is closed before coming to me. When the terms are left blank, I'll sign without hesitation."

Zhao Anmin and Sun Jin exchanged a glance, then turned their heads away.

"Do you really have to do it yourself?"

"I have to do it myself." Wu Liang stood up and patted his pants. "I have a problem with this: if I dig a hole, I have to fill it myself."

He stood up nimbly, the chair making a soft thud as it was dragged through the quiet conference room.

"So, I'm sorry, I can't sign this agreement."