511: To be continued tomorrow

At this tense moment, "Clang!" a heavy iron door was violently pushed open.

An officer in a crisp military uniform entered with several Imperial Soldiers, their military boots making neat, loud sounds on the floor, instantly breaking the strange atmosphere in the room.

The officer's gaze was like lightning, sweeping over the tense scene in the room.

Bai Luo was pressed against the wall, her face pale but her eyes defiant, while the man stood frozen, the remnants of his lewd expression still on his face.

The others either lowered their heads or looked away, appearing as if it had nothing to do with them.

His brows furrowed instantly, and he asked in a deep voice.

"What are you doing?!"

The man, who had just been full of excitement and arrogance, deflated like a punctured balloon the moment he saw the officer's rank on his shoulder and the energy guns in the Soldiers' hands, losing all his previous swagger.

He hastily stepped back, forced a fawning smile, and waved his hands repeatedly, saying.

"Officer, we... we weren't doing anything! It's just... a few of us were bored and just messing around, please don't misunderstand."

"Messing around?"

Bai Luo, however, stepped forward without hesitation, meeting the officer's gaze, her voice clear and firm.

"He just tried to assault me!"

"What?!"

The officer's face instantly darkened, and his eyes became as sharp as knives.

Such a sordid affair might be overlooked elsewhere, but it was absolutely intolerable in this detention center, guarded by the Imperial Army! If anything went wrong, he, as the Person in Charge, would be held accountable.

He stared intently at the man, his tone as cold as ice.

"The Empire's rules cannot be trampled upon! Don't think that just because you are Extraterrestrial Civilizers you can disregard the law. Before the Empire's judgment is rendered, you still possess basic human rights, and no one has the right to infringe upon them!"

No sooner had he spoken than the officer abruptly waved his hand, sternly ordering.

"Take him away! Lock him in solitary confinement and guard him strictly!"

Two Soldiers immediately stepped forward, grabbing the man's arms, one on each side.

The man instantly panicked, shouting "It's a misunderstanding!" and "I didn't do anything!" but the Soldiers were unmoved, forcefully dragging him out.

Seeing this, the others in the room lowered their heads, not daring to look, their earlier stirrings of ill intent instantly nipped in the bud.

"Which one of you is Bai Luo?"

The officer's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, making it exceptionally clear in the silent room.

Bai Luo's heart skipped a beat; although she had mustered courage when stepping forward earlier, her fingertips still trembled slightly when called by name.

She took a deep breath, slowly straightened herself from the crowd, raised her hand, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible tension.

"I... I am Bai Luo."

The officer's gaze fell upon her, and his previously stern face suddenly changed. His brows relaxed, and a subtle softening appeared in his eyes.

He immediately turned around and spoke in a deep voice to the Soldiers who were escorting the man.

"No need to send him to solitary confinement. Destroy all his previous statements and directly charge him with 'refusal to cooperate and intent to resist.'"

"What?!"

The man was struck as if by lightning, the color instantly draining from his face, and he struggled, roaring.

"Officer! You just said we had basic human rights! Why are you changing your mind like this?!"

The officer turned his face, looking at him with an indifferent gaze, as if at an insignificant object, his tone calm and unruffled.

"Oh, you don't anymore."

Before he finished speaking, he waved his hand.

The Soldiers no longer hesitated, dragging the still wildly struggling and cursing man out. His desperate shouts soon disappeared down the corridor, leaving only dead silence in the room.

The other people in the room exchanged glances, their eyes darting back and forth to Bai Luo, filled with scrutiny and bewilderment.

It was clear to anyone with eyes that the man's fate was distinctly due to Bai Luo.

Bai Luo herself stood rooted, her mind a blank.

She didn't understand why the officer's attitude had changed so drastically because of her. A complex emotion surged in her heart—surprise, doubt, and a hint of an inexplicable chill that made the temperature of her fingertips drop a few degrees.

"Come with us."

The officer's tone remained flat, betraying little emotion.

Although Bai Luo had many questions, she dared not hesitate, quickly assenting and following closely behind the officer, traversing the long corridor.

The lights on both sides of the corridor were somewhat dim, reflecting off the mottled walls, and their footsteps echoed in the empty space, sounding particularly clear.

After walking for a while, Bai Luo finally couldn't suppress her curiosity and asked softly.

"Officer, excuse me... is there something you need me for?"

Her voice carried a hint of cautiousness, as the other party's identity and attitude made her hesitant to be too casual.

The officer turned his head to glance at her, not stopping his pace, his tone still even.

"Nothing in particular. Our Deputy Division Commander specifically instructed us to look after you a bit before he left, so we're preparing to move you to a single room."

"Deputy Division Commander?"

Hearing this, Bai Luo's heart stirred slightly. After a moment of thought, she suddenly understood.

She supposed it must be due to her unintentional kind gesture towards that Speaker earlier, which had resulted in this unexpected consideration—a benevolent outcome.

A warmth spread through her heart, and her tense nerves relaxed slightly.

However, just then, the officer suddenly stopped, turned around, and his expression became exceptionally serious and stern, his gaze fixed on Bai Luo.

"But don't overthink it. The Deputy Division Commander specifically instructed that apart from this minor, inconsequential consideration, none of the necessary trial procedures will be omitted; everything will be handled officially."

Upon hearing this, Bai Luo showed no sign of disappointment; instead, she nodded gently.

She knew in her heart that she would ultimately have to bear the consequences of her actions. This bit of extra consideration was already an unexpected pleasant surprise. As for the trial, she was mentally prepared; what had to be faced could not be avoided.

Bai Luo's fingers, clutching the corner of her clothes, turned white. She took a deep breath to steady her voice, though the end of her words still held an imperceptible tremor.

"Don't worry, I know my place and I know I can't escape... I just want to ask, given my situation, what will the trial's outcome likely be?"

The officer stopped, raised his hand to open a light screen, and pulled up her file, his tone calm to the point of coldness.

"Based on existing crimes and statements, a hundred-year fixed-term imprisonment is the baseline; it's highly probable you'll be sentenced to life imprisonment."

He paused, then added.

"If subsequent investigations reveal aggravating circumstances, the possibility of the death penalty cannot be ruled out."

With a 'boom,' Bai Luo felt her mind go blank, her face instantly drained of color. She staggered back half a step, leaning against the wall, closing her eyes and pinching her palm hard.

A hundred years, life imprisonment, death penalty... each word felt like a heavy hammer striking her heart. She bit her lip, and after a long while, opened her eyes, which were clouded with moisture.

"Then... what if I have a very important piece of evidence? Can it reduce my sentence? Also... can my personal safety be protected during this time?"

The officer suddenly turned, his sharp gaze fixed on her, his tone abruptly serious.

"You have evidence? What evidence?"

Bai Luo's throat bobbed, her voice extremely low, tinged with an unspeakable fear.

"It's about a high-ranking official in the Longlan Star Cluster's administrative department... it's deeply involved. I didn't dare to hand it over before, fearing retaliation, as a small person like me is no different from an ant in their eyes."

She looked up, her eyes full of struggle.

"But if handing it over can reduce my sentence and keep me alive and safe, I... I'm willing to hand it over."

The officer's expression changed slightly; he instantly realized the seriousness of the matter. Without further questions, his gaze towards Bai Luo became more solemn, though his tone remained as steady as before.

"Come with me, this is not the place to talk."

Passing through three encrypted doors, the two entered a completely enclosed interrogation room. The walls gleamed with a cold, hard metallic luster, and there was only a table and two chairs.

The officer motioned for Bai Luo to sit down, while he stood guarding the door, simultaneously pulling out his internal communicator, preparing to report to He Dong.