novelraw Chapter 138: Helping is a favor, not helping is a duty
Chapter 138: Helping is a favor, not helping is a duty
At that moment.
The phone finally rang again.
Everyone immediately gathered around.
Five pairs of eyes focused on the phone simultaneously.
Xie Xi quickly opened the message, and her mother's lengthy reply appeared on the screen:
["Daughter, Commander Qin's investigation procedures are completely legal and compliant. If he commits any violations, we will certainly initiate supervision procedures immediately. However, based on the current situation, his investigative authority is lawful and proper."]
["If your teammates are innocent, they will naturally withstand any investigation. You must trust the academy's fairness and believe in the bottom line of the law."]
["We will supervise this entire investigation through the monitoring system to ensure no violations occur. If Qin Bai dares to use illegal methods, I guarantee he will pay a heavy price."]
["This isn't about helping or not helping; it's a matter of principle. As members of the Supervision Department, we must lead by example in following rules."]
After reading it, Xie Xi's fingers trembled slightly.The scene fell into instant silence.
The message's meaning was crystal clear.
Sorry, I can't help you.
As for all that other talk about Qin Bai being reasonable and compliant! If there are any irregularities during his interrogation later, they'll definitely initiate supervision procedures!
Everything above was just official rhetoric.
A way to avoid making things too awkward.
Because Xie Xi's parents also knew that their daughter's teammates were currently waiting for their response.
Otherwise, they could absolutely help with this matter, but it would require paying a price.
And they were unwilling to pay that price for their daughter's teammates.
Su Zhan thought this to himself.
Everything was within his expectations.
As expected, the other party had chosen not to help them.
Xie Xi grabbed her phone and was about to dial.
Liu Ziming pressed down on the screen: "Sister Xie! Your mother's words are clear enough, you..."
"Clear my ass!"
Xie Xi directly shook off his hand, the call interface already lit up: "I need to speak with them face to face!"
Seeing this, Su Zhan sighed inwardly.
Still too young, believing her parents would act this way.
But she was doing it for their sake, her intentions were good, just too naive.
Beep—beep—
The waiting tone came from the speaker.
Everyone held their breath.
"Hello? Xixi?"
Her mother's voice was calm.
Xie Xi's fingers gripped the communicator tightly: "Mom, listen to me... Today Qin Bai threatened to use special investigation methods on us in front of everyone!
You should know what these special investigation methods are, right?
Truth Serum, torture, whatever you can imagine, whatever you can't imagine, Qin Bai is capable of doing it all!
But who is he targeting with these methods?
Awakeners!
And moreover, Awakeners from Vermilion Bird Academy!
How can he suspect that Vermilion Bird Academy's Awakeners are Aberrants?
This is completely baseless!
If my comrades really enter that interrogation room.
It will be like a scholar encountering soldiers—impossible to reason with.
What about evidence? He can completely fabricate it later; after all, when people are being tortured to death, will they still care about these things?"
"Xixi, the Hunt Team Commander has the authority to employ necessary detection methods in cases suspected of involving Aberrants. His methods are entirely reasonable and legal."
"Mom!"
Xie Xi raised her voice to interrupt: "We're not discussing regulations right now! We're talking about my comrades! Living people! They saved so many survivors, only to end up being falsely accused and tortured! Shouldn't good people receive good rewards? Should good people be bullied like this?"
"Watch your language, Xixi."
Her mother's voice suddenly switched to a cold tone: "Having been around us for so many years, you should understand the importance of procedural justice.
If Qin Bai has indeed committed violations, the supervision system will automatically initiate accountability.
But in the absence of substantial evidence, your emotional accusations will only interfere with the normal investigation process."
Xie Xi's chest heaved violently: "So you want me to just watch as they get..."
"I demand you immediately cease this unprofessional speculation."
Her mother's voice sounded like she was reading an official document: "I will supervise the entire investigation through proper channels, but you must understand what I just said."
A slight sound came through the communicator as her father took the phone, his tone slightly softer but equally formal:
"Xiao Xi, you need to understand our difficulties.
Commander Qin's operation requires Dean Ye's signature approval. If Dean Ye truly signed off on it, our forced intervention would violate discipline.
It would also bring unnecessary political risks to the entire Xie family. But Dad promises you, as soon as we detect any signs of violation..."
Xie Xi hung up, her entire body trembling.
Su Zhan and the others had never heard such polished bureaucratic language before.
Not a single swear word, yet the refusal was expressed perfectly.
Every word complied with regulations, but each sentence was actually cutting ties.
It reminded him of the bulletproof glass from training camp.
Bullets would only leave web-like cracks on it, but could never penetrate that transparent layer.
The official rhetoric of Xie Xi's parents was made of the same material.
Seemingly transparent and honest, but actually impenetrable.
But these were minor issues.
The fact was...
Su Zhan and the others were merely their daughter's friends.
Helping is a favor, not helping is the norm.
There was nothing wrong with refusing.
Xie Xi lowered her head, her eyes slightly red: "They clearly could have..."
"Don't blame your parents."
Su Zhan interrupted her: "They can't gamble their political futures for their daughter's friends, can't offend Qin Bai for a few unrelated students. Xie Xi, this world doesn't have that many fairy tales."
Liu Ziming chimed in: "Honestly, your parents have been decent enough. At least they promised to supervise the investigation process. If it were other Supervision Department people, they probably wouldn't even give that promise."
"But they clearly have the ability..."
Xie Xi's voice trembled slightly.
"Having ability is one thing; whether it's necessary is another."
Feng Jue rarely spoke this much at once: "Helping you is your parents' favor, but helping us isn't a favor. Not helping is the norm."
"Sister Xie, try to see it from their perspective."
Xu Hao leaned on his crutch and slowly moved over: "If you were in the Supervision Department position, would you confront the Hunt Team Commander head-on for your subordinate's children's friends?"
"I..."
Xie Xi was about to say she would.
"You wouldn't."
Su Zhan answered for her: "Because your daughter's friends have no relationship with you."
"If you ask me, this matter is like lending money."
Liu Ziming grinned: "Willing to lend is a favor, not lending is the norm. Why force people to be saints?"
Xie Xi looked at her comrades, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
She initially thought her comrades would blame her.
Instead, they comforted her, even saying her parents did nothing wrong.
It really...
Made her want to cry tears of emotion uncontrollably.
"Alright, now we need to figure things out ourselves."
Su Zhan waved his hand: "Does anyone have any good ideas now? Speak freely."