Chapter 617: 617 Explosive News

Harbor City Newspaper Building.

Chief Editor Fu Hua looked at the draft submitted by Liang Junhao, his face alternating between joy and worry.

These were the incriminating materials about 15K, Mr. Xiang, and the Sun Family, rich in detail and supported by solid evidence.

Once these scandals are exposed, the fate of 15K, Mr. Xiang, and the Sun Family would definitely be dire.

Fu Hua looked at Liang Junhao and sighed without saying a word.

Liang Junhao knew why Fu Hua was acting this way.

He feared that exposing this material would bring about retaliation from 15K, Mr. Xiang, and the Sun Family.

Liang Junhao thought over his words and persuaded, “Editor-in-chief Fu, we can’t not report this news. 15K is already a beaten dog; it’s best to strike while the iron is hot. As for Mr. Xiang and the Sun Family’s crimes, they are simply appalling. If we can’t hit even a beaten dog, if we don’t dare expose villains like Mr. Xiang and Sun Hongjiang, then what face do we have to call ourselves media people? We might as well buy a small fishing boat and head out to sea to fish!”

Fu Hua sighed, “Junhao, you haven’t lived through the era when the gangs were rampant in Harbor City. Back then, 15K killed people as if they were slaughtering chickens, and Mr. Xiang, he was a ruthless mob boss, merciless and brutal; who knows how many people died under his orders. And the Sun Family, they started off with extortion and blackmail to become one of the Eight Great Families, with a complex web of connections. I’m just afraid that if we expose them, and it doesn’t destroy them, they will end up destroying me, dragging my family into it as well.”

Liang Junhao said, “Times have changed; it’s not the old days anymore. Back then it was under foreign rule, now we are proud people of China. Harbor City is guarded by tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers, standing firm like a stabilizing nail. No matter how powerful 15K is, no matter how ruthless Mr. Xiang is, no matter how entrenched the Sun Family is, and no matter how strong their network is, it’s useless. I dare say, once this news breaks, it will shock the entire nation, and certainly alert the cabinet. 15K, Mr. Xiang, and the Sun Family are definitely finished!”

Fu Hua could only offer a bitter smile.

If things went without any unexpected issues, they would unfold just as Liang Junhao predicted.

But what if something unexpected happened?

Then he would definitely face revenge, and both he and his family would be doomed.

Fu Hua shook his head, “I still can’t bring myself to decide.”

Liang Junhao said, “Then let me give you a reason to decide.”

Fu Hua asked, “What reason?”

Liang Junhao said, “The reason is, even if we don’t report it, other media will. Judging by Xu Yang’s modus operandi, he definitely didn’t just send the dirt to us but to all media in Harbor City. If we don’t report it, we will be the odd one out. If we don’t publish such news, our newspaper’s reputation will certainly hit rock bottom. When the boss blames us, we won’t be able to keep our jobs!”

Fu Hua responded with a bitter laugh, “That reason is indeed compelling; I have no counters to that. It seems I have no choice but to go with reporting.”

What Liang Junhao said indeed made sense. If their newspaper didn’t report while other media did, they would stand out as an anomaly. How would the public view them?

The public would doubt if Harbor City Newspaper dares not report against the forces of evil.

Who would then read such a newspaper?

Once the big boss finds out, his position as chief editor would be untenable.

Moreover, his reputation would spread within the industry, and continuing to work in the media would become wishful thinking.

Without a job, how would he pay the mortgage? How would he provide for his wife and children?

So, whether to report this news or not now pertained to his entire family’s survival.

And most likely, 15K, Mr. Xiang, and the Sun Family were probably going to be finished, so it was worth taking the risk.

Liang Junhao smiled, “Editor-in-chief Fu, you’ve made a worthy choice.”

Fu Hua looked at Liang Junhao and said, “You’re quite impressive, stirring up two major news stories in a row. If this piece becomes another sensation, and 15K, Mr. Xiang, and the Sun Family are done for, I’ll apply with the boss to get you a private office and assign you an assistant!”

Liang Junhao was overjoyed, “Thank you, chief editor!”

Similar conversations took place in the offices of chief editors across various major media in Harbor City.

…

The next day.

All media in Harbor City released the damning materials about 15K, Mr. Xiang, and the Sun Family.

[15K’s Atrocities, Too Many to Record!]

[The 500 Sins of 15K!]

[15K: Why does such a sinful organization still exist in this world?!]

[A ruthless mob boss becomes a social elite, uncovering Mr. Xie’s route to whitewashing!]

[Mr. Xie’s Ten Deadly Sins!]

[The Sun Family, devoid of any shred of decency, and yet one of Harbor City’s Eight Great Families, is the shame of Harbor City!]

[The crimes committed by the Sun Family are no different from those of a mob family!]

Sensational headlines like these were irresistible clickbait.

Beneath the headlines lay detailed reports, with all kinds of evidence presented to the public.@@novelbin@@

Even though the people of Harbor City knew that 15K had committed many crimes, that Mr. Xie was no good, and that the Sun Family was not a respectable family, they were still shocked by the crimes reported in the media.

The list of crimes was exhaustive, with nearly every unsolved case in Harbor City accounted for.

A certain minor family’s annihilation was the work of 15K.

The disappearance of an individual was because Mr. Xie had ordered them to be killed and thrown into the sea to feed the fishes.

The continuous disappearance of dozens of girls in a certain year was the Sun Family trafficking them to Europe.

It could be said that the crimes of 15K, Mr. Xie, and the Sun Family encompassed all the evils of the world.

Newspapers, the internet, television networks—all forms of media were mobilized.

The news first exploded in Harbor City, then swept across the nation like a whirlwind!

Harbor City in shock!

The nation in shock!

“We must take down 15K to bring back clear skies to Harbor City!”

“If we don’t take down 15K, it won’t be enough to appease the public’s wrath!”

“How could a gang like 15K exist for decades? What is the Harbor City government doing?”

“Harbor City’s officials definitely want to take down 15K, but they probably don’t have the evidence.”

“If there’s no evidence, then find evidence. I don’t believe it can’t be found.”

“Now someone has found it and exposed it, 15K is definitely finished!”

“If Mr. Xie isn’t brought to justice, what’s the use of law?”

“For someone like Mr. Xie to become a social elite is a huge irony to the term socialite!”

“Such a villain, sentencing him to death ten times over wouldn’t be too many!”

“From black to white, even acting like an upstanding citizen in movies, he simply disregards the law.”

“The Sun Family, one of the Eight Great Families of Harbor City, isn’t just involved in gambling dens and loan sharking but also human trafficking; such a family must be eradicated!”

“Most of the Sun Family have participated in illegal criminal activities; from now on, the Sun Family will cease to exist in Harbor City.”

“If these people aren’t dealt with, it will shake the people’s confidence in the country.”

“Rest assured, anyone involved will definitely not escape!”

“That’s not necessarily true, some people might come forward to protect them.”

“With such a big event, it’s sure to alert the higher-ups, and no one’s protection will be of use.”

“If these people still get away, then there’s no justice or fairness in society.”

“Trust in Harbor City’s officials, trust in the nation’s officials—they will handle these matters well.”