Chapter Two: An Eighteen-Hour Chain of Evidence

“This isn't Hanhai,” Su said, blocking the door. “You have no enforcement authority here.” “Harboring trade secrets creates liability too, Counselor Su.” “That's why I've already called the police.” She raised her phone. “And copied the municipal data regulator.” The man's expression hardened. The notary displayed the preservation number on the large screen. An encrypted forensic image had already reached the regulator's evidence node. Taking the physical drive would erase nothing. For the first time, Chen understood that rules were not only clubs in a giant's hands. When every step was nailed into place, rules became guardrails. At 2:17 p.m., the evidence package was sealed. Zero's countdown stopped with forty-two minutes remaining.