Law America, the Devil's Agent

A gentle piano melody flowed slowly from the direction of the bedside table, pulling Link's consciousness from deep sleep.

He closed his eyes, reached out and groped around for a few moments, then pressed the button on the hotel's central control panel on the bedside table.

"Hello, Mr. Link."

This is the front desk of the Xidu Hotel. We are now offering wake-up call service.

A clear and sweet female voice came from the panel's speaker:

"Today is Tuesday. Philadelphia is sunny with some clouds. The temperature is between eight and fifteen degrees Celsius."

Your breakfast and housekeeping services have been arranged.

Also, your room reservation expires this afternoon. Is there anything else I can help you with?

Link opened his eyes, took a few seconds for his brain to reload, and then replied:

"Please bring up breakfast. We don't need housekeeping; I'll go downstairs to check out later."

"Yes, sir. Breakfast will be delivered in about ten minutes."

Link stood up and took a moment to recover. Another deep red, semi-transparent panel popped up in front of him.

The case has been closed.

  

Customer satisfaction: Completely satisfied

[Rewards are being processed...]

[You have received: 800 Faith Points (Detected as a major case, 2 Faith Points) (Triggering the special case "Saving the Saints", 2 Faith Points)]

[Improving abilities, detected as a large-scale special case, ability extracted x2, ability upgraded x1]

[Ability Extracted: First Aid Instinct - Expert Level]

[Ability Already Extracted: Blade Sense Intuition - Expert Level]

Link's eyes were serious as he began to examine the two abilities he had obtained from that genius doctor in detail.

[First Aid Instinct - Expert Level:]

Your fingers gained a tactile sensation like "autopilot".

Even in deep wounds that reach the internal organs, when the eyes cannot see, the fingers can instantly distinguish the touch of arteries, veins, and nerves, and instinctively tie knots or clamps with one hand to stop the bleeding.

This allows you to perform blind punctures into deep veins using only your bare hands in the wild or in ruins, thus providing first aid.

【Blade Sensation Intuition - Expert Level:】

You have gained the doctor's absolute sensitivity to the "critical resistance between the blade and the tissue".

Whether you have a scalpel, a utility knife, or broken glass in your hand, you can precisely control the depth and angle of the cut by making slight adjustments to your wrist.

In emergency situations: You can perform complex surgical procedures such as "opening a window to relieve pressure" with just a scalpel blade...

For example, in the case of tension pneumothorax, you can cleverly create a small "valve-like" opening just large enough for a drainage tube to pass through, without damaging the intercostal arteries...

As the introduction began, two streams of knowledge surged into Link's mind.

Link's fingers and eyes twitched slightly as he frantically adapted to the changes brought about by these two forces.

First aid, blade sensitivity.

With these two abilities, even if Link quits his job as a lawyer, he can still find a job at the hospital.

Then Link had a thought, and the panel unfolded:

Name: Link

Age: 26

[Faith Points: 800 (1000 points unlock the next tier of Faith Ability)]

Cases already accepted: 6

[Talented Skills: (Firearms Shooting - Expert) (Sketching - Proficient) (Martial Arts - Proficient) (Emotional Resonance - Beginner) (Blade Sense Intuition - Expert) (First Aid Instinct - Expert) (Business Thinking - Expert) (Crisis Sense - Expert)]

[Number of upgrades available: 1]

[Faith Ability: (Devil's Eye) (Devil's Servant 1/1)]

Looking at his dazzling array of data, Link couldn't help but sigh slightly.

Unbeknownst to me, I had already solved so many cases and gained so many abilities.

After solving the highly symbolic Nathaniel case, he was given a chance to upgrade his abilities.

Link turned his attention to (Martial Arts - Proficiency) and (Emotional Resonance - Beginner).

The former was obtained by himself from the drug dealer Los, through his own devil servant.

The latter was obtained from the single mother who took photos of Only Fans at the gym.

One was used for self-defense, while the other has been of great help to me in countless battles.

He is a lawyer whose ability to discern emotions when interacting with strangers and clients is always an unassuming yet powerful tool.

After all, everyone experiences emotional fluctuations.

And when there is fluctuation, and resonance with it, there is a possibility of mastering it.

After much deliberation, Link made a decision.

Click "OK".

A flash of white light appeared before my eyes, and the ability section on my panel immediately changed:

Emotional resonance has been upgraded from the beginner level to the expert level.

But after doing all this, Link didn't feel the same way he had when he first gained the first aid abilities.

Link didn't mind, he just stretched, then sat up from the bed and walked barefoot into the bathroom.

Hot water immediately sprayed out of the showerhead.

Finally, I don't have to wait forever for hot water like I did in that old, run-down apartment.

Steam slowly filled the air, and Link quickly finished washing up.

He shaved in front of the mirror, put on a clean shirt, fastened his cufflinks, and patted his face.

He has finally regained his energetic appearance.

He did not immediately arrange to meet with Thani after going to the prison gate to welcome him out last Friday.

We only chatted briefly on the phone, and I told him to take some time to spend with his family first.

All charges against his client have been dropped, and the prosecution against Alan Morrison and two others is progressing smoothly.

They were the pawns that Omir had handed over as agreed, and what followed was simply a swift and severe trial process.

With the overall situation settled, he gave himself and the entire team a four-day break.

Having led teams before, he knew very well that the mental and physical exhaustion of a lawyer in the conclusion of a major case that takes a long time was far greater than it seemed.

Therefore, it is essential to get enough rest.

This is the key to restoring combat effectiveness.

As for why they would rather stay in a hotel than go home...

Thinking of this, Link sighed softly again.

Because he simply couldn't stand that run-down apartment anymore.

It's in a bad location, the soundproofing is terrible, and it's also dangerous.

On the very night he returned, he packed a few clothes and checked into the hotel without saying a word.

He couldn't help but consider the balance in his wallet:

Performance bonuses following two major cases. There were also two legal fees, and money from taking down the Bloodhands gang and extorting O'Mill.

You could say he's a millionaire now.

As Link thought about his cash flow, an idea gradually became firm in his mind.

It's time to move to a new place.

After eating the breakfast that was served, he took the elevator downstairs with his simple luggage bag.

He went straight to the front desk, where a young woman was on duty, her name tag reading "Hill".

She took the room key from Link and began the check-out process on the computer.

"Mr. Link, your check-out procedures have been completed."

This is your expense list for the past few days. Please check it and then sign here... Oh, it's you?

"Um?"

Link let out a questioning nasal sound.

"You are...you are the lawyer Link from the recent sensational 'Saint's Case,' right?"

Hill suddenly stopped what she was doing and said happily to Link:

I've seen your videos on TikTok.

I...I'm your biggest fan!

After signing his name, Link handed the pen back and nodded with a smile.

"I'm glad you like it, it's me."

I didn't expect anyone would still recognize me.

"Of course I can recognize it."

My mother suffers from a chronic illness and has to take several prescription medications every month.

A few years ago, there was a certain medicine that was always unavailable in hospitals and could only be found on the black market, but the price suddenly increased several times over.

Our family almost couldn't afford it; now that I think about it, the pharmacy staff must have been behind it.

Hill spoke quickly, but sincerely, as he sorted through the invoices:

"What you did undoubtedly helped a kind doctor and also helped us see the darkness within hospitals. Thank you for your service, sir!"

"Thank you." Link put the credit card away.

"You're welcome." Hill smiled and then lowered his head again to continue printing invoices on the computer.

Link suddenly asked:

"What are the prices for monthly or yearly stays at your hotel?"

Hill stopped what she was doing and looked up at him.

Are you looking for a place to live?

"right.

During the transition period while I'm looking for a place to live, I plan to stay in a hotel for an extended period.

That's perfect.

I work part-time at this hotel's front desk; my full-time job is as a rental consultant at a real estate agency.

Hill pulled a business card from the drawer and handed it over with both hands:

"This is my business card. If you are interested in renting or buying a property, please feel free to contact me."

We have listings in several boroughs of downtown Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. I can arrange viewings for you.

Link took the business card, glanced at it, and then nodded.

"I've been trying to contact you these past few days, Ms. Hill."

He picked up his bag, waved to Hill, and turned to walk out of the hotel.

The Aston Martin's engine gave a low growl in the parking lot before pulling out of the hotel driveway.

Hill carefully placed Link's business card into his business card holder.

Another receptionist, Selena, peeked out from behind her computer screen with a mischievous smile on her face.

"I say, Hill, you really know how to do business."

The rental business has expanded to include hotel front desks.

This lawyer, Link, is young and rich! You definitely need to seize the opportunity.

"Damn it, Selena, what did you say?"

Hill blushed slightly, closed the business card holder, and stuffed it back into the drawer.

"hey-hey."

……

The Aston Martin was parked in its familiar parking spot downstairs from the Curtiss law firm.

Link opened the car door, straightened his tie, and pushed open the glass door of the law firm.

When Mary at the front desk saw him walk in, her smile became even brighter than usual.

"Good morning, Team Leader Link."

Good morning, Mary.

From the corridor to the main office area, every lawyer he encountered greeted him.

Greetings and welcomes were heard constantly.

Link responded to each question and then nodded in acknowledgment.

He showed no pride or complacency despite having just won a major case and put on a perfect press conference, nor did he stay to boast.

He needs to focus on his own things.

As he walked into the office of the team leader lawyer, he was unexpectedly stopped by a voice.

It is Herman Brookes, a senior team leader at the law firm.

That veteran team leader who had been with Curtiss Law Firm for twenty years and whose team had a court appearance record thicker than anyone else's resume.

He came out of his office himself and called out to Link in the hallway.

"Link, your performance at the press conference was fantastic."

I watched the whole thing afterwards.

The arrangement of the chain of evidence, the control of the narrative, and the final point pointing to Morrison were all textbook examples.

He extended his hand: "Congratulations. You've learned a very solid foundation in what you've learned at Temple University."

After a moment's thought, Link realized that his colleague also seemed to have a Temple University background.

He then smiled and shook hands with the alumnus.

Perseverantia Vincit!

Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Herman. I was just doing what I was supposed to do.

Hermann heard the familiar school motto and nodded with a smile.

"I'm happy for you. Also, there's a team leader meeting next Wednesday afternoon, don't forget to attend."

After Hermann released his grip, he patted him on the shoulder and offered some advice:

"You're now the official team leader. This meeting is very important."

"I will be there on time."

Link nodded slightly to him and continued walking toward his office.

Join the team leader's regular meeting.

This means that in the Curtiss Law Firm's team leader hierarchy, he is no longer a "newly promoted newcomer," but has been formally accepted as a colleague of the same level by the senior team leaders.

A historic advancement.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the alumnus, he finally pushed open the office door.

Benny and Celine were already waiting inside.

Kona leaned against the bookshelf with her arms crossed. When she saw him walk in, she first glanced at him up and down, then rolled her eyes.

"During the four-day holiday, I didn't check my phone messages or reply to work emails."

"If Celine hadn't checked the hotels where you used your credit card, we wouldn't have known where you were hiding."

Her tone carried a hint of complaint, but beneath that complaint lay something softer, something she was less willing to admit.

"I'm on vacation, Kona. As your team leader, I have the right not to answer work calls while on vacation."

Link walked behind the desk and sat down:

"However, the holiday is over from now on. Celine, tell me about the past few days."

Celine opened her notebook and began to report each item one by one.

The written confirmation from Omir regarding the foundation and donation arrived on Monday, and all the conditions previously explained by Link have been fulfilled without any reduction.

The prosecution of Elena White is progressing rapidly, and the trial dates for Alan Morrison and the other two defendants have been scheduled. Given the complete chain of evidence and the fact that the defendants are no longer making a substantial plea of ​​not guilty, the court proceedings are expected to be completed quickly and thoroughly.

Link nodded.

This is to be expected.

Those three men, or rather, the drug smuggling line that Alan Morrison set up on his own initiative, had long been regarded by the man behind them as a malignant tumor that had to be removed.

Dealing with them swiftly and severely was both a demonstration of the man's resolve to federal law enforcement and a gesture to Link:

That's the end of this matter.

"in addition……"

Celine turned to the last page of the notebook:

"Prosecutor Elena said she hopes you can take the time to discuss the follow-up arrangements of the case with her in more detail."

She said she needed to discuss some specific matters with you.

Hearing this, Kona leaned against the bookshelf, switched legs to support her weight, and turned towards the window.

Link didn't notice her movement and simply nodded.

"The prosecution case is a gift we are giving to the White siblings, and there should be other areas for cooperation in the future."

This matter can be arranged later; there's no rush.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door.

Mary pushed open the door and peeked inside.

"Team Leader Link, your guest has arrived. I have arranged for him to go to a private meeting room."

Link was slightly taken aback, then realized who this unannounced visitor was.

He stood up, straightened his suit collar, and walked towards the door.

When the door to the private meeting room was pushed open, Nathaniel Hawthorne was standing by the window looking at the street scene below.

He turned around when he heard the door open, and his entire demeanor was completely different from when Link had seen him in the correctional facility's visiting room.

His cheeks, though still thin, were no longer sunken.

Although his shoulders and spine were still thin, they were no longer hunched and collapsed.

Those eyes, once dulled and lifeless from the torment of drugs and mental anguish, now shone brightly as they looked at Link.

"Attorney Link, it's been a long time!"

Nathaniel reached out his hand.

Link took his hand.

"It wasn't that long, only about half a month in total."

"But every day felt like an eternity."