Chapter 149: In the Meeting Room

Inside the Los Angeles Police Department visitation room.

Masip sat behind the soundproof glass, watching everyone walk into the room, a slight ripple of emotion crossing his eyes. He was still wearing the same suit he had worn during his speech, but it now looked somewhat wrinkled.

"Uncle Masip!"

The moment she stepped into the visitation room, Julia could no longer contain herself. She hurried over to the soundproof glass and cried out excitedly to Masip on the other side. It was only when Masip, with a bitter smile, pointed to the intercom phone nearby that she snapped back to reality, quickly sat down, pulled the chair closer, and said to Masip with a trembling voice:

"Uncle Masip, how are you doing?"

Hearing her greeting, Masip smiled faintly.

"Don't worry, Julia... I'm fine."

His voice came through clearly via the intercom microphone, audible to both Navali and Travis, who were sitting nearby.

Hearing Masip's immensely confident tone, Julia's expression finally relaxed a bit, but recalling the reason why Masip had been arrested and brought to the police station, anger flared in her eyes once again:

"Uncle Masip, those cops actually said you were involved in this murder—"

"You're talking about the reporter Catherine, right?"

Masip interrupted Julia, calmly taking over the conversation.

"...That's right, it's that reporter—Teacher Masip, have you met with her?"

Masip paused in contemplation, seemingly pondering something. A moment later, he spoke to Julia and the other two in a clear voice:

"At five o'clock yesterday afternoon, I received a call from Catherine. She wanted to conduct an exclusive interview with me and 'Solidarity Neighborhood' on behalf of the *Los Angeles Times*. At first, I didn't agree, because a few years ago, the *Los Angeles Times* published an inflammatory and false report about 'Solidarity Neighborhood,' accusing us of 'trying to use the banner of minorities to make money'—"

Julia nodded, gritting her teeth:

"Back then, I was still in college, but I saw the news in the papers too. It..."

"...It caused an uproar," Masip recalled, his gaze deep and solemn.

"At that time, the membership of 'Solidarity Neighborhood' had already exceeded eighty thousand. But once that report came out, overwhelming accusations washed over us, directly causing our membership to drop from eighty thousand to five thousand. It wasn't until the joint FBI and LAPD investigative team triggered by the report found nothing, and everyone witnessed our efforts firsthand, that the membership began to climb back up and 'Solidarity Neighborhood' recovered its vitality.

"...However, that's all in the past now. Even though it's in the past, I've always harbored reservations, which was why I turned down Catherine's interview request. I originally intended to keep refusing, but Catherine finally persuaded me. She said this time she would clear our past negative reputation and write a fair and impartial report for us—that's why I went to the café and met with her to talk."

"President Masip, how long did you and her stay there?"

Travis suddenly leaned closer to Julia and asked Masip through the microphone.

"Catherine and I talked until about seven-thirty. After that, I left the café and returned to the headquarters of 'Solidarity Neighborhood.'"

Masip glanced at Travis and responded calmly.

"How did the conversation go?" Travis continued to ask.

"...Not bad. Catherine is indeed a good reporter—my intuition tells me she will definitely be able to write an article maintaining a fair stance... But unfortunately, there won't be a chance now."

For some reason, the expression on Masip's face suddenly turned somewhat desolate.

"Uncle Masip, don't worry. Those cops must be framing you, we'll get you out—" Julia looked at Masip, saying firmly. But Masip only shook his head with a smile, looking at Julia as he said:

"Little Julia, would you let me say a few words to Travis?"

Julia hesitated and nodded, handing the microphone over to Travis.

Travis gripped the microphone tight, looking at Masip behind the glass window, and said earnestly:

"President Masip, just like Julia said... Don't worry, I'll hire the best lawyer for you and make sure I get you out of this police station—"

"—Travis."

Masip suddenly interrupted him.

Staring fixedly at Travis, Masip said softly:

"After I entered the police station, the upcoming work of 'Solidarity Neighborhood' will be in your hands—don't forget our original intention."

Travis took a deep breath, then stared back at Masip with a gaze as resolute as a pledge, and said steadily:

"...President Masip, please trust me."

Masip nodded tiredly, narrowing his eyes:

"I'd like to say a few words to Navali as well. Could you pass the microphone to him?"

Travis did not hesitate for a second. "Of course."

Then, the microphone was shoved into Navali's hands.

Navali, who had never expected the turn to reach him, took the microphone off guard. Staring at Masip behind the glass, his mouth opened slightly, his mind completely blank:

"...Hello?"

"Navali, you are a good kid."

Masip looked at him with an unprecedentedly tender gaze and smiled.

"Don't limit yourself to your outward appearance—given your talent, you will definitely achieve greater things in the future. Failing to suppress those protests back then to let you enter school and fully realize your computer talent is my greatest regret in this lifetime."

The hand Navali used to hold the microphone trembled slightly. He wore an expression where no one could tell whether he was crying or laughing, and others could decipher even less. In a hoarse voice, he said to Masip:

"Teacher Masip... Given my physical condition, I could never attend school like a normal person anyway, and you've always carved out time to teach me all sorts of knowledge—you are my teacher forever.

"...Besides, with my computer talent, whether I study at school or not makes no difference to me. To me, all data transmission and information connectivity on the internet are the textbooks I learn from."

Navali spoke these wildly arrogant and conceited words in a hoarse and timid voice, prompting Travis beside him to cast a surprised, burning glance in his direction, while also softening Masip's eyes even further.

Yet Navali paid no attention to Travis's gaze—he even forgot the presence of Julia, the girl who had haunted his dreams. He only gazed deeply at Teacher Masip on the other side of the glass, the dark red scar tissue on his face twitching, his tear ducts growing hot.

"That's right, Navali. You should show this side of yourself more often—a confident child can claim more... Navali."

The ten-minute limit for the visitation room had reached its end. Accompanied by a crisp chime, Masip bitter-smiled as he hung up the phone, his lips twitching slightly.

Although Julia and the two others were still deeply reluctant, under the forcible demands of the police officers and the fact that Masip had already been led away from the visitation room, they had no choice but to leave the police station.

As soon as they stepped out of the police station gates, Julia and Travis walked away together, while Julia said a brief goodbye to Navali before leaving.

They were in a rush to find the finest criminal defense lawyer in California, to find a suitable attorney for Masip and get him out of the police station.

Although many details of the case remained shrouded in deep waters, because of the meeting with Masip just moments ago, Julia was full of confidence, believing there was a strong chance to dismantle the police's conspiracy—after all, America was still a nation governed by rule of law. Even though she thoroughly loathed the FBI and LAPD, deep down, she still believed in this.

However, Navali, watching the two figures stride away together, felt far less confident than Julia.

Even as he watched the two depart side by side, it felt as though that were already a thing of the previous century. Navali's heart held only the face of Teacher Masip, filled with a sense of apprehension.

Amidst the sound of mobility scooter wheels rolling over the asphalt, on the road back to his residence, flashes of the details from their meeting in the visitation room played through Navali's mind.

It was something that happened at the exact instant the ending alarm bell rang.

At that very fraction of a second.

Navali, who was still holding the microphone pressed tightly against his ear, heard Masip speak rapidly amidst the alarm bell in a voice only he could hear.

"Navali... take care of yourself, and Julia."

Then, the intercom line was cut.

The final image left in Navali's eyes was Masip's desolate gaze as he turned away under the escort of the detectives.

"Teacher Masip..."

Until he returned to his residence and lay down in the bedroom of the three-story apartment, Masip's parting words, sounding almost like a final entrustment of an orphan, continued to echo in Navali's mind.

Though much remained incomprehensible, Navali already vaguely sensed a massive shadow creeping closer. Teacher Masip was gradually being swallowed by it, while he could only watch from the sidelines, entirely powerless.

harboring a restless and anxious heart, Navali drifted into a deep sleep.

The next day, on the media platforms, he saw the news of Teacher Masip committing suicide out of fear of crime while in police custody.