Chapter 120: The Hearing

Senator Stern smirked, his expression devoid of any genuine warmth, and said, "Do you really think things are just whatever you say they are?"

Michael replied with an air of indifference, "I'm sorry, but as long as you cannot prove these creatures are my experiments, they have absolutely nothing to do with me."

Senator Stern sneered, "In that case, bring in the witness."

A witness? Who could it be? Michael couldn't help but glance toward the back of the room.

First came a few strangers, bystanders who claimed they had seen with their own eyes the rats leaping from the Angel International building. But eyewitness accounts were not physical evidence; they were insufficient to convict Michael, and they certainly couldn't prove the rats were his creations. Michael simply admitted that, as an Earthling, he had graciously hosted these rats to foster friendship between Earth and the planet Cat-Death, allowing them a taste of hospitality in a foreign land.

However, the next witness made Michael shift uncomfortably in his seat. It was his own secretary, Felicia.

What was going on? How did Felicia end up here? He walked over to intercept her. Felicia looked up, her brow furrowed with a hint of sorrow.

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Just tell the truth."

Michael’s words seemed to offer her some small comfort, and Felicia nodded. Michael realized she must be under some kind of duress she couldn't speak of. Senator Stern, however, saw the promise of victory, convinced that Michael and his attractive secretary shared an illicit connection.

"Mr. Michael, please do not obstruct the witness from taking the stand."

Michael had no choice but to sit back down. Senator Stern wore an excited expression as he asked Felicia, "Can you guarantee that every word you say is the truth, young lady?"

"Yes, I promise."

Seeing Michael’s earnest demeanor, Senator Stern felt victory was within reach. "Ms. Felicia, as far as I am aware, you are Mr. Michael’s secretary. Why have you come forward to testify?"

Felicia hesitated. *You want me to lie? I'm being coerced here.* After a moment of thought, she decided on the most plausible excuse. "Out of anger. He announced his relationship, and the object of his affection was not me."

Senator Stern, however, took her at her word, feeling even more confident. "Do you know everything about Mr. Michael?"

"I know everything about him. Sometimes, I’m even the one who wakes him up."

Senator Stern flashed a strange smile, and the audience couldn't help but let out excited murmurs. Harry, sitting in the back, couldn't take it. Even though he and Felicia had broken up, he still felt deeply in love with her. Seeing Felicia’s pale complexion, Harry was certain that Michael must have done something to her.

*That wretched bastard, it wasn't enough to steal my company, now he’s taken my woman. Go to hell.* Harry’s rage grew, his eyes bloodshot, a crazed smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Senator Stern continued. "Have you ever seen Mr. Michael conducting experiments on mice?"

"I have, many times."

Michael interrupted their exchange, asking skeptically, "Anyone who studies biology or pharmaceuticals uses mice for experiments. That proves nothing."

Seeing Michael’s urgency, Senator Stern felt his victory was imminent. "My apologies, Mr. Michael, there is no need to be anxious. I am not suggesting that the giant rats are your experimental products just because you use mice for research."

"Fine." Michael sat back down and opened his tablet. The Red Queen provided all the information on Felicia. According to the data, her only relative was a father—an international thief known as "The Spirit Cat," who had already been captured and sentenced. Looking at his sentence, it was unlikely he would ever leave prison. Was this because of her father?

"Ms. Felicia, have you ever seen these giant rats resulting from Michael's experiments?"

"I have."

"And where did these rats go afterward?"

"I don't know. Michael never let me touch those things."

"Do you believe these rat soldiers on the streets are Michael's former test subjects?"

"Yes, they are identical."

Senator Stern turned to Michael with a triumphant smile. "Mr. Michael, how do you explain this?"

Michael stood up with a look of profound grief. "I swear to heaven that every word I am about to say is the truth. If I lie, may Thor, the God of Thunder, strike me down." He looked deeply at Senator Stern. "Senator, the truth is, you are my biological son. That year I was only three, and your mother recklessly broke into my bedroom. She was only wearing one stocking at the time, and I simply couldn't resist."

"Senator, my son, come now—call me Daddy."

Senator Stern erupted on the spot. "What the hell? Say that again, I dare you!"

"My son, how can you not understand your father’s good intentions?"

The crowd burst into uproarious laughter. Witness testimony could only serve as a reference; it was not actual evidence. Senator Stern couldn't take it anymore. *What are all of you so smug about?* He took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart.

"Michael, if you continue to insult my character, I will certainly sue you."

Michael smiled. "Then go ahead and sue."

"Don't get cocky. Someone will deal with you eventually."

"Sorry, being cocky isn't against the law."

The room erupted in applause, and some people even whistled and cheered.

"Quiet!" Senator Stern pounded his gavel.

Matt glanced at Michael, thinking, *Why do I feel like you don't need me at all?*

Michael said calmly, "If you have no other evidence, this farce can end now."

"Wait a moment. How do you explain this photo?"

Michael glanced at it. It was a picture of him with the rats. How was this possible? It was impossible for an outsider to have entered his lab. Michael’s eyes scanned the image, and the Red Queen reported, "Sir, it is a composite image."

"You confirm this isn't a doctored photo?"

Senator Stern said smugly, "Experts have verified that this is an authentic, unedited photograph."

"When you say 'experts,' do you mean blind people?"

Matt: "..." *I could sue you for discriminating against the blind.*

Senator Stern felt a flicker of insecurity. "Please provide a reasonable explanation for this photograph."

"Fine, if you insist." Michael took control of the large screen on the side, and the photo appeared on it. After zooming in, obvious blurring marks became visible. "This photo is photoshopped. It has clear signs of manipulation. I think your 'experts' should be fired."

"Furthermore, a friendly reminder: using mice for experiments is not illegal." Michael reminded him kindly, but the idiot insisted on harping on that point.

"According to laboratory regulations, mice and the like should be destroyed, and you did not destroy them."

Michael retorted, "I strictly follow laboratory regulations. Mice used for experimental purposes are destroyed immediately after the experiment ends. I do not allow any test subjects to escape into the outside world."

Senator Stern immediately countered, "Then how do you explain those giant rats?"

They were, of course, the finished product—though Michael wasn't about to say that. "I already told you, they are aliens from the Kingdom of Kengiki on the planet Cat-Death in outer space."

"You bastard!" Senator Stern, driven to fury and shame, began to curse.

Michael retaliated without mercy. And just like that, the hearing devolved into a chaotic, full-blown shouting match.