Three different choices appeared before Qin Mu, visible only to him. This time, the system directly provided three defense options: sentence reduction, a suspended sentence, or an acquittal defense!

Strictly speaking, the first option was the simplest, and its defense was the easiest. It only required finding mitigating circumstances for Song Yun's actions that could lead to a lighter sentence.

The second option was relatively harder. According to Articles 72 and 74 of the Criminal Law, suspended sentences generally only apply to fixed-term imprisonment of less than three years and in cases with significantly minor circumstances. That is to say, he needed to reduce Song Yun's sentence to less than three years and meet the conditions for a suspended sentence. Reducing a sentence from twelve years to less than three years was extremely difficult. Nevertheless, though a suspended sentence doesn't require prison time, it still results in a criminal record, which has a tremendous impact on one's future life.

As for the third option... an acquittal defense was actually the hardest.

"DING! Please make a choice as soon as possible!"

While Qin Mu pondered, the system urged him again.

Qin Mu took a deep breath.

Three, he thought, choosing the number.

Although he knew it was the hardest, he still wanted to attempt it, even if it meant forfeiting this reward.

...

「Nursing Home.」

「Legal Consultant's Office.」

After agreeing to Old Song's request, Qin Mu went there and told Wang Dachui about the parrot case.

"What?"

The Criminal Law book in Wang Dachui's hands fell to the ground with a CLATTER. His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. He swallowed hard and asked again for confirmation, "You're aiming for an acquittal?"

Qin Mu nodded, his expression earnest.

"You may not have a lawyer's license, but your understanding of the law is far deeper than mine. Surely you know the chances of successfully appealing a case prosecuted by the procuratorate, don't you?" Wang Dachui said, giving Qin Mu a long, hard look.

Qin Mu nodded and replied, "Less than three percent."

He was well aware of this. Cases prosecuted by the procuratorate were almost never wrongful convictions. Most defendants opted for a defense seeking sentence reduction; contesting the charges was nearly impossible.

"And you still want to try?" Wang Dachui couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Qin Mu's lips twitched, but he insisted, "I find this kind of rigid, mechanical application of justice unacceptable. Twelve years is simply too harsh."

Previously, although he had been responsible for sending many people to prison, they had all deserved it. Song Yun, however, was different. He had kept the parrot privately, purely as a hobby, with no initial intention of selling it. He only sold it due to the guest's persistent requests.

"However, I haven't passed the bar exam yet, so I need a lawyer."

Finally, Qin Mu explained his reason for being there. Although he had promised to help Song Tiancheng, he wasn't currently a lawyer himself and thus couldn't participate in the defense. He had to rely on someone he knew. In Jin City, he only knew Wang Dachui and Zhang Wei. He'd heard that Zhang Wei's schedule was completely full recently, so Zhang Wei likely wouldn't be able to take on this case.

"You want me to handle it?" Wang Dachui's eyes widened again.

"You'd better think this through. I'm just an amateur. In criminal cases where I have a significant advantage, I can guarantee I won't lose.

"In evenly matched cases, I can only promise not to lose too embarrassingly.

"But in an uphill battle like this... I'll probably lose miserably." He stared at Qin Mu, laying his cards on the table.

His expertise was originally in civil law. Although he had recently been cramming criminal law, he hadn't handled many actual criminal cases. The ones he had were all slam dunks brought to him by Qin Mu—the kind even a pig could win. But this case... he had no confidence in it whatsoever.

"Don't worry. Once I've organized the defense strategy, I'll give you the plan. You just need to present it in court," Qin Mu shrugged and said casually.

He had approached Wang Dachui simply because he needed a front man, Qin Mu thought.

"Oh, good." Only then did Wang Dachui relax and agree to take on the defense for this case.

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