Chapter 1 The Law Office in the Alley
The midday sun scorched the pavement as Lin Chong navigated the winding lanes of Taipei’s Chongqing South Road on his scooter, a safety helmet strapped tightly to his head. Sweat trickled down his neck as he muttered under his breath, “Global warming’s frying us alive—summers are unbearable, winters feel like Siberia, polar bears are dying off, and the end of the world is probably just around the corner. But before doomsday hits… I still need a job. Otherwise, I’ll meet my end even worse than those poor polar bears.”
Chongqing South Road was a peculiar place. Two types of shops lined the streets in unusual abundance: bookstores and law firms. The latter was no coincidence—just a few minutes’ walk away, on Broadlove Road, sat several of the busiest courts in the city. For the city’s overworked lawyers, a location nearby was crucial. With three or four hearings a day, proximity meant survival. No one had time to fight both court deadlines and Taipei’s infamous traffic jams.
Fresh out of university, Lin Chong was headed to Gaibang Law Firm, tucked away in one of the alleyways off Chongqing South Road. After circling the area in confusion more than once, he finally located Lane 543 at the far end of the road. He turned in and followed the foul, cracked gutters for about a hundred meters before spotting the battered aluminum sign: Gaibang Law Firm. The office was on the fourth floor.
The building itself looked as if it had been forgotten by time. The sign was faded, the entrance door warped and rusting. Still, the location had its merits—just ten minutes by scooter to the courthouse.
He parked and pressed the intercom for the fourth floor. No response. A second later, the front door creaked open on its own.
The stairwell was dim and narrow. Paint peeled from the walls in uneven patches, and the space was suffocating—no windows, no light fixtures, just shadows that grew darker with each step upward. A chill ran down Lin Chong’s spine. “Can a law firm in a place like this really have clients?” he wondered uneasily. “What if it’s not a law firm at all, but a front for some fraud syndicate? Am I walking into a trap? What if I end up part of some criminal operation, unable to escape?”
His nerves tangled with each step, and before he knew it, he had reached the fourth floor.
Just as his foot hit the landing, the iron door ahead swung open with a metallic groan. A deep, slightly nasal voice called out from the shadows, “I’m Attorney Hu Shuo. Come in.”
Lin Chong stepped forward. Behind the door stood a man with wild, unkempt hair that nearly covered his eyes. Thick black-rimmed glasses clung to his face. His features were angular—sharp nose, narrow eyes—but largely obscured by the mass of tangled hair. Still, there was something about him that made Lin Chong’s heart skip a beat. Anxiety mingled with a strange flicker of anticipation.
Inside, the office was a blend of the functional and the neglected. The main area housed a large glass conference table for eight, flanked by two desks behind dull gray partitions. To the side, a worn sofa and round coffee table rested in a tight corner. At the back was a private office, its door slightly ajar.
“Let’s talk in my office,” Hu Shuo said, already turning.
Lin Chong followed him inside. A massive rosewood desk dominated the space, its surface cluttered with well-worn law books—the Six Law Codes, both full and pocket editions. Behind it, bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling, stuffed with thick tomes. Two rounded armchairs with padded backs sat in front of the desk, and at its center rested a sleeping laptop, its screen dark.
Hu Shuo gestured for him to sit. Lin Chong lowered himself into one of the chairs, while the lawyer took his place behind the desk.
“I read your résumé,” Hu Shuo said bluntly. “Looks like you just graduated this year. Any particular area of law you’re passionate about? Any type of case you’re hoping to work on?”
Lin Chong sat up straight. “I don’t have any real experience yet,” he admitted. “I just want to learn. I’m open to all kinds of cases.”
Hu Shuo leaned forward slightly, folding his hands. “I’ll be honest. I don’t sugarcoat things. Most of what I handle is criminal defense—murderers, robbers, rapists. People who aren’t exactly easy to deal with. You look like a bookish type. Think you can handle that?” He paused, studying Lin Chong. “Also, sometimes I’ll need you to go out and gather information—quietly. That something you can do? If it scares you, or you’re unsure, best to walk away now. Don’t force yourself into something you can’t handle.”
Lin Chong tapped his chest with confidence. “I can handle it. Don’t let my looks fool you—I’ve trained in fighting, full-contact combat. If you want proof, I can show you a few moves.”
Hu Shuo grinned, a glint of amusement in his eye. “Then you start tomorrow.”