The "Sea Palace" Case: Entrusted with a Heavy Responsibility — The Ultimate Revelation of the "Sea Palace" Case (Episode 19)

5. Entrusting with an Important Task

Just a few days after their first meeting, Guo summoned Lawyer Zhiming to his villa in Eastern OCT, Shenzhen. The two met again to communicate and delve into the issues surrounding the "Maritime Palace" dispute. As they grew more familiar with each other, and given that they were in Guo's leisurely and comfortable home, decorated according to his artistic, unconventional, and free-spirited tastes, they cast aside worldly constraints and engaged in an in-depth discussion on every aspect of the "Maritime Palace" case. Lawyer Zhiming also provided a more detailed analysis specifically addressing the concerns that weighed on Guo's mind. This meeting further bolstered Guo's confidence. Over the past few months, the government's actions had been utterly heartless—even when Guo proposed donating the "Maritime Palace" to the state as a research and exploration base for marine development, there was no positive response from the authorities. At this point, Guo had no choice but to go all out and demand an explanation from the government in court. With his artistic temperament, Guo had always acted with abandon, while Lawyer Zhiming, devoted to tackling complex cases and relishing the chance to speak out for justice and challenge authority, was equally unconstrained by trivial formalities. The two quickly settled on the terms of their cooperation. Guo immediately instructed Zhang Guangbin to arrange for Shenzhen Maritime Elite Entertainment Co., Ltd. to complete the power-of-attorney procedures with Lawyer Zhiming. After accepting the commission, Lawyer Zhiming, in his capacity as counsel, handled two matters for Guo: first, filing an application with the court on behalf of Shenzhen Maritime Elite Entertainment Co., Ltd. to halt the forced demolition; second, attending the hearing organized by the court on June 15 regarding that application. Following this, Lawyer Zhiming threw himself wholeheartedly into preparations for the formal trial scheduled for June 21. By then, less than a week remained before the court date set by the Longgang District People's Court.

It was during the second face-to-face meeting where both parties confirmed the principal-agent relationship that Attorney Zhiming, on the spot at Guo's home, went through the entire set of documents in Zhang Guangbin's possession, particularly the complete historical records concerning the "Sea Palace." Mastering the full set of materials in the shortest possible time according to the inherent logic of the matter, then reorganizing and rearranging them based on legal logic, accurately identifying the "points of contention" and "crucial issues" of the case, and determining the strategy for winning the lawsuit—this is the unique skill and core expertise that Attorney Zhiming has honed through decades of litigation practice. The legal crux of the "Sea Palace" case was already clear in his mind, and he had articulated it incisively in earlier media interviews. Now, upon his first contact with the first-hand materials of the "Sea Palace," it essentially confirmed his original legal assessment and bolstered his confidence in winning the case. However, the "Sea Palace" case was, after all, a nationally influential and difficult major case that could not be taken lightly. Attorney Zhiming immediately made a somewhat unexpected request to Guo and Zhang Guangbin: to visit the "Sea Palace" site in person.

For difficult and major cases, placing emphasis on on-site investigation and evidence collection is a habit that Zhiming lawyers developed early in their careers when they first started practicing in their hometown of Tongling City. Seeing how meticulous and thorough Zhiming lawyers were in their work, Guo, whose surname is Guo, was very pleased and said, "This is very close to Dongshan Bay in Nan'ao. If you're interested, we can go there for a visit right now!"

"That's for the best. Time is tight—there are only six days until the trial. Since we've taken on this case, we must give it our all and strive to win this lawsuit decisively!" Attorney Zhiming declared with firm conviction.

Since the海上floating island was forcibly demolished on April 9th, Guo had not returned, only occasionally catching glimpses of the sea home he had poured so much effort into through news footage. Today, revisiting the old site stirred a mix of emotions, inevitably leading to a wave of reflections. Meanwhile, Attorney Zhiming, upon stepping onto the floating island, immediately immersed himself in focused work. He examined everything with great care, thoroughly investigating the surrounding conditions, leaving no detail on the island unexamined, and frequently asking questions. His demeanor and manner were just like a detective fully dedicated to cracking a case. Seeing Zhiming's dedicated spirit and meticulous work ethic, Guo had no choice but to set aside his melancholy and, together with his secretary Zhang Guangbin, fully assist Attorney Zhiming in his investigation and evidence collection.

Lawyer Zhi Ming compared the beautiful photos of the "Sea Palace" in its prime with the sight of the floating island remnants, now like a plucked phoenix, and could hardly suppress the pain and indignation in his heart. He also felt the heavy burden on his shoulders and silently resolved: he must seek justice in court for the tragic fate of the floating island. Carrying the first-hand impressions gained from the on-site inspection and the sense of responsibility that arose naturally, along with the complete set of written materials Zhang Guangbin had on hand, Lawyer Zhi Ming hurriedly took his leave of Guo, returned to the law firm, set aside all other matters, and threw himself into preparing for the court hearing.

Lawyer Zhiming's family has this assessment of him: "A genius when handling cases, but often appears quite inept in daily life." This evaluation is both praise and affectionate concern. It means that no matter how complex or difficult the case, once it falls into Lawyer Zhiming's hands, it will be smoothly resolved. The more challenging and perplexing the case, the more it ignites his fighting spirit and inspiration. Moreover, when working on a case, he loses track of time, forgets to eat and sleep, rests little, and neglects everything else. On the other hand, when not handling cases and returning to ordinary life, Lawyer Zhiming often makes mistakes in managing everyday trivialities and frequently hits walls in navigating social nuances.

In fact, Lawyer Zhiming's "genius" is more the result of thirty years of hard work and relentless effort. Now, faced with a high-profile national case like the "Sea Palace" and with less than a week to prepare, Lawyer Zhiming naturally throws himself into it with his signature relentless, all-out work ethic—scouring every relevant law and regulation, carefully reviewing and verifying each piece of evidence, and repeatedly refining his outline for the client's arguments. His mind works like a motor humming at full speed, constantly turning over every detail of the "Sea Palace" case. After several days of this, Lawyer Zhiming has visibly lost weight. When Guo, the client, sees him again the day before the trial, he is taken aback by Zhiming's haggard face and bloodshot eyes. But Zhiming tells him in a low, steady voice, "I'm fine. Everything is ready—let's see what happens in court tomorrow!"

(To be continued)