Behind Sushang, a person who looked like a chamber of commerce secretary stepped forward to dissuade her.
"Miss, thank you for speaking up out of a sense of justice. Please leave this matter to our Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce to handle."
"Oh dear, you people will handle it?"
The Company's business representative Skott nearly laughed out loud and spoke in a sarcastic, mocking tone:
"Wow, that's really hilarious!"
"Everyone watching here, without exception, knows that the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce has poor management and incompetent operations, right?"
"Now the dock rent is overdue and unpaid. Who do you think is to blame for this?"
"—It's all because of your Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce!"
Hearing these words, Mingxi clenched her palms tightly.
"I… cannot deny that."
"Then say it louder! Say—"
Skott cupped his hands around his mouth, clearly acting as if he wished everyone around could hear.
"—The Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce has let down the shops here, messed up the dock matters, and everyone in the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce is useless!"
"And then, for the number of days the rent is overdue, kowtow loudly to me, the Company's representative, and apologize!"
The sense of déjà vu was too strong. Stelle couldn't help but secretly complain inwardly.
"The flavor is too strong. It's exactly like the tone of a villain in those satisfying revenge novels."
March 7th: "How long are you planning to watch the show!"
Stelle: "Wait a little longer. The chamber of commerce people aren't refuting it, which means the debt is real. If you want to step forward, you need a proper reason."
"Just using the excuse that the other party has an arrogant attitude isn't enough. Let the locals charge first."
March 7th: "..."
Bailu: "Stelle is right. For now, we should just be spectators."
Even the locals beside them said so. March 7th could only suppress her impulse.
Sushang had an even straighter personality than March 7th and simply couldn't tolerate Skott's overbearing tone.
"Hey, sunglasses guy, your attitude is way too arrogant. Can't we discuss the overdue rent properly?"
"I'm not bullying anyone. Aren't I just giving a friendly reminder?"
Skott looked toward Mingxi. Although his tone temporarily lowered, the mockery in it was hard to miss.
"May I ask, this secretary miss from Aurum Alley—can the Company recover the rent?"
Mingxi felt helpless inside and looked troubled: "…Not right now."
Skott clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"The Company transferred the operating rights of this dock to your chamber of commerce, hoping Aurum Alley would prosper from then on."
"But look at it now. Such a good cargo dock has been completely wasted!"
Seeing Mingxi's difficulty, Sushang grew anxious and spoke without thinking.
"Who said the chamber of commerce definitely can't pay the rent? What if… what if they can pay it?"
"Oh dear, I don't even dare to imagine!"
Skott put on a frightened act, his body movements appearing somewhat exaggerated.
He seemed to think for a moment and put on an expression that said "don't say I didn't give you a chance."
"How about this? Let's make a bet."
"If the chamber of commerce can pay the rent, I will apologize with my head lowered in front of all the elders and folks of Aurum Alley."
"At the same time, I will loudly say that I am a blind fool! I don't know the height of the heavens or the thickness of the earth, and I only know how to bark wildly!"
"Then I will bark like a dog in front of you. How about that, little girl?"
"Alright."
Sushang had just agreed when she realized that Skott's premise was that the chamber of commerce could pay the rent.
He hadn't mentioned what would happen if they couldn't pay.
"If… I lose the bet, what do you want?"
"Simple."
Skott crossed his arms with full confidence and said cheerfully:
"You will also apologize to me in front of all the elders and folks, and bark like a dog in front of me."
"Alright, it's a deal!"
Sushang didn't want to lose momentum and agreed directly.
Stelle sighed upon seeing this and shook her head helplessly.
"What an honest little girl… Uh, Bailu, can you tell her age?"
"She is a young lady. That pure youthful energy is very obvious. Her age must be just past the coming-of-age ceremony, with an error of no more than 2 years."
Bailu answered without hesitation.
As the Dragon Maiden who holds medicine, not only did she understand the four methods of diagnosis, but visually judging a patient's age was also a necessary skill she had to master.
After all, there were plenty of people on the Luofu who lied about their age due to mara.
Even without knowing Sushang or her background, she could quickly make a judgment.
"Everyone heard it! Then I'll be waiting. Hahaha, let's go!"
A playful look flashed in Skott's eyes. After glancing at the chamber of commerce people, he swaggered away.
Mingxi's face was full of worry and apology.
"Little miss, this kind of bet brings you no benefit at all. We've dragged you into this."
"It's fine, it's fine."
Sushang shook her head, not minding much.
"I just couldn't stand how arrogant that guy looked. I had to do something. I couldn't just sit back and watch."
"We understand your good intentions, miss, but it's just… sigh."
Stelle patted March 7th's shoulder and stepped forward.
"Little miss, it seems you haven't realized what kind of trouble you've gotten yourself into."
Sushang was stunned for a moment and scratched her head.
"…After calming down, I realized that if I lose, I'll embarrass the Cloud Knights."
"But look at that guy. How arrogant he is?"
"If he loses and has to bark like a dog, that embarrassed look will definitely be very interesting."
Stelle: "I'm not pouring cold water on you, but that Company guy is definitely thinking the same thing as you."
March 7th: "So hurry up and use that excellent brain of yours to think of a way to help."
Stelle spread both hands.
"Excellent? You really think highly of me, sister. Don't forget, I'm just a child who was born not long ago."
"How would I know about business matters… Ouch! Don't pinch, it hurts!"
Her poor waist was once again tormented by March 7th's sinful little hands.
Mingxi introduced herself, then spoke in a low voice.
"The matter of the Aurum Alley dock is originally a dispute between the chamber of commerce and the Company. It shouldn't involve all of you."
Sushang: "Why not? I'm already involved."
Bailu frowned: "Why can't the dock pay the rent? You have to explain the reason clearly."
This...
Mingxi showed hesitation on her face.
A dock worker beside her let out a long sigh and persuaded: "Little secretary, just say it straight."
"Alright." Mingxi no longer insisted.
The group listened as she slowly explained, gradually understanding the cause.
Simply put, the dock's operations were poor, and costs and profits could not be balanced.
Many shops in Aurum Alley refused to cooperate with the chamber of commerce because of the dock's poor efficiency.
Now the chamber of commerce found it difficult to increase revenue or reduce expenses. They couldn't just lay off employees.
"In summary, plus the lingering effects of the Ambrosial Arbor disaster, we really have no solutions left…"
Mingxi looked deeply ashamed.
As the secretary to the chamber president, she bore undeniable responsibility for the chamber of commerce's current poor operations.
March 7th's earlier enthusiastic impulse to help cooled down rapidly.
She was equally clueless about operations and business.
"What do we do, Stelle?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Bailu looked toward Stelle, and Sushang also looked toward Stelle.
Then, everyone looked at her.
Bailu: "Did you think of something? I can tell you're very good at using your brain."
① "Let's just try it."
② "Where did you diagnose that I even have a brain?"
③ "If you fail the test, you won't have any meal tickets anymore!"
④ "I think we should consult a professional…"