Scott let out a sigh. Behind his sunglasses, his eyes narrowed as he looked at the people in front of him.
"As the company's business representative, attending this negotiation is perfectly legal, reasonable, and justified."
"But who exactly is your Aurum Alley Guild planning to send up against me? Some passing Cloud Knight? That cowardly guild leader hiding who knows where?"
"Or this girl you dragged in at the last minute who looks like the world owes her fifty credits? Or maybe this white-haired brat standing there like a decorative vase?"
"That's enough. Representative Scott, explain the company's demands." Xikui frowned, glanced at Nero to make sure the child didn't look upset, then turned back to Scott.
"Oh? So this is how people from the Sky-Faring Commission handle things? What kind of attitude is that?" Scott kept going.
"Hurry up." Xikui narrowed her eyes, her voice turning colder.
Scott frowned. Just as he was about to continue, he suddenly felt as if something had locked onto him. A chill crept up his spine.
He quickly looked around and realized everyone nearby was staring at him with hostile expressions.
Even the Vidyadhara employees working under him had the same look in their eyes.
Scott blinked, suddenly feeling his clothes cling to his skin as cold sweat trickled down from his forehead.
What the hell was going on?
How had he suddenly become public enemy number one?
What crime had he committed?
Why had he suddenly provoked everyone's anger?
Something was wrong. Very wrong. Nine parts out of ten wrong.
Scott realized there was a problem, but he couldn't figure out what it was or what had caused the situation to turn out like this.
But one thing he did know was that he absolutely could not keep talking.
Because at that very moment, he had the distinct feeling that if he said one more thing, the crowd might tear him apart alive.
As a proud lone wolf, Scott knew very well that he could not fall here. He still had to keep climbing higher.
So he quickly composed himself, stopped wasting words, and finally got to the point.
"The company specifically transferred the dock management rights to the Aurum Alley Guild in hopes of pursuing mutual development."
"Then why couldn't the company operate the docks itself?" Stelle asked.
"Oh? Are you implying the company set a trap for Aurum Alley?" Scott said disdainfully.
"The company rents the docks to the guild, the guild fails to manage them properly, and then its accumulated reputation is completely destroyed?"
"You really know your stuff." Nero looked at Scott with a smiling face.
Sushang added, "That's definitely what you were thinking!"
Scott smiled faintly. "By saying that, you're admitting the guild would definitely fail to manage the docks properly."
"Ugh... you nasty bastard..." Sushang got stuck for words.
"In that case, if you don't have any ulterior motives, then I don't see any reason for this debate to continue. Sister Xikui, what do you think?" Nero spoke up at that moment.
Xikui nodded. "I think Nero is right."
Scott, "?!" Huh? Was that what I meant?!
"Hold on!" Scott interrupted and glared at Nero. "Of course I have a motive. My motive is... no, wait, who's even talking about that with you?! We're clearly discussing the Aurum Alley Guild's poor management!"
Scott took a deep breath, reorganized his thoughts, then continued, "The guild has refused to cooperate with the major shops in Aurum Alley. A dock that was once bustling with prosperity has now become deserted."
"The guild has never refused to cooperate with the shops," Stelle said.
"Never refused?" Scott sneered again. "Then let me ask you this. How many shops have joined your logistics network so far?"
Sushang said, "There'll be more in the future."
"In the future? How far in the future?" Scott said. "According to you Xianzhou people, five hundred years from now? Hah! Do you think the shops here can afford to wait that long?"
"Uh... well... ten years? Twenty years? Stelle, what do we do? I... I can't answer that either." Sushang was speechless again.
"If they think the timeline's too long, then they can leave. Why insist on staying in Aurum Alley? They can do business somewhere else too." Nero curled his lips.
"Haha! What's this, now you want to drive the shops out too? So this is what your Aurum Alley Guild is really like?" Scott said smugly, as though he had finally grabbed hold of Nero's weakness.
"Drive them out? Of course not. But if they can't wait, then sooner or later they'll leave anyway. Leaving earlier just means wasting less of their youth and money."
"Isn't that for their own good? Besides, we never forced anyone to stay, and we never forced anyone to leave either. Whatever decision they make is still up to them, isn't it?"
Nero spread his hands, then looked toward Scott.
"You're the one getting worked up here. Sure, the company won the management rights to the Aurum Alley docks, but Aurum Alley itself still belongs to us."
"What, are you trying to swallow Aurum Alley whole on the company's behalf too? Aren't you worried that before the company's reward reaches you, you'll already be skewered by the Hunt's arrow? Besides, there's no guarantee the company would even reward you."
Scott, "I..." What a sharp-tongued little brat.
"Hmph. Then what do you have to say about this? Aurum Alley's docks have low transport efficiency and low transaction volume. They're creating no value at all. That's proof of poor management."
"The docks have already improved their transport efficiency, and shipment volume is steadily increasing," Stelle said.
"Hah?! You don't seriously think this tiny amount of business is enough, do you?" Scott cried out dramatically.
Anyone could tell he was deliberately being obnoxious. "The shop owners in Aurum Alley aren't here to play house with you people. Everyone's trying to make money."
Nero shook his head. "The new logistics system has only been running for a few days. How much profit are you expecting already?"
"Are you the God of Wealth or something? A newly planned route starts making mountains of money after barely ten days?"
"Even you can't do something like that, so what gives you the right to demand others do it?"
"And like I said before, if they don't want to open shops in Aurum Alley, they're free to leave. Oh, and by the way, the new logistics route plan was designed by Sister Topaz, one of the Ten Stonehearts from the company~"
"Huh?" Scott staggered back two steps, staring at Nero.
'What the hell is wrong with this damned white-haired brat?'
Today was absolutely the worst beating he'd taken since the start of his career.
How could someone so young act like such an impossible pain in the ass?
'No, this isn't just being shameless. This kid is a little tyrant. He clearly didn't take anyone seriously!'
Scott gritted his teeth and steadied himself again. Nero's words had made him a little uneasy, but he still forced himself to speak.
"Haha... quit joking around. How could someone like you possibly know Director Topaz? And she even designed routes for you people? Nice fantasy."
But after he finished refuting him, Nero's reaction only made Scott feel even more uncertain.
The boy merely smiled faintly, completely unhurried. His emotions were so stable it was ridiculous.
Even the gray-haired girl and the seemingly airheaded Cloud Knight, after their brief surprise, had started smiling like they were enjoying his misfortune.
"Whether it really came from Sister Topaz or not, won't you find out once you get back to the company? Hehe."
Hearing the boy's voice, Scott swallowed hard.
"Sister Topaz"... such an intimate way of addressing her.
But he had never heard that Director Topaz had a Xianzhou little brother.
Something was wrong. Seriously wrong.
'Trying to trick me?'
'Impossible!'
'You're not fooling me.'
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