Scott pulled himself together again.
He had only been shaken by the kid's words. Thinking it through carefully, there were still plenty of things that didn't make sense.
Scott gritted his teeth and encouraged himself internally before straightening his expression.
This white-haired brat really had an absurdly sharp tongue. No matter what he said, the other side always responded with the calm confidence of someone firmly in control.
But...
"So what if you can refute everything I say? There's still the most important issue right now. The guild has no ability to pay the rent!"
"I believe the guild should voluntarily surrender the dock management rights and pay additional compensation."
Hearing Scott's words, Stelle smiled faintly, "What makes you think we can't pay the rent?"
"If you can pay it, then show the proof!" Scott raised a brow. No matter what, he simply didn't believe the guild could repay the rent.
Then Scott saw the smile on the gray-haired girl's face grow even wider.
The way Stelle was acting made Scott feel uneasy.
Ever since he had gone up against this group, nothing seemed to have gone smoothly... and right now, that fearless expression on her face already explained a lot.
"The docks have already paid it back," Stelle said.
The little secretary also handed over the related documents and procedures for Xikui from the Sky-Faring Commission to review.
"The guild has already turned its losses into profits and is capable of repaying the debt," the little secretary said.
"W-What?!" Scott froze, staring blankly at the submitted documents.
People might not like him, but he was professionally competent. In fact, he barely even needed to carefully examine the documents before reaching a conclusion.
Very quickly, Scott's expression twisted. "You actually paid it back? How is that possible?!"
He couldn't understand it. He really couldn't.
'Why?'
'How?'
These past few days, the docks really had started operating again, but he had seen exactly how they were being run. He had even bribed people to sabotage things from the shadows during the process...
Something like this required time for profits to accumulate. Just like that little white-haired bastard had said, the docks had only been operating for a few days.
Even if Director Topaz herself had supervised the project, Scott still didn't believe the profits could possibly be enough to cover the guild's debt without sufficient reputation and starting capital...
"Wait... reputation..."
Scott suddenly realized something. His gaze shifted stiffly until it landed on Nero's face.
He felt like he finally understood why he had suddenly become everyone's target after his usual mocking remarks.
So this was where he had lost a move.
This little bastard might not actually have a relationship with Director Topaz, but he definitely carried significant influence on the Xianzhou.
Damn it. He had thought the kid was only doing promotion work at Sleepless Earl Tea House, but it turned out...
'No wonder so many shops had stayed here...'
'So that's how it was. So that's how it was!'
'Everything is connected. Everything is finally connected!'
Scott's eyes lost focus slightly as he muttered to himself nonstop.
At that moment, all the clues hidden in the dark, the things Scott had never understood, lit up one after another like flames, illuminating everything he had failed to see.
Every piece connected together at last, and within that giant web, it seemed his defeat had been inevitable from the very beginning.
That reality left Scott somewhat dazed. He had never imagined this outcome.
Scott staggered back two steps, his chest heaving violently. Amid his heavy breathing, all he felt inside was coldness.
What was more frustrating than losing everything from the very start was failing at the final step.
And what was more despairing than failing at the final step was realizing you had already lost everything from the very beginning.
But Xikui's voice soon pulled Scott back to reality.
"The materials provided by the Aurum Alley Guild are authentic and credible. According to the rental agreement between both parties, the guild still retains management rights over the docks.
"Next, the guild has accused Representative Scott of secretly sabotaging dock operations. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Scott clenched his teeth and rapidly adjusted his emotions. He had already lost one round. He absolutely could not admit guilt now.
"Stop slandering me. Why would I sabotage anything? Your lousy docks had no shop cooperation to begin with, and accidents kept happening constantly. What does that have to do with me?
"Besides, I'm not involved in shipping operations at the docks. Are you saying I bribed the dock workers too? What a joke."
Although Scott's tone remained stubbornly forceful, anyone could hear from his increasingly agitated voice that he was panicking.
Stelle quietly listened until Scott finished speaking before slowly opening her mouth.
"Afeng already confessed everything. The relevant evidence has also been recovered by the Ten-Lords Commission. Do you want to see how effective the Ten-Lords Commission can be?"
"Right now the evidence is ironclad. You were the one who instructed Afeng to sabotage other customers' goods!" Sushang added.
"Th... what?!" Scott frowned, then cursed under his breath.
"That old fossil. Don't Xianzhou people always preach loyalty and honor? I gave him so much money, and he sold me out immediately?"
"Damn it, no, wait, the Ten-Lords Commission dug this up? Damn that Ten-Lords Commission. Why are they so competent?!"
After saying that, Scott looked toward Nero again. Seeing the boy's smiling face only made his anger flare even more.
"This little bastard, it's all because of him. If he hadn't sent the guy to the Ten-Lords Commission, none of this would've happened!"
"Mr. Scott, after investigation by the Ten-Lords Commission, the evidence is now conclusive. You engaged in improper business practices. Is there anything else you'd like to say?" Xikui looked at Scott.
Scott lowered his head. "How did it turn out like this... damn it..."
"Hey! What are you mumbling over there?" Sushang looked at Scott. "Don't forget our bet. You owe me an apology in front of everyone!"
"No way!" Scott immediately raised his head and shouted. "Why should I apologize to you?!"
"Because you trampled on other people's hard work. Because you used dirty tricks!" Sushang declared righteously.
"If apologizing could keep the people who love Aurum Alley from becoming disheartened, then I'd apologize a hundred times, a thousand times! But right now, the one who should apologize is you!"
Scott frowned, gritted his teeth, and shouted back, "Why!? I used dirty tricks with my own ability, so why should I apologize? If you want to apologize, that's your business. What does that have to do with me?!"
"You!" Sushang opened her mouth, but she had no idea what words could even describe Scott's shameless behavior.
Nero patted Sushang's hand, signaling for her to calm down, then spoke, "Sister Sushang, saying righteous things like that to someone like him is useless."
After saying that, Nero turned toward Scott again.
"I'll tell you why you need to apologize. Because you lost the bet."
Scott, "..."
Th-That actually made way too much sense.
After a brief silence, Scott looked at Nero again. Suddenly, he felt as though there was something different about him now.
This little bastard... he's someone who understands me.
Scott thought that to himself, though he had no idea why such a feeling had suddenly appeared.
And after another moment of silence, Scott let out a sigh before finally speaking quietly, "I... I'm sorry, Aurum Alley..."