"Of course not! I respect the Sky-Piercing Division's judgment." Despite his punishment, a smug grin played on Scott's lips.
"I... neither do I..." Mingxi, in stark contrast, appeared deflated and lost.
Yukong surveyed them both with an impassive gaze, stating, "The Xianzhou has its laws, and businesses have their rules. Violating the Xianzhou's laws means accepting the consequences."
She paused, then continued, "As for the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce's illicit goods..."
Another pause hung in the air before she declared, "They will all be confiscated and destroyed."
Mingxi's already pale face paled further at this pronouncement.
Ultimately, Yukong delivered punishment to both sides.
The Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce and Scott's company each absorbed significant losses. The prohibited goods were seized, and individuals involved were taken for questioning.
"Mr. Daziel, I told you, that Scott was trouble!" Sushang exclaimed, practically trotting over, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
Daziel shook his head, his gaze fixed on the workers in the distance as they maneuvered boxes. His voice, laced with contemplation, countered, "The Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce is also implicated. I wouldn't be too quick to take sides just yet."
"But... those things, I truly doubt Miss Mingxi had any idea where they came from."
Sushang frowned, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. She clearly preferred to believe the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce was merely a vessel, an oversight. After all, while they handled the goods' transport, ownership could lie elsewhere.
Daziel spread his hands, a hint of helplessness in his tone. "Who can truly say what's behind it all?"
Slowly, the crowd of onlookers thinned, until the dock was almost deserted.
Just as Daziel turned to leave, a faint, soft sound reached his ears from one of the boxes.
It was like something struggling to live, weak but distinct.
Daziel's head snapped around, his eyes instantly zeroing in on the source of the sound.
The box belonged to the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce – imposing, easily taller than a person. Before the inspection, Daziel had discovered the forbidden dream bubbles…
And now, something within this very box seemed to be moving.
Were the contents of the Aurum Alley box also demon-related mechanisms?
Or…
Could it be something living?
Daziel's brow furrowed in concern, a seed of unease taking root in his heart.
The investigators had departed, leaving this particular box as a loose end.
Its contents remained a mystery.
Perhaps he needed to investigate personally to uncover the truth.
However, before Daziel could take a step, a dozen dockworkers approached rapidly, accompanied by several Jinren automatons.
The foreman, leading the group, blocked Daziel's path, his face set in a professional manner. "Mr. Daziel, the banned dream bubbles have been removed. We must ask you not to touch any other goods. These are Chamber of Commerce property, and we are responsible if anything happens to them. The inspection is concluded; you no longer have authorization to examine our merchandise."
Hearing this, Daziel's eyes flicked to the Jinren poised and ready, then towards the direction the Sky-Piercing Division had retreated…
After a moment of consideration, he stepped aside, a calm tone masking his inner thoughts. "Very well… move it along then."
"We thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Daziel."
The foreman offered a curt salute before turning to his workers. "What are you waiting for? Hurry now, get these boxes into the warehouse!"
The workers moved with practiced efficiency, carrying the boxes deeper into Aurum Alley – clearly a familiar routine.
Daziel narrowed his eyes, watching them disappear, a deep thoughtfulness clouding his gaze.
His fingers unconsciously tapped the end of the ball bat handle in his hand, lost in contemplation.
"Mr. Daziel… did you notice something special about that box? You seem quite concerned." Sushang asked, tilting her head, curiosity bright in her eyes.
"That box… I believe there's a living creature inside, though I can't say what kind…" Daziel replied, his tone laden with a gravity that hinted at something significant.
"Ah?!"
Sushang's jaw dropped, disbelief etched across her face. "A… a living creature? In a box? Could the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce be hiding more demon-related mechanisms?"
"I don't have a clear picture yet, and this is Aurum Alley territory. Everyone here works for them. Acting rashly would be unwise."
"I'll report this to Lord Yukong . The Sky-Piercing Division is best equipped to handle this. And perhaps… we should also inquire with Scott. He might know something."
Daziel's gaze remained fixed in the distance, his voice taking on a colder edge. "The waters in Aurum Alley run deeper than you imagine, Miss Sushang…"
Daziel's tone unsettled Sushang. She lowered her head, her fingers nervously twisting at the hem of her clothing. Hesitation colored her voice. "Well… if you need any help, please, remember to call on me. I… I should get going!"
With that, Sushang practically fled, her retreating back conveying a sense of unease.
Daziel remained, watching the direction the workers had vanished and then Sushang's hasty departure.
In his vision, faint lines of text shimmered above Sushang's form.
[Scan successful!]
[Current strategy target: Sushang]
[Corruption value: 0%]
[Mission: Increase Sushang's corruption value to 30%]
[Mission reward: The truth and evidence of the Aurum Alley incident]
[The truth and evidence of the Aurum Alley incident: Host, aren't you curious about what exactly happened in Aurum Alley? You only need a little bit of...]
A flicker of darkness crossed Daziel's eyes, and he murmured, barely audible, "I am curious. What kind of truth could Aurum Alley hold to warrant 30% corruption value…"
After all, the fire stick and a substantial sum of money had only yielded 50%. 30% was indeed significant.
[I assure you, Host, my pricing is not arbitrary. The secrets entwined with the Aurum Alley incident are undoubtedly worth the price.]
"Forget it. Not this time. I'm done playing your games!"
Daziel retorted in his mind, settling onto a nearby park bench with a sigh.
"Let me guess. This so-called secret is just another one of your fabrications, isn't it? You subtly manipulate this world, piece by piece, then task me with these endless, pointless missions."
"In the end, this world isn't any closer to being fixed. It's becoming more and more distorted… Do you think I'm just a puppet? Always dancing on your strings?"
Daziel grumbled, casting a disdainful glance at the subtitles hovering before him.
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Hey there! I'm Wallnut-chan! 🌸 I'm translating this fanfic and restoring some +18 scenes that were cut from the original work—since explicit content isn't allowed in China. I went through everything carefully and reinserted the scenes while staying true to the story! Hope you enjoy it!
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