Mingxi formally notified Stelle that, with her help, the Aurum Alley Chamber had successfully met this phase's revenue goal, and part of the income would be used for dock repairs.
As expected, she ordered a heap of snacks from Aunt Gao's stall, hoping Stelle would enjoy them.
Stelle arrived at the snack shop, picked up a full bag of takeout, and coincidentally received a phone notification.
It was a group chat message.
Sushang mentioned she'd caught evidence of the company representative sabotaging the dock's logistics, and Stelle hurried over to confirm.
Real business warfare often isn't about clever schemes but simple, straightforward moves.
The scene shifted with a transition.
Sushang, hands on hips, blocked Scott's path, her peripheral vision catching Stelle's arrival.
"Perfect timing! Everyone's here demanding answers from this company guy!"
Scott let out a soft hum, snapping his folding fan shut. "You open your mouth and call me 'company guy'—that's a bit rude, don't you think?
Today, I'm not representing the company. I'm just a tourist in Aurum Alley. You can call me Scott."
Stelle smirked. "Hello, company guy."
"I won't stoop to your level." Scott turned to Sushang.
"Look, I was just sending a package. Why am I being surrounded?"
Sushang: "This guy's cargo is faulty, damaging other customers' goods, causing the dock to keep paying compensation…"
Stelle stepped forward to Sushang's side.
"We need to inspect your package."
"Ha—?" Scott dug at his ear.
"Speak louder, I can't hear you. Is this how Aurum Alley treats tourists?"
[I'm dying of laughter. Why's that move so punchable?]
[Hahaha, Scott's got a face that's just hilariously great.]
[His absurdity's on par with Stelle's.]
[Your girl's had her moments, okay? This guy's clearly the classic web-drama villain about to get face-slapped.]
"If your package is the problem?" Stelle crossed her arms over her chest.
"Ha—? You say my package is the issue? I say you're the issue."
Sushang: "Enough with the snark. We're opening it now."
An honest person fears no shadow. If there's no guilt, the cargo should withstand scrutiny.
Stelle began thoroughly checking Scott's goods, wary of his tricks.
After some investigation, Stelle discovered an incense burner called the "Cloudthick Golden Toad."
Having fought countless mara-struck machines, she rarely saw one so quiet.
Sure enough, the "Cloudthick Golden Toad" woke up at that moment.
Stelle pulled out her baseball bat, shaking her head, hoping the fragile items nearby weren't that fragile.
In front of everyone,
the machine was completely wrecked.
Sushang angrily pointed at the ruined machine. "You tampered with this machine, and it's been damaging the cargo on the ship."
"Ha—?" Scott put his right hand to his ear. "Speak louder, I can't hear you."
Stelle hefted her bat. "The evidence is clear. Still denying it?"
"Clear evidence? Denying? Look closely—this antique monster isn't even mine."
After the workers confirmed the machine didn't belong to Scott,
he started getting cocky.
"Now I've got a question. My vase was perfectly packed, nearly smashed to bits. What's that about?"
Stelle put away her bat and coughed lightly. "Alright, alright, inspection's done. Prepare to ship."
"Ha—? Did I hear that right?" Scott opened his folding fan. "After all this fuss, you're not even apologizing? That's not right."
[Hahahahaha, this is so infuriating!]
[I'm actually kinda mad!]
[Sushang's so gullible!]
[Ha—?]
[Has anyone counted how many 'ha's there are?]
[I'm dying laughing. I can totally predict the plot, but I can't stop cracking up.]
[Pouring hot oil into water—what a splash!]
"This…" Sushang's tone softened noticeably.
"We have to apologize for this?"
"Ha—? No apology? That won't sound good if it gets out."
"S-Sorry."
"No big deal. Think of it as practice." Scott fanned himself twice, flashing a smug look before sweeping his sleeve and leaving.
"Apologies aren't a one-time thing, haha!"
After Scott left,
Sushang nearly ground her teeth to dust. "Grrr…"
Stelle gritted even harder. "Grrr…"
"Grrr…"
Mingxi felt that both Stelle and Sushang still lacked negotiation skills, especially with the day of the dog-barking bet approaching.
So,
under Mingxi's arrangement, Stelle headed to Chen's Workshop to learn negotiation tactics.
After a video mimicking Ace Attorney, Stelle successfully caught a corrupt dock worker bribed by the company and obtained his testimony.
Sushang clenched her fist. "Old and new scores settled together—I'll make that guy apologize publicly!"
The screen went black, and the next scene returned to the Aurum Alley dock.
In front of them was a massive long table, set up for the negotiation.
Sushang gripped Stelle's shoulders tightly. "Remember, when you're up there, aim for his weak spot."
Stelle gave Sushang a skeptical look. "I'm going to negotiate, not box!"
"I mean, if he makes a move, it's all on you, Stelle!"
Stelle nodded solemnly, removed the white towel around her neck, and joined Sushang at the wooden table.
At that moment, Xikui stepped between them.
"As a representative of the Sky-Faring Commission, I'm here to mediate the rent dispute between the Interastral Peace Corporation and the Aurum Alley Chamber."
Scott put on a helpless expression. "Mediation? Let's be real—the Chamber should've been kicked out of Aurum Alley ages ago."
Sushang's face twisted with anger. She looked at Xikui. "Can't the company send a normal person to negotiate?"
"Ha—? Speak louder, I can't hear you."
"I said, DOES THE COMPANY HAVE NO ONE ELSE?!"
[Hahaha, Sushang's breaking!]
[Sushang's too cute!]
[They even made the subtitles bigger.]
[Sushang's shouting so hard she's breaking her voice.]
[Why're you yelling so loud?]
"Ugh… hiss…" Scott took several sharp breaths. "This girl's voice is unreal—my eardrums are gonna burst…"
But the next moment, he straightened up.
"Phew, I hope when you apologize to me publicly later, you'll be just as loud!"