[This Scott guy is seriously punchable, but I kinda love it.]
[Let him act arrogant, and he'll meet his downfall!]
[Is Scott's Interastral Peace Corporation hinting at something?]
[I can't wait to see Scott get his face slapped.]
The scene followed Scott's smug expression. "As the company's business representative, my presence at this negotiation is legal, reasonable, and justified! Who's the Aurum Alley Chamber sending? A random Cloud Knight? The coward president hiding out of sight?"
Scott's gaze landed on Stelle. "Or this temp you dragged in, looking like someone owes her fifty credits?"
Scott's words sparked public outrage, and even Xikui, presiding over the negotiation, couldn't hold back a shout. "Enough!"
After a few seconds, Xikui let out a heavy sigh. "Representative Scott, please state the company's demands."
Scott wasn't fazed. He leaned on the table with both hands and spoke slowly. "The company leased the management rights to the Aurum Alley Chamber specifically to pursue mutual growth."
Then, Stelle began to counter Scott's points in a back-and-forth.
Scott's argument was simple: the company granted the Chamber the right to use Aurum Alley, but the Chamber failed to seize the opportunity. The state of Aurum Alley was declining, with low efficiency and no productivity, completely unable to meet the demands of capital growth.
Finally, Scott tossed his bangs. "Add to that the Chamber's inability to pay rent, and we believe the Chamber should voluntarily relinquish the dock's management rights and pay additional compensation."
At that moment, a glint flashed in Stelle's eyes on camera. "The dock's debt has been paid."
Mingxi beside her quickly presented the Aurum Alley dock rent. "This is the Chamber's payment. We've turned a profit and can cover the arrears."
Scott felt his face metaphorically slapped, stumbling back two steps. "W-What?! You actually paid it? On what grounds?!"
Having proven the Chamber could settle the debt, Stelle, representing the Chamber, pressed the advantage, confronting Scott about the company's covert sabotage of the dock's operations.
Xikui, as the notary, verified the evidence. "The materials provided by the Aurum Alley Chamber are authentic and credible. Per the lease agreement, the Chamber retains the dock's management rights. Next, the Chamber claims Representative Scott has been secretly undermining dock operations. Do you have any explanation?"
Scott's nose twitched. "Stop slandering me! Why would I resort to dirty tricks? This rundown dock has no shop partnerships and constant accidents—what's that got to do with me?"
But Stelle held up the dock worker's testimony. "Afeng has confessed everything."
Sushang crossed her arms. "Hmph, this testimony is ironclad proof you instructed him to damage customers' goods."
"W-What?! That old relic… Don't Xianzhou folk always preach loyalty? I paid him so much, and he sold me out?! Damn it!!!"
[Haha, the face-slap came so fast!]
[It's cliché, but man, clichés win hearts!]
[Scott's still delivering—his tone, his moves, every smirk and gesture, so spicy!]
Xikui gathered the Chamber's submitted evidence and turned to Scott. "If your evidence holds, Mr. Scott, this is unfair business conduct. The Sky-Faring Commission will investigate further."
Scott slapped his forehead. "How did this happen? Where did I go wrong…"
"Hey!" Sushang's shout snapped Scott back.
"Don't forget our bet—you have to apologize to me in front of everyone!"
"No way! Why should I apologize to you?!"
"Because you trampled on others' efforts and used dirty tactics! If my apology could keep the people who love Aurum Alley from feeling disheartened, I'd apologize a hundred, a thousand times! But right now, the one who needs to apologize is you!"
[Yes, that's the spirit!]
[Who knew Li Big Pillow could say something like that?]
[That's my girl Sushang, my wife's awesome!]
[Look at this, another case of claiming someone else's wife. Fork him out!]
[Is it happening? Scott's gonna apologize?]
[My favorite episode, brothers!]
[It's coming, it's coming!]
[…] Scott's silence was deafening. Then, in a small voice, he said,
"I-I'm sorry to Aurum Alley…"
"Ha—?" Stelle mimicked Scott's punchable tone.
"I can't hear you. Louder."
"I-I need to apologize to the people of Aurum Alley." Scott took a deep breath and shouted, "'I'm a blind fool! Arrogant and clueless, only good for barking!'"
The bullet comments exploded:
[Haha, I liked your cocky attitude better, Scott!]
[Stelle's imitation is spot-on.]
[Again, again, I can't hear you!]
[So satisfying!]
[This is why I watched so much—just for this moment.]
Stelle's eyebrows waggled as she said in her snarky tone, "You haven't barked yet."
Sushang tugged at Stelle's sleeve. "Do we really need to do this?"
Suddenly, the surrounding crowd erupted.
"Yeah, yeah!"
"He's gotta bark!"
[…] "Ugh—enough!" Scott let out a skyward yell. Then, he started barking rhythmically.
"Woof woof! Woof woof woof! Woof—"
"Woof woof awoo—"
[Haha, how did they not crack up?]
[This is too funny, I need to record it. I'm dying.]
[That barking's too good. Did miHoYo cast Scott for this role on purpose?]
[Most satisfying episode.]
[Pepe says Scott's barking feels like a kindred spirit.]
[Scott's a real one, barking on cue.]
[Such an expressive bark.]
[What a cute doggo.]
[Laughed till I cried.]
[Perfect!! Full marks!!]
[Scott worked hard for this.]
[So fun watching someone like him lose all dignity.]
As Scott barked, everyone shuddered, looking at him strangely. Some kids nearly cried. Even Stelle felt outdone.
Xikui clicked her tongue. "What a disgrace. That's enough for today."
Then, Scott, utterly dejected, slunk away from the dock.
The dock's debt crisis was temporarily resolved, but Aurum Alley's revival was just beginning.
The story continued with Stelle rallying the Chamber, providing plenty of laughs, especially with Yukong and a spy named "Little Lord."
After finishing the movie, the young man looked at his fried chicken, no longer hungry. There was so much left—wasting it felt wrong, but not eating felt like betraying his wallet.
What to do? What else? Find another web drama with a decent runtime. Heard Matcha Cupcake was trending lately. Let's check it out! The web drama app launched the online movie Foxian Chronicles.
After a bizarre text chat interface sequence, Stelle stared at her phone, lost in thought.
No matter what education you've had—science, magic, faith, or whatever—when a third-rate internet influencer sends you a spam message claiming she saw supernatural ghosts in some abandoned garden, a normal person's reaction would be:
1.Awesome, I can get close to her!
2,What new scam is this? Block and ignore.
3.Fine, I'll check it out.
Of course, no matter the choice, Stelle secretly resolved that no matter how persuasive she was, she wouldn't spend a single credit on this trip. Not one! Besides, where would Stelle even get spare cash?
The movie hadn't even started, and the bullet comments were already exploding.
[I've never seen a movie so packed with memes!]
[Haha, dying of laughter, all memes, non-stop from the first second.]
[The writers have completely let loose.]
[I watched the Caelus version, came back for Stelle's, and I couldn't hold it together.]
[It gets wilder later.]
[My Matcha Cupcake!]
After a chaotic performance and narration, the curtain officially rose. The camera showed a red-haired foreigner. She waved at Stelle.
"Hey, Fam! You're here because you're curious about supernatural stuff, right? Perfect timing—I just finished editing the video I recorded during my live stream. It's solid evidence for you to see. Before we watch, I've got a question, family: do you believe in ghosts and spirits?"
Stelle shook her head. "One look, and it's fake. Not watching clickbait."
"Hmph, my skeptical family's in trouble now. The video I'm about to show will prove the Xianzhou is absolutely full of supernatural stuff. Enough talk—check this out. This is the creepy thing that happened during my live stream at 'Fyxestroll Garden' yesterday!"
The screen switched to a vertical video, with Guinaifen's face filling most of the frame. Guinaifen whispered into her phone, "Family, your Little Gui is currently at the spookiest supernatural hotspot on the Luofu—'Fyxestroll Garden.'"
Her eyes darted nervously, then she pulled the camera back to show the full view of Fyxestroll Garden. "Family, hit like, follow, and share to give Little Gui some courage!"
[Why does this feel like that video where Little Gui got caught sneaking into miHoYo?]
[Is this blending reality and fiction? Haha.]
[Gotta say, Guinaifen's pretty cute. Perfect wife material.]
[Calling everything wife material will only hurt you.]
Suddenly, Sushang appeared behind Guinaifen, hands clasped nervously in front of her chest, looking timid. "I heard this place has had a lot of weird stuff happening lately…"
Guinaifen shouted at Sushang, "You're so scared… Weren't you supposed to protect me?!"
"Cloud Knight swordsmanship can't cut invisible things!"
Just then, a flash of light zipped over their heads. Guinaifen: "Did something just run past?!"
Sushang, gripping her sword with both hands, slowly backed away, stuttering, "D-D-D-Don't panic… I'm here…"
A wisp of ghost fire floated by, whispering… "Woo… died so tragically…"
"Ah!" Sushang screamed, and the screen went black.
Hours later, the camera switched to an Automaton Bird's recording perspective. Sushang lay on the ground in the same pose as the Troupe Leader, her body outlined in administrative white chalk.
Beside Sushang stood Xueyi and a petite foxian woman with green hair.
[I can't, my stomach hurts from laughing.]
[This program's effect is explosive.]
[Li Big Pillow, haha, did she faint from fear? And that chalk outline, seriously?]
[Don't stop, Troupe Leader!]
[Flower of Hope!]
[Finally, my beloved Matcha Cupcake!]
Guinaifen gesticulated wildly at the two newcomers.
"It was this tiny spirit flame, got this big! It came from over there, got close to us, and then—'Grah!' 'Eek—' Sushang just collapsed."
Xueyi and the green-haired foxian woman exchanged a glance. The foxian woman crouched beside Sushang, and the camera zoomed in on her face.
"Miss Sushang, get up already. Isn't it cold?"
Click. Guinaifen put away her video, raising an eyebrow as if to say, "How's that for impressive?"
"After it happened, my friend and I got kicked out of Fyxestroll Garden, but family, did you catch the key point?"
Stelle blinked. "The ghost was a 50-cent special effect?"
"No way! That chill, that unnatural floating trajectory—it was definitely a real ghost! No, no, the key is…"
"The bullet comments feel like they're all from bots…"
Guinaifen gave a wry smile. "Your focus is way too weird, family. Think again?"
"How'd it switch to a third-person perspective?"
"It's editing. I added some editing." Guinaifen crossed her arms over her chest.
"Look closely—the ones handling this weren't the Divination Commission or Cloud Knights, but Judges from the Ten-Lords Commission!"
Guinaifen emphasized "Ten-Lords Commission" heavily. But Stelle's brain didn't retain such details.
"So… what's the Ten-Lords Commission?"
Guinaifen's pupils shrank sharply. "You've been on the Xianzhou this long and haven't heard of the Ten-Lords Commission? They're the most mysterious organization on the Xianzhou! Their agents appear and vanish mysteriously. Wherever they show up, major cases are happening! In other words, something huge must've gone down in Fyxestroll Garden for them to get involved."
Guinaifen shared her theory: there must be a conspiracy! No, a ghost! She invited Stelle to join her at Fyxestroll Garden—not to become boring adults, definitely not for clout.
Stelle blew her bangs. For something like this, the Galactic Baseballer couldn't back down. Of course, she wasn't in it for clout either. "Let's go see some ghosts~"