"You'd better not spout nonsense without proof. Otherwise, I'll sue you for defamation." Sylvester slammed the counter, looking furious.
"Oho? Struck a nerve? Did I hit the mark?"
A glint of joy sparked in Skott's heart. A sliver of hope returned.
There it was! This man's Trash Cans definitely had a problem.
Skott spoke as though offering kindly advice. "If you're not a fraud, then it's simple. Take out a few Curios right now and let everyone see for themselves. That should settle it."
"But can you? Aside from flattering the Divination Commission with that so-called Sixth Bullet, what else do you have?" His voice suddenly grew sharp.
Sylvester stammered on purpose, feigning fear. "W-what if I can take some out? You'd better think carefully about the consequences. Leave now, and I'll let you go. I won't pursue this matter of slander."
Fu Xuan's brow furrowed with displeasure. Skott's words made it sound as if she and Sylvester were colluding in some sort of under-the-table deal.
Yes, she had admitted that two powerful Curios had come from this store, which helped Sylvester's business—but that was simply fact.
Still, a knot of worry stirred in her chest. What if Sylvester really had nothing beyond [Zafkiel's Sixth Bullet – Vav] and [Imagine Breaker]?
After all, he did look rather guilty.
If that were true, if his head were forced down in shame and something grave happened as a result, she would never forgive herself.
Back then, she hadn't gotten those Curios purely by luck either. She had used the Third Eye, discovering that different Trash Cans had different colors.
Oh, right! She could use the Third Eye again. The process would be agonizing, but a single glimpse wouldn't cause lasting damage.
Fu Xuan closed her eyes, gathering the power of the Path. A violet spark glimmered at her brow.
Just one glance…
"Ah." She peeked into the Trash Cans and swiftly shut the Third Eye. Even so, the pain tore at her, forcing her to clutch her forehead and sink into a chair. She murmured weakly, "That scoundrel."
"Fu Xuan, what happened? Everyone, be on guard!" Feixiao, seeing her collapse while muttering about a villain, instantly thought of hidden assassins. She drew twin gunblades and shielded Fu Xuan, their black muzzles pointed directly at Skott.
The speed of her movement—no less than the famed Arbiter-General of many victorious battles.
"Master Diviner!" Qingque rushed forward, weapon in hand.
Guinaifen quickly shut down the Jade Abacus stream and grabbed the staff she normally used for street performances.
Stelle hefted her bat, eyes cold on the Interastral Peace Corporation lackeys. Hmph. Just reinforced it—if anyone dares to act up, she'll test its power on them.
Sylvester vaulted the counter, hurrying to Fu Xuan's side. His tone was urgent. "How is this possible? Who could injure you so badly in an instant?"
'Heaven and earth in turmoil, fortune after misfortune'—well? Where's that miraculous 90% healing now? Why won't it trigger in a crisis like this?
"It was you, wasn't it? Failing to buy Trash Cans, so you stooped to vile tricks to disrupt the situation." Feixiao's voice was sharp as her killing intent, a far cry from her usual bright and noble demeanor.
The chill alone made the Interastral Peace Corporation clerks—unaccustomed to blood—tremble in terror.
"L-lies! Y-you're framing us! We've done nothing!" Even Skott paled. To be accused of harming the Luofu's Master Diviner?
Forget the Shackling Prison—if Fu Xuan so much as faltered, beheading would not be excessive.
But it wasn't him! Could there truly be some evil force lurking unseen?
Sylvester grasped Fu Xuan's delicate shoulders. Normally, he might have taken a guilty moment to savor the feel of them, but right now his mind couldn't spare a thought.
He wanted nothing more than to smash every Trash Can open to find a healing pill for her.
But alas—he couldn't open them himself.
Fu Xuan raised her head faintly, eyes tinged with reproach. "Scoundrel."
She had seen it clearly: there were still several golden-violet Trash Cans remaining.
Sylvester's anxious act against Skott had been just that—an act.
Her voice was still weak. To the others, it sounded like a repetition of what she'd just said. But Sylvester understood differently.
Seeing her kitten-like expression of grievance, he swallowed hard.
Could it be that Fu Xuan had realized he was pretending to be cornered—just to trick Skott?
Had she peeked into his thoughts with the Third Eye? And drained herself to weakness because of it?
Well—her method was off, but her conclusion was spot-on. Proof enough!
"Master Diviner, you… uh…"
Sylvester pointed at her brow, then at himself. He wanted confirmation without speaking aloud.
Fu Xuan assumed he meant she had read his intent. With a faint scowl, she nodded.
Sylvester froze.
Wait—did the Third Eye actually read minds? And Fu Xuan had the hobby of peeking into people's inner thoughts?
The normally austere, upright Fu Xuan… with such a scandalous interest?
But don't worry, Master Diviner. A secret like that—I'll never breathe a word of it.
He gave her a look full of you can trust me and a discreet thumbs-up.
Fu Xuan was utterly baffled. What kind of reaction was this? Did he truly think scheming in the shadows was a badge of honor?
Little did she know that this round of chicken-and-duck charades had left Sylvester with the most depraved impression possible.
"Everyone, calm down. The Master Diviner is fine. Today has been exhausting, and she's overused the Third Eye. That's all. No enemies here—no need to panic."
Since the truth was clear, Sylvester covered it up neatly, sparing her pride.
"He speaks true." Fu Xuan saw nothing amiss in his words and agreed.
"I see." Feixiao lowered her weapons, a wave of relief flooding her chest.
If there really had been an ambush, and she had failed to sense it—then the enemy would have been terrifying beyond words.
Qingque and Guinaifen also sheathed their weapons, grateful it was only a false alarm.
Stelle, meanwhile, gazed mournfully at her bat with a 'heroic strength with no place to shine' look.
"Heh… see? Didn't I say it wasn't us? The Interastral Peace Corporation would never stoop to such vile tricks!" Skott dabbed sweat from his forehead with a tissue.
Damn it, scared me half to death. These people are way too unstable.
"Hey, hey, don't act like nothing happened! Think you can just skate by? And that little livestream star—turn the feed back on! If this Trash Can business isn't cleared up, I'll never let you go!"
Watching Skott bark and howl, Sylvester couldn't even be bothered anymore. "Why should I give you an explanation? What benefit is there for me?"
Skott sneered. "Ha! You're afraid! You're afraid! Hahaha—you are a fraud after all!"
Sylvester dug at his ear with a finger, unconcerned. "Last time in Aurum Alley, you lost a bet and had to bark like a dog. If I pull out a top-tier Curio this time, and you lose again—what then? Will you apologize and crawl like a dog?"
"Done!" Skott agreed without hesitation.
His subordinates rushed forward. "Boss, last time you—"
He shoved them away. "Out of my way! Don't ruin this for me."
Turning back to Sylvester, he added smugly, "But if I win, you'll sell every Trash Can to me. And you'll confess your crimes and march yourself to the Shackling Prison!"
Skott was proud of his verbal trap.
Without this wager, even if Sylvester failed to show a top-tier Curio, it would fall to the courts to decide whether it was fraud. And since Sylvester had already sold some top-grade items, there would be endless legal debate.
But if he agreed to the terms—ah, then the fun began. Buyers would riot. To calm the public, the Luofu itself might throw him into prison.
And all the Trash Cans would be his. Even if he didn't value their contents, the Interastral Peace Corporation's reward was real enough.
One clever scheme, and he would not only overturn defeat but also drive his enemy into ruin.
Such was the lone wolf cunning of the Skott family!
Sylvester listened to the clattering of Skott's mental abacus and nearly laughed aloud.
Brother, have you never heard of the pity system?