March 7th smiled mysteriously.
"Actually, I've been near you guys the whole time. You just didn't notice."
Stelle immediately grew curious: "Tell us the details."
March 7th: "Whether I tell you or not, it's pretty much the same. Anyway, Leon has great foresight!"
This time, not only Stelle was curious—everyone else felt like a cat was lightly scratching at their hearts.
Only Mingxi was momentarily lost in thought before a flash of insight hit her.
She had not forgotten the task Leon had assigned to March 7th.
And what March 7th said next perfectly confirmed her guess.
"I saw the entire confrontation between you and that Skott just now."
"Originally, Leon said it wasn't time for me to appear yet. But since Skott made the first move to stir up trouble, we have to take action too."
"The business world is like a battlefield. When morale and fighting spirit take a hit, they must be rebuilt and inspired."
Stelle: "…Forgive me for being blunt, but that last part doesn't sound like something you would say…"
March 7th looked embarrassed: "Leon said it. I'm just repeating."
She didn't feel like she was being called out.
That was simply the truth. Otherwise, why would people say that when the Astral Express crew deals with scheming and infighting, it's always the seniors handling it?
This time, the seniors stayed behind the scenes, using an invisible hand to control the overall situation and letting the juniors take the stage.
"Back to the main topic. I have evidence proving that the recent incidents of cargo being destroyed are all related to the Company!"
March 7th shook the camera and phone in her hand.
"I clearly captured the traitor who was sabotaging things. It's an employee from the freight warehouse named A Feng."
Everyone was first stunned, then fury rose from their hearts.
Previously, whether it was speculation or tacit acceptance, it had all been mere conjecture based on the lack of evidence.
But once the suspicion was confirmed with solid proof, the nature of the matter completely changed.
"I knew it!!!"
Sushang gritted her teeth, lifting her hand to grip her massive and heavy Xuanyuan Sword tightly.
"Just watch me arrest that guy and send him to the Equilibrium Court!"
Stelle quickly grabbed her.
"Sushang, don't be hasty!"
"Huh?"
"Even if you go find him, you probably won't be able to do anything to him. We need to first find ironclad evidence of A Feng colluding with the Company, then use it to pry open his mouth and obtain a confession."
Stelle's reason was not overwhelmed by anger. Her thoughts flowed smoothly as she spoke rationally.
"As long as we have both physical evidence and a witness, we won't have to fear Skott making any waves when we confront him again."
"Also, we need to handle things one step at a time."
"Since you agreed to Skott's bet in front of everyone, you must help the Chamber of Commerce repay the owed amount as promised."
"This concerns not only credibility but also the future. It proves that the Chamber of Commerce has the ability to operate Aurum Alley better."
"When that guy receives the repayment and shows an expression like he swallowed a fly, we'll expose the whole thing and give him an even bigger surprise."
"Because the bet is known to everyone, there will definitely be many people present."
"While we repay the debt, we'll reveal Skott's dirty deeds. This will surely ignite public outrage and completely ruin his reputation."
"In this way, we can take advantage of the situation, using the indignant public opinion to directly drive the Company out of Aurum Alley."
"The premise for completing all this is that no matter how angry we get right now, we must force ourselves to suppress our out-of-control emotions."
"Strategy values endurance above all. Those who accomplish great things must learn to endure."
"If you don't endure, how can you become the Crooked-Mouth Dragon King? How can you make a shocking return?"
March 7th tilted her head: "Crooked-Mouth Dragon King? What does that mean?"
Stelle gave a dry cough: "My mouth slipped. Sorry. Anyway, I think I made myself clear?"
After listening to Stelle's speech, Sushang's eyes lit up brightly. Bailu gave an approving look.
March 7th, on the other hand, generously praised her without holding back.
"I told you I wasn't wrong to praise you before. Your mind truly deserves the word 'outstanding'."
Stelle humbly waved her hand.
"I learned well from the seniors."
Especially Leon.
The experience of entering his past memories had an extremely profound impact on her.
The best way to grow is to personally experience memorable trials.
Although in those past memories she had viewed everything through others' or other objects' perspectives, it was not much different from experiencing it herself.
Leon had countless past identities. While he didn't do much merchant work, he had done it at least a few times.
"Put praising me aside for now. The urgent task is to find records of A Feng's underhanded operations."
"With my current authority being second only to the President, obtaining these shouldn't be difficult."
"Little Secretary, remember to have someone keep a close eye on A Feng. Bring him over as soon as I send the message."
"I'll arrange it right away." Mingxi took out her phone and contacted people on the spot to carry it out.
March 7th: "There's one thing I don't quite understand. It's been bothering me for a long time. Little Secretary, is it okay to ask?"
Mingxi: "You're too polite. Miss March, please speak freely. I'll tell you everything I know."
March 7th: "Aurum Alley is part of the Luofu's territory. How did the Company end up with the dock leasing rights?"
When it came to this topic, Mingxi looked somewhat helpless and explained.
"This involves the Xianzhou's cave-heaven management and the cooperation and exchange clauses for foreign merchant investment and trade. The original intention of the clauses was to better develop the economy."
"Foreign merchants can obtain autonomous operating rights in specific cave-heavens and specific areas through bidding."
"The Aurum Alley dock was publicly bid on back then. The Company successfully won the bid thanks to its foreign trade resources and abundant capital."
"This is why the freight dock leasing rights are in the Company's hands, while the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce is only the lessee."
"As the highest-quality economic and trade enterprise in the entire universe, even the Xianzhou Alliance will consider signing long-term stable leasing agreements and autonomous operation agreements with the Company."
"The Luofu is considered a case of relatively light cooperation. I've heard that the Yaoqing Xianzhou cooperates even more deeply with the Company. There have even been some unpleasant rumors circulating…"
Sushang was stunned for a moment, then asked.
"Does that mean the Yaoqing can barely tell anymore whether they are the arrows of the Hunt or the warships of the Preservation?"
Mingxi was taken aback, then subconsciously nodded.
Sushang pursed her lips, looking even more helpless than Mingxi had earlier.
"The Yaoqing has always been at the forefront of hunting prey on expeditions. When it comes to war, it's all about who has richer backup resources."
"According to what the Little Secretary said, there is no force with more massive resources than the Company. No wonder the Yaoqing is in its current situation."
To be honest, March 7th's question had also been bothering her for a long time.
Every time she asked her parents, they would remain silent.
So this was the reason…
March 7th also understood and stopped dwelling on the issue.
...
This plot caused many players to fall into deep thought.
Ah Xian thought for a moment and looked toward the bullet comments.
"I don't understand these things. If my analogy is wrong, please correct me, everyone."
"Compare the Company's entry to a foreign enterprise like KFC. KFC obtains autonomous operating rights in certain regions domestically and the right to open chain stores."
"Then it recruits franchise stores and engages in mutually beneficial cooperation through this brand leasing contract model."
"Can this be used to analogize the relationship between the Aurum Alley dock leasing rights and the Company?"