["There'll be more in the future!" Sushang hurriedly said.]
["The future? How far in the future? By Xianzhou standards, five hundred years? Haha, can the shops here wait that long?" Skott doubled over with laughter.]
["Uh… well… ten years? Twenty years? Stelle, what do I do? I-I don't know!" Sushang's head was spinning.]
[Seeing Stelle didn't retort, Skott pressed his advantage, rattling off issues with the dock's cargo operations and rent payments.]
[But Stelle was waiting for this moment of complacency. She whipped out proof of the dock's rent repayment, holding her head high: "The dock's debts are cleared! The guild has turned a profit and can cover the arrears!"]
["W-What!?" Skott's pupils shrank to pinpricks behind his sunglasses, his jaw practically hitting the ground. "You actually paid it off? How?!"]
——
Fate
In the church's basement, Gilgamesh leaned back in his opulent chair, gently swirling the wine in his golden goblet.
Watching Skott's flabbergasted expression, Gilgamesh sneered, his eyes full of contempt. "Hmph… to think a lowly mongrel like that could represent the Interastral Peace Corporation? Truly pathetic."
"If one of my subjects dared to embarrass themselves so publicly, hmph…" Gilgamesh let out a cold chuckle before downing the wine in his goblet.
"Oh? I find Skott's twisted expression rather delightful," Kirei Kotomine said, a sly smirk on his face. "Hero-King, this 'Interastral Peace Corporation' executive must usually be quite high and mighty. To see him humiliated so publicly—doesn't that contrast stir your blood?"
Gilgamesh glanced at him disdainfully. "Hmph, Kirei, as always, you're obsessed with the struggles of insignificant people."
"But this Skott mongrel isn't entirely worthless—at least he's provided me with quite an amusing farce."
——
["The materials provided by the Aurum Alley Merchants' Guild are authentic and credible. Per the lease agreement, the guild still holds the dock's operating rights."]
[Xikui's tone shifted, her gaze cutting toward Skott like a blade: "Next, the guild claims that Representative Skott has been sabotaging dock operations behind the scenes. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"]
["Don't slander me!" Skott snapped, furious. "Why would I resort to underhanded tricks? Your rundown dock has no shop partnerships and is plagued by accidents—what does that have to do with me?"]
["Besides, I don't even handle dock shipments. Are you saying I bribed the workers? That's laughable," Skott said, crossing his arms with a scornful huff.]
["Is it possible… you did bribe the dockworkers?"]
[Stelle slowly produced Afeng's confession and handed it to Xikui.]
[With ironclad evidence, not even ten Skotts could talk their way out. Xikui deemed it unfair business conduct, and the Sky-Faring Commission would continue investigating.]
[Seeing the tide turn, Skott tried to slip away, but before he could, Sushang called out to him.]
["Don't forget our bet—you have to apologize to me in front of everyone!"]
[Skott made a last-ditch effort: "No way! Why should I apologize to you?!"]
["Because you trampled on others' efforts and used dirty tactics!" Sushang shot back fearlessly. "If apologizing could keep the people who love Aurum Alley from feeling disheartened, I'd apologize a thousand, ten thousand times!"]
["But now, the one who needs to apologize is you!"]
——
Honkai Impact 3rd
"Well said! That's my… uh, my other-world self!"
Li Sushang slammed the table, splashing water from her teacup. "That's the spirit! She said it perfectly! If it were me, I definitely wouldn't have said it as well."
Rita sipped her tea elegantly. "Miss Sushang, you're too modest~ Your line, 'Li Sushang, head disciple of the Peerless Freedom Sect, please enlighten me,' carries just as much presence."
"N-No, how is that the same?!"
Li Sushang's ears turned red, feeling like Rita reciting her catchphrase in front of her was some kind of public execution.
Besides, she only said that line when she was about to fight someone.
If Skott were facing her instead of Sushang, the moment he refused to apologize, she'd probably have to introduce his head to the ground for an "intimate meeting."
——
["…" Skott's throat bobbed a few times, producing only dry coughs.]
[His eyes darted nervously behind his sunglasses, avoiding Sushang's gaze—until the crowd's boos left him no escape, forcing him to lower his eyes.]
["I-I'm sorry to Aurum Alley…" His voice faltered, as if something were choking him.]
["Huh—? I can't hear you, speak up," Stelle said, mimicking his earlier taunt by leaning in closer.]
[Sushang, hands on her hips, pressed aggressively: "Hey, hurry up!"]
[Skott visibly deflated, as if his spine had been yanked out, and muttered weakly: "I-I apologize to the people of Aurum Alley—"]
["I'm a blind fool! Arrogant and clueless, barking like a mad dog!" The words seemed to be squeezed through his gritted teeth, each one dripping with resentment.]
[Stelle and Sushang exchanged a grin, quite pleased with the outcome.]
[But something was still missing—]
["You haven't barked like a dog yet," Stelle said, glaring at Skott.]
[Sushang, however, felt a twinge of pity: "…Do we really need to do this?"]
[The crowd chimed in: "Yeah, yeah!"]
[Amid the jeers and laughter, Skott's face began to twist. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and roared: "Enough!"]
["Woof! Woof woof woof! Woof—"]
["Woof woof awoo—"]
[Skott's hysterical barking not only startled his company colleagues but also made Sushang's eyes widen in shock, her hand covering her mouth.]
[This scene… was something she'd never seen before.]
[Xikui, on the other hand, gave a cold smirk: "Tch, what a pathetic display. That's enough for today."]