Who Still Thinks the Ledger Is Fake?
Qing Luo Hai's expression changed drastically.
You dare!
Ren ignored him and continued, "Han Zhong, bring in those in the caravan who were previously cheated by the Azure Luo Merchant Guilds."
Han Zhong immediately understood.
Instead of killing Qing Luo Hai directly, Ren decided to expose the matter to everyone, leaving Qing Luo Hai with no excuse.
"I'll go right away!"
Han Zhong turned and rushed out of the warehouse.
Qing Luo Hai said in a deep voice, "Ren, do you think that having a prisoner read a few pages of account books will convict the Azure Luo Merchant Guilds?"
"The people here are all your subordinates."
Who would believe what they say?
Ren picked up the teacup on the table, his voice unchanged.
"Does anyone believe that this wasn't your decision?"
"Who decides that?"
"Those who hear it."
The cold smile on Qing Luo Hai's face gradually disappeared.
Lu Ping carried the account books to the center of the warehouse.
His leg injury had not yet healed, and blood seeped from the wound with every step he took.
But he didn't stop.
He turned to the first page, his hoarse voice echoing through the warehouse.
In the 372nd year of the Xuanli era, the Azure Luo Merchant Guilds forcibly annexed three pharmacies in Exchange Tower South City under the guise of a low-price acquisition. The original manager refused to sign the contract and disappeared the next day.
In the 373rd year of the Xuanli era, the Azure Luo Merchant Guilds secretly bribed the black market manager to send Zhou Ming and his family, Former Exchange Tower members, to an underground auction house.
"In the 374th year of the Xuanli era, the Azure Luo Merchant Guilds bribed the city's stewards to falsify records of Exchange Tower, seizing seventeen cartloads of Spiritual Materials from Exchange Tower, which were eventually all transferred to the Azure Luo Merchant Guilds's warehouse."
Each time a line was read aloud, a commotion arose outside the warehouse.
Qing Luo Hai's expression grew increasingly grim.
He waved his hand and shouted, "Shut up!"
Lu Ping did not stop.
His voice grew louder and louder, and his fingers stopped trembling.
In the 375th year of the Xuanli era, Zhao Ming, a guard of Exchange Tower, refused to submit. The Azure Luo Merchant Guilds sent people to kidnap his wife and daughter, forcing Zhao Ming to hand over the Void Link Ring.
Zhao Ming refused.
His wife and daughter were found dead in a desolate ditch outside the city three days later.
A growing number of people have gathered outside the warehouse.
The first to arrive were the shopkeepers and their employees from nearby stores.
Then came the mercenaries, guards, and the caravans that rushed over after hearing the news.
They stood at the warehouse entrance, listening to Lu Ping read out each account, their faces growing increasingly grim.
"The Azure Luo Merchant Guilds actually dares to target even the caravans outside the city?"
"My brother used to deliver goods for them. Later, the goods disappeared, and he disappeared too."
"Didn't they say that the caravan encountered Desolate Beast?"
"Desolate Beast beasts my foot! The ledgers clearly state that they stole the goods!"
Han Zhong returned with the caravan members.
One of the middle-aged guards, still bearing an old wound on his arm, stepped to the front of the crowd and gritted his teeth, saying, "Three years ago, our caravan delivered a batch of soul crystals. After inspecting the goods, the Azure Luo Merchant Guilds claimed that prohibited items had been mixed in and confiscated all the cargo."
"We went to the Deacon's Office to appeal, but the deacon said there wasn't enough evidence."
"Later, the deacon's son bought a high-level Soul Artifact from the Azure Luo Merchant Guilds."
A collective gasp filled the air around them.
Then, several more businessmen stepped forward.
They produced the deeds that had been seized by the Azure Luo Merchant Guilds and recounted a series of old stories.
The actions of the Azure Luo Merchant Guilds were like a black cloth torn away, completely exposed to the people of Chaotic Star City.
Looking at the dense crowd outside the warehouse, Qing Luo Hai finally lost his previous composure.
"Get out of here, all of you!"
He suddenly released his Soul Power.
The black Soul Power swept out like a tidal wave, and several merchants standing at the front were immediately shaken and forced to retreat.
Someone crashed into the wall, blood trickling from the corner of their mouth.
Behind Qing Luo Hai, a massive black shadow slowly emerged.
It was a giant black python coiled on top of the warehouse.
The giant python was covered in black scales, its scarlet eyes looked down at the crowd, and when it opened its mouth, it revealed two rows of sharp fangs.
A powerful surge of Soul Power erupted suddenly.
Quasi-Transcendent!
The onlookers turned pale and retreated.
"Qing Luo Hai is actually Quasi-Transcendent!"
He hid it too well!
"Get out of here! If we stay any longer, we'll all be killed!"
Qing Luo Hai raised his hand, and the black python phantom opened its blood-red maw and grabbed at Lu Ping.
"Since you enjoy reciting so much, then go underground and continue reciting!"
A gigantic black claw tore through the air.
Lu Ping looked up at the descending claw shadows, but his body seemed to be locked in place, leaving him no time to dodge.
Just then, Itachi stepped in front of him.
The Mangekyō Sharingan suddenly lit up.
The black python stopped moving.
The warehouse in front of the giant python suddenly disappeared the next moment.
It appeared in boundless darkness, with no enemies around, only a giant python exactly like itself coiled in front of it.
The two giant pythons stared at each other.
The giant black python roared and lunged to bite.
The other giant python in the illusion did not dodge; instead, it pounced directly and bit its throat hard.
Qing Luo Hai's body trembled.
The scene before him had completely changed.
The giant python lost control, turned around, and opened its massive jaws to bite itself.
"Get out of here!"
Qing Luo Hai desperately urged his Soul Power.
The black python slammed into his body, its massive form sending him flying.
Boom!
Qing Luo Hai crashed heavily to the ground, spitting out blood.
The surrounding crowd all stepped back.
One of the mercenaries stared at Itachi, his voice trembling. "Just one glance, and it caused Quasi-Transcendent powerhouse's Martial Soul to backfire?"
Itachi did not answer.
His Mangekyō Sharingan remained locked on Qing Luo Hai.
Qing Luo Hai forcibly tore open the illusion, and just as he stood up, he saw Ren already standing in front of him.
The black and white colors slowly rotated deep within Ren's pupils.
The Overlord's Eyes crashed into Qing Luo Hai Sea of Consciousness.
Qing Luo Hai's body froze instantly.
He tried to activate his Soul Power, but found that his meridians were as if they were locked by countless iron chains.
He tried to raise his hand, but his arm wouldn't move.
He wanted to breathe, but his chest felt like it was being crushed by a giant mountain.
Thump!
Qing Luo Hai's forehead slammed heavily against the ground.
The stone slabs in the underground warehouse cracked on the spot.
He looked up in alarm, only to meet Ren's calm eyes.
Ren looked at him.
You can deny it.
"But everyone in the city will see that you don't even have the courage to confront them."
Qing Luo Hai's lips trembled; he wanted to refute, but he couldn't even utter a complete sentence.
His Soul Power circulation completely stopped.
Even the giant black python behind him quickly dissipated under the suppression of the Overlord's Eyes.
Fugaku withdrew his imposing aura and turned to look at the crowd.
"Who still believes the ledgers are fake?"
No one spoke.
The guards of the Azure Luo Merchant Guilds kept their heads down, not daring to make eye contact with anyone.
The merchants who had originally stood on Qing Luo Hai's side also quietly retreated to the back of the crowd.
Meanwhile, the Quasi-Transcendent expert brought by Qing Luo Hai was kneeling not far from Ren, his face pale, and he didn't even have the courage to make a move.
Ren did not Qing Luo Hai.
He ordered Qing Luo Hai to be escorted to the city's Deacon's Office, and at the same time handed over all the account books, old items, and witnesses to the steward in charge of the trade routes for record-keeping.
The steward initially wanted to refuse, but when he saw the merchants and mercenaries gathered outside the warehouse, and Qing Luo Hai, who was unable to move under the pressure of the Overlord's Eyes, he finally had no choice but to accept the account book.
Lu Ping stood in front of the table, his hands still trembling.