Ten Thousand Winter City Shields

"Children, you can leave now."

Backstage at the fight club, the Chief Stoker looked kindly at the children Scott had lured there.

The contracts that had bound them were now burning fiercely in the brazier, reduced to ashes.

Scott's ambitions perished with them.

"Thank you, Grandpa!"

The children said their final goodbyes. Everything that had happened that night had shaken them deeply.

Oleg arranged for the Silvermane Guards to take them to the Public Security Office, but the children did not leave immediately. Instead, they looked at Chu Mu, who lay on the floor covered in wounds, bowed to him one by one, and said their silent farewells.

They understood that he had saved every one of them that night!

After they left, Chu Mu could not help muttering:

"Where did those little brats learn that? Bowing one after another like they're at a memorial service. I'm not dead yet."

"You're a child yourself, and you're calling other children little brats." Natasha smiled at Chu Mu, her spirits having lifted considerably.

The Chief Stoker watched Chu Mu with a thoughtful expression.

Just then, Scott let out a furious roar of defiance:

"Why? Why? Why did I lose?"

Natasha sneered at his words:

"Lose? Weren't you just saying you'd won big? What, you can't accept it the moment fairness and justice stop taking your side?"

"Won big!" Seele imitated Scott's tone, taunting him until his eyes turned bloodshot.

"You... you... don't get smug just yet!" Scott pointed at Chu Mu. "This brat's case isn't over! I don't believe you can win this time!"

At his words, everyone's relaxed expressions slowly grew somber.

They probably could not win the second ruling.

After all, Chu Mu really had gouged out one of Scott's eyes. There was no denying that.

Seeing their grave expressions, the Old Director spoke calmly:

"If we owe him compensation, we'll pay it. We are Chu Mu's guardians, after all. We'll shoulder the responsibility for what he did! All I ask is that you set a reasonable amount and don't let him demand an outrageous sum."

The Chief Stoker nodded slightly.

"I will follow the Code."

He then heard each side's claims in turn.

Scott no longer asked for a hundred thousand Winter City Shields. His price was now two hundred thousand.

He seemed to have added his losses from the children to the total as well.

As far as he was concerned, Chu Mu had ruined everything he had going for him! It never occurred to him that none of this would have happened if he had not stopped Chu Mu in the first place.

Supported by Natasha, Chu Mu also gave a complete account of the incident in concise, clear language, including everything that had led up to it and followed.

His ability to express himself, far beyond that of other children his age, raised the Chief Stoker's opinion of him further. His gaze grew increasingly appreciative.

Of course, that goodwill would not influence his ruling.

Likewise, however much he disliked Scott, he would not allow those feelings to affect his application of the Code.

That conviction was precisely why he had become the keeper of the Code.

The old man rose once more and opened the Code in his hands.

Everyone waited quietly for his ruling.

"According to the testimony of both parties, Chu Mu struck Scott first and was therefore subjectively at fault. However, given that he is only six years old and not yet mentally mature, his culpability is deemed to constitute negligence."

"He's not mentally mature?" Scott pointed at Chu Mu, both shocked and furious.

At this, Chu Mu merely murmured to himself:

"I'm still a child."

Natasha could not help turning to glance at Chu Mu.

The Chief Stoker continued:

"Under Article Five of Act No. 7, as he is under ten years of age, he will not be subject to criminal punishment. Instead, his guardians will be responsible for civil compensation. The calculation of that compensation is as follows..."

The Chief Stoker began reading out each item. The amounts might not have been the most exact, but they were certainly the fairest.

Most of Scott's compensation claims were denied, including the fight club's lost ticket revenue and the losses from the voided contracts with the children.

"I won't accept this!" Scott shouted before the calculations were finished.

"Then you will be deemed to have waived your claim, and the ruling will end immediately." The Chief Stoker gave Scott a steady look. "Are you certain?"

Scott had no choice but to shut his mouth.

At last, the calculations were complete, and the Chief Stoker announced the final result:

"According to these calculations, Chu Mu's guardian, the Rivet Town Orphanage, must pay Scott thirteen thousand Winter City Shields in compensation!"

"That's not fair! How can my eye be worth so little?" Scott cursed. "That's my own flesh and blood! You have to pay more!"

"As I said, the ruling has been delivered. If you refuse to accept it, you will be deemed to have waived your claim." The Chief Stoker gave Scott one last look, then ignored him.

"Thank you for your fairness!" The Old Director looked gratefully at the Chief Stoker.

"This ruling was made by the Great Code. I merely follow the will of the Architects," the Chief Stoker said solemnly.

Then he closed the Code. His entire demeanor became much gentler, the severity leaving his face as he smiled at the Old Director.

"I believe this amount should be within your means."

"Yes." The Old Director nodded, but an embarrassed expression soon crossed her face. "However, we may need to pay in installments. We don't have much money in our account at present."

The Chief Stoker shook his head.

"You will need to discuss that with him. I have delivered my ruling. How the compensation is paid depends on what you negotiate."

The Old Director turned to Scott and said softly:

"Mr. Scott, I would like to discuss the payment of your compensation."

"What's there to discuss? Give me the money right now, this instant!" Scott glared viciously at them. "Don't even think about paying in installments. I've lost an eye, and you still want to drag your feet paying me? You're all ganging up on me!"

"It isn't that we won't pay. We simply don't have that much money to spare." The Old Director shook her head bitterly. "There are only a few thousand Winter City Shields in our account right now. We can set aside some of our monthly funding from now on, but if we take too much, no one will have enough to eat. Mr. Scott, I won't ask you to do it for the children. Let this old woman swallow her pride and beg you: could you give us a year? I promise to pay you in full within a year."

The Old Director's words weighed on everyone's hearts like a boulder, leaving them unable to breathe.

This woman, once an heiress, was now brought low by a mere ten thousand Winter City Shields for the sake of the Orphanage's children.

She had even humbled herself to beg a wretch who was rotten to the core!

"You... what's your old face worth? Look how old you've become! Do you still think you're the pretty young lady you used to be?" Scott's ducklike voice rang out in a grating sneer!

At those words, the Old Director staggered back a few steps, her face pale.

Natasha caught her and glared at Scott:

"Have you said enough?"

"I really want to beat you to death. I really want to beat you to death!" Oleg clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot.

Every person there looked at Scott with hatred!

Seeing this, Scott stumbled backward and cried in panic:

"Don't do anything rash! Don't! There are surveillance cameras here, and the Great Code is here too! Why are you all bullying me? I just want the money for my eye! What have I done wrong? Aren't you the ones in the wrong? Is there any justice left?"

Just then, Chu Mu, who had remained lying down, spoke:

"Article Ten of Act No. 1 of the Great Code: a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye. Boss Scott, you want justice? I'll give you justice!"