"Good lad, you've got some nerve!"
Matt cast a praiseworthy glance at Han Zixi, nodded in satisfaction, and entered the stronghold through the gates amidst the cheering crowd.
Han Zixi followed closely, beaming with joy.
After all, he didn't have to pay a cent; Xiang Chu was footing the bill.
Moreover, the management of Xiang Chu wouldn't blame him for his exorbitant demands.
No matter the cost, at least they had managed to appease the formidable Matt.
They would surely be grateful to him!
This act of generosity at others' expense, boosting his favor with Matt, and earning himself credit—he was truly raking in the benefits...
Meanwhile, Lin Ran, carrying Luo Qingyan who had tumbled from him, hid behind and whispered.
"Have you made proper arrangements with the demon wind?"
Under Lin Ran's deliberate illusionary concealment, no one nearby could hear them except Luo Qingyan.
Unless, of course, they chose to violently break through Lin Ran's illusionary barrier.
However, at that moment, no one within the entire stronghold dared to do so.
Putting aside Matt's threat, Lin Ran alone was enough to instill overwhelming pressure.
The unforgettable scene of him, holding a beauty, casually strolling amidst Su Lie's earth-shattering sword energy as a tenth-tier awakened being, was still vivid in their minds...
This spectacle was likely etched into their memories forever.
To provoke Lin Ran out of curiosity at this juncture would be to court death.
Although, those who loved gossip, like them, were dying to know what Lin Ran and Luo Qingyan were discussing...
Luo Qingyan let out a pleased chuckle.
"Do I even need to say? The contract has been signed, of course."
"The gift was excellent! I quite liked that little girl."
"Slim, pale, and clean, with ample chest and hips, she sounds robust and her figure is much better than Lu Qianqian's from our team."
"And she's an adorable little loli, simply perfect!"
"Her skin texture also has a particularly appealing quality."
As she spoke excitedly, Luo Qingyan threw two punches into the air, her eyes sparkling.
Lin Ran tilted his head.
"You're so perverted... Do you have any strange fetishes?"
"Don't end up causing a death!"
Luo Qingyan almost choked on her breath from Lin Ran's remark. She glared at him.
"What are you talking about?!"
"I just like the ample softness of cute, petite girls..."
"Of course, those rosy, slightly rough bits are nice too!"
"Isn't this normal between girls?"
"If you don't have a little loli for me, you can't expect me to… pleasure myself, can you?"
"Hmph! And speaking of perversion, who can outdo you?"
"Several times you've come up with those weird, out-of-nowhere ideas, setting up bizarre positions that left me utterly exhausted..."
As she reached the end, Luo Qingyan's voice grew softer, her face flushing, and she quickly punched Lin Ran's chest twice to alleviate her embarrassment.
Lin Ran chuckled.
"That's because you have a good constitution! To not utilize it would be a terrible waste."
"As for those strange ideas you mentioned... they were primarily to quickly deplete your energy and accelerate our rhythm..."
"Otherwise, how could I make you beg for mercy?"
"The sensation of the gentle breeze from your pillow in that disarray... the feeling of conquest is more exhilarating than conquering the entire continent!"
Lin Ran's teasing made Luo Qingyan blush furiously, almost rendering her speechless.
She could only channel her pent-up frustration into a flurry of punches, delivering a full set of blows to Lin Ran.
Unfortunately, Luo Qingyan's soft, boneless fists were nothing more than a pleasure for Lin Ran as they landed on him.
Ah, bliss! Someone to give him a back rub for free.
Lin Ran shook his head and sighed in contentment, following Matt's pace to the central platform of the stronghold.
Matt was not one to dawdle. Seeing everyone present, he nonchalantly sat on the central chair and slammed his hand on the desk.
"Since everyone is here, not a soul missing... Let the trial begin!"
"We will hold a simple and straightforward trial to judge this old bastard's countless crimes!"
"If public sentiment is particularly enraged, we can just execute him on the spot..."
"Personally, I feel he deserves to be killed three times over."
"However, I still want to hear your opinions... lest you accuse me of being autocratic and bullying with my authority!"
Saying this, Matt summoned the star sphere containing Su Lie to his side, patting it.
Good heavens, it seemed he was serious!
Those who had initially thought Matt was just making empty threats exchanged bewildered glances.
Su Lie, after all, was a tenth-tier awakened being.
For the Dragon Country, he was undoubtedly a strategic reserve talent.
Furthermore, he was the Grand Elder of the Xiang Chu Su Family's Elder Council. He couldn't just be killed on a whim!
Even if everything Su Lie had said on the big screen was true, he would still need to be handed over to the Dragon Country's law enforcement, undergo legal proceedings, and pass through multiple judgments before execution.
Matt's casual pronouncement of a death sentence was truly unprecedented.
They remained silent, but naturally, there were those who would chime in.
Lu Qiufeng stepped forward with a smile.
"Su Lie's crimes are too numerous to count, his wickedness is boundless, the evidence is irrefutable, and he deserves to be executed by law!"
"Moreover, he has implicated numerous innocent individuals and caused immense losses. It is truly inexcusable not to kill him to pacify public outrage..."
"I believe giving him a quick death would still be letting him off easy."
"It would be utterly unreasonable not to execute him!"
Matt roared with laughter.
"Well said! Well said indeed!"
"Su Lie, do you plead guilty?"
With that, he unleashed a torrent of lightning within the star sphere that sealed Su Lie, jolting the unconscious Su Lie awake.
Su Lie, who had been groggy, immediately snapped awake upon hearing that Matt was holding a public trial to judge him and was planning a death sentence.
"Slander! This is pure slander! How can you believe the words of that brat Lin Ran?"
"I, Su Lie, have lived my life with integrity and have never done anything to betray my country!"
"Are you, Principal Matt, going to eliminate me, a tenth-tier awakened being of the Dragon Country, for your own selfish reasons?"
"Don't say the Su family won't agree, even the entire populace of the Dragon Country will not!"
Su Lie's mournful wails caused many present to burst into laughter.
This fellow seemed unaware that his recent eloquent speech was being broadcast live for all to see.
Matt, too lazy to argue with him, merely gave a look, signaling Han Zixi to do something.
Han Zixi, eager to impress Matt, immediately and cheerfully pulled up the playback on the big screen.
Upon seeing the scene of his negotiation with Lin Ran displayed on the screen, Su Lie's expression turned priceless.