The audience instantly fell silent, every person watching the two figures on stage with rapt attention.
When the enemy comes, meet it without losing composure.When waters rise, hold the ground without fear.
He Shouchen silently recited a calming mantra in his mind, then spoke with the tone of an elder gently admonishing a younger person:"Ah, it's Chairman Chang. Chairman Chang has only recently assumed leadership, and I've heard your company has a complex internal business. I wonder, Chairman Chang, what do you think of my proposal?"
Pain flickered in Chang Hao's eyes; it was clear he hadn't yet emerged from the shadow of his father's death.No one could easily come to terms with watching their father die so brutally and suddenly in public.
Below, Bai Shuang felt a faint stir in her heart.She too had seen her father die before her very eyes.No matter if decades or centuries passed, whenever she remembered him, sadness and grief would well up within.
Chang Hao sneered coldly and openly accused:"As everyone knows, my father was the number one player. He had the right to be the first to participate in the Whale Fall Trial. But these ruthless space overlords, with beast-like hearts, schemed to kill him—just to erase his identity as the number one player!
"Though my father is dead, I have filed a petition with the court to inherit his number one player account. Upon learning this, those people hastily changed the game rules. They aren't doing this for the common good—they just fear I will block their path to claim Whale Fall City!"
He Shouchen faced the public accusation with benevolence and calm.He showed no shame, only kindly counsel:"Chairman Chang's loss is recent, and his anxiety understandable. Since Chairman Chang suspects me of ill intentions, I might as well share a secret with everyone."
He then drew a virtual screen in mid-air, displaying a line of digits:[0000000004]
"That's right," He Shouchen said, "I am player number four. The old account I hold was personally gifted to me by the late Lord Bai."
The crowd erupted in astonished murmurs: "So President He is player number four!"
He Shouchen remained unfazed, standing firm amid the doubts:"When I received the account, I was already past my thirties—older than the other players with earlier numbers. Lord Bai himself once confided to me about the game.
"The so-called Whale Fall Trial is just a façade.
"At that time, Lord Bai was old and wanted to find a trustworthy person with both virtue and talent to take over Whale Fall City. However, he hadn't found such a person yet.
"So, he designed the Whale Fall Trial as a game to wait twenty-five years for the next generation of talented youth to emerge.
"He distributed the first few accounts to several major families—not to simply hand over Whale Fall City to them.His real hope was for these families to fulfill their promise, watch over one another, and together find a worthy successor."
At that moment, someone in the crowd suddenly stood and loudly exclaimed:"President He is a true gentleman! We support President He!!!"
"We support President He!!!" echoed from more voices, swelling into a chorus.
If He Shouchen truly wanted to seize the city, with his player four status, he could have taken Whale Fall City long ago.
But what he said was clear: the families do not intend to monopolize Whale Fall City.On the contrary, they are honoring a 25-year pact to safeguard the city's prosperity.
Thinking further about the two previous leaders of the Duma Society who so eagerly sought the city,even if Chang Ming was truly killed by those families, it was likely an act of justice to rid the city of a threat.
Chang Ming, holding the number one player identity, broke the promise to protect Whale Fall City and instead tried to claim it for himself.If not for the other families stepping in, Whale Fall City would probably have been swallowed by the Duma Society already!
Chang Hao couldn't understand why the crowd was so stubbornly blind.Pointing at He Shouchen, he shouted:"Don't be fooled by his hypocritical appearance!Every competition requires fairness.The contestants and referees cannot be the same people—how can that be fair?
"But this so-called preliminary round, where the five major families set the questions and also participate—In the end, they decide who wins and who loses.Think carefully—can this be called fair? Do you even have a chance to win?"
Bai Shuang listened eagerly, nodding her head like a rattle, pouting:"Unfair! So unfair!"
The audience slowly woke up from their stupor.How could they have forgotten that He Shouchen was both the question setter and judge, and also a contestant?
In the end, it was a vicious cycle controlled by several space giants, with commoners treated like puppets.
He Shouchen saw Chang Hao had come prepared with accusations crafted to attack him directly.
But He Shouchen was no fool at his age and already had a counter ready:"After negotiations with other families—the number two player, Lord Tianmi of Tianmi City; number three player, Lord Xuya of Xuya City; myself, the number four player; and other top-ten accounts—we all agreed to give up our Whale Fall Trial player identities!"
The crowd quieted for a moment, then erupted again into thunderous applause!
True to his word, President He voluntarily gave up his chance to compete against commoners for Whale Fall City.
But Chang Hao refused to believe this was anything but a lie.He shouted to the crowd:"The top ten may not compete, but that doesn't mean their families and confidants won't!They can easily pass the questions to their children, letting them win!"
He Shouchen remained unmoved and calmly explained:"Holding a preliminary round is better than letting the top-ranked players play first.Chairman Chang keeps emphasizing the number one player identity—does that mean you want to skip preliminaries and enter the Whale Fall Trial first?"
He Shouchen's rebuttal was fierce and sharp, sparking outrage in the crowd.Voices rose demanding Chang Hao step down.
He Shouchen then extended an olive branch:"If Chairman Chang wishes to inherit the number one player account, why not join the question and judging committees?One more pair of eyes means more fairness."
Chang Hao forced a bitter smile and asked:"You five families deliberately excluded us before, and now you want me to join?If I join, are there any conditions?"
He Shouchen replied:"Of course there are. To ensure fairness, Chairman Chang must give up the right to compete in the Whale Fall Trial."
Chang Hao gritted his teeth in fury:"You think I don't see through your trap?Your goal is just to make me give up competing, so your family can win!You bully my brother and me with no allies and deceive the hundreds of billions across space!"
Finally, looking out at the confused crowd, Chang Hao said sorrowfully:"When the final day comes and all of you inexplicably lose your right to compete,I hope you'll remember what I said today—The five families never intended to leave Whale Fall City to any of you!"