Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 778 - 747: Such a Reversal (Part 2)

At that time, it wasn’t taken seriously. They just said that the Firewood Trading Company’s connections were indeed vast. Thinking about it now, those six families must have been partners, so they weren’t worried about being undercut by other peers!"

"Li Dehai dislikes the Shi Family Patriarch Shi Kesong the most. I also heard him grumbling about having to give a big share to that side of Silver Valley..."

...

Old customers have been dealing with the Firewood Trading Company for quite some time and have heard some complaints here and there. They talked about it enthusiastically, making Wang Yingzhuo feel overjoyed inside.

"Daoist Lin, how many years have you served as the accountant for the Firewood Trading Company?" He turned to look at the accountant who was cornered in the shop, brought over as a "hostage" for questioning.

The other person respectfully replied while holding the ledger: "I’ve been with the Firewood Trading Company since I was an apprentice, and after graduating, I have held this position for over 269 years."

"Very well. As the accountant managing all financial transactions, are you aware of the situation regarding the five merchants from Silver Valley? Are they in business with Li Dehai? Does your company share profits with them?"

Accountant Lin thought to himself, since the company does source goods from Silver Valley, there would naturally be dealings, but about the other’s situation...

He thought for a moment and said respectfully, "I have no particular skills, only manage the Spirit Stone and Immortal Jade bookkeeping within the company, and am unaware of their situation.

As for partnerships... I only know that the funds provided to Silver Valley are documented as procurement funds. However... whenever Shopkeeper Lee draws funds from the amounts prepaid by esteemed customers, he occasionally mentioned that it would be sent to Silver Valley. However, the owner did not allow detailed records, so only the withdrawal was noted with no reasons detailed."

Offering up the ledger he was holding with both hands, he hesitated and said, "All money that passed through me is recorded; as for the rest, I am truly unaware."

Wang Yingzhuo was feeling quite relieved inside, finally finding a reason to shed all responsibility!

"Let me ask you all, where did the large prepaid funds get handed over?"

Facing a smiling inquiry from the block head, the merchants thought to themselves, wasn’t it at the Firewood Trading Company? But saying it like that would obviously be a violation of rules set by the Demon Realm Alliance, which wouldn’t be favorable for themselves.

"At... I was at... Silver Valley?" An old customer rolled his eyes and tentatively tried, keeping an eye on the block head’s facial expression.

Indeed, upon saying that, the other party’s smile deepened, so he bit the bullet and confirmed, "Yes, at Silver Valley, the funds were handed over to Li Dehai and those five merchants!"

Wang Yingzhuo turned his head to look at the accountant, "According to that, why do these prepaid funds appear in the company’s ledger?"

"This, this..." he thought to himself, because the payment was indeed made at the company, isn’t it right to keep a ledger?

But to say that directly would make the situation much worse, linking it broadly; if Li Dehai absconds with the money and implicates the block head, wouldn’t his life be at risk?

His mind worked quickly, and he immediately said, "Though payments were made at Silver Valley, customers came because of the company’s reputation, and it was for the firestones that needed to go through the company accounts, naturally recorded in the books. Not only that, but I also, under Li Dehai’s instruction, signed receipt vouchers from the company for customers as proof."

"The truth has finally come to light!" Wang Yingzhuo was quite satisfied, nodding with a smile, "As suspected, those five merchants from Silver Valley are treacherous, hiding behind the scenes with Li Dehai as a puppet.

Aware that the Demon Realm Alliance expressly forbids the collection of large prepaid sums, they used exclusive firestone deals as leverage to coerce everyone into making large prepayments. And not daring to do evil under my nose on Trapped Snake Island, they let everyone travel to Silver Valley to hand over payments.

Later, due to a fallout over division of spoils, Li Dehai and the five merchants of Silver Valley had internal conflicts resulting in murder, leaving an enormous bad debt for the Firewood Trading Company to bear, as the five merchants murdered to cover up and divided the funds perfectly concealed.

You all did violate the trade agreements established by the Alliance, but the circumstances have reasons, you were coerced, and doing business is not easy. Finding profit is challenging, and in light of the Firewood Trading Company being an ancient enterprise of thousands of years, one might have to accept this helplessly.

Upon realizing you were conned, you sought me for justice.

Although your payments were made at Silver Valley, they are ultimately recorded in the company books of Firewood Trading Company which is located on Trapped Snake Island and under my jurisdiction. I, as the block head, cannot bear to see fellow Daoists suffer losses, so I stood up to uncover the truth, and after verifying from many sides, caught the hidden mastermind!

I will report the detailed process to the Demon Realm Alliance immediately, requesting that the Alliance send troops to Silver Valley to trace the flow of funds, to retrieve the billion Immortal Jade worth of property for you all!"

Wang Yingzhuo spoke with righteous words, exuding a sense of justice.

The merchants in the great hall exclaimed in admiration, but secretly pondered how this guy could rise to the position of block head on Trapped Snake Island. Clearly, it was his oversight initially, yet now, this splendid rhetoric somehow made him appear to have accomplished something!

However, regardless of how he praises himself or what the grievances and entanglements between Li Dehai and the side of Silver Valley might be, as long as the funds can be retrieved with no loss, that would be the best outcome.

Otherwise, if the Alliance investigates for real, the fact that they knowingly flouted the rules by paying so much privately to Li Dehai would be willful misconduct. Wanting to recover their funds while hoping not to be made an example of by the Demon Realm Alliance to deter other merchants would be fortunate!

"Thank you, block head sir, for your benevolent actions. We were indeed compelled by circumstances, and Li Dehai... sigh, a lesson learned, we will ensure no such mistakes are made again by trusting one-sidedly."

"Yes, indeed, it is thanks to the block head sir for presiding over justice. We are grateful beyond words!"

"Thank heavens, luckily the block head sir had foresight and publicly offered a reward; otherwise, we would really have let the partners behind the scenes escape..."