"Isn't this a bit too much?"
This time, Dirk Carter felt a bit embarrassed.
Austin Walsh took a sharp drag on his cigarette.
He said, "Too much? It's not too much! Look, just now you all caused a scene, which made it impossible for the vendor to do business for a short period. There were quite a few customers standing around watching too, and it had a significant impact on our market. Asking each of you to pay 3,000 is already a very reasonable price."
The three of them shivered simultaneously.
Arlo Yarbrough couldn't help but ask, "Are you asking each of us to pay 3,000?"
"Listen to yourself, did you think I'd give each of you 3,000 instead? What are you thinking about? Do you expect pies to fall from the sky?"
Austin Walsh maintained his formerly carefree expression as he spoke.
Dirk Carter hesitated for a moment and said, "Manager Walsh, isn't that a bit unreasonable? Each of us pay 3,000? It's clearly your market's people selling fake goods; the mistake is yours."
"Young man, you're wrong here. Whether it's fake goods isn't up to you; it's up to us. Now you're the ones looking for trouble, so naturally, you have to pay up."
"And what if we don't pay?"
Dirk Carter asked.
Austin Walsh stood up.
Walked over to his desk.
Fiddled with the computer for a bit.
Gestured to Dirk Carter and said, "Come over and take a look."
The three gathered around the computer screen.
Only to see Austin Walsh open a surveillance footage.
It showed another room.
The room was empty.
In the corner, a family of three was huddled together.
A couple, plus a child who looked about ten years old.
Austin Walsh said complacently, "See this? Tourists from the north claimed to have found a fly in their dish. Isn't that just looking for trouble? Each had to pay 3,000, and they've been stuck for two days and nights without paying yet."
Then clicked the mouse.
Another room.
Inside appeared two girls who looked like university students.
"These two were even more excessive, claiming all the market's milk teas were made with saccharin. Not much, but still 3,000 each. Pay up, and we'll release them."
After he finished speaking.
Turned off the computer screen.
Spoke to Dirk Carter and the others, "These things happen in our market countless times a year. No one dares not to pay up. I'm a reasonable person. Pay the money, and everything's fine. If you don't pay, you'll be like them and locked up in a little room, but kindly let me remind you, those days are not easy."
What's it like to use the most laid-back language to say the most malicious words?
That's exactly what Austin Walsh is doing.
"Isn't what you're doing illegal detention?"
Dirk Carter asked.
Austin Walsh laughed heartily.
He said, "Illegal detention? Whose law? Here at Starlight Night Market, this little patch is our law. Of course, you can now call the police, report to the city monitors, all at your discretion, but don't think you'll pay a penny less."
After speaking.
Austin Walsh sat down.
Looked leisurely at the three.
The three exchanged glances.
Dirk Carter said to Arlo Yarbrough, "You call the city monitors."
Then said to Bradford Lewis, "You call the police."
Both immediately started to busy themselves.
During this, Austin Walsh did not stop them, seemingly convinced that any report would be ineffective.
About two minutes later.
Both finished their calls.
Next, they just had to wait for the two departments to show up.
Austin Walsh said nonchalantly, "See, I said I'm reasonable. How about this, I'll give you twenty minutes to either wait for the police or the city monitors to come, or scrounge up some money. After twenty minutes, if you still don't pay, don't blame me for being rude."
"I don't see you as market management but as a gang,"
Dirk Carter asked coldly.
Austin Walsh didn't get angry.
He said, "Say what you like; customers are supposed to be gods. I'm not afraid to tell you the truth, there's someone backing me here. You guys won't make waves; it's better to cough up the cash quickly and avoid suffering later."
Given Dirk Carter's character.
Today, he was clearly going to hold out to the end.
Just then.
His phone rang.
From an unknown number.
Dirk Carter initially didn't want to pick it up.
Hesitated for a moment and still put it to his ear.
"Hello, yes?"
Dirk Carter asked politely.
A frightened woman's voice shouted on the phone, "Dirk Carter, help me, help me..."
It was Nina Churchill's voice!
Dirk Carter recognized it.
He asked nervously, "Where are you?"
There was a sound of heavy breathing on the phone.
Then a woman's voice spoke quietly, "Silvercrest District, Fortune Alley, next to a garbage bin. There's a streetlight here. He's going to kill me, he's going to kill me..."
"You vile woman, I knew you'd just want to seduce men again, give me the phone!"
On the phone, you could hear a man's voice.
Dirk Carter felt a chill in his heart; it was Gilbert Dixon's voice.
Then there was a scuffle and the woman's sobs.
Then a click.
The call was disconnected.
The situation was urgent.
Dirk Carter couldn't delay.
Nina Churchill had helped him; he couldn't ignore this.
After hesitating, he turned to Arlo Yarbrough and said, "Arlo, pay up!"
"But..."
Arlo Yarbrough was about to protest.
Dirk Carter glared at him.
He could only obediently pull out the cash.
Austin Walsh licked his finger and counted the cash.
Satisfied, he said, "Now that's being sensible. Alright, you can leave. You're welcome to visit Rexton City anytime."
They opened the door and left.
That's when they realized.
The office door had long been surrounded by a dozen security-dressed management personnel.
Taking a look at the rubber batons on their waists, it was clear that if they hadn't paid, there would've been forced measures.
Back in the car.
Arlo Yarbrough protested, "Dirk, those people we could handle, why..."
The words were barely out.
Dirk Carter said, "We'll come back here tomorrow. Let's go to Fortune Alley; Nina Churchill is in trouble..."
Only then did Arlo Yarbrough realize the seriousness of the situation.
He stomped on the gas pedal and sped off.
Fortune Alley is an old neighborhood in Silvercrest District.
Fortunately, it's not very big.
After getting off the car, they followed Dirk Carter's instructions, with the marker being a streetlight next to a garbage bin.
They searched for about ten minutes.
Both Dirk Carter and Arlo Yarbrough received a call from Bradford Lewis.
He had found it.
The two immediately moved towards Bradford Lewis.
Indeed.
In a secluded corner, there was a streetlight and a garbage bin.
More importantly, the area near the garbage bin was a mess, looking like signs of a struggle.
On a nail in the wall.
A rag was hanging.
It was torn from the robe Nina Churchill was wearing.
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