Sebastian stared in disbelief. "Arthur, have you really thought this through? Fusion University is the best choice for you! With your talent and just a little more study, you could become the richest man in Lioran—maybe even make a name for yourself internationally!" Sebastian was so agitated that he shot up from his seat. They had all been certain that Arthur would choose financial management at Fusion University. That was the reason they had sent a director to personally persuade him. But they never expected him to choose political law instead. Arthur met his gaze with unwavering calmness. He nodded firmly. "I've thought it through. My decision is final—I’m choosing political law." "Why?" The question came from several voices at once. Arthur fell silent for a long moment before finally speaking. "My goal isn't to become the richest man in Lioran, or even the richest man in the world." He slowly rose to his feet, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. “When I was a kid, I was bullied relentlessly. I wanted to tell my teachers, my parents, even the principal—I even thought about reporting it to the education bureau. But no matter what I did, no one listened. My teachers, my principal, even my own parents turned a blind eye. Whether it was because of the bullies' power, influence, or favoritism, they chose to ignore it. And so, I was left to endure the cruelty, again and again.” As he spoke, Arthur rolled up his sleeve, revealing a mass of scars—deep, jagged, and numerous. The sight was shocking. The room collectively sucked in a breath, eyes widening in disbelief. "Oh my god!" Rowan gasped. Staring at those scars, no one could imagine what he had been through. Ashley had seen them before—many times—but each time, they tore at her heart anew. Arthur lowered his sleeve. "And this is just the tip of the iceberg. My body is covered in scars. Too many to count." His expression remained indifferent, neither sad nor angry, as if he had long since grown accustomed to it. But to everyone else in the room, his words hit like a bolt of lightning. They had spent years in positions of power, overseeing prestigious institutions where students were focused on academic competition rather than schoolyard bullying. To hear that such horrific abuse had happened in South City was beyond shocking. Rocco, the director of South City's education bureau, suddenly felt like he was walking on thin ice. It was as if he had been riding high one moment, only to come crashing down the next. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He didn't even dare to look at the renowned professors beside him, but unfortunately, their eyes had already settled on him. Just moments ago, he had been bursting with pride over the fact that such a genius had emerged under his jurisdiction, unable to suppress his smug smile. And now, those same people were staring at him like he was a walking corpse. Panic surged through Rocco. He scrambled to his feet, waving his hands in denial. "No, no! I—I didn’t—" But Devon and Hugo’s gazes had already lost all trace of their earlier warmth. Their voices were as cold and heavy as ice from the depths of hell. "Didn’t what?" A fresh wave of sweat streamed down Rocco’s face. A bullying scandal of this magnitude, happening under his watch—there was no way he could escape accountability, no matter how he tried to explain it away. Scott’s heart pounded. He opened his mouth, wanting to defend Rocco. But the moment he thought of the scars on Arthur’s arm, the words caught in his throat. This child had suffered too much. Both he and Rocco had known about the Gray family’s situation, but by the time they found out, Arthur had already endured eight years of torment. For eight long years, they hadn’t even known of Arthur’s existence. The Gray family had buried the truth so deeply that no one had any idea he was suffering. Eight years! An entire childhood lost to pain and neglect. For eight years, bullying ran rampant in South City’s schools, and Rocco—supposedly the man in charge—had been completely unaware. What did that say about his leadership? The people in this room weren’t just any educators—they were titans of the field. Compared to them, the director of South City’s education bureau was insignificant. If they decided to condemn him unanimously... Rocco didn’t dare to think about it. His entire career—his entire future—would be ruined. In that instant, he even considered where he might be buried.To commit such an unforgivable mistake in front of these distinguished figures… if they spoke out against him, his career in education would be over. He wouldn’t just lose his title—he’d be blacklisted from the entire academic world. Forget about being an education director; he wouldn’t be able to work anywhere in Lioran. The pressure in the room was suffocating. The way they were looking at him—it was overwhelming. In that single moment, Rocco’s entire back was drenched in cold sweat.