The moment the masked men charged in, Arthur didn’t hesitate—he launched into a fight. He had just taken down one of them when he saw Taylor being ambushed. Instinct took over, and he spun around to help. That was his mistake. Before he could react, someone behind him seized the opening. A baseball bat came crashing down on his head, sending his vision spinning. That brief moment of dizziness cost him everything. The attackers, clearly professionals, overwhelmed him in an instant. By the time he tried to counter, it was already too late. Now, Arthur sat there, battered and bruised. His face was swollen, his body aching, and a sharp pain radiated from his ribs. From the feel of it, at least one or two were probably broken again. At Arthur’s question, Finley suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha!" His laughter was manic, almost deranged. He laughed so hard that he nearly doubled over, his shoulders shaking, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. Then, just as abruptly, he stopped. Finley’s eyes burned with fury as he glared at Arthur. "What do I want? Arthur, the real question is—what the heck do you want?" He didn’t wait for a response and kept going. "Before you showed up at Governance University, my life had challenges, sure, but I was in control. Everything was going the way it was supposed to." Then his face contorted with rage. "But ever since you arrived, it’s been nothing but failure for me! People have turned against me one after another! I’ve lost everything! I was even stripped of my student council president title! Now, I’m nothing but a joke to the entire university!" Finley suddenly leaned in, his expression dark and twisted. "Arthur, you think I’m the problem? I should be the one asking you that question!"Arthur could hardly believe what he was hearing. He frowned. "Finley, I got into Governance University because Hugo saw potential in me. I never did anything to you, but you’ve been picking fights with me from the start. Every single time, it was you stirring up trouble. And now, you’re acting like I’m the one who ruined your life?" This level of delusion is straight out of the Gray family’s playbook. Finley’s expression darkened even further. His entire demeanor shifted—unhinged, volatile. "Shut up!" he snapped, his voice filled with rage. His tone was nearly hysterical. "Hugo recognized you? You? What makes you worthy of his recognition?" "I, Finley, have spent my whole life striving for excellence! I’ve dedicated myself to doing good! I’ve worked harder than anyone else to prove myself! I’ve done everything in my power to be the best! And yet, Hugo never acknowledged me! But you? You, Arthur—why the heck do you deserve it?" Arthur frowned deeply as he watched Finley unravel. He had always known Finley was ruthless and calculating, but he had never realized just how warped his mind really was. I should have seen this coming.If I had been more cautious, Taylor wouldn’t have gotten dragged into this situation. Taylor wasn’t the type to handle this kind of danger well. He was probably terrified right now. Arthur’s chest tightened as his concern for Taylor grew. Mid-rant, Finley suddenly stopped, as if something had just occurred to him. In an instant, his wild expression disappeared, replaced by a slow, eerie smile. His mood seemed to shift completely. He even took a moment to straighten his rumpled clothes, as if regaining his composure. Then, stepping closer, he smirked. "Arthur, do you really believe that Hugo took you in as his student because he saw something special in you?" Arthur's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Finley straightened up, his smirk laced with mockery. "You think Hugo took you in because of your talent? Do you even realize that politically, he’s completely backed into a corner right now?" Most people wouldn’t know about this, but as one of the Tremo family’s potential heirs, Finley had access to high-level insider information. Arthur frowned slightly. He wasn’t about to believe anything Finley said. But the truth was, he had no real knowledge of Hugo’s political situation. Finley wasn’t fazed by Arthur’s silence. "Everyone thinks Hugo is thriving in politics, but the reality is that he’s facing overwhelming resistance. Nearly every policy he proposes gets shot down. Behind closed doors, he’s already been marked as a threat. They just haven’t made a move against him yet. Hugo used to be completely focused on his political career. He barely mentored anyone. At Governance University, he’s nothing more than a guest professor who occasionally shows up for a lecture or two." Finley’s eyes darkened with sharp intent. "But ever since the pressure against him started increasing, he suddenly started recruiting students at Governance University." And just like that, his smirk returned, as if he was enjoying some private joke.