Hugo couldn't wrap his head around it. What kind of benefit was worth Solivair risking the entire Tremo family for? He remained deep in thought for a long time. Arthur didn't interrupt, simply waiting in silence as Hugo processed everything. After what felt like forever, Hugo finally pushed the phone back toward Arthur. His expression was more serious than Arthur had ever seen before. Arthur’s gaze was just as solemn. Hugo shut off the phone and said firmly, "Arthur, aside from me, no one else must know about this." The moment Arthur heard that, he let out a quiet breath of relief. He had gambled— and he had won. Hugo would always stand by his side. Even in the face of enormous political gain, he still chose to protect Arthur. Without hesitation, Arthur stood up and bowed deeply. "Arthur, thank you for your guidance and protection, sir." Hugo looked at him for a moment before rising to his feet as well. He walked over and helped Arthur up, then patted his shoulder with an air of both approval and affection. "You’re a good kid, Arthur. I should be the one thanking you for your trust." The two shared a knowing look. No more words were needed. This evidence was Arthur’s shield. Of course, he could hand it directly to the authorities. Hugo, being a key political figure and Arthur’s mentor, could take it and deliver it himself. But if Arthur did that, he would lose his only protection—his only leverage against Solivair. Even if the Tremo family was wiped out by the government, a desperate Solivair would stop at nothing to eliminate Arthur.That was exactly why Solivair had dared to move against him and the Gibson family’s companies. But now that Arthur had shared this evidence with Hugo, it was clear Hugo understood what was at stake. Arthur had made his decision before coming here. If Hugo had chosen to hand the evidence over, his own political career would have skyrocketed overnight. But without a second thought, he told Arthur to take it back. Because to Hugo, Arthur’s life was more important than his own rise in power. Hugo wasn’t in a low position to begin with. Yes, exposing this organization would have earned him merit, but it would also have placed Arthur and those around him in grave danger. Arthur had unlimited potential. Evidence could always be gathered again. Solivair could be dealt with later. But Arthur’s life—there was only one of those. The two sat back down. Arthur didn't waste any time. "Sir, staying on the defensive won’t get us anywhere. I came to you today to discuss our next move." He paused, then continued. "Since Solivair has stolen our company's confidential documents, his next step will be using them to crush me and the Gibson family’s business." "I need your help getting into Evergrand City’s business circles. I want to turn this around on him." Arthur had shown his hand to Hugo because he trusted him. And because letting Hugo in on Solivair’s connections to that organization would ultimately be useful for him politically. As the sun began to set, Arthur and Hugo remained in the office, meticulously planning each step. There was still much Arthur didn’t fully understand—he needed Hugo’s guidance.Though Hugo was primarily a political figure, he was well-versed in business. The two worlds were closely intertwined, and he had ensured all his students understood that connection. Back at Arthur’s dorm. Ashley had taken a nap in the afternoon. She had even read for an hour after waking up, yet Arthur still hadn’t returned. Before leaving, he had mentioned he was meeting with Mr. Hugo to discuss their strategy. They must have gotten caught up in the conversation and lost track of time. Her stomach let out a quiet growl. She glanced at the clock—dinnertime had already passed. Arthur was probably going to be hungry when he got back too. Before leaving, he had given her a map of the campus—one that Taylor had originally handed him when he first arrived. After locating the cafeteria, Ashley decided to go ahead and grab some food. That way, they could eat as soon as Arthur returned. Tomorrow, she would be attending a seminar on campus. The sky was beginning to darken. Arthur’s dorm was in a more secluded part of campus, and there weren’t many people around. Walking alone, unfamiliar with her surroundings, Ashley felt a little uneasy. After what felt like forever, she finally reached the cafeteria. Seeing people around again, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.