Solivair’s words were directed at Mr. Hugo, but his gaze never left Arthur. He seemed to be waiting, anticipating Arthur’s reaction—eager to see the expression on his face. The moment Solivair finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent. Hugo’s hand clenched tightly. The unspoken rule. Years ago, this banquet had indeed followed an unwritten rule. Only those whose wealth ranked among the top in Evergrand City were eligible to attend. Even if someone was brought in as a guest, they still had to be within the top fifty wealthiest individuals in the city. That ranking was no small feat to achieve. However, over the years, as the banquet evolved, many influential families had started bringing their younger generation or promising protégés. After all, those who were invited weren’t fools. Anyone being introduced into this circle had to be someone worth nurturing—someone who could one day hold power. Because of this, the rule had gradually been overlooked. No one truly enforced it anymore. Everyone had a younger generation they wished to guide into high society. No one wanted to be the one to call it out and disrupt that. But now, Solivair had deliberately brought up this long-abandoned rule, singling out Arthur in front of everyone. It was clear—he was using this old rule as a weapon to attack. And worst of all, Hugo had no immediate rebuttal. His brows furrowed deeply. It was indeed an oversight on his part, but if Arthur were to be thrown out of the banquet, it would severely impact his future in Evergrand City’s elite circles.Solivair watched Hugo’s troubled expression, and his mood lifted. This old man, always acting self-righteous, had made him suffer countless times in the past. Now, finally, he had found the perfect chance to humiliate him. Arthur was Hugo’s protégé. If Arthur were kicked out in front of everyone, it would be a direct slap to Hugo’s face. If Hugo let Arthur leave alone, then Hugo himself would have to endure the humiliation of staying behind while his student was thrown out. And if Hugo chose to leave with Arthur, then he, too, would be leaving in disgrace—like a defeated dog with its tail tucked between its legs. Hilarious. Absolutely perfect. Solivair admired his own cunning. With just one sentence, he had backed Hugo and Arthur into an impossible situation. Hugo’s cold stare locked onto Solivair, filled with suppressed fury, but there was no immediate way to counter him. Because, for once, Solivair had struck a real weakness. Was he really supposed to take Arthur out of the banquet? Arthur was his student—personally brought into this gathering by him. There was no way he could allow Arthur to be forced out. Yet whether he let Arthur leave alone or followed him out, the impact would be huge. This banquet wasn’t just a one-time event. It was held periodically, and Hugo had specifically chosen this occasion to introduce Arthur into Evergrand City’s high society. And yet, before they could even fully step in, they were already being targeted. Just when the situation was at its most difficult, Arthur suddenly stepped forward. He had already gathered enough information about this rule during his time at the banquet. Hugo instinctively wanted to stop him but hesitated for a moment before choosing to remain silent. Fine. Perhaps Arthur could turn the situation around. At worst, they would be kicked out. But Arthur showed no signs of nervousness or embarrassment. Instead of responding directly to Solivair’s provocation, he spoke clearly and confidently. “Everyone here is a leader in their respective fields, but let’s be honest—how many of your families built their wealth in a single generation?” His voice was calm yet commanding. “It took decades of effort, sometimes several generations of hard work, to reach this level of success. If we were to strictly enforce this old rule, then the younger generation—those who haven’t yet accumulated enough personal wealth—would be barred from attending. And if that happens, they’ll lose the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to build connections. Eventually, when the older generation steps down, if there is no one properly prepared to take their place, won’t that disrupt the very foundation of our society? This banquet itself could cease to exist. And perhaps even the wealth that all of you have built will begin to fade away. I don’t think that’s an outcome anyone here wants to see.” Arthur’s words were crisp and measured, neither aggressive nor submissive. His poise and confidence stood in stark contrast to the many young heirs in the room, most of whom would never dare to speak so directly before such an audience. He was fearless. And most importantly—his words made sense. Many in the room had indeed brought along their own younger generation today. This wasn’t just about Arthur anymore. Solivair had tried to use the rule against him, but Arthur had thrown it right back at everyone present. If they agreed with Solivair, then by that logic, their own sons, daughters, and protégés had no right to be here either. A murmur of discussion broke out in the hall. Arthur had successfully turned the situation around.