Was he out of his damn mind?! Did he really think Arthur wouldn’t change his mind and just have him wiped out on the spot?! Solivair was caught between shock and disbelief, but his heart instantly leapt to his throat. Whether Arthur would destroy him was one thing. What he needed to worry about now… was whether Mr. Drake would destroy him instead. A cold sweat broke out across Solivair’s forehead. He didn’t dare entertain a single stray thought. Forcing himself forward, he stepped out under the crushing pressure, bowed deeply, and with both hands respectfully raised, trembled uncontrollably. His teeth chattered slightly, but he didn’t dare delay a second as he answered. “Yes, Governor… I’m the one who brought them in.” The moment he admitted it, everyone around instinctively sucked in a breath. Forget the man seated at the head—Mr. Drake. Even the people standing here were not ones Solivair could afford to offend. But just moments ago, he had allowed them to question Arthur. Allowed them to panic. And Solivair? He’d hidden himself in the crowd the entire time, silently watching. Wasn’t that basically toying with them? He hadn’t just embarrassed Arthur—he had offended every single one of them. No matter how powerful Solivair’s background was, there was no way he had what it took to withstand the collective wrath of everyone present! Originally, he’d only intended to make Arthur lose a little face. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined things would escalate this far. Mr. Drake’s arrival was ten minutes earlier than usual. That was the only reason Solivair had dared to stand back and leisurely enjoy the drama. He had planned to step in before the Governor showed up, clear up the misunderstanding, and offer everyone an apology. But for some reason, Mr. Drake—normally so punctual—had arrived ten minutes early today, catching Solivair completely off guard.The moment Solivair admitted it, Mr. Drake’s gaze darkened. “Solivair. You’ve grown bold.” His voice wasn’t loud, but in Solivair’s ears, it was like a thunderclap. His knees nearly buckled on the spot. It was only one sentence, but Solivair understood it perfectly—Governor Drake was angry. And that was something he absolutely could not afford. With a loud thud, Solivair dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground as he declared without hesitation, “I was wrong! I meant no disrespect to anyone. I will accept any punishment!” He knew very well—this wasn’t the time to be clever. If he didn’t plead guilty right now, and the Governor decided to investigate, the consequences would be far beyond what he could bear. Governor Drake despised deception. If he dug up the truth himself… the result would be catastrophic. Arthur and Ashley watched the scene unfold in utter disbelief. They had already been stunned by the way the international elites treated the man at the head of the room. But now, even someone like Solivair was kneeling before him? He didn’t even try to explain—he just begged for punishment? Solivair’s actions completely redefined Arthur and Ashley’s understanding of the man at the top. Who exactly was this Mr. Drake? Not only could he command the full respect of global heavyweights… even the famously arrogant Solivair knelt and bowed before him? Just a single sentence had scared Solivair half to death. This Governor was nothing like any governor Arthur had ever known. Solivair was never the honest type. Even when caught red-handed, he’d argue back. But in front of this Governor… he didn’t dare say a single word. How could Arthur not be shocked? Around them, the expressions on the others’ faces were calm, even approving—Solivair knew when to yield. They actually agreed with Solivair’s immediate confession and willingness to be punished? Mr. Drake let out a cold snort and waved his hand with a trace of irritation. “Take him out. Give him a beating.” “Yes, sir!” Up to this point, the armed guards standing nearby had been like statues—unmoving, emotionless, no matter what was happening in the hall. But the moment Mr. Drake gave the order, they sprang into action. When Solivair heard the word “beating,” he actually let out a heavy sigh of relief. Before the guards could even reach him, he climbed to his feet and walked out on his own, fully cooperative. What shocked Arthur and Ashley even more was that the punishment happened right outside the banquet hall. The sound of stick meeting flesh echoed clearly into the room, each thud making their hearts pound harder. A beating. In an era of peace, Arthur hadn’t heard that word outside of historical dramas in years.