"I object!"
Yama Minamiya stood up with a loud shout. He looked at the middle-aged woman with tightly puckered lips. His expression was stern and fuming anger was hidden within his glaring eyes.
The seated upper echelons of the various organizations immediately cast cold gazes of animosity at him. The middle-aged woman narrowed her eyes as viciousness flashed in her eyes. Zhang Meng was the most direct. With an angry stare, he slammed the table and produced a deafening 'bang'. It caused the meeting desk to tremble.
"A trash like you is objecting again!"
The boor, Zhang Meng, was not a person who followed etiquette. He only believed that Yama Minamiya was a person who clung on obstinately to his demands. He yearned to throw a powerful punch at him.
If not for Yama Minamiya's only objecting vote in the previous meetings which caused the meeting to end unceremoniously, there was no reason for Chairman Jiang to drag the matter this far.
The seven major organizations had protested in unison, while most first-rate and second-rate organizations had expressed their objections. The media and public had overwhelmingly leaned toward a side. Changing the rules of the selection should have been taken for granted.
Yama Minamiya was only a Division Minister from a second-rate organization. His hero license was only C-class. His strength had only barely entered the Psionic Might Realm. What right did he have to object to everyone's objections?
If this were any ordinary period, Zhang Meng would have smashed Yama Minamiya flat. However, in the meeting, all they could rely on was the bite of their tongues. It was a competition of eloquence. Strangely, Yama Minamiya was an odd person. He was impervious to hard and soft tactics. He did not succumb to a show of force, so it made Zhang Meng, who was accustomed to speaking with his fist, to fail miserably.
However, this was already the final meeting. Everyone had decided on losing all decorum. They no longer cared about Chairman Jiang, so Zhang Meng was obviously unfazed.
However, Yama Minamiya did not even spare Zhang Meng a glance. He stared straight at the middle-aged woman and said in a deep voice, "Madam Chen, forgive me for disagreeing with what you said! They already possess the strength to defeat rookie representatives from Zeus; therefore, they are not as weak as you describe them to be."
"Instead, they are much stronger than a majority of rookies. However, you had deliberately avoided mentioning such a matter. Aren't you being too sinister with your intentions? Furthermore, Wen Hezheng and Kevin both reached the sixth level. They were not weaker than An Mo and Zhou Chuchu. It's not impossible that their scores are ranked ninth and tenth."
"What right do you have to deny the results of their hard work? I admit, they might come from Gaia which isn't a famous first-rate organization, but it does not deny them of their talent and potential. You categorically mention that the hero organizations place fairness at the forefront. Is robbing the future of two children who worked hard for it through biased discussion considered fair? Such fairness is something I have never ever heard of! I'll absolutely not agree to it!"
Yama Minamiya minced his words as though he was stirring the deaf and enlightening the blind.
The middle-aged woman's expression turned increasingly ugly. She said coldly, "It is understandable that Division Minister Minamiya is biased towards the rookies from his organization, but isn't such perverse logic complete disregard for every one of us present here? In the fourth level's duel grounds, Zhu Yuanyuan and Huang Peng had indeed been defeated."
"However, the reason for their defeat was because of an accidental drain of their stamina during the third level. That duel was not fair in any way. How can it be used as a comparison? If they were to battle under normal circumstances, Wen Hezheng and Kevin have no chance of victory! Furthermore, from what I know, the reason why Wen Hezheng and Kevin were able to reach the sixth level was due to Shi Xiaobai's protection."
"They had been taken care of by him before they barely managed to pass the fifth level. And the reason for the two of them to be ranked ninth and tenth is because of the teamwork mechanism on the third level. They had formed a team with Shi Xiaobai and had been given trial points when Shi Xiaobai conquered the third level's Level Lord! These two people are clearly lacking in strength."
"They managed to ascend the levels only on the virtue of receiving protection. They eventually got nominated because they had clung on to a powerhouse! Their results are completely ingenuine. How can it placate the masses? Division Minister Minamiya, you keep insisting that they had achieved it with hard work, but can shamelessly clinging onto Shi Xiaobai be considered hard work? It's completely lamentable, shameless and ludicrous!"
The middle-aged woman was responsible for external diplomatic negotiations in Zeus. Her ability to distort facts and proficiency at doing 'mouth work' was always something recommended and well-liked by the upper echelons.
After she finished her spiel, the crowd applauded and gave their kudos. They also echoed what she said.
Yama Minamiya remained expressionless and was unmoved. He only stared at the members of the upper echelons of the various organizations that were higher in stature than him without being servile or bumptious. He was not proficient at giving speeches or engaging in a war of words."
"Wen Hezheng and Kevin were not rookies from his division, but having abided to the two convictions of 'righteousness' and 'honesty', he could not sit idle as he watched a scene with people using their power to threaten others. More importantly, he could not let the two children who had made others look at them in a different light after they left the land of trials to suffer such unfair treatment.
Yama Minamiya coldly glanced at the middle-aged woman and said with a deep voice, "Nonsense. It is utter nonsense! Kevin and Wen Hezheng had only formed a team with Shi Xiaobai at the third level's group mode. The other five levels were part of a competitive mode, so how can there be any protection? The trial score's allocation of points is also your subjective guess."
"Who can be sure that the points obtained when conquering the Level Lord would be split with others during team mode? The claim that Zhu Yuanyuan and Huang Peng had been accidentally drained of their stamina at the third level is completely your word. Is there any evidence to prove it? Furthermore, Kevin and Wen Hezheng definitely didn't have a good time at the third level."
"Back then, Shi Xiaobai was dealing with the Level Lord, while they were trying their best to accumulate enough points. They were also exhausted by the time they reached the fourth level. If we are talking about unfairness, it will be the two of them being at a disadvantage. What are you basing on to claim that they have no chance of victory under normal circumstances?"
"After three days, they should be re-evaluated in their appraisals. Kevin and Wen Hezheng were already completely different from the battle exchange. Think about it. How much effort did they need to put in for them to reach such a step? They had passed the official selection to rightfully win the spots in the collective training. There is no reason to deny it. It is also not to be snatched by anyone else. That is true fairness!"
Yama Minamiya became increasingly agitated as he spoke. His fist was clenched tightly as he spoke with his head and chest held high. Without looking anywhere else, he was feeling proud of both Wen Hezheng and Kevin. He was also furious over such a discussion that should not have happened!
The middle-aged woman's eyes were ice-cold as her lips trembled gently. She was about to open her mouth to retort.
But at that moment, a thin man wearing a suit rapped the table. His voice was rather soft, but it immediately attracted everyone's attention.
The suited man tapped the table's surface with his fingers as he hung a 'friendly' smile on his face. He said, "Since Division Minister Minamiya is so confident in his rookies, why are you so insistent on objecting the change of rules? Let the rookies who reached the sixth level enter a selection match and let strength do the talking. Wouldn't that be the fairest?"
"If Wen Hezheng and Kevin really possess the strength to participate in the collective training, it would not be difficult for the two of them to stand out during the selection match. In that case, it will be a smack in everyone's faces and it will also convince the public. Wouldn't that be perfect? Division Minister Minamiya keeps insisting that Wen Hezheng and Kevin are no longer the same people as before, so why not set up an arena and have a go at it? Could it be that 'righteous and honest' Division Minister Minamiya is only hoping to use glib words to skip around the matter?"