These past few days, Cohen had been in a very good mood.
Although being fired from Swire Shipping meant he could no longer enjoy life while getting paid for doing nothing—which initially made him very distressed and angry—he could do nothing but curse that vicious Eastern witch to go to hell as soon as possible.
Perhaps it was God's mercy.
A newspaper wanted to interview someone. Many people were afraid of offending that witch, but when they found him, he happened to have had a little to drink...
To be honest, when he woke up the next day and saw the newspaper, Cohen's legs went weak from fright.
Who knew that absolutely nothing would happen?
At that moment, he finally remembered how the newspaper had persuaded him: even the Daily News, which had gone much further, hadn't suffered any retaliation, so they had absolutely nothing to fear.
Then, he found himself suddenly turning into a star.
When he went out, people would comfort him:
Stay strong, justice will always defeat evil, and everything will get better.
People even donated money to his family.
Other companies even extended olive branches, offering better salaries and positions than his previous one.
However, he didn't plan on considering them.
Going to work meant actually working, which was too tiring. Besides, he might be able to use this newfound fame to enter politics. This idea was still in its infancy, though; at the very least, his reputation wasn't quite loud enough yet.
To prevent competitors from appearing, and also for the money, Cohen accepted interviews from various newspapers almost non-stop.
Today was no different.
In his home.
Sporting a few days worth of unkempt beard, along with eye bags and bloodshot eyes from staying up late, a haggard-looking Cohen poured his heart out to the reporters:
Really, I still can't believe I've left Swire Shipping. It feels like a dream... I don't dare to sleep, because I dream of those ships, the sailors, everything so familiar and beautiful, and then I wake up and it's all gone. I...
He covered his face, seemingly breaking down into silent sobs.
Click, click, click.
The continuous sound of camera shutters came from more than one newspaper.
It couldn't be helped.
Cohen's market value was just too good. Everyone had to line up to interview him. The written articles might differ, and the photos were mostly the same, but the public just loved to see it, so what could they do?
Suddenly, the door was pushed open forcefully.
His emotional display interrupted, Cohen looked up in dissatisfaction, wanting to see who it was.
The person in charge of a certain newspaper smiled apologetically at him, but surprisingly didn't kick the intruder out, and even started whispering with them. This was too disrespectful to him.
I must increase the upcoming interview fee by fifty percent!
Cohen thought.
Then a loud shout rang out.
What!
Everyone cast dissatisfied glances, but the person in charge completely ignored them. Looking incredibly grim, he pressed on: Something happened to the newspaper? Was it that demon... no, did Su make a move against our paper?
Very likely.
The newcomer's voice was equally heavy with grief.
What about the Daily News? How are they doing? Didn't we confirm that everything was normal with the Daily News when we came out? How could...
They are fine, but that's not important. What's important is that we are in trouble!
The person in charge shuddered.
He hurriedly ordered his subordinates to pack up and return to the newspaper office. Cohen tried to stop them, Wait, maybe it's just a misunderstanding...
He was shoved aside.
He stumbled a few steps and almost fell. Feeling even more panicked inside, he forced a smile and feigned a relaxed tone to the others:
I can understand. That Eastern woman is indeed terrifying. However, it's a bit ridiculous that they're so scared that they assume it's her doing the moment something minor happens.
The Daily News is still perfectly fine.
Don't you all agree?
No one spoke, but their actions provided an answer. Everyone was walking out in silence. The smile on Cohen's face stiffened terribly.
Until everyone was gone.
He was still standing there blankly. His family members gathered around in concern, saying a lot of things. Noticing he wasn't making a sound, they pushed him in dissatisfaction.
He collapsed.
Unfortunately, fainting couldn't solve the problem. Upon waking up, Cohen received a court notice.
If he didn't want to go to jail.
He had to return all the salary he had received for doing nothing, along with the accrued interest.
Undoubtedly, it was a massive figure.
Cohen's vision went black.
He was finished!
The Daily News was indeed perfectly fine.
Just like how the Portuguese citizens were confused to find that the newspapers reporting on Swire Shipping had completely changed their tune overnight. Some even published vague apologies on their front pages.
It left people completely baffled.
At this moment.
The Daily News solved the mystery for them.
It was still the root of all evil, Su Ning, who had viciously retaliated against these newspapers!
Whoa.
It was like pouring hot oil onto a roaring fire.
Their emotions reached an unprecedented peak. Cursing Su Ning and subscribing to the Daily News, these two things happened almost simultaneously.
The editor-in-chief was walking perfectly fine down the street.
Suddenly, someone shoved a bouquet of cornflowers, symbolizing justice and courage, into his hands:
The other newspapers have all surrendered to that Easterner. Thank goodness you are still here. Keep it up! We will all support the Daily News. We believe you will achieve victory one day. Justice will never fall!
Editor-in-chief: ...
Although his conscience twinged a bit, he ultimately accepted the bouquet:
Thank you.
After walking a long distance.
He looked back and could still see the bright smile and encouraging gestures of the person who gave him the flowers. Smelling the floral scent, the editor-in-chief suddenly felt that things weren't so bad after all.
Regardless of the reason why Su had hidden the news of the newspaper's acquisition.
It at least saved the public from completely despairing over reality.
There was still justice fighting against evil.
Even though, in truth, justice also belonged to evil...
...
Swire Shipping was a behemoth.
Speaking of which.
Since its main market was actually in Asia, there weren't many people at its headquarters in Portugal. The vast majority of its employees were distributed across various branches in Asia. At this time, transportation was underdeveloped, and news spread slowly.
Many people didn't even know that Swire Shipping had changed owners.
At a certain branch.
The white people, who used to be arrogant and domineering, now looked grim. Meanwhile, the people of another skin color, who made up the majority, whispered among themselves in their own language:
Ferry was actually arrested? Didn't he say he was a descendant of nobility and had a lot of connections? Will he be released soon?
Good riddance! Let him deduct our salaries, even our food. He wanted nothing more than to put us in a millstone and squeeze the oil out of us. He definitely won't be coming back. Didn't you hear? Swire Shipping has a new boss, and she's an Easterner!
Not just an Easterner, she... she even discriminates against white people.
Because it was so unbelievable.
The speaker stammered a bit, but no one minded. They all wore irrepressible smiles on their faces.
Looking at those dispirited white people.
It made them feel even more vindicated.
Usually, they were the ones being discriminated against, suffering from inexplicably reduced wages and enduring beatings and insults as if it were only natural. Now, a new day had finally dawned!
In some branches.
The bottom-tier employees were still wondering why the white management had suddenly started treating them so much better lately. It wasn't until people from headquarters arrived that the truth was revealed.
The management even tried to use the favors they had given to persuade the employees to speak up for them.
Some wavered.
Others, however, showed anger: Bah, these things were ours to begin with! Giving them back to us is considered a favor? How shameless.
Similar situations occurred in almost every branch.
But there were always exceptions.
For example, Japan.
"There is absolutely no need to worry, Mr. Kesley. It has been a pleasure working with you, and as long as we don't agree to it, no one can replace you. Even if the new boss at Swire Shipping really does discriminate against white people, she will still have to take the opinions of a major client like us into consideration!"
