novelraw Chapter 789 - 504: New Hall Rules [04] Arranging the Elders Perfectly
Chapter 789 - 504: New Hall Rules [04] Arranging the Elders Perfectly
What on earth, using this little money to "buy off" us?!
"In every box, there’s a million in cash and a twenty-million-dollar check." Nora Scott continued, holding a megaphone, "Sign your name and you can take it."
Fátima raised an eyebrow.
Quite bold.
Checks weren’t enough; she had to use a million in cash for the show, creating a visual impact.
She chewed on a sunflower seed.
"Nora Scott! What do you take us for?!"
The hot-tempered Elder Carter was furious and charged directly at Nora Scott.
Just as he took two steps forward, Nora Scott didn’t even blink, and Rosie Sullivan rushed over, grabbed Elder Carter’s arm, and pushed him back a step.
Several elders were somewhat adept when they were younger, not much worse than Rosie Sullivan, but after becoming elders, they had bodyguards and attendants with them, so they naturally became lax in martial arts. Coupled with their age, they were simply no match for Rosie Sullivan.
Elder Carter was furious, "Are you rebelling?!"
Rosie Sullivan remained calm and composed in front of the elder, and said word by word, "The whole hall must obey the Hall Master’s orders, Elder Carter. The Hall Master’s orders are mandatory. This is the hall rule."
"..."
Elder Carter’s face turned a pig liver color, and he couldn’t refute it for the moment.
The Hall Master’s order comes first.
No one can defy it.
This is clearly written in the hall rules.
But now, the Hall Master is leading the charge to change the hall rules...
Nora Scott didn’t take the commotion seriously; she lazily continued speaking into the megaphone, "I know the hall hasn’t made much profit over the years, so this money is for your hard work, elders. Those who sign can take the money with elder status; those who don’t sign can also take the money, consider it your final payment."
Her words were clearly threatening—
This money, everyone gets a share.
But after signing the contract, you remain as an elder; if you don’t sign the contract, you can leave, and don’t expect to stay as an elder.
With the threat so clear, despite suppressing their anger, they couldn’t help but explode.
"How audacious! We’ve been elders for so long, can you just dismiss us with a word?!"
"So young and ignorant! Utterly hopeless!"
"Crazy! Crazy! A brat is now lawless before us!"
"Bringing a wolf into the house! Vaughn brought a wolf in! Let him see his heir! It’s a joke! Absolutely a big joke!"
...
A few people stirred up the atmosphere intensely, performing a scene of what is called a "disorganized mob."
"Beep—beep—beep—"
Suddenly, three piercing whistle blows successfully silenced the furious elders.
The whistler was Fátima.
With a whistle in her mouth, she rubbed her left ear with one hand, turned her head slightly, glanced at the elders with baffled expressions, assumed an enlightened look, and took down the whistle.
"Sorry, force of habit. We prefer order, not too used to this kind of scene—" Fátima deliberately paused here, sounding very skeptical, "Does your hall have more rules than military regulations, and elders don’t need to set an example?"
Fátima looked puzzled.
"..."
The elders again realized that official personnel were present, and were speechless.
On the one hand, they wanted to kill the new Hall Master, but on the other, because official personnel were present, they had to mind their words and actions, not overstepping the bounds—this was extremely difficult.
When it finally quieted down, Nora Scott continued, "Since taking office, I really haven’t achieved much. So, aside from keeping some elders for a few days, no other coercive measures will be taken. Elders, there’s no need to feel tense."
The crowd: "..."
Choosing to ignore the threat of "resigning if you don’t sign" seems oddly satisfying.
"Feel free to do as you please."
Putting the megaphone away, Nora Scott said all she needed to say and turned straight to walk upstairs.
Fátima clapped her hands, stood up, and followed closely behind.
As for Amy Mansfield, Barton Mansfield, and Rosie Sullivan, aside from Rosie who followed, the Mansfield twins remained in the living room. However, since they knew the elders and had authority in the new generation within the hall, despite being glared at, the elders didn’t really vent their anger on them, but instead, some elders asked them what this was all about.
"We’re just following orders, and have no knowledge of the Hall Master’s specific arrangements."
Barton Mansfield answered with a straight, serious face, in all seriousness.
Not revealing any flaws.
"Whether or not to agree to change the hall rules, the elders can first review the new hall rules before deciding." Amy Mansfield played the good cop, calmly saying, "Rest assured, with us here, the elders definitely won’t be wronged."
The statement clearly showed standing on the elders’ side.
However, the elders are old foxes, and a few words are not enough to make them lower their guard against the twin siblings.
—In Biel Hall, each elder has their own circle, and those not personally cultivated by them cannot earn their trust.
The Mansfield siblings were cultivated by Master Vaughn, and every elder was wary of them.
...
Nora Scott took three consecutive steps—
First, isolate them from external contact, trapping them in the villa;
Second, financial temptation. Twenty million is no small sum for the down-and-out hall elders;
Third, violent threat. Not signing will lead to dismissal.
Of course, for the third point, actually not many people would believe it, merely considering Nora Scott’s verbal threat, since the Elder Council is meant to restrict and constrain the Hall Master, who doesn’t have absolute say before the Elder Council.
If the Hall Master doesn’t have the evidence necessitating their dismissal, it’s impossible to dismiss them with mere words.
However, one thing—
What if?
They have served many years; not a single elder can assert that they are utterly innocent and guiltless.
After Nora Scott, Fátima, and Rosie Sullivan left, the elders gathered together, some teamed up to curse Nora Scott, some sat down to read the new hall rules, some tried to unravel mechanical techniques, and some—
Attempted to use secretly hidden communication devices to contact the outside world.
However, before Nora Scott went downstairs, she used Pedro Langley’s latest signal jammer, which was small but powerful, perfectly leaving the elders with no recourse while not affecting the rest of the neighborhood.
"What kind of hall rule is this?! Outrageous! This kind of thing shouldn’t exist!"
Some elders hadn’t finished reading the new hall rules before loudly condemning them, wishing they could tear them in half like Elder Carter.
The new hall rules essentially abolished all old systems, significantly weakening the powers of the Hall Master and Elder Council, reflecting the pursuit of "freedom, equality, and fairness" by the youth.
These elderly men, past their fifties, have adhered to the old rules since they came into contact with hall rules, the least for thirty years, the most for sixty or seventy years. How could they accept such a drastically altered new hall rule?!
"I’ve long said, choosing such an inexperienced girl as the Hall Master, Biel Hall will end sooner or later!"
"Vote her out! As soon as we get out, I’ll be the first to propose voting her out! Does she dare touch the rules set by the ancestors?!"
"Just for forcing us to stay here, she’s done for this time!"
...
After some venting, they began discussing Nora Scott’s threats against them, becoming increasingly angered.
Then Elder Carter waved his hand, advising, "Rest assured, she’s only pretending to be fierce, dare not touch us. Even if something slight happens to us, she wouldn’t be able to provide an explanation to Biel Hall."
As the words fell.
Suddenly, a piercing noise was heard, interrupted by static, then Rosie’s voice emerged from the hidden speakers in the living room—
"Good afternoon, elders. Before lunch arrives, let’s talk about Elder Carter’s ten sins."
Elder Carter: ???