Vice-Admiral Kuang clutched the energy nets holding his legs, glaring up at Shen Qiaoqiao with bloodshot eyes.
“Nine hundred trillion Origin Dao Crystals for a plastic mop bucket?” Kuang screamed, his voice shrill with indignation. “You are insane! That bucket was molded from five copper coins worth of cheap petroleum polymer! Even if you filled it with crushed diamonds, it would not cost ninety crystals!”
Shen Qiaoqiao adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses, her pen tapping against the clipboard with a crisp rhythm.
“Under article four of the Taichu Public Sanitation Code, destroying cleaning equipment belonging to an honored senior employee carries statutory triple damages,” Shen Qiaoqiao stated calmly. “Furthermore, the bucket was an irreplaceable historical artifact. Uncle Zhang purchased it at a small supermarket in Jiangcheng during the founding days of our group. It has accompanied Taichu through three mortal cities and five celestial realms.”
She looked down at the thirty-one captured commanders, her voice crisp and formal.
“Add thirty counts of reckless airborne intimidation, sixty counts of environmental soot contamination, and emotional distress for interrupting Uncle Zhang’s morning song,” Shen Qiaoqiao continued. “Total damages assessed: exactly nine hundred trillion crystals. Do you wish to pay by cash or wire transfer?”
