Mizuki excused herself to go to the washroom and ordered her subordinates to stop the reporters from trying to get an exclusive interview with her. She then headed in the direction of the washroom with her right-hand man, Claude, in tow.
Her face darkened once she was out of the reporters' line of sight. “Claude, what is going on? I thought we bribed most of the judges. Isn't the World Peace Prize going to be mine regardless? Why is that Eurasian b*tch getting all the attention? There won't be any changes to the plan, right?” Claude bit the bullet and replied, “I've asked around. Most of the judges Mr. Yori bribed have guaranteed that you will be winning the World Peace Prize this year. However, everyone noticed how many lives Penny had saved with her special meds and liver cancer vaccine. Besides, she priced her products below market value to make the special meds accessible to the poor, winning the respect of patients from all over the world. Currently, she has a lot of supporters, way more than you. So, it wouldn't reflect well on the judges if they go against the public's wishes. After all, you don't have as many real supporters to back you up as she does.”
When Claude finished speaking, Mizuki stared at him coldly as if he was already a corpse.
“However, the judges did mention that if you manage to embarrass Penny at the award ceremony today, she will be embarrassed in front of the whole world,” Claude quickly added. “They can also use this as an excuse to give you the award instead.”
Mizuki replied coldly, “Claude, I'm not sure if you're actually dumb or just too much of an honest person. I really want to kill you every time you tell the truth.”
Claude quickly lowered his head in fright as cold sweat beaded his forehead.
Mizuki sneered. “Why are you still standing around when the judges have already made it clear what we're supposed to do? Dig up all of Penny's dark past right this instance. Add it to the slideshow later to be shown during the ceremony. I want her to be seen at her worst by the whole world and make her a laughing stock."
Claude smiled bitterly. “Ms. Yori, I've tried. But Penny has always been a kind and helpful girl ever since she was young. There is no dirt on her and no embarrassing dark past.” Mizuki stopped in her tracks and turned to him in disbelief. “Hah! I don't believe you. Everyone has a dark past. Did she not fool around with men when she was young? Did she not sleep with her clients when she was doing business? Did she not try to seduce her superiors? Has she never been to group parties? That's not possible, right? Right?”
Everything you just mentioned is your own dark past. Penny never did any of these.
Claude shook his head. “No, I've checked.”
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