Chapter 10 Uprooting Old Impressions

• The hushed whispers in the conference room continued. “Benjamin actually hit Sterling's younger brother? Why have I never heard about this?”
• “I've got some friends who are close to Trey. I managed to get some insider information through them.”
• “Wow, he actually managed to offend Sterling. I've heard that Sterling used to be a boxer in the underground circles. Poor Benjamin.”
• No one was particularly close with Benjamin, especially considering how this seemingly weak and inept man managed to win over a stunningly beautiful female CEO. Now, seeing him being confronted by Sterling, they naturally took pleasure in his misfortune.
• Benjamin stared at Sterling, a glint in his gaze as he replied darkly, “I'm Benjamin Zabel. Do you need something from me?”
• “Was it you who injured my younger brother, Trey? You look like a pretty boy; it's hard to believe he was beaten by you. If you bow your head and apologize now, I'll forgive you for the price of one arm!” Sterling's face displayed a sinister and ferocious expression.
• He and his men were brazen and arrogant, acting with utter disregard for others. Their audacity even frightened the more timid women in the office, causing them to pale in fear. Everyone else was just trying to live a normal life. Their threats, demanding an arm from others at the slightest provocation, were the kind of lines you'd only expect to hear in movies.
• Melissa's face was pale as she meekly suggested, “W-Why don't I call the police?”
• “Calling the police to deal with these people won't help; let me handle it instead.” Benjamin gave her a reassuring smile and stood up.
• Melissa paused for a moment. Her feminine intuition had her perceiving a sense of inner peace and confidence from Benjamin's smile.
• “You've got guts. I heard you're quite the fighter, but are you sure you want to take me on?” Sterling taunted, an evil smirk playing on his lips. “If you really want to fight me, it won't be as simple as just an arm.”
• His sidekick standing nearby chuckled and spat, “This guy's an absolute fool, thinking he can pick a fight with Mr. Sterling. Mr. Sterling used to be a notorious underground boxer. He has crippled and killed more people than we can count.”
• Sterling clenched his fist, the knuckles cracking ominously. He said through a scoff, “I've killed two men before and maimed twelve. My punch can deliver a force of a hundred kilos. You still want to fight me?”
• “Is a punch with only a hundred kilos of force really that impressive?” Benjamin casually shook his head as he spoke.
• “How dare you boast in front of me. A hundred kilograms is already beyond the strength of an average person; it's close to the force of a professional boxer.” Sterling glared fiercely, his eyes wide and filled with menace as he fixed his gaze on Benjamin.
• Benjamin shook his head and said, “Even if they're professional boxers, heavyweights like Tyson would be no match for me.”
• “You arrogant fool!” Sterling was thoroughly enraged. The veins in his arms bulged as he fiercely threw a straight punch toward Benjamin's face. With speed and strength combined, it seemed as though he aimed to smash Benjamin's face as though crushing a watermelon.
• “Ah!” Melissa and some other women were so frightened that they immediately shut their eyes.
• Benjamin simultaneously threw a punch. It didn't seem particularly fast and appeared light. With a loud thud, the two fists collided.
• Crack! The crowd could clearly see Sterling's arm bone snapping, causing the man to stagger backward. Clutching his aching arm, Sterling's face was drenched in cold sweat.
• “Mr. Sterling!”
• “Mr. Sterling, what's wrong with you?”
• A few thugs immediately surrounded him. The conference room fell into a silence so profound that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone's mouths hung open, their eyes wide in shock. The only emotion left in the room was sheer astonishment. Benjamin's seemingly effortless punch had broken Sterling's arm.
• Sterling was the most terrified of them all. “He must have used internal force just now, or it wouldn't have been possible to break my arm. In Jexburgh, isn't every master of internal force a distinguished guest of the wealthy families? They are even considered elites in the Combat Arts Alliance. I didn't expect to bump into one today.”
• Benjamin stood tall, his hands clasped behind his back, exuding an air of arrogance. With a calm tone, he said, “I broke your arm. Do you concede?”
• After a moment of hesitation, Sterling knew that Benjamin could easily kill him if he wanted to. Bracing against the pain, Sterling said, “I-I surrender.”
• Benjamin didn't even bother looking at Sterling again as he ordered softly, “Get lost.”
• The lackeys around Sterling quickly helped him up, and the group hurriedly fled the conference room.
• With a firm grip on his pen, Winston hung his head low, gritting his teeth in frustration. The senior executives from the other departments exchanged uneasy glances. Just moments ago, they had been mocking and ridiculing Benjamin, but they hadn't expected him to be so formidable. It was a far cry from the image of the weak and incompetent person they had painted him to be.
• “All right, let's continue the meeting,” said Benjamin as he sat back down, behaving as if nothing had happened earlier.
• Everyone in the conference room had witnessed the scene unfold before their eyes. They were left in shock, with a lingering sense of unease and apprehension.
• “Mr. Hudson, give us an update on the sales department,” announced Benjamin, who turned his attention to a somewhat balding middle-aged man.
• His name was George Hudson, a forty-year-old veteran of Grace Cosmetics. He was in charge of a crucial department within the company. Just a moment ago, he was coldly staring down at Benjamin, but now, he hurriedly wiped the cold sweat off his forehead.
• He stammered in reply, “Mr. Zabel, the sales department is facing fierce competition right now. Our sales have dropped by thirty percent in the past three months.”
• Benjamin nodded calmly, his gaze resting on a woman as he asked, “Ms. York, how's the situation in the product development department?”