She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 711

"This is Alastair Windsor!" Elise's voice rang out, sharp and fiercely protective. "Chief Consultant to the National Heritage Board, a tenured honorary professor, and an absolute god in the world of archaeology! The priceless artifacts he has appraised and saved could fill a world-class museum. Every word he speaks carries immense weight. How dare you casually slander him?!"

The Winslet family wielded extraordinary influence in Metropia thanks to their shipping empire. As the family's matriarch, Elise was highly respected. Her furious defense hit the crowd like a boulder dropped into a tranquil lake, sending massive waves rippling through the room.

Nobody doubted her.

"Oh my god! The Chief Consultant to the National Heritage Board!"

"If Madam Elise is this angry and vouching for him personally..."

"And Edgar Lonsdale just called him a fraud..."

Alicia was terrified, but she was even more afraid of the project falling through. That would be a devastating blow to Macrostar Production and their family.

"Impossible," she stammered. "Mr. Windsor, what do you mean by this? Are you helping them run a scam?"

Usually universally respected, Mr. Windsor could no longer tolerate their repeated insults. He sighed, pulled his ID from his pocket, and held it up. "I have worked in archaeology for over forty years. Why would I need to scam anyone? You can check my credentials on the official registry. My record is impeccable."

Several government officials exchanged glances, their expressions turning dead serious. The wealthy businessmen around them who dabbled in antiquities looked visibly excited at the mention of Windsor's name.

Director Lawrence Ludlow stepped forward, greeting the professor politely. "Mr. Windsor, I had no idea you would be gracing us with your presence. This involves the safety of a major Olympic stadium project and the preservation of historical artifacts. Please, give us your professional opinion."

"What is there to give? I already told you, there's absolutely nothing wrong with parcels A7 and A8," Edgar shouted, completely losing his mind as he yelled at the security guards. "Throw them out! Get them out of here!"

However, Edgar clung to his denial like a lifeline, screaming wildly, "Don't listen to them! They're in on it together! They're putting on an act to scare us away and ruin today's ceremony! Nobody leaves!"

He even tried to grab the nearest official, shouting, "When these two parcels were approved, they passed all inspections! Moreover, this land belonged to Horace Fremont. Need I say more about its value?"

Horace, who had his arm around Sybil, stepped up as well. "I've owned these properties for years and never heard of any artifacts, let alone an ancient tomb. It's ridiculous! They just want to ruin the banquet!"

"Listen to me, nobody needs to leave. Let's just stay right here and watch Loyce and this pretentious old man make fools of themselves!"

The crowd murmured among themselves. They waited for a moment, and yet, nothing happened. The ground remained still.

Edgar raised his voice triumphantly. "See? I told you it was fine! Everyone..."