He flattered the man while his gaze was upon Dockrey who just harrumphed and said nothing back.
"Well said from another youth," the eldest man smiled a bigger one this time while adding, "I just hope my daughter will be as wise as you."
"Thanks sir," Bloom replied in courtesy while glancing shortly at Peri whose eyes never left him.
The machine didn't buzz until five minutes later, making everyone restless to see the evaluation of the screen.
"Assessment of Terry: 225%... An outstanding performance indeed."
The soft female voice rang again with the results shown on the screen making everyone gasp in shock.
The entire place ushered instantly under a heavy silence that made it difficult to breath!
"This" Dockrey's face was pale while the next moment it turned to deep red, "this machine is flawed! He did something to it! I request another assessment to be done after checking the machine!"
His words landed in the still silence and everyone heard him perfectly well.
"What are you trying to imply here?" the eldest man gave Dockrey a cold glance while adding, "this machine is the crown jewel of our company. I won't allow you to tarnish its reputation because you are a sore loser."
"I don't care about what you think, old man," Dockrey showed at this moment his true arrogant self, "I won't accept this unbelievable result without proof."
"Let's have the machine calibrated and we can recheck our progress again," Bloom simply said, while adding under the strange gazes of the elders of the board and everyone in front of him, "but this has to be met with a price to pay for the lack of trust."
"What price may you suggest?" the eldest man said, cutting the road on Dockrey to speak.
"Hmm I think this price shouldn't only involve him," Bloom pointed towards Dockrey as if he was pointing out to a sack of sh*t on the side of the road. "But everyone who supported him should suffer if they still stood behind such an insult."
His words created instant ruckus among the place, yet the eldest man smiled as he calmly said:
"It's fair."
"But" Dockrey read what Bloom tried to do here, but just before he could continue his argument, the eldest man turned to face him. "It's you who doubted our company and if you want to go down this road, then you'll have to pay for the damage."
Dockrey swallowed what he wanted to say as his situation turned into a funny and strange one. Bloom kept his smug smile over his face while watching the reactions of Dockrey so close.
"What will you do now?" one of the elders asked, "accept the fair judge or run it over again?" he added while he, along with others, were feeling amused about such development.
At first they were mad, yet when Bloom spoke up they started to like the kid more. Even Antoan gave Bloom a thumb up after saying that.
"Well," Dockrey exchanged glances with those who trusted them in his supporters and waited. He cleverly threw the ball back into their ground, and they were surprised by such action.
Bloom, alongside everyone else here, glanced over the dozen of middle-aged and old men and women Dockrey just asked silently about their decision.
And they just shook their heads in refusal.
"Wise," Bloom muttered while the eldest man here nodded in agreement.
"Minimizing damage and living to fight another day," he said before turning to Dockrey, "so you are accepting the results?"
Dockrey was cornered here. Despite his ego telling him to say no, he unwillingly nodded while looking away, avoiding any eye contact with Bloom.
"Great," the man said, "so the result is clear. The first clash between the two youths resulted in Dockrey's crushing defeat and some collateral financial damage."
The man didn't let Dockrey run away this easily from the insult he just directed towards the board members. Just as his words fell, everyone realized one simple truth they all overlooked amidst this escalating clash just now.
Many lost money, and some gained a lot!
"I hope the next confrontation will be more exciting," one of the elders said in the mic he was holding, "and now those who gained riches shall receive them during the next couple of hours. Enjoy the evening ladies and gentlemen."
The audience had mixed feelings yet after these words, a band appeared there to change the atmosphere as they started playing different styles of music.
"What's your ID in the game?"
Just as the music was starting slow and everyone was trying to jump over this night, Dockrey suddenly shouted in a tone that was louder than the music.
"Hahaha, something you shall not ask and won't know," Bloom answered with a loud laugh before leaving the stage, heading towards the spot he liked overlooking the entire city.
He ignored everyone's gazes, as some were so much friendly to him even to the limit of taking the initiative to shake hands with. As for Dockrey's supporters, they had this gloomy look over their faces out of their loss.
"Didn't know you hide such a personality down below," as he was standing on the edge of the hall, this soft voice came abruptly from behind. He glanced slowly towards Peri who moved to stand beside him.
"What gave me up?" she asked.
"Nothing," he shrugged while she stood beside him, seeing the amazing night scene of the city.
"That can't be nothing," she chuckled, "you are the first one to see through me," she added.
"It's just a hunch," he lied.
"Then it's an outstanding hunch like your outstanding performance."
Her laugh was so sweet that it made him turn his gaze away from the amazing scene he admired to be mesmerized by her beauty. "What can I call you?" he asked.
"The fourth sister is perfect," she smiled as she added with a playful tone, "or what do you want to call me?"