Gerald let out a cold laugh. "That's right. Mr. Johnson is only coming because of me. Now, why don't you hurry up and drag this stray dog out already? Make him apologize to me, then throw him out."

In an instant, a group of people surrounded me. I tried to fight back, but I was outnumbered and took several hard hits.

In the scuffle, the sack on my shoulder was knocked to the ground with a loud thud. The heavy sound immediately drew everyone's attention.

Gerald sneered coldly. "You've been carrying that trash bag since you walked in. What's inside? Don't tell me it's just some worthless homegrown potatoes or something?"

As he spoke, he lifted his leg and kicked the bag hard. He screamed in pain, clearly not expecting it to be so solid. He had kicked with full force, nearly wrecking his foot.

A red-haired guy hurried to support Gerald, keeping him from collapsing. But being embarrassed like that only made Gerald angrier. He barked an order for someone to open my woven sack.

Ignoring my resistance, the redhead sneered and yanked it open. Inside, a blinding flash of gold came into view.

"Holy moly! That's a lot of gold!"

"I thought Jeremy was broke. Is this what it means to be 'broke' nowadays?"

"If that's the case, I want to be 'broke' too."

"Looking at Jeremy now, he's actually got presence. He's nothing like the miner Kayleigh described."

Hearing the praise directed at me, Kayleigh's complexion shifted between pale and flushed. Her eyes locked onto the gold as she stammered, "Jeremy, you… Where did you get… this much gold?"

I didn't even spare her a glance. I shoved aside the people holding me, kicked the redhead away, and retied the sack. "You've all seen what's inside the sack. I'm leaving now."

Seeing the envy in everyone's eyes, Gerald's expression darkened. He grabbed the sack, his gaze icy. "Jeremy, where did you get this gold?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "It's none of your business."

"None of my business? Hah!" Gerald suddenly sneered. "You stole it from my family's gold mine, and you're saying it's none of my business?"

I frowned slightly, confused. "What the hell are you talking about? This gold is mine."

Gerald let out a mocking laugh, raising his voice. "Yours? That's hilarious. Where would a broke nobody like you get this much gold? Plus, what a coincidence that our mine just lost a shipment, and suddenly you're rich?"

As soon as he said that, countless hostile gazes turned toward me.

"What proof do you have?"

Gerald smirked. "Kayleigh is my witness!" He then grabbed her and dragged her forward. "Go on, Kayleigh. Tell him. Didn't our mine lose gold?"

All eyes instantly turned to Kayleigh.

Thinking of the kind, bright woman she once was, I couldn't believe she'd lie for him.

But under everyone's gaze, she hardened her heart, shut her eyes, and shouted, "Yes! The mind did lose a shipment of gold."

Mockery and scorn from the crowd flooded my ears incessantly. Just like that, I was branded a thief.

Gerald burst out laughing, slapping Kayleigh hard on the butt. "Good girl," he said, not forgetting to shoot me a provocative look.

A group rushed forward. I couldn't hold them off. Soon, more than a dozen thugs had me pinned to the ground. Gerald crouched down over me and patted my face. "You have no idea who you're going against." As he spoke, he stepped on my face, grinding his shoe into it again and again.

The laughter around me was deafening. Worse still, Kayleigh looked down at me with disgust.

I clenched my teeth, staring at them. "Have you thought about the consequences of laying a hand on me?"

For a split second, the room fell silent. Just as I thought they might hesitate and let me go, laughter erupted all around.

Even Kayleigh looked at me with ridicule. "Jeremy, you're insane. You're just a miner. Even if Gerald beat you to death, there wouldn't be any consequences."

Before I could respond, the door suddenly flew open. "Everyone, stop right there!"