The assistant shook his head, "I''ve already tried calling, but it''s always Presley''s assistant who picks up, and the answers are fuzzy, no clear-cut conclusion."


    David listened and just murmured in agreement.


    Right then, David''s phone buzzed on the table. The assistant leaned over slightly to check it out and, as if on cue, said, "It''s Presley calling."


    David paused for a moment, then answered the call. Before he could even say a word, Presley''s voice came through loud and clear.


    "Chairman, where''s that herbalist fromst time from?"


    Presley was sitting in a wooden cabin at an herb farm, his eyes fixed on a nt in the garden that resembled bamboo leaves.


    "He''s from a vige down south, but I didn''t get the exact location. Why the sudden interest in Paul?" David asked, a bit puzzled.


    He knew Presley well enough to know he wouldn''t ask about a herbalist''s background just out of curiosity.


    Presley sat down at a stone table, sidestepping David''s question and instead asked, "Is the overseas side still refusing our request for a delivery extension, Chairman? What''s your take on this?"


    David hesitated slightly before replying, "You knew?"


    "I''ve been in touch with Dean''s secretary on the side, just getting the lowdown," Presley replied, taking his time.


    Reflecting on the past coborations that Presley had managed, David didn''t overthink it and simply said, "We can''t possibly gather the herbs in time. If negotiation''s off the table, then we''ll just have to breach the contract andpensate them."


    Presley responded with a touch of seriousness, "Compensation is minor, but the fallout from a breach could be massive. We can''t afford a big loss over something small."


    David rubbed his forehead, "In your view, is there any other way to fix this?" Presley''s eyes lit up slightly, as if he''d been waiting for this question, "Yes, we could try negotiating to use a different herb as a substitute."


    David immediately shook his head, "No, I''ve already brought that up with Dean, and he wasn''t on board."


    "That''s because, Chairman, you haven''t offered Dean what he really wants," Presley said softly, tapping lightly on the stone table.


    David''s expression tightened a bit, "What do you mean?"


    "Dean''s secretary mentioned he''s on the hunt for a rare herb. If we can offer that as a substitute, this whole mess could be sorted out easily," Presley exined slowly.


    "What herb?" David asked.


    "I don''t know the exact name, but Dean''s secretary sent me a picture. I''ll forward it to you."


    David agreed, then ended the call.


    About half a minuteter, David received a picture on Messenger. At first nce, it wasn''t a herb he knew, but it did look familiar.


    It had leaves like bamboo, and it reminded him of something he''d seen somewhere before.


    The assistant also took a peek at the picture, but not being well-versed in herbs, he didn''t recognize it either.


    Soon, David remembered spotting the herb at Paul''s ce, and he had even asked about its name back then.


    But he hadn''t gotten an answer.


    With his phone in hand, David snapped back to reality, realizing why Presley had suddenly brought up Paul.


    He quickly called Presley back, and as soon as the call connected, he got straight to the point, “Have you been to Paul''s ce?"