The scandal hasn't subsided, fans and supporters of the other team have started to attack Key like crazy.
Benoit Moreau is Gallian, they used that against Key claiming that she must've gone to Gallia on purpose to link herself to the man because she's not getting enough traffic.
Even the posts and announcements related to Kashmiri before the eruption of the scandal were swarmed by posts coming from her anti-fans who criticized her for being a mistress and for acting like a white lotus when she's a bitch.
"I want to see the results now," Key informed Yu's subordinate from the other line while her eyes read the comments and posts about her on the internet
[As you wish, madam,] he replied and Key ended the call
She didn't take any of the insults to heart, she had been labeled far worse and experienced things harsher than things she's currently facing after being maligned.
To someone who suffered the harsh methods during the times of rampant Witch Trials, being labeled a lotus and a mistress without any physical pain is nothing compared to being burnt alive along with her community for being accused as a witch.
The virtual accusations and dirty water splashed on Kashmiri's name went as low as claiming that Key's parents must be irresponsible or a pair of adulterers as well, to which Key replied by posting a short statement on her account.
Cashmirind @Kashmiri
Leave them out.
This caused an uproar, Kashmiri's small number of fans fought back and defended her, saying that her post meant she loves her parents very much.
They claimed that her sweet and nice personality proves that there's no way she'll agree to be a kept woman or be a third party in a relationship.
"Why can't they just accept it?" Quant sounded aggrieved as Key walk inside the living room after she saw the results from Yu's subordinate
"That's how humans are, Quant, they only accept what's within their belief," Key said and sat down
"Not everyone," Rio countered and Key shook her head
She scrolled through the replies.
With her permission, the legal team of the company that owns JLNC posted a clarification and used the photos of receipts she sent to their group chat as proof that she had nothing to do with the man.
[: How are we supposed to believe she has that much money?]
[: Do E-Sports players earn ten digits monthly?]
Those two are the nicest, considering these didn't have a cuss included when compared to the rest of the replies under the post.
Key shook her head, she already knew what people are like so she was no longer disappointed but rather amused as to how humanity improves at something and regresses or loses something else.
Just as Key was reading the replies and comments on the posts related to the issue, a servant came in while holding the remote control of the large television.
Key waved her hand and the servant handed her the remote control before excusing himself.
Key started switching through the channels until she found the E-Sport News Channel.
The host was reporting in French until Gino Morin and Elvis Letterman appeared on the screen, they announced the exploding of the E-Sport Farm and various social networking sites on the internet.
Key noticed their gaze on her especially when the post from a prestigious law firm known in Arasia, Euroxien, and North Hirea vouched for her innocence and threatened to send a lawyer's letter to everyone involved in the matter.
It wasn't an empty threat because minutes after that announcement, Key noticed the posts disappearing one by one as if they were deleted and she saw lawyer letters addressed to various names, accounts, and companies posted on the internet.
{"A breaking news, Ruiz Law Firm issued lawyer letters to Benoit Moreau and his whole company. According to the details included in the letter, with the evidence collected, the Ruiz Law Firm will be suing the Caballero."} Gino Morin reported
{"If you ask me, Gino, it seems Caballero will be facing harsh consequences for the previous scandal, and Benoit Moreau may not be able to return to the International League after this."} Elvis Letterman commented while shaking his head
Footage appeared on the side and even the two hosts turned to look at the screen next to them, it was a live stream from Benoit Moreau's official page.
{"Hello, I'm Benoit Moreau…"} A Euroxien-looking man appeared on the screen
{"I know some of you must know me as a cheater… but no, I didn't cheat on my girlfriend. I love her very much… it's just that… anyway, Kashmiri, I'm sorry. To all those who cursed Kashmiri because of me, I'm sorry for misleading you. She didn't talk to me, she didn't even interact with me… I only returned the keychain she dropped."} Benoit Moreau began explaining after apologizing but Key didn't care about it, she wanted to see the consequences
{"Why are you apologizing now?"} A deep baritone voice sounded from the footage
{"I didn't clarify the issue even when I should have and I don't have any excuse for my action, I'm sorry."} Benoit Moreau apologized and lowered his head
"Where are you going?" Bright asked Key when she stood up
"I'll take a breather outside," Key said and smiled sweetly before leaving
She took out her phone and rang Kitten's phone, it only took two rings before she answered.
"That wasn't satisfying," Key commented
[Indeed, it wasn't,] Kitten agreed and they sighed
They've both experienced being pressured and sued at least once and neither of them broke as easily as this man under constant threat and pressure, well not after the moment they deemed that Fate started messing up their life, that is.
For a moment, the two of them forgot that Benoit Moreau is a normal man and not a glitch like the two of them.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Gino Morin ad Elvis Letterman continued to report the outcomes of the scandal that involved JLNC and Caballero.
They showed the announcements from different brands that recently posted to have deals and signed with Benoit Moreau and the rest of the Caballero on the screen.
{"Wow, this will drive him bankrupt."} Gino Morin commented after reading the news report
{"As you can see here, the compensation for the charges filed against Benoit Moreau didn't exceed 750 USD. However, the penalty amount for his and Caballero's cancelled contracts for various endorsements summed up to 750 million dollars, that's not counting the undisclosed penalty amount for the breach of his contract with Caballero."} He further explained as the figure appeared on the screen beside them
{"Well, his teammates did stay silent during the whole situation so it must be why his company asked him to pay for his team's fines."} Elvis Letterman nodded his head
"He deserves that, Key suffered because of him," Alexei said and leaned on the seat
"Where is she now?" Nicolas asked and looked at the screen indifferently
The way things unfolded was suspicious for him, Key didn't show any signs of taking action against the man, but the speed of how it was settled showed just how much work was done behind the scene at a rapid pace.
It hasn't even been half a week since the scandal started yet the fire was quickly put out aggressively and dominantly, leaving no room for the other party to counterattack or defend themselves.
His suspicion that someone big is behind Keychantel Desmond, that there's something greater than her identity as Kashmiri, is growing with his interest in her by the second.
"Huh, he didn't reveal it himself but his company did," El said and handed his phone to Rio who was next to him
"What happened?" Opal asked and read the clarification that Caballero's company posted
"His girlfriend's popularity is declining, and so is his, they did this as a publicity act and decided to use Key since she's famous right now for being the first female league player," Rio explained what he understood from the article
"Then he deserved this," Dewy agreed
Key walked back and there was a calm look on her face, she sat back down to her seat and Rio handed El's phone to her. Key glanced at the screen for a moment then handed it back to Rio who handed it back to El.
"I've seen that already," Key replied with a small smile
"Aren't you pushing the lawsuit further?" Alexei asked and she shook her head
"It's too much work for a meager 750 USD compensation, it's not worth stressing over," Key replied
"You seem too calm about this, did you already do something?" Dewy asked
"My best friend already cleaned things up, she advised me to focus on having fun while playing," Key answered in a perfunctory manner
Kitten did tell Yu, as he is under her personal Troublemaker back in the day, to put out the fire online and she informed Key about it.
As for the latter part about Kitten's advice, she didn't really say anything about Key's path as a part of the professional league but she reminded Key about some things.