Andrew waved his hand with a smile and said, "Mr. Bates, I'm not worthy of being compared to those so-called prodigies you mentioned. I just don't like being pushed around, that's all."

Ronan gave a bitter smile and said, "In times like these, not being pushed around has practically become a luxury. A lot of folks just want some basic fairness and justice, but even that feels impossible to get.

"And someone like you, Mr. Lloyd, who dares to fight back against the big, powerful families—well, people like that are few and far between."

Andrew caught a deeper meaning behind Ronan's words. "Mr. Bates, did something happen to you and Janice? Something you can't face alone?"

"If so, don't hold back—I'm just one man, but I'm not afraid to speak up for what's right," Andrew said, his voice steady and firm.

Ronan hesitated, clearly torn, and after a long pause, let out a tired smile. "We are facing something we can't survive on our own. But I've been struggling with whether or not to