Julian's voice cut through the rising tension.
"Grand Magus Dravic, what is the meaning of this?"
The Volkov faction leader didn't even flinch, he spoke with casual assurance.
"It can't be helped. Lady Vashka is a master Artificer — she will be invaluable in exploring this ruin. I'm sure increasing our safety is more important than one slight change to our agreement."
His tone was almost dismissive, as if the matter were already decided.
Emery watched closely. Beside Julian, Athar's jaw tensed, and a faint flicker of irritation crossed his face. The quiet hum of VIA in Emery's ear soon followed, transmitting hidden data on the pale woman.
She wasn't just any Two-Cosmos magus—she had reached that realm centuries ago, and by now, she could well have attained the mid or even peak stage. Her reputation was infamous: the woman who had once annihilated an entire civilization in the name of an experiment.
