For a brief moment, the others seemed relieved by his explanation. If the elders were genuinely concerned about the consequences of allowing people to leave, perhaps there was still room for negotiation.
However, Lucian suddenly chuckled, his expression carrying a trace of amusement that seemed entirely out of place in the tense atmosphere.
"That's a nice attempt at making yourself sound reasonable, but I think you're leaving out a rather important detail, aren't you?"
The moment he spoke, the four elders turned their attention towards him.
Their earlier goodwill had been directed primarily towards Lana, and Lucian's interruption seemed to remind them that he wasn't someone who would blindly accept their words.
The Elder of Fire narrowed his eyes. "What exactly are you implying? If you don't understand the situation, you should refrain from making meaningless accusations."
Lucian merely smiled, seemingly unaffected by the elder's displeasure.
