Zachary Mercer was surprised by Paige Summers's explanation, but as the head of the family, he was a pragmatist. After a moment of calculation, he realized that wasn't the real issue. Whether the idea had been inspired by the Mercer Family or not, the fact remained that *she* was the one who could create such a weapon. That proved she had an incredible talent for Artifact Making.
That alone was reason enough not to push her away.
He sidestepped the thorny question. "After seeing the diagrams in this book, you've probably guessed that the Mercer Family was once masters of Artifact Making," he said instead. "Unfortunately, due to changing circumstances, we weren't able to continue that development. But even so, there are still members of the Mercer Family who are passionate about the craft... Would you like to see for yourself?"
Now it was Paige Summers's turn to be stunned.
To be honest, she had been holding back her anger.
