Chapter 513
Kroza’s gaze sharpened behind his crystalline lenses, scrutinizing every flicker in Rattan’s body language.
"We have observed your recent focus. Your research proposals. Your requisitions. Your questions. There is... a sudden and rather intense interest in the war."
A murmur swept across the chamber. "In steampunk warfare technology. In ratman engineering. Even in the battlefield salvage we’ve retrieved."
A beat of silence. Then Kroza leaned forward slightly.
"So tell us, Apprentice—why?"
Rattan did not answer right away. Silence was his ally. He had learned that well during his time among the mages and high goblins. Measured breaths. Controlled gaze. Words weighed like ingredients in alchemy.
"Because they built it," he said at last. His voice was calm, focused. "The ratmen. They built it under fire, under pressure, in desperation. And it worked."
More murmurs, but Kroza raised a hand to silence them.
Rattan continued.
"I am not interested in sentiment or politics. I am interested in effectiveness. There is a brutality to their engineering, yes—but also brilliance. I believe their fusion of necessity and invention produced insights we, for all our resources, have yet to understand."
"You believe our own war-forged artificers have missed something?" asked Magister Vael coldly.