Chapter 18: A Deal of Exchange
Inside the leader’s palace, the Supreme Leader sat on his simple throne, resting his elbow on the armrest and holding his forehead with his hand, hiding his eyes filled with confusion and loss. Before him stood Blear, Beatrice, and Fredrick in silence and tension.
Their faces were marked with urgency, and it seemed as though Blear was barely holding back the words in his throat, his eyes darting rapidly between his father, lost in thought, and the door of the hall.
He wanted to run at full speed, gather his best warriors, and chase the eagle to retrieve Sollivan. Unable to contain himself, he tapped his foot on the ground, producing a faint clicking sound that echoed through the vast hall due to the silence.
With each click, Beatrice’s expression grew more irritated, and after a short while, she could no longer bear it. She hit his thigh with her hand, and when his attention turned to her, she said to him in a low voice tinged with anger, "Stop that, you’re annoying me."
Blear was annoyed by her words, but he didn’t respond and calmed himself. His foot stopped tapping, and his posture became more upright.
Silence once again filled the vast hall, and after a short while, the Supreme Leader exhaled deeply. He lifted his head and lowered his hand, revealing his face clearly, which looked different than usual.
The red scales on his face were more prominent, extending to cover his cheeks and the lower part of his chin, forming a strange scaly mask. His horns had grown longer and sharper, and even his teeth appeared pointed and slightly beastly.
Seeing the leader’s angry face, everyone involuntarily swallowed their saliva, and even Beatrice trembled deeply, looking at the ground with profound fear.
But the leader’s anger didn’t last long, as his face returned to normal within a short time, and his aura became more composed. However, Beatrice didn’t stop trembling.
The Supreme Leader stared at everyone sternly before speaking in a heavy voice.
"We can’t do anything." He shook his head slowly and sighed.
"What irony."