"I… I…"
The words caught in his throat. "Shit…"
For the first time, the thug truly felt the invisible blade hovering over his neck, ready to fall at any moment. His mind raced frantically, searching for something, anything, that could persuade Zhane to spare them.
He valued his position. He had fought tooth and nail to climb the ranks, to gain influence, to taste power. He had dreams of going even higher, of securing a better life where he no longer had to stand on the front line of danger.
But all of that meant nothing if he died here.
Ambition required survival. Power required breathing. If he fell now, every calculated step he had taken, every compromise he had made, every risk he had endured, it would all turn to dust.
And yet, Zhane's words were undeniably logical.
He had no credibility. No proof of sincerity. No leverage. He couldn't even offer information without it sounding like another desperate attempt to save himself.
