"Well, since your life is tied to him, we have no other choice but to let him live for now…" the Twelfth Elder finally said, his voice gravelly as he cleared his throat and adjusted his posture. "After all, even if it's to kill Dupravel, we surely can't sacrifice the Shadow Dragon."
A collective murmur of agreement rippled through the room, with each police captain nodding along, as if the decision had always been this obvious.
"You've performed most admirably under duress, Skyshard. It's no small feat to fool a criminal like Dupravel. I'll make sure you're rewarded properly for this…" the Elder added, his tone shifting so smoothly it was almost comical.
Just moments ago, the man had been one sentence away from ordering Leo's execution, but now he was smiling faintly, already envisioning the grand spectacle of a fake public execution, one that would restore faith in the Cult leadership, pacify the masses, and elevate his personal status to the moon all at once.
*Cheers*
*Claps*
