Blanco froze for a moment, his eyes blinking rapidly as if he couldn't believe what he just heard. Then he suddenly shot up from his seat, his voice rising in disbelief.
"Are you serious?" he exclaimed, his tone full of shock. "You're rejecting such a big offer? Do you even understand what this means?"
Sophia and Ray both turned toward Ethan, their faces showing worry. Ethan sat still, his expression calm but firm.
"I know," Ethan muttered quietly.
Blanco frowned deeply and crossed his arms over his chest. "No, you don't," he argued, shaking his head. "Listen to me carefully. You think being a Master Knight is something great, but in the Empire, it's barely worth anything."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice more intense now. "Look at me. I'm at the Advanced stage. In a kingdom like this, I'd be considered one of the top powerhouses. But in the Empire, I'm not even part of the inner core of the Paladins."
