The silence inside the cave stretched for a few moments, and the faint crackling sound of the crystals on the wall was the only thing that could be heard while the dim light flickered unevenly across their faces.
Ethan stood still for a moment, and his eyes moved slightly as if he was replaying everything in his mind, and then he finally spoke.
"Don't you feel this is a ploy?" Ethan said after a careful observation, and his tone was calm but carried weight.
Hale, who was leaning against the wall with visible injuries, frowned slightly and turned his head toward him.
"What do you mean?" Hale asked, and his voice sounded tired but alert.
Ethan did not answer immediately, and instead he exhaled slowly while shifting his stance, and then he looked at Hale directly.
"See, the Emperor should have expected the interference of a few Divine Knights, but he just sent Aaron," Ethan said, and his brows furrowed slightly.
