For a heartbeat, neither of the two Rank Fours reacted.
Then both of them looked at Michael.
Really looked at him.
The old woman's brows lifted first, surprise breaking through her composure. Caelum turned his head slowly, as if he was not sure he had heard correctly.
"…Wash plates?" Caelum repeated.
Michael lowered his hand from his face and looked at them seriously.
"I mean it," he said.
Michael was telling the truth.
He had not even heard the rest of what Lily consumed, but it was obvious that there was no way he could pay it back.
All she had taken was something that could hurt a Rank Four deeply.
What could a Rank Two like him possibly achieve?
For a moment, the forest was quiet.
Then the old woman let out a short, incredulous laugh.
It was brief. Sharp. Gone almost as soon as it appeared.
Caelum shook his head, a strange expression crossing his face: amusement, disbelief, and something else layered beneath it.
