From the moment Jenny appeared, Ethan did not speak. His posture was relaxed, almost casual, but his attention never left her, as though the rest of the room had faded into the background the instant she stepped forward. The brief exchange she had just shared with Blackfin confirmed what Ethan already suspected. Whatever she was, she was far, far older than she looked.
When Jenny finally turned her attention toward him and posed her question, Ethan simply met her gaze and smiled. It was calm, steady, and entirely unreadable. He offered no reply, letting the silence stretch long enough to become uncomfortable.
Everyone felt it. They were all here for the gold deal, yet somehow this moment had eclipsed everything else. Whatever Ethan said first would define the direction of the conversation, and they all knew it.
When he finally spoke, his words landed like a thunderclap.
"Miss Jenny," Ethan said evenly, "what is your connection to the Divine Sea Temple?"
