As soon as Duke uttered these words, the air in the conference hall seemed to freeze instantly.
Several high-level officials widened their eyes, with disbelief written all over their faces.
One of the guards present even instinctively released his grip on the sword hilt, wondering if he'd misheard.
Such words had never been dared spoken in any situation throughout the history of the Oracle Plane, let alone directly in front of a Great Mage of one of the Four Gods Sect.
And Alberto's reaction was the most direct.
He was first stunned for a moment, then laughed angrily.
The laughter squeezed out from his throat, dry and hoarse, like sandpaper grinding on glass.
Alberto laughed and shook his head, the old scar on his left cheek twisting into a hideous shape in the firelight of the fireplace.
