After Ang left, only the flickering candlelight and the sound of everyone breathing remained in Yuri's shop hall.
The heavy oak door closed softly, shutting out the wind outside. The air still carried the faint trace of magical power Ang had left behind.
Yuri stood where he was, his expression calm, as though he were still pondering the man's words.
That thoughtful posture made the two First-Order Warrior guards standing on either side uneasy.
The burly guard on the left finally could not hold back. Scratching his head, he muttered softly, "My lord, that man did not even leave his name, and you did not ask."
"Wasn't his attitude rather disrespectful toward you? You were so polite to him that it made us seem beneath him."
The younger guard nodded in agreement, his tone equally displeased. "Exactly. He did not look like any Great Noble either. He wore no family crest and did not even announce his family. Yet you personally saw him out. You hold him in far too high regard."
Yuri turned around, a hint of surprise on his face.
His gray-blue eyes swept over the two men, narrowing slightly.
After a moment, he said flatly, "Do you... want me dead?"
His tone was not loud, yet it struck their hearts like a cold clap of thunder.
The two guards' expressions changed almost at once. They dropped to their knees together, their voices hurried. "My lord, you mustn't say such a thing! How could we possibly harbor such thoughts?"
"The Enchanted Armaments we wear were bought with magic crystals you spent, and we swore eternal loyalty to you. How could we want you dead?"
Seeing their frightened faces and the sweat beading on their foreheads, Yuri could not help but chuckle. He waved a hand. "All right, all