He paused, as if organizing his words, his tone sincere.
"Bringing you to Godless Settlement and leaving a mark on the Stele of Authority Holders was indeed one step in our plan, because this is a necessary process for all newly ascended Authority Holders who operate in the Boundary Zone."
"What Lilith told you about the 'box' and the application process was not a lie either. As for the discussion just now about the iron law of the inscription, we merely stated the realities and rules of Beyond the World."
"We had no intention of concealing anything from you or deceiving you in the slightest."
As he spoke, Alvin looked toward Gor beside him.
His voice dropped a few degrees.
"The conflict between Gor and me was real, and so was the old grudge. In the battle just now, I forcibly drew too much power from the Egg Follicle, losing the lives and existences of more than fourteen thousand of my people."
"That kind of price cannot be faked, nor was it a performance staged to test you."
His voice remained calm, carrying a solemn promise. "If the order or manner in which we informed you made you feel as though you were being tested or plotted against..."
"I, Alvin, apologize to you in my capacity as an 'Orderer.' And I am willing, together with Gor and Lilith, to compensate you for this matter."
Shen Yi listened, and the chill in his eyes eased slightly.
Especially when Alvin's voice had suddenly lowered as he mentioned the loss of his people. Shen Yi knew how much Alvin valued his kin, and such a heavy price truly did not seem like an act.
Moreover, judging from Alvin's earlier words and actions, although he had his own schemes and guidance, he truly had