When Zong Shen personally walked up to them, everyone fell silent of their own accord.
"You're lucky..."
"You didn't die in that battle just now!"
Zong Shen's tone was calm, yet carried a trace of coldness.
His words were arrogant, but no one present dared to refute him, because he was simply stating the truth.
At that moment, a bold-looking woman with dreadlocks slowly raised her hand.
"Lord Zong Shen... please allow me to say something."
She spoke cautiously. Her sun-reddened face was drawn tight, revealing the nervousness in her heart.
Zong Shen turned to look at her and lightly raised a hand, signaling for her to speak.
Only after receiving permission did she slowly open her mouth.
"My lord, my name is Vivica. This was a huge misunderstanding... Many of us were not with Stephen York."
"We... we only came to investigate after seeing the relevant announcement."
"We absolutely had no intention of going to war with you."
The woman named Vivica had the typical appearance of a Nordic woman. The ruggedness of those from high latitudes gave her a somewhat masculine resolve.
She had been nervous at first, but gradually spoke more fluently. Still, she did not dare say too much and could only express herself as briefly as possible.
Zong Shen neither confirmed nor denied it. Naturally, he understood what she meant.
Those thorny lords under Stephen York truly could not represent everyone present.
At least more than half of the lords had originally come only to investigate, without harboring much ill intent.
However, after the crowd gathered, their thoughts changed as well.
As the saying went, "There is strength in numbers." Once the number of gathered people crossed a certain threshold, people's hearts would lose control, reason would be affected, and desire and wishful thinking would