Arguing the Case
Just then, a gentle voice rang out. "Everyone, although the Four Overgods do not forbid us from killing one another, refining a Sovereign Spark grants another measure of Willpower. If killing were allowed without restriction, Low-Sovereigns and Intermediate Sovereigns would never know peace. So, back then, the other three Rule Sovereigns and I established a pact."
"If a Sovereign of lower rank has not offended a Sovereign of higher rank, the higher-ranking Sovereign may not kill the lower-ranking Sovereign at will. Anyone who violates this pact will be hunted down by the four of us!"
"Only Sovereigns of the same rank may fight one another."
The speaker was Vivian, the Life Sovereign. After restating the Sovereign Pact, she turned to Lincoln and asked, "Adonis just said that Boteer offended you. Please explain exactly what happened so we can understand."
Vivian had intended to ask that very question, but Orf had beaten her to it. After hearing Lincoln's answer, the hesitation in her eyes vanished. She had made up her mind to cut her losses.
But her words surprised not only Lincoln, but also Orf, Uterede, and the others. Just two days ago, she had been using someone else to kill by proxy. Why was she now speaking up for Lincoln?
Vivian's words took it as fact that Boteer had offended Lincoln. With that established, it would be difficult to argue that Lincoln had violated the Sovereign Pact, no matter how they put it.
Dark, who had deliberately arrived late, was even more flustered. His mind reeled as he realized things weren't going as he'd expected. He shifted his attention to Orf.
"Lord Orf, I recall that Boteer has served you for many years. If Lincoln killed him just like that, without any clear reason, I'm afraid the