"What do you want to say?"
After Credi arrived in this district, all the soldiers enforcing the ban stopped, leaving Credi at the forefront, facing Lawrence at the front of the opposing side.
Lawrence had transformed himself into the way he looked in his youth, meeting Credi's gaze with sharp eyes.
"Even now, do you still want to claim that you're an inseparable part of the Verrocchio Workshop?"
Verrocchio laughed in fury, finding it utterly absurd.
"I have no attachment to the Verrocchio Workshop, Master. After all, what I pursued was never so-called art and beauty." Credi shook his head, his expression composed. "But we were happy together once, weren't we? You shouldn't deny that."
"Yes, I won't deny it."
Lawrence gave a scornful laugh and nodded.
"You truly were once a senior I respected. More than once, when I was learning, I came to you for answers, and you were willing to help the inexperienced me."
"We truly were happy together. I will never deny that."
"But you ended all that beauty with your own hands, not me, and not anyone else in the Verrocchio Workshop."
Lawrence patted his own chest, then glanced at Verrocchio.
"I told you countless times, Credi, that you had talent." Verrocchio shook his head in anguish. "Perhaps your talent was not equal to Lawrence's or Leonardo's, but you were no worse than Botticelli and the others."
"You were all children I discovered among the common people, and I never intended to break my promise. I always meant to give each of you a bright future."
"You are a beast incarnate of jealousy, Credi."
Credi listened to Verrocchio's words and stood silently for several seconds.
"Master, even now, I still respect you."
"Just as you said, you once swore to give every one of us