Earl Ster's outrageous remark earned him a murderous glare from his wife. His soul score silently dropped point by point until he could no longer keep his solemn expression.
"All right, I shouldn't have brought up something we gave up on long ago." He spread his hands. "I only wanted you to cheer up. While there's still someone in the city no one dares provoke, the Ster Family should establish its position as soon as possible.
"With things this chaotic, neither side will want to drag an unrelated Grand Sage into the fray."
He glanced at Helena's moving lips and smiled. "Our king's methods may be ugly, but he knows whom he can afford to offend. Otherwise, he wouldn't have waited until the Moon Clan appeared to stir up so much trouble.
"Haven't you noticed? He's only this brazen because he's certain Ismail is too softhearted to move against him lightly.
"As for Finch, he understands even better that no Grand Sage would choose him over Ismail. For his side, the best outcome is for Grand Sage Belfran to stay exactly as he is and keep out of everything."
Helena gazed south. "But can he really stay silent forever?
"Even when the world is clearly heading for chaos?
"Can anyone really... resist the chance to grab something for himself?"
"You're overthinking it," Earl Ster said calmly. "There's nothing in Basia City worth keeping him here.
"The fact that he's stayed quiet all this time shows he truly has no interest in any of it.
"Sages are essentially mages approaching level fifteen. They can indeed be won over by worldly things... Resources for advancement are always their greatest concern.
"But what Grand Sages want is not so simple.
"Those who appear in human society clearly want to make their presence felt.