False Appearances, Satisfaction

At eight o'clock that night, in the council hall of the City Lord's Manor in White Stone City, territory of the Spirit Rhino Clan.

By then, the vast hall was already packed to capacity.

The elders and leaders of the Spirit Rhino Clan had all arrived and were staring intently at the figure seated at the head of the table.

Although no one spoke, the anger flashing in everyone's eyes had somehow made the atmosphere in the council hall exceptionally heavy and oppressive.

After an unknown amount of time, Morgann, the oldest elder of the Spirit Rhino Clan, suddenly stood from his seat, breaking the stifling silence. His voice was hoarse, yet exceptionally clear in everyone's ears. "Clan Chief, we have already learned of the Sixth Prince's visit."

"Based on his behavior at the city gates, I am certain that his purpose in coming here was not to placate the Spirit Rhino Clan. The Sixth Prince—or rather, His Majesty who sent him—is most likely here to test us!"

"That's right. This time, the royal court did not bring us a single grain of food or a single weapon. All they brought were a few useless farting words and a line about tight finances!"

Another elder slammed his palm onto the stone table before him. The immense force instantly sent countless cracks spreading across its surface. His tone was filled with ridicule and killing intent. "Although Turk ostensibly joined the eastern expedition under the orders of Seventh Prince Razia, everyone here knows that Hakado personally authorized this expedition!"

"If not for that ambiguous signal he gave us, why would we have tacitly allowed Turk to lead troops on an eastern campaign?"

"Now that something has gone wrong with the eastern expedition, not a single one of our clan's men who took