The characters flickered, their brilliant golden light outshining even the sun beyond the window. For a moment, Xia Lun found it hard to look at.
Perhaps because Xia Lun's available Fundamental Duties were so absurd, the room fell utterly silent.
Everyone except White Line stood dumbstruck, eyes wide and fixed on the Ritual on the floor, as though an invisible hand had seized them by the throat.
Slice.
With a flick of his wrist, Xia Lun cut the pad of his index finger with the Ritual Dagger. Crimson blood dripped between his fingers onto the Ritual, each thick bead gleaming like mercury.
Plop, plop, plop...
As the drops landed on "Self-Made Merchant," the dazzling light abruptly drew inward and gathered around the characters.
Only then did sharp intakes of breath sound throughout the hall.
The Burly Youth sucked in a breath and looked at Xia Lun in fear. Fine beads of cold sweat covered his forehead, and his rigid body began to tremble.
The Dancer pressed her lips together and instinctively reached for her bag. A flash of dismay mingled with fear crossed her eyes as she looked at Xia Lun.
The Tree Shepherd Elder's eyes lit up with apparent eagerness, yet for some reason, he seemed almost deliberately to keep his face frozen in stunned disbelief.
Xia Lun glanced around, taking in everyone's reactions.
Clearly, the mute Dancer and the Tree Shepherd Elder were no ordinary people. Both had considerable secrets. By comparison, the Great Leader, nominally the Tree Shepherd Organization's highest authority, seemed rather unremarkable.
"This..." The Great Leader stumbled over his words, all his earlier coldness gone. "Why did you choose a Merchant's Fundamental Duty?"
Xia Lun turned his gaze to the Great Leader.
The Great Leader waved his hands nervously. "No, no, I'm not questioning you.