Li Yanbing's attitude, as she verbally backed Kieran Duffy into a corner without the slightest hesitation.
Even the old dwarf Sowen Oakwood could not help scratching his bushy beard.
The Four-City Pact had actually been formed under pressure from the Red Maple Kingdom, so naturally, he could not speak up in support.
He simply watched from the sidelines.
Instead, Viscount Grant of Rafael tried to smooth things over. "Everyone, calm down, calm down. You really should be more careful with your words in front of our host, Sir Duffy."
At this point, Viscount Grant paused before continuing, "Besides, although we all came here to discuss that announcement from the Dwarf Kingdom, there have actually been some other developments in our area lately."
After speaking, Grant glanced at Garrison. Garrison nodded and added, "Indeed. Both the Thirteen Great Thieves and the Inquisition have been active nearby recently, and clashes have broken out. I heard that both sides lost people in the Hero Domain, though I don't know exactly who."
Once Garrison finished, Grant continued, "So this meeting is also a response to the pact we signed-to stand together in the face of danger."
Clearly, this hero from the Rafael City-State had deliberately stepped in to muddy the waters and give Kieran Duffy a hand.
But his approach was sound: set aside the Dwarf Kingdom's affairs for now and discuss the security of the surrounding area first.
If the Thirteen Great Thieves were running rampant nearby, even if they were fighting the Theocracy, the impact on the four free city-states would still be considerable.
The thieves had no restraints. Making a quick score along the way, or recouping their losses somewhere nearby, both seemed perfectly normal choices.
"Oh? Why don't I remember the Red Maple Kingdom being a signatory to the pact?