The crowds gasped at Richard's suggestion. The suddenness of the proposal sent a ripple of surprise and unease through the assembled residents. Richard's face remained impassive, but his eyes scanned the crowd, gauging their reaction.
"Let's consider it for a moment," Richard continued, his voice steady. "If Blackwatch were to leave, the security and organizational structure we've provided would go with us. The trade system, the job opportunities, the resource management – all of these are parts of what we've built together. But if it's not what you want, it's important we discuss this openly."
The crowd was silent, the gravity of his words sinking in. Among them, the man who had raised the initial concern looked visibly conflicted. He hadn't expected his challenge to be met with such a drastic alternative.
