While Gladius and Arianna weren't without sympathy for the town's plight, they were also pragmatic enough to prioritize their own interests.
Their main focus lay on the resources that Leader Chen had mentioned – resources great enough to benefit even Royal Prodigy Mages. As individuals with greater Innate Spirit foundations, they required far denser Magical Energy to grow their Innate Spirits to the next stage.
If such a resource truly existed, it could potentially help them reach Spirit Apprentice, or at the very least, the peak of Spirit Novice.
A fleeting glance passed between Gladius and Arianna, a silent conversation occurring in the span of a heartbeat. Months of partnership had honed their ability to communicate volumes with the subtlest of gestures.
When they turned back to Leader Chen, their decision had already been made.
Arianna leaned forward slightly, her emerald eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and calculation.
