When Elio was almost ready to leave and informed Lucien and Selene...
"How much do you need for the next summon?" Lucien asked.
"A bit more than 800 million," Elio responded. "I didn't have time to absorb more for various reasons."
Lucien nodded, understanding. Of the more than 2 Billion that Elio had entrusted him with, he still retained a considerable amount.
"I can give you what you're missing, I still have more than half of what you transferred last time," he offered. "The level 8 summon could be crucial."
"Are you sure?" Elio hesitated. "Those cores are for the city..."
"And you are our best chance," Lucien interrupted while opening his book to transfer the cores.
"Besides, I kept enough in reserve. This amount won't compromise our defense plans... and giving anything more than elephants to trusted soldiers isn't possible in the first place, the cost increase is enormous for the penguin or the eel..."
