Marcus studied the three figures before him, his eyes narrowing as he recognized their distinctive accents. "Xian Language?" he questioned, deliberately positioning himself between them and Xiao Yue. His voice carried a sharp edge as he continued, "What are the dogs from the empire doing here?"
Min-jae's face darkened at the insult, switching smoothly to common tongue. "Who are you calling dogs, white boy?"
"Oh? You can actually speak common?" Marcus's tone dripped with mock surprise. "Are you spies?"
Akira raised his hands in a placating gesture, words tumbling out hastily. "Spies? What? We're merchants, what are you talking about?" His nervous energy betrayed his attempt at casualness.
Ruohan's voice cut through the tension as she addressed her companions in Xian, 『What's the point in explaining? No one knows what happens inside a dungeon, so we can just kill him and take the fox.』
