Mallos slowly looked up, but seemed to be observing everyone present.
It was as if the atmosphere was pulled taut by an invisible hand, leaving no gaps.
"Only when you believe that through sacrifice you can gain something more precious—reputation, practical benefits, the safety of others, or pure self-satisfaction—will you then choose sacrifice."
Mallos' words became more solemn. "In other words, only when you know what you believe in, what you treasure, what you want to trade, can you have the right to choose, the right to sacrifice something justifiably, for example your life."
Thales did not say a word. He had the impression that Mallos was staring at him.
In the next second, Mallos turned around swiftly and Patterson raised his arm. Both dealt out another lash each—
Crack!
This time, Toledo could not react in time, and only caught up with the count off after a delay.
