The situation unfolded just like Sam predicted.
Within a few minutes one of them folded. An elder opened up and said.
"I might not be able to give you the inheritance as a whole in exchange for my son. But I will give you something of equal value. Something my family wasn't able to make use of, but still valuable nonetheless.
Will you let him go?"
It was a weak elder. He didn't have much influence to begin with, in his academy. He very well might be the weakest elder of the academy realm and he is definitely a bit worse than some of the instructors.
The only good thing going for his legacy was his son who joined the academy as an instructor and his future looked promising.
Now, because his son was captured by Sam, he is desperate.
He didn't know if the other elders and Deans can actually work this stuff out. But he didn't dare risk it and just folded.
"I will talk to him. But there shouldn't be any problem."
The elder nodded and immediately left the ground.
