"I am Lilith Carol, head of the Carol Family." At this moment, a dignified woman seated among the seven family leaders spoke, her gaze steady and unreadable as it settled on Max. Her voice was calm yet carried an authority that made the surrounding elders fall silent. "Tell me, how would you feel if I asked you to hand over that sword to another disciple of the Black Dragon Palace?"
Max did not hesitate. His expression remained composed and his voice was clear as he answered. "Honestly, I would come to hate the Black Dragon Palace for that decision. I was the one who subdued this sword, and the sword chose me. If it were taken from me and handed to someone else, it would mean that my efforts and the sword's own will were both disregarded."
Lilith Carol studied him for a moment, then asked again in a slightly different tone. "And what if such an action were taken for the greater good of the Verdant Sky Realm?"
