Stannis had expected Xiaobao wouldn't come alone, and his instincts proved correct.
A figure stood in the corner, half-hidden, a cigarette glowing faintly between his fingers. Smoke curled upward as the man turned his head, his eyes glinting. "Marshal Stannis," he said evenly.
The weight of danger pressed against Stannis like a blade at his throat. He didn't make any sudden moves. "You know my name," he replied calmly, "but I don't know yours."
The man exhaled smoke, his voice low and deliberate. "There is no need for you to know who I am. I only need you to tell His Highness this: stop digging into things he shouldn't. As long as he doesn't make a move on Xiaobao and Yu Xi, there will be no issues between us."
The words hung in the air, heavy with threat and promise alike.
Stannis sneered, his voice low and cutting. "If you are this powerful, mysterious figure, then how come you didn't find Yu Xi sooner?"
