"Redmond, Basil Bertram, you..."
Yvonne May wanted to intervene, but hesitated, uncertain where to begin. Ji Yuner sat at the table, cracking sunflower seeds with a cold detachment, while Huangfu Ruofei rushed over in a panic only to be restrained by Yvonne May.
"Stop it. What are you doing?"
I remained silent, watching. Redmond still gripped Basil Bertram's fist, the smile on his face erased, leaving only a grim shadow.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Redmond continued to needle Basil Bertram. Mona Ouyang sneered, her voice dripping with venom.
"If you're really so furious, why not just settle it with a fight?"
Shen Yanjun glared at Mona Ouyang. Finally, he stepped between the two, pressing down on their wrists and slowly forcing them apart.
"We're here to discuss business, Redmond, not to indulge in petty squabbles. Basil Bertram's affairs aren't for you to meddle in. And you..."
Shen Yanjun fixed his gaze on Basil Bertram, his tone grave and unyielding.
"Whatever troubles you have are none of our concern. We don't need to know. Now is not the time for petty grievances—Redmond is right. I agree: if you can't recover some of your strength within these three months, you need to prepare yourself. Retrieve your Wooden Contract Stone, or awaken your primal instinct."
Yvonne May rose to her feet, her movements deliberate and haunting as she walked to the side of the desk.
"It's getting late. Night will fall soon. Let's all eat together."
Inside the hall on the 40th floor, a long table was covered with dishes. Rachel Lan and the others had already started eating. Leah King's gaze drifted uneasily among the six Ghost Sovereigns, especially lingering on Redmond beside Basil Bertram. She already knew Basil Bertram's true nature, and though she couldn't be sure about the others, suspicion gnawed at her heart.
Dinner passed in heavy silence. No one spoke to break the suffocating tension. I held my glass, drinking quietly, watching the shadows gather.
"Come on, I'll take you home."
Suddenly, Basil Bertram stood up and walked over to Leah King, who had nearly finished eating. Redmond snorted coldly.
"Redmond, do you have something to say?"
Leah King abruptly asked. With a loud thud, Redmond set down his glass, then propped his feet on the table and folded his arms over his chest.
"There are things Basil Bertram can't explain to you. But I want to tell you something, little girl."