Cliff froze, his brown eyes widening in horror. The Manticore stared at him with a carnivorous grin, savoring the impact of her words. She had just claimed that she had sent someone to attack the main city of his kingdom. The city where civilians, women, children, and the elderly struggled to survive in this cursed forest.
A bluff? Perhaps. But what could he say? The Manticore already held the upper hand.
He turned a worried gaze toward his comrades: Kido, Hildanor, Mathilde… and Beriel. Judging by their expressions, they were all hesitant to engage in combat immediately. Even he didn't feel ready.
His legs buckled under the weight of the revelation. If the city was truly under attack… He clenched his fists. If anything happened to the people of Aurora, he swore inwardly to tear apart every last person responsible.
But he couldn't rush in blindly. He needed to confirm the situation first. As he had suspected, this could be a trick.