212 - Confrontation (2)

"It's because he has none."

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The room temperature seemed to drop several degrees lower.

At once, all pairs of eyes turned to Atticus.

"Is that true?"

Hideki Kanno fingered his katana, his eyes blazing with deep-set fury.

"Have you been draining us off our fund during the fourteen years, without planning to give us anything in the end?" He asked.

"That does make sense," Martha pursed her lips in contemplation. "If Miriam never took over, we might have waited another fourteen years for nothing."

Atticus let out a burst of nervous laughter. His eyes flitted from one member to another warily.

"Don't you see what he is doing? He is sowing discord among us! He is just trying to kick me out of my own project!"

Prince Zayden was on his feet in a flash. A scimitar's blade arced through the air before its tip settled right under Atticus's chin.