As the meeting began to wrap up, a voice broke through the tense silence. It was one of the senior officials, a man brave enough to bring up the name many had been avoiding.
"What about Adrian Blackwood?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implications.
Chris, who had been sitting back in his chair, finally lifted his gaze. His expression remained unreadable, but there was a slight shift in the air around him—like a storm waiting to be unleashed.
"He is in prison." His words were simple, direct, but laced with finality.
A murmur passed through the room. Some officials exchanged glances, while others shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
Ethan, seated at the head of the table, leaned forward slightly. "And that is where he will remain," he added. "Adrian chose his path. He attempted to challenge the empire. He failed."
Christiana scoffed. "He's lucky we didn't execute him for treason. If it were up to me—"
Chris turned his head slightly, his sharp gaze cutting her off before she could finish. "He is alive because I allow it." His voice carried a quiet authority that reminded everyone why, despite stepping into the shadows, he was still the God of the Empire.
Classic, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke. "Then what is to be done with him? Will he stay locked away forever?"
Ethan exhaled, his fingers tapping against the table. "For now, he is no threat. His followers have scattered, and the rebellion is crushed. But if he becomes a problem again…" He let the words trail off, the meaning clear.
Chris nodded. "Adrian made his choice. And so did we."
Skylar, who had been silent for most of the discussion, finally spoke. "Even so, keeping him alive… it's risky." She met Chris's gaze, searching for an answer he wasn't giving.
Chris stood up, signaling the end of the conversation. "He is in prison." He repeated, then turned toward the exit. "And that is all that needs to be said."
The meeting adjourned, but the question lingered.
Adrian was locked away.
But for how long?