"A deteriorated clan like yours isn't a backing; it's a liability," Ganin sneered.
As Berry stepped forward, the immediate, suffocating pressure William had exerted seemed to fluctuate, giving Ganin the opening he needed to breathe. He finally regained his composure and let out a sharp, forced laugh.
Even if he harbored a deep-seated fear of the Long Clan's core disciples, he was a master of face-saving; he would never allow himself to show a flicker of weakness in front of the gathered assembly.
Instead, he seized upon Berry's intervention to extricate himself from the psychological trap William had so carefully laid. In truth, Berry's protective impulse hadn't helped William at all. By making it a clan matter, she had unintentionally foiled the perfect snare William had set to goad Ganin into a reckless, individual mistake.
