Garius inclined his head, expression composed, his tone carrying the smooth edge of humility laced with quiet strength.
"Ah~ pardon my rudeness. It is not my place to boast, nor to parade such things before esteemed company." His voice was calm, each word wrapped in a veneer of courtesy.
Then his eyes met Marquis Saten's.
"But as Your Honorable Marquis surely knows… while the Pekko may be classified as monsters, they are far from ordinary beasts. They are unique, born only of Armand soil. Even their feathers carry worth beyond measure."
He let the words hang a moment, then added smoothly, "One feather from that golden king, should it be melted, could be forged into a bar of pure gold."
Garius's smile turned pure, serene, as though he were merely sharing a simple truth rather than delivering a crushing reminder of Armand's supremacy. From within his cloak, he drew a single feather, long, radiant, and gleaming like molten sunlight.
