Trafalgar let out a short, dry laugh at Lucien's confused question. The sound echoed strangely in the tense air.
"How can you ask that?" he said, taking a step forward, Maledicta still lowered but alive with faint mana. "You kidnapped someone important to me. You remember what happened last time, don't you? I told you what would happen if you ever touched anything of mine again. I'd send my family to erase you."
Lucien's expression cracked. A tremor ran through his body, a cold realization washing over him. Even the men fighting Garrika froze for a heartbeat, thrown off by Trafalgar's tone.
Lucien raised a shaking hand. "W-wait! Stop!"
The [Rogue] and [Duelist] hesitated mid-swing, both stepping back. The warehouse fell into uneasy silence, broken only by Garrika's low breathing and the drip of blood from the decapitated body nearby.
