A few soldiers presented several samples of mana stones that shimmered with a moonlit glow to Roz.
Roz examined them briefly before respectfully offering them to a group of elegantly dressed envoys standing beside him. These envoys might not have been formidable in personal strength, but the Santino family crest pinned to their chests carried a deterrent weight far sharper than any sword.
At the forefront stood Banquet, the Grand Duke's trusted inspection officer.
He accepted one of the mana stones, letting his fingertips trace over its cool surface. As he felt the pure energy pulsing within, a look of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.
"The purity is exceptional. The energy contained within far surpasses that of an ordinary mana stone — unquestionably top-grade,"
he declared. Channeling a sliver of his own energy into the stone, he confirmed his judgment even further.
"For a vein capable of producing mana stones of this quality, its value is beyond question."
