The grand main hall remained buried beneath a suffocating silence after Damon's final words, while the seven isolated figures standing before him visibly trembled beneath the countless gazes fixed upon them from every direction. None of the gathered servants dared whisper anymore, because by now everyone understood that this was no longer merely an investigation regarding a missing archive page.
This had become judgment.
At the very front of the hall, Damon remained seated calmly with Cecelia resting tiredly against him, her small body leaning weakly into his chest while his fingers continued absentmindedly patting her white hair in slow rhythm.
Then finally—
Damon raised his gaze toward the seven again.
"Let us continue," he said calmly.
The first man was immediately brought forward by the guards.
The middle-aged attendant nearly stumbled while approaching, cold sweat covering his forehead as Damon observed him silently for several moments before speaking.
