"If what you're saying is true," Uzan said slowly, "then why does he look half-dead now? Look at him—he's covered in blood and can barely stand."
Franz's lips curved into a thin, knowing smile.
"Simple. He's faking his injuries."
"Faking?" Uzan scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Nobody can fake that much blood."
"The blood isn't his," Franz replied with absolute certainty.
"If you had been paying attention to the earlier footage, you would have noticed that Marcel's familiar was injured in their encounter. The blood on Julian is from Flecko, not from himself."
"That's absurd," Uzan protested. "No first-year could possibly injure an A-class familiar, especially not one as powerful as Flecko. And even if that were true, how do you explain his torn uniform and the way he's struggling to stand?"
Franz sighed, the sound dripping with condescension.
