Amelia spoke softly, "My mother is fine. How have you been?"
Elliott didn't answer. Instead, he turned to Lucas and said, "Lucas, your Dragon-Subduing Technique has reached perfection. But could you release our Vanderbilt men first?"
Lucas glanced at his subordinates and commanded, "Let Ethan go."
Logan flexed his wrist and said, "Thank you, Lucas."
Without so much as a word of gratitude to Elliott, he and Ethan moved to Amelia's side.
To an outsider, the lack of thanks might have suggested deep familiarity between them. But those who knew the truth understood the real reason—even Lucas could tell that this man was not faring well within the Vanderbilt faction.
Just then, a member of the Beggar Sect stepped forward. "Sect Leader, they injured Elder Song. We can't just let them leave."
"Jackson is right—they must not be allowed to leave!" others chimed in.
Elliott now knew this man was Jackson, but he remained composed, waiting to see how Lucas would react.
Lucas frowned. "This matter must be decided by the elders. But where are Elder Xu, Elder Xiang, Elder Chen, and Elder Wu?"
Silence followed his question. Lucas' sharp gaze swept over the crowd. "Benjamin, where is your elder?"
The man named Benjamin hurriedly knelt. "Sect Leader, it's not my fault! Please, don't kill me!" Jackson's expression darkened.
At that moment, Samuel arrived with a group of men, escorting the four elders Lucas had mentioned—each bound with ropes, their faces twisted in indignation.
Lucas was baffled. What in the world is happening?
Elliott, however, had anticipated this. He decided to observe how far things would escalate. Quietly picking up a sword, he retreated to Amelia's side.
"Amelia," he murmured, "did you run away from home?"
Amelia flushed, caught off guard. "…Yes."
Henry, standing nearby, stiffened. He calls her Amelia so casually? How close are they?
Elliott, now certain Henry was nearby, asked, "Where is Henry?"
"Right behind you."
Elliott nearly jumped.
"Samuel," Lucas demanded, "what is the meaning of this?" He gestured at the bound elders. "Release them at once!"
He moved to untie them himself, but the elders haughtily turned away.
Ungrateful fools, Elliott thought bitterly. Lucas is the one who'll save your necks later.
Still, he held his tongue. He had to wait for the right moment.
Meanwhile, Ethan and Logan grew impatient. "We're going to find Noah. What about you?"
"I'll stay," Elliott said. "Tell Noah I'll handle the Beggar Sect's affairs for him—this is the last favor I'll ever do for him, even if Amelia begs me again."
Logan and Ethan exchanged glances before leaving without another word. Amelia wanted to follow, but they hadn't even asked her. She had no choice but to stay.
She turned to Elliott. "You won't do anything I ask?"
Elliott smiled faintly. "Amelia, do you remember our agreement?"
Amelia fell silent.
Henry's mind, meanwhile, spiraled into wild speculation.