Chapter 366
“The Blazing Flame Stone? What happened to the Blazing Flame Stone p>
Rin looked around in confusion.
When Yian had gone to find him, he had only mentioned that Setan was in danger and needed rescuing. He had conveniently left out everything involving the sacred relic.
To be fair, Yian had been too afraid to explain the whole story. There was a very real chance Rin would have refused to come if he had known the details beforehand.
“Former City Lord, you didn’t know p>
Tor hesitated before continuing.
“The Blazing Flame Stone was… given away by City Lord Setan p>
His gaze shifted toward Nina.
“To this female p>
Rin frowned.
“What exactly happened? Explain it properly p>
Tor proceeded to recount the entire story from beginning to end.
As he listened, Rin’s expression grew increasingly complicated.
When the explanation ended, he shot Setan a reproachful look.
This foolish grandson had actually handed the clan’s sacred relic to an outsider.
Then his eyes drifted toward Setan’s forehead.
There was no mating mark.
Nothing.
Even if Nina was powerful, his grandson was still pursuing her without any official bond or status.
Rin almost felt secondhand embarrassment.
His gaze shifted toward Odian and the others.
Those exceptionally handsome males were clearly Nina’s mates.
She already had so many.
Frankly, she wasn’t what he would have chosen for Setan.
The Lion Clan was famously possessive.
The stronger the male, the less willing he usually was to share.
Yet judging by Setan’s expression, the fool seemed perfectly happy with the arrangement.
Rin couldn’t understand it.
Wasn’t it better to find a mate devoted entirely to you, like he and Yian had?
He was about to address Nina when Setan stepped in front of her.
“Grandfather p>
His voice was firm despite his injuries.
“I was the one who gave Nina the Blazing Flame Stone. I was also the one who lied and told her the elders had approved the exchange p>
He met Rin’s gaze directly.
“She knew nothing about any of this p>
“Please stop making things difficult for her p>
Rin pressed his lips together.
This grandson of his had truly fallen beyond saving.
The boy was so captivated by this female that he seemed willing to abandon everything else.
His responsibilities.
His position.
Even his own people.
Everything came second to defending her.
Rather than argue with Setan, Rin looked directly at Nina.
“Has the Blazing Flame Stone really acknowledged you as its master p>
“Yes.” Nina nodded calmly. “It has p>
Rin fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
“Even if that’s true, Blazing Flame City has spent countless years protecting it p>
His tone was much calmer now.
“We invested enormous resources and generations of effort into safeguarding the relic p>
“It can’t simply be handed over without compensation p>
He was being practical.
Once a sacred relic chose a master, taking it back served little purpose.
Without recognition, they could neither access its power nor control it.
The Blazing Flame Stone was effectively hers now.
Still, compensation was another matter entirely.
Unfortunately, since she had already completed the bond, they were negotiating from a position of weakness.
Nina’s expression remained unchanged.
“I already provided compensation p>
“I gave it to Setan p>
At this point, her opinion of the elders was low enough that she had no intention of offering more.
What she had already given was more than sufficient.
Whether they accepted it or not was their choice.
Rin turned toward Setan.
“How much did she give p>
At least she had attempted to compensate them.
That spoke well of her character.
Setan replied immediately.
“I already handed everything over to the elders p>
A cold glimmer flashed through Nina’s eyes.
Setan had compensated them.
Yet they had still nearly killed him.
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became.
Rin shifted his attention toward the elders.
Several reluctantly stepped forward and presented the items they had received.
“Former City Lord, these are the materials p>
One elder handed over the compensation package.
Rin picked up a crystal and examined it curiously.
“What is this p>
“What does it do p>
Setan explained.
“It’s an auxiliary cultivation crystal p>
“Extremely rare p>
“And highly valuable p>
He gestured toward the collection of Fire Crystals beside it.
“Combined with the Fire Crystals, Nina’s compensation was already more than generous p>
Rin clicked his tongue.
This grandson’s favoritism was becoming increasingly obvious.
Still, he couldn’t deny the value of the materials.
The quantity of Fire Crystals alone was impressive.
For a single individual to produce so many at once suggested considerable wealth.
Nearby, Yian stared at the auxiliary crystal with newfound understanding.
So these treasures had come from his future granddaughter-in-law.
That explained where Setan had somehow obtained so many valuable resources.
Unfortunately, not everyone was satisfied.
A red-haired elder stepped forward.
“Former City Lord, I don’t believe these items are sufficient compensation for the Blazing Flame Stone p>
Several others immediately agreed.
“Elder Nox is right p>
“The compensation should be increased p>
They clearly hoped Rin would help negotiate a better deal.
Nina folded her arms.
“How much more do you want p>
“At least ten times this amount p>
Nox answered without hesitation.
Nina laughed.
The sound carried no warmth whatsoever.
“Ten times p>
Her eyes narrowed.
“You certainly aren’t lacking in ambition p>
Greedy indeed.
Behind her, Odian and the others looked ready to explode.
These lions truly embodied the phrase lion’s share.
Nothing seemed capable of satisfying them.
Setan’s expression darkened as well.
Even he felt Nox’s demands had crossed a line.
Yian and Yuna exchanged glances.
They found the request excessive too.
Even Rin frowned.
Nox had gone too far.
The elder, however, remained unapologetic.
“Without the Blazing Flame Stone, our city will lose countless future warriors p>
“We deserve proper compensation p>
Nina’s gaze turned icy.
“The Blazing Flame Stone never belonged to you p>
“It belongs only to its master p>
“You benefited from its power for generations p>
She took a step forward.
“Frankly, I could charge all of you a usage fee for borrowing it for so many years p>
“Instead, you’re attempting to extort me p>
Her voice became colder with every word.
“What I offered is all you’re getting p>
“If you want it, take it p>
“If not, return it p>
Nox nearly exploded.
“That’s ridiculous p>
“You only became the Blazing Flame Stone’s master recently. What right do you have to demand a usage fee p>
Nina didn’t even blink.
“Then what right do I have to compensate you at all p>
The question silenced him.
“I offered compensation because I chose to p>
“Because I acknowledged the years you spent protecting it p>
“Because I believed your efforts deserved recognition p>
A sharp edge entered her voice.
“But instead of accepting that goodwill, you demanded more and more p>
“Some of you even discussed imprisoning me p>
Several elders immediately looked away.
The accusation struck uncomfortably close to home.
Rin turned toward Tor.
“Imprison her p>
His expression darkened.
“What is she talking about p>
Tor hesitated before explaining everything that had happened after Nina returned to rescue Setan.
By the time he finished, Rin’s face had turned black with anger.
He rounded on the elders.
“How could any of you even think such a thing p>
His voice thundered across the gathering.
“Imprison a female p>
“Have you all become rogue beasts p>
“Do you realize how disgraceful that is p>
The disappointment in his eyes was unmistakable.
For the first time that day, he stood firmly on Nina’s side.
The Flame Lion Clan prided itself on integrity and honor.
Since when had it become infested with people like this?
“Former City Lord, we didn’t support that idea p>
Several elders hurriedly defended themselves.
“It was Nox and the others p>
“We never intended to imprison anyone p>
While many of them had hoped for greater compensation, few had actually planned to take things that far.
Rin’s gaze locked onto Nox.
“So this was your idea p>
Nox instantly paled.
“I… I p>
Panic flashed through his eyes.
“No p>
“It wasn’t me p>
Then inspiration struck.
“Elder Freen proposed it p>
“Everything was Freen’s idea p>
After all, Chifu was dead.
Dead men couldn’t argue.
Nox glared resentfully at the other elders.
Hypocrites.
If they had truly disagreed, why had none of them spoken up earlier?
Now that accountability had arrived, everyone was suddenly innocent.
Rin snorted.
“You’re all impressive, aren’t you p>
The sarcasm in his voice was brutal.
“You’ve managed to disgrace the entire city p>
“Have you forgotten every teaching passed down by our ancestors p>
A bunch of cowards.
They were willing to commit the wrongdoing but unwilling to accept responsibility afterward.
Pathetic.
The elders lowered their heads in silence.
Not one of them dared argue.
Finally, Rin walked toward Nina.
His expression softened considerably.
“Little female p>
His tone carried genuine sincerity.
“This time, Blazing Flame City was in the wrong p>
“I apologize on behalf of our people p>
He paused.
“And as for the compensation, we won’t accept it p>
The guilty party had been Setan, not Nina.
She had known nothing of the deception.
She had already offered compensation despite having no obligation to do so.
After everything that had happened, what right did they have to continue making demands?
Truthfully, Nina was correct.
They had always been guardians.
Nothing more.
The true owner of the relic was whoever earned its recognition.
By strict logic, they never should have requested compensation in the first place.
In fact, Rin felt he owed her thanks.
Had Nina not returned when she did, Setan might already be dead.
Around him, the elders’ shoulders slumped.
Their expressions were miserable.
Was that really it?
No compensation.
No relic.
Nothing at all.
Were they truly supposed to watch the Blazing Flame Stone leave with her and simply accept it?