Mark kept his gaze fixed on Lan Yuxuan, neither flinching nor stepping back.
The murmurs hadn't stopped; if anything, they grew louder. Dozens of eyes, hundreds of glares, accusations flying as swiftly as blades.
He calmly dusted off his robe, despite the lingering ash and frost. "Proctor Yuxuan," he said, tone even. "Your question was a thing I needed to answer in private or when I was on trial. Aren't you still standing on the tournament platform? Shouldn't your first action be to declare the victor?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried with the weight of authority she always had, piercing the noisy atmosphere.
Lan Yuxuan's brows twitched. "Don't change the subject, Lan Zhen."
"I'm not changing it," Mark replied. "But I do know protocol. And I also know this…" His eyes flicked briefly to the holographic screen. His reserves were filled by more than 40%.
Just a little more time… he needed.
