"What did you say?"
Robert stared at Ricky, stunned—his calm demeanor briefly cracking. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if he had misheard. But as Ricky's aura sharpened, coiling through the air like a blade drawn in silence, he knew his ears had not betrayed him.
The pest had truly threatened him.
His gaze grew frigid, the warmth draining from his face like blood from a corpse. No one—no one—had dared to speak to him in such a manner in centuries. Even monarchs would bow their heads, and saints would show deference.
And yet, this creature…
Although a storm brewed in his heart, Robert didn't erupt. Instead, he let out a low, subdued laugh—its tone dry and bone-deep, like the creaking of a tomb's door.
In a measured, icy voice, he replied:
"Venom Fang Overlord, think twice before you open your mouth… or next time, you may not live long enough to regret your actions."
His words were calm—too calm. The kind of calm that came before divine retribution.
