"You've got your eye on my crystal cores?" Ethan asked lightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he glanced at Julian.
Julian scoffed, tone full of disdain. "As if. That petty haul's beneath me. I was simply offering General Cross some advice—so he doesn't get taken for a ride."
But even as the words left his mouth, the flash of heat in his eyes gave him away.
Over a hundred thousand Tier 5 crystal cores—even someone from Atlas City wouldn't look at that pile without feeling tempted. He just couldn't afford to show it. Not in front of these "country bumpkins."
"Appreciate the advice," General Cross said calmly. "How about you don't offer any more."
"..."
An awkward beat followed.
Then Cross turned to Ethan with an apologetic expression. "Uh… Ethan, maybe you and Sean should head back? I've still got a few things to handle here."
