The moment Master Todd opened his mouth, it was as if an invisible thread had been pulled tight across the room, snapping everyone back to the purpose of the gathering. Conversations that had drifted into idle chatter instantly died down. Faces that had been relaxed or indifferent sharpened with renewed focus, and a subtle tension crept into the air—one born of anticipation, greed, and a faint undercurrent of competition that none of them cared to admit aloud.
Almost immediately, several voices rose in succession, overlapping in their eagerness.
“That’s right, Patriarch Howard, why don’t you and Master Todd bring out the artifact already and let us take a proper look?”
“Yes, we’ve all been waiting long enough. Let’s not keep us in suspense!”
The polite veneer barely concealed the impat
