Lucen was standing face to face with Vardon in his father's study. The father and son looked at each other without saying a word for several seconds. It was Vardon who broke the silence and spoke first.
"You have returned earlier than expected."
Lucen sighed in his mind when he heard what Vardon said. 'Heh, as expected of the stoic father figure, even with this much, he won't praise his son.'
"Some unexpected variables have occurred," Lucen replied calmly, keeping his posture straight.
"I have heard... To think you would encounter a wounded young dragon. I do not know if that's a blessing or not."
"Since I was victorious, isn't that a blessing then?" Lucen responded.
"... I guess it is..." A small smile appeared on Vardon's stony face. "I have also heard that you took some mercenaries under your command, and those mercenaries were hired to kidnap you," Vardon spoke while observing Lucen.
"That is correct," Lucen replied with the same flat tone as his father.
